1. Qumran
The caves of Qumran are the location of one of the greatest religious discoveries of modern times.
It was here that in 1947 a Bedouin shepherd stumbled upon a cache of parchment and papyrus documents dating from the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD.
Known as the Dead Sea Scrolls, they are the oldest surviving manuscripts of the Bible and include all the books of the Old Testament (except Esther), together with apocrypha, and various writings that describe life in the time of Jesus.
The manuscripts are all the work of the Essene community: a strictly-observant and puritanical Jewish sect that came into being about 150 BC after conflicts in Jerusalem over superficial temple rites and Hellenistic influences.
They established their center at Qumran, and although it was destroyed by the Romans during AD 68, the Essenes managed to hide their library and archives in the surrounding caves where they were finally discovered.
2. Kalia Beach
Sitting right on the northern corner of the Dead Sea, just six kilometers north of the Qumran ruins, this entrance-fee beach facility offers an easygoing Dead Sea experience with full facilities on hand. If you want to go swimming in the Dead Sea, this is a good spot.
On the beach itself, you’ll find sun loungers and sunshades, changing rooms, and the all important freshwater showers to hose off the salt after your dip. All these facilities are included in the entrance fee so there aren’t any extra charges.
Rimming the shore, you’ll also find souvenir shops selling Dead Sea beauty products incorporating the famous, mineral-rich Dead Sea mud; a small spa offering massages; and a restaurant and cafés.
