Are you searching for a totally unique place on earth? Then a lone dead tree located on a small salt formation in the middle of the dead sea is for you! On a recent trip to Israel I discovered this beautiful and other worldy spot with a few friends. It was really exciting to find a place that I had not seen all over social media. The tree at Lake Wanaka in New Zealand has become a hotspot for photographers and instagrammers, with hundreds of people visiting this part of the country specifically to see the tree and having found this dead tree in Israel I wonder if the same thing will happen here!
If you follow my Instagram account you will have seen that I shared some amazing photographs of the dead sea and of this unusual salt formation far out into the water and many people asked me the location so I wanted to share with you how to find it for yourself.
But first how did a tree come to live in a dead sea where nothing should be living? After we found this spot we researched it and discovered that a man paddles out on a paddle board and tends to this tree everyday creating something living where nothing else does.
How To Get To The Dead Sea, ‘Dead’ Tree
If you want to visit the lowest tree on earth then you can park near the Leonardo Plaza Hotel and you should be able to spot the tree from there. This area is around 170 km from Tel Aviv and the journey takes around 2 hours. Once you park your vehicle, you can walk down to the beach area along one of the jetties and begin your swim out the tree.
Update: Since my visit other travellers have been there and say the location is actually closer to the Herods Dead Sea Spa and Hotel in Neve Zohar.
Swimming To The Tree
When we arrived at the spot where we would swim from, we looked out to the salt island and thought it didn’t look too far and jumped right into the water without a second thought. But then we quickly realised our mistake. Whilst the island is not that far away, swimming in water with such a high density of salt is hard and slow!
After only 10 minutes of so of swimming we were struggling because its hard to swim when your legs keep floating up out of the water. We also realised we should have brought some water and some extra sunscreen.
You need to be extra careful not to splash the salt water into your eyes during your swim, otherwise like me you may be swimming with your eyes closed for the rest of the way! Bringing some fresh water means that you could wash out your eyes if you get any salt water in them during the swim.
The dead sea is also located out in the desert, and in one of the hottest places on earth so the sun is unforgiving. Make sure you have layered up with plenty of sunscreen before you jump into the water!
Our Experience At The Dead Tree, Israel
Once we made it to the salt island we began to relax. The salt formation itself is not forgiving and actually very painful to walk or sit on. But the centre section acts like a salt water hot tub and Alex and I just sat in the middle and chilled out. We also needed the break after the intense swim!
I hope that this article has helped to plan your own trip to The Dead Sea. If you have any questions, comments or tips for our readers please share in the comments below.
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Karen says
Hi!! loved this article and I even came to see you guy at the Abraham Hostel. I actually decided I wanted to make the trip to the dead tree after you had as well! It was amazing and so worth it! However, when we got to the Crowne Plaza hotel, we noticed the tree wasn’t there! we spoke to a few people and discovered it is actually outside the Leonardo Plaza which is another 5 minute drive away!! So just a heads up for anyone else that may be heading out to the tree…
Becky van Dijk says
Hi Karen! Ah thank you so much for letting me know – we drove here and didn’t know the exact location we had ended up in so we researched after and thought it was at the Crowne Plaza. I will update the article! Hope you loved this spot – quite magical!
Rochelle Mae says
Hello there!!! I’m in love with this article. Just a thought though.. is it possible to bring inflatable boat so we wont get into the salty water for a long time while swimming to the tree? I’m planning to get there in September and i really wanna see this dead tree in the dead sea;D
Sandra says
Hello! I have searched for accommodation in this hotel, but for my dates it is all full! Do you know if it is possible to enter and bathe in this area without sleeping in the hotel? is free? Very thanks!