The fortress in Kerak. It looks like it’s about to rain.
Jordan 2021
Day 16: November 20
Kerak - Dead Sea - Aqaba
Jordan 2021
Itinerary
In Kerak, we are not staying overnight for no reason — a large fortress rises here on the hill above the city. After breakfast and checking out of the hotel, we head there for a walk.
The fortress is beautiful, with interesting semi-underground passages and chambers. Its walls offer a picturesque view of the surrounding area.
In the fortress
Picturesque view from the castle walls
The city of Kerak is visible from the castle walls
After Kerak, Volchiy suggests going back once more to the Dead Sea to look for another wild beach. The clouds have surprisingly dispersed, the sun has come out, and it seems we may even be able to swim if we do find a suitable spot. Just in case, we buy a bottle of water at a roadside shop to rinse off the salt water after the sea.
We drive to the sea along the same road we took yesterday to Kerak. By that time yesterday it had already gotten dark, and we didn’t see how beautiful it is here. We stop to take photos.
We find a beautiful wild beach by the sea about 10 km after the turnoff onto the highway that runs along the coast. The salt begins long before the water’s edge; it feels like we’re walking on the seabed.
Along the coast there are many little coves; from afar we see that one cove has been taken over by a Jordanian family. We head to the neighboring cove—how wonderful it is to swim, we’re completely alone here. The water is warm and clear. After swimming, we keep walking for a long time and looking at the salt deposits—so beautiful! We can’t get enough of the amazing forms created by nature.
Wolf with a Salt Ball
Salt Shores
Salt Crystals
I’m going swimming!
Salt Mountain with Salt Icicles
Volchiy came up with the idea of photographing the salt mountain from the inside, and it turned out very beautiful
Salt Mountain
Salt Streaks
The stream flows into the sea
Time by the sea flew by like a moment, and it is sunset again, it is getting dark. The Dead Sea is located about 400 meters below sea level; the seashore is the lowest point on the planet. We check this with GPS — and indeed, the navigator shows an altitude of minus 404 meters.
On the shore of the Dead Sea, the navigator shows an elevation of -404 meters below sea level
We have 200 km and two and a half hours of travel ahead of us; today and tomorrow we are staying overnight in Aqaba. For about another half hour, we drive in the rays of the setting sun along a very scenic road by the sea. And then we continue on in pitch darkness.
In Aqaba, we have a beautiful hotel, a room with a balcony, and a really great view of the sea. We go to a restaurant for dinner. We order two “pies,” one with chicken, the other with some other meat. And a hookah :)
Dinner with hookah