Kicking Back at the Ma’in Hot Springs

Think the Dead Sea is the only spa escape in Jordan?  Think again.

Not far from the Dead Sea are the Ma’in hot springs and the Evason Ma’in Resort and Six Senses Spa. This area stays warm year-round because it’s 264 meters below sea level, and it’s covered in beautiful waterfalls.

Hot waterfalls, that is!

The waterfalls at the Ma’in hot springs are of varying sizes and temperatures, but they’re all wonderfully warm.  While not all of the areas were open during my visit, I was able to enjoy several — and stood underneath the hot waterfall in the private ladies’ section of the spa for quite a long time.

I loved how natural the spa was.  Rather than a typical sauna, the Six Senses Spa has a natural cave sauna.  You have to scoot in on those wooden boards and be careful not to hit your head on the stalactites or touch the nearly boiling water, but it creates wonderful steam in the most natural way possible!

The Ma’in hot springs are quite close to the resort area of the Dead Sea, but I visited each of them several days apart, due in part to my whirlwind schedule that tried to fit as much as possible into a week.

It was kind of nice that they were spread out a bit — oases of relaxation in between the climbing, hiking and sightseeing — but if you have less time or want to do less driving, I recommend visiting them in succession.  You could easily do a day trip from the Dead Sea to the Ma’in hot springs or vice versa.  If you don’t have a car, the Evason runs day trips to the Dead Sea.

If you’re going to Jordan for spa breaks, or just want want to scrub off the dirt from Petra and Wadi Rum, the Ma’in hot springs are definitely worth a visit.  I know that when I end up returning to Jordan — and I believe I will next fall — I will make Jordan’s wonderful spa breaks a cornerstone of my itinerary once again!

Many thanks to the Jordan Tourism Board for hosting me in Jordan.  All opinions, as always, are my own.