Walk among the cacti to this lookout, high above the Dead Sea, then watch raptors wheel in the wadis below and you will have to pinch yourself to think that you are standing at sea level. This wonderful museum and restaurant complex offers breathtaking views, especially on a crisp day in winter when the Judaea Mountains across the water seem as if they are an arm’s stretch away.
For an excellent introduction to the geology, history and environment of the Dead Sea, spare an hour for the Dead Sea Museum (8am to 4.30pm) and lay hands on a set of touchable stones. Drive the roads in the area and you’ll notice the rich pattern, texture and hue of the exposed rocks alongside the road. This is particularly the case on the Dead Sea Parkway, which extends above the Dead Sea Panorama to Hammamat Ma’in and Madaba or below to the Dead Sea Highway. Along the cut of the steepest section of road, rich layers of sedimentary rock create natural murals that add to the beauty of the journey. In the museum, you can identify and touch specimens of this geological treasure.
If reading about the threat to the Dead Sea gets too depressing, the Panorama Restaurant, with its splendid view, will lift your spirits. The excellent cuisine makes it a popular venue for weekend lunch and dinner. Try the mashed- walnut dip or shanklish (local blue cheese mixed with tomatoes, onion and parsley), and follow it up with marinated, locally reared lamb chops.
The complex is clearly signposted off the Dead Sea Highway, about 10km south of the Dead Sea Resorts. The Dead Sea Panorama makes a worthwhile stop on a day circuit from Madaba, Mt Nebo, Bethany, the Dead Sea and Hammamat Ma’in, either by hired car or taxi (JD50 through Charl at the Mariam Hotel). There is no public transport.
