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Photo by: Sisse Brimberg/Cotton/AGE Fotostock

Soaking in the hot springs at Ma’In; bathing in the Jordan River; floating in the Dead Sea. Water is precious in the desert, but it is especially so in Jordan. Because of its restorative natural resources, this country has been drawing seekers of health and wellness since long before the term “spa” was used.

The mineral salts and mud found here have soothed and healed Herod, Cleopatra, Aristotle, and Jesus, as well as countless lesser-known pilgrims. And now, I hoped, they would work their magic on me.

Ma'In 

My trip began in Ma’In, an incredible valley in Jordan with a Garden of Eden feel—lush and vaguely Arabic, surrounded by cliffs and waterfalls. The hot springs here are legendary: Geothermally heated water jumps out of the cliffs every few hundred feet, spilling over camel-colored rocks on the way to mossy green natural pools frequented by both residents of the area and guests of the new Evason Ma’In Hot Springs & Six Senses Spa.

The groups tend to eye each other nervously at first, but differences in culture and bathing attire—burqas, long-sleeve shirts, and shorts on local women, and bathing suits (in some cases, skimpy bikinis) on Western women—are quickly forgotten in the pools, replaced by thoughts of nothing and sighs of relief. For a less public yet equally healing bathing experience I proceeded to the spa, which has its own pool fed by the same springs and surrounded by oversize chaises and pillows. 

The Six Senses philosophy involves supporting the community and environment wherever its properties are located. Here, this means offering special packages to area residents, educating guests about local customs, and integrating homegrown ingredients into its spa treatments. Oil made with olives from the property’s garden is used for massage, a paste that blends native honey with dates harvested on site is the focal point of a signature wrap, and Dead Sea salts and mud show up in several offerings. 

The Jordan River

My quest for water in the desert next led me to the Jordan River, once believed to cure leprosy and wash away sins. The New Testament states that Jesus was baptized in these waters, and although droughts and development are turning the river into more of a stream, people are still baptized here. I watched as pilgrim after pilgrim had the river’s water trickled over their heads, often as tears streamed down their faces. But the Jordan’s significance isn’t just religious—the river also feeds into the Dead Sea, bringing minerals that give the water its famed healing power. 

Next: The author's long-awaited visit to the Dead Sea.