Baptism Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” (Al-Maghtas)
By Zara Aitken
What is the Baptism Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan”?
The Baptism Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” is the alleged location of the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist. It is on the Jordan River, on the border of Israel and Jordan, only 9 miles north of the Dead Sea. Today it is both a baptismal site and a place of pilgrimage.
The UNESCO designation includes many structures dating as far back as the 4th century: churches, caves used by early Christian hermits, baptismal pools and water collection systems. The site around the archeological remains has been designated a nature reserve because of its description as a wilderness in the Bible.
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Why is Bethany Beyond the Jordan a UNESCO World Heritage site?
This history and the archaeological significance of the site is what contributes to its inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The site holds great spiritual and religious significance for those with a Christian faith. Many make pilgrimages to the site to bathe or for baptism in the ‘holy waters’ of the Jordan River. Baptisms, a sacrament in the Christian faith, have been performed at this site since the 4th century.
Over the centuries, the faithful have built churches and other buildings on the site to commemorate the historic baptism event. These include a water collection system, chapels, a monastery and a baptism pool.
The Bethany Beyond the Jordan site is also associated with the Biblical prophets Elijah and Elisha. It is at this site that Elijah allegedly ascended to heaven and Elisha picked up Elijah’s mantle as it fell from the sky.
What can you expect on a visit to Bethany Beyond the Jordan?
Your visit will begin at the Visitor Centre which acts as the entrance to the Baptism Site. You need to purchase your ticket at the Visitor Centre. If you haven’t arrived with a tour guide, the Visitor Centre will provide one.
From the Visitor Centre, you’ll take a mandatory 10-minute bus ride to the Baptism Site itself, which is located on the Jordan-Israel border. You cannot visit the Baptism Site independently due to the border location.
After leaving the bus, it’s a 2-km walk (1.2 miles) from the car park to the Baptism Site itself. Lots of people report the walk taking up to 1 hour, but it definitely didn’t take this long when I visited. It only took us 20-30 minutes each way, meaning a 1-hour walk in total.
The walk is completely flat along clearly-marked pathways. You’ll find a gift shop and a small museum along the way. There is also a small snack shop selling drinks and ice creams in the car park where the bus drops you off before the walk.
Whether you’re religious or not, the area makes for an interesting visit in a beautiful natural park. I enjoyed the walk from the car park to the Baptism Site. It was amazing to think that I was possibly walking in the footsteps of Jesus and John the Baptist, thousands of years later.
After walking 2 km, you’ll arrive at what Christians believe is the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ, a set of stone steps leading to a small pool of water. The pool was almost completely dry when I visited, but at certain times of the year it fills up, depending on rainfall. The site isn’t actually in the current Jordan River. According to the guide, the river once flowed through here before being diverted.
Due to the site’s religious significance, three Byzantine churches have overlooked the baptism pool over many centuries, each one built on top of the previous one. The remaining church is now in ruins, due to its age, but you can still see the foundations.
The next stop on the tour is a visit to the actual Jordan River. Located on the river’s edge, you’ll find a gold-roofed Orthodox Church, which is small but beautiful inside. It’s well worth a look.
You can walk down right to the river’s edge and watch people on the other side in Israel, bathing or getting baptised in the river. You can even choose to get baptised yourself.
After spending about 15 minutes in this area, we began the walk back with our tour group to the bus, stopping at the gift shop and museum along the way.
Is the Baptism Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” worth visiting?
The Baptism Site is definitely worth visiting if you’re in the area. It’s only a short drive from the Dead Sea, so if you’re staying nearby in Jordan, it’s worth a trip for the historical significance of the site. However, I personally don’t think the site is worth a full-day trip from Amman unless you are of a Christian faith or very interested in history.
As a Christian myself, it was fascinating to see the areas I have read about in the Bible and feel that I was walking in the footsteps of Jesus and John the Baptist. If you are not religious, the site may feel underwhelming.
If your Jordan itinerary is tight, it’s one of the sites I would suggest skipping unless you’re in the area and have some spare time.
It’s also a shame to see the commercialisation of the area, with the gift shop selling vials of ‘holy water,’ fridge magnets and souvenirs. I felt this detracted from the sacredness of the site.
Tips for visiting Bethany Beyond the Jordan
Allow up to 2 hours for the full tour experience, from start to finish from the Visitor Centre.
There are no restrooms at the Baptism Site, so make sure to use the toilet at the Visitor Centre before you jump on the bus.
Due to the location of the Baptism Site well below sea level, the weather is often extremely humid. Prepare to be hot and sticky, especially while walking to the site. Make sure to take water, snacks, and plenty of sunscreen as the walk is very exposed and you won’t find much shade. Alternatively, visit in the morning to avoid peak heat.
Wear light, loose-fitting clothing but make sure to dress modestly. This is true anywhere in Jordan anyway, but especially at this site due to its religious sanctity.
Wear trainers or sturdy walking sandals. I wore my Birkenstocks and was very comfortable.
Book accommodations near the Dead Sea.
If you’re traveling around Jordan, you’re likely to visit the most popular sites of Petra and Wadi Rum, both of them UNESCO sites. Also consider a lesser-known UNESCO site, Quseir Amra.
Where is the Baptism Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan”?
The Visitor Centre, which acts as the entrance to the Baptism Site is located on Baptism Road, Juwafat al-Kafrayn, Jordan.
This is a 20-minute drive from the main resort hotels on the Dead Sea, or a 1-hour drive from the capital city of Amman. There is no public transport available to the Baptism Site. The only option is to arrive by motor vehicle, whether this is in a taxi, your own hired car, or with a tour. Tours are available from Amman, and include other sights in a day-long tour, or from the Dead Sea resorts.
For more information about the Baptism Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan,” its opening hours and admission fees, see its official website.
Have you been to Bethany Beyond the Jordan? If so, do you have any additional information or advice about this UNESCO World Heritage site? Please add your comments below!