The healing properties of the Dead Sea are so legendary that Cleopatra herself is said to have soaked in its waters. Needless to say, my visit to the Dead Sea included a mud bath in its soothing waters, which I'd highly recommend doing if you're in staying Tel Aviv.

I was surprised to learn that there are over 20 minerals found in the mud and salt of the Dead Sea, which makes the mud great for skin treatments. Mud from the Dead Sea includes properties such as calcium and magnesium. Dead Sea mud baths get rid of dry skin, allowing your pores to take in a variety of beneficial minerals.

For those of you who like the D.I.Y. approach, like myself, then head to the Dead Sea itself. Simply put, the Dead Sea is breathtaking and unlike anything I've ever seen. Salt crystals cover the shore, beautifully bordering the relaxing turquoise water of the Dead Sea. While you're visiting the Dead Sea, you'll see people floating effortlessly in the water—I even saw some people comfortably reading in the water without the aid of any inner tube or flotation device. This is because the salt water of the Dead Sea, which has a salt level of over 30%, is much more dense than freshwater. I spent some time floating in the water, slathered some mud on my body, waited in the sun for it to dry, and then rinsed off.

If you'd rather go to a spa and have a professional do your Dead Sea mud bath, there are several choices. My travel companions chose the Ein Gedi Spa, but the Lot SPA Hotel, the Isrotel Dead Sea Hotel and Spa, and the spa at the Hod Hamidbar hotel are also near the Dead Sea. Different spas have different processes for Dead Sea mud baths. At some spas, your body will be covered neck-down in mud. Then, you'll be wrapped in a sheet in order to keep the mud moist. At other spas, you'll submerge yourself in a tub filled with mud. During this process, you will feel warm and relaxed as the beneficial minerals from the mud penetrate your skin. As you lie in the tub, you may even forget you're covered in mud.

Though it's hard to imagine being stressed in a place as serene as the Dead Sea, a mud bath will likely refresh your mind as well as your skin. As I journeyed back to my hotel in Tel Aviv from my day at the Dead Sea, I felt fully rejuvenated.