Ahava Factory

At the lowest point on Earth, the Dead Sea, the world-famous cosmetics company Ahava welcomes visitors into its factory to learn the secrets that lie in the Dead Sea mud. Guests will receive a guided tour of the factory, an informative multimedia presentation, and expert advice from a cosmetologist.

Ahava was established in 1988 with a lone stall selling a body scrub made with Dead Sea mud. A couple of decades later and the company now earns around $150 million every year. The leading Dead Sea brand utilizes the unique mineral make-up of the Dead Sea to cleanse and invigorate the skin, improve metabolism, promote good circulation, and heal the body. 

There has long been a tradition of healing powers associated with the Dead Sea. The most famous thing about this spot is that people float on the surface of the water, and this is due to the extremely high concentration of salt. The mud soaks up the minerals and is great for rejuvenating skin, while the sulfur in the water heals conditions such as psoriasis, sore muscles, and rheumatic joints. Ziva Gilad, the company's founder, decided to package the mud to sell to others after seeing tourists taking large quantities of the substance to take home with them.

The factory tour shows visitors how the production process works from start to finish, starting with the raw material and finishing up with cosmetic products including hand creams, facial cleansers, body milk and anti-aging products among many others. Experts are on hand to give you advice about which products are most suitable for your specific skin type, and you'll be able to buy samples of the full range of products which make for perfect souvenirs to bring back for family and friends.

The tour itself is free of charge, and there is no obligation to buy any of the products. The factory is open every day from 8 am to 5 pm, 4 pm on a Friday. It is conveniently located across from Mineral Beach where you can spend hours floating in the water, taking a dip in the sulfur pools, and covering yourself in mineral-rich mud.