I admittedly knew little about Jordan before I visited. I knew (or so I thought) all about Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea.  What I found surprising was how much the country really has to offer – a LOT! Travelers can easily spend 10 days visiting.  Two weeks if you want to see it all.  Up next are the main highlights.

The Amman Citadel – a historic site in the center of the city and is an L-shaped hill, one of the seven jabals, or mountains, originally making up Amman.  It is considered to be one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited places.  The Citadel has the Temple of Hercules, Hand of Hercules, a museum with amazing pieces from as far back as the Neolithic period, a Byzantine church, and the Umayyad Palace.

Jordan Museum – the museum is new, having opened not long ago in 2014.  The museum doesn’t take long to go through, but is worth a stop to see one of the highlights – the Dead Sea Scrolls, which includes the only copper scroll are extremely rare.

Royal Automobile Museum – the museum was established in 2003 at King Abdullah’s wish.  The vehicles are all the royal families and are maintained in working order.  I had the pleasure of attending a private meal at the museum – a real highlight and very enjoyable way to view the collection.  The museum also has the rover used in the film, The Martian, which was gifted to the country for its hospitality shown while filming.

Jerash

This is when Jordan really started to blow me over.  Only 30 miles away from Amman, it is described as a blend between the Greco-Roman world and the Arab Orient. It was founded around 2,000 BC and if you have ever been to Rome, it is like walking through all the ruins but with no crowds.   If you want to see the site truly well, plan 4 hours at least to walk and explore at your own pace. The next time I visit the ruins, I would like to spend some more time in the modern city, which is known for over 1 million olive trees.  The olive oil from Jordan was really, really good. I regret not bringing any home.

Mount Nebo – I am a practicing Christian so to see the place where the Bible says Moses glimpsed the Promised Land when he was 120 was so, so special, even though the weather was not good. When the weather is clear, you can see Bethlehem and Jerusalem.  The location also has some very old, historical mosaics that have been uncovered and restored.

Our guide was the best.  One thing he did which I appreciated so much, was point out where the Koran and Bible were the same and where they would differ.  I never knew the story of Moses at Mt Nebo was recognized by both religions.

In Madapa is a church with a mosaic map from the sixth century.  This map is special not just because of its age – the map depicts Jerusalem and the Holy Land with villages as far away as the Nile Delta, with 2 million pieces of colored stone.

The mosaic work, especially around Madapa, is very beautiful.  All the tiles are hand cut and glued. The work is intricate, slow, and still done today.

We had one day of really windy and unpleasant weather, so our time at Shobak was a quick drive by. I would have loved to explored the Mont Realis, aka Montreal Castle, more, but it wait for the next visit.  The castle was critical to the Damascus to Cairo trade route and built in AD 1115.

Petra – this was my day. The whole reason I wanted to visit Jordan.  This has been a dream of mine to visit and it didn’t disappoint.  My only sadness was not spending more time and not feeling very well.  Petra is soooo much bigger than most realize – you can easily spend a day walking around the site.  Petra is believed to have been established as early as 300 BC by the Nabataeans. Petra was lost for 1,000 years until rediscovered by a Swiss explorer in 1812. It is a symbol of Jordan and truly a must do for any visitor.

A few things to note – it really is a lot of walking on mainly gravel and bigger rocks. From the front gate to the first rock cut building, The Treasury, plan on 30-45 minute of walking down a very gradual down hill.  There are some horse drawn carts but after watching them bouncy quickly, walking is much better.  Also, the Bedouins have exclusive rights to selling goods on the site and there are many of them.  I did find a gorgeous silver and stone ring for a reasonable price.  Keep walking and exploring, you will find good prices and what you are after.

Gorgeous Wadi Rum – Arabic for Roman Valley, known for red sand and rocks.  When scenes of Wadi Rum showed in Lawrence of Arabia, the secret was out.  The area is now used frequently for films – The Martian, Hurt Locker, Transformers – just to name a few who had some filming done at the location.

Wadi Rum is a desert and most visit to drive through, maybe do a little hiking, see some Thamudic inscriptions and generally explore an area that looks straight of of Mars.  I only had a quick tour, sunset toast, and a dinner, but the better way is to spend the night in a camp.  There are many options of many price points, so be careful to chose what you really want. Options range from shared bathrooms and sleeping areas (think dorm or hostel) to glamping, Bedouin style.

After all the time running around exploring, a visit to Aqaba is in order to rest and relax. The Red Sea borders many countries including Israel, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.  My small group had breakfast on a wooden sailing yacht.  It was a remarkable way to cap off a great visit and to start to wind down a bit. The yacht was beautiful while sailing on the smoothest waters.  It didn’t even feel like being on a boat. It was so relaxing and peaceful. I remember thinking so often on the cruise, this is a really perfect way to start my day.

Last but not least, every visit to Jordan should have a stop at the Dead Sea.  The Dead Sea is below sea level with a very high salt content – 33%.  You will float when you enter, guaranteed. It is the craziest feeling! The experience isn’t complete without rubbing the mud full of minerals all over you before using the Sea to rinse off.

Travel Tip – you seriously cannot have even a nick on your skin or it will burn.  Do not shave at least a full day before going in the water.  If you do have something, try to cover it with tape or a band aid. And don’t get the water in your mouth!

All the time when I tell people I visited Jordan they ask, “was I safe”.  A resounding yes is always my answer. Jordan is deeply invested in protecting its tourism industry, which is a huge revenue stream for the country with no natural resources (think oil, gas, like many of its neighbors).  They want tourists to not just stay safe but to feel it. If you are a group of 10 or more, you automatically have a tourism police officer assigned to your group, just to keep an eye out.

I loved my time in Jordan. I truly look forward to a few more years when my own kids are old enough to go (I don’t want to carry them through Petra right now).  If you have ever considered Jordan, now is a great time to go.  The crowds are less than they used to be and the country could really use the support of its amazing historical sites.

Give me a call or write an email – I will create the trip of your dreams and I happen to know a pretty amazing guide to have with you.