Jordan is a country in Western Asia. Its capital is Amman. Its territory is surrounded on the west by Palestine and Israel, along the Jordan River and the Dead Sea, on the south by Saudi Arabia, on the east by Iraq and on the north by Syria. It also has access to the Gulf of Aqaba, which communicates further south with the Red Sea. While Arabic is the official language, English is also widely used in education and the media. Jordan is a constitutional monarchy whose current sovereign is, since February 7, 1999, King Abdullah II, whose wife is Queen Rania. Have you ever thought about traveling to Jordan? Well, discover seven famous places that you can't miss and start thinking about a different tour for this mystical and charming country, which is "a true ode to the deepest millennial civilizations". The millions of tourists who have visited this country cannot be mistaken.
Petra
One of the most popular places in Jordan is undoubtedly the emblematic city of Nabate, Petra. Carved in stone, this UNESCO heritage treasure will leave everyone stunned. One of the most visited tourist sites, and rightly so. Imagine a city carved in the red and orange rock. Petra is the perfect place to start traveling in Jordan and be dazzled by what the country has to offer. Petra is a Nabataean city located in the south of present-day Jordan. It is the major tourist center of this country. Created in antiquity, towards the end of the 8th century BC, by the Edomites, it was then occupied around the 8th century BC by the Nabataeans who made it prosper thanks to its position on the route of caravans transporting incense, spices and other precious products between South Arabia, Egypt, Syria and the Mediterranean. Around the 8th century, changes in trade routes and earthquakes led to the gradual abandonment of the city. At its peak, the city was home to up to 25,000 inhabitants. Fallen into oblivion in modern times, the site was rediscovered in 1812 by the Western world thanks to the Swiss explorer Jean Louis Burckhardt. The numerous buildings, whose monumental facades were cut directly into the rock, make it a unique ensemble. The area around the site has also been an archaeological national park since 1993. However, erosion, rain and tourism are a threat to the preservation of the site and actions are being taken to stop the destruction of the monuments. The local Bedouin communities, the Bedul, are integrated in a participatory way in the preservation of the Petra site and in the tourism economy. However, as a victim of the political instability in this region of the world, the site has, in some years, experienced a decline in tourist numbers, which leads to a loss of income for the local communities who live from the tourist trade.
Petra is located halfway between the Gulf of Aqaba and the Dead Sea at an altitude of 800 to 1,396 meters above sea level, in a valley bottom in the mountainous region of Edom, east of the Arabah Valley. The Petra site is about 200 kilometers south of Amman, the present capital of Jordan, about a 3-hour drive. Petra's location, hidden between steep rocky walls and with a secure water supply, makes it a suitable place for the development of a thriving city as a stopover for caravan trade. The place is accessible from the northwest only by a narrow mountain path or from the east by the main access, the Sîq, a canyon about 1.5 kilometers long and up to 200 meters deep, which at its narrowest point is only two meters wide. The presence of water and the security provided by the site have made Petra a natural stopover at the crossroads of several caravan routes that linked Egypt to Syria and South Arabia to the Mediterranean, loaded mainly with luxury goods such as spices and silk from India, ivory from Africa, pearls from the Red Sea, turquoise from the Sinai, Boswellia resin and incense from southern Arabia.
Amman
Amman has been the capital of Jordan since 1921. In Roman times, it was called Philadelphia and appears in the Bible as Rhabbat Ammon. It is one of the oldest cities in the world that is still inhabited. With more than 4 million inhabitants, it is the largest city in Jordan and the administrative and economic center of the country. The capital, where the modern meets the ancient East. Lively markets fill the streets and high-rise buildings stand in a desert landscape. Shopping malls mingle with traditional trade and the fusion of modern and ancient inspires tourists. At night, neon lights blend into the environment and create an unforgettable spectacle. Amman is located in a hilly area in the northwest of Jordan. The city was originally built on seven hills, earning it the nickname of the Rome of the Middle East, but it now sprawls over 19 hills, each known as "jabal" or mountain. The main districts of Amman take their names from the hills on whose slopes they lean. Amman has a semi-arid climate with mild, rainy winters. Amman has an average annual temperature of 17.5° C. The average annual rainfall is 271 mm and it does not rain from June to September. January is the month when it rains the most with 62 mm.
Wadi Rum, The beautiful desert
Mandatory during a visit to Jordan, Wadi Rum is nicknamed "The Beautiful Desert". With hundreds of species of native plants and animals, the red desert is a dream destination. Beyond the horizon dotted with orange sands and sedimentary rocks, several activities make this hot desert a stopover, such as climbing, hiking and local sports. In addition, a camera is mandatory as it is located in one of the most beautiful protected areas in the world. Wadi Rum or Wadi Ramm is a desert landscape with canyons, natural arches, cliffs and caves, located in the south of Arabah in Jordan. It has been inscribed on the World Heritage List as a mixed natural and cultural property. The site is also called Iram in Nabataean texts. Geologically, Wadi Rum is a valley carved by the erosion of an endorheic stream in the sandstone and granite rocks of southwestern Jordan. The region is one of the most important tourist destinations in Jordan. It attracts a growing number of tourists, especially climbers and trekkers, but also lovers of horseback riding, camel riding and all-terrain vehicles. This influx of tourists to this isolated region has significantly increased the income of the local Bedouin population who have been able to diversify their traditional activities by developing tourism-related businesses. Here are a few tourist sites in Wadi Rum :
- The Nabataean temple
- Lawrence's source
- Khazali Canyon
- The dunes
- Burdah Rock Bridge
- Um Frouth Rock Bridge
- Burrah Canyon
- Sunset Sites
- Thamud and Nabataean Inscriptions
- The Seven Pillars of Wisdom
- Burdah Rock Bridge
Aqaba
Aqaba or Akaba is a coastal city of 88,780 inhabitants at the southern tip of Jordan. Aqaba occupies a strategic position for Jordan as it is the only port in the country. The city is adjacent to Eilat, Israel, and has a border crossing to get there. Aqaba and Eilat are at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba. The protected area of Aqaba, where the blue of the sea and the red of the desert mix. The Red Sea allows you to spend good times diving and cooling off from the heat you feel on land. Aqaba is a reserve that makes you dream. The coral reefs of the Red Sea are sought after by tourists who like to explore the ocean floor. If you want to stay in a luxury hotel and enjoy a vacation with saunas and tourist cafes, Aqaba is your first option.
Jerash, the Greco-Roman world in Jordan
Forums, amphitheaters, racecourses and other emblematic points will delight the tourist with a touch of history are the centers of interest of Jerash. There are several routes to explore the ruins of Jerash so that you don't miss anything. And it is also possible to explore the Ajloun Fortress and see reconstructions of the Roman period. Jerash is the capital of Jerash Province in the Kingdom of Jordan. The population of the town exceeds 120,000 inhabitants. The modern city was established around the site of the ancient city of Gérasa, sometimes francized in Gérase.
Dana Reserve
Jordan's largest nature reserve is one of the places to visit. A green valley that contrasts with the rest of the route in Jordan and becomes an asset on any tour through this country. There is a guesthouse, originally designed for researchers and open to the public, as well as a campsite open from March to October, whose meals can be served in traditional Arabic if you wish. In Dana, it is also possible to experience an intrepid adventure by climbing or hiking in the reserve. It is possible to explore archaeological landscapes and ancient copper mines.
Ma'in
If you want to finish the tour to Jordan in the best possible way, it is essential to stop at the baths of Ma'in, to enjoy a day of rest to recover energies before returning home. A natural sauna and a well-deserved rest. Hot waterfalls and heated pools promise to make your trip to Jordan a memorable experience. And to end your trip in the best possible way, what do you think about adding a visit to Israel to your tour of Jordan? Since you've been traveling for hours halfway around the world, you can enjoy and complete your trip even more. What we offer you is a unique tour between Israel and Jordan, a memorable journey through the famous Holy Land and the wonders of history and its immense desert. Full of local experiences. Not to be missed.
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