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 Located
in the heart of the Middle East, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan enjoys a
combination of Mediterranean and arid desert climates presenting travelers
with the best of both worlds.
From the Jordan Rift Valley in the West to the desert plateau of the
East, and a range of small hills running the length of the country in
between there is a wealth of sites just waiting to be experienced.
Here are just some of the magnificent scenic and historic sites you can
expect to see there:
Amman - Jordan's capital. Visit the Citadel featuring a
spectacular view over the hills and valleys of the capital, the temple of
Hercules, the Ummayyad palace, a Byzantine church and the archaeological
museum. Down the hill is the Roman theatre which seats 6,000 and the nearby
Grand Hussein Mosque.
Jerash, the Pompei of the East - Jerash has been covered by sand
for centuries, the main reason why it is still so well preserved. You will
enter Jerash through the monumental South Gate and find yourself wandering
around in a Roman city. You will walk in the Oval Plaza surrounded by
colonnades, visit the Roman theatre and Byzantine churches with
mosaic-covered floors. Enjoy a stroll along Jerash' main road the Cardo and
pass by the Nymphaeum. You may experience the marvellous acoustics of the
theatre, the stage of the Jerash music festival which takes place every
year. And see for yourself how the Romans built the earthquake-proof columns
of the colonnaded streets.
Ajloun - is an Islamic military castle that was used by the
Islamic armies of Saladin to protect the region against the crusaders.
Madaba - is famous for the unique mosaic map of the Holy Land,
which can be found in Saint George's church floor.
Mount Nebo - is the place where Moses looked over the Holy Land
and the Dead Sea. That is the place where Moses was seen for the last time;
therefore we consider this place as burial place for Moses. You can visit
here the memorial church of Moses. If the sky is clear Jerusalem, Jericho
and Bethlehem will meet your eye at the other side of the Dead Sea.
The Dead Sea - is one of the most spectacular natural and
spiritual landscapes on earth. It lies on the western frontier of Jordan and
is well-known to be the lowest spot on earth, 400 meters below sea level.
The unusually salty and mineral rich water, the rich black mud along the
shoreline, the thermal mineral springs are healing both for your body and
your soul. They have attracted kings, emperors, traders and prophets since
antiquity.
Kerak - is a magnificent Crusader fortress. It is located 124 km
south of Amman on the King's Highway, where it could control all traffic
from north and south
Petra - no visit to Jordan will be complete without having seen
the capital of the ancient Nabatean kingdom, Petra. The long-lost city of
Petra, carved entirely by man into the rose-red sandstone rocks, puts your
imagination to the test. It's a mystic and glorious place, an eternal
tribute to a lost civilization. Petra was the central meeting point of the
Nabatean spice routes which originated from the Persian Gulf, Western Arabia
and the Red Sea. About two thousand years ago Petra became the capital of
the Nabatean Empire. The city was so renowned that one of its kings, Aretas
IV, is even mentioned in the Bible. The natural richness of the mountainous
area combines in a superb way with the refined culture and massive
architecture of the Nabateans, who carved their theatre, temples, façades,
tombs, monasteries, houses and roads entirely into the rose-red sandstone
rocks. No wonder UNESCO placed Petra on its World Heritage List. One enters
Petra by passing through the Siq, a deep and narrow gorge, at the end of
which all of a sudden dramatically appears the most famous monument in
Petra: al-Khazneh or the Treasury. Maybe you will recognize it as the stage
of the final sequence of the movie 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'. But
the Treasury is just the start. Walking and climbing in Petra, hundreds of
buildings carved in stone and eroded through the centuries into fabulous
multi-coloured walls will be revealed to you.
A visit to Wadi Rum is a journey to another world, a silent and
timeless place where you will be dwarfed to insignificance. 'Vast,
echoing and Godlike', that's how Lawrence of Arabia described. The
uniquely shaped massive mountains rise out of the rose-red desert sand. This
desert is the home for the local Bedouin tribes.
Aqaba - lies at the Red sea. Jordan's only port is the place to
be. The waters of the Red Sea are crystal clear and have an abundant marine
life. Aqaba offers a wide variety of opportunities to explore this amazing
underwater world, such as scuba diving and snorkelling. The Red Sea is home
to more than 140 species of coral and countless species of brightly coloured
fish. And if you are lucky you may also experience close encounters with
friendly sea animals like turtles and dolphins. The weather near the Gulf of
Aqaba is splendid all year around.
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Entry / Exit requirements
A passport and a visa are required. Visitors may obtain a visa for Jordan
for a fee at most international ports of entry upon arrival except at the
King Hussein/Allenby Bridge.
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Travel Tips
- Do dress modestly.
Although Jordan is not as strict as other Muslim countries in requiring
women to cover their head and legs, outfits should be loose and should
conceal as much of the body as possible. Men should always wear long pants
and shirts with sleeves.
- Don't take photos indiscriminately. Many residents
may object to having their pictures taken, so ask permission first. Use
discretion, especially, if you're taking photos of women or scenes that
could be interpreted as showing poverty. Military installations and bridges
should never be photographed.
- Don't criticize the king or royal family in
public - doing so is a serious legal offence.
- Shopping: Stick to the bazaars
offering colourful wares and great bargains. Be prepared to haggle.
- To
prevent "Montezuma’s Revenge", avoid the tap water, including raw fruits and
vegetables washed in tap water. Your stomach may still become upset due to
the change in diet. Bring anti-diarrhoea medicine just in case.
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General Information
- Weather: The best times to visit Jordan are
October-December and April-June when it's warm during the day and cool in
the evening. Summers are very warm, with temperatures running 32-44 C. Rain
falls most frequently November-March. Winters can be very drizzly, damp and
cool - snow occasionally falls in Amman and the mountains. We suggest taking
along a sweater, even during the summer, as the contrast between day and
night temperatures is dramatic. Aqaba is usually a few degrees warmer than
the rest of the country.
- Jordan is a constitutional monarchy with a
developing economy. While Jordan is modern and Western-oriented, Islamic
ideals and beliefs provide the conservative foundation of the country’s
customs, laws and practices.
- Language: Arabic is the local language.
Limited English is generally understood and spoken as well.
- Currency: The
Jordanian dinar is the currency of Jordan.
- Tipping is a matter of personal discretion. Although bills
normally include a service charge, it is customary to tip in restaurants
and other places that cater to tourists. Population: 4.9 million.
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Map
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