Images of the ancient Nabataean city of Petra, carved from the rock over a thousand years ago, have long been most people’s first impression of Jordan. But while Petra is indeed one of the most stunning attractions in the Middle East, Jordan offers so much more for the modern traveller. A well-travelled trade-route between sea and desert, east and west, Jordan is a land of beauty and contrasts, from the Jordan Valley - fertile, ever changing; to the remote canyons, arid mountains and scorching deserts. Visitors can explore splendid Crusader castles, gaze at the haunting wilderness of Wadi Rum, or bathe in the restful waters of the Red Sea.
Cool Cities
Amman
Amman, Jordan's capital, is a city of contrasts; a unique blend of old and new, situated on a hilly area between the desert and the fertile Jordan Valley. In the commercial heart of the city, ultra-modern buildings, hotels, smart restaurants, art galleries and boutiques rub shoulders comfortably with traditional coffee shops and tiny artisans' workshops. Everywhere there is evidence of the city’s older past.
Aqaba
With a wealth of attractions, Jordan’s Red Sea resort of Aqaba should not be overlooked by visitors. It is a great base to explore places of interest in southern Jordan. Aqaba is a fun place. It is a microcosm of all the good things Jordan has to offer, including its history with some outstanding sites, excellent hotels and activities, good shopping, and friendly people.
Madaba
Madaba 30 kilometers south-west of Amman is best known for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics, especially a large Byzantine-era mosaic map of The Holy Land. Madaba was once a Moabite border city, mentioned in the Bible. Southwest of Madaba is Hammamat Ma’in, since the days of Rome, people have come to its thermal mineral springs to immerse themselves in the sites’ warm therapeutic waters.
Icons
Petra
Petra, the fabled "rose red city, half as old as time", is a well-known ancient Nabataean city in the south of Jordan. The first real excavations of the site were in 1929. Since then, Petra has become Jordan's largest tourist attraction due to its breathtaking grandeur and fabulous ruins, and no doubt partially due to the exposure by the Steven Spielberg movie, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Crusader Castle of Kerak
South of Madaba is Karak, once capital of the biblical kingdom of Moab. It is dominated by one of the largest and best preserved of the Crusader castles. Kerak Castle is a typical example of Crusader architecture, with Romanesque-style stone vaults, numerous corridors, and strong doorways. The Crusader parts of the ruins are identified by dark volcanic tufa; later Arab additions are in white limestone.
Church at Bethany
On the east bank of the River Jordan near Amman is Bethany, the place where John the Baptist lived. Christian pilgrimage to this holy place, besides the Baptism Site of Jesus is the gold-domed Greek Orthodox Church of St John the Baptist. Excavations in the 90s uncovered more than 20 churches, caves of monks and baptismal pools from the Roman and Byzantine periods.
Natural Landscapes
Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum also known as The Valley of the Moon is a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock in southern Jordan 60 km east of Aqaba; it is the largest wadi in Jordan. Wadi Rum is home to the Zalabia Bedouin who, working with climbers and trekkers, have made a success of developing eco-adventure tourism, now their main source of income.
Desert dunes
The spectacular scenic valley of Wadi Rum is where Lawrence of Arabia was filmed. Some of the highlights in Wadi Rum include red sand dunes, the seven pillars of wisdom and huge mountains. Experiencing the desert environment is the biggest attraction. Popular activities in the desert environment include camping under the stars, riding Arab horses, hiking and rock-climbing.
Azraq Wetlands Reserve
The Azraq Wetland Reserve is a nature reserve located near the town of Azraq in the eastern desert of Jordan. An oasis for migratory birds, Azraq was established in 1978 and covers 12 square kilometres. The natural springs dried up in 1992 and most migratory birds subsequently moved away from the area. Artificial springs maintain the site today.
Go Local
Sightseeing by camel
There is no better way to experience the remoteness and grandeur of the desert than by camel. Imagine a desert trek through the immense Wadi Rum that ends with a sunset view from a remote location, followed by overnighting in a Bedouin camp. Sleep under a star filled sky after being entertained by age old songs and stories accompanied by local Arab cuisine.
The local spice market
Take a walk through the narrow alleyways of the Balad; a maze of busy crowded streets for a real taste of Jordan from a spice market to fruit, souvenirs, clothes, hardware. Drink a cool glass of Sugar Cane juice, watch talented young men make artistic sand designs inside the glass bottles, or go and smoke a shisha in any of the numerous street cafes.
Swim in the Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is a salt lake bordering Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west. Its surface and shores are 423 metres below sea level. It is over 8 times saltier than the ocean. This salinity makes for a harsh environment where animals cannot flourish, hence its name. The Dead Sea's climate offers year-round sunny skies and dry air.
Treasures of the Past
Petra
Petra is a historical and archaeological city in the governorate of Ma'an famous for its rock cut architecture and water conduit system. Established around the 6th century BC it is Jordan’s most visited tourist attraction. It lays on the slope of Mount Hor in a basin among the mountains the eastern flank of Wadi Araba, a large valley running from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba.
Jerash
Jerash is the site of the ruins of the Greco-Roman city of Gerasa. Hidden for centuries in sand before being excavated and restored over 70 years Jerash is one of the best-preserved Roman provincial towns in the Middle East. It is the second-most popular attraction in Jordan. The ruins have been carefully preserved with the modern city sprawling west of the ancient city walls.
Mount Nebo
Mount Nebo a mountain near Madaba is, according to ancient tradition, the place where Moses saw the Promised Land before he died. It is an important place of Christian pilgrimage. Excavations by the Franciscans uncovered significant remains an early church and its magnificent Byzantine mosaics. A simple modern shelter dedicated to Moses is built over them.
Arts and Culture
The Citadel, Amman
The Hill of the Citadel (Jabal al-Qal'a) in Amman was fortified during the Bronze Age (1800 BC). The ruins on the hill today are Roman through early Islamic. The Bible records that King David captured the city in the early 10th century BC. The Citadel hill is home to the Temple of Hercules said to have been constructed under the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
Kerak Castle
Karak is a city 140 km south of Amman known for the famous crusader castle Kerak. The castle is one of the three largest castles in the region, the other two in Syria. An ancient Crusader stronghold situated on a hilltop about 1000 meters above sea level and surrounded on three sides by a valley. Karak has a view of the Dead Sea.
Qasr Kharana
Qasr Kharana is one of the best-known of the Jordanian desert castles, about 60 kilometres east of Amman and close to the Saudi Arabia border. It was built sometime before the early 8th century. It is one of the earliest examples of Islamic architecture in the region. Inside the building are 60 rooms on two levels arranged around a central courtyard.
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