OVERVIEW

Famed for the pink stone city of Petra, carved into the cliff-face, Jordan is a mosaic of biblical history, ancient monuments, breathtaking landscapes, nature reserves, and seaside resorts. Visit the Dead Sea, a lake that’s a long way beneath sea level, and so salty that you’ll find you’re much more buoyant than in the ocean. Wadi Rum, known for its combination of jagged peaks, ruined temples, and incredible night skies, is a place you simply must experience. Jordan’s stunning natural scenery and impressive monuments make it the perfect introduction to a longer Middle East itinerary. Or you can equally enjoy it as a standalone destination.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Explore the narrow valley with tombs, temples and monuments carved into the surrounding pink sandstone cliffs at Petra.
  • Tour Jerash, one of the largest and most impressive Roman cities in the world.
  • See ancient Byzantine Churches, mosaics, and artifacts, at Madaba.
  • View the Holy Land from Mount Nebo, where Moses first glimpsed the land after roaming the desert for 40 years.
  • Experience Bedouin hospitality and spectacular sunsets during an overnight stay in Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum.
  • Float in the Dead Sea at Aqaba, Jordan’s only coastal city, resort, and port.
Gateway city: Amman
Best time to travel:March through May; September through November

AMMAN

The bustling capital city of Jordan, Amman, not only offers modern conveniences, splendid restaurants, and buzzing markets but also beautiful Islamic architecture and ancient Roman sites. Visit King Abdullah I Mosque as well as the Roman Theatre, which dates back to the 2nd Century and still hosts events today.

PETRA

Perhaps Jordan’s most famous attraction – and a destination of global significance – is the ‘Rose City’ of Petra. Over 2,000 years old, each monastery and temple in Petra is carved from the pink-colored sandstone. At certain times of the day, the wonderfully intricate arches and columns glow with an intense pink color when the sun’s rays hit the rocks. You do not want to miss the spectacular “Petra By Night” experience on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays when the city is magically illuminated by 1,500 candles.

MADABA

Madaba is a charming and welcoming city, adorned with mosaics from the Byzantine Empire, especially the 6th-century mosaic map located inside the church of Saint George, which is one of the oldest cartographic representations of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. It is normally a stop en route between Amman and Petra, on the King’s Highway.

MOUNT NEBO

Mount Nebo, another stop on the King’s Highway, is one of the most significant and revered sites in the Holy Land – where Moses is believed to have been buried. Here you can also enjoy a panoramic view of the Jordan River Valley, the Dead Sea, Jericho, and Jerusalem.

WADI RUM

To experience the romance of the desert, an expedition to Wadi Rum is also highly recommended. The combination of jagged peaks, rock bridges, sand dune, ruined temples, and endless night skies make the Jordanian desert a place you simply must experience. Take a jeep ride at sunset, camel ride at sunrise, hike or mountain climb to see the everchanging colors of the desert, before retiring for the night in a Bedouin camp.

AQABA

Aqaba is a charming city on the shores of the Red Sea that offers luxury resorts, water sports, and the opportunity to float on the Dead Sea. As the lowest point on Earth and containing twenty times more salt than the ocean, it really is possible to lie on the surface and read a book or a newspaper. The waters are also believed to have health-giving properties, making the Dead Sea rather like a giant, open-air spa.