Jordan is perhaps best known for the lost city of Petra with its famous Treasury and Monastery. Delve deeper into Jordan and you’ll find the red desert sands of Wadi Rum where you can dine around a crackling bonfire under the desert stars with the welcoming Bedouin tribes. There's the warm coral-filled waters Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea and the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea
At a Glance
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Capital :Amman
Language : Arabic
Currency :JOD
Dialing code:+962
Time Zone: (GMT+02:00)
Things To Do:
Rightly famous for the spectacular Petra World Heritage Site, Jordan is also home to stunning nature reserves and the mineral-rich Dead Sea. Highlights include the Dana Nature Reserve and the vast desert expanse of Wadi Rum, famed as the location for many of Lawrence of Arabia’s exploits.
*Wadi Rum The vast desert expanse of Wadi Rum is home to canyons that offer respite from the powerful midday sun and bear. A visit to Wadi Rum can be an excursion in a 4WD driven by a local Bedouin, an overnight stay in a basic, fixed camp, or a mobile camping trip on camelback lasting several nights.
*Amman Amman, the capital of Jordan is a modern, bustling place. Remnants of its history are a pleasant surprise to stumble across, such as the Roman amphitheatre and attendant Odeon found at the heart of downtown Amman.
*Madaba The town of Madaba is made up of Muslims and Christians, and amongst its churches are some superb mosaics, the most famous of which is a 6th century mosaic map depicting the Holy Land.
*Aqaba Greatly cherished as the only outlet to the sea, the port city of Aqaba at the southwestern point of Jordan provides a breath of fresh air and the country’s only real beach resort, to which Jordanians and visitors alike flock in their droves.
*Wadi Mujib Measuring 500 metres in depth and spanning 4 kilometres across, the impressive Wadi Mujib canyon is one of Jordan's most remarkable natural features. Located along the King's Highway and close to the east coast of the Dead Sea, the dramatic canyon features sheer rocky walls and sparkling waterways
When to Go
Spring (March – May) and autumn (September – November) are the best times to travel as the days are warm, with temperatures into the high 20Cs, but nights are cool. Exploring the sites in this climate is pleasant, it is not too hot for hiking in the nature reserves and both flora and fauna are abundant. The summer months (June - August) here are very hot, with temperatures reaching up into the 40Cs. However, if you are not adversely affected by heat it is still worth considering a trip at this time as you will have sites like Petra almost to yourself. In the winter months, Jordan often experiences snow and the nights get cold; especially in the desert regions. Winter (December - February) is also when the majority of the rain falls, but showers tend to be short and sharp.