Week eight of my ridiculous 52 nations around the world in 52 weeks journey took me to the Center Jap gem of Jordan, the cheapest flight out of Budapest. Now do not get me improper, I appreciate European towns, but just after two months straight of church buildings, castles, and old towns I was SO energized to be heading someplace absolutely distinct to the initial element of my large vacation.
Jordan jumped on to my bucket list a few of years back again right after seeing photos of the gorgeous Petra ruins on Instagram, but mainly because it’s notoriously expensive to get to, and however not simple on the wallet after you’re there, I hadn’t managed to make it there just but. But now after investing 7 days checking out all the nation has to offer you, I can say with certainty that it is certainly worthy of the money!
Listed here are 5 causes why you need to have to take a look at Jordan and whereby you need to go, also a guidebook on how to get all over at the time you are there.
1. The persons
Jordanians were some of the most welcoming people I’ve at any time fulfilled. Following going through the craziness of souks in Morocco and bazaars in Istanbul, in which gals are pulled into shops and yelled at (“Spice Ladies! Lady Gaga! *Insert another western celeb in this article*!), I was well prepared for the very same in Jordan. Turns out that was unnecessary!
Although shopkeepers continue to vie for your business enterprise, I observed that shopping in Jordan was significantly much more fulfilling than executing the same in equally Morocco and Turkey. I wasn’t touched when, most shopkeepers say a polite ‘hello’, may well show you a few of specialties and then leave you to browse for a whilst, and though there were people today who stared, in particular in downtown Amman, I hardly ever felt like I was currently being focused or pressured.
The taxi drivers I experienced had been all so helpful (which include a woman driver who picked us up from the airport, a nice shock to start our excursion!), waiters ended up often a lot more than pleased to enable translate menus, and there was a team of college ladies at Ajloun Castle who ended up all desperate for selfies with us just mainly because we appeared diverse, and they then sang happy birthday to my friend! Beautiful folks, wonderful times.
2. The ancient ruins of Jordan
Apart from the persons and the meals, the noticeable following motive to visit Jordan is simply because of the extraordinary historical ruins it is property to.
The evident leader of the pack in conditions of Jordan’s have to-sees is the magical ancient city of Petra, one particular of the New Miracles of the Earth. The town is much more than 2000 yrs previous, was rediscovered in 1812 by a Swiss explorer disguised as an Arab scholar, and now sees just about a million visitors go to every 12 months.
The most nicely-regarded portion of Petra is Al-Khazneh, the Treasury, which showcased in 1989’s Indiana Jones and the Very last Campaign and is now a person of the major tourist points of interest in the complete Center East location. It is essentially thought to be a king’s mausoleum from the to start with century, and you can see bullet holes on the facade from tribesmen attacking the developing hundreds of a long time back looking for (and failing to discover) treasure.
A different worthwhile web site to see in Petra is the Monastery, even though the trek is not for the faint-hearted. You’ll have to have to climb 800 uneven measures to get to the Monastery which can be tough in the summer season warmth (I went in August, would not advocate), but you are going to be rewarded with shut-up views of this superb 3rd century BC tomb. It’s an equivalent design to the Treasury but it is even greater, measuring 50m vast and 45m large.
And for some pretty different but also super impressive ruins, it is well worth heading just north of Amman to the Roman ruins of Jerash. These ruins are some of the greatest-preserved ruins I have at any time observed, and there’s a colonnaded principal road that’s still bought the primary stones so you can see in which the chariots utilized to ride around them.
3. The food
My stomach is rumbling just contemplating about Jordanian delicacies. Community dishes are similar to other nations around the world in the area, with big mezze platters, hearty meat dishes, countless falafel, and sugar-soaked desserts as staples on restaurant menus.
The area hospitality flows right by to the dining places, wherever they serve gigantic foods that you possibly won’t be ready to eat all of without having fallen into a foodstuff coma. If little plates are a solution, it’s very best to get a few of all those to keep away from over-ordering, or if you’re traveling in a team then go hard and buy as significantly as you want, sit around for a few of hours to devour it, then tuck into some syrupy goodness like knafeh to wrap up a scrumptious meal.
Though Jordan is a pricey region total, if you are on a spending budget you could surely live off pita, falafel, and hummus if you have to (like I did!). I’d suggest examining out Hashem in Downtown Amman, 1 of the most-loved and most economical falafel eateries in the city.
4. The natural landscapes
Jordan is not just attractive thanks to human beings, its landscapes and natural phenomena are appropriate up there with the ruins on the most effective things to see in this region.
Wadi Rum desert appears to be like one more planet, so significantly so that it’s been a filming place for The Martian, a Transformers movie, and Star Wars amongst others. It’s household to wide dunes of crimson sand, massive jagged rocks, and bedouin tribes who run stunning camps for travelers to knowledge a night in the desert.
If you’ve received the have to have for pace then you ought to e-book a place on a 4WD safari, the place you are going to hit the dunes tricky and rapid sitting in the back of a 4WD jeep or opt for a dawn camel journey to see the desert in a much more calming atmosphere. Be aware that camels must only at any time have just one man or woman, travelers should not be over 90kgs, and you should report any mistreatment of the animals to the supplier or community authorities.
Keen to get wet? Jordan’s just one of the international locations that border the Lifeless Sea, a salty lake (indeed, the title is perplexing) the place the shore is the cheapest level of dry land on earth, at 432m below sea degree. The Dead Sea’s salinity is 33.7% (when compared to the ocean’s salinity of 3.5%) which suggests human bodies pretty much can not sink and just sit at the prime of the drinking water. It’s an insane feeling, you will need to try out it yourself to imagine it!
For a different underwater experience wherever you can go underwater, head to Aqaba and dive in the Purple Sea. The Purple Sea is household to vibrant corals, whale sharks, turtles, and many much more sea mates, as perfectly as some outstanding wreck dives.
5. The safety
Jordan is recognized as one particular of the most secure countries in the Center East, and the 40th safest place on the planet according to SafeAround.com.
Borders with Syria and Iraq are particularly risky, but the rest of the nation is noticed as a bit of a protected haven in a region that is usually recognized globally for its instability. If you’re eager to get a flavor of the Middle East but you are nervous about the political and security challenges that however taint many other countries in this area, Jordan is a genuinely great possibility for you and in my personalized knowledge was fully safe and sound even for feminine travelers*.
*A disclaimer on solo feminine security: Although I experienced no trouble at all as a female traveling in Jordan, it is essential to notice that there have been cases of harassment of solo woman travelers at some tourist web pages like Petra. Most notice you receive from locals (and if you glance diverse, you will obtain attention) is entirely harmless and not intended maliciously, but if you do uncover you getting touched, grabbed, or adopted, it’s finest to steer clear of getting hold of, say or yell ‘leave me alone’ and get to an area with law enforcement and/or other visitors.
How to get all-around Jordan
The very best way to take a look at Jordan is by leaping on a tiny group tour. Not only will you get information thoroughly clued up on neighborhood history, culture, pursuits, and ought to-sees, you’ll also get the protection and safety of your vacation being pre-organized, you won’t have to deal with tricky language barriers, and you will be hanging out with a ready-produced team of journey buddies.
If a tour is not your factor, the other possibilities are to employ a motor vehicle or hire a private driver, as public transport in Jordan is very constrained. Car or truck seek the services of starts at about £40 for each day but you will have to have to recognize local visitors guidelines and be well prepared to offer with the language barrier, and private drivers will set you again at a minimum £70 for each working day.
Tempted? E-book flights to Jordan and see all of our Jordan travel tours.
If you want to comply with much more of my adventures you can see my previous journey guides for Paris, San Sebastian, and Sofia or on Instagram to see what I’m up to now!
