Jordan, with its spectacular desert surroundings, fascinating archeological websites, delectable delicacies, and truthful climate, is among the finest locations to discover within the Middle East.
Whether or not you have got per week or 10 days, I’ve acquired a full itinerary and journey information in your time in Jordan. It is a kind of locations you positively want greater than 3 days to discover.
I went to Jordan with out expectations. I left feeling like I completely should come again. Extremely beneficiant, type individuals, scrumptious meals, and overwhelming magnificence and historical past. Jordan is a rustic that can shock and delight you. This information will provide help to profit from your go to.
Jordan Itinerary at A Look
Day 1- Amman
Day 2 – Amman and Jerash
Day 3 – Wadi Rum
Day 4 – Petra
Day 5 – Petra – Kerak Fort – Wadi Mujib – Useless Sea
Day 6 – Useless Sea & Baptism Websites
Day 7 – Useless Sea & Amman
What to Anticipate
Jordan is among the most welcoming and hospitable nations on the earth. Individuals are extremely open and type, all the time prepared to speak or provide help to with instructions or recommendation. The meals with quite a lot of dishes is scrumptious, there are epic locations to find and the non secular and historic websites are mesmerizing.
Jordan is a Muslim nation however you’re completely fantastic to not cowl your hair as a lady. Some ladies do, however many do not and you will find quite a lot of clothes and kinds. You needn’t cowl up, however it is very important costume modestly. Keep away from brief attire or skirts. Costume for the climate. It will possibly get scorching throughout the day and funky at evening particularly within the desert.
You’ll hear a name to prayer in most main cities. If you’re visiting on a Friday, some conventional markets and retailers is perhaps closed throughout prayer time, as Friday is a holy day within the Muslim faith. Sunday is the beginning of the work week, having Friday and Saturdays off, versus Saturday and Sunday off within the USA and Europe.
I discovered Jordan to be be very protected, and as a lady an exquisite place to journey.
Taking a Tour
I believe the very best solution to see Jordan is with a tour. I like to recommend Globus which organizes your journey from begin to end. I have been fortunate sufficient to travel many times with Globus however this journey to Jordan was my absolute favourite.
Every thing is organized for you from the seamless airport pickup, stunning motels, and distinctive experiences whereas nonetheless remaining reasonably priced journey. The motels had been all completely beautiful, some even 5 star! The VIP sightseeing was effectively deliberate and there was free time to discover by yourself.
Globus takes care of all of your journey wants. From taking your baggage off the bus and placing it in your room to organizing your required COVID examination the day earlier than you come to the US.
However the very best a part of touring with Globus is the unbelievable information. Our tour information, Osama, was with us each step of the way in which. Not solely did he inform us the historical past of what we noticed, he instructed us enjoyable details, and we had been free to ask questions in regards to the traditions and customs of Jordanians.
Globus Escapes is such a novel and great idea. Excursions are competitively priced and through off season. You lower your expenses and miss the crowds. That is actually one of the best ways to expertise Jordan.
When to Go to Jordan
February by Might, early to mid spring, is usually finest for visiting Jordan. You may have good temperatures. It isn’t too scorching however can get chilly at evening and windy close to the Useless Sea. That is additionally nice for mountaineering Petra or the Wadi Rum desert.
I counsel avoiding summer season as it could possibly get fairly scorching. September by early November can be good as effectively since it isn’t fairly as scorching.
How Lengthy to Keep in Jordan
I believe seven days is the proper quantity to get a superb really feel for Jordan. You may get to expertise the most important points of interest together with Petra, Wadi Rum and Amman. Plus you will have time to chill out, store and take excursions too.
Day 1 – Amman
We flew into the Queen Alia Worldwide Airport and Globus organized a choose up. However this was not your common pickup! You may be taken straight out of your gate and thru customs in a seamless and straightforward approach. This service makes your journey stress-free and straightforward. We then took the automotive service on to the resort.
Amman, Jordan’s capital, is a superb place to begin your journey. The town is unfold out and has rather a lot to supply, from Roman ruins to nice eating places. The town could be very walkable so I like to recommend in your first day to stroll round city and have a chew to eat.
That is the most important metropolis in Jordan with 4.5 million individuals and over half one million that drive in to work on daily basis. It is often called the Metropolis of Seven Hills due to its historical past of Roman rule.
I used to be stunned to seek out an important combine of recent structure combined in with antiquity. You may see road artwork, hip cafes, e book retailers, and native eating places perfuming the air with scrumptious treats.
Rainbow Avenue is a superb place to stroll round, cease in a restaurant and get your bearings. Take a look at the Royal Car Museum to see among the finest collections of gorgeous vintage vehicles from King Hussein. Or, take a look at King Abdullah’s Mosque.
The place to remain in Amman: Globus organized for us to remain at Kempinski Resort – an ideal spot to discover town! This was a contemporary, beautiful resort with an included buffet breakfast and dinner along with your Globus tour.
Day 2 – Amman and Jerash
Make your solution to the historic website of the Amman Citadel, which is within the coronary heart of city. The town’s unique title, Rabbath-Ammon, means “capital of Ammon” and was coined by the Romans after they constructed the citadel, which is among the world’s oldest inhabited settlements.
The town’s title was then modified by the Greeks to “Philadelphia” which suggests metropolis of cohesion after which, lastly Amman.
You may stroll by the traditional gate that after led to town and discover the Temple Of Hercules. Constructed throughout Marcus Aurelius’ seat as emperor, this temple has stood the check of time, regardless of earthquakes.
Go away a while to soak up the museum contained in the citadel, Jordan Archaeological Museum, crammed with artifacts and details about town, the ruins, and its individuals. Stroll across the ruins and look down beneath on the sprawling metropolis of Amman. You possibly can see the Roman Discussion board beneath. You may additionally discover an enormous, marble remnant of a hand of Hercules and it is speculated this was one of many largest marble statues recognized to man.
Subsequent, our information took use to Wasat Al-Balad in Downtown Amman. You may discover numerous retailers promoting contemporary vegatables and fruits, clothes, and cafes. Make a cease at Habibah Sweets for conventional “Kunafeh” a dessert of fried goat cheese topped with dough and honey.
Then, it was time to go to Jerash, among the finest preserved Roman ruins outdoors of Rome!
Jerash is about an hour north of Amman and on our approach we stopped off within the small village of Souf for a home made conventional lunch at Beit Khairat Souf. There have been piles of lamb kebab, steaming pots of tea, plates of hummus, and salads of each type.
The meals was completely divine and such an exquisite, distinctive expertise organized by Globus. The restaurant is a part of Beit Khairat Souf’s Ladies’s Group Mission created to assist ladies financially help themselves.
Jerash
Simply an hour north of Amman is the traditional metropolis of Jerash. This well-preserved Roman smash is among the most spectacular I’ve ever seen! I actually loved my time right here. With sweeping views and unbelievable historical past, this website in Jordan can’t be missed.
What I discovered most fascinating, apart from the practically intact Jerash theater, hippodrome, temple of Zeus and Artemis, Discussion board, and Hadrian’s Arch, was that a lot of it’s nonetheless standing!
Earthquakes shook and destroyed a lot of town, however the within the 2nd century AD Romans discovered so as to add copper or tin between the columns which helped the buildings to not fall over.
I positively advocate a tour right here as there’s a lot historical past to study, our tour with Osama by Globus was unbelievable. We additionally had time to stroll round and take heed to the Jordan bagpipe band (not a typo!) within the Jerash theater. They performed very acquainted classics like Superb Grace whereas I used to be shocked to see them outdoors of Scotland, I discovered that the instrument’s unique roots are within the Center East!
As we walked the grounds Michael stopped to play soccer with some youngsters. I really like how accessible Jerash is, it completely mixes historic ruins with modern-day life, serving to to image what the traditional metropolis actually felt like.
We headed again to Amman to spend yet another evening within the Kempinski Resort. For dinner we had a novel expertise with a cooking class at Beit Sitti.
Beit Sitti means “Grandmother’s home” in Arabic, and it actually felt like we had been at Grandmother’s home! Photographs of their household held on the wall and Maria, our teacher was full of life and excited, exhibiting us precisely the right way to prepare dinner whereas regaling us with tales.
I’ve by no means cooked conventional Center Jap delicacies earlier than, and I discovered an important deal, and likewise made a superb meal!
Day 3 – Wadi Rum
Heading to Wadi Rum looks like going to outer area. And I am not the one one who thinks so, this additionally occurs to be the place they filmed the film “The Martian” as a result of it seems just like the floor of Mars!
This can be a desert valley made up of purple sandstone and granite mountains. It is considered one of Jordan’s hottest vacationer locations and was even used as a filming location for different films like Lawrence of Arabia and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
On our solution to the desert Osama helped learn to tie a “keffiyeh,” a Bedouin scarf.
After we arrived we ate a buffet lunch on the Wadi Rum camp (you’ll be able to spend the evening out right here if you would like!) after which headed out for a four-by-four Jeep tour into the desert.
We spent just a few hours touring across the unbelievable panorama, our hair whipping within the wind, as we gazed on the otherworldly panorama. You possibly can tour sights just like the purple sand dunes, Lawrence’s Spring, the Khazali Canyon, the Home of Lawrence, Abu Khashaba Canyon and Um Frouth Arch.
We hopped out of the jeeps and had the choice to take a brief, 30 minute camel experience to the Bedouin camp. In the event you’ve by no means carried out one, I like to recommend it! We did have a “frothing” camel since one of many females was in warmth. Michael was the fortunate one to experience this camel, and it was fairly comical!
Camels are an integral a part of the Bedouin nomadic life-style. Bedouin means “roamer” and this unbelievable a part of the Jordan inhabitants traverses the panorama.
We then headed right into a Bedouin tent for conventional tea. It was unbelievable to see how they dwell and use the land to maintain themselves. Then a Bedouin household invited us to point out how they make bread. It was scrumptious! We dipped it in oil and spices and savored it among the many towering purple rocks. Sizzling and contemporary off the hearth we tasted the scrumptious bread and spoke with the household who welcomed us with such kindness.
After our lengthy day, we made the drive to Petra in order that we might stand up early and hike to one of many world’s wonders! See my full guide to Petra here!
For dinner, we loved an unbelievable, house cooked dinner with a Jordanian household in Petra. We began off by consuming espresso, a ritual with numerous which means. Every visitor was handed a small cup of steaming espresso. It is custom to begin with a cup for every visitor and customary to have 1-3 cups. When you have greater than 3, you are telling the host the espresso is simply too weak!
Then we had been taken to the kitchen for spotlight of the night: mansaf!
On our airplane experience over from the USA we had been instructed we should have this conventional Jordanian dish of mansaf, however ONLY if it was house cooked! We had been in luck!
This tender lamb dish was decadent and delicious. Jordanians positively encourage you to eat and drink to your fill! We had such a stunning night chatting and studying about each other’s cultures and traditions.
The place to Keep in Petra: Movenpick Resort Petra. It is a hike to get to Petra and this resort is kind of actually as shut as you will get! This 5-star resort is correct by the Petra Customer Heart and Museum and is the proper place to get up, beat the crowd and head to the sight.
The buffet breakfast was significantly good and the inside of the resort looks like an opulent spa. Marble flooring and delicate inlaid fixtures made for a stupendous place to relaxation.
Day 4 – Petra
Petra is a magical place and one of many new wonders of the world and UNESCO World Heritage Websites. It must be seen to be believed! You may want not less than one full day right here to take pleasure in and relish within the historical past and awe-inspiring structure.
I like to recommend you put on mountaineering boots or tennis sneakers, light-weight clothes, and remember a hat and sunscreen.
See my full guide to Petra Here!
You possibly can enter Petra by the Siq, a slim crack within the sandstone that is bordered by partitions that soar a whole bunch of ft into the air. As you stroll by this enigmatic hall, you will be crammed with anticipation for what lies forward.
After which abruptly, you emerge into the breathtaking and really well-known Treasury. It is no surprise that this is among the most photographed websites in all of Jordan – it is completely beautiful!
There’s additionally a again entrance, an extended hike of 9 miles nevertheless it offers you an unbelievable view of Petra and the land surrounding it in addition to the Monastery with no vacationers!
Petra was inhabited by the Nabataeans and later fell below Roman rule throughout their reign. However they had been finally pushed away by an earthquake in 363 AD.
As I explored the unbelievable ruins of Petra, I used to be crammed with awe and surprise on the outstanding structure and historical past of this historic metropolis. The positioning is really one of many world’s wonders, as its spectacular stone temples and tombs have been preserved for hundreds of years. Indiana Jones and the Final Campaign was filmed right here and it is simple to see why this website was chosen!
PRO TIP: Do not simply cease on the Treasury! Sure, it is a hike to maintain strolling al the way in which to the Monastery, however will probably be effectively value it. You may have far less crowds and completely beautiful views.
There are many locations alongside the way in which to seize a chew to eat or drink. And, in case you’re significantly drained after the miles of mountaineering, you’ll be able to take a camel, horse, or donkey experience again. Now, they even have golf carts! It is 1.2km (about .75 mile) lengthy to the Siq, the slim gorge to the Treasury, however a complete of 6 kilometers to the monastery (3 miles) so 12 kilometers (6 miles) spherical journey.
I spent a number of hours mountaineering round Petra, marveling on the unbelievable structure and historical past. Avoid wasting power since you should come again at evening for “Petra by Night.”
We had a brief break in between the place we explored the customer’s middle and museum, acquired a chew to eat and rested our ft earlier than an extra hike again in.
White paper luggage crammed with sand and candles are the one sources of sunshine that heat the purple stone partitions. As you meander down the slim gorge the brilliant stars above you beckon you right down to the music.
From the customer middle to the Treasury, greater than 1,000 candles illuminate the trail. The Treasury is lit up because the Bedouins play music for round 40 minutes earlier than being instructed a short historical past of Petra’s improvement.
Not solely is Petra an exquisite place to see, the historical past of the Nabataeans is fascinating.
Day 5- Petra – Kerak Fort – Wadi Mujib – Useless Sea
When you have further time in Petra take a look at “Little Petra” also called Siq al-Barid. It is an archaeological website situated north of Petra and the city of Wadi Musa with smaller variations of buildings carved into sandstone.
We drove from Petra on to the Useless Sea and made some stops alongside the way in which. First was the Crusader Fort or Kerak, which was in-built 1132 A.D.
This fortified fortress is among the largest in Jordan, and provides beautiful views. Constructed like a labyrinth, the fortress held prisoners and you’ll stroll by the place they had been held.
After exploring the fortress we had lunch after which made our solution to Wadi Mujib.
We had a fast cease on the “Grand Canyon of Jordan” with sweeping views and the wind whipping the cavernous gorge because it carves it is approach down the the Useless Sea.
We arrived simply in time for sundown and a dip on the lowest place on earth, the Useless Sea!
I completely love how Globus organized our Useless Sea expertise. We stayed at a stunning resort: Movenpick Resort and Spa on the Useless Sea which supplies you personal seashore entry. Having gone to the Useless Sea in Israel, I can say it is a actually satisfying expertise.
So, why is it referred to as the Useless Sea?
Effectively, as a result of the water is 34 salinity, tremendous salty, nothing lives in it! However this additionally means you’ll be able to simply float in it! You may actually really feel like a cork bobbing on prime of the water. It is a sensation not like the rest I’ve ever skilled. You possibly can see me float in the Dead Sea here!
High suggestions for the Useless Sea
DO NOT: dive, splash, or get the water in your eyes. It should burn. I’d additionally keep away from getting it in your mouth. I like to recommend about 20 minutes at a time for a float as a result of it could possibly trigger dehydration.
It’s kind of tough stepping into the water as there are salt formations that may be powerful in your ft. in case you have water sneakers or flip flops you’ll be able to go for that, or simply stroll in fastidiously like I did.
However do not be alarmed! The minerals are excellent in your pores and skin. I additionally advocate lathering up with some Useless Sea mud and having fun with the ritual of washing it off within the water. My pores and skin felt so easy after!
The place to remain on the Useless Sea: As I discussed above, we stayed on the Movenpick Resort. This beautiful, giant resort greets you with candy tea and cozy, spacious rooms. The spotlight, in fact, is your entry to the Useless Sea. There are lifeguards right here that will help you enter the water – this was particularly good to not damage my ft on the salt formations.
The resort affords swimming pools, a spa, and lots of eating places on the property. We had pina colodas and loved sundown on the seashore bar.
Day 6 – Useless Sea & Non secular Websites
Within the morning we had time for an additional dip within the Useless Sea, so mud up and go for it!
Then we headed to among the most shifting non secular websites. I used to be excited to see the place the place Jesus was Baptized and Moses noticed the Promised Land, nevertheless it was actually an emotional expertise.
Whether or not you are non secular or not, we have grown up with tales from the Bible and its historic significance has touched the world. To see it come to life was actually an expertise. I used to be raised Catholic and going to those locations and listening to the descriptions is not like something I’ve ever skilled earlier than.
Our information, Rustom Mkhjian, is the esteemed Director Common of Bethany Past the Jordan, who shared an outpouring of affection and enthusiasm for these sights. We noticed the spot the place Elijah was taken in to heaven in a chariot of fireplace, the spot the place John the Baptist lived and carried out miracles, and the place the place John baptized Jesus within the Jordan River.
The baptism website of Jesus was significantly shifting, and since there weren’t any crowds we acquired to go down and contact the water.
On the Jordan river you’ll be able to see the border of Israel and you are feeling a sure sort of significance standing right here. I additionally advocate stepping contained in the Greek Orthodox St John the Baptist Church.
Subsequent, we took a brief drive to Madaba to see the world’s oldest map of the Holy Land on the ground of St. George’s Church. Often known as the Metropolis of Mosaics the extremely quite a few mosaics lay untouched for over 1,000 years till they had been uncovered when a brand new constructing challenge was began.
The Madaba Archaeological Park and Museum comprises the ruins of a number of Byzantine church buildings, in addition to the beautiful Madaba Mosaic Map and the Hippolytus Corridor, a part of a sixth century mansion.
From right here, we went to St. George’s Church to see the mosaic map of Jerusalem of the ground within the church. The Mosaic Map was created within the sixth Century to assist pilgrims get across the Holy Land. The Holy Land’s websites are proven all through Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian Territories, and Egypt’s Sinai intimately. This helps show the situation of Jesus’ baptism.
From the mosaics in Madaba, we made our solution to Mount Nebo. That is the place Moses surveyed the Promised Land of Canaan. God prohibited him from continuing any farther, and he died earlier than main his individuals into it, in line with the scroll. It’s claimed that Moses was buried on this space, however nobody is aware of precisely the place it’s.
After a protracted day of touring, we headed again for our final evening on the Useless Sea and yet another sundown.
Day 7 – Useless Sea & Amman
Globus arranges your simple transport again from the Useless Sea to Amman. It is about an hour’s drive.
Our flight was early and Globus organized to have a boxed breakfast able to go. We had loads of time to get to the airport and head house after a superb journey. You possibly can examine all of the Globus Escape tours right here.
When you have extra time…
In fact there’s extra to see in Jordan. When you have time, you’ll be able to lengthen your time within the desert at Wadi Rum or take extra time in Petra. Additionally Aquada is a spot to see the Pink Sea and, in case you’re up for it, go diving.
This was a whirlwind tour of a few of Jordan’s most unbelievable websites. I hope this journey information helps you intend your one week itinerary (or extra!) for Jordan! I extremely advocate making your journey simple with Globus!
This put up is in collaboration with Globus, however all opinions are my very own.
