Jordan
While Jordan doesn’t get much attention beyond Petra, the country has everything to offer from history to beaches, including Roman ruins, ancient citadels and vast deserts. Jordan is not the Middle East as expected, the attire is conservative but not restrictive, and the people are friendly and welcoming to foreigners.
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DON’T MISS: Petra, the famed lost city with it’s rock-cut architecture.
MUST SEE: The beaches of Aqaba where Saudis come to party, the Roman ruins of Jerash and the markets of Amman
MUST TASTE: Cardamom coffee and the national dish “mansaf” which is enough meat and rice for three Americans or one Jordanian man.
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TRIP PLANNING: One week is enough to see the major sights.
GETTING AROUND: The biggest challenge of Jordan is getting around. Expect to use private transportation or tours to get to most places which will cost way, way, more than anywhere else in the region.
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OUR COST PER DAY (2 ppl): $69.73
COST OF A BEER: $3-$7 USD, where you can find it…
KEY MONEY-SAVING TIP: Visit the Dead Sea and deserts in Israel or Egypt instead of Jordan. Everything costs more and takes more effort in Jordan than it’s neighbors.
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YOU NEED TO KNOW: Jordan is not a budget destination! Tickets for Petra cost $70 USD and hotels will cost at least $30 USD a night.
IF WE KNEW WHAT WE KNOW NOW: We would only bought the one day ticket at Petra, it can easily be seen in one day.
HELPFUL LINKS TO LEARN MORE: The excellent Jordan Jubilee website has everything you need to know about Jordan plus a great short itinerary.
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WE WERE THERE FOR: 9 days
OUR HIGHLIGHT: The stunning view of The Treasury from the Siq in Petra.
WHERE WE WENT: Amman, Jerash, Aqaba and Petra.
WE REGRET MISSING: The deserts of Wadi Rum and Wadi Mujib.
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Interested in experiencing Jordan yourself? Click here for more trip ideas!
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Roman ruins and the ancient rock-cut architecture of Petra, see the best of Jordan in less than 20 photos.
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Amman is Jordan's largest city and serves as the cultural, commercial and political capital of the country. It is considered one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. It boasts bustling markets and a busy business sector as one of top choices, behind Dubai and Doha, for multi-national companies to set up office in the region.
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Second only to Petra, Jerash is located in the norht of Jordan. The city is known for it's ancient Roman ruins from the old city of Gerasa. Jerash prospered during the 1st century BC as a result of its location on the incense and spice trade route from the Arabian Peninsula to Syria and the Mediterranean region. Jerash was a favorite city of the Roman emporer, Hadrian, and reached its peak in AD 130, flourishing both economically and socially. It is now often referred to the Pompeii of the Middle East.
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Petra means stone in Arabic and is the prize attraction in Jordan, drawing millions of tourists each year. Petra has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. UNESCO has described it as "one of the most precious cultural properties of man's cultural heritage". The rock-cut architecture is stunning and well preserved offering a glimpse into the past.
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