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10 Things To Do In Jordan

10 Things To Do In Jordan

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Smack in the center of the Arab World — or the entire world (depending on how you look at it) — lies the not-too-big, not-too-small Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Its history includes Persian and Greek occupation, centuries of Ottoman rule, the British Mandate statehood of Transjordan, and the first king of Jordan being crowned in his sovereign kingdom. Jordan is full of heritage, geographical wonders, water, sand, and endless adventures. If you make the decision to go, here’s 10 things to do in Jordan.

Sources: telegraph.co.uk, wikitravel.org, amnh.org, visitjordan.com, en.wikipedia.org

flyflytravel.com
flyflytravel.com

Fly Royal Jordanian

Considered to be pretty wallet friendly, Royal Jordanian Airlines is also one of the cushiest planes you’ll ever glide in. It has multiple departure points from North America (New York, Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Toronto) and Europe (London, Paris, Belgrade, Bucharest, Vienna) and countless others in the Middle East and Africa. When the wheels touch down in Amman, that’s when the adventure begins.

Photo by Mark Rausch
Photo by Mark Rausch

Discover Amman in daylight

The kingdom’s most populous city (nearly 3 million souls) and its capital, this winding, hilly, dizzying, dusty and history-seeped mecca is up there with Tel Aviv, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi as one of the most industrially and commercially successful cities in the Middle East. What to do? After eating more falafal and hummus than your belly can comfortably fit, walk it off up the hundreds of stairs leading up to the summit of Citadel Hill, which houses the ruins of the Temple of Hercules set against the highest natural view of the city. Jabal Amman houses the souk, or the largest open-air market in the city. The Al-Pasha Turkish bath is a steamy gate to wellness, a popular destination for tourists and locals. Any hill you climb will afford a magnificent view of this tiered city.

Photo by Mark Rausch
Photo by Mark Rausch

Discover Amman at night

Amman consists of eight major traffic circles. Rainbow Street (Abu Bakr al Siddiq Street) runs from the first circle down to the end of Mango Street — a thriving strip of restaurants, bars, shops and clubs. Climb up to the Citadel at dusk and watch the sun go down (pictured above.) Post sunset, you’ll see some fancy cars, girls in heels and guys dressed to the nines flocking to the wee hours. While still a rather conservative country when it comes to alcohol or tolerance of the LGBT community, many enclaves exist including Books@Cafe, a chic and popular chic coffee shop which turns into a bar frequented by a more liberal-minded crowd at night. You get a marvelous view of the city lights from up there on Rainbow Street.

8thingstodo.com
8thingstodo.com

The Dead Sea

A short car ride from Amman in the direction of the Mediterranean will land you at a famous body of salt water: The Dead Sea. The second most salinated water on Earth, it’s so buoyant that you float rather than swim. Amman Beach (accessible for 20 Jordan dinars or $28.23 a day) is a great place to lounge before heading into the water. Cake your body with Dead Sea mud to benefit from its rich natural minerals believed to have medicinal properties. Wash it off by floating in the briny water, but remember, float on your back! Going face down is dangerous, because your legs will always be higher than your head.

Photo by Veronika Dolanska
Photo by Veronika Dolanska

Wadi Rum

You might know Wadi Rum from your visual or literary education of T.E. Lawrence. It’s where he first roused the Arab Revolt against the Ottomans in the early 20th century. It’s 280 square miles (720 kilometers) of largely uninhabited, protected desert with some of the most stunning scenery you’ll ever see. Inhabited by Bedouin tribes, it’s one of the most unforgettable places on the planet, especially when traversed by camel caravan. Camp at night under more stars than you’ll ever see in your life, scale the cliffs, and drink mint tea in the sand.

excursionssharmelsheikh.com
excursionssharmelsheikh.com

Petra

Classified as a Nabataean caravan city, this UNESCO World Heritage Center hasbuildings cut into mountainsides and remnants of a sophisticated functioning civilization. Once the crossroads for the trade route from Egypt to Syria-Phoenica, it is now a crossroads for tourism and classical appreciation. As you follow your Bedouin guide in your camel caravan, Petra emerges suddenly through a gorge, the ancient city of kings and traders which still buzzes with mystery and past lives.

aecom.com
aecom.com

Aqaba

Down at the bottom tip of Jordan is this seaside city, a major port and destination for those who want to run to the Red Sea after a sweltering week in the northern desert. Plenty of restaurants, bars, and accommodations range from the swanky to the low budget. You can even hitch a ferry to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula from here. In general, it’s a lounging oasis kind of city, a geographically low spot in a valley surrounded by mountains. Venture outside just a few miles out of the city and you’re in for another treat.

Photo by Mark Rausch
Photo by Mark Rausch

The Red Sea

The reefs of Jordan’s Red Sea are a diver’s paradise. There are small colonies and villages along the lone desert highway across from the beach where many foreigners and diving enthusiasts choose to sleep, suiting up in wetsuits or snorkel gear to launch off into the blue heaven.

atlastours.net
atlastours.net

More Biblical and Historical Destinations

The east bank of the River Jordan is where many Christians believe Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist. Up at Mount Nebo, Moses was said to have viewed the Holy Lands for the first time, and that is where some believe he is buried. There’s also the ancient Roman ruins of Jerash, rivaling sites in Italy for historical and architectural marvels. The massive amphitheater dates back more than 2,000 years.

crumblycookie.net
crumblycookie.net

The Grub

We’re talking falafel and hummus like you’ve never tasted, and each different vendor and restaurant has different ways of mixing their chickpeas, boiling their oil, or infusing their falafel meal. It’s two foods that just don’t grow old, and can be eaten any time of day (the Levant folk prefer them for breakfast). Down near the Red Sea, the seafood is to die for. Start off with some mezze plates (labaneh, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, tahini). There’s also mansaf, considered the national dish — shreds of dripping lamb mixed in with dried yogurt and rice. Remember, this is the land of the olive, and the heart-healthy oil is drizzled all over every piece of food. Saha! To your health!