Let's Go to Jordan

And then I found tickets for Jordan at a reasonable price. Thank you, Ryanair, for this new and affordable connection. And off we went.

Your exploration will probably start in the capital, Amman. Most of the attractions are downtown. You shouldn't miss the amphitheatre, souqs and the main market. Hike all the way up to the citadel to get a true perspective of the size of Amman. Don't forget to visit the museum which is really worth seeing and it also provided a shelter during the rainstorm when we were there.

About an hour north of Amman is Jerash. I had the impression that it must be overhyped, but I completely changed my mind after our visit. It is a beautifully preserved Roman city with amazing amphitheatres, temples and a hippodrome. We loved it and would highly recommend it. We went even further to Ajloun, but unfortunately, we couldn’t enjoy the views because of one of the thickest fogs we have ever seen.

From here on we just headed south. First stop was the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth and the second saltiest body of water on the planet. You can't really swim in the Dead Sea per se, but you can float. Mud from the sea is supposedly full of minerals, so everyone was completely covered in it. Beware, don't get the water or mud anywhere near your eyes, and you shouldn't have any wounds or cuts, because otherwise it will sting like hell. The downside of this area is, there is no budget accommodation, but you can come for a day trip from Amman in about an hour and a half and from Madaba it is only around one hour.

Because we had a rental car, we spent the night at a campsite on the edge of Dana Nature Reserve. It is run by a local and they offer four basic stone-built rooms and a few tents. The host was probably one of the most welcoming people we met on this trip and a plus, the food was excellent. If you wish to explore the nearby reserve, this is the place to stay. You can arrange guided tours from here. The views were jaw dropping.

We continued our journey towards Wadi Mousa, the gateway to Petra. Although we had a two-day pass we walked for two days straight, up and down, here and there, from one viewing point to another and so on. You can see all the main spots in one day, to find out how, check out our blog. You should not miss The Treasury, the Monastery and the viewing platform above the Treasury. If you want to visit Petra by night you should come on Monday, Wednesday of Thursday. The entire path from the entrance to the Treasury is lit by candles, and in front of the Treasury there are even more candles. You can sit on carpets where you get served mint tea and then you can enjoy a short show for visitors. The Treasury is then lit in a variety of colours. We enjoyed it immensely and in our opinion, it was worth the extra €35.

Jordan also has a very interesting desert, Wadi Rum. It became very popular in recent years. You can choose between one- or two- and even multiple-day tours with overnight stays in desert camps. It was a very unique experience, but we found it quite expensive – €125 per person which included a night in a private tent, all meals and a guide. That being said, we have to add it was New Year’s and we couldn't really shop around. The desert here is more than sand and dunes, but also beautiful rock formations which you can climb as we did.

Because the weather was quite cold on this trip, we wanted to warm up a bit. We drove even further to the south, to Aqaba. We were greeted with pleasant 22°C, and the water temperature was 20°C. Enough to go diving. The underwater world of the Red Sea is world famous and it did not disappoint. In the afternoon we went snorkelling to the sunken tank and plane and were able to find both.

We were really surprised by Jordan. The people were friendly, the food was exquisite and we thought all the sights were worth the money and time. If we had to point out one sight it would be Petra. Although it is very popular, it managed to maintain some mystic beauty and special energy. We are really happy that we finally visited Jordan and had the opportunity to explore it in a way that we did.