History enthusiasts, nature lovers and cuisine connoisseurs can finally have their fun in the land in this part of the world. I would also like to point out the generous hospitality of the people. All this is Jordan and the country definitely won’t disappoint. At least it didn’t disappoint me and many others who have visited Jordan more than once. Due to poor public transport, it’s best to rent a car, so you’ll be mobile and will be able to make stops along the way, while exploring the country, and visit all the rather remote places. But you almost certainly won’t be able to avoid police checks that take place every few kilometres. Don’t worry, though. I came across those on a daily basis and not a single police officer checked my papers.
Jordan’s capital city is among the most modern capitals in the Middle East. The city’s history dates back as far as the Neolithic. The oldest evidence of settlement is an archaeological find, a statuette dating back to approximately 7,250 BCE. The statuette is on display at a museum in the old part of the city, on the Citadel hill. The museum also hosts Stone Age exhibits. Today, the city is home to more than four and a half million people. Since public transport is poor, taking a cab is the easiest way to travel around the capital. There’s also a minibus service available. If you don’t speak Arabic, you’ll have a hard time getting on and off the bus. I used the public transport, so I wrote down the name of the station where I had to get off on a piece of paper. Using broken Arabic, I explained to the driver where needed to get off.
The high number of cars in the city has resulted in traffic chaos. Four-lane roads make it clear enough that a city, such as Amman, desperately needs an underground train network. The city’s long history has accumulated many sights that are worth visiting. Above the old town or Down Town, as the locals call it, the Citadel with Temple of Hercules sits on top of the hill. The latter offers a beautiful view of the city, but it’s impossible to take in entire Amman, since it stretches across 19 hills. Most foreigners and locals also pay a visit to the old 2nd-century Roman theatre. At the time it was built it could seat 6,000 people. Now it hosts various concerts and plays during the summer months. The mosques, the Jordan National Museum and the personal collection in the Royal Automobile Museum are also worth visiting. If you’re into cars, you won’t be disappointed by the museum.
Most people are familiar with the fact that Petra was declared the seventh wonder of the world. This is reflected in the number of visitors from all over the world. The site of Petra is thought to have already been populated in 9,000 BCE and was most likely founded in the 4th century BCE as the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom. The Nabataeans were nomadic Arabs who invested in Petra near trade routes by making it the main regional trade centre. I’d advise visiting Petra very early in the morning when the main gates open, so you’ll be able to take a nice photo or two without other visitors.
It’s best if you take a backpack with a few litres of water and a couple of snacks with you because the prices are five times the normal ones. I’m a fast walker and found one day to be just enough, but most people opt for a two-day visit to Petra because it’s quite difficult to see everything in a day. The locals offer horse and donkey riding as well as carriage rides. Female souvenir, drinks and other miscellaneous vendors will be constantly hovering around you at every step, hoping they’ll get a euro or two from you. The Petra area was included in the list of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites in 1985. Visiting Petra is a must when you’re in Jordan, especially since most visitors come to Jordan just to wonder at the attraction.
If you’re fond of deserts, then I suggest you head out into the Wadi Rum desert, which borders the neighbouring Saudi Arabia, for a day or two. The Bedouins will warmly welcome you to one of their numerous camps that have been put up in large numbers in the last couple of years, which is the result of a huge influx of visitors. You can already book your place to stay at one of the camps before travelling. A real Bedouin dinner is usually included. Accompanied by one of the Bedouins, we headed out across the dunes in a jeep and waited for the stunning sunset at a viewpoint late in the afternoon, all the while watching the setting sun changing the colours of the desert. We finished off the day by the fire, listening to Bedouin songs and treating ourselves to a real Bedouin dinner. Temperatures can drop almost below zero during the winter nights.
There’s no heating in the tents, so I recommend you bring some warm clothing and an extra sleeping bag. It’s also recommended to buy the Jordan Pass before visiting the country because it’ll save you quite some money. The price of the pass includes travel visa and admission to various museums across the country as well as admission to the ancient city of Petra.
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