Jordan Travel Guide

Jordan is small but geographically extreme. You can spend a morning at Petra's rose-red facades, cross Wadi Rum's rust-coloured dunes by 4x4, and float in the Dead Sea by evening—all within a few hours' drive. It's not crowded in the way Egypt or Turkey are, which makes it manageable for first-timers.

The country sits at a crossroads: Israeli-Palestinian territories to the west, Iraq and Syria to the north and east, Saudi Arabia to the south. That geography shapes its politics and, frankly, its tourism. You'll move between well-worn tourist circuits (Amman, Petra, the Dead Sea, Aqaba) and stretches of empty road where you're genuinely alone.

Budget travellers can eat well cheaply and stay in simple guesthouses. Mid-range is comfortable without breaking the bank. The infrastructure is solid: roads are decent, English is widely spoken in tourist areas, and locals are used to foreign travellers asking daft questions.

Highlights

1. Petra — Rose-carved ancient city carved into canyon walls. Walk through the Siq gorge, explore tombs and temples. One of the planet's most photogenic archaeological sites.
2. Wadi Rum — Protected desert landscape of rust-red mountains, sand flats, and Bedouin settlements. Travel by camel or 4x4. Camp overnight under stars if you're keen.
3. Dead Sea — Earth's lowest point at 430m below sea level. Float effortlessly in hypersaline water. Steeply priced resorts dominate, but basic camps exist too.
4. Amman — Capital built on seven hills. Roman theatre, Citadel ruins, neighbourhood cafés, and street food. Chaotic traffic; decent nightlife and restaurants.
5. Gulf of Aqaba — Reef diving and snorkelling at Jordan's Red Sea port. Coral, tropical fish, and calm conditions. Aqaba town is relaxed but tourist-oriented.
6. Dana Nature Reserve — Limestone canyon and mountain biosphere reserve. Hiking trails ranging from gentle to steep. Few tourists; closer to nature than main sites.