Jordan. A mysterious and breathtaking country with an abundance of geographical wonders. A tour of this country is an ideal blend between culture, nature and history. With activities such as floating on the Dead Sea, exploring the famous city of Petra or sailing through the Wadi Rum deserts in a hot air balloon, Jordan is sure to surpass your expectations. The tour my friends and I took, carefully selected by a travel agency, offers the ultimate Jordan experience without the need for you to invest additional time and money in planning the route yourself!
What mode of transportation should I use?
Navigating Jordan can be a bit challenging. The transportation is primarily designed for local use and offers limited options for independent travelers. The most suitable choice is to rent a car or a minibus if you are traveling in a large group.
Is Jordan a safe destination for woman?
Personally, I felt completely safe during my visit in Jordan, but I was accompanied by a group of 11 other females and we mostly stayed at the tourist attractions or traveled in our minibus. It is always best to be careful and if you are a solo-traveler I wouldn’t recommend to walk on the streets at night.
It is recommended to bring lightweight clothing to cover your legs and shoulders just in case you feel more comfortable doing so. It is not necessary to cover up your body, but it is a sign of cultural respect to do so. In some places we were wearing shorts, for example in the desert, but in Amman we felt more comfortable to cover our legs.
How many days should I allocate for this trip?
A minimum of 10-13 days to see all major attractions. It would be a shame to visit Jordan without experiencing the legendary Petra and Wadi Rum, which both are an absolutely must-see attraction.
Amman
The first day we arrived in the evening in Amman and got picked up by our travel guide at the International Airport of Jordan. Amman is the capital city of Jordan and a good starting point to have a bit of a rest before moving to the next place. It is not a spectacular or beautiful city so we didn’t stay here for too long.
Madaba
The second day we headed towards the city of Madaba which is known for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaic. Madaba is only an hour drive from Amman and we could not wait to explore our first city. We stayed in Madaba for a few hours to get a refreshing coffee and to visit the St. George Church. Inside the church you can admire a large Byzantine mozaic map, the oldest map of Palestina, but also shows places like Jerusalem, Gaza, the Dead Sea and the Nile Delta. To be honest, you do not need a full-day to see the best attractions in Madaba. Half a day would be sufficient.
Ramada - the dead sea
Ever wondered what it feels like to swim in the Dead Sea? Well, we did. The temperatures were around 40 degrees in August and we were ready to cool down in the ocean.
The Dead Sea is a landlocked salt lake bordered between Israel and Jordan. Its surface and shores are located 427 below sea level, Earth’s lowest elevation on land. It is also one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world and makes it a harsh environment in which animals cannot survive, hence its name. Swimming in the Dead Sea is a strange experience and it feels like you are floating in the air. Definitely bring a beach umbrella or slippers as the sand can be boiling hot on your feet. Don’t make our mistake again: we had to run to the water.
Wadi Mujib the Siq Trail - Canyoning
The next day it is time for some adrenaline and adventure! Be prepared to get wet and soaked, because we are going canyoning! Maybe you also have some doubts. What is canyoning? No, not canoening. Buckle up for climbing, sliding, jumping and getting wet. Canyoning is a sport that explores that hard-to-reach areas of natural landscape by following a water route carved through beautiful rock foundations. The Wadi Mujib Siq Trail is an unmissable experience and an ultimate playground. The trail starts off in a slow-moving stream that curves through a deep sandstone canyon. As a geology and geography lover this place is a heaven on earth. It is basically a Grand Canyon in Jordan with beautiful red, orange and yellow colors. Along the way there are several waterfalls to climb with ropes and metal ladders making you feel like a little child in the playing garden. The Wadi Mujib siq Trail is world’s lowest biosphere reserve located near the Dead Sea. The hike takes about 2 – 3 hours. If you are looking for a more challenging hike there are other routes.
- Wadi Mujib Siq Trail – Moderate difficulty (2-3 hours)
- Canyon Trail – Moderate (4-5 hours)
- Malaqi Trail – Moderate (6-7 hours)
- Ibex Trail – Moderate (3-4 hours)
Dana
Let’s hop on the bus. because our next stop is calling. We are going to Dana! Dana is a picturesque and peaceful village in the mountains with a perfect base for different hikes in the Dana Biosphere Reserve. Dana has not been discovered by a big mass of tourists making it a local experience. We stayed in Dana for one night and I wholeheartedly recommend the Dana Tower Hotel. This accommodation offers rooms such as a honeymoon, cave room, meditation room or the sunset royal. After the delicous local dinner, hosts are playing music into the night with several Majlis with a canyon skyline view across the village.
Make sure to go on the rooftop at night in one of the hotels in the Tower hotel. You will be rewarded with a gorgeous sunset and later continuing into a beautiful starry sky.
The next day we went for a 2.5 hour hike in the boiling hot sun which wasn’t the best experience. The temperatures in August can be around 40 degrees, so I would recommend visiting Jordan during spring (march to may). The weather will be more temperature and you can hike without being scorched by the sun. Some of the most popular hikes in the Dana Biosphere Reserve are:
- Dana village tour (2 km – 1 to 1.5 hours)
- Wadi Dana trail (15 km – 4 to 5 hours)
- Wadi ghuweir trail (17 km – 5 to 7 hours)
Petra
After our hot girl hike in the sun we got picked up by our minibus and headed to Little Petra. It was only a 1-2 hour drive and a perfect moment to cool down. The air conditioning definitely saved my life on this sunny trip. In the evening we had so time to walk around Little Petra and play some games in a bar. The travel pace was really high and we were really tired, so after dinner we had an early night.
The next day it is time to visit Petra, the “rose city”, a wonderland of ancient civilization. Carved into the rock face by the Nabataeans, it remained hidden from the West until 1812. Today, it’s a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the seven world wonders. Petra’s engineering phenomena are mind blowing. The sophisticated water system is supported by 30.000 inhabitants. The irrigation channel is carved into a passageway and underground cisterns stored runoff are used during drying times of the year.
After 30 minutes of walking between the beautiful red lime stones towards the famous treasury, we thought that was the end of the tour. But no. Did you know Petra is way bigger than the famous pictures you see on instagram? Petra is a massive site of 60 square kilometers with amazing trails, an amphitheater, king’s tomb and a monastery. Hiking those 8 hours and 1000 steps up stairs were definitely worth it. It was an emotional day and some cried because of the beauty of Petra. It is bizarre how people were already so knowledgeable, innovative and advanced in the fourth century B.C.
Wadi Rum
It is hard to process the beauty of this country, but the next day it was time to continue our journey to Wadi Rum. My favorite. There is nothing better than this place on the earth, also called the valley of the moon. This landscape has been carved out by erosive forces of wind and water, and will make your jaw drop. Wadi Rum is a popular location to shoot movies like Star Wars, the Dune and many more.
We got picked up by a 4×4 jeep to bring us through the desert at a camping site. From here we had a 4 hour long jeep tour. This was AMAZING. Racing through the desert, drinking tea with the nomads, walking with camels and watching the sunset on the most mesmerizing place on earth. It is hard to describe as it literally feels like you are on another planet, the moon…
Back at the camp, dinner was served. It was a communal gathering that perfectly complemented the day’s adventure. The hosts presented a traditional feast, prepared in an underground oven of hot coals beneath the desert sands. In Wadi Rum, many tour operators offer the opportunity to experience this traditional Bedouin dish of zarb. While chilling on low cushions, our food was served, grateful to share this special moment with each other. As the night progressed, the true magic began. The absence of light pollution allows the Milky Way to stretch across the horizon in a breathtaking display. It was a perfect day and time to go to bed.
But the adventure wasn’t over. The desert had one more surprise in store – a hot air ballon ride! The next day we got picked at 5:30 AM. A truly impressive experience to see the desert from above at sunrise. I am a bit afraid of heights, so I couldn’t fully relax, but it was definitely worth it.
As we descended from the hot air balloon, our next adventure awaited – a camel ride back to the jeep! I love horse riding, so for me it was exciting, but some of us were a bit scared or got hurt by the sadle. Make sure to not wear shorts on a camel, as it can rub your legs and to avoid getting burned by the sun.
Aqaba
The camel ride concluded at out waiting minibus, marking the end of our Wadi Rum escapade. We headed to our next sight: the city of Aqaba. Aqaba is the only real seaside resort in Jordan, but as a woman you can’t lie on the beach in your bikini, as Jordan is an Islamic country. Aqaba is a fun place to go snorkeling or diving. Besides, alcohol is really cheap here because it is tax-free! A beer is only 1.75 JD = 2.5 Dollar. Winning!
Ma'in Hot Spring Resort & Spa
Two days later, our road led us to the Ma’in Hot Spring Resort and Spa. The oasis-style resort offers an outdoor pool and a spa directly under a hot spring waterfall. We were really hyped about this resort, so our expectations were really high. The views on the waterfall were beautiful, but the spa experience was a bit disappointing in my opinion. Consider skipping this resort to immediately head back from Aqaba to Amman.
Jerash
Leaving the coast behind, we embarked on a roadtrip to Jerash, our tour guides hometown. This ancient city is known for its rich history and cultural heritage of the region. Often referred to as the “Pompeii of the East”, Jerash is a captivating archaeological site that transports visitors back in the Roman Empire times.
It was an unique last experience with our enthusiastic tour guide, but we were ready to rest in our hotel in Amman. The last stop before flying back home the next day. Processing the amazing things we have seen in our 13 day trip was really hard. It felt like a dream, especially with the pace we were going. Back in the Netherlands everything settled in a bit realizing I will never forget this special adventure.