Is it Worth Visiting Jordan ?
Yes!
Desperate for some sunshine in September, I escaped to the Middle East in search of adventure and certainly found it! I joined a trip to Jordan with Kandoo Adventures with a small group of like-minded strangers who had also never visited. Before I went, I discovered that loads of people I know have been to this incredible country and every single one of them LOVED it. I had no idea what to expect, despite copious research, and I was more than a little apprehensive.
I needn’t have been!
This unassuming Middle Eastern country borders countries frequently in the news for all the wrong reasons. And as the media are so wont to do, they tar all countries with their tales, lumping related regions with reputations that’re hard to shift.
My group and I found Jordan to be warm and welcoming, the locals excited to see visitors, of which there are too few recently.
With much of the world steering clear of the Middle East as a whole, we benefitted from a relatively quiet Petra, a seamless transit through the airport and a generally uninterrupted trip. This allowed us to interact more with both the landscape and the Jordanians we met, giving us an authentic perspective of this stunning country, free from crowds and without having to vie for access.
So, this is my ode to Jordan. A love letter to a country that charmed and delighted me, unexpectedly, and one I won’t forget in a hurry. Read on to find out why this beautiful place should be on your adventure list.
Quick Facts about Jordan
Where is Jordan?
Jordan is in the western part of the continent of Asia, in a region called the Middle East. Sandwiched between Israel, Iraq, Syria and Saudi Arabia, this Arabian country sits at the junction between Europe, Africa and Asia along ancient trading routes from east to west.
What is the capital of Jordan?
The capital city of Jordan is Amman, which sits in the north of the country. Rapidly expanding, this sprawling metropolis is a heady mix of old and new, modern and traditional and is well worth exploring for its architecture, history, cuisine and arts.
What is the population of Jordan?
As of 2024, the population of Jordan is approximately 11.55 million people, with 2.2 million people living in the capital city of Amman.
What is Jordan famous for?
Jordan is most famous as the home of Petra, an ancient Nabataean city carved out of sandstone mountains that is over 2,000 years old. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is immortalised in numerous movies and is an iconic new wonder of the world.
How big is Jordan?
Jordan is approximately the same size as the European country of Portugal or the state of Maine in the US. Travel times between Jordan sites to visit are relatively short.
Amman to Petra - around 3 hours
Petra to Wadi Rum - around 1.5 hours
Wadi Rum to Aqaba - around 1 hour
Aqaba to the Dead Sea - around 3 hours
The Dead Sea to Amman - around 1.5 hours
8 Reasons to Visit Jordan
There are way more than eight reasons to visit Jordan, but here I’ve carefully curated a heavily edited list. This is based on my favourite fun facts about Jordan, my recent visit and some of the lesser known intricacies of this incredible country. If these don’t convince you to add Jordan to your list, I don’t know what will!
1. Amman - the underrated capital city
I spent too little time in the capital city, but the short time I had here was delightful. My hotel was in the older part of the city where steep streets are lined with beautiful, creamy stone houses, interspersed with shops of all shapes and sizes. The foreign sound of the Muezzin call to prayer along with the ornate mosques dotted around the city are intriguing.
Sat atop one of the numerous hills, Amman Citadel is a particular highlight and renowned for its archaeological significance. The King Abdullah Mosque in Amman is an iconic religious and architectural site well worth a visit. And no exploration of Amman is complete without wandering through the downtown souks overflowing with spices, food, treasures and noise.
There are MANY more places to explore in Amman – the Cave of Seven Sleepers, the Roman Theatre, Rainbow Street plus multiple mosques, palaces and malls – but if you’re short on time, these are the must-see sites.
Amman Queen Alia International Airport is around an hour's drive from the city centre.
2. It's really hot
I went in September, and the temperature didn’t dip below 30°C during the day. Even at night, it was a tropical 18-20°C. This is fairly typical for the summer months of June-August but more unusual for September. It was wonderful to escape the cooling British autumn but required some adjustment and tactical packing!
When planning a trip here, consider the best time to visit Jordan for you. In July and August, it can reach 40°C+ and become very uncomfortable. The shoulder months are much more pleasant but remember to pack loose, light, long sleeved tops and trousers to protect your skin from the sun.
Temperatures in Jordan fluctuate between the capital in the north and Aqaba and surrounding areas in the south, but remain mild all year round. The best month to visit Jordan is December or January if you really want to escape the heat. Different places to visit in Jordan will have varying temperatures, so just pack everything for every eventuality and you’ll be fine.
3. Explore Petra on foot
Now, I had seen pictures of Petra, Jordan – you know, the famous ones from Indiana Jones etc – but I had no idea how HUGE Petra is. The ancient city covers approximately 102 square miles or 264 square kilometres! One day is nowhere near enough, and even after two exhilarating, and very long days, there were still plenty of parts we didn’t get to.
To get to THAT classic view of the Treasury, you journey through a narrow gorge called The Siq. This narrow passage through the rock is filled with awesome carvings, statues, niches and water channels. You can get a golf cart from the entrance that takes you through some of the more accessible highlights. But walking allowed us the freedom to ascend steps and staircases to elevated tombs, the High Place, the Monastery and residential parts of the city you can only access on foot.
Allow at least two days to explore this truly magnificent place and ensure you enlist a guide to highlight the history and detail of Petra fully.
4. A lesson in patience
From the minute we exited the airport, we were assailed with offers of assistance, services, wares and tea, lots of tea. Always with a smile and often with explanations of the local culture, we were welcomed everywhere we went.
Shopkeepers wanted to show us their souvenirs, and we were offered tea hundreds of times a day. At first this was overwhelming, but after a day or two, we learned how to politely decline when we didn’t want it. ‘La shukran’, means ‘no, thank you, but peace be with you’, and using it both delighted and appeased locals. Hot tea surprisingly cooled us down, but even ‘medium sweet’ makes your teeth ache after the tenth glass!
As a country so reliant on visitors, it was important to acknowledge everyone whilst being assertive and polite about what we wanted. With a few Arabic phrases and lots of hand gestures, we learned a lot from the many local people we spoke to. Having a little patience really opened our eyes to the values and customs of Jordanian people.
5. It’s not as dry as you think
I’m not a heavy drinker by any means, but a cold beer on a hot day is a simple, western pleasure. I didn’t expect to find any alcohol in Jordan, but surprisingly, I did! And after 8 hours of exploring Petra in hot conditions, an unexpected cold local beer in The Cave Bar outside the Petra Visitor Centre was unbeatable. Nestled inside a Nabataean tomb, this was a unique venue and a real pleasure after a long day.
You can find alcohol at hotels, some restaurants and shops, and at the airport. Drinking to excess is not socially acceptable so avoid imbibing excessive amounts but it’s definitely okay to have a beverage or two on occasion.
Give the local lager a try. A Petra Beer at Petra is fitting.
6. The Dead Sea
Another of those places that you MUST visit in Jordan is the Dead Sea. Not a sea at all but a landlocked salt lake, the Dead Sea lies in a basin at the bottom of the Jordan Rift Valley.
At 422m below sea level, this is the lowest place on earth on dry land. Bordered by Israel, Palestine and Jordan, most of the shoreline of the Dead Sea is privately owned so you’ll have to find a hotel that offers day access to swim here.
I did exactly that. The Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea is a vast complex that welcomes day visitors, and you can book lunch and a swim for around $25. We descended the many steps to the beach and found the turquoise lake at the bottom, surrounded by arid hills and strangely quiet. The beach was sandy and the water surprisingly clear.
The salinity is around 34% making it almost 10 times saltier than the sea and almost soupy to swim in. It’s also incredibly buoyant. Bobbing around in the water was hilarious and very tingly! Afterwards I covered myself head to toe in the rich, grey mud jam-packed with minerals for a DIY spa treatment at this unforgettable natural wonder.
7. Jordan is heaven for a sweet tooth
If you’re into a sweet treat, then Jordan is the country for you. Amidst a Mediterranean diet of olives, hummus, flatbreads, meat and fish, sesame and tomatoes, there are some incredible tooth-achingly sweet confections.
Halva is made from sesame paste mixed with hot syrup to create a crumbly fudgy pâté-like dish. It’s sweet and rich and served all day long. Mint tea is the drink of choice, and medium sweet still contains around 6 teaspoons of sugar per pot. Perfect for hot days and ideal with, before, and after meals.
Dates are a common snack and are so much better than any other I’ve tried. Sesame and date are used in many sweet pastries too. Baklava-like pastries dripping in honey, nuts and syrup come in all shapes and sizes and are frequently served after meals.
I didn’t eat a single piece of chocolate in Jordan, but my sweet tooth was thoroughly satisfied throughout my stay.
8. Wadi Rum looks strangely familiar
The unique dry, arid climate and topography of Jordan has features in many movies and is at once recognisable and alien. Wadi Rum in particular is a region that is recognisable from the big screen. The rich sandy desert is littered with giant rock formations, called jebels, that have incredible shapes and texture to them.
The Wadi Rum desert is a protected part of the Hisma Desert which spans western Jordan and into Saudi Arabia. This ethereal place is totally other-worldy and unmissable.
We spent three days trekking through Wadi Rum, camping out in the shadows of the rocks and immersing ourselves in the peace and tranquillity of this remote landscape. Riding camels or walking through the sand, there is a surprising amount to see hiking in Jordan. Strange rock shapes and hidden siqs (gulleys through rock), tracks from nocturnal desert critters and desert flora surviving on very little moisture.
For a flavour of what to expect watch Dune, The Martian or one of the other movies filmed in Jordan. They hint at the dramatic landscape here, but nothing prepares you for the solitude and serenity of this restorative off-grid experience.
… There are no Fremen and aliens, obviously.
Is Jordan Safe?
The first question I was asked as soon as I mentioned to friends and family that I was going to Jordan, was ‘is it safe to travel to Jordan right now?!’
Jordan is bordered by Syria to the north, Israel to the west, Saudi Arabia to the south and Iraq to the east. Considering the tumult this region has faced over the last few decades, Jordan remains a mostly conflict-free oasis amidst turbulent neighbours.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the US State Department both advise against travelling to the northern Syrian border of Jordan but there are no travel restrictions for most of the country.
Aside from its geographical location, Jordan relies heavily on tourism to provide income and employment for much of its population and services. As such, visitors are very much welcomed. During my visit, I was stopped on the street and welcomed to the country with a smile, a handshake and a nod, more than once and in several different regions.
As a largely Muslim country, showing respect for the local customs and culture is key to navigating this ancient Arabian hub. Learning a few words of Arabic will inevitably result in the offer of tea, food, services and gifts, as people delight in sharing stories of their country with visitors who are keen to learn more. Try ‘yalla’, meaning ‘let’s go’, or ‘shukran’, which is ‘thank you’.
Travelling anywhere in the world requires you to be sensible, savvy and patient at times. Below are a few of our top tips for staying safe in Jordan.
- Dress and behave respectfully. While it’s not banned to show shoulders, knees or midriff, you may experience stares, interest and attention if you don’t. We’d recommend long, loose layers that are cool and comfortable, and show consideration of the predominantly Muslim culture.
- Be patient! You will get constant offers of wares, tea, services, guides and foods. This is culturally normal in Jordan. Rather than ignoring vendors, politely and patiently decline if you do not require them. ‘La shukran’, means ‘no, but peace be with you’, and is a respectful way to refuse offers without causing offence.
- Adhere to customs and laws. Drinking is not permitted in public, swearing is unacceptable, gambling and using drugs is illegal and public displays of affection are frowned upon. Show respect and consideration in this largely conservation country.
- Be health and hygiene aware. If you’re preparing food, wash it thoroughly before use. Check that ice is made from mineral water and don’t drink the tap water. If you’re buying street food or fresh juices, check that they have been freshly prepared and exercise caution.
- Security checks are normal. You’ll be stopped occasionally on main roads, at hotels, venues and access points for security checks. This is routine and ensures that you have permission to be here, ensuring both you and they are safe. Have your passport and visa handy, just in case.
Visit Jordan with Kandoo Adventures
If you’re travelling solo, are apprehensive about exploring new places, or want someone else to plan a killer itinerary, book your trip to Jordan with a dedicated tour operator like Kandoo Adventures.
You’ll be met at the airport, whisked from one exciting place to another, and have a dedicated local guide for the duration of your trip. The knowledge they impart not only offers a more thorough exploration of this fascinating country, but also ensures you are safe, comfortable and where you need to be to enjoy every single moment here.
Our local team will teach you about local customs and history, the unique geography, cuisine and culture, before making you promise to return with your whole family - soon!
Check out our awesome Jordan trips below and book an adventure to this uniquely charming destination.