Visit Jordan - The Ultimate Travel Guide

In this blog post, I will tell you about the spots that you should not miss on your trip to Jordan. Are you planning a trip to Jordan right now? Then this is the right place for you!

Petra – The Rock City

Probably the most famous tourist attraction in Jordan is the stone carved city of Petra. The city, which since 1985 is part of the Unseco World Cultural Heritage, attracts every year up to a million visitors, and quite deservedly so. Since 2007, the city is also one of the new Seven World Wonders.

To reach the hidden city, a narrow path leads through meter-high rock walls and suddenly there it is: the treasury of Petra. It was carved into the pink rock over 2000 years ago and still exudes a special aura today.

The space in front of the treasury can get crowded pretty quickly. Local Bedouins offer you for a small tip to lead you to elevated spots in the rock, from where you have a better view of the Treasury. However, if you are good on your feet and don’t mind a 1.5 hour walk, I recommend taking the path to the Monastery. The path leads through impressive landscapes and at the end you will be rewarded by an even bigger masterpiece carved in the stone. In addition, the Monastery has numerous viewing platforms, which are freely accessible.

Where to Stay?

I prefer to explore such heavily visited attractions as early as possible, when the crowds are not yet so large. Therefore, I was very satisfied with the Mövenpick Hotel in Petra. The breakfast buffet starts already at 6 am and to get to the entrance to Petra you literally just have to cross the street.

Wadi Rum

Probably the most impressive landscapes in Jordan can be found in Wadi Rum. This wonderful desert landscape should not be missed on your trip to Jordan. But not only adventurous and nature lovers are drawn to the Wadi Rum desert. No, Hollywood has also been drawn here. So it’s quite possible that you already know one or the other rock from movies like Star Wars, The Martian or Transformers.

In order not to have to hike everything through the sand, we explored the desert with a jeep safari. The landscape was so impressive that my camera was running almost continuously until and with sunset.

Where to Stay?

Since a large part of the Wadi Rum desert is located in a nature reserve, there are numerous desert camps instead of hotels in this area. So that you are right in the middle of it, I recommend you to book one of these Luxury Glampings for your overnight stays in Wadi Rum.

Jerash

About 40 kilometers north of Amman is the ancient and historic city of Jerash. There are numerous excavations and renovated buildings to discover here. The oldest traces of human life date back over 8000 years.

Canyoning in Wadi Mujib

If you could use some action after a few days of sightseeing, you should definitely plan a stop in Wadi Mujib. There you can rent a life jacket and then go up the river on your own. To overcome difficult places there are fixed rope and ladder devices. There are also local guides to help you in these places.

At the top, an impressive waterfall awaits you. After that, you go downstream back again. In some places you can drift comfortably or you will find a natural water slide.

The Dead Sea

Another water adventure, which should not be missing from the itinerary, is a trip to the Dead Sea.

Since the water in the Dead Sea evaporates much faster than in conventional oceans, the Dead Sea has a salt content of about 34%. This is 10 times the average salt content of the rest of the oceans. Due to the high salt content, the water acquires a much higher density than conventional water, which in turn results in increased buoyancy. In short, in the Dead Sea you can stay afloat without any effort, which is a really fun and fascinating experience.

Amman

Furthermore, the capital of Jordan must not be missing in your program. Amman is one of the oldest settlements in the world and presents itself as a lively metropolis full of contrasts – a melting pot of tradition and modernity in the middle of a hilly landscape, with the desert on one side and the fertile Jordan Valley on the other.

If you want to explore the historical side of the capital, I recommend a walk to the Citadel of Amman. From there you have a wonderful view over the city itself.

Where to Stay?

The most beautiful hotel on our trip we visited in Amman. Here we were allowed to stay at the Fairmont Amman. The food and the rooms were impeccable and highly recommended. The hotel’s own pool above the rooftops of Amman is another highlight of this hotel.

Aquaba and the Red Sea

If the Dead Sea was too salty for you, you will be happy to visit the Red Sea. Quite different from the Dead Sea, the Red Sea is a habitat of numerous animals and corals. These can best be marveled at on a snorkel safari.

Most of these tours start in Aqaba, a very lively coastal town, where there are also numerous hotels and accommodations. The ideal starting point for your adventures on and in the Red Sea.

Flights from Switzerland

Currently, the airline Royal Jordan flies twice a week from Zurich and Geneva without changing to Amman and back. I have found the airline’s flight staff to be extremely courteous and the service and support at the airport in Amman and in the airport lounge were excellent.