Jordan was a crossroads for civilizations passing from all directions. Waves of Nabataeans, Greeks, Romans, Umayyads, Crusaders, Bedouins, and Ottomans, established advanced settlements. The Nabataeans first appeared in the sixth century BC in the desert located to the east of Jordan, and came from the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula.

Adventures | Must Sees | Food

ADVENTURES

Hike Petra

8.4 miles | 1,838′ gain
Petra is more than just the famous Treasury. Hike the many miles of trails from which you can explore its numerous monuments.

Snorkeling
in the Red Sea

From Aqaba, the Red Sea offers beautiful coral reefs. Go on a dive boat and explore breathtaking underwater species and ship wrecks.

MUST SEES

Amman

Amman is built on seven hills. Over time, as conquering armies swept through, Amman’s name changed from Ain Ghazal to Rabath-Ammon to Ammon to Philadelphia and finally to Amman. Neighborhoods are named after hills (jabal) or valleys (wadi).

Jerash

Jerash was covered by sand for centuries preserving many of its ancient structures. Alexander the Great founded the city and the Romans conquered it. An amazing mix of Greek and Roman ruins rest on a purple thistle hill above the modern skyline.

Dead Sea

The Amman Beach Dead Sea is a fancy resort with changing areas, pools, and showers. The Dead Sea is extremely salty. Floating is easy. Take a couple steps and then just recline. It is a strange sensation.

Mount Nebo

The Bible says that Moses viewed the Promised Land from Mount Nebo before his death. From the church, you can view biblical landmarks such as Jericho, Jerusalem, and the Dead Sea. According to legend, Moses and the Lost Ark were buried on the mountaintop.

Madaba Map

The Madaba Map is a floor mosaic in the Byzantine church of Saint George in Madaba. It is the oldest surviving map of the key strongholds of the Holy Land. The Crusaders used it as a waypoint.

Karak Castle

Fulk, King of Jerusalem, built the Crusader castle in the 1140s. While it survived two sieges by Saladin, Sa’d Al-Din, Saladin’s nephew, forced the castle to surrender in 1188. The castle tunnels are interesting and provide great views of the surrounding area.

Wadi Rum Train

During the Great Arab Revolt, T.E. Lawrence assisted Prince Faisal’s forces in attacking the trains on the Hejaz Railway in the Wadi Rum. These guerilla attacks disrupted Turkish transportation and communications lines, helping to defeat the Turks and end the Great War.

Little Petra

Siq al-Barid is a small canyon that leads to Little Petra. The caves here were used to house visiting traders to Petra from the Silk Road. After the decline of the Nabataean Empire, Bedouin nomads have resided in the structures.

Petra

The Nabateans carved architectural wonders out of the rock walls. The Siq is a narrow gorge leading to the Khaznah (“Treasury”), one of many large tombs. Ad-Deir (“Monastery”) is a dramatic unfinished facade at the other end of the city.  

Petra by Night

At night, Petra is beautifully illuminated. The dark path has candles on each side. Spotlights shine on major landmarks. At the Treasury, there are candles at the base. There are rugs and chairs for people to sit on with cups of hot sweet tea.

Wadi Rum

Once you leave the Bedouin camp, the magical landscapes of the Wadi Rum reveal themselves. The trucks take you to fantastic rock formations and colorful sands. At sunset, gaze at the giant sky and the bizarre rock shapes.

Aqaba

The Red Sea is crystal clear. In the shallow waters, the water is green. As you head out to the deep water, the water becomes navy blue.

FOOD

Maqluba

Maqluba is just as much of a spectacle as a meal. Chicken, vegetables, and rice are cooked in a large pot with broth and seasonings. When it is ready to serve, the pot is swiftly flipped and the maqluba is placed on a large serving dish.

Shawarma

The chef places sliced meat on a vertical spit and roasts it. The seasoned meat is shaved and is typically served in a crispy flatbread and garlic sauce.

Zarb

Zarb is a traditional Bedouin cooking technique. A couple people lift a metal rack from a hole. Chicken, goat, potatoes, onions, carrots, and tomatoes are resting on the racks. Hot coals and spices give the food a smoky and delicious flavor.

Baklava

Zelatimo Sweets has the best baklava in Amman. The baklava contains pistachios or cashews and the pastry layers are flaky and crispy. They craft the baklava into elegant shapes and exquisite textures. 

Lemon Mint Juice

Lemon mint juice is lemonade with mint. Some are sweeter, some are sourer, and some are more astringent. The drink is yellow-green on the bottom with bits of mint floating on top. In any case, they are always refreshing.

Mansaf

Mansaf is tender lamb in a yogurt sauce. The bone-in lamb shanks are soft, tender, and a little gelatinous at the edges. The rice is yellow, fluffy, and studded with slivered almonds. The warm yogurt sauce is rich and savory like a cheese soup.

Jubran

Jubran offers one a modern rooftop dining experience at the center of Amman. The Jubran’s Special is a hot clay pot of beef, onions, mushrooms, and figs in a delicious caramelized and savory sauce. The lid is a tender flatbread that you dip in the sauce.

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