Jordan is a small country located in the Middle East about the size of Maine. While it may be small, it’s got so much to offer for any travel lover! Travel to Jordan to experience the history, architecture, ruins, natural wonders, water activities, beach resorts and spas, delicious food, friendly people, the list goes on. Let’s start with a little background about what makes Jordan particularly special to me.

My Family’s Story:

While my family is not technically Jordanian, Jordan has come to be my father’s family’s second home and therefore one of ours too. My father was born in the area known as the West Bank in Palestine in the late 1950s. His family moved several times amidst turmoil and war, living in Kuwait for some time before settling in Jordan after 1990. Growing up, we tried to go visit as often as we could and I have very fond memories playing soccer with my (many) cousins in the streets, enjoying amazing homemade feasts of delicious food, fresh fried falafel at local restaurants, and picking fruits and olives in their beautiful garden.

Fast forward a few years. I married my husband and he heard all about my family but still had not been able to meet many of them (most were not able to fly here for the wedding). So when the opportunity presented itself to travel to Jordan with my family in late 2019, we jumped on it. I was so excited to share all this country had to offer with my husband. It was also my first time back in probably close to 10 years.

Seeing the country as a full blown adult really made me appreciate it so much more. So many people I’ve spoken to are hesitant to travel to the Middle East for fear of political unrest or violence, but honestly in all my times being there, I’ve always felt safe. I wanted to share a few of the life changing travel experiences we had on our trip and encourage people to try something new and consider Jordan instead of another trip to Europe. Here’s why:

Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Travel to Jordan:

1. Traveling to Jordan: Amman is a very easy to reach city. From Dallas we typically fly using either Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, or Emirates direct to Doha, Istanbul, or Dubai and then you can get a connecting flight to Amman from there. If you have time, most of these airlines also offer the option for an extended layover, giving you the option to spend a few days in these cities before connecting to Jordan. We did this on the way back to Dallas and stayed 3 nights in Dubai!

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2. The Food (Mansaf, Falafel, Hummus, Shawarma): You know we can’t write about a destination without including a little about the food! Good news is that Middle Eastern food is freaking delicious. If you can find an excursion to enjoy dinner with a local family in their own home, I highly recommend it. Must tries while in Jordan
   • Mansaf: This is the national dish of Jordan and was traditionally made by the Bedouins. Now you can find many variations of it throughout the country. I am partial to my family’s version which is made with lamb and fresh yogurt.
   • Fresh Falafel: I have tried SO many falafel places in the US but I’ve yet to find one as good as the freshly fried falafels in Amman. Highly recommend Abu Jbara for the best falafel in town (Tip – go for breakfast).
   • Hummus: Possibly the most famous Middle Eastern dish, you’ll find it on pretty much all the restaurant menus. Abu Jbara has excellent hummus as well, and perfect for dipping those falafel!
   • Shawarma/Shawerma: The best kind of street food! Usually made with lamb — the meat spins on a skewer and is shaved off to make sandwiches in a pita wrap. Usually with tomato, pickle, and oftentimes a delicious garlicky sauce. SO good.

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3. The hospitality: I will be bold enough to say that I think Arabs in general are known for their hospitality. It is something ingrained in their culture. You can never visit an Arab person’s home without being offered some tea or coffee and likely something (or many things) to eat. This carries over into the tourism industry as well. They are SO proud of their country and excited to share it with others and want you to have the best experience possible. Very different from some of our Europe trips where you can tell that the majority of people are annoyed or over having tourists around.
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4. Petra: This is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think of travel to Jordan. However, unlike many other well-known monuments that often feel like let downs when you see them in person, I think Petra feels even more magnificent in person that it could ever feel in a photo. It’s astounding to think that people carved this town into stone in the 4th Century BC!!! Letting that sink in while you take in the site is amazing. A few key things:

   

   

   

   
   

   

   

   

   
   
   • About a 3 hour drive from Amman (you can find tours/drivers to take you fairly easily). We did it in a day trip.
   • While the treasury is the most photographed part of Petra, the site is about 2,640 acres. Tons of archaeological sites, ruins, etc to see. So be prepared to walk a lot, to get quite dusty (suggest a scarf or bandana for this; I love this one from Madewell).
   • I do recommend a guide to really get the best experience
   • You can ride a horse carriage or camels to speed things up, but be prepared to pay extra
   • There’s not a ton to eat once inside the site so I would suggest eating a decent meal before going.
   • You can visit Petra at night! We so wanted to do this but didn’t have time. I think this could be gorgeous and an opportunity to see it much less crowded
5. The Roman Citadel – The Temple of Hercules: Built around 160 AD, these ruins are impressive and right in the middle of the city!
   • Can get a little windy depending on the season so bring a light jacket

     

     

     

     
     
6. The Roman Citadel: Amphitheater – Be prepared to get breathless. Lots of steps but the view from the top is worth it! They actually still hold occasional concerts and events here! Great area to get some lunch afterwards, or wander the local shops and markets.

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7. Wadi Rum Desert: This was probably our favorite experience! It was a first for all of us on this trip. This location has gained popularity due to being a common Hollywood filming location. The sand is the most brilliant red color and the sunsets and star gazing is outstanding. There are many campsites where you can stay overnight. We didn’t do that since we were staying with family, but I highly recommend it if you can. We did enjoy a traditional bedouin dinner at Sun City Camp before making the drive back to Amman. Here’s just a few movies that were filmed out here:
   • Aladdin
   • The Martian
   • Rogue One
   • Transformers
   • Dune
   • Lawrence of Arabia

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8. The Dead Sea: Fun fact – the Dead Sea sits at 1412 feet below sea level, making it the lowest land point on Earth! It’s called the Dead Sea because of its lack of aquamarine life. It has a salinity of about 34% making it one of the saltiest bodies of water on earth. Most aquamarine life cannot survive in these conditions. We were visiting in November so it was a bit too cold to enjoy, but there are several nice resorts on the Dead Sea that would be great in the Spring/Summer time. A few other fun facts about the area:
   • Due to the salinity, it is very easy to float in the sea.
   • The Dead Sea Mud is thought to have purifying qualities, so people often time rub it all over their skin for a nice body facial!
   • There are many shops selling skincare products using dead sea salt that make for fun souvenirs!
   • The mineral content of the water is also thought to have healing properties
   • The shores are receding at a fast rate right now due to global warming so make your trip before this wonder is gone.

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9. The Sweets (Kanafe, Baklava, Mint Tea): The desserts in the Middle East are very unique to say the least. Baklava is found all over the Middle East but each country does a slightly different spin on it. Pair your desserts with a glass of mint tea or traditional Arabic coffee. Here’s a few must tries:
   • Kanafe: It’s very hard to describe this dessert but here’s my best effort. A sweet cheese is baked with a thin, noodle like pastry on top and flavored with rose water or orange blossom simple syrup and topped with chopped pistachios. Best place to get some is Habibah Sweets. They have several locations throughout Jordan.
   • Baklava: As I mentioned above, there are SO many variations and types. One of the best known shops in Jordan is Zalatimo Sweets. Because the baklava are coated with a simple syrup, they travel well and don’t need to be refrigerated making them the perfect souvenir, in my opinion!
   • Mint Tea: A basic black tea brewed with fresh mint is common throughout Jordan. Typically served slightly sweetened, it’s the perfect pairing to any Middle Eastern dessert.

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10. Ride a camel: No trip to the Middle East is complete without riding a camel! You’ll need to hold on tight because getting up and down is a bit of bumpy adventure. It’s definitely a unique way to remember the trip. You can find camel rides in both Wadi Rum and Petra very easily.

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Final Thoughts:

As you can see, Jordan has SO much to offer. Add it to your travel bucket list and starting planning your travel to Jordan today. If you have already been, share your experiences in the comment section below! As always, check out other travel guides we have on the blog!