The first thing you need to know about Jordan is that you need to go. I quickly fell in love with Jordan, it is definitely my favorite Arab country to date (I have also been to Morocco and the UAE). The people, the food, the landscapes are unforgettable. Here is everything you need to know about Jordan!
When to go
High season is spring and fall when it’s not too hot and not too cold. Since most of Jordan is a desert, it can get very hot during the day in the summer and very cold at night in the winter. We went in October and the weather was perfect. When we stayed in a bedouin camp in the desert for a night it wasn’t too cold, I didn’t even really need my puffy jacket or gloves that I brought.
The language
The local language is Arabic, but English is widely spoken. I somehow only learned two words in Arabic while I was there, habibi which means “my love” and shukran which means “thank you.”
Currency
The local currency is the Jordanian dinar, one Jordanian dinar equals $1.42 USD. They have bills and coins similar to the U.S. The 1 dinar banknote is green, the 5 dinar banknote is orange, the 10 dinar banknote is blue, the 20 dinar banknote is blue-green and the 50 dinar banknote is pink-brown. I used mostly cash in Jordan, but was able to use my credit card in some instances.
Safety
Because of where Jordan is located, people might think that it is unsafe, but in reality it is very safe. The people of Jordan are very welcoming and friendly, I never felt unsafe the whole time I was in Jordan. You will never be haggled and followed around incessantly when shopping. The only time you really need to stand your ground is at Petra, do not pay to go to a viewpoint with a local bedouin. There is a hike up to a viewpoint that is completely free, details located under the Petra heading below. Our guide, Mohammad, told us that if he doesn’t relay a message to us from the local bedouins, they would beat him up. So, he always relayed the message to us and our job was to respond with a “no thank you.”
Getting around
If you want to explore shops and restaurants of Amman, I highly suggest staying in downtown Amman. Our hotel was located five minutes drive outside of downtown Amman, so we had to take Ubers and taxis. We would take an Uber downtown and we would pay anywhere from 4-6 Jordanian dinar for a taxi back to our hotel. Ubers are cheaper than taxis and the white taxis are cheaper than the yellow taxis. In Aqaba, the taxis are green.
What to eat
Falafel
Falafel can be made with chickpeas or fava beans, in Jordan falafel is made with chickpeas. The best falafel I had was at Hashem Restaurant in downtown Amman. Sadly, the only picture I have of my delectable falafel was of it half eaten and not very instagrammable.
Kunafa
Kunafa is a desert made of layered vermicelli, cheese, nuts and honey. It is served warm and is quite the after dinner delight.
Mutabal
Mutabal is a dip made from tahini and eggplant. Being a fan of eggplant, I quickly fell in love with this dip, even over all the hummus.
Mansef
Mansef is a dish of lamb and rice, served with fermented yogurt. So simple and so delicious. Do like the locals and eat it with your hands.
What to see
Wadi Rum Desert
One night in Wadi Rum Desert left me wanting more. I’ve seen my fair share of deserts, but the red hue was new to me. From bombing around in the back of a pickup, to spending the night in a Bedouin camp. Sipping tea along the way and eating the local food. We watched the sun set and smoked shisha around a camp fire waiting for the stars to come out. Wadi Rum is a must when in Jordan!
Petra
Petra was rediscovered in 1812 by a Swiss explorer and dates back to the 1st century BC. It was once a rich trading grounds and is now a popular tourist destination. When you see pictures of Petra, you are most likely seeing pictures of the Treasury. Did you know there is much more to Petra than just the Treasury? You will start your day with a walk down the Siq (narrow gorge) leading up to the Treasury. Beyond the Treasury is a monastery, a church, a temple and a theatre. There are also a plethora of tombs and miles of trails to explore.
I had three hikes on my radar for my day in Petra; Al-Khubtha Trail (2.2 miles), High Place of Sacrifice Trail (1.9 miles) and Ad-Deir Trail (1.6 miles). I was only able to do the first two trails because I ran out of time. Al-Khubtha Trail is the trail that gives you views looking down at the Treasury. The High Place of Sacrifice Trail offers stunning views of the ancient city. Rather than going back the way I came, I took the trail through Wadi Al-Farasa. Ad-Deir Trail leads you to the Monastery, which may be more stunning and less crowded than the Treasury. All of these trails are listed as hard because they involve a lot of steps to the top, take your time and drink plenty of water.
We learned from our guide that Tuesday, Thursday and Friday are the busiest at Petra due to a local discount. After hearing that, we were happy to be there on a Wednesday. Petra is a bustling ancient city that can also be experienced more peacefully at night. Imagine walking down the Siq lined with candles, the Treasury all lit up and locals playing music and telling stories. I would highly suggest experiencing Petra by Night.
The Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth, coming in at over 1,400 feet below sea level. In comparison, Death Valley is the lowest point in North America at only 282 feet below sea level. The Dead Sea is extremely salty, causing you to float with ease. We even tried to dive down and we would just bounce right back up. The sea is rich in minerals and has healing properties. Lather yourself in mud, wait for it to dry and then rinse it off, your skin will feel silky smooth!
The Dead Sea is in danger, water levels keep depleting more and more every year. Because of Jordan’s desert landscape, water is a hot commodity. Fresh water from the Jordan River is being diverted for other uses, rather than flowing into the Dead Sea. If things keep up, the Dead Sea could be gone in 20 to 30 years. Insider tip, don’t shave in the few days leading up to your Dead Sea plunge.
Jerash ruins
Jerash is the second most visited tourist destination in Jordan. It is an ancient Roman city dating back to the Neolithic age. Within the walled city are several churches and a large mosque. Our group leader, Mohammad, made a great point. If people of varying religions (Muslim and Christian) could coexist back then, then why can’t we coexist peacefully today? There is even evidence that one of the churches was formally a synagogue.
Aqaba
Aqaba is Jordans gateway to the Red Sea. With only one night in Aqaba, we spent the day at a beach club and by night feasted on a fresh seafood dinner. After checking into our hotel, we took a bus to Berenice Beach Club. Here it is perfectly okay to where bikinis and such, no need to cover up. We ordered margaritas at the bar and spent the day relaxing in loungers and swimming in the sea. Most Jordanians do not drink alcohol, so it can be hard to come by. In Aqaba sales of alcohol are more common, so if your craving a drink this is the place for you. If I had more time in Aqaba, I would have loved to have gone scuba diving.
My trip to Jordan was with Intrepid Travel on a FAM (familiarization) trip, they are one of my preferred small group adventure travel suppliers. I would highly suggest traveling to Jordan with them, they take the stress out of traveling to a new place.
I hope you learned everything you need to know about Jordan from this blog post. If you liked this blog post, be sure to check out My Guide to Chefchaouen, Morocco! Don’t forget to book your trip with your favorite travel advisor, yours truly.
