Petra. Wadi Rum. The Best Food You've Never Heard Of.

Why Visit Jordan?

Jordan is a country that rewards travellers with extraordinary generosity — in its landscapes, its history and its food. Petra alone would justify the journey: the rose-red Nabataean city carved into sandstone cliffs, approached through the dramatic Siq gorge, is one of the world\'s great experiences. Wadi Rum\'s desert is the landscape of a thousand films. And Amman is one of the Arab world\'s most liveable, most foodie capitals — a city that has been continuously inhabited for 9,000 years and still knows how to eat very well.

Jordanian culture is defined by its extraordinary tradition of hospitality (the Arabic word diyafa — generous hospitality — is a core national value), its tolerance and moderation among Arab countries, and its position at the crossroads of civilisations. The country contains some of the most significant sites in three of the world\'s great religions.

Petra

The Nabataean city of Petra — founded in the 4th century BC, hidden from the Western world until 1812 — is approached through the Siq: a narrow, twisting gorge of rose-red sandstone that suddenly opens to reveal the Treasury. Beyond it lies an entire city carved from rock: tombs, temples, colonnaded streets and monasteries.

Wadi Rum

The desert of Wadi Rum — used as a location for Lawrence of Arabia, The Martian and Dune — is a landscape of extraordinary drama: vast red sand plains, towering sandstone and granite cliffs, ancient rock art and Bedouin camps. A night under the Jordanian desert sky, around a fire, is genuinely life-changing.

Dead Sea

The Dead Sea — 430 metres below sea level, the lowest point on earth — has been a destination for therapeutic tourism for 2,000 years. Floating effortlessly in water so salty it is almost impossible to sink, then covering yourself in therapeutic black mud, is a genuinely remarkable physical experience.

Amman Food Scene

Amman has developed one of the Arab world's most exciting restaurant cultures — from the classic downtown fuul and falafel joints to the sophisticated mezze restaurants of Weibdeh and the new wave of Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese-influenced chefs working with Jordanian ingredients.

Travel Tips for Jordan

• ✦ The Jordan Pass (buy before arrival) covers the visa fee and Petra entry — excellent value.
• ✦ Petra requires a full day minimum — two days if you want to walk to the Monastery.
• ✦ Dress modestly outside of tourist areas and the Dead Sea resorts.
• ✦ Bargaining is expected in souqs and with taxi drivers — always agree price before getting in.
• ✦ The drive from Amman to Petra via the King's Highway (not the Desert Highway) is spectacular.

Jordan at a Glance