I visited Jordan in January of 2024 at probably the quietest it has ever been due to the conflict in Israel. I was only able to do a 4 day trip and so I decided to split my trip in half between Petra and Wadi Rum but Amman, Aquaba and the Dead sea also offer fantastic sights and activities.
What should I see?
The main attractions that bring people to Jordan are:
- Petra – an ancient civilization carved into the sides of pink sandstone cliffs (2-3 days)
- Wadi Rum – Vast desert renowned for its red sands which has made it the perfect place for films such as Star Wars and the Martian to be filmed (1-2 days)
- Dead Sea – a vast salt lake so dense with salt that you can float to your hearts content (day trip)
- Aquaba – A thriving port city overtaken by water sports from windsurfing to scuba diving (2-3days)
- Amman – The capital of Jordan filled with ancient ruins, religious cites and shopping (1-2 days)
- Wadi Mujib/Ghuweir – There are several incredible Wadis filled with waterfalls, wildlife and often miniature oasis in the middle.
How to get around Jordan
The main issue with Jordan is its lack of reliable public transport and so renting a car was an obvious choice for me. The roads are reasonably well maintained and easy to navigate; I even drove back from Wadi Musa to Amman airport without using maps! Also with the incredible landscapes in Jordan I found some of my favorite moments of the trip ended up being whilst driving through the incredible mountains and desert specifically along the Kings road.
Where should I stay?
Is it expensive?
Jordan has its own currency, the Jordanian Dinar, which is very strong at the moment and so prices are similar to that of western Europe. Cards are not widely accepted yet; especialy by smaller businesses and so cash is a necessity which can be expensive with withdrawal fees at ATMs.
