Welcome to Jordan, the pearl of the fertile crescent, a land of deserts and plateaus, crossed by a single river, the Jordan.
The main cities are located on the West Bank plateau: here you will find the capital Amman and the archaeological sites of Jerash, Karak, Madaba and the famous Petra, perhaps the main reason why you choose to take a trip to Jordan.
But in addition to cities and history there is also the desert, which occupies two thirds of the country. Finally, the Dead Sea, the largest lake in the country and the beaches of the Red Sea, overlooked by the city of Aqaba.
Are you going to book a tour in Jordan? You have made a good choice: here are the 10 attractions not to be missed on your itinerary.
Jordan tour in 10 top destinations
What should you see on your Jordan tour? Before planning your itinerary, here are the top ten attractions you shouldn't absolutely miss.
Petra
Petra is the most famous archaeological site in Jordan, located in the desert to the southwest. Its remains date back to 300 BC, when it was the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom. It is reached by walking in the Al Siq gorge and is known as the "pink city" because of its tombs and sacred buildings built in sandstone of this color. Its symbolic building is the temple of Al Khazneh, whose facade is decorated in the Greek style.
Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is the salt lake lapping Jordan, Israel and the West Bank. It is the lowest point on earth with high salinity waters. Its muddy deposit, being rich in minerals, is used for the production of cosmetics and in the wellness centers of the area.
Amman
Capital of Jordan, Amman, is a city with skyscrapers and modern buildings, which however retains its ancient history in the citadel of Jabal al-Qala'a, on a hill, where you can still admire the remains of the Roman temple of Hercules and the nineteenth century palace of the Umayyads. On another hill there is also the Roman Theater, an ancient amphitheater that still hosts some events.
Aqaba
A port town overlooking the Red Sea, Aqaba houses an eponymous Islamic fort, an interesting archaeological museum and various seaside services and beaches appreciated by those who practice diving and windsurfing. Its waters are in fact the habitat of the coral reef Yamanieh Reef and, in the south, are protected in the Aqaba Marine Park.
Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum, or Valley of the Moon, is a valley in southern Jordan carved over millennia by a river in granite rock. Great attraction of Jordan, it is the largest Wadi present in the country.
Jerash
Jerash corresponds to the ancient city of Gerasa and is about thirty kilometers from the capital Amman. It reflects on the waters of the Wadi Jerash river, which then flows into the Jordan. Located in a fertile region, the city was already founded in the Neolithic age, as evidenced by some archaeological finds. The archaeological sites that can be visited in Jerash cover a period ranging from the age of the bronze to the Roman era.
Madaba
Madaba is located about 35 km south west of Amman. Among the most interesting monuments is the Church of St.George, during whose construction an important mosaic was found with biblical depictions now called the Map of Holy Land. The mosaic represents the itinerary to reach Jerusalem with 157 captions in Greek.
Al Karak
Al-Karak is a town south of Amman, known and visited mainly for its Crusader castle. The latter dominates the city from a hill from which the Dead Sea can be admired.
Ajlun
Ajlūn is a town near the Dibbin National Park, located in a fertile valley, inhabited mostly by people of Islamic religion. Its main buildings include the downtown mosque, the striking minaret, and a fortress.
Valley of the Jordan
The Jordan Valley is the valley where the Jordan River flows, part of the Jordanian Rift Valley. It covers about 105 kilometers from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea, between Jordan and Israel. Humid and populated by a lot of fauna, it has always been a place of meeting and exchange for the Middle Eastern populations.
Do you want to discover Jordan? Take a look at our tailor-made trips!
