Jordan is a country I haven’t traveled to (yet). I considered going there for a week during my gap year from travel in 2018 because of cheap WizzAir/RyanAir flights from Brussels. Jordan was also on our radar after we visited the UAE during the 2021 covid tricky travel times. But in the end, we chose different countries to visit. After all that anticipation, I am absolutely stoked to travel around the MENA region one day and hop into Jordan a bunch of times since their visa policy is quite alright at VOA, 60 days, and some money.
I hope that in the future, you can find posts about Jordan on this page. For now, perhaps read about other countries, such as Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan.
Things I’d Like to Do in Jordan
- Hitchhike with locals, of course! Some parts of Jordan seem very conducive to long-distance hitchhiking. Especially the remote parts like the land border to Iraq at Ruwaished and Azraq. And of course the modern asphalted version of the King’s Highway.
- Spend some time in the capital Amman. During such a stay, I’d love to visit King Abdullah I Mosque, a bunch of souqs, Prophet Muhammad Museum, the Amman Citadel, and see King Hussein Mosque and Abu Darwish Mosque from the outside
- Because I’ve been learning Arabic on Duolingo for a long time, it’s really time to put my Arabic to the test
- Huff history at the ruins of Umm Qais, the desert castle of Kharana, Jerash, As-Salt, Qasr Amra, the Ajloun Castle, Umm el-Jimal, Umm ar-Rasas, Mount Nebo, the mosaics of Madaba, Qal’at ash-Shawbak, the village of Fuheis, Qasr Bshir, the Tomb of Aaron, Qasr Al-Mshatta, Ghawr as-Safi (lowest place on earth museum), Wu’ayra Castle, the Ma’in Hot Springs, the massive Qal’at al-Karak, and of course, the tourist classic of Petra
- So I’m not sure how doable it is, but I’d love to hike up Jordan’s tallest peak, Jabal Umm ad-Dami (1854masl). Though it’s close to the Saudi border, some 30 kilometers south of Wadi Rum village, I’m sure someone organizes hikes up that mountain
- Enjoy the nature of Jordan, among which the Dead Sea, Yarmouk Nature Reserve, Al Arayes Lake, Shaumari Wildlife Reserve, Dana Biosphere Reserve, Azraq Wetland Reserve, the Zarqa River, the Jordan River at Jisr el-Majami, and the Yarmouk River at the Second Yarmouk Railway Bridge
- Meanwhile, I’d love to do active things, such as canyoning in Wadi Mujib, hiking in the Dana Valley, Wadi al-Hasa and Wadi Numeira, kayaking in one of the wetlands, and finally seeing a wadi fill up (from a safe distance)
- Trace the former Hejaz Railway from Amman to Damascus and Ma’an to Aqaba
- Cross an international sea or land border. The usual suspects are Amman to Damascus in Syria, Aqaba/Ma’an to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia OR Azraq to Al-Qurayyat in Saudi Arabia. I already mentioned the land border with Iraq. One border crossing I’d be stoked to take is the ferry from Jordan to Egypt. Either Aqaba to Nuweibaa or Aqaba to Taba (and visit the Sharif Hussein bin Ali Mosque, see the Aqaba flagpole)
- Eat Jordanian specialties, such as jameed, qatayef, and various baked goods. Jordan’s cuisine seems to really be at the crossroads for all things I love, including falafel, hummus, tabbouleh, manakish, ful medames, and za’atar. So all of that sounds very vegetarian-friendly.
- Lastly, I’d like to drink a Carakale craft beer, and a Petra Weizen beer. Similarly, I’d love to try out the Jordanian domestic wine production (and perhaps take a vineyard tour)
Once I find new ideas for places to visit or things to do in Jordan, I might add them to this list.
If you know cool places and things to do in Jordan, comment below so I can always find your suggestions again once I start making the dream come true! Tips are especially welcome if you are Jordanian or have lived there for a while
Are you a travel blogger and do you have good posts about Jordan? Drop them in a comment below and I’ll read them!
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