Wadi Rum
Jordan’s desert, Wadi Rum offers 360 degree views of out-of-this-world landscape and a peek into bedouin cultures. From massive sandstone to miles of soft desert sand it is an outdoor paradise for adventure seekers! Start your visit to Wadi Rum with a Jeep tour from the visitors center.
While it is called a Jeep tour, expect a ride on the back of a pick up truck by a local bedouin. These expert guides will show you the time of your life! From natural rock bridges and ancient carvings to sunsets from the back of a camel, Wadi Rum exceeds almost everyone’s expectations!
After exploring the landscape, visit a Wadi Rum bedouin camp and enjoy traditional Jordanian foods before camping under the stars. Some camps offer evening entertainment, others have luxury bubble tents. Whether you visiting on a budget or want a full 5* experience, there is a camp for everyone.
Petra
Petra, the rock-cut capital of the Nabataens, is what seduces almost a million visitors to the Kingdom of Jordan each year. Lost for hundreds of years, this World Wonder is well worth its title and is currently at the top of Lonely Planet’s Ulitmate Travel List. From its secret entrance down a narrow Siq, to the stunning Treasury views, every visitor leaves awe inspired.
While some visitors only have half a day, it is well worth having two or three days to explore the hiking trails, take pictures from all angles and absorb the enormity of what was build by the Nabataens, almost 2000 years ago!
There are plenty of tours to Petra, whether it is tours from Aqaba or tours from Amman or fully guided trips to Jordan, which almost always incude at least half a day in Petra.
Beyond Petra is Petra by Night where 15 000 candles illuminate the Siq all the way to the Treasury. Sweet Bedouin tea, a starry night and a traditional Jordanian flute set the stage for a short performance.
Dead Sea
The lowest point on Earth lies at the border of Jordan and Israel. A bucketlist moment, let your feet leave the ground as you float in the salty waters of the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is about 30 minutes from Amman. Before your visit, you should read these Dead Sea tips.
If you are planning a daytrip, you can find hotels that offer day passes to access the Dead Sea and also use their showers and pools. If you plan on spending the night, the Dead Sea Spa offers great value and for a Luxurious stay the Movenpick and Marriott will not disappoint. Read more about the best Dead Sea Hotels in this Jordan beach guide
Amman Citadel
The Amman Citadel is located in downtown Amman atop Jebel Al-Qala. You can walk up the hill or there are steps across the street from the Roman Theatre that will take you to the top, drive your rental car and park in the Amman Citadel parking lot, or take a taxi. If you do take a taxi, ask them to take you to Jebel Al-Qala as that is what the site is known to locals as. They do not call it the Citadel.
The cost to visit is JD2 (USD3) per person and is included in the Jordan Pass.
Expect to spend an hour at the site, longer if you like to take your time or are planning on taking a lot of photos. Depending on where you want to take photos, the morning is good for certain angles and late afternoon is better for others.
Make sure you climb down the steps and visit the Roman Theatre below.
Mount Nebo
Mount Nebo is a place of importance for Christians visiting Jordan. Here, according to the Hebrew Bible, Moses was shown the Promised Land after wandering the desert for 40 years. Today, Mount Nebo is managed by Franciscan Monks and a new church sits atop the mountain. It houses mosaics from ancient churches on the site.
Baptism Site of Jesus
Another Christian religious site is the place where Jesus was baptized on the Jordan River. Today small churches sit on the site and Christian’s can be baptized or visit this holy place.
Jerash
About 1 hour’s drive north of Amman is Jerash, the best-preserved Roman ruins outside of Rome. The site is massive, for anyone who has to explore Ephesus or other Roman ruins, this site blows them all out of the water! From colonnaded streets to theatres to the massive Hadrian’s Gate, it can take a couple of hours to have a quick walk through the site. It was only in recent years that the beautiful oval was discovered. Soldiers were camping on the site, and after hitting hard ground, they began excavating, and what was discovered was the massive oval. Much of Jerash’s preservation is due to mud covering much of the site. There are still excavations going on, although most of the major structures have been found. What has not been uncovered is where the homes were of those who lived here.