Despite being surrounded by some turbulent neighbors, Jordan is one of the most peaceful and stable countries in the Middle East. Most travelers don’t think of Jordan as a major travel destination, and they’re definitely missing out! The country’s highlight is Petra, one of the most famous ancient cities in the world, but Jordan has much more to offer. You can explore the desert landscapes of Wadi Rum, visit the capital of Amman, float in the Dead Sea, hike through mountains and canyons, or even go scuba diving in the Red Sea.
My visit to Jordan actually wasn’t planned. I had been traveling in Egypt when I found out there was a ferry across the Red Sea to Jordan, and I couldn’t resist the chance to see Petra. The boat ride wasn’t very long, although it was a bit chaotic. Once I arrived in Jordan I headed north from Aqaba and spent the night in a small desert town before continuing toward Petra.
One of my first surprises was how mountainous Jordan actually is. I had pictured mostly flat desert before arriving, but there are some beautiful mountains throughout the country. I even came across snow and ice while driving through the higher elevations. I was told that only a few weeks earlier a major snowstorm had closed the road for several days!
Explore Petra
Petra was the ancient capital of the Nabataeans, an Arab civilization that became wealthy through trade and somehow managed to build a major city in the middle of the desert. They developed an impressive system for controlling and storing the limited water that came through the surrounding mountains, allowing Petra to grow into one of the most important cities in the region.
Before I visited, I really didn’t know much about Petra. Like most people, I had seen photographs of the Treasury and honestly thought that was basically the entire site. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The ancient city stretches for miles through the mountains, with temples, tombs, homes, roads, theaters, and other structures carved directly into the colorful rock.
The natural scenery surrounding Petra is almost as impressive as the ruins themselves. The rock ranges from shades of yellow and red to brown and almost black, creating patterns throughout the canyon walls. There are also plenty of hiking opportunities, and if you continue far enough into the mountains you’ll reach some of Petra’s most isolated ancient structures.
Explore Wadi Rum
After Petra, my next favorite place in Jordan was Wadi Rum. Located in the southern part of the country near Saudi Arabia, this enormous desert is filled with mountains, sandstone cliffs, natural bridges, and some incredible rock formations. It’s the type of landscape most people probably imagine when they think about the deserts of the Middle East.
Wadi Rum is also a great place for hiking and camping. There are plenty of tours that take you deep into the desert, and spending a night here gives you a chance to experience a little of the traditional desert lifestyle. With almost no development once you get away from the main settlements, the landscape feels incredibly remote.
Explore Aqaba
It’s strange to think of Jordan as having access to the world’s oceans because its coastline is so small, but the country has just enough of the Red Sea to support the port city of Aqaba. This was actually my point of entry into Jordan after taking the ferry from Egypt.
My main goal at the time was visiting Petra, so unfortunately I didn’t spend as much time exploring Aqaba as I should have. The city has restaurants, shopping, nightlife, and plenty of activities on the Red Sea. The clear water and tropical fish make this a popular place for glass-bottom boat tours, snorkeling, and scuba diving. If I return to southern Jordan, I’d definitely spend more time exploring the Red Sea instead of immediately heading inland.
