Reasons To Visit Jordan
Petra is the most famous of Jordan's historic ruins, but it is by no means the only one. Ummayad palaces, Graeco-Roman cities, ancient churches and crusader castles are found throughout the country and are likely to form the backbone of your time in Jordan.
Jerash is the Classical jewel in Jordan's crown but the Greeks and Romans left their traces across the country, sometimes leaving behind entire cities, like Umm Qais, and sometimes modifying existing settlements, as with the colonnaded street in Petra.
It was T.E. Lawrence who brought Wadi Rum to public attention, and his description of the desert region as "vast, echoing and godlike" sums it up perfectly. The red sand and towering sandstone mountains make this a deservedly popular destination.
Jordan is right at the forefront of conservation in the Middle East, and her reserves don't just preserve rare wildlife, like the ibex, but also remarkable scenery and traditional ways of life. The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature runs five main reserves in Jordan, such as the Dana Nature Reserve.
Petra is one of the most famous UNESCO world heritage sites and one of the places everyone wants to visit once in their life. The other heritage site you may visit in Jordan is Qasr Al-Amra, protected by UNESCO because of its rich and vivid frescoes dating to the Umayyad period (the eight century AD).
Carving down from the desert plateau to the depths of the Dead Sea and Rift Valley, Jordan's wadis are a haven for the more adventurous, whether you choose to hike down Wadi Feynan to spend time at the Ecolodge there, or to tackle the deep pools and boulder chokes of the wet descent of Wadi Mujib.
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Dana Nature Reserve covers a system of wadis running down to Wadi Araba just north of Petra, and is home to wildlife, jawdropping landscapes, and thousands of years of history.
Overlooking the Dana Nature Reserve, the Dana Guesthouse offers impressive views and simple but hearty and delicious food.
A truly unique property in the Dana Nature Reserve, Feynan Lodge offers more than just bed and board - staying there is a memorable experience in itself.
14 days from £2,650pp
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