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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North Africa & the Middle East
The Decapolis was a Graeco-Roman confederation of ten cities in a region now straddling Jordan and Syria. Jerash was a member, and today is probably the best-preserved classical city in the region.
The ultraviolet index is a measure of the risk of skin damage due to exposure to the sun. Be aware that the potential damage caused by the sun varies from person to person as well as by time of day, altitude and several other factors. We recommend contacting your GP for further advice.
Wear sunglasses on bright days; use sunscreen if there is snow on the ground (which reflects UV radiation) or if you have particularly fair skin.
Wear sunglasses and use sunscreen, cover the body with clothing and a hat, and seek shade around midday when the sun is most intense.
Wear sunglasses and use sunscreen having SPF 15 or higher, cover the body with sun protective clothing and a wide-brim hat, and reduce time in the sun from two hours before to three hours after solar noon.
Wear sunscreen, a shirt, sunglasses and a hat. Do not stay out in the sun for too long.
Take all precautions, including: wear sunglasses and use sunscreen, cover the body with a long-sleeved shirt and trousers, wear a very broad hat, and avoid the sun from two hours before to three hours after solar noon.
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Further reading:JordanWhen to GoHighlightsItinerary IdeasPlaces to GoThings to DoAccommodationAbout JordanCountry Guides
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