Classic Jordan
The main highlights of Jordan can be explored during a weeklong vacation and offers plenty of historical sites, cosmopolitan cities, desert landscapes and stunning beach resorts.Petra
Nicknamed the “Rose City” is Petra, a historical and archaeological city in southern Jordan and the most visited tourist attraction in the country. The impressive entrance is called the “Siq”, which is a dark and narrow canyon situated between colourful sandstone rock. It contains tombs and temples carved into the rock, dating back to around 300 BC. The most famous temple with an ornate is Al-Khazneh, and in 2007 it was voted in as one of the “New 7 Wonders of the World”. In 1985 UNESCO declared it as a world heritage site who described it as “one of the most precious cultural properties of man’s cultural heritage”.
Amman
Amman is Jordan’s cosmopolitan capital city, situated in north-central Jordan. The west of Amman serves as the economic centre, whereas the east is filled with historic sites. On top of Jabal al-Qala’a hill is the historic citadel which includes the pillars of the Roman Temple of Hercules and the 8th-century Umayyad Palace complex, known for its grand dome. Also, within the city is a Roman Amphitheatre dating back to the 2nd century, built into the downtown hillside and can hold up to 6,000 people. Located approximately 26 kilometres from Amman is Mount Nebo, which is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as the place where Moses was granted a view of the Promised Land.
Jerash
Located North of the capital city of Amman, is the capital and largest city of the Jerash Governorate in Jordan. The city is known for the ruins of the walled Greco-Roman settlement of Gerasa, which is just outside of the modern city. Within this settlement is the 2nd century Hadrian’s Arch, the Corinthian columns of the Temple of Artemis and the huge Forum’s oval colonnade.
Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum is also known as the “Valley of the Moon”, with Wadi meaning “Valley” in both Arabic and Hebrew. The desert is around 37 miles east of Aqaba and can be explored as a day trip by Jeep. The valley is cut into the sandstone and granite rock, and the highest elevation point is 1,840 metres. On a clear day it is possible to see the Red Sea and Saudi border.
The Dead Sea
This Salt Lake borders both Jordan and Israel, but lies in the Jordan Rift Valley, with its main tributary being the Jordan River. The depth of the Lake is 304 metres, which is the deepest hypersaline lake in the world. The Lake is 9.6 times saltier than the ocean, and due to the density of the water is not possible to swim, more float on the surface. It was known to be one of the world’s first health resorts, and many people still now use the salt and minerals from the Lake to create cosmetics and herbal sachets.
Aqaba
On the tip of the red sea, Aqaba is the only coastal city in Jordan. It is known as the “Jewel of the Red Sea”. It has a prime location as it is easily accessible from Wadi Rum and Petra, and forms part of “Jordan’s Golden Triangle”. The climate of Aqaba is a desert climate with a warm winter and dry hot summers and is home to an abundance of beach resorts. These resorts are popular for water activities such as wind surfing and Scuba Diving, with a beautiful coral reef called Yamanieh found in Aqaba Marine Park.
