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The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which once captivated ancient travellers, continues to enthral a whole new generation as a modern, vibrant nation.
Guides in Wadi Rum tell its visitors to "Hear the Silence".
From the haunting, primeval starkness of Wadi Rum, to the teeming centre of urban Amman; from the majestic ruins of bygone civilizations to the timeless splendour of the Dead Sea, Jordan is unveiled as a unique destination offering breathtaking and mysterious sights, high standard accommodations, exquisite cuisine and countless activities that can provide visitors with inspiration, motivation, and rejuvenation.
Salt crystals form on the rocky shores of the Dead Sea creating a snowlike effect.
Marvelling at herds of gazelles and Oryx and migrating birds, camping amidst the grandeur of Wadi Rum or Dana Reserve, trekking the ancient caravan trails from the highlands of Moab and Edom, hiking the wooded hills of biblical Gilead, or experiencing the unique, cleansing mud baths of the Dead Sea are just a few examples of the treasures awaiting visitors to this unique kingdom.
The new stream of luxury hotels emerging in Amman, Petra, Aqaba and the Dead Sea is just adding quality to a refined product that is distinct, accessible and friendly. A product that is home to a new display of modern meeting facilities and unique venues for incentive travel.
Petra by night is a magical experience featuring more than 2000 candles leading visitors through Petra's Siq and to the Treasury.
Whether it is a conference for 5000 people, a lavish dinner in the peerless desert of Wadi Rum, a barbecue at the shores of the Dead Sea ( the lowest point on earth ), or a reception atop a medieval castle overlooking the Jordan Valley, the amicable and competent people of Jordan will ensure a once in a life time memorable experience.
Jordan Government
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a constitutional. The monarch is the head of state, the chief executive and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The king exercises his executive authority through the Council of Ministers. The cabinet, meanwhile, is responsible before the elected House of Deputies which, along with the Senate, constitutes the legislative branch of the government. The judicial branch is a totally independent branch.
Fun & Adventure
What do the Roman Emperor Hadrian, the Prophet Moses, and Lawrence of Arabia have in common? These are just three of the many historical personalities who passed through Jordan through history, and whose itineraries now attract adventure seekers and action vacationers from throughout the world.
Camping facilities at Ajloun Reserve
Outdoor 'Adventure Tourism' is expanding at a fast rate in Jordan, and promises to remain one of the most dynamic and innovative travel industry sectors for years to come. Several Jordanian companies have started to specialize in eco-tourism and action tourism, providing the combination of safety, adventure, and comfortable facilities that make action tourism such an exciting proposition today.
Jordan has great comparative advantage in this sector, based on several assets: guaranteed sunshine for eight months of the year; a base of powerful, unique cultural attractions such as Petra, Jerash, Bethany Beyond the Jordan, and the early Islamic Desert Castles; and, a wide range of very different, often stunning natural environments that are easily accessible and virtually undiscovered by the tourism industry. Quality hotels and restaurants throughout the country mean that thrill-seekers who want to pamper themselves in between adventure treks have a wide range of facilities to choose from.
A 'brown' golf course near Amman
Jordan already caters to the more traditional vacationer who likes to combine a visit to an ancient site in the morning with a swim, a round of golf, or a game of tennis or bowling in the afternoon. The exciting new horizons in adventure tourism allow visitors to push themselves to new levels of adventure and endurance while soaking up natural marvels and dramatic cultural attractions from the ancient world.
For example, a small group of people in 4-wheel-drive vehicles can retrace the journey of the Emperor Hadrian from north to south Jordan, taking in biblical cities and legionary fortresses. Or, more ambitiously, a caravan of 25 people on camels or donkeys can set off to retrace the journeys of Lawrence of Arabia in the central highlands and eastern deserts of Jordan, spending a week en route and camping in a different place every night. Parts of these itineraries can be done along the edge of the desert in steam-powered World War One vintage trains, the same as those that were attacked by the forces of the Great Arab Revolt and Lawrence nearly a century ago.
Diving in the Red Sea resort of Aqaba
Nature enthusiasts have many options in Jordan: the vast, silent drama of Wadi Rum, the forested hills of central Jordan, or the plunging Jordan Rift Valley that includes the Dead Sea - the lowest spot on earth at 410 metres below sea level. The Red Sea resort of Aqaba is always warm, balmy, and enticing for divers and other watersports enthusiasts. Aqaba offers a full range of facilities for speedboating, scuba diving, snorkelling, sailing, fishing, swimming, water skiing, wind surfing, or simply loafing and sunning in the warm crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea. The sparkling purple mountains surrounding Aqaba beckon hikers who seek new adventures, and unconquered terrain.
Hiking in the Wadi Mujib gorge
Jordan boasts other unique, enticing waters that provide relaxing interludes for adventure vacationers who want to rest their spirits and soak their bodies. Quality hotels and spas at the Dead Sea and the nearby Hammamat Zarqa Ma'in Springs allow visitors to experience several different kinds of mineral hot springs and the thick, warm brine of the Dead Sea, which are both soothing and therapeutic. One of the great water adventures in Jordan is to hike, climb and sometimes even wade or swim through the magnificent gorge of the Wadi Mujib, along the east coast of the Dead Sea, to reach a magical pool and waterfall that emerge like a mirage from amidst the surrounding warm cliffs and barren hillsides.
The more daring adventure visitor to Jordan is likely to climb mountains in Wadi Rum to conquer sheer granite cliffs that retain the inscriptions of local climbers who were there 5000 years ago and more.
Parascending in Wadi Rum
Thrill-seekers who want to go beyond the ordinary will get into a helicopter or hot air balloon and rise to mountain-tops in Wadi Rum or around Petra, from where they can trek back down to earth. Gliding and private plane rentals are also available in Jordan, only from Marka Airport in Amman.
Horseback riders can take a few days to retrace the segments of the ancient Spice, Silk, and Frankincense Routes that pass through the green hills of Petra, Amman, and north Jordan. More daring riders will want to mount their Arabian steeds for a four-day trek through the eastern desert, stopping for rest and water at several early Islamic desert castles and caravan stations. This trip re-enacts the original Arabian pony express mail service that operated here in the 7th century.
Just the facts
Attire
Jordan is primarily a Muslim country, although the freedom of all religions is protected. Muslim women’s clothing often covers their arms, legs and hair. Western women are not subject to these customs, but very revealing clothing is never appropriate and conservative dress is advisable for both men and women in the old part of Amman (Downtown), and outside the cities. Shorts are rarely worn by either sex, and would be out of place in the downtown Amman area. Topless sunbathing is prohibited and one-piece swimsuits are preferred, although two-piece swimsuits are acceptable at hotel pools.
Business Hours
Friday is the weekly holiday. Banks, government offices and most businesses are closed on Saturdays as well. Many businesses, including airline offices, travel agencies and some shops also close on Thursday afternoon, although department stores and supermarkets remain open. A few businesses and shops close for some of Sunday.
Accessibility
Visitors with a valid passport may obtain a visa at any Jordanian embassy, consulate, or legation abroad. A visa can also be obtained at Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport or at any other border crossing except King Hussein Bridge and the ferryboat from Egypt. Visas are valid for 2 weeks, but can be extended at any police station. No inoculations are required for entry into Jordan, although preventive shots for hepatitis, polio, tetanus and typhoid are recommended.
Credit Cards
Credit cards are accepted at hotels, restaurants and larger shops, including American Express, Visa, Diners Club, and MasterCard. Please note that many smaller shops still prefer cash payment in the Jordanian currency, and it’s essential for shopping in the local souks.
Language
The official language of Jordan is Arabic, but English is widely spoken – especially in the cities. Many Jordanians have travelled or have been educated abroad so French, German, Italian and Spanish are also spoken, but to a lesser extent.
When Arabic is written in Jordan using the Latin alphabet, English spelling is applied however these spellings can be interpreted in various ways, the spelling for example of street addresses can vary widely. For this reason, the sounds of the words is a much better guide than the spelling.
Speaking Arabic is easier than you might think and attempting a few basic words will gain you respect from the locals and is a good way to break the ice. The Jordanian people are extremely understanding and will help you whenever they are able.
Electricity
220 AC volts, 50 cycles, requiring rounded two-prong wall plugs. Visitors from the US will need a transformer which most hotels can provide.
Shopping
Wherever you go in Jordan you will find plenty of opportunities to shop. For visitors there is a wide range of locally made handicrafts and other goods available at all the popular sites as well as within the boutiques of the leading hotel and at the various visitor centres. There you will find hand-woven rugs and cushions, beautifully embroidered items and clothing, traditional pottery, glassware, silver jewellery embedded with semi-precious stones, Bedouin knives, coffee pots, narghiles (hubble bubble), marquetry work, antiques and other artifacts. The list is endless and about as varied as you can imagine.
Take time to visit the souks in Jordan’s larger towns and cities. These are treasure troves for those seeking something a little bit out of the ordinary. Within the souks are also excellent gold and silver outlets, where some great bargains can be found. Also worth visiting are the busy market shops, especially for exotic spices, herbs and seasonings.
Both Amman and Aqaba offer sophisticated shops and boutiques selling the very latest fashions in jewellery, clothing, accessories, leather and electronic goods.
Almost everywhere in Jordan you can find the world-famous Dead Sea spa products. All are of excellent quality and produced under strict clinical conditions. They are also very reasonably priced.
In all cases, the shopkeepers are helpful and friendly. Most speak at least a little English but even if they don’t, there is usually someone around who will be only too willing to assist you. After all, this is Jordan!
Local Time
October – March: Greenwich Mean Time plus 2 hours (G.M.T. + 2)
April – September: Greenwich Mean Time plus 3 hours (G.M.T. + 3)
Jordan is seven hours ahead of US Eastern Time
Water
Water is a precious resource in Jordan and visitors are encouraged not to waste it. Hotels rated 3 stars and above have their own water filtering systems and their water is considered safe to drink. Elsewhere, bottled water is cheap and readily available.
Medical Care
Medical services are excellent in the larger cities and towns and most doctors are bilingual in Arabic and English. Larger hotels have a doctor on call and embassies can also suggest doctors and hospitals.
Communications
Telephone services within Jordan are efficient and reliable. Directories in Arabic and English are widely available and international calls can be made from public and private phones. Fax services are available at most hotels while telegrams can be sent from post offices. Internet access is widespread via Internet cafes and hotels.
Currency
The local currency is the Jordanian Dinar, symbol JD, which is often called the “jaydee”. There are 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 JD notes. The dinar is divided onto 100 piasters (pronounced “pee-aster”) of 1000 fils (“fills”). The fils is the unit most commonly used and you will usually see prices written as 4,750 (which is 4 JD and 750 fils).
Currency can be exchanged at major banks, exchange booths and at most hotels. Street money-changers are best avoided. Exchange rates are set daily by the Jordanian Central Bank.
Population
The population of Jordan has grown rapidly over the last fifty years or so to more than 5 million people. Around 80% of the population live in urban areas, with approximately 2 million living in the capital, Amman.
The Weather
Jordan boasts a Mediterranean climate ideal for year-round holidays and travel. Amman is sunny and cloudless from May to October, with average temperatures around 23’C (73’F). Springtime brings optimal weather, lush with greenery, and autumn is equally mild and pleasant. July and August are hot and dry but not oppressive. Aqaba and the Jordan Valley are ideal winter resorts, with temperatures averaging 16-22’C (61-72’F) between November and April.
Weights & Measures
Jordan uses the metric system. |
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