Jordan is an Arab country in West Asia that borders Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the West Bank. Despite its precarious location, Jordan is relatively safe—in fact, it has been consistently ranked one of the safest Arab countries. The country follows a constitutional monarchy led by kings who are descendants of Prophet Muhammad through the Hashemite clan. That is why the country is officially called the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

While Jordan became independent in 1946, its history can be traced back to antiquity in fact, as early as the Early Palaeolithic Period, evidenced through artefacts discovered along Dawqara and Jafr Basin. The Jordan Valley is one of the early areas reached by humans migrating out of Africa.

Jordan, especially its capital city, Amman, is mentioned in the Bible. In the Bible, Amman is referred to as Ammon and Philadelphia. John the Baptist baptised Jesus at Bethany Beyond The Jordan. God is believed to have shown Moses the Promised Land at Mount Nebo.

The land changed hands many times throughout antiquity and was ruled by Persians, Greeks, Nabateas, and Romans at various times throughout history. Notable among these is the Byzantine settlement, which lasted from 324 AD to 636 AD. The Byzantine Empire ended when invading Muslim armies overran the Transjordanian region, thereby making it an important field in the many historical events that occurred in the first decades of Islam. The Omayyads, Abbasids, Fatimids, Ayyubids, and Mamluks ruled the area over various times until 1516, when the Ottomans ruled Transjordan for over 400 years.

The era of modern Jordan started in 1921 when the British created the Emirate of Transjordan. But it was not until 1946 that Jordan gained complete independence from Britain, changing its name from the Emirate of Transjordan to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Jordan is home to over six UNESCO World Heritage sites, all listed under the cultural category. If you’d like to discover this beautiful country and its ancient sites, check out the Jordan tour packages from Vaadiyan Luxury Holidays.

• Highway 35, which runs over the ancient King’s Highway, is over 5,000 years old. It is mentioned in the Old Testament and was an important pilgrimage and trade route between Africa and Arabia.
• Ma’in, a hot spring waterfall, once attracted kings and queens, including King Herod and Queen Cleopatra.
• The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth.
• The Aaron’s Tomb is believed to be the burial place of Aaron, Moses’ brother.
• Al-Maghtas, or Bethany Beyond the Jordan, is believed to be where John the Baptist baptised Jesus.
• The King of Jordan, King Abdullah II, is the direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad.
• Thanks to the high salt concentration in the Dead Sea, people float on water.
• The Petra Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is over 2,000 years old.
• The Mehras olive trees are a rare type of olive tree and are considered one of the oldest genetic olive genotypes in the world.
• Jordan is part of the Fertile Crescent, a Levant region that includes present day Jordan, among other countries.
• Wadi Rum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famous for its unique rock formations and is referenced in the Bible and Quran.
• The rock walls of Wadi Rum have several Christian iconographic designs carved by early Christians fleeing persecution.
• Jordan is home to over 100,000 archaeological sites.
• The Ain Ghazal statues at the Jordan Museum are the oldest and are believed to date back to 7500 BC.

• Jordan offers e-visas for tourist and business purposes and VOAs for short-term tourist purposes for 30 days with 90 day validity.
• While credit cards are accepted, Jordan is primarily a cash-based economy.
• You can purchase the Jordan Pass online to visit over 40 attractions. The single-entry visa fee is also waived for pass holders.
• Indians planning to club Israel and Palestine along with their Jordan tour package need a visa in advance to visit Israel, even if they intend to cross through Allenby Bridge.
• Jordan can be hot, but you must dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees.
• Jordanians are fashionable, and women wear jeans, skirts, and leggings. But remember to dress conservatively.
• If you carry medications, check with the Jordanian embassy online to confirm that they are legal. Carry them in their original packaging.
• Jordanian food is primarily meat-based, although there are plenty of legume-based dishes, like falafel and tabbouleh. Carry ready-to-eat meals if you’re likely to crave spicy food.

Every step you take in Jordan takes you back to antiquity. This is the land where Jesus, Moses, and Mohammed walked. But Jordan’s story is even older— the King’s Highway linked the ancient kingdoms of Ammon, Moab, and Edom. You don’t have to travel far and wide to explore Jordan’s archaeological treasures. A visit to the Jordan Museum in Amman is home to statues of the Neolithic Age, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Mesha Stele.

If you look at the scriptures for guidance, Jordan has multiple sites referenced in the Bible and Quran. Bethany Beyond The Jordan is where Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist. The area around Al-Maghtas is the wilderness of Judea. At Lot’s Cave near Sifa, the Bible says Lot and his family found refuge after fleeing Sodom and Gomorrah. Moses is believed to have been buried at Mount Nebo. It was also at Mount Nebo that God showed Moses the Promised Land. Madaba is home to the well-preserved map of the Holy Land.

To learn about ancient Jordan, visit the Petra Archaeological Park, an ancient city built by the Nabataeans. Some other archaeological sites in Jordan include the Amman Citadel and Roman Theatre in Amman, the Roman ruins of Jerash, Quseir Amra fresco paintings, the 5th century town of Um er-Rasas, and Wadi Rum.

• Petra
• Mount Nebo
• Bethany Beyond the Jordan
• Um Qais
• Jabbok River
• The King’s Way
• Madaba
• Edom
• Lot’s Cave
• Machaerus – Fortress of Herod Antipas
• Gilead
• Aaron’s Tomb
• Wadi Mujib

While Jordan is no Disneyland, the land is great for unique aquatic experiences. The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth and the saltiest place—apparently, it is nine times saltier than the ocean. The high salinity makes people float rather than sink. Tourists visit the Dead Sea to benefit from its high mineral content, believed to cure dry skin and eczema.

Aqaba, a coastal city along the Red Sea, is home to the Aqaba Marine Park, which hosts over 450 fish species and over 127 coral formations. It is an excellent place for snorkelling and scuba diving, allowing tourists to swim with hawksbill turtles, sea anemones, jellyfish, moray eels, and other marine animals.

The Ma’in hot springs, near Madaba, are home to natural hot springs and world-famous resorts offering pampering spa sessions. It is believed that King Herod and Queen Cleopatra once bathed in these waters, and the springs are even mentioned in the Bible.

Wadi Rum is perfect for hiking, jeep tours, and camping. At night, enjoy a breathtaking view of the skies. You can also take a hot air balloon ride or glide on a microlight plane for a bird’s eye view of the Wadi Rum dessert.

If you are in the mood to explore the Jordan wilderness, check out the Jordan Trail. This 40 day long-distance hiking trail starts from Um Qais in the north and ends in Aqaba in the south. It covers prominent places like the Dana Biosphere Reserve, Petra, Ajloun, Wadi Zarqa Ma’in, and Karak.

The Mujib Biosphere Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Karak, famous for its narrow gorges. It is also home to over 300 species of plants, ten species of migratory birds and some rare species of cats, goats, and other mountain animals. You can explore this unique wadi by going zip-lining or wild swimming on the Hidan River.

Jordanian dishes tell the story of its people, traditions, and history. If you’d like a deeper understanding of the Jordanian way of life, we suggest you include a culinary tour in your Jordan tour package. The food is primarily influenced by Arabic, Mediterranean, North African, and Persian cuisine. But this isn’t just a borrower’s cuisine several dishes like zarb and mansaf are uniquely Jordanian. Popular Jordanian food includes falafel, hummus, tabbouleh, kebabs, and shawarma.

Dining is centred around the mezze style, i.e., a series of small dishes, including salads and dips, served with bread as starters. Later, main dishes like mansaf, maqluba, musakhan, and rashouf are served, followed by dessert.

While we all know about Jordan’s impressive archaeological sites, its unique natural wonders and untouched desert landscapes are yet to be explored. Wadi Rum has a beautiful Mars like landscape of craggy mountains, bizarre rock formations, narrow canyons, and red sandy terrain. This otherworldly experience stands on par with Petra and was even the backdrop for many Hollywood movies, including Lawrence of Arabia.

The Black Desert is sprinkled with Roman, Umayyad, and prehistoric ruins of people who once called this place home. Explore this untouched natural beauty while admiring Shaumari and Azraq reserves and the ruins of Umm Jimal.

The Mujib Biosphere Reserve in Wadi Mujib is often compared to the Grand Ganyons with its impressive landscape and unique wildlife.

Wadi Al Hasa is one of the world’s oldest natural valleys and the perfect biblical backdrop with its jagged mountains, narrow canyons, and long spells of arid flatlands. The Bible even mentions the Wadi as the Valley of Zered, where Moses led the Israelites, marking the end of their 38 years of wilderness.

Despite being a small country, Jordan has a varied climate, ranging from the Mediterranean in the west to the arid desert in the east and south. The country experiences four seasons, with temperatures during the coldest months ranging from 5°C to 10°C and from 35°C to 40°C during summer.

With such extreme temperatures, the time of the year plays a huge role in choosing Jordan tour packages. We recommend visiting Jordan during the spring and autumn as the weather is mild, allowing you to enjoy the different outdoor attractions.

Although the weather varies depending on the region, the average temperature ranges from 18°C to 28°C, allowing tourists to enjoy a warm and pleasant climate. Even desert regions like Wadi Rum are pleasant, with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 34°C. Temperatures are even lower at night.

It is also a great time to enjoy wildflowers blooming in Wadi Rum, viz., pink cyclamens, poppies, daisies and irises. If you are in Jordan in March, don’t miss the black iris blooms that spring across Madaba, Kerak, and Shobak. The Petra iris is another spring flower found in Kerak, Dana, Shobak, and the arid lands of Petra.

Watch for khamsin, an Arabic term for hot, dry, and sandy winds that blow in spring and autumn. The wind blows at great speed but, thankfully, lasts only a few days and is followed by an inflow of cool air.

• Visit the Dana Nature Reserve to enjoy the beautiful wildflowers.
• Go on a hot air balloon ride in Wadi Rum.
• Hike to the Mujib Biosphere Reserve.

Summers are scorching hot and humid in Jordan, with an average of 13 hours of sunshine. The average temperature ranges from 35°C to 38°C and could even go up to 42°C. The desert is especially searing, with temperatures in Wadi Rum soaring around 40°C to 45°C during July and August. Around the Dead Sea and Aqaba, the temperatures could go as high as 48°C.

However, Amman is better than other cities, with average summer temperatures of 32°C. The coastal city of Jerash is also bearable, with temperatures at 35°C, allowing you to visit the many Greco-Roman buildings in the city.

While you can visit the country in summer, as Jordan tour packages are cheap during this time, we suggest you wait for a few months. Jordanian summers are very different from tropical Indian summers—unless you are used to extreme desert heat.

If you must travel to Jordan during the summer, we suggest you visit during the early weeks of June and late September. The Jordanian highlands are pleasant during this time and so is Amman. This rings true for September as well.

• Visit the Jerash Festival
• Join the Petra Desert Marathon
• Visit the Wadi Mujib Biosphere Reserve

Autumn is pleasant, with milder temperatures during the day and cooler evenings. Temperatures range from 20°C to 25°C. Whatever little rain Jordan gets is from October to November, allowing temperatures to cool down and bringing back the wildflowers for a few weeks before winter. During November, temperatures reach around 20°C, followed by an occasional drizzle. Even areas around the Dead Sea and Wadi Rum are pleasant, with temperatures around 27°C. The lovely weather attracts abundant marine life in Aqaba, making it a popular tourist season.

If you are looking for Jordan tour packages in autumn, we suggest you book in advance as it is peak tourist season.

• Visit Aqaba Marine Park to view marine life, snorkel, or scuba dive.
• Join the Jordan Trail
• Experience the National Olive Festival

Temperatures drop dramatically in winter, with January being the coldest month. During these months, temperatures range from 5°C to 10°C. 70% of the rain that Jordan receives falls during these months, bringing the temperatures down even further. If you are wary of travelling to Jordan during peak tourist seasons or summer, we suggest booking Jordan tour packages in winter. The temperature in popular places like Petra ranges from 10°C to 5°C.

Amman is especially cold, with temperatures of 5°C. Even the Dead Sea and Wadi Rum are relatively cold, with 20°C and 15°C temperatures, respectively.

• Experience the Camel Race Festival
• Experience the Aqaba Traditional Arts Festival
• Experience Azraq Festival

Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. It was once a thriving trade centre and the capital of the Nabataeans from 400 BC to 106 AD. The city has all the trappings of a proper settlement, including streets, gardens, orchards, drains, underground water pipes, temples, tombs, and villas carved into the mountains rather than built as standalone structures. The local Bedouins use the cisterns built by the Nabataeans thousands of years ago. Among other notable structures are the Byzantine mosaics that indicate the presence of an ancient and ruined church. While researchers have discovered over 800 structures and monuments, it is believed that only 15% of the city has been excavated. The focal point of these discoveries is the Treasury, a 40-metre monolith and a tomb of the Nabataean King Aretas III.

Researchers have found that the city was probably destroyed by a flood in the 5th century. Although the city was later rebuilt, the floods marked the beginning of its decline thanks to changing trade routes. The city was lost to the world until it was rediscovered in 1812.

The Wadi Rum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Arabian Desert. This vast expanse features desert valleys that cut through granite and sandstone mountains, narrow canyons, natural arches, and cliffs shaped by wind and water for millions of years. The wadi served as an outpost for traders travelling between Arabia and Egypt.

Wadi Rum has been inhabited since prehistoric times. It contains petroglyphs, inscriptions from the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Early Bronze Ages, and inscriptions by early Christians and Nabataeans.

Wadi Rum is protected because of its remarkable natural beauty an eerily out-of-this-world landscape with red, sandy terrain and craggy mountains. As part of your Wadi Rum experience, you can camp overnight at a Bedouin camp, ride a 4WD along the desert, hike up to the Burdah rock bridge, and gaze at the stars at night.

Besides Petra, the Dead Sea is one of the major attractions of any Jordan tour package. This unique natural wonder is more famous for its mineral-rich soil, which works wonders on the skin, and for being an unsinkable pool. But did you know people living near the Dead Sea caves predated the Israelites migrating to Canaan? The Jordan Valley surrounding the Dead Sea is possibly the biblical Garden of Eden mentioned in the Old Testament.

Check into one of the many resorts in the Dead Sea for a pampering Dead Sea mud bath spa experience and enjoy Middle Eastern hospitality.

Jerash is becoming a popular tourist attraction thanks to its well-preserved Roman and Greek architecture. Located only 45 km from Amman, Jerash was probably a Macedonian garrison around 332 BCE. However, the earliest records of the city can be traced to the Seleucid Empire. The city was later conquered by the Romans, who even made it part of the Decapolis League.

Today, all across Jerash, you will find ruins from the Seleucid Empire, including temples dedicated to Zeus, Hera, Apollo, Poseidon, Artemis, and Nemesis. You will also find inscriptions of Nabataean gods and a temple dedicated to Pakidas. As for the Roman ruins, look for Hadrian’s Arch, a triumphal arch built to welcome the Roman Emperor Hadrian.

The city has some of the oldest Christian churches, including the Council of Seleucia and the Bishop Genesios Church. It is also home to Byzantine ruins and ruins from the Persian-Sassanian Empire.

The Dana Biosphere Reserve is Jordan’s largest nature reserve, famous for its stunning landscape and rich biodiversity. While the reserve was established in 1989, its history dates back to Roman times, and it was a pastoral field. The Biosphere Reserve is home to a wide range of animals, including Arabian onyx, Nubian ibex, Syrian wolf, and sand cats. Some of the numerous bird species found in Dana include Egyptian vultures, imperial eagles, chukar partridges, black and white storks, and griffon vultures.

You can visit the neighbouring Dana Village, explore the terraced gardens and local craft workshops, and enjoy Ottoman architecture. You can also walk, hike, trek, or spend a night at the reserve. Bird lovers can enjoy the wide variety of birds and the peace offered by the incredible scenery.

Some trails are closed between autumn and spring for safety reasons, and some require a professional guide. If you’d like to include a Dana trail on your itinerary, make sure you book a Jordan tour package in advance.

Madaba is an ancient Central Jordan city called the City of Mosaics. Its history can be traced to over 4,500 years and was even mentioned in the Old Testament when the Amorite King Sihon of Heshbon conquered it. The region became part of the Roman Empire in Arabia in the first century after the Romans defeated the Nabataeans in Petra.

But what makes the places special are the multiple ancient churches built from the 5th to the 8th centuries. The mosaic tapestry spread across these cathedrals and homes is some of the finest and most well-preserved. The most famous is the mosaic map of the Holy Land found in the Byzantine church of St George.

The Archaeological Park also includes buildings, churches, and roads from the Roman era. Don’t miss the Hippolytus Hall, which depicts a Greek tragedy. Madaba is also home to Mount Nebo, the Biblical site where God supposedly revealed the Promised Land to Moses.

Amman is the capital of Jordan and one of the oldest cities in the world. Archaeologists have discovered homes believed to have been built around 7000 BCE. The city even finds reference in the Bible, where it is called by different names, including Rabbath Ammon, Rabbah, and Philadelphia. The city was once the capital of the Kingdom of Ammon and later fell into the hands of the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. Under the Romans, it even became part of the Decapolis League.

History enthusiasts must visit Amman to learn more about the well-preserved Roman, Greek, Byzantine, and Ottoman monuments. The legendary Kings Highway also runs through Amman. Other attractions include the Amman Citadel, the Roman Theatre, the Odeon, a much smaller open theatre, the Nymphaeum, a Roman water fountain, and the ancient souks of Amman. Don’t miss the Jordan Museum, which hosts the famous Dead Sea Scrolls and the Ain Ghazal statues.

Thanks to a strong currency that is on par with the Euro, shopping can be expensive in Jordan compared to other Middle Eastern countries. However, there are a few products that you can buy on a tight budget. While Amman and Aqaba are home to glamorous boutiques selling exquisite jewellery, clothing, accessories, and leather goods, there are plenty of handicraft shops and souks selling souvenirs, spices, and nuts. For instance, Al Balad is a vibrant shopping market in Downtown Amman and the perfect place to buy spices, sweets, and clothes.

Souq Jara in Amman is a great place to buy handicrafts and artwork. For unique Bedouin silver jewellery, head to the Nabatean Ladies Cooperative in Petra.

Medjool dates are soft dates individually harvested by hand, making them more expensive than the regular variety. The Jordan Valley is known to produce some of the best Medjool dates in the world, thanks to its arid climate, low humidity, and high temperatures. You can buy them across the country, including supermarkets, speciality stores, and spice markets.

Zataar, sumac, baharat, cardamom, Aleppo pepper, cumin, and nutmeg are some spices used in Middle Eastern cooking. While you can buy cardamom, cumin, and nutmeg found across India, zaatar, sumac, and baharat aren’t easy to find. You can buy them across Jordan – at local supermarkets, spice stores, and souks. They are also very cheap, selling for around INR 200 for 200 gm.

Like other Middle Eastern countries, Jordan is a great place to buy cashews, pine nuts, pistachios, and almonds. You can buy them across the country, including at local supermarkets and souks.

Petra was once a famous trading town for people passing from Arabia to Egypt carrying myrrh and frankincense. There are plenty of cosmetic shops across the country selling perfumes, essential oils, and incense sticks. The best thing about these products is that they’re free from alcohol and do not irritate the skin.

The Dead Sea soil and salt are believed to carry multiple minerals that work wonders on the skin. These minerals are used to produce natural soaps, essential oils, face masks, and cosmetics. You can buy Dead Sea salts and mud masks across the country’s supermarkets and souks. These products contain bromine, calcium, magnesium, potassium, silica, sodium, sulphur, zinc, and other minerals.

Madaba is a great place to buy decorative items made using mosaic art. This includes lamps, pots, mugs, jugs, vases, tabletops, and even plates.

Other souvenirs you can buy in Jordan include carpets, brass handicrafts, scarves, tea, and olive oil.

• Bargaining isn’t common in Jordan – most places, including street stalls, have fixed prices.
• Do not click photographs of items if you do not intend to purchase
• Tell the store manager in advance if you plan only to window shop. Jordanians don’t want to waste time on window shoppers.
• Bargain only if you are sure of buying the product – Jordanians have little patience with bargain hunters.

• Jordanians are very cosmopolitan and don’t insist on hijab. But remember to dress modestly.
• Remember to wear an abaya when you enter mosques.
• Do not discuss politics, especially Israel. Almost 60% of the population are Palestinians who hate Israel.
• When meeting a person of the other sex, wait until the other person makes the first move and follow his cues. This includes shaking hands and cheek kissing.
• Staring at people, especially from the opposite sex, is impolite and rude.

While some Jordanian staples like falafel, hummus, tabbouleh, baba ghanoush, and shawarma are found across the Middle East, Jordan has plenty of dishes that are uniquely Jordanian. Mansaf, for instance, is a Bedouin dish and Jordan’s national food. The food is primarily Levantine and has much in common with neighbouring Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. Jordanian cuisine was also influenced by the Ottoman Empire, which ruled the country for over 300 years. Some of the local food you must try during your Jordan tour package include:

Mansaf was originally prepared using lamb or camel, cooked in ghee or meat broth, and served with bread on the side. Over time, rice and a dried and fermented yoghurt called jameed were added to the dish. The dish is served on a large platter in keeping with the Bedouin tradition of communal eating. A lot of fanfare is involved in preparing, eating, and serving mansaf – sometimes, it could even be served with a whole sheep’s head.

Zarb could also refer to the Bedouin technique of cooking in which marinated meat and vegetables are lowered in a pit and covered in smouldering coal. The pit is then sealed and reopened after a few hours for the Bedouins to eat while gazing at the stars. Make sure you include a Zarb experience while camping at Wadi Rum.

While fruits are a common way to end a meal, special occasions deserve a special dessert. Warbat is a typical Jordanian triangle-shaped flaky pastry with a cream filling drizzled with rose water-flavoured sugar syrup. Wabarts are often enjoyed with black tea or thick Arabian coffee.

Manakish is a Jordanian-style pizza made using a pita like flatbread and topped with cherry tomatoes, goat cheese, onions, tomatoes, zaatar, and cheese. Sometimes, toppings could include labneh and sausage or group beef mixed with olive oil.

Other popular Jordanian delicacies include falafel, shawarma, hummus, baklava, and kunafah.

Jordanian art derives inspiration from traditional Islamic art tradition. Traditional art includes mosaics, carpet weaving, ceramics, silver jewellery, glass blowing, calligraphy, pottery, leather, and sand bottles. Rug making is one of the oldest and finest art of the Bedouins, who used fleece from the local sheep. Mosaic art is another popular traditional craft where artists press ceramics or glass fragments into wet plaster to create beautiful works of art.

Hebron is a great place for glassware, thanks to artisans who have perfected the art for over 2000 years. When in Jordan, don’t forget to buy sand bottles from Aqaba or Petra, where brightly coloured sand is stacked in a bottle to create unique designs.

Jordanian culture revolves around Islam and the Bedouin influence. However, unlike other Middle Eastern countries, Jordan harmoniously blends religion and modernity.