Ahlan Wa Sahlan! Welcome to Jordan, a young country with a long history, a bridge between sea and desert, east and west. Lawrence of Arabia, Bible stories, lost cities - there are a lot of romantic associations with Jordan.
Jordan is a country that ought to be awash with tourists, but the Middle East's bad reputation has kept them away in droves. However don't get taken in by incomplete information - Jordan is a safe place, as safe as any place around the world.
Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of (in Arabic, al-Mamlakah al-Urdunniyah al-Hashemiyah), kingdom in the Middle East, bordered on the north by Syria, on the east by Iraq and Saudi Arabia, on the south by Saudi Arabia and the Gulf of Aqaba, and on the west by Israel and the West Bank.
Most of Jordan is arid land, and the fertile remainder is in the west of the country. It shares the Dead Sea - the lowest surface point in Asia (409 m below sea level) - with Israel.
Jordan is the epitome of Middle Eastern life in every way. Its people are wonderfully friendly, it has a rich and varied past, and is a spectacular destination overall. There are more historic monuments and sites then you could shake a crook at, varied and stunningly beautiful landscapes, and a whole host of different activities, from diving in the Red Sea to rock climbing or gliding. Jordan combines all this with the desert romance of Lawrence of Arabia and a rich religious heritage more commonly associated with its neighbours. Add to this enticing mixture the most hospitable people this side of the Old Testament, and the result is a pretty appetising holiday prospect.
Talking of Lawrence of Arabia, his wartime trek across Jordan, from Wadi Rum to Aqaba, was one of the most arduous journeys of modern times. These days, however, you can explore Jordan's challenging terrain with considerably less effort. Oli and I rented a car (at Budget Rent-A-Car) for a week to explore (nearly) every corner of this fascinating country.
Click on the links below to learn more about and to see my pictures of the various regions in Jordan:
For those interested, here's our route through Jordan:
Day 1 (Wednesday)
Royal Jordanian RJ 110: Vienna - Amman (2:00 pm - 6:25 pm)
Our flight was delayed, arrived at 2:00 a.m. (!) the next day
Day 2 (Thursday)
Morning: Pick-up of our rental car at Budget
Dead Sea (Suweimeh) - Mount Nebo - Madaba
Total: 122 km
Day 3 (Friday)
Madaba - Mukawir - Wadi Mujib - Karak
Total: 156 km
Day 4 (Saturday)
Karak - Dana - Shobak - Wadi Musa/Petra
Total: 150 km
Day 5 (Sunday)
Petra
Total: 18 km
Day 6 (Monday)
Wadi Musa/Petra - Aqaba - Wadi Rum
Total: 193 km
Day 7 (Tuesday)
Wadi Rum - Madaba
Total: 310 km
Day 8 (Wednesday)
Madaba - Pella - Umm Qais - Amman
Drop-off rental car
Total: 307 km
Day 9 (Thursday)
Amman
Day 10 (Friday)
By bus to Jerash
Day 11 (Saturday)
Amman
Day 12 (Sunday)
Royal Jordanian RJ 127: Amman - Vienna (9:30 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.)
Jordan Tourism Board
Ruth's Jordan (great, informative page)
Lonely Planet - Destination Jordan
Royal Jordanian
A Living Tribute to the Legacy of King Hussein I
Jordan Times
Budget Rent-A-Car
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