Jordan
- Rotem Haskia
- Apr 23, 2020
- 4 min read
I heard a really nice saying recently; "to travel is to discover that you were wrong about other countries". I really connect to this saying since its no secret that my mom was nervous and not rooting for the idea of me going to Jordan, but I was happy to discover an amazing country, the nicest neighbors and I can't wait to share my experience with you.
Wadi Musa
In the south of Jordan it is the nearest town to the archaeological site of Petra.
Where to sleep?
Shaqilath: a wonderful hotel located in a quiet area a few minutes from Petra, the breakfast buffet was great and the staff were really nice.
What to do?
Petra: a historical and archaeological Nabatean city. Since we only had one day here, we arrived to the park at 06:15 am since it opens at 06:30. I recommend coming at this hour even if you have two days since later the park will be packed with tourists and the Jordan sun makes it really hard to walk a lot. Our guide Husain took us to interesting burial grounds through the breathtaking Siq which is a narrow stone canyon and the main entrance to this ancient Nabatean city.
In the end of the Siq we arrived to the famous and marvelous Treasury. Tip: around the Treasury you will find many points that you can pay the locals 1 Dinar for the best photography spots.
From the beautiful Treasury we climbed to the upper trail of the park in order to enjoy Petra's view from above and some more burial points and then returned to the normal trail through the church.
After the church we walked up the many stairs to the Ad Deir Monastery which is the biggest and best-preserved building in Petra.
After Ad Deir we also walked to the High Sacrificial Area which offers a breathtaking viewpoint of the entire Petra buildings and the amazing geographic structures around it that made us feel like we landed on the moon.
Petra by night: at night, after the park's morning visitors had already left you can get the opportunity to take part in "Petra by night" tour. Around 20:30 the park will open its gates and you will walk all the way to The Treasury in a trail lit by candles under the starry desert skies. When you will arrive to the famous treasury you will find this impressive temple surrounded by countless candles and this all scene was just magical. At 21:30 a local musical show started, we drank tea and enjoyed from the enchanting atmosphere. Photography tips: 1. If you want to be first like us in order to take your pictures before the other tourists you should arrive to the park around 19:30. 2. Don't forget to bring your tripod for good pictures in the dark environment. 3. Comfortable shoes since the walk is about 3 km.
Ain Musa: or in its other name the rock of Moses, is believed to be the rock that Moses struck to get water for the 12 tribes.
What to eat?
Knafeh: a sweet orange pastry filled with white-brine cheese.
Qidreh: traditional deash of Spiced meat with rice.
Kufta: lamb kebab with tahini.
Arabic salads.
El Arabi: an Arabic restaurant with cheap and delicious local food.
Jerash and Ajloun
Two cities in the north of Jordan, the short distance between them makes is perfect for a day for both sites.
What to do?
Jerash: the second most important tourist site in Jordan after Petra and I recommend taking a guide here to watch and learn about this incredible city. Jerash is the home of one of the best well preserved Roman cities and the biggest one on the middle east.
Ajloun: noted for its impressive ruins of the 12th-century Ajloun Castle where you will also see an incredible viewpoint of Jordan and Israel.
Madaba
In central Jordan, Madaba is a place to learn a lot of history and is best known for its mosaics.
What to do?
Saint George church: where you will see the impressive Madaba Mosaic Map from the 6th century that describes the holly land- Israel.
Mount Nebo: 710 metres above sea level mountain, and according to the bible its the place where Moses was granted a view of the Promised Land- Israel.
Wadi Mujib: also known as Arnon Stream, is an absolutely breathtaking river canyon where you swim and climb all the way to a beautiful waterfall.
Lot's wife: a statue near the dead sea that is believed to be the biblical Lot's wife that turned in to stone.
Wadi Rum
Also known as the Valley of the Moon, it's an impressive desert valley field with fascinating rock formations and incredible views. I recommend spending the night in one of the many Wadi Rum camps for a full desert experience, we stayed at the wonderful Magic Rum Camp.
What to do?
Viewpoint: at the visitor's center at the entrance to Wadi Rum you will find an amazing viewpoint, I recommend to try and catch the sunset at this place in order to see how the golden sun colors the mountains.
Stargazing: if you spend the night in Wadi Rum I highly recommend going on a night walk away from camp, this location is perfect for stargazing and seeing the milky way.
Jeep tour: a three hours tour around the highlights of the wadi between the huge rocks that made us feel om mars.
Aqaba
The only coastal city in Jordan, and the perfect destination for relaxation in a nice hotel or by the beach. We stayed at Doubletree by Hilton that has a great pool, amazing food buffet and I highly recommend on it.
Since I'm from Israel this trip was not my one and only visit in Jordan, I was happy to discover a cultural country with fascinating history, extremely nice locals, delicious food and unique views.
For more pictures click here or search @Travel_Rotem on Instagram.
Comments