Quick Facts:
Currency: Jordanian Dinars
Visa requirement: You will be given a tourist Visa when you arrive at the airport if you are from most western countries.
Jordan Pass: Varies on price depending on what you want to do. Get a Jordan Pass if you are going to be staying in Jordan for more than 3 nights. It includes Fees related to Visa, Petra (choose package based on how many days you will be in Petra), Wadi Rum, Jerash, Amman Citadel, Ajloun castle, and more.
Religion: Mainly Islamic and some Christians
What to wear: Cover up shoulders and knees. If you visit a Mosque, you must cover your head as a woman.
Transportation: Mainly cab or you can hire a driver or rent a car. Uber and Careem is in Amman. Make sure if you use cab that they use the meter.
Private driver: I used the company Retaj Car Rental & Limo Service. My driver’s name was Emad. He has been in the tourism industry for 25 years. I highly recommend him to everyone.
Weather: Since Jordan is mainly in the desert, summers are long, dry, and hot. Nights can get chilly. In the winter, make sure to bring a coat. It gets cold and can be rainy.
Accommodation: I stayed in Nomads Hotel in Amman. I booked a dorm for only females, but they do offer private rooms here if that is more in your comfort zone. For the dorm, I paid $65 USD for five nights. It was close to Rainbow Street and downtown.
Safety:
General safety: You may see military checkpoints in a few places. This is to ensure no terrorist attacks happen. You may also see Syrian refugees on the side of the road begging for money.
Women safety: I had one sketchy experience in Jordan personally while travelling alone. I was staying in a Bedouin camp and one of the Bedouins kept knocking on my door at different times during the night and telling me to answer it. The Bedouin did know I was alone. Please be aware of this. The Bedouins are amazing people, but before this situation had arisen, I had a bad gut feeling about something. Remember to always trust your gut! Nothing happened to me, but I had refused to answer the door and I pretended I was asleep.
I booked a hostel close to Rainbow Street and I would eat from many places there. I felt safe on that street. You may encounter mild street harassment in other areas.
Overall, I felt safe in this country. Use common sense, dress modestly, and avoid going out late at night. Jordan is a liberal country compared to other Middle Eastern countries and women have more rights here. Women can be police officers, doctors, and hold other high positions. They do not have to wear hijabs.
What to do in Jordan for fun:
1. Petra
This is a must. Once a stop for merchants on the silk road and settled in by the Nabataeans as early as 4th century BC, this city was lost to civilization for many years. It was discovered again by a Swiss Explorer and now it is known as one of the new seven wonders of the world.
If you buy the Jordan Pass, you pick how many days you are going to be here. I recommend at least 2. There are miles of trails and things to be discovered in this ancient desert city.
Your senses may be assaulted at first while you are walking down the valley, also known as the Siq, to the Treasury. It is like walking back in time with Bedouins trying to get you to ride mules, horses, camels, put on Kohl liner, check out their shops, smell the incense they have, inviting you in for sweet tea, and saying they will take you to the best lookouts. This may be overwhelming but take in the experience and live in that moment. You must try the Bedouin tea after all, and it is a large part of their culture. I found many cute items in the shops and bought so much jewelry.
The biggest tip before you buy anything is to make sure to barter. If the Bedouins offer you something first price, cut it down by half and go from there. One of the most popular sites in Petra is the monastery. To get there you climb 850 steps, but the view is worth it.
2. Stay with the Bedouins/ Wadi Rum Desert
This is one of my favorite experiences ever. You can choose whether to spend a night in a tent or a dome. The tent is more budget friendly, and it is what I did. The tent has a locked door, bathroom, and heat/air conditioner. Wi-Fi is available, but it’s kinda spotty. The dome is popular because you can see the stars from inside of it.
I used Hashem, whom is a local Bedouin guide, and he helped plan my stay. Here is his booking.com link:
Hashem tours and camping, Wadi Rum – Updated 2022 Prices (booking.com)
I was provided with a buffet dinner and breakfast. The dinner is made in traditional Bedouin style called Zarb. It is when the Bedouins cook food underground. I had the most tender lamb and vegetables this way. Breakfast was also amazing. It was the typical Jordanian breakfast of pita bread, hummus, greek yogurt, dates, etc. Make sure to participate in the dancing at the end of the night. The Bedouins get you pumped up with the upbeat music and you lose track of all time.
You can choose what kind of experience you want to have in the desert. I did a 4×4 tour with Hashem. He took me to see all the major sites of the desert such as ancient camel carvings and film locations from movies such as The Martian and Lawrence of Arabia. He also taught me how to make make-up from rocks such as an intense blush. You will also have the opportunity to ride a camel through the desert.
3. Dead Sea
You automatically start floating once you hit the water. Try to go in on your back because you do not want the salt in your eyes or on your face. It feels great to be able to float in the turquoise water without exerting effort to do so. Do not shave the day before you go in because any cuts will burn. I enjoyed seeing how the salt crystallized everything in the water. A popular activity is to put mud on your body and soak. The Dead Sea is said to have healing properties. When you get out there will be a slimy film on your skin, make sure to scrub off in fresh water.
4. Jerash
Jerash is considered the best kept Roman ruins after Italy. It takes about 2-3 hours to explore this location. There are ancient roads that have eroded from the chariots that would go down them, there is the famous temples of Zeus & Artemis, there are two Roman amphitheaters, and so much more to be discovered here.
5. Ajloun Castle
A 12th century Muslim castle on top of a hill overlooking the desert. It was built in order to protect from the Crusader attacks. One of my favorite facts I learned here is how they used carrier pigeons to communicate with other cities. If you are a castle historian there are many others in Jordan too. There is the Karak castle and Shoback castle.
6. Madaba, Mount Nebo, and Bethany Beyond the Jordan
Madaba was amazing to explore and to see how they are digging up ancient churches that were built hundreds of years ago. The two facilities I went to were the Shrine of the Beheading of St John the Baptist and The Church of Saint George. They recently found that the St John the Baptist church extends underground, and you can check out some of the underground chambers here and climb up the belltower to get magnificent views of the city. The Church of Saint George is known for the classic mosaics that have been found here.
There are plenty of Mosaic workshops along Madaba’s roads where you can learn how people perform this art and you will have a chance to buy some souvenirs.
Mount Nebo had the best views of Jordan. This is where it is said that God had shown Moses the promised land. It is suspected Moses is buried here somewhere. On clear days you can see all the way to Israel such as the Mount of Olives.
Bethany Beyond the Jordan is a touching experience if you have the Christian faith. This is the location where John the Baptist had baptized Jesus. It feels surreal to walk through biblical history.
No matter what you choose to do in this beautiful country, it is likely to be a memorable adventure. The food is packed full of flavors, the people are warm, and the sites are something to behold.