Jordan, Jordan

Heritage · Jordan

Jordan

Jordan connects Nabataean cities, desert communities, Roman remains and the mineral landscapes of the Dead Sea through a strong culture of hospitality.

Travel by Ildy tip

Historic places

In the far north, Umm Qais stands on the ruins of ancient Gadara, on a ridge above the Yarmouk gorge; on a clear day the view stretches to the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights.

Best time to visit

Best time to travel

March to May and October to November suit Petra, desert and northern sites; winter nights are cold and summer desert heat is intense.

Travel tips

Travel by Ildy tips

  • Choose your road to Petra: the Desert Highway (Route 15) is the quicker way south from Amman, while the King’s Highway (Route 35) is slower but passes Madaba, Mount Nebo, Karak and Shobak; allow a full day for it.
  • Share mansaf, Jordan's national dish and a UNESCO-listed tradition: lamb cooked in jameed, the dried fermented yoghurt Al-Karak is famed for, eaten from a common platter with the right hand.
  • Reach Petra's Monastery the quiet way: a lightly used trail of about 6 km leads from Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) to Ad-Deir, bringing you in from above rather than up the busy main route.
  • In Little Petra, climb to the Painted Biclinium: its ceiling frescoes of vines, grapes and winged putti, dated to around the turn of the millennium, are the only known Nabataean figurative paintings still in place.

Travel by Ildy recommends

Follow the rhythm of the place first, then shape the journey around the experiences that feel most like your own.

Location

Jordan on the map

Jordan

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Where to stay

Stay ideas — Jordan

Jordan, Jordan

Jordan

Jordan