Middle East - Anthony Ham [281]
HISTORY
THE CULTURE
SPORT
RELIGION
ARTS
ENVIRONMENT
FOOD & DRINK
AMMAN
HISTORY
ORIENTATION
INFORMATION
SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES
AMMAN FOR CHILDREN
TOURS
SLEEPING
EATING
DRINKING
ENTERTAINMENT
SHOPPING
GETTING THERE & AWAY
GETTING AROUND
AROUND AMMAN
WADI AS-SEER & IRAQ AL-AMIR
JERASH & THE NORTH
JERASH
AJLOUN
AJLOUN FOREST RESERVE
IRBID
UMM QAIS
PELLA (TABAQAT FAHL)
THE DEAD SEA & AROUND
BETHANY-BEYOND-THE-JORDAN
THE DEAD SEA
WADI MUJIB NATURE RESERVE
THE EASTERN DESERT
UMM AL-JIMAL
THE DESERT CASTLES
KING’S HIGHWAY
MADABA
AROUND MADABA
MACHAERUS (MUKAWIR)
WADI MUJIB
KARAK
TAFILA
DANA NATURE RESERVE
SHOBAK
PETRA & THE SOUTH
PETRA & WADI MUSA
WADI RUM
AQABA
JORDAN DIRECTORY
ACCOMMODATION
ACTIVITIES
BOOKS
BUSINESS HOURS
CHILDREN
COURSES
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
DANGERS & ANNOYANCES
DISCOUNT CARDS
EMBASSIES & CONSULATES
FESTIVALS & EVENTS
GAY & LESBIAN TRAVELLERS
HOLIDAYS
INSURANCE
INTERNET ACCESS
INTERNET RESOURCES
LANGUAGE
LAUNDRY
MAPS
MONEY
PHOTOGRAPHY
POST
SHOPPING
SOLO TRAVELLERS
TELEPHONE
TIME
TOILETS
TOURIST INFORMATION
TRAVELLERS WITH DISABILITIES
VISAS
WOMEN TRAVELLERS
WORK
TRANSPORT IN JORDAN
GETTING THERE & AWAY
GETTING AROUND
* * *
Ahlan wa sahlan! – ‘Welcome to Jordan!’ From the Bedouin of Wadi Rum to the taxi drivers of Amman, you’ll be on the receiving end of this open-armed welcome every day. It’s this, and a sense of peace and stability amidst a very tough neighbourhood, that makes travel in Jordan such a delight.
With heavyweight neighbours pulling big historical punches, Jordan easily holds its own, claiming some of the most significant sites in the region. Amman, Jerash and Umm Qais were cities of the ancient Roman Decapolis, while biblical sites range from Bethany-Beyond-the-Jordan, where Jesus was baptised, to Mt Nebo, where Moses is said to have looked out over the Promised Land. Grandest of all is the awe-inspiring Nabataean capital at Petra, crafted from sandstone cliffs.
But Jordan is not just about antiquities. It also offers the great outdoors, whether diving off the coast of Aqaba, trekking in the camelprints of Lawrence of Arabia, or hiking through stunning river gorges. Jordan’s excellent nature reserves offer some of the most exciting adventure options in the Middle East – and some of the most heart-warming examples of environmental conservation in a region not known for its green credentials.
Like much of the Arab world, Jordan is trying to balance the time-honoured rhythms of a traditional society with a ‘global lifestyle’ that involves high-speed development. For travellers, this results in, for example, well-managed sites and reserves, but a lack of public transport between them. On the positive side, it means you can sleep under the stars on a goat-hair blanket one night and slip between starched linen at a spa resort the next.
Jordan is comparatively expensive for travellers and the cost of living is rising fast. That said, the country is compact and has enough compelling attractions (including spectacular landscapes) to absorb you for a good couple of weeks. Reserve some cash and don’t miss it!
* * *
FAST FACTS
Area 89,206 sq km
Capital Amman
Country code 962
Language Arabic
Money Jordanian dinar (JD); US$1 = JD0.707; €1 = JD1.109
Official name Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Population 6.2 million
* * *
CLIMATE & WHEN TO GO
Average daily maximum temperatures in Amman range from 12°C in January to 32°C in August. Weatherwise, April/May and September/October are probably the best times to visit Jordan and these months are considered peak season.
Summer is an uncomfortable time to visit the Jordan Valley, Desert Castles, Aqaba and Wadi Rum: daily temperatures are well in excess of 36°C and can peak at 49°C. At the other extreme, snow in Amman and Petra is not unheard of in winter, and desert days and nights can be bitterly cold. Winter weather is pleasant and warm in Aqaba but with a high chance of rain.
See the Climate Charts (Click here) for more information.
Note that most nature