The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Jordan is a small country with a huge variety of amazing things to see! From the modern amenities and fascinating museums found in its capital to its many examples of world-class ruins and religious sites, there’s something for every adventurer.
We spent just under a month exploring Jordan, but we could have easily stayed longer. Although it isn’t a large country, it is home to 6 separate UNESCO sites and one of the New7 Wonders of the World, Petra.
We based our stay out of Amman and took trips outside the city on the weekends. It’s super easy to get around in-country, and we often rented a car and drove ourselves to see the sites. For farther destinations, like Wadi Rum and Petra, we did weekend long trips instead of trying to make a day of it. That made it so much better than it would have been otherwise.
Check out my on exploring Jordan
- The Complete Educational Guide to Jordan
The Kingdom of Jordan has been a pillar of stability in the Middle East for decades, making it one of the safest countries in the area to visit. That’s great news, because it also has a lot to offer! Jordan has a history as old as it is rich, and its abundance of cultural sites reflect that. Roman ruins, religious sites, and its very own World Wonder at the heart of a nomadic trade empire all make Jordan a place well worth a visit. - The Best Roman Ruins in Jordan – Visiting Jerash with Kids
Located less than an hour away from Jordan’s capital, the Roman ruins of Jerash are some of the most beautiful and well-preserved Roman ruins in the entire country. Its intriguing combination of ancient temples, arches, and even the ruins of a hippodrome make it an excellent outing to take with kids, both to give them a taste of Roman history and as a way of spending some time outside. - Exploring the otherworldly beauty of Jordan’s Wadi Rum
Of the 7 different UNESCO World Heritage sites in Jordan, Wadi Rum is the only one that gained its World Heritage status for its natural elements. A sea of stone and sand, Wadi Rum’s windswept desert landscape looks inhospitable in the extreme. In reality, this natural wonder has nurtured nomadic cultures for millennia, and today… - A City Carved in Stone – Visiting Petra with Kids
With easy access from either end of Jordan and tons of lodging options nearby, Petra is one of the easier-to-reach sites that I’ve ever visited! If you’re interested in ancient ruins and fascinating histories, this is definitely a great place to put on your list. - Stand Where Moses Stood – Visiting Mount Nebo In Jordan
It was our first full day in Jordan, and even though we had a rougher than usual time getting here, we had already loaded our family into an Uber for a field trip. Despite the beautiful scenery around us, I was definitely unsure if today of all days was the best time for this trip. …
Jordan Travel Resources
Tours and Guides
Best Full Experience Tour
If you’re looking for an “everything taken care of for you” style tour, I highly recommend booking a Jordan tour with G Adventures. They are the official tour group for National Geographic Adventures and host some of the absolute best tours country-wide tours you can get!
This particular tour is an 8-day adventure with everything taken care of for you, including knowledgeable guides to teach you all about this wonderful country and answer any questions you might have!
It’s a bit pricier than going on your own, but an absolutely amazing opportunity, if you can swing it.
Best Choose Your Own Adventure Tours
If you still want a great guided experience but want a little more control over your itinerary, I recommend choosing a tour from Get Your Guide. They have a wide variety of tour types using local guides who know their stuff.
Different trips vary in length from shorter half-day tours all the way up to multiple-day tours that let you experience a wide variety of the best activities in Jordan. It’s a great way to find exactly what you’re looking for.
Places to Stay in Jordan
Most people spending a longer amount of time in Jordan will end up basing their travels out of one of the two larger cities in the country, Aqaba in the South, or the capital city of Amman in the North. Both cities have their advantages, but my family chose to base our time in Amman and I feel like that was a great choice!
I highly recommend looking through the apartment and homestays in Amman, as they are typically much more comfortable for longer stays.
Getting Around in Jordan
One of the biggest barriers to managing your own trips instead of going with a tour group is knowing how to get around. Luckily, Jordan has extremely well-maintained roads and infrastructure compared to a lot of other countries, and driving yourself is simple to do.
My family decided to take this route for our trips to Wadi Rum and to Petra, and we loved it!
However, if you aren’t comfortable driving yourself, it still isn’t too hard to get where you need to go. Many hotels offer shuttles to and from their locations at reasonable rates, and taxis are abundant. However, for my family, Uber was by far the simplest option, and we used it for most of our trips out from Amman.
One thing to note: If you use Uber to drive you outside of the city, it may be easier to ask the driver to wait for you at your destination and drive you back at the end than it would be to hail a new Uber at your destination.
Alternatively, you can try the local option, Careem. I didn’t try it out, myself, but my friends in the area all said it’s just as reliable as Uber, and often offers less expensive rides.
Flights to Jordan
Most flights into Jordan arrive in Queen Alia Airport (AMM), which is located outside Amman.