A progressive monarch, breathtaking scenery, ancient ruins and hospitable locals make this tiny country one of the most unforgettable destinations in the Middle East. Travellers on flights to Jordan will land in the capital, Amman. Home to more than a million people, the city of Amman provides a good base for exploring the rest of the country. One of the highlights of this sprawling capital is the Roman Theatre in the Downtown area which was built in the 2nd century AD and is still used as a backdrop for summer performances.
History buffs booking flights to Jordan should plan a few extra days to visit two of the most famous archaeological sites in the country: Petra and the ruins of Jerash. The ancient city of Petra was once the capital of a 3rd century BC Arab dynasty – Nabateaeans. Forgotten for nearly a thousand years the city became home to wandering Bedouins and only became famous in the 1980s after appearing in the movie Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade. Today the stunning city carved out of sandstone is visited by nearly 3000 people a day. The well-preserved Roman ruins at Jerash are another extraordinary attraction. Built nearly 7000 years ago the site nicknamed the “Asian Pompeii” contains churches, a cathedral and a synagogue all with detailed mosaics.
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About 75 per cent of the country can be described as having a desert climate with very little annual rainfall.
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Peak Season:
Spring and autumn are the most pleasant times to book flights to Jordan when the sky is clear, days sunny and temperatures are moderate.
Off Season:
July and August are the hottest and driest months of the year, especially in Amman and the Jordan Valley, and in the desert areas, with temperatures more than 36 degrees Celsius.
Shoulder Season:
The winter months from November to April can be very cold, particularly in Amman, with snow, rain and wind, but there is little rainfall in the desert regions and in Aqaba, which makes a pleasant wintertime resort.
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There is only one route available for domestic flights, which is between Amman and Aqaba.
Hiring a car is probably the easiest way to travel – though make sure you fill up with gas before leaving the big towns as stations are few and far between. Anyone with a valid driving license for their own country – which they must have held for at least a year – is allowed to hire a car. Driving is on the right. All signs are in both Arabic and English. Brown signs mark spots of tourist interest.
Buses are available for routes between the main tourist destinations. It is probably worth paying a bit more to travel in one of the air-conditioned buses, aimed at tourists.
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- The spectacular Petra is a Unesco World Heritage site, and often one of the first places visitors to Jordan want to see. The myriad stone structures carved from the rock face, dating back to the third century BC, are truly awe-inspiring. Perhaps the most impressive building is Al Khazneh (the Treasury). You have to pay to enter the site and there is a lot to see here, so it is worth arriving early – or making multiple visits. It opens at 6am between May and September and 6.30am for the rest of the year.
- Wadi Rum is the location for much of the film Lawrence of Arabia. The area is a popular tourist draw because of its incredible rock formations, the surrounding desert and, increasingly, a host of outdoor activities to take part in, such as camping, camel trekking, hiking and rock-climbing.
- One of the most interesting sights in the busy capital of Amman is the Roman amphitheatre. It’s a tranquil spot to visit, not overrun with tourists, and impressively large.
- Aqaba is the only coastal town in the country from which you can access the Red Sea. Unsurprisingly, it has become a popular beach resort. The nearest adjacent town is the famous resort of Eilat in Israel, but, thanks to the much smaller numbers of tourists visiting Jordan than Israel, Aqaba is a lot less developed. The coral reef is stunning – you can explore it by scuba-diving, snorkelling or on a trip in a glass-bottomed boat.
- Discovered in 1896, the Mosaic Map of Madaba in St George’s Church, is made up of more than two million pieces of mosaics and shows the entirety of the Holy Land. The town of Madaba is steeped in history; as well as seeing the map you can visit Mount Nebo, the place where Moses was supposed to have seen the Holy Land and died, and explore a range of other ancient mosaics.
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All visitors require a passport valid for at least six months after date of arrival in the country. All nationalities require a visa, which can be obtained prior to arrival, or they can be issued at the airport if arriving by air and are valid for one month; extensions are possible for up to three months at any police station. All documents and tickets for onward travel are also required.
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British citizens require a passport and a visa.
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