With an abundance of affordable flights to Jordan from the UK with a flight time of just over five hours, Jordan is an accessible Central Asian country. Sharing borders with Saudi Arabia, Israel, Syria, and Iraq, and frequent ferries to Egypt, Jordan is the perfect country to spend your holiday in.
Boasting international airports in the north and south of the country, vacationists can choose to start their adventure in the bustling capital Amman, or the coastal city of Aqaba on the Red Sea.
Being a relatively small country to travel through, the top attractions and sites can be visited all within a week. However, to allow yourself the comfort and freedom to not feel rushed on your trip, I recommend staying for around 10 nights.
Jordan is a relatively inexpensive destination to visit, depending on how you like to travel. Regarding transport, it is possible to venture through the country via public transport (as I did) and make use of the local bus services connecting each destination. If you’re a creature of comfort (with a driver's license), then renting a car is a popular alternative to public transport.
Starting in the north of the country, Amman and Jerash are both cities home to historic archaeological sites well worth your time, whether you’re an archaeology fanatic or not. Allow yourself two or three nights to get settled into the north of Jordan, permitting enough time to see the attractions on offer in both Amman and Jerash. As Jerash is a mere hour drive from Amman, I recommend staying in Amman, as it provides an abundance of affordable accommodation, whether you’re a hostel or hotel fan.
A three-four hour drive south of Amman, you’ll reach the town of Wadi Musa, which serves as a gateway to the historical site of Petra. Being one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Petra is an extremely popular attraction, and often the main attraction that lures visitors to Jordan. It's possible to walk through Petra in a day, however, if time is not of the essence, I would highly recommend spending two days wandering back in time through Petra.
The Jordan Pass is available at jordanpass.jo includes your visa to enter Jordan, plus entry to 40+ attractions in Jordan (including Petra), making it a perfect solution to discover Jordan whilst saving yourself some pennies.
Venturing southwards from Wadi Musa and Petra, you’ll find the desert of Wadi Rum. Featuring in many movies such as The Martian and Lawrence of Arabia, the Wadi Rum desert is a stunning location to spend a night or two glamping amongst one of the numerous camps dotted throughout the desert. Camps offer jeep tours through Wadi Rum, stargazing excursions, camel rides, and more sand-filled fun, making it a highly recommended location to visit on your Jordanian jaunt.
Heading further south to the coast, you’ll find the beach city Aqaba, highly regarded for its scuba diving opportunities, especially since it holds one of the world's largest underwater museums, containing a multitude of old war machinery and a thriving coral reef.
Aqaba is the most popular place to stay on the Red Sea coast of Jordan, however, if you’re not looking to scuba dive, I recommend only spending a night or two there, as there isn’t a plethora of activities for non-diving individuals.
Finishing your whistle-stop tour of Jordan is the Dead Sea. Being the lowest (and one of the saltiest) destinations on planet Earth, the Dead Sea is a top-rated attraction for those visiting Jordan. Lather yourself in Dead Sea mud and rinse off in the sea, your skin will thank you later!
