Jordan Holidays - 9 Reasons to Travel to Jordan

A vacation in Jordan? Hmm, why not? We finally fulfilled our dream of a Jordan tour and can only warmly recommend this country to you. Jordan may be located between several crisis zones, but there’s no need to fear it. This country is a very safe place to travel and awaits you with many great highlights and adventures. Maybe you haven’t really had Jordan on your radar until now, but today we’re going to tell you 9 good reasons why a trip to Jordan is absolutely worth it. We’re sure that we can convince you and that you’ll soon be on a plane to Jordan.

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This might also interest you:
1. The pleasant and warm climate
2. A good infrastructure
3. Small but mighty!
4. Delicious food & tea
5. Hospitality & warmth
6. Red Sea & Dead Sea
7. Bustling and cool capital
8. Historical highlights
9. Diverse nature

1. The pleasant and warm climate

The climate in Jordan is generally quite dry and warm, a typical desert climate. There are, of course, regional differences, but basically you can holiday in Jordan all year round. Even in the winter months, you can lie on the beach and enjoy the sun by the Red Sea. According to climate tables, the best time to travel to Jordan is from March to November, although the summer can be quite hot.

We were in Jordan during the unpopular month of January, but even we were very lucky and had some beautiful warm days (and some icy cold days). At the Dead Sea, we were even able to “jump” into the water and relax at almost 28°C on the Red Sea. We only really froze in the desert. You should always bring a sweater for the evenings, as it can get quite chilly after sunset.

Jordan Holiday Dead Sea Floating Salt

2. Good infrastructure

Even more reasons to travel to Jordan? You’ll get them! At first, we were hesitant about driving a rental car ourselves. But we love it too much not to. Luckily, we decided to go for it, because the roads were mostly in good condition, and driving in Jordan was no different than in Germany. Outside of the larger cities, traffic is totally relaxed and doesn’t require any special skills.

On the highways, you can drive up to 110 km/h, so you can get from A to B pretty quickly. However, there are many police checkpoints; we were pulled over several times. The police were always super friendly, wished us a pleasant trip, and let us continue on our way. Perfect for a vacation in Jordan, right?

3. Small but mighty!

We love small countries because you can discover so much in a very short time. Jordan is actually tiny compared to other countries: from north to south it’s just 380 kilometers, and from east to west between 150 and 400 kilometers. We only had a week for our Jordan vacation, but we saw and experienced a lot. Because the distances were so short, we never had to spend very long in the car and usually only drove between 1 and 3 hours per day. From Aqaba, for example, it’s only about 60 to 90 minutes to the Wadi Rum Desert. From there, it’s only another 2 hours to the rock city of Petra.

4. Delicious Food & Tea

Do you love oriental and Arabic cuisine? Then Jordan is the right place for you. We’re big fans of falafel, hummus, and pita bread. But you should also try lentil soup, mansaf (the national dish), shawarma, labneh, and kanafeh. Meat and fish lovers (especially along the Red Sea coast) will definitely not be disappointed. Most dishes are served with rice and vegetables. We frequently stopped in small local restaurants and simply sampled our way through the menu.

Tea is also an important part of the cuisine and social life. The locals drink many cups a day, preferably black tea with lots of sugar. Coffee is also consumed in Jordan. In our opinion, you’ll get the best insight into local cuisine at the bustling markets (e.g., in Amman or Aqaba).

5. Hospitality & Warmth

We experienced incredible hospitality and warmth in Jordan. The people were always polite, open-minded, and friendly to us. From the very first moment, we simply felt comfortable and safe in the country; we can’t quite describe why. It was probably the small gestures people made. In Amman, we were spontaneously invited for tea by the parking attendant, Mohammed, and when Marco suddenly felt very unwell in a restaurant, people were immediately there to help.

Helpfulness is very important in Jordan and can be felt everywhere. We had many good conversations and were able to move around the country freely without having to fear. The people also suffer greatly from their country’s bad reputation abroad. At least, that’s what Mohammed, who also works as a driver in the tourism industry, told us. This is unfortunately due to the surrounding crisis areas, such as Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Iraq. This is precisely why you should take a vacation in Jordan. It’s different, but brilliant!

6. Red Sea & Dead Sea

In Jordan, you can not only visit the historical sites, walk through the desert, and explore the capital, but also enjoy a beach holiday. At the Red Sea, you can bask in the sun, go snorkeling and diving, or try other water sports. Floating weightlessly through the water is possible at the famous Dead Sea and shouldn’t be missing from your itinerary. A crazy feeling!

There are no “dream beaches” in Jordan, but the water in the Red Sea, for example, is crystal clear and pleasantly warm. The underwater world in the Red Sea, with its turtles, dolphins, and corals, is also said to be truly amazing, although we unfortunately didn’t have time to see it ourselves. But we will definitely make up for it on our next trip to Jordan!

Jordan Holiday Round Trip - Aqaba Beach

7. Bustling and Cool Capital

At the end of our trip, we also visited the capital Amman in the northern part of the country. While we prefer being outdoors, Amman was really fun. The capital has around 4 million inhabitants and there’s a lot to discover. We strolled through bustling markets, marveled at ancient ruins, discovered countless graffiti, and sampled the local cuisine.

Amman has some really cool cafés, such as “Wild Jordan,” and stylish hostels and hotels. There are hip neighborhoods where you can casually sit outside a café, smoke shisha, and unwind at the end of the day. At the same time, you can also experience the local hustle and bustle of the people in front of the mosques and at the markets. You can simply feel the joie de vivre buzzing through the city and its streets.

8. Historical Highlights

Jordan is littered with historical ruins, buildings, and sites. It’s not without reason that several sites are UNESCO World Heritage sites. If you take a look at the UNESCO website, you’ll find several entries. Don’t miss the Rock City of Petra, which will surely blow you away as much as it did us.

It’s hard to believe what people carved into the rocks here thousands of years ago. Even crazier is the fact that supposedly only 20% of the city has been excavated. What else could be hidden there? The ancient ruins in Amman are also truly worth seeing.

Jordan Holiday Rock City Petra Jordan Treasure House Treasury 2

9. Diverse Nature

Jordan is a country full of adventure. Our trip began at the beautiful Red Sea in the south of the country and then took us to the endless expanse of the Wadi Rum Desert. The changing colors of the sand and the high cliffs in the desert were particularly fascinating. The sunset was definitely the highlight of this desert trip. And let’s not forget the breathtaking city of Petra, carved into the rock. The journey continued through the mountainous landscapes, past deep gorges and canyons to the Dead Sea.

Right at the top of the north of the country is the verdant Yarmouk Nature Reserve, where more than 59 different plant species and 20 mammal species (Arabian gazelle, jungle cat, Asiatic jackal) live between the mountains and valleys. At the Wild Jordan Center, we learned a lot about the reserves, but unfortunately, we didn’t have time to drive all the way to the north. Perhaps you can make it.

We hope that these 9 points have made Jordan a little more appealing to you. Whether you have 7 or 14 days, Jordan is worth a shorter or longer trip. On our country page, you’ll find many more posts from our tour. Enjoy browsing! If you have any comments or suggestions, please let us know in the comments. We look forward to your feedback.

Jordan Holiday – 9 Reasons to Travel to Jordan