The Wanderlust Guide to the best of Jordan
From the red-rose ‘city’ of Petra to the luxurious spas lining the Dead Sea, Jordan offers something for every taste and budget. When are you going?
Jordan is best known for its true world wonder, the rose red city of Petra, carved from stone and long hidden in its desert canyon.
But Jordan is far from a one-trick pony (or should that be camel?). Elsewhere, Roman remains at Jerash and Azraq, Hellenic ruins at Umm Qais and crusader castles at Karak and Shobak draw history buffs.
And Jordan’s natural charms are just as alluring: float in the briny Dead Sea, dive the dazzling depths to explore Red Sea reefs at Aqaba, spot wildlife in the valleys and heights of Dana Nature Reserve, and wander the desert expanses of Wadi Rum – by foot, 4WD or camel power.
Sprinkle in Jordan’s tempting cuisine, great walking and canyoning, easily traversable distances and smiling people, and you’ve got the recipe for the perfect Middle East mezze.
Looking for inspiration?
The key to understanding Jordan is its people and its landscapes. Paul Morrison spent time with both, travelling with Bedouin across the country’s vast deserts, unlocking the secrets of both Jordan’s past and present. If you don’t feel compelled to don a head scarf and head into the sand dunes after reading it, then perhaps Jordan isn’t for you.
Amar Grover tackled the Malaqi Trail, a stunning trek which snakes its way through the dramatic canyons, waterfalls and rock pools of the Wadi Mujib Nature Reserve. Once a Bedouin hunting ground, it now hosts an Ibex breeding program and the odd hyena. Find out why Amar reckons it’s a wadi wonderland.
Fancy a Middle East self-drive holiday? No? Well, perhaps Nick Redmayne can convince you to change your mind. Being mater of his own destiny opened up all kinds of opportunities he’d have otherwise missed – habibi hip-hop fusion, anyone – and helped him discover why Jordanian drivers are always honking their horns.
If being slathered in mud and wrapped in clingfilm is more your thing, swing by Gail Simmon’s Guide to Dead Sea spas. It will do wonders to your complexion.
More information
Petra and Wadi Rum: life in the desert – Paul Morrison
Could this be Jordan’s greatest hike? – Amar Grover
Self-drive Jordan – Nick Redmayne
Dead Sea Spas – Gail Simmons
