Reasons to visit Jordan

Over the last few weeks have had equally as many enquiries about Jordan as Egypt so I thought I would put together a few reasons why it should be added to your visit to Egypt.
Jordan is truly a hidden gem of the Middle East.
I was lucky enough to visit last year and will be returning later this year to stay a little longer this time to explore some new places.
We will be adding some different itineraries for Jordan very soon but I highly recommend the Jordan Explorer as a first visit.

Here are some of the reasons I think you should visit Jordan at least once in your life.
With a population of only 10 million, and covering just over 90 thousand square kilometres it might be small on numbers but is packed with things to do.
Its true good things come in small packages!
The diversity and beauty of the country surprised me, before I left for Jordan the only thing I knew about it was Petra.
We were based in the modern city of Amman and did day trips to the sites.
We visited the Ancient ruins of Jerash, Ajloun and not forgetting the site Jordan is most famous for, the Rose City of Petra.
We were also able to visit a spa in the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth and paint myself in the mineral rich mud.  
Another surprise was the food, with lots of Middle Eastern influences every meal was delicious and there was lots of it.
Our guide in Jordan definitely knew the best places to take us to eat!
Here are just a few of my thoughts on my first visit to Jordan DEAD SEA
Unfortunately I made the mistake of trying to wash the mud off my face with the water from the Dead Sea, BIG MISTAKE, make sure you only use the fresh water they pump down to the water’s edge. 
We were told that people with skin conditions often come to the Dead Sea to help relieve their symptoms.
A few facts about the Dead Sea
It is actually a land locked lake bordered by Jordan and Israel
It is called ‘Dead’ because nothing can actually live there because it is so salty
The Dead Sea is one of the saltiest lakes on earth
The mud is some of the most mineral rich on earth and the Dead Sea is said to be the location of the world’s first health resort.
The surface and shores of the Dead Sea are 423 metres below sea level, making it Earth’s lowest elevation on land. ( I looked that bit up J)
Interesting fact: Egyptian mummification processes used asphalt imported from the Dead Sea region
  THE PEOPLE
Even though we only spent a few days there, the friendliness of the people everywhere we went matched that of the people in Egypt.
Whether it was at the sites or in a restaurant we were impressed by the generosity and kindness of the Jordanian people.
 
EASY ACCESS TO SITES
The Kingdom of Jordan can offer a whole lot in just a short amount of time.
It will take you approximately five hours to cross the entire country from Irbid in the north down to the Aqaba’s Red Sea in the south. Within a few days we had seen Amman, Jerash, Ajloun, Petra, Dead Sea, Shubak Castle and so much more. I am looking forward to a longer visit in October as we also get to see the spectacular Wadi Rum, spend heaps more time in Petra and venture further south to the Red Sea and Aqaba. PETRA
Generally considered to be Jordan’s most popular attraction, Petra is an archeolgical site located in the south of Jordan.
Petra is also known as ‘Rose City’ due to the colouring of the stone.
This city made of stone in a UNESCO World Heritage site.
My favourite memory of Petra is walking down to the entrance and seeing the Treasury for the first time. It simply takes your breath away. It was a similar ‘wow’ moment to turning the corner and seeing Abu Simbel (although I still love that feeling after about a dozen visits to Abu Simbel.) I chose to walk from the entrance through the canyon to the treasury as I am not a fan of the horse and carriage, it’s about 2 kilometres but well worth the walk, there are lots of interesting things to see along the way.
Side Note: The name Treasury is derived from a tale that an Egyptian pharaoh hid a treasure here, but it fact the Treasury is a tomb for one of the Nabataean kings who built the city.
There is plenty to explore in Petra, especially if you are a hiker or someone who likes to get of the main tracks, unfortunately we only had a few hours to explore but it is a place you could spend a few days. There are hotels and hostels located within walking distance of the entrance so stay at least a day but longer if you can.
The tombs and monuments of the centuries-old city are carved deeply into the reddish cliffs are like nothing else on Earth.
 
MOUNT NEBO AND MADABA
In all honesty, the religious sites are not on the top of my list but I always learn something new in every place and Mount Nebo was one of these places.
Said to be one of Jordan's holiest places Mount Nebo is where the Biblical prophet Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land.
It was explained that, according to the Bible, he died on Mount Nebo at age 120 although no one actually knows the location of his grave.
Madaba is close to Mount Nebo and famous for its mosaics, the most famous is the Map of Madaba, the sixth-century artwork was once made of two million pieces of tile that depicted major Biblical sites of the Middle East.
Madaba has lots of artisan shops where you can buy your own handmade masterpiece—the Tree of Life mosaics are especially beautiful. JERASH and AJLOUN
Probably the second most visited site in Jordan, I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Jerash, it ticked lots of boxes for me. I love history whether it is Greek Roman or Egyptian so this was definitely an interesting site to visit.  It is a really open site so can get quite hot in the warmer months. The architecture is Greek and Roman.
The ancient theatre is particularly impressive, especially its acoustics. There are lots of areas to explore in Jerash and I would definitely recommend a guide who knows the area as signage isn’t great and it is much more interesting to hear the stories from the guide.
The city’s main street is around 800m long and is still paved with its original stones, with the wear marks of the wheels of chariots that were once the mode of transport in the area.
We also visited Ajloun Castle it is a 12th Century fortress that was built on top of Mount ‘Auf and has great views of the Jordan Valley and surrounding desert.
Due to earthquakes over the years the castle is somewhat damaged but worth the visit.  Allow an hour or so to enjoy the site and the views.
 
There is much more to explore in Jordan and I look forward to writing ‘Part 2’ of this later in the year.
To join us in Jordan see our website www.pinklotustours.com 
Happy travelling,
Leisa