Jordan - The Most Treasure Country in the Middle East
If you are full of longing for the mysterious Middle East, and you think the drunken Dubai and the UAE are not interesting, there is still a country with visa on arrival.
But I think she should be regarded as the treasure country with the "most tourist value in the Middle East."
This country is not large in size. If you look at it from the perspective of God, more than 80% of the country is covered by desert, so there is a kind of trance of crossing out of the earth;
"The Little Prince" said: The reason why the desert is charming, because there is a well hidden somewhere. And the "well" hidden in this large desert is the "depression of the earth" - Dead Sea;
It used to be the territory of the ancient Roman Empire. The well-preserved relics of a thousand years will take you to the ancient dynasties and challenge the spirit of adventure from time to time.
She is rosy Jordan, a small unpopular country with a weak sense of existence, but it is the only Middle Eastern country on the list of "Lonely Planet" "Top 10 Best Traveling Countries in 2019". It can be done with a short vacation of 7 or 8 days. Have fun and exciting!
If you didn't know her well before, you might as well follow us to get to know this charming Middle Eastern country.
l Is it safe to travel to Jordan?
Compared to neighboring countries that from the international news headlines, Jordan can be described as a "safe island" in the eyes of the storm.
In the Jordan article of "Lonely Planet" , there is saying: "Jordan is a quiet haven in a struggling area. For centuries, the world heritage, friendly towns and magnificent desert landscapes here have made travelers feel refreshed. "
As a monarchy in the Middle East, Jordan has no oil. The country's economy mainly relies on tourism, so it can be regarded as the most stable of the surrounding countries.
l Why travel to Jordan?
Looking at the world, there are few countries that can show such a layered and diverse gameplay like Jordan.
Compare to the American Grand Canyon, Palau's underwater scenery, Turkey's alien landforms, Kenya's wild luxury hotels, Mediterranean ancient Roman ruins... Go to Jordan, you are equivalent to travel around half the world!
The unique natural scenery has made Jordan to be the hottest location for European and American movies, especially sci-fi blockbusters:
The Mars where the actor Matt Damon lives in The Martian is the Moon Valley of Jordan;
The cemetery of the leader in "Transformers" is in the ancient city of Petra;
In addition, the "Star Wars Gaiden", "The Hurt Locker", and "Against the War".
She does not have the legendary "thugs all over the street", unlike Dubai's "gold everywhere", but it has a rich historical heritage and the cutest side of Middle Eastern culture. Then let us take a look at the mysterious Jordan.
l Good Travel Time to Jordan. Peak Season, Shoulder Season & Off Season.
Peak Season: From September to November, from March to May and Public Holidays ( such as Christmas , New Year , Easter and local holidays – Eid el Fitr and Eid el Adha). The weather is mild for excursions as the most tours are Cultural tours. But for treatment at Dead Sea the whole year is fine.
Shoulder season: In general Jordan don’t have a Shoulder season. But for some hotels it’s mentioned ( in Aqaba - June for example ).
Off Season: July and August, the beginning of December and the second part of January, February. Because the weather is hot in July and August for excursion tours(about+35). And in winter the weather can be rainy. But some nationalities visit even in these periods. For example Spanish visit in August . Europeans visit in February.
l Destinations:
1. Amman
The streets of Amman-prosperity and depression coexist
Amman is not only the capital of Jordan, but also the largest city in the country with more than a dozen hilltops. As a typical Arab country, the way of life here is also special.
The capital Amman is one of the most westernized and open capitals in the Middle East, also one of the most charming cities.
The magnificent ancient Roman ruins stretch at the foot of the Amman Mountains, and the magnificent fortress overlooks the noisy life of Jordanians. The best way to understand all of this is to join the locals and travel between mosques, bazaars and cafes for a city walk.
Amman’s bazaars are colorful. In addition to a variety of blingbling ethnic ornaments, there are indispensable local snacks with local characteristics. If you just find an alley and walk in, you will get lost in the extremely exquisite craftsmanship of Arabia and the intoxicating fragrance.
Castle Hill - Overlooking the best viewpoint in the whole journey
In Jordan, you have to get used to seeing all kinds of monuments, among them the Castle Hill, one of the commanding heights of Amman. This is not only the site of the Umayyad dynasty of the Arab Empire, but also an important viewpoint overlooking the panoramic view of Amman.
Umayyad Palace with 1300 years ago, with the rainy weather and the small buildings all over the hills, you can experience the vicissitudes of the Arab world.
There is also a museum built in 1951 on Castle Hill. The venue is small, but the exhibits are very powerful. It is one of the earliest extant cultural relics in Jordan.
Ancient Roman Theatre - one of the main monuments in the city
The Roman Theater is one of the two main attractions in Amman. This magnificent restored theater is the most prominent and impressive remains of the ancient Roman city of Feladfia.
The theater is carved out of the northern slope of a small hill and can hold 6,000 people at the same time. The best photo time of the day is in the morning. Of course, the experience of watching a sunset in the theater seat is also very good~
When you enter the Roman theater, you can stop by the Folk Museum on the right hand side. Although the area is not large, it also houses the traditional daily necessities of Jordan.
2. Ancient City of Jerash - Stunning Roman Ruins
Jerash is a province north of Amman, very close to the capital. The ancient city of Jerash is a very large site that has witnessed the rise and fall of Jerash through the ages and is highly recommended.
Amman’s Castle Hill and ancient Roman theater have already surprised us, but they are really insignificant compared to Jerash.
Here not only has the urban structure of ancient Rome, but also a large number of ancient Greek, Byzantine, Arabian Umayyad and Abbasid ruins, which can be said to be a miniature of the history of the Middle East.
The scale of the ancient city is very large, and unlike most relics in many places, you can touch them with your hands here.
Even if it is a ruined wall, the ancient city is very magnificent in terms of details and overall. If you can travel back to its heyday, you will definitely be impressed by the grandeur here.
3. Dead Sea - the lowest point on the earth
Many people may not know Jordan, but they must know the Dead Sea. The lowest point in the world, located at the junction of Jordan, Israel, and Palestine, is also the world's earliest health resort (since Herod's time).
Due to the large amount of minerals in the lake, it has a soothing and analgesic effect. At the same time, the Dead Sea mud is also an excellent raw material for skin care.
What you must do when you come to the Dead Sea is to take a picture of leisurely reading a newspaper in the middle of the Dead Sea. It is said that floating on the Dead Sea can completely relax the body. Floating for 40 minutes has the effect of sleeping for 8 hours.
Putting on the Dead Sea mud mask and enjoying the wonderful experience of "floating but not sinking" has also become one of the business cards of Jordan travel, but the high-salinity seawater and hot sun are not suitable for long soaking in the Dead Sea.
4. Wadi Rum The most alien-like place on earth
The Wadi Rum Desert is a natural reserve in Jordan. Because the landform is very similar to Mars, it is the filming location of The Martian. The camping experience here is widely praised, and it is also one of the best scenes to watch the Milky Way.
Moon Valley - the most moon-like place on earth
"Wadi Rum" means "wine red desert" in Arabic. It is the most spectacular desert in Jordan. Scientists believe that its environment is the most moon-like on the earth, so it is also called "Moon Valley".
The tall mountains surrounding Moon Valley are smudged into warm colors of red, orange, and yellow. Under the action of light, the sand dunes and the horizon are merged into a beautifully suffocating oil painting.
It has been favored by Hollywood blockbusters since the 1960s. In the well-known "Martian Rescue", the scene of Matt Damon living and growing potatoes on Mars came from Wadi Rum.
Desert camp - the trendiest way to stay
In order to protect the environment of Wadi Rum, the Jordanian government prohibits the construction of hotels around Wadi Rum, so tent camps like alien scientific research camps have become a very popular local accommodation method.
In the vast desert, there are no other modern buildings around, and there is a feeling that "the spacecraft will not be able to pick me up until 10 months later."
In the evening, we also arranged a bonfire party with local desert residents. While enjoying a traditional meal, we sang and danced with the Bedouins, giving us an unforgettable experience of returning to the original soul.
Bedouins - ancient and unsophisticated local residents
The Bedouins living in Wadi Rum are nomads. Although they now have their own villages, they still retain the simple lifestyle of their ancestors.
The black tents and the gathering of camels are the signs of their homeland. You can choose to take off-road four-wheel drive vehicles or ride on Bedouin "luxury" camels. The towering cliffs and ochre sand dunes of Wadi Rum in front of you will definitely let you go. You are amazed.
Starry sky
The starry sky of Wadi Rum is unusually bright, and you can clearly see the Andromeda Galaxy, the slightly misty bright spot in the center. Due to the low light pollution in desert areas, the Milky Way looks very magnificent. How long have we not seen so many stars?
5. Petra The seven wonders of the world happen here
Even if you have never been to Jordan, you have heard of Petra, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. As the most not-to-be-missed attraction in Jordan, the rose-colored ancient city of Petra has a history of more than 2,000 years, and its one-day ticket is also one of the most expensive tickets in the world
The ancient city of Petra - an artificial miracle in the 6th century BC
Petra is undoubtedly Jordan's the most precious tourist treasure. This magnificent ancient city has been attracting a large number of tourists since it was rediscovered in 1812.
To enter Petra, the only passage is a narrow canyon that is 1.6 kilometers long and 35 meters wide, which is also vividly called the snake path. In the sun, the wavy textures on the gorgeous rocks resemble the "valley of waves" in the United States.
Joined in the special "Petra Night" candlelight night tour, the candlelight on the ground and the sky stars set off each other, and the nights of the ancient city have been so beautiful for thousands of years.
6. Aqaba A small seaside town blowing the red sea breeze
Aqaba is the only seaport city in Jordan, so it has a temperament that other Jordanian cities do not have: a slightly salty fashion. Many tourists choose to travel from here to Israel, Egypt and other countries.
A small leisure town on the Red Sea
after seeing enough ruins, you can "change your taste" in Aqaba, a favorite resort city of Jordanian locals. She is located on the Red Sea, the sea is quite thorough, standing on the seashore looking towards the other side, opposite is the Israeli coastal city of Eit.
Aqaba has not become completely unrecognizable because of the development of tourism. Most people who come here on holiday are to relax on the beach, or to enjoy the fun of snorkeling and diving, so they can enjoy a high-quality trip at a fair price. Seaside vacation.
Charter out to sea
In Aqaba, we chartered a cruise ship to take you to the Red Sea and enjoy the coolness of the sea. Of course, there is also a seafood meal on board.
In addition to floating in the Dead Sea, Jordan is famous for its underwater landscapes that are also world-class. The underwater wonderland that leads directly to the Red Sea below sea level, the clear waters, coral gardens and colorful fishes will surely open the door to a new world for you!