Jordan is best known for being the location of the incredible ancient site of Petra, but there is so much more to do and see in the country. Aside from the busy capital, Amman, and the quiet coastal resort city of Aqaba, tourists can also visit many beautiful castles, landscapes, and natural reserves in the desert.
The desert West Asian nation of Jordan, also known by its official name, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is bordered by Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Palestine. Apart from a little strip of Red Sea shoreline, it is surrounded by the hypersaline Dead Sea and is dotted with arid plateaus, gorges, and deserts with only sporadic streams of water running through them at different times of the year.
Because of its strategic location at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, it has been occupied by a wide variety of cultures throughout the centuries, from the Romans and Persians to the Umayyads and Ottomans, all of which have left behind magnificent architectural monuments and historical places. Ajlun and Kerak have abandoned Crusader castles that people can visit. Jerash and Umm Qais have some of the largest Roman ruins in the area.
The New Seven Wonders of the World were constructed by the Nabataean Kingdom in the first century AD, but they are now the country’s most famous landmark. Hiking through or riding a camel through the spectacular sandstone canyon environment of the ancient archaeological site is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Despite the fact that Petra is Jordan’s most famous attraction, most visitors enter and leave the nation via Amman, which is home to various fascinating Roman ruins, museums, and monuments. Aqaba, on the Red Sea, is another popular destination because of its stunning beaches, plenty of water activities, and world-class scuba diving.
Wadi Rum’s towering red cliffs and otherworldly rock formations are a must-see, while the Dead Sea’s curative waters and Madaba’s incredible mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land also draw crowds.
