We spend one day exploring ancient Petra, which lies half-hidden in the wind-blown landscape in southern Jordan. It is often deemed one of the most beautiful archaeological sites in the world. Inhabited since prehistoric times, this Nabataean caravan city, situated between the Red Sea and...
In the late afternoon, we arrived at the base for the visits of ancient Petra. The Wadi Musa (Valley of Moses) town that has sprung up around Petra is an easygoing assemblage of hotels, restaurants, shops, and houses stretching about 5km from Moses’ Spring to the main entrance of Petra...
After the “death” Dead Sea, we rushed to Petra to use our expensive Jordan Passes before their expiry. So we took a scenic route through the Moab Mountain Ridge and the Highlands, where slopes drop steeply 1,000 meters or more towards the Dead Sea Rift. This region is...
We parked next to the Lowest Point on Earth Museum, the starting point of the climb up to Lot’s Cave. The museum is shaped like a giant stone comma. It contains some excavated remains from the site, including mosaics, 4500-year-old pottery, and ancient textiles. Other displays...
We ended up 431m below sea level at the lowest point on earth. After complicated travels in the north, we decided to relax for one day at the Dead Sea, also known as the Salt Sea. The Dead Sea is an ideal resting location on the way to Petra and Wadi Rum. The history of the Dead Sea...
We arrived at the site (Bethany Beyond the Jordan, 🎟️ 12 JOD) around 4 pm, and it was closed already, so we just parked off the road behind some bushes. In the morning, we took a covered walking trail that meanders past ancient steps down to the original water level and the sparse...
After that, we drove through an even worse road around Iraq Al Amir towards the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ. Iraq Al-Amir translates to “Caves of the Prince” because of the series of 15 caves carved into the cliff above the village. Some of the caves were open, and some were closed. We...
It took us around an hour to climb steep hills and narrow roads from Amman to the small but impressive Qasr Al Abad. It is one of the very few examples of pre-Roman construction in Jordan. Mystery surrounds the palace, and even its precise age isn’t known. However, most scholars believe...
Today, finally, we drove out of Amman, and we made a short stop at the museum (🎟️ 5 JOD), which displays more than 70 classic cars and motorbikes from the personal collection of King Hussein. It’s a gem and a great way to recount the story of modern Jordan. Vehicles range from pre...
In the evening, we strolled around Rainbow Street, where Ammanis come every evening to promenade and visit the many great cafes and restaurants – to see and be seen. In the daytime, there are plenty of shops selling souvenirs. Many shops sadly went bankrupt because of COVID-19, and...