Tips for travelling in Jordan

Posted 25th Jan 2022 by radiosarahc16 Comments on Tips for travelling in Jordan Thoughts, musings and randomness

At the weekend, my friend Emily told me she’d booked a trip to Jordan.

Immediately, I had a million memories of a wonderful trip 8 years ago. 

I’m jealous, she’s going to have an amazing time, I said I’d write her some titbits and if I’m going to do that….I should post them here too….

When heading up to the Amman citadel, there will be an enterprising kid who’ll sneak you in for half the price of the actual entrance fee.

At the citadel, find the view that looks across to the flag of Jordan, it is ginormous.

Huge flag

Watch out for taxis plying for trade at the bus station, it will lead to an encounter with the police….

…be prepared for the possibility of having to push said taxi to give it a bump start, mostly so the driver can attempt to avoid a fine, which was fruitless.

Make sure you visit Little Petra!  Siq al-Barid is just North of Petra and a hidden gem that most people miss. It’s small, hence the name, the perfect place to explore for an hour or so.

At Petra, go in through the back entrance. It means you’ll get to the monastery first, trust me you do not want to walk up all them steps during the hottest part of the day.

Find a place to sit and take it in, there’s a place around the back where you can just look at the horizon.

Take a head scarf.

Take plenty of water or you will be that woman who chuckled at another who dramatically declared she “couldn’t go on any longer”, only to do the exact same thing 15 minutes later. 

Eat at Mohammed Twissy’s, the grilled lamb chops are delicious. I have a business card somewhere with the address I will dig it out.

When visiting the Dead Sea, you have to make a joke about never having been so low. Don’t roll your eyes, it’s the law and I didn’t make the rules.

Bobbing about in the Dead Sea is a bit weird.

Don’t get the water in your eye and have a slight (massive) panic about the salt making you go blind because you’ve read a whole host of worst-case scenarios on the internet.

Visit Wadi Rum. However, if you choose to climb up to Laurence of Arabia’s spring don’t do it barefoot like my friend did, he of course ended up with sore feet…..who didn’t see that coming.

There’s spring somewhere there

When sand boarding, do not underestimate how hard it is to carry a board up a massive sand dune. I’d do some cardio practice to be honest.

Don’t wear white linen trousers in the desert….I have no idea what I was thinking.

Watch the sunset.

When looking at the stars in the desert, just look at the stars. Don’t try to get the perfect picture, you simply will not achieve it. Just appreciate the sky.

You will need both blankets provided at the Bedouin campsite, don’t be fooled into thinking you’re warm, you’ll wake up freezing.

If you make it to Aqaba….visit the Rovers Return, I’m still baffled by this.

Mostly, enjoy it!

Jordan is one of the most beautiful places to visit. There is so much to see and do.

I loved everything about it; the food, the people, the crazy driving experiences, the sites, the history, everything!

There’s probably more useful information about hotels and transport on other blogs or in a guidebook, I hope these titbits made you laugh.

And Em, have a blast, can’t wait to hear all about it!

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Thoughts, musings and randomness

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amman, dead sea, holidays, jordan, travel, wadi rum

radiosarahc View All

Journalist, writer, traveller, music lover, collector of hats, news addict, bookworm