Jordan is bordered by Syria, Iraq, Israel, the West bank and Saudi Arabia. Its capital city is Amman. With a population of 6 million, the country’s tourism focuses mainly on historic and religious sites within its borders. Jordan consists mostly of arid desert and as such the climate is for the most part hot and dry; however the western part of the country receives more precipitation between November and March, seeing the occasional snowfall in Amman and surrounding areas.
Jordan has been featured as the backup for various Hollywood movies most notably Lawrence of Arabia, Red Planet and Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade.
Amman’s tourism is focused mainly in the downtown area around a traditional market called Al-Souk and the king Hussein mosque.
The highest point in Jordan is Jabal Rum at 5689 feet and the lowest point in the country is also the lowest point on the globe, the Dead Sea at negative 1378 feet. it is said to possess healing powersand tourists can be seen floating along peacefully reading a newspaper as sinking is nearly impossible.
Aqaba is Jordan’s only seaport and therefore an important part of the country. The town is best known for its beach and diving resort and it offers a variety of watersports to visitors. The thriving underwater marine life and crystal clear waters make Aqaba an ideal place for snorkeling and scuba diving.
The river Jordan is an important religious site because of its connection with Jesus Christ. The river’s said to be where John the Baptist baptised Jesus and therefore believers make pilgrimages to this area.
Mount Nebo is also a significant location, it is said to bethe spot where went to see the holy land before he died. The summit provides outstanding views of the surrounding areas and on a clear day, visitors can see so far asJericho and Jerusalem.
The Wadi Rum is one of Jordan’s most important tourist destinations. Popular activities in the desert environment include camping into the stars and rock climbing. Also known as the valley of the moon, the Wadi Rum is where T.E Lawrence set up headquarters during the Arab revolt against the Ottomans in world war one.
Jerash is sometimes referred to as the Pompeii of the Middle East, however that name is slightly misleading as Jerash was never covered by a volcano. It’s so named because of its size and level of preservation. The city is best known for the ruins of the Greco-Roman city Gerasa.
Last but not least is Petra. Petra’s nickname “The rose city" comes from the deep colours of the rock from which the city’s many monuments are carved. The Victorian traveller and poet Dean Burgon described the city in his poem Petra with the closing lines: match me such a marble, save in eastern cieux (littéraire), a rose red city, half as old as time.