From breathtaking natural beauty to ancient ruins of a lost civilisation, this is a place where the past and the future intermingle. If you want to rediscover lost cities, enjoy Bedouin hospitality and track the footprints of Lawrence of Arabia, then Jordan, right in the middle of Biblical territory, is the place to be.
But if you also want to enjoy a vibrant night-life and shop for designer labels, then Jordan is also for you.
Caught between past and present, the ancient and modern, Jordan is a meeting point of diverse cultures. Strategically placed between Israel, Saudi Arabia and Syria, this Hashemite kingdom is an ideal extended week-end getaway. It provides easy access to heritage spots such as Petra, the Dead Sea, Wadi Rum, Jerash, Mount Nebo and the valley of Aqaba.
It's a place where history and folklore romance the new-age traveller, and where friendships are sealed with a cup of sage-flavoured Bedouin tea in the middle of nowhere.
It is best to plan your trip to Jordan with Amman as your first stop.
The city, with its undulating roads and brown-red earth,
presents two very different pictures. While one part of the capital has to deal with the problem of Palestinian refugees, the other more plush western side houses well-to-do expatriates, diplomats and corporate big-wigs.
It is here, in places like Abdoun and Al Swefieh, that you find a variety of restaurants and mezze bars and several high-street fashion brands. Cafés belt out groovy local numbers
in the evenings and while you're out for a leisurely walk, try the melt-in-your-mouth lamb shawarma or better still, the mansaf (the national dish of Jordan, made of lamb, cooked in a yogurt sauce and served with rice).
In downtown Amman you will find craft shops that sell local jewellery, hand blown glassware and hand-stitched fabrics. Be sure to haggle before you buy anything. The Citadel Hill
is packed with Amman's historic attractions, including the ruins of the Temple of Hercules, the Archaeological Museum, the Roman Amphitheatre and the Jordan Folklore Museum.
Just 20 minutes south of Amman are the hot springs of Madaba.
Further down you can head straight to the Dead Sea, with a brief stopover at Mount Nebo, where Moses was laid to rest. Your visit will not be complete without spending
a few minutes in silence at the Memorial of Moses, the presumed site of his death and burial.
At the Dead Sea smear yourself with the therapeutic mud, and feel your skin becoming satin-smooth after you've washed the gunk off. Those not inclined to get muddy can enjoy a relaxed afternoon at the spas that offer you some great massages and skin treatments.
If the Dead Sea is your moment of bliss in Jordan, then the most awe-inspiring moment is definitely a visit to Petra. Located in south Jordan, this was once the principal city of Nabatea. The Nabateans, who occupied Petra around 312 BC, were into the caravan trade and lavished on the city all the wealth they possessed.
Entry charges to this World Heritage Site cost 20 Jordanian dinars (about Dh104) per person and if you wish to take a guide for four hours, be ready to shell out an extra 35 dinars (about Dh181). The sandstone rock faces, the gigantic El-Khazneh, the monastery and the tombs scattered all around and the occasional sounds of rumbling horse carriages ferrying tourists create a mysterious feeling.
Voted one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, Petra is a definite must-see, and if you have limited time, give this top priority. On your way back from Petra to Amman via the King's Highway, spend an afternoon in Wadi Rum.
This is Lawrence Land and you can either track the footprints of Lawrence by hiking through the desert with your Bedouin guide or navigate the region in a four wheel drive or a pick-up truck.
Don't miss Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom in Rum — the seven rock structures that inspired T.E. Lawrence
to write about his adventures during the Arab struggle against the Turks.
If you have more than three days then go to Aqaba (well known for its beach resorts and luxury hotels) for some water sports, scuba diving and snorkeling. Aqaba is wonderful during winter compared to Amman, which has snow and can get awfully cold. n
Getting there
Air Arabia offers daily, non-stop service between Amman and Sharjah. Air Arabia flies twice a week to Aqaba from Sharjah every Wednesday and Sunday, departing Sharjah at 3pm to arrive in Aqaba at 5.25pm local time. Flights from Aqaba will depart at 6.10pm to arrive in Sharjah at 11.25pm.
Emirates and Royal Jordanian Airlines also have regular flights between Dubai and Amman.
For visas, contact either the Jordanian Embassy in Abu Dhabi (jordan2@emirates.net.ae) or the Jordanian Consulate in Dubai, Khalid Bin Al Walid Street (Ph: 04-3970500).
