Jordan travel guide

Mosaic was, and is, a big thing in Jordan, and St. George church is one of the reasons. The church itself is fairly new (19th-century) Greek Orthodow, but it is build over an old Byzantine church which floor was decorated in AD 560 with a large and detailed mosaic map over all biblical sites in the Middle East. During normal service the map is covered by a carpet but at visitor time the map is revealed. And we must admit that it is probably the most exciting mosaic around.

The huge gorge of Wadi Mujib ends at the Dead Sea. This lower bit is a part of a nature reserve where different guided treks and canyoning is possible into the narrow and beautiful gorge. A trip where a guide isn't necessary is the 2km long Siq trip. Depending on the water level you walk, swim and pull yourself upstream, climb boulders and smaller waterfalls before you reach a big dramatic waterfall plunging from the higher canyon. Here you turn around and go the same way back. It's a surprisingly wild trip where everything gets wet and you might earn some bruises (bring only camera if in dry bag).

A bit overhyped, but nevertheless, a lovely and diverse nature reserve with rocky mountain slopes with scrubs and real trees (not something you see much of in Jordan). By staying at the fifteen century ottoman village of Dana right on the edge of the mountain plateau you have a splendid view over the valley. To fully appreciate the reserve you probably need to see and experience it from different angles, whether it's from a trekking trail or from another view point on the mountain ridge.

The Dead Sea is, besides being the lowest point on earth, a very salty place. It is neither pleasant nor relaxing to swim in due to the high level of salt. It is just very weird and sticky. The main place for a dip is the public Amman Beach which has freshwater showers (you will crave one after a swim), but also a hefty entrance fee. If you want it free, you can drive further south. Expect litter and dodgy looks from local men, but if you are willing to dodge some fence you can cross the road and get access to a hot spring with fresh water.

A very well preserved ruin of an ancient Roman city with city walls, theatre, hammams (baths) and colonnaded streets. It was the rich surrounding farmland and the trade with the Nabataeans (The people from Petra) that made the city flourished during the Roman time, for it wasn't on the normal trading route. Various invasions and an earthquake in 747 laid the city deserted until nineteen century. Today it's one of the biggest Roman sites outside Italy and popular with tourists as well as locals.

The most impressive crusader castle in Jordan. It was build by the crusaders in mid 12th-century to control the trade route from Damascus to Mecca and Egypt. Forty years later it felt into the hands of the Muslim army lead by Saladin after a remarkable siege where the castle got bombarded by catapults from the hill opposite. In mid 13th-century it was taken over by Mamluks who added to the fortified castle. As with many other crusader leftovers it's a mix of style and architecture created over several centuries, which you can still differentiate today.

Do like Moses, and several Popes, go to Mount Nebo and take in the panoramic view over the Promised Land. Moses himself was forbidden to enter the land and it's believed that this was his final resting place. Today you can drive all the way up (not that high, 817m) and when finished with the fairly nice view which also includes the Dead Sea and the valley of River Jordan, you can have a look at the ruins from an ancient monastery and the Moses Memorial Church.

Petra will no doubt be one of the highlights of any trip to Jordan, maybe even the reason to come here in the first place. Spectacular imposing tombs carved right out the rock face dating back to the civilisation of the Nabataeans about 2000 years ago. Winding narrow canyons leads into the area, and magnificent views over the desert and the tombs will reward you from the top of the surrounding mountains. Petra is taken right out of Indiana Jones, literately. But all this "amazingness" attracts a fair share of, let's face it, annoying fellow visitors. By arriving early, leaving late and general doing the sights in a non-obvious direction not only will you catch the best light, but you will also pretty much get the place to yourself. Off-the-beaten-track places not to be missed are the monastery Al-Deir with its many viewpoints, the viewpoint above the Treasury and the winding canyon trek through Wadi Muthlim (see photo gallery).

Ooh la la. A very high flagpole which can be seen from almost anywhere in Amman. It was once the tallest flagpole in the world, but is now beaten by both the National Flagpole (162 m) in Azerbaijan, Dushanbe Flagpole (165 m) in Tajikistan, and Jeddah Flagpole (170 m) in Saudi Arabia. If the pole doesn't really has to be a pole, the title previously belong to North Korea and their Eiffel tower looking flagpole at 160 m, standing in Peace village (Propaganda village) on the border to South Korea. Apparently that pole can't hold the flag if it becomes wet. We don't know if the Jordanian can.

This is a stunning desert setting with red sand dunes and amazing pink rock formations raising straight up from the valley floor. Throw in several sites with ancient rock carvings and a few newer historical sites from the time when the British officer T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia) passed through (in early 20th-century) and you have one of Jordan major attractions. The area is inhabited by friendly Bedouin tribes, who runs the adventure tours into the desert. Most sites can be reached with a four-wheel drive within a full day, but stay overnight at a "Bedouin camp" and enjoy the clearest night sky you might ever experience. If you fancy a camel ride (and a sore bum) or want some trekking add an extra day, the serene scenery only becomes better in a slow pace.