Jordan - Guide

Jordan’s beautiful desert landscape has seen its fair share of turmoil through the ages until the country finally achieved independence in its own right after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. Since then many refugees from Palestine and Iraq have shaped the history and culture of the country and we have seen its borders change on more than one occasion. These days Jordan is a very safe country to travel to and offers plenty to anyone wishing to visit. With so many places of interest in such a small area and an excellent road network helping to visit the sites quickly, Jordan is a perfect holiday destination in its own right. However, the geographical location of the country lends itself perfectly for a tour that combines the secrets of Egypt with the beauty of Jordan.

When to go

As with most middle-eastern countries, Jordan can be visited at anytime of the year. The main component which determines when most people travel is the weather.

The peak months for western travellers, does tend to be March to May and September to November when temperatures generally range from 20-28°C, during the summer months temperatures can reach 40°C in Amman which many visitors may find uncomfortable. You shouldn’t be put of visiting during the summer though as tourist numbers are much lower at this time of year and we always make adjustments to our tour itineraries to try and avoid the hottest parts of the day.

During the winter it can become quite cold in the north of Jordan and snow is not unheard of in Amman during the winter months, even Petra has been known to get a light covering! Aqaba is an exception to this rule and remains balmy throughout the winter with an average temperature of 20°C in January.

The Muslim festival of Ramadan last about a month and at this time of year tourist are discouraged from eating, drinking or smoking in public as this could be seen as a sign of disrespect. During Ramadan fasting takes places during daylight hours (for those of the Muslim Faith) and the evening meal (Iftar) is generally a very special occasion. During Ramadan some tourist sites may close earlier than at other times of the year and we will take this into account when arranging your itinerary. You certainly shouldn’t be put off travelling to Jordan at this time of year as this can be a very interesting time to travel in the Arab World. Generally you will find that there is festival feeling within the country with decorations lining the streets.

Highlights

• Amman – Jordan’s capital city with plenty of sites nearby
• Petra - Nabataean rock hewn city
• Jerash - former Roman city well preserved
• King's Highway – Travel to Wadi Mujib, Mount Nebo, Madaba and Kerak
• Wadi Rum – home to stunning desert scenery
• Aqaba - Red Sea beaches and coral reefs, perfect for relaxing