Blogs from Jordan, Middle East - page 9

We’re still feeling very intimidated by this sprawling city and its seemingly grumpy residents, but we decide to be brave and head off to see some of the sights. Our confidence is not helped by the security guard manning the x-ray screening machines at the entrance to the hotel, who tells us as we leave to “be careful”. We could see the Amman Citadel from the hotel window, and the ever reliable Google Maps told us that it was less than two kilometres away. What it failed to tell us was that Amman is built on a series of hills with deep valleys in between them. We climb the wrong hill, and then need to navigate a series of precipitously steep steps down that hill and then up the right hill on the other side of ... read more

Jordan: a quick flit Jordan! Is it possible to offer a caption that describes the nation? No. The experiences we've encountered are just too diverse. We were short of time when considering our travel options and decided to join a Peregrine organised tour. In many respects, we're glad we did. As always, if you want to see the picture in a larger size, just click on it. Day 1 - May 5: arrival We arrived late in the day to be confronted with a queue awaiting Visa payment (A$80 per person!! - then again, that was better than the A$176 pp in Oman), and so didn't depart the airport as quickly as we'd hoped. The driver (prearranged to get us to our hotel) indicated it was a 40 minute trip - it took a little over ... read more

We arrived at Petra with apprehension that it would rain. The walk in from the entry gate took us past many Nabatean monuments built more than 2000 years ago. The Nabateans buried theIr dead in intricate tombs that were cut out of the mountainsides. Petra came under lots of other influences including Roman and Byzantine before being deserted following an earthquake and changing trade routes. The Siq, the narrow gorge that leads visitors into Petra, resulted from a natural splitting of the mountain. Originally there was a triumphal arch spanning the entrance to it. We walked along the cobblestone paths dodging horse drawn carriages, camels and donkeys and many other tourists. The entrance to the Treasury reveals Petra’s most impressive facade. It is 40 metres high and decorated with Corinthian capitals, friezes and figure. It is ... read more

An extremely cold and windy day. We left our hotel for the journey to the Dead Sea. Along the way we took photos of the snow on the side of the road. We stopped at Shobak Castle built during the crusades in 1115 built on a conical mountain overlooking the caravan and pilgrimage routes. This allowed King Baldwin, Jerusalem’s first titled king to control the areas commerce. It is a huge site which was surrounded by agricultural land to feed the people of the site. It was blowing so hard the we were almost blown off the castle top. We stopped for a photo op of the smallest hotel in the world - a VW bug fitted out with cushions and blankets on the side of the road. We reached our hotel at the Dead Sea ... read more

Explore Jordan holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. · A safe haven in a region of conflict, Jordan has delighted visitors for centuries with its Because Jordan is still an emerging destination, travelling here is bound to stir up a few questions. But fear not, you've got you covered! Jordan travel guide, including map of Jordan, top Jordan experiences, tips for Jordan travel, when to visit Jordan and Jordan tips. Whether you plan to visit the countryside, float in the Dead Sea or explore Amman, here's your guide to the best time to visit Jordan Book unique trips to Jordan, customized to your needs, with the help of our network of reliable local travel specialists.The opportunity to travel to Jordan is something that you should seize. Read this guide to find out ... read more