JORDAN….An Open-Air Museum

From the moment you are welcomed on arrival at the beautiful new terminal at the Queen Alia International Airport and travel 30 minutes to downtown you will soon realize that Amman, the capital of Jordan, is a fascinating city of contrasts.  A unique blend of old and new, ideally situated on a hilly area between the desert and the fertile Jordan Valley. At the heart of the city are ultra-modern buildings, hotels, restaurants, art galleries, comfortably nestled adjacent to some of the most renowned archaeological ‘installations’ in the Middle East. The city offers an extensive range of attractions and restaurants serving popular and excellent local cuisine with dining available for every palate & price.

Archaeological jewels abound throughout this storied Middle Eastern country, from the Neolithic remains in the capital of Amman to the desert castles at Qusair Amra. Greco-Roman ruins blanket ancient Jerash, while Madaba — the “City of Mosaics” — is lauded for its 6th century Byzantine mosaic map of the Holy Land, made from 2 million pieces of brightly colored stone, un-earthed by workers while being constructed. This map depicts hills, valleys, villages and towns, as far away as the Nile Delta.  In addition, a visit to Mount Nebo, where Moses is said to be buried and one the most revered holy sites in Jordan, is a must.  Atop this mountain you will see a vast panorama that encompasses the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, Jericho and Jerusalem. However, while your journey will take you to several holy sites, none are more sacred than Bethany Beyond the Jordan, the biblical location of the baptism of Jesus (John 1:28).

Travel along the King’s Highway, one of the most scenic drives and the world’s oldest continuously used communication route, to Petra. The main attraction of Petra, Jordan’s prized possession is the city itself. Carved literally out of the rocks, a day and night visit is a minimum. Marvel at a truly breathtaking and remarkable site to behold both by sunlight and candlelight.  A variety of guided tours, walks, and climbs, reveal hundreds of rock carved tombs and temple facades, funerary halls and rock reliefs are enough to keep you here for many days.  In addition to a 30,000 seat amphitheater from the early 1st century AD, the only freestanding building that survived this ancient city, Petra is home to the world famous, “Treasury” (Al-Khazneh), a site that until you experience it, you cannot imagine it.

Travelers to Jordan will also discover a bounty of natural wonders amidst this diverse land. From camping in the majestically haunting, primeval starkness of the Wadi Rum desert to being treated like modern-day royalty at an array of first-class resorts and spas at the lowest point on Earth, the Dead Sea. While soaking up natural marvels and dramatic cultural attractions from the ancient world, go even deeper and submerge yourself in a kingdom of adventure: Hike the Dana Nature Reserve, repel down a waterfall in one of Jordan’s many gorges, scuba dive in the Red Sea or go rock climbing in Wadi Rum and conquer sheer granite cliffs that retain the inscriptions of local climbers who were there 5,000+ years ago and much more.

Explore more about this fascinating and magnificent destination at the Jordan Tourism Board website www.visitjordan.com and also, look, see, read, what many visitors to our country have experienced at JTB North America’s micro-site, MyJordanJourney.com. Jordan is an experience you can only imagine through your very own Jordan Journey.

To order our FREE Visit Jordan DVD, please click here.

Experience true hospitality at its best and live your very own Jordan Journey now – a guaranteed experience of a lifetime!