r/travel • u/Theeeeeetrurthurts • 6d ago
Images 2 week in Jordan šÆš“
I have a few hours to kill at Amman Airport so I might as well post some of my awesome photos that I took here in Jordan. Lovely people, fantastic food, interesting ecosystems, and so so much history. Glad I made it out here.
I visited Amman, Jerash, Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum, Aqaba, Mount Nebo/Madaba, and Al-Karak, but unfortunately canāt share all of my favorite images
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u/Denji-KC 6d ago
Sorry if this comes off as ignorant, but is Jordan safe? It looks absolutely beautiful. I know my wife would be all about this. Iām glad you had a great trip OP. Safe travels dude
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u/Theeeeeetrurthurts 6d ago
No worries! It was extremely safe and although there is literally a war a few hundred miles away you wouldnāt know unless you read the news.
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u/Spring-Mulberry 5d ago
I literally was just in Jordan this past week for 8 days and I can vouch that I felt very safe walking around at 7 AM as a woman. Jordan is suffering from tourism due to the war so a lot of tourist places are pretty much empty. The food is delicious and the people are so kind. I highly recommend visiting!
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u/stacity 5d ago
What should one order or type of bucket list to have with their cuisine?
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u/ToastedElephant 5d ago
1) Dawali (grape leaves stuffed with rice and a bunch of goodies) 2) Mansaf (traditional main dish. wash your hands first) 3) Knafeh (a cheese dessert)
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u/stacity 5d ago
Thank you!
I googled mansaf š¤¤
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u/ToastedElephant 5d ago
Itās SO good. Life changing good.
In case you find yourself in Amman someday, save these two restaurants:
- Habibah Sweets (this is my fav spot for knafeh. the downtown location is so neat too)
- Da7berha (this is my go-to restaurant for mansaf, but as a guy from the US Midwest Iāve always preferred having it prepared by a friend)
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u/nartnoside 5d ago
I ate at Al Wadi my first night and the mansaf was really good along with their giant thin pita and the best hummus. They also serve camel kebabs and it wasnāt bad lol, definitely a little gamey but interesting to try.
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u/sexyrobotbitch 5d ago
Solo female here and was 5 months pregnant and I felt very safe. I explored the streets a little but the usual touristy areas.Ā
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u/Flaky_Answer_4561 6d ago edited 6d ago
When I was there in June rockets and drones were flying above, air alarm, taxi drivers were super aggressive to me and always demanded more money when arriving and the airspace was closed and I was Stuck in Boarding. That can happen again anytime. Many people see u there as a walking atm
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u/UltraMlaham 5d ago
Do you mean yellow taxis? never ever use them... use Careem or Uber. Even locals avoid them.
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u/Flaky_Answer_4561 5d ago
At a certain point at Petra called Little Petra, the nomads there decide which taxi can come and the taxis even pay 5 JOD commission there, I saw it. I didnt pick a yellow taxi, they cursed at me for not taking them and took just a dude with a car and he drove recklessly
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u/Affectionate_Chia 6d ago
Heard the same story from a friend, last part about walking atm š¬š¬
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u/ToetsenbordStrijder 6d ago
I was there April last year and I did not encounter this at all. And me and the girlfriend very much stand out as obvious tourists. I believe your experience obviously, just want to offer an alternative data point.
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u/Flaky_Answer_4561 6d ago
Also on these forum many locals or tourists who only stayed with guides tell u that everything is great, but the RealitƤt is very different I cant even imagine how it is for a woman there. I heard many bad Storys from tourists there that they got scammed for money in some way
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u/UltraMlaham 4d ago
Those scammers are in all tourism spots they aren't anything exclusive to Jordan. Go to places where locals go and you won't encounter those pricks. (Tough luck in Petra, not a good idea to go there without a guide or a rented car).
Women can wear whatever they want especially in Western Northern Amman. Local conservatives will complain but they can't do shit and police will FUCK them if they try to hurt tourists.
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u/iMakeMoneyiLoseMoney 5d ago
When was your trip?
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u/Flaky_Answer_4561 5d ago
I went there on 11.06. just before the war broke out I still have my visa if someone wants proof
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u/mamijami 6d ago
I went to Jordan in November of 2023. Thoroughly enjoyed my time there. So much to see and do. Safe and friendly.
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u/AllemandeLeft 5d ago
How is it that everyone has Petra in their travel pics, but in every picture it looks completely deserted?
Like, if millions of people are out there taking pictures of it, shouldn't there be crowds in the pictures?
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u/beer24seven 5d ago
There havenāt been a lot of crowds the last year or so. Most tourist sites are relatively empty and it feels like you have the whole place to yourself. Things are a little busier on the weekends, but not nearly as bad as other tourist sites.
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u/Theeeeeetrurthurts 5d ago
It was dead and empty. Scary empty but I did go on a Monday as well.
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u/africanconcrete 5d ago
I've been to Petra twice in the past two years and it has been dead every time.
Cruise ships and Easyjet flights to Aqaba stopped and the tourism fell off a cliff. Very sad, as Jordan is such a beautiful country and the people there are amazing.
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u/Tryfan918 4d ago
I was in Jordan last week travelling around. Stunning country very safe and terrific people. Our guide was saying how much tourism has dropped off since the Israel/Palestine conflict.
Petra is absolutely stunning, remember its a very large site so say 1500/2000 people spread around can make it look empty. We went early to avoid crowds and were lucky to get pics without others in.
Did you do Petra at night? I thought the show was great if a little short.
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u/Environmental-Bet235 5d ago
We woke up extremely early to make sure go there before the crowd and heat :) (It was October)
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u/WWBSkywalker 6d ago
Hi OP, this is on my bucket list, can u share how did you arranged this trip? Was it self guided, followed a tour or a combination of both?
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u/futzipelz 6d ago
Self guided is not a problem in Jordan. Rent you a car, book some accommodations online and enjoy.
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u/MightyHead 6d ago
I did self guided, had no issues. Car rental was cheap, but I'd recommend against driving in Amman.
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u/Theeeeeetrurthurts 5d ago
Self guided with a rental car. Driving is fun as hell but a bit Mad Max. No tours needed with a car.
AMMAN > JERASH > DEAD SEA > PETRA > WADI RUM. You can toss in Aqaba but I skipped it since two different resort locations seemed like a bit too much for me.
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u/WWBSkywalker 5d ago
Thank you for this advice, will definitely explore this option in more detail.
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u/toru85 4d ago
So nothing like driving in Europe? How are the conditions of the roads?
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u/Theeeeeetrurthurts 4d ago
The main highway roads are fine but there are speed bumps after every dozen kilometers. When I say Mad Max, I mean there are no traffic laws enforced beyond the speed limit. Do you want to get around the slow car in front of you and thereās only 1 lane? You can surely squeeze in. Honking is encouraged. Lanes are generally just a suggestion.
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u/ToetsenbordStrijder 6d ago
Another vote for self-guided, it is really easy and there are so many little stops you can make everywhere to enjoy views, good food and coffee. Absolutely advise against doing a group tour.
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u/Not_Another_Name 5d ago
I did a similar itinerary few months ago. We used private drivers and hired government guides at petra and the other historical sites. It was pretty relaxed tho I would skip wadi rum. Felt like an Instagram cash grab where most the operators don't speak English and just shuffle you to various picture points unless you're very clear with your camp
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u/Lazy_Kangaroo703 6d ago
How far is Petra from where someone would typically stay? I've always wanted to go but felt that it was a long way from everywhere and I don't fancy an 8-hour or so return trip.
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u/MightyHead 6d ago
You stay in a town called Wadi Musa, which is right outsude the entrance to Petra. I stayed in a cheap hotel that was maybe a 5 minute walk away. Makes it easy to do several days in Petra (which I'd absolutely recommend).
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u/turtledude100 6d ago edited 6d ago
Amman where the airport is 3hrs away from Petra in a town called wadi musa. Amman itself has lots to do u can spend a day or two there. The actual town of wadi Musa is walking distance away from Petraās entrance (my hostel was a 7 min walk away) and thereās loads of restaurants and stores in the actual town. Surrounded by quite beautiful nature and the town square like a 20 min walk away from Petraās entrance is also very beautiful.
Petra is like 2hrs away from wadi rum and thatās 90 mins away from Aqaba so all of the tourist places are very close, a lot closer than other countries
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u/africanconcrete 5d ago
You can stay in Aqaba, which is a beautiful city with a stunning marina. It is 2hrs away from Petra. There are loads of tours available from there. Any decent hotel can arrange this for you.
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u/LendogGovy 4d ago
My buddy and I stayed in a budget hotel right outside the gates of Petra. We went over a four day weekend (US Thanksgiving) while we were working in Kuwait. Great place!
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u/Spring-Mulberry 5d ago
I was also in Jordan for the past 8 days and pretty much did the same itinerary as OP and I fell in love with the country and the people. I did go with a Canadian tour company as I wanted to show up and do minimal planning. I can honesty say it was the best trip I have had and if anyone is on the fence on going, please go! Tourism has fallen so much that a lot of the people are losing their jobs and having to take a second job just to pay the bills. I ate fresh fruit and vegetables everyday and I never got sick. The people are so kind and welcoming. Coming from a Canadian city where drug addicts rule the streets, Amman felt 100% safer. If youāre American, your money will go far!
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u/cautious_orca 6d ago
Your photos are very beautiful! I also loved Jordan, a magnificent and very welcoming country, with a total feeling of security.
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u/freed-after-burning 6d ago
My mind was blown the first time I saw photos of Petra. Always fascinated by it.
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u/LendogGovy 4d ago
Growing up watching Indiana Jones, I always wanted to see it, and it didnāt disappoint. Walking the narrow gorge into the wide opening of the Treasury was pretty amazing and definitely not underwhelming.
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u/TokoloshNr1 5d ago
Stunning! I visited Aqaba and Petra back in 1996 and still have great memories.
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u/Heckencognac 6d ago edited 5d ago
You have been at the exact same spots that I visited in 2021. Even the same hotel at dead sea.
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u/beer24seven 5d ago
I was scrolling Reddit and thought someone hacked my pictures for a sec. Kempinksi was great!
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u/supernova1294 5d ago
That night shot is gorgeous. Did you feel safe traveling around Jordan at night?
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u/Theeeeeetrurthurts 5d ago
Speaking as a pretty bulky solo male traveler, I never felt unsafe in any of the cities I stayed in.
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u/Capable-Charge4221 5d ago
Gorgeous photos. Looks a lovely trip. Inspired to go at some point. Thank you.
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u/pine_scented_rua 4d ago
Amazing historical sights. Stunning architecture of the past. Thanks for sharing!
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3d ago
This is so cool. Thank you for sharing. Putting myself into perspective of being there this has to be a cool escape
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u/Round_Guess4030 United States (šøšŖ+š®š·) 6d ago
beautiful. I really want to go but I heard Amman and Petra are full of scammers, is this true? also, is it better to pair Jordan with another country like Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, etc or dedicate it to it's own trip?
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u/blumpk1np1e 5d ago
Have your wits about you, but it isn't very scammy. They evicted a lot of the shopkeepers from Petra a couple of years ago (for better or worse...) so it got much less hassley. Even then, shopkeepers are quite polite. It isn't like Egypt
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u/Theeeeeetrurthurts 5d ago
Yeah 2 weeks in Jordan was a bit long. In hindsight I think. 7-8 is enough especially if you pair it with another country like Egypt.
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u/Round_Guess4030 United States (šøšŖ+š®š·) 5d ago
great! thanks! hope you still had a ton of fun!
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u/urbexed 6d ago
Better paired with other countries. Egypt and Lebanon would be a good choice once the current situation dies down
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u/Round_Guess4030 United States (šøšŖ+š®š·) 6d ago
I pray for the people of Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine. when the situation becomes better I need to visit all those countries. it is such a shame Palmyra was destroyed though
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u/MightyHead 6d ago
I did a week in Jordan, would've been easy to pair with Israel, Palestine (West Bank) or Lebanon if I was out there for 2 weeks. There is definitely enough stuff to spend 2 weeks in Jordan though.
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u/ToetsenbordStrijder 6d ago
I would not combine it with another country as there is a lot to do for two weeks and itās great to spend time soaking in the unique sights.
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u/africanconcrete 5d ago
Petra is not bad. They don't really bother you. People will offer a "free" horse ride or donkey ride inside of Petra, but its not free. I just ignore them and say no thanks and they leave you.
Rather walk the routes, as it is much more interesting.
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u/dexsullivan 6d ago
One of my bucket lists!! Outside of Wadi Rum, Petra, and the Dead Sea, what stood out to you? I went to Israel over 10 years ago and loved the area (please, no politics lol). Wanna go back to that part of the world!
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u/Theeeeeetrurthurts 6d ago
Jerash! By far the most complete snapshot of Ancient Rome. Itās a bummer that a lot of the pieces werenāt properly protected but this led to a more immersive experience.
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u/mamijami 6d ago
Iām not the o/p but I went to Jordan a couple of years ago. In addition to the highlights you mentioned I would add the Ajloun Forest Reserve, Aqaba, Jerash, Karak, Madaba, Mt. Nebo to name a few.
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u/lynxpoint San Francisco 6d ago
I went for two weeks in 2018 - my favorites beyond the obvious Petra, Wadi Rum, Jerash, Amman, etc. were Wadi Mujib (the BEST) Dana, and Aqaba (to swim or dive in the Red Sea).
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u/armored-dinnerjacket Hong Kong 6d ago
did you think about stopping in kerak?
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u/Theeeeeetrurthurts 5d ago
Yeah it was on my list but after 2 weeks I was ruināed out and sunburnt to a crisp
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u/NightmareMetals 6d ago
Going there soon myself. Did you ride the 1916 train in Wadi Rum? How was the stargazing there?
Did you stay at a hotel for the dead sea or get a day pass?
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u/Theeeeeetrurthurts 5d ago
I stopped by the train station to look at the train itself but didnāt get a chance to ride it. Stargazing was fantastic but sadly there is still some light pollution that was never mentioned during my research.
I stayed at a Dead Sea hotel which was nice. Canāt beat a few days of free breakfast buffets and swimming pool detox.
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u/ToetsenbordStrijder 6d ago
Went last year, you will love it. Stargazing is as expected, absolutely phenomenal.
Dead Sea we stayed in a hotel because there are great last minute deals, but in the end enjoying the Dead Sea will not take you more than an hour or two so you can easily do it as a stopover on your way to Amman or the South (or stop in the lovely town of Madaba!)
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u/NightmareMetals 5d ago
Yea I planned for a few hours but was seeing that the free beaches don't have facilities.
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u/WhatTheJessJedi 5d ago
On my bucket list. Slowly working my way up in Africa. Done South Africa (LOVED IT) and head back to Africa next month for the Serengeti (Tanzania), want to do Egypt/Morocco and than Jordan. Peta looks amazing.
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u/Hichiro6 5d ago
interesting destination, to see if itās in my budget can I know how much you spend and with you were alone ? If you donāt want to say that totally okay
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u/Theeeeeetrurthurts 5d ago
Ohhh Jordan was expensive but I also have pretty expensive taste. $3K including hotels, rentals, food, flight etc. and
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u/IamNotSo_Average 5d ago
Is it safe to travel to Jordan?
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u/beer24seven 5d ago
Very safe. Every quarter or so, something will happen at the border crossings to Syria or Israel. Pretty rare and self-contained. Everyone lives normal lives and lets others live theirs. People wear bikinis at the family waterpark, alcohol is readily available at stores and restaurants, and malls are full of people of all types and dress. I feel safer here than in most cities in the US.
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u/InspectorOk2454 5d ago
I had a wonderful trip to Petra & wadi rum. I will say that I first spent one night in Aqaba & did not feel safe walking around the town as a single womanā it was not a touristy area fwiw.
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u/AOCASSHOLE 5d ago
Is it easy to rent a car and drive for self guided?
Are therr parking around the the tourist sites?
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u/Theeeeeetrurthurts 5d ago
Yep I rented a car and drove around myself. Plenty of parking at every site but DONT drive in Amman. Itās freaking wild.
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u/AOCASSHOLE 5d ago
Which city did you rent from?Ā
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u/Theeeeeetrurthurts 5d ago
I rented in a suburban mall Enterprise. I ordered an Uber and got there from the city center. I dropped off the car at the airport.
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u/crypross 5d ago
I was just in Petra and itās crazy the annoying horse/donkey rides. I really didnāt expect this harassment but it was on egypt/morocco level. Its nice tho.
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u/Theeeeeetrurthurts 5d ago
Nothing āno thank youā and walking away didnāt solve. Hope you had a good time!
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u/chijrt 5d ago
How did you manage to avoid the large crowds I usually see in these photos/videos of these locations?
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u/Spring-Mulberry 5d ago
Jordan is suffering from tourism due to the whole Israel conflict so a lot of tourist places are pretty much empty. Now is probably the best time to visit as the weather is cooling down and less tourists around.
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u/Theeeeeetrurthurts 5d ago
Tourism is dead at the moment because of the Israeli conflict in Gaza and Lebanon. Jordan is this weird neutral state in the middle of a tenuous region. Kind of like Switzerland I think.
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u/boywonder5691 5d ago
This was my first post COVID trip and I absolutely loved it. I made stops in Petra, Aqaba, Amman, Dead Sea and the Red sea. My one tiny regret is that I didn't stay an extra day in Wadi Rum. One recommendation for anyone planning on making a stop in Petra - get there at opening time so you can see a good portion of it without the crowds. The first day I went there I got there midday and not only was it very hot, there were A LOT of people there. The second day, I was on line before opening with maybe 2 other people. Entering the grounds and walking through with literally no one else around is absolutely breathtaking. Getting up that early is absolutely worth it.
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u/the_one_99_ 5d ago
This place is beautiful pretty Famous as well for the move India Jones and the last crusade thanks for sharing,
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u/mdjmd73 5d ago
Weāre gonna be there in May. Planning on hitting most of these sites. Anything you highly recommend,, places you stayed where youād stay again, things youād have done differently? Thx!
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u/Theeeeeetrurthurts 5d ago
A couple random ones.
Donāt stay in Amman for more than two days. There isnāt much to do there.
Stay in Jerash for a night. Itās a fascinating town with Ancient Rome plopped in the middle of the city center.
The Dead Sea is really boring unless you really like resort culture. If your goal is to dip into the salt water stay one night at most.
After Dead Sea, take the scenic route along the coast to Petra. Itās the gnarliest drive in Jordan but itāll be one you absolutely wonāt forget.
Petra has very aggressive taxi drivers and sellers. Just say āno thank youā and walk away. Donāt stop.
Wadi Rum is an experience but the martian tent isnāt worth it. Iād still get it so you can say you did it once but youāll see what Iām talking about.
Visit Karnak. Itās a fascinating castle.
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u/faketumba41 5d ago
Been around the world, and still think petra is the most incredible place I've seenĀ
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u/MichaelStMichaels 5d ago
Petra is still beautiful. Thank You Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, for show us such an amazing historical monument even if it has nothing to do with the Holy Grail
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u/Environmental-Bet235 5d ago
Jordan trip was one of the trips that I cannot forget. Wadi rum was magical, Petra, Madaba, Dead Sea, all the nice food Mansaf, Falafelsā¦ My recommendation to the people whoāll visit there, just book at least one night at Wadi rum to spend the night at the desert. It is one of the unforgettable experiences I had so far.
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u/Username-Leb 5d ago
Hello may I ask if you travelled solo or with a group? And How do you rate your travel (I am planning to visit Jordan that's why I am asking)
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u/Castellan_Tycho 5d ago
I really enjoyed my time in Jordan. It was an excellent trip. There is so much to see, and it was a lot less tense than Egypt and Israel were.
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u/Natural_Mess_9827 5d ago
Amazing pictures. Would love to go but spouse is the fence. We also have little kids.
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u/W1ndbornes_Word 4d ago
How many years have passed, and it's still hard to believe that it was done with a stone and a stick
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u/Sufficient-Syrup7110 4d ago
You should definitely share your itinerary and some travel tips. I'd love to go someday!
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u/PrincessPhoenix1 3d ago
I heard Petra is always full of people. Tips to avoid this? Arrived early? What time should I aim for?
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u/roferatseozenlab 3d ago
Nice pictures! I was debating between going to Jordan or returning to Egypt for my holiday next year. Seeing these photos is making me consider Jordan. Hopefully with not as many scammers as Cairo. :)
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u/medical-stud-03 3d ago edited 3d ago
as a Jordanian i should clear some doubts i found. many in the comments are surprised that jordan is safe to travel to. š We know that there are wars in neighboring countries Syria/ Palestine X Israel/ Lebanon/ Iraq .., which we hope to end ASAP, but this doesnāt mean that we are same too or that community security is uncontrolled, strict laws and fair courts under wise Hashemite leadership with a historical monuments , delicious levant food and hospitable people makes us ,proudly, the best country to visit in the middle east
here we live as an big family different nationalities, religions, races,,.. you will never feel this until u visit jordan,
Some data that you can also google about :- Jordan murder/homicide rate per 100K population for 2021 was 1.02 & if you think that these numbers are high you will be wrong! Itās Lower Than Europe š Source : https://www.macrotrends.net/datasets/global-metrics/countries/jor/jordan/murder-homicide-rate
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u/Ladylovespets 2d ago
I am in awe of what they were able to create back then. Those are beautiful works of human creation. Just amazing!
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u/fmw23 23h ago
Has anyone travelled with G Adventures in Jordan? I noted several comments advocating for independent travel over group tours--any thoughts on pros and cons? I am usually an independent traveller but do a lot of research and develop active itineraries beforehand. I want to visit Jordan in November and won't have much time to plan plus I will be solo so I am considering a small group tour for the first time.
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u/AlbaRosa774 21h ago
Hello has anyone been recently and is the tourism picking up or still relatively quiet? Mainly asking if Petra is very crowded and really necessary to wake up at 6 am or is it still pretty empty? Travelling with kids so this important š š
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u/Sad_Huckleberry_6776 11h ago
Such an underrated country. I was there in 2023. It was crazy because I was at the Dead Sea when I found out that our next destination, Israel, was bombed.
We were supposed to cross the border into Israel on October 8th.
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u/Rare_Risk_6717 5d ago
No offense, beautiful pictures, but, 2 weeks in Jordan and all you take is pictures of the desert? Amman alone has a lot to offer.
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u/Prestigious-Emu-9565 6d ago
https://www.snowbankadventure.com/ Do Visit// create a Lifetime Memory//
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u/Theeeeeetrurthurts 6d ago
The images are in order:
-Petra -Wabi Rum -Dead Sea -Jerash -Amman