10 THINGS TO SEE IN JORDAN

1.Petra:

When most people hear of Jordan, they directly have the treasury of Petra in mind. Petra is a gigantic historical and archaeological city in southern Jordan that is believed to have been the capital city of the Nabataean Kingdom around 9000 BC. No one could imagine that Petra’s archeological site is 264 square km² (102 mi²) in size and 810 m (2,657 ft) in elevation. I have been to Petra more than five times and each time I visit it I would notice something totally new that I hadn’t even noticed during the previous visits. When you reach Petra, you are welcomed in the visitor center where you can buy your entrance tickets and book a guide. After a 15 to 20 minute-walk , you reach the Siq (the shaft), leading to the majestic treasury site. A carved out sandstone that is believed to have been the tomb of one of the Nabataean Kings and later on a hideout to the treasures of an Egyptian king. Make sure to take a moment there to stop and take in all the beauty that this treasury has to offer. A lot of people have this misconception that Petra ends at the treasury, well it’s only the start of one of the best hikes you could ever have. After the treasury, the city of Petra begins. We recommend that you visit the entire city making your way up to the Monastery where you will walk up around 850 steps to reach another treasury-like monument that is actually bigger than the first.

Petra Recommendations:

• Petra is around three hours away South Amman, yet if you want to take the Dead Sea road, it will take around four hours and a half to get to Petra.
• As you buy your tickets, we recommend that you spend some time in the visitor center to learn more about Petra and its history. Or even better try to research it online before your arrival so that you appreciate the history behind the old city of Petra.
• Make sure to wear comfortable shoes for you will be walking all day. The road is dusty so be ready to get dirty especially when you meet with a Bedouin shepherd directing a flock of goat and sheep.
• Shorts (with appropriate length) are advisable during the summer if you’re comfortable wearing them, yet make sure to wear a hat and to apply some sunscreen.
• Stay hydrated all day; you can bring your own bottled water or you can buy some inside Petra.
• Make sure to wear suitable clothes depending on the time of the year, yet even if you visit in winter, make sure to have a t-shirt under your clothes for it gets super-hot sometimes.
• Locals will try to sell you horse rides as you enter Petra, we recommend that you walk the Siq and enjoy the journey. On your way up, if you are tired, then you can hire a horse, a donkey or a camel for the way up. Remember that these poor animals are working non-stop all day, so if you can spare an animal ride, you will help the animal rest.
• We recommend that you hire a local guide from the treasury to take you to see the treasury from an aerial view.
• When walking towards the Monastery, there will be a lot of local recommending that you hire a donkey; the stairs are steep indeed, yet after all this lovely day 40 minutes of cardio will not hurt.
• Make sure to walk all the way to see the “Grand Canyon View” right after you reach the Monastry. This is where you can relax and get lost in the amazing mountain chains which can resemble the Grand Canyon or some mountains from the Lord of the Rings, depending on your imagination.
• If you decide to hire a horse or a donkey, try to negotiate the price before settling in.

Petra By Night:

On Monday and Thursday evenings, a Petra by night walk is organized. Be prepared to be amazed during this 30 minute walk towards the Treasury. The evening starts at 7:00pm where you leave the visitor center and start a candle light walk towards the Siq while everything else around you is in black. As you walk through the Siq towards the Treasury observe the different shades created by people passing through on the walls of the Siq. To add some magic to it, choose a full moon night! The cockroaches’ squeaking will follow you through and the fading out sounds of the night creatures will accompany you. At the end of the Siq, hundreds of candles light spread right in front the treasury will leave you without words. Sit and enjoy the enchanting music of the Rababa and the Flute that is dancing its way through the echoes of the city by night. You will be asked to sit quietly on the  sandy ground (where mats are offered), then you will be offered hot tea while you listen to the tales of the city from a local. This magical evening will end, and you will walk quietly back trying to take in all the magical beauty that the evening and the city has offered.

 Petra by night recommendation:

• Make sure to get extra layers of cloth with you since it will get cold when you rest your bones.
• We recommend that you do Petra by night, then walk Petra the next day. It will be tiring to do Petra all day, then go up to your hotel, then down again to Petra by night (we tried it once and it was tiring).
• Some people get flashlights with them, we do not recommend flashlights since they will ruin the nice atmosphere that the candlelight is making. This depends on your preference, we have been there several times and have had no issues without a flashlight.
• If you are a photographer and plan on taking photos, a tripod is a must for long exposure photography. For ensuring better photographic opportunities be one of the first to arrive and the last to leave the site.

 

 

Continue reading about the 10 sites that we recommend you see when visiting Jordan

1. Petra
2. Wadi Rum
3. The Dead Sea
4. Aqaba
5. The Baptism Site
6. Umm Qays (Gadara)
7. Jerash
8. Amman Old City Downtown
9. Mount Nebo
10. Exploring the Desert Castles

 

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