Things to do in Jordan

Walk through the cool, dark Siq as dawn breaks, emerging to see the rose-red Treasury façade glowing in the first light of day.

Bob weightlessly on the world’s saltiest lake, with the desert cliffs of Jordan behind you, and cover yourself in mineral-rich black mud.

Spend the night in a traditional goat-hair tent, sharing stories around a campfire before drifting off beneath an unpolluted canopy of stars.

Stroll down colonnaded streets, stand in the vast Oval Plaza, and hear the re-enacted chariot races in one of the best-preserved provincial Roman cities.

Trek, swim, and scramble through the towering sandstone gorge of the ‘Grand Canyon of Jordan,’ splashing under waterfalls and clinging to rope rails.

Climb to the hilltop ruins with their Temple of Hercules and powerful panoramic views over white-stone Amman and its Roman theatre.

Float over a garden of colourful corals and tropical fish just metres from the shore, with excellent visibility in the northern Red Sea.

Dig into a heaped platter of tender lamb over fragrant rice and thin bread, topped with tangy jameed yogurt sauce, at an Amman institution.

Bite through crisp, golden threads of pastry to reach warm, gooey cheese, while perched on a stool overlooking the lively Amman street.

Descend from the medieval village through a dramatic wadi of cypress, juniper, and Nubian ibex, spotting rare birds along the cliffs.

Stand before the 6th-century floor map of the Holy Land inside St. George’s Church, with Greek text and intricate tilework still vivid today.

Roam the echoing galleries and underground halls of this massive hilltop fortress, once a strategic stronghold on the King’s Highway.

Wander among the ruins of a Roman-Byzantine town to find spectacular floor mosaics, including scenes of cities and wildlife, largely overlooked by crowds.

Stand atop this 12th-century Islamic fortress, watching the sun sink over the olive groves and hills of the Jordan Valley, with the West Bank in the distance.

Bathe under steaming thermal cascades tumbling down basalt rocks, surrounded by palm-fringed pools after a dusty desert journey.

Walk to the lush riverbank ruins and the modern baptismal pool on the Jordan River, a serene place of pilgrimage and archaeology.

Enter the small Umayyad bathhouse adorned with vivid early Islamic murals, including a famous zodiac dome and scenes of hunting and bathing.

Stand where Moses is said to have glimpsed the Promised Land, seeing the Dead Sea, Jericho, and on clear days, Jerusalem’s skyline.

Enter a miniature version of Petra’s canyon, with carved biclinium facades and a secret staircase to the upper terrace, completely free of crowds.

Sway gently atop a camel as the shifting light paints the sand in oranges and pinks, a classic Lawrence of Arabia moment.

Follow candlelit paths through the Siq to the Treasury, where bedouin music and storytellers create an ethereal atmosphere under a starlit sky.

Skip the main trail and climb the steep route from Little Petra to Ad-Deir, emerging directly onto the plateau for your first breathtaking view of the Monastery.

Join locals in their black tent for sweet sage tea and unbaked bread baked over embers, while learning about their transhumant desert life.

Feel Amman’s creative pulse on this vibrant strip, where murals, shisha cafés, vintage stores, and lively bars keep the evening buzzing.

Climb the steeply tiered stone seats of the 6,000-spectator theatre, then visit the small folklore museum nestled inside its vaults.