The 11 most beautiful places to visit in Jordan

Are you planning to visit Jordan? This small gem of the Middle East, free from conflicts, is rich in many historical and natural wonders. Discover in this article the 11 most beautiful places in Jordan!

Jordan is a small territory forming a bridge between the East and the Mediterranean basin, which has seen many civilizations succeed. These have left precious remains in the country, whose deserts have long been inhabited only by Bedouin nomads. Great Roman cities, Nabate temples, Umayyad castles, Byzantine art and ancestral Arab culture: this is all the diversity of Jordan! Not to mention the beauty of its desert and wild landscapes, which will mark your spirit of their flamboyant colors: rose, ochre, purple, gold...

What are the most beautiful places in Jordan? Here are 11 places to visit to capture all the wealth of this incredible country!

1. Petr

How not to start with Petra? Considered as the eighth Wonder of the World, this site is undoubtedly the treasure of Jordan. Petra, or Raqmu the Barriole, is founded at the end of the 8th century before our era by the Edomites, then occupied by the Nabateans, the merchant Arab people of Antiquity. They will thrive, building immense temples and tombs.

To access the city, visitors borrow the Siq Gorge, admiring by the same occasion the sculptural beauty of the rocks and their flamboyant colours. I mean, they're coming to Al Khaznel Gate ! This 30-metre high facade is cut directly into the canyon pink sandstone. A breathtaking vision. You can go through the night path: the site is then lit with thousands of candles and a Bedouin music concert accompanies the show.

But Petra does not sum up at his door: plan several days to explore the remains of this mythical city, which saw the splendor of several ancient civilizations.

2. Amman

Amann is one of the oldest cities in the world to be always inhabited: it is mentioned in the Bible as Rhabbat Ammon . Today, and this since 1921, the capital of Jordan.

Amman is a very lively city, rhymed by the noise of cars and the call to prayer. This gentle contrast between the modernity of the capital and the strong presence of vestiges and traditions gives a unique atmosphere to the city. See you at Downtown , historical district, to discover many points of interest, such as the Abu Darwish Mosque, and to explore the mazes of the souks.

Amann’s citadel, jabal Al-Qala’a , dominates the city. This ancient Roman acropolis is a striking witness of the past of the city, which then bore the name Philadelphia . Also visit the Roman theatre and finally enjoy it to taste the delicious Jordanian cuisine.

3. The Dead Sea

Dead Sea is a must during your stay in Jordan. Experience the unusual experience of flotation on its waters particularly loaded with salt (nearly ten times more than in other seas!).

On its shores, many well-being centers allow to enjoy its therapeutic virtues, together with other treatments such as mud baths. Free beaches also allow you to enjoy the experience, but beware: do not stay too much in the water, it is aggressive for the skin!

Beyond the unique properties of its water, the Dead Sea offers visitors a smooth landscape. Its opal waters are surrounded by ochre and purple rocks, a fragile vision that is doomed to disappear because of human activity...

4. Jerash

Jerash is Jordan's second tourist site, after Petra. And it is not for nothing: this ancient Greco-Roman city is perhaps the best preserved of the entire Middle East!

The ancient Gérasa is an opulent city, which takes its growth from the second century before our era. Mainly founded by Alexander the Great, it would most likely be of Greek origin. It was indeed part of the Decapolis, a group of ten Greek colonies mentioned in biblical writings. In the first century after Jesus Christ, Gérasa is attached to the Roman province of Syria. As in the other cities of the city, the Greeks welcome the Pax Romana with relief, exhausted by conflicts with the Jews and the Nabateans.

Today, visitors can admire the ruins of the city: the arch of Hadrian, the temple of Zeus, the theatre, the hippodrome...

5. Wadi Rum

The Wadi Rum is a vast desert valley which conceals landscapes with unique shapes and colors in the world. Its wild lands, swept with red sand, are home to many rock formations: arches, pillars, canyons... A true open-air cathedral, carved by the progressive erosion of time. Oases of a bright green sometimes cover the soils of this arid desert, offering visitors a striking contrast.

To travel through the Wadi Rum, you can count on the legendary hospitality and generosity of the Bedouins, which provide travellers with tourist programs organized by their care: guide, lodging, covered... A great authentic experience to live in Jordan. However, be careful not to choose any circuit: some tourist practices unfortunately distort the region.

6. Madaba

Madaba is a very nice Jordanian town located in 30 kilometers south of Amman the capital. It is known for its mosaics of Byzantine and Umayyad origins, which often illustrate the Tree of Life, one of the symbols of the country.

The city is deeply marked by its history which, like many holy places in Jordan, is mentioned in the Bible. The richness of its influences (Romans, Persians, Byzantines, Umayyads) is expressed through many vestiges and monuments. In particular, the church of St. George contains a real masterpiece: an ancient mosaic map of the Holy Land of Jerusalem.

7. Wadi Mujib

The reserve Wadi Mujib is a canyon overlooking a wide plateau, which offers spectacular panoramas. It peaks at 900 meters before diving to the lowest point of the globe: the valley of the Dead Sea. Here experienced hikers will find their happiness! Many treks allow you to discover the rugged landscape of the Wadi Mujib, giving real sensations.

Two choices are available to you to enjoy: hikes on the heights or canyoning in the gorges and waterfalls of the Wadi Mujib. In any case, wild landscapes await you and they shelter a unique fauna and flora!

8. Aqaba

Aqaba offers the country's only access to the Red Sea. If that Coastal city is inhabited for 4,000 years before Jesus Christ, it is only very recently that it develops, at high speed, to become the seaside resort we know today. This is not Jordan’s most beautiful city, but it offers travellers a pleasant relaxation area.

However, Aqaba’s main interest in tourists is the sumptuous coral gardens that tap the coast. A golden opportunity to dive or snorkeling and discover the incredible richness of the Red Sea's seabed!

9. The Castles of the Desert

♪ Castles of the desert designate several omeyad constructions from the beginning of the Middle Ages. Located mostly east of the capital, they scatter the desert plains. Their functions were diverse: caliph residences, caravanserails (halt for merchant caravans), spas, hunting lodges, etc. Stop in particular at Qusair Amra Castle which houses remarkable omeyad frescoes.

You can go to their discovery for a day, from Amann.

10. Mount Nebo

It is on this mountain, culminating at 800 metres high west of Jordan, that Moses first observed the Promised Land, and it is also here that he would have died at the age of 120. In any case according to the Christian tradition, for the Muslims set the tomb of Moses at the sanctuary of Nabi Moussa on the other side of the Jordan.

The Mont Nébo attracts many pilgrims, who come to visit the Church of the memorial of Moses and its sumptuous mosaics, as well as the incredible view of the Dead Sea and, in clear time, on Jerusalem.

A tip: visit the site early in the morning to avoid the crowd and fully enjoy the atmosphere, whether it is for you spiritual or simply colored by the mythology that rocks the place.

11. The Route des Rois

Route des Rois is not so much a place, but it allows travellers to travel from North Jordan to the South and discover the main treasures of the country over 400 kilometers. Whether you want to discover the historical or natural wonders of Jordan, it is an ideal course that will allow you to imbue yourself with its great wealth.

Following the mythical Route des Rois is passing through the most beautiful places to visit in Jordan.