Jordan

We had been planning to visit Jordan for so many years. And finally it happened this New Year 2025. Its a off season for tourism in Jan so we planned at the last minute. Our trip organizer Mr. Richard (+962795823994) He had organized every day plan, hotels and everything so perfectly, very professionally. So if anyone wants to plan Jordan, do contact him. 

 Its a visa on arrival for Jordan. We took Jordan pass which costed JD 70 per person (there are many options though). Hence, our visa cost was covered in that. Also Jordan pass covers many entry fees including Petra and few other sites. 

 Day 1: Amman 

Citadel 

Roman Theatre 

Blue Mosque:

 

Day 2: Desert Castles (East Jordan) 

 Qasr Al Kharanah castle : 

One of the best-known of the desert castles, imposing and well preserved Umayyad building in the vastness of the Jordanian desert can be dated before 710 AD.

   

 Amra Palace : 

The best-known of the desert castles located in present-day eastern Jordan. It was built some time between 723 and 743. It is considered one of the most important examples of early Islamic art and architecture. The building is actually the remnant of a larger complex that included an actual castle, meant as a royal retreat, without any military function, of which only the foundation remains. What stands today is a small country cabin. The foundation has a simple layout with a rectangular audience hall, hydraulic structures, and a bathhouse. The bathhouse is also one of the oldest surviving remains of a hammam in the historic Muslim world.

   

 Alzraq castle:

   

 "Blue Fortress" is a large fortress located in present-day eastern Jordan. It is one of the desert castles, located on the outskirts of present-day Azraq, roughly 100 km east of Amman. The main entrance is composed of a single massive hinged slab of granite, which leads to a vestibule where one can see carved into the pavement the remains of a Roman board game. Although very heavy — 1 ton for each of the leaves of the main gate, 3 tons for single the other — these stone doors can quite easily be moved, thanks to palm tree oil.

Day 3: Jarash and Ajloun

   

Day 4: Kings way to Petra 

 Madaba 

 Mount Nebo: 

Located near the city of Madaba and a short drive from the kingdom's capital of Amman, Mount Nebo is believed to be the place where Moses was shown the Land he could never enter, as well as where he died.

 

Mujib Panorama:

    

 Shawbak castle 

 Day 5 : Petra 

 No wonder why this is a Wonder.. We come to know only when we are here to Wander! ~Ramya

Walk to the Treasury: 

We reached the entrance of Petra at 9am. Since we already had Jordan Pass, was easy to collect the entry ticket. There were many horse rides from the entrance to The Siq, if one wishes to take. Nothing fancy about it, hence we just walked.

   

At the Siq entrance, 2 soldiers were standing to greet the visiors. They also were saying "click pictures with us" with a smile. Then our walk into the Siq started. Totally surprised and stunned with the views and the way it was leading. Different shades of rocks and many caves, structures we get to see on the way. Those days of Engineering skills is indeed incredible. 

The walk was never ending, we feel at a point. And suddenly we see the beautiful entrance to the Treasury. No words to describe nor any pictures will justify the natures hidden beauty! One must just see and feel it. Wonderstuck!

Behind the Treasury: 

After spending few minutes at the Treasury, we head behind it. The hidden city was massive and makes us really think how it could have been discovered. Frankly, there must be lot more things inside too. The caves which was homes, Theatre, Great temple, Church, fountains, Street walkways, Royal tombs and many more on the way from Treasury to the start point of Hike to Monastry.

   

 Hike to the Monastery: 

There was also an option of Donkey rides to the Monastery. But, we opted for The Hike! 

  

It was roughly about 850 steps. Rocky, slippery in few places. With excitement when we climb up, dint notice nor felt except in 2 places that it was tough. But while coming down, felt most of the places were like that and wondered how I walked up. It was not hectic hike. People who took the donkey rides were mostly screaming as the donkey walks mostly at the edge. The guides keep telling "The Donkey knows its way better!" So never underestimate a Donkey. We can see many shops selling on the way too. 

 When we reach the Monastery, you feel WOW. The monument is just made out of a single rock they say. Its really huge. We can hike a little more and get a view from the top. Its incredible, wonderful.. what not!!! Theres a restaurant also for your lunch or coffee break with a nice sit out facing Monastery. 

 Dont ever miss this place when you are planning the trip. Many just return back from Treasury. There is so much to explore this place, if one has time to do so.

Day 6: Wadi Rum 

 A Journey through 1916 - Wadi Rum (A train ride experience) : 

 The train journey through 1916 in the Wadi Rum would take an hour and in the process you would get to see a show. We had no idea what to imagine but of course we were going to! The day we went into the wadi rum to spend the night in a tented camp, we booked the 1916 train journey(through Jordan Pass) 

 Waiting for the old train – Train Journey through 1916 

 We were given a location and it was in the middle of the desert at a railway crossing. Strange…but yes there were already more people waiting, seemingly in The Middle of Nowhere. When the train arrived, we quickly climbed aboard and sought a seat on 1 of the open carriages. Full of anticipation about the upcoming adventure, we looked around us, on this old train in the magical Wadi Rum desert. 

 Slowly, the train started moving again, back towards the station. There were men in army clothes with long guns walking on the train. They were only too happy to pose for our cameras to get a nice picture. There was also an automatic weapon on the open carriage with which several people took photos. On the other side than where we were sitting were sandbags.

   

We saw a Jordanian flag flying near a mountain further on. Suddenly 2 men on horses started riding towards the train with the flag. They started shooting and in turn the army guys shot back. When looked closer, we also saw a men behind sandbags underneath few rocks. As we got closer there was fighting again, shots rang out on both sides. 

 And then it really started. As we passed that mountain, horses and camel suddenly started running with armed men on them, and in the distance we even saw a jeep running along. I thought it was a very imposing sight so alongside the train. The dust billowing up under the hooves of the Arabs galloping along at full speed. There was shooting and shouting … and suddenly the train came to a halt. We saw the men in army clothes, i.e. the men of the Ottoman Empire, surrender and get off the train. The Arabs came from the horse and quickly ran up the wagon to capture the fighting Ottoman men. Few passengers were taken off the train as a prisoner of war, in the jeep. 

 The big Jordanian flag could be seen all around you. The jeep, the Prisoner Of Wars were in, also proudly flew the Jordanian flag. They drove off…. but before we too started driving, the startled POW (tourists) were released and they came strolling back onto the train with loud cheers. Finally, the train took off to the destination station. 

 What a super fun show. And what an imposing sight it was! Totally entertaining. 

 All those beautiful horses with those men on them, some shooting and others with a flag, galloping along the train…. I can really recommend it. If you go into the desert, take some time for this too. Super touristy but you are right in the magical wadi rum spheres. And you get a good idea of what it was like in those days.

Day 7: Aqaba 

 Aqaba is situated in south of Jordan. One shouldn't miss this place which is near to Wadi Rum. Nestled along the pristine shores of the Red Sea, Aqaba is more than just a picturesque travel destination. This is the Jordanian Port city on the Red Sea's Gulf of Aqaba. Its beach resorts are popular for windsurfing and other water sports, and the area is a top destination for scuba divers, with notable dive sites including the Coral reef in the Aqaba Marine Park, Shipwreck, Plane Wreck.

   

 Since we went in winter time, scuba diving was not recommended. Hence, we took a Glass bottom boat for 2hr ride. It took us to all the points of hotel resorts, panoramic view of the border of Israel, Egypt, Saudi. The view of the under water beauty was mesmerizing. We had a quick falafel sandwich for lunch and drove back to Amman.

Day 8: Dead Sea