Jerash, one of the most well preserved Greco-Roman Cities in the world, is a close second to Petra on the list of favorite destinations in Jordan. The ancient city of Jerash boasts an unbroken chain of human occupation dating back more than 6,500 years.

Amman, the capital of Jordan, is a fascinating city of contrasts - a unique blend of old and new, ideally situated on a hilly area between the desert and the fertile Jordan Valley.

Umayyad Desert Castles are scattered throughout the black basalt desert, east of Amman. They stand as a testament to the flourishing beginnings of Islamic-Arab civilizations. These seemingly isolated pavilions, caravan stations, secluded baths, and hunting lodges, were at one time integrated agricultural or trading complexes, built mostly under the Umayyads (AD 661-750), when Muslim Arabs had succeeded in transforming the fringes of the desert into well-watered settlements. Aside from being widely considered as the most spectacular and original monuments of early Islamic art, these complexes also served practical purposes: namely, as residences, caravanserais, and baths.

Bethany beyond the Jordan, where Jesus was baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist, in fulfillment of the Scriptures. In this simple wilderness, the heavens opened and the first recorded revelation of the Trinity occurred. Here, Jesus began his public ministry - and Christianity was born. Today, visitors from all over the world follow in the footsteps of the early Christians and come to be baptized in the same waters. The 25-acre Baptism Archaeological Park features a visitor center and 17 designated locations, including Elijah’s Hill, where tradition says the prophet Elijah ascended to heaven long before John came to this wilderness to preach and baptize in the Spirit of Elijah.

Dead Sea, without doubt, is one of the world’s most exquisite places. Home of the largest open-air spa at the lowest point on earth at over 1,312 ft. below sea level. Fed by the Jordan River, this land-locked sea boasts a dense, rich cocktail of salts and minerals that supply industry, agriculture, medicine and spa treatments with some of its finest products.

Mount Nebo, where Moses viewed the Promised Land and is said to be buried, is the location of a basilica church that has one of the most magnificent mosaic floors in the world. From the platform in front of the church, visitors have an inspiring, breathtaking view across the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea to the rooftops of Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

Madaba, "The City of Mosaics" - is where visitors can see some of the finest art of the early Christian centuries. The most famous are the remains of a Sixth Century mosaic map of the Holy Land, considered the oldest and most accurate surviving map of the region. Housed in the Orthodox Church of St. George, the "Madaba Map" has been a valuable source of historical information and place-names, which in many cases have combined with the results of archaeological excavations to determine the ancient names and locations of Biblical sites.

Kerak, is the location of the most impressive remains of Crusader forts and outposts. Kerak Castle, high atop a promontory, is a maze of stone-vaulted halls and endless passageways.

Dana Nature Reserve is a world of natural treasures. It is composed of a chain of valleys and mountains which extend from the top of the Jordan Rift Valley down to the desert lowlands of Wadi Araba. It contains a remarkable diversity of landscapes that range from wooded highlands to rocky slopes and from gravel plains to dunes of sand.

Wadi Mujib Nature Reserve is the lowest-altitude nature reserve in the world, with its spectacular array of scenery near the East coast of the Dead Sea. Over 420 species of plants, 102 species of permanent and migratory birds and 10 species of carnivore including the Red Fox, Blandford Fox, Hyena, Jackal, Wild Cat, Caracal, Badger, Mongoose, Wolf and Arabian Leopard have been recorded to date.

Petra
Jordan’s prized possession, the magnificent Nabataean city of Petra, one of the world’s new seven wonders, and popularized by the movie "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade". This rose-red city half as old as time, is known for its dramatic tombs and temple facades, including one that served as a church during Byzantine times. The city’s inhabitants, Nabataean Arabs, carved structures into the soft sandstone more than two millennia ago.

Wadi Rum is a stupendous, timeless place, virtually untouched by humanity. Here, weather and winds have carved the imposing, towering skyscrapers, so elegantly described by T.E. Lawrence as "vast, echoing and god-like".

Aqaba, Jordan’s splendid Red Sea resort is a fun place to visit. It is a microcosm of all the good things Jordan has to offer, including a fascinating history with some outstanding sites, excellent hotels and activities, superb visitor facilities, good shopping, and welcoming, friendly people, who enjoy nothing more than making sure their visitors, have a good time.

In summary, every half an hour drive into Jordan is a different attraction and experience, from the north all through to the south, its land encompasses all, sea and mountain, waterfall and desert. So you see, Jordan’s diversity is not the best kept secret anymore. There are so many places to visit and great experiences to have in this magical Kingdom that guarantees every traveler a trip of a lifetime!

History & Archaeology Experience

Jordan is a land steeped in history and culture. It is indeed an open-air museum filled with remnants of ancient civilizations long since past, yet they still remain, stamped into the very fabric of this amazing Kingdom and etched into the soul of the people who live there.

Eco & Adventure Experience

Jordan is a diverse land that encompasses a bounty of natural wonders. The exciting new horizons of eco-adventure tourism in Jordan allow visitors to push themselves to new levels of endurance while soaking up natural marvels and dramatic cultural attractions from the ancient world.

Religious Experience

Relive the testaments of the bible and follow in the footsteps of Jesus, Moses, John the Baptist, Elijah and many other prophets. Experience spiritual enrichment as you walk through the valleys, hills and plains whose names have become part of human history by virtue of the simple deeds and profound messages of these prophets who walked the land and crossed its rivers during their lives.

Spa & Wellness Experience

It has been confirmed now that the Dead Sea has healing and rejuvenating powers making this region Jordan’s major health resort area. For centuries now, people have traveled to the Dead Sea to enjoy its beauty, dip in its healing waters and get instant relief from many chronic ailments such as dermatological problems, respiratory conditions such as asthma, and many others, including arthritis, circulatory problems, hypertension, and Parkinson’s disease. The composition of the Dead Sea contains the highest levels of magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium making it rich in life-enhancing minerals.

Getting special mud packs while exposed to the region’s unique solar radiation gives the destination a unique spectrum of therapies; that, in addition to relaxing in its luxurious chain of world class luxury hotel and spa resorts that line the coast, where they provide superlative accommodations and range of treatments in their spas. Some of these include the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar, Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa, Movenpick Resort and Spa and the Dead Sea Spa Hotel.

Imagine what it would do for your overall health and peace of mind!

Events

Please go to http://www.calendar.jo/  to get the most updated information on Festivals and special Events happening in Jordan.

Lodging

Jordan boasts many hotels, all including 5, 4 and 3 stars. For a listing of these hotels please visit www.visitjordan.com.

Dining Out

You should start an evening meal with mezze, a large variety of appetizers, served with traditional flat Arabic bread. For a main course, try mansaf (lamb, yogurt and rice) or baba ghanoush (eggplant) or kebabs. For dessert, try cheese-filled kinafeh or baklava, of course (pastry nuts and syrup). Alcohol is served in most city restaurants, except during Ramadan, and locally brewed Amstel beer is available, too. Of hundreds of good restaurants throughout the country, many have English-language menus and are otherwise accustomed to foreign visitors.

Amman has at least 14 such restaurants serving Arabic cuisine, more offering Italian, French, Far Eastern and other cuisine. In the capital, try to visit Kan Zaman, where you can try local cuisine while shopping in the market. In Aqaba alone, there are 20 places to dine, including Arabic, Chinese and Italian spots. Also in Aqaba, board the Aladdin boat for barbecue or try Italian dishes at the Royal Yacht Club. While in Madaba, book lunch at Haret Jdoudna and ask for their famous "Sawany" dishes. There are at least five recommended spots in Jerash, and there's even a Pizza Hut in Petra! Also in Petra, try the Petra Kitchen and learn how to cook Jordanian food with the locals. And don't forget shawarma (gyro) sandwiches from local vendors, better than those at home, probably.

Shopping

Gold and silver are good buys here, as are handicrafts (needlework, weaving, embroidery, ceramics, handmade glass and sand bottles). Of the thousands of shops available throughout the land, many offer goods made in Jordan, the proceeds supporting mainly women and many micro-financed projects. In Amman alone, there are at least 15 shops, including the Jordan Design & Trade Centre, Wild Jordan, Al Burqan, Silsal and the Jordan River Foundation, to mention only a few. For more information on this, see www.visitjordan.com.



Getting There

Royal Jordanian Airlines (www.rj.com; phone 800-223-0470) has nonstop flights from New York, Detroit and Chicago to Amman. Delta Airlines also offers nonstop flights out of JFK to Amman. The capital is also served with one stop in Europe by most international carriers, including Delta, Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, KLM, Northwest, Turkish Airlines and others.

More information can be had from the Jordan Tourism Board North America office at 6867 Elm Street, Suite 102, McLean VA 22101, phone 877-SEE-JORDAN (733-567326) or 703-243-7404, fax 703-243-7406, email contactus@visitjordan.com. Their website is www.visitjordan.com.