What to Know Before Visiting Jordan | Travel Guide

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Nestled between Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Palestine, the country of Jordan stands

as a link between Asia, Europe and Africa. I'm Zaid Shiyab, I'm Jordanian and I've lived here my whole life

In this guide, I will show you the best ways to experience my country

Jordan is named after the Jordan River that you can see right here, dividing Jordan and Palestine

The country of Jordan is home to about 10 million people and more than a third of the population lives here in Amman

There are two seas you'll hear about often in Jordan. The Red Sea right here and the Dead Sea right here

And this large eastern branch is mostly desert. Most of the sites run along this western border and if you visit, it's likely this will be where you spend all your time

The capital city of Amman is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities

and it is right here in North Central Jordan Most visitors spend some time here

since Jordan's main international airport is just 30 minutes south Amman is built across 7 hills

so be prepared for lots of elevation changes as you walk around

The Arabic name for hill, Jabal, is used in the name of several significant parts of the city

such as Jabel Amman and Jabel Al-Webde. I want to point out two landmarks visible from huge portions of the city

The first of these is the Amman Citadel, right here. Located at the top of the hill, it not only gives a perspective of the city's incredible history

but stunning views of the entire urban area. The other is the Ragadan Flagpole flying a massive Jordanian flag This flagpole was planted in the same spot where the first flag of Jordan was raised

and is one of the tallest in the world. Not only is the city full of interesting history and culture

but it will likely be your home base during your time in Jordan, so it will be helpful to be familiar with this city

There are three main highways used to travel the length of Jordan. These are lined with historic sites because they themselves are historic trading routes used by the ancient civilizations

The Dead Sea Highway, for example, starts in the north and connects all the way down to Aqaba and the Red Sea at Jordan's lower border right here

Aqaba today is the only port city in Jordan, making it a vital part of this country

Aqaba is mostly known for its luxury seaside hotels and water sports

But just like the rest of Jordan, it has a lot of history. The Aqaba fort and Mamluk castle are existing reminders of the city's long history

These were built by Mamluk Sultanate, a mighty army of former slave soldiers who ruled the region in the 15th century

The Aqaba Souk is where you can find locally made handicrafts and fresh spices while grabbing coffee or tea alongside the local people

Many restaurants offer fresh seafood like this dish, sayadiye, a steamed fish paired with rice cooked with cumin

The Red Sea has over 1000 species of fish and over 40 species of shark within its water

The opportunity to see such incredible marine life alongside some really cool plane and shipwrecks

promises to top any scuba divers list of all-time favorites. Snorkeling or taking glass bottom boat are also great options

The crystal creel water offers you great visibility. Aqaba is warm and sunny all year round, even in wintertime

Going out on a boat is a great way to look back at Aqaba and take in the spectacular mountain ranges that line the shore I also want to show you something very interesting about Jordan elevation You see here that Jordan western edge is close to the sea level

and even at certain points lower than sea level. The Dead Sea, right here, is literally the lowest elevation on Earth's surface

The Dead Sea is known for two main things, being the lowest elevation on Earth and for its incredibly high salt content

As we're in the desert, there is hardly any rainfall. The water that fills the sea comes from several rivers but much of this is evaporated off

While the water is evaporated, the salt in it is not, which makes the remaining water

incredibly salty. This salinity is so harsh that no life can survive in it, giving the Dead Sea its unusual name

This salt makes it more buoyant than any water you've probably been in, so you'll have the

strange experience of floating along the surface without even trying. It's honestly impossible to sink

The thick black mud at the shore of the Dead Sea is well known for its mineral-rich and

exfoliating properties. It's for these reasons that the Dead Sea hosted some of the world's very first wellness resorts

dating back to the Greco-Roman times, and it's why people from all over still come

to enjoy its many health benefits either down on the beach or with a spa treatment for one

of the many resorts nearby. There are a variety of really great resort options along the Jordanian coast on the northern

end of the Dead Sea. Here in southern Jordan, these sandstone cliffs are peaceful, beautiful and quiet

But this landscape alone is not the reason people travel from all over the world to visit

here each year. Thousands of years ago, the smooth sandstone was carved into this massive, intricate facade

behind me. But this isn the only carving in this canyon The entrance to the site is right here and if you follow along this path one of the first sites you see is the Siq or the narrow canyon and the treasury But

don't make the mistake of stopping here just look at how many sites are beyond this you're just

getting started. About two and a half miles from the entrance is the furthest side the monastery

This is equally as stunning as the Treasury and has great views of the surrounding area

If you're interested in seeing the unique experience of seeing the ancient city at night

where the seat and Treasury are illuminated by candlelight, you will have to pay an additional fee

I'm here in what's known as the Valley of the Moon, Wadi Ram. Wadi Ram is considered to be one of the purest desert wilderness on earth

This national park is in southern Jordan, just a two-hour drive from our last stop in Petra

You can travel to Wadi Ram on an organized trip from Amman or likely from Petra or Aqaba

Or you can head to the visitor center where tickets are available and where you can organize a tour

rent a car and driver, camel or horses to take you through the desert

Just make sure that you have plenty of Jordanian dinars before you arrive

because there aren't many options for getting cash. Although it's an incredibly harsh environment

nomadic communities have called this desert home for thousands of years. To them, an intimate knowledge of desert roots

hidden water sources and edible natural plants have become the key to living in this arid place

We've covered a lot, but this is still such a small portion of what there is to see in Jordan

Jordan has something for everyone. Thank you, Shukran