Introduction:
- I travelled 2 days with a local Jordanian girl and the rest by myself with a rented car
- I will provide tips and a general overview of a 5-day visit to Jordan
- I am writing about this trips after almost 2 years so unfortunately I will not remember many details but at least I will provide some ideas of nice places to visit in the country
- Tourists attractions in Jordan are very expensive compared to regular life in the country
- Rent a car directly from the airport and travel around the country (some people hire a tour guide who drives them but I do not like the idea neither the price)
- Jerash & Amman (23rd), Dead Sea & Wadi Mujib (24th), Petra (24th & 25th), Wadi Rum (25th), Aqaba (26th), Mount Nebo & Amman (27th)
Jerash:
- Directly from the airport we drove to Jerash, where we visited the Roman ruins of Jerash
- September is still too hot but the landscape was a great start for the trip
Amman:
- We spent a few hours together on the 23rd and I stayed by myself the last day as well
- We visited the historical Citadel which has several ruins, including the Temple of Hercules. Besides there are great views of the city
- At night we found the surprise that we could not share a room because she is Jordanian and obviously we where not married
- Last day I came back to Amman and I relaxed walking around the vibrant city, full of activity, restaurants, markets...
- I remember I enjoyed an amazing Kunafa (here you are a website with recommended places for Kunafa in Amman http://www.jordansun.com/guide/topList/kunafa.html)
Dead Sea:
- Next day we woke up early and a bit more than 1h drive from Amman we reached the Dead Sea
- Driving along this area is beautiful
- I particularly find outrageous the price hotels charge for accessing this area, and I found no interest in putting the typical "Dead Sea mud mask" so we decided to find any spot along the coast to park the car and try the Dead Sea (there are public beaches in the area but obviously it is not "recommended" because some people prefer your money than offering the choice)
- It is quite impressive to float (I bought some crisps and we enjoyed them lying on the water) but honestly I would not spend much time here
- With a tricky access from the same road next to Dead Sea, you can enjoy some adventure in Wadi Mujib
- Again, as a developed tourist attraction, sadly you have to pay but the place is great
- Better to wear trainers as with flipflops you might hurt your feet, even if obviously your trainers will get soaked
Petra:
- Driving two hours more we reached Petra. It was a delight to be in this place
- If you have the opportunity, visit Madain Saleh in North West of Saudi Arabia, simply magnificent (at the end of this post I show Madain Saleh: http://spanishpassionatetraveller.blogspot.ae/2017/04/saudi-arabia-2016.html)
- Some days (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday - check whenever you travel as it might change) at 20:30 Petra can be visited during the night (only a small area can be visised, the walk is lit with candles and they play some traditional music sitting by one of the main spots)
- Next morning (25th) I continued the trip by myself visiting Petra by myself
- The views are great and you can walk for as many hours as you want. I visited it by foot during 6 hours but some people rent a camel or horse, especially in hot days
- Take plenty of water with you and some snacks are more than welcome, even if inside there are some bars (obviously expensive)
- That day, a bit rushed, I drove to Wadi Rum
- I booked a tent in a camp inside Wadi Rum and I had a bad experience here. A normal car cannot go further than the Visitor Center because of so much sand. Then obviously many people offer to take you to the camp for an outrageous cost. I took my bag and booked a reasonable tour around some spots in Wadi Rum. The guy did not want to take me to the camp after the tour as probably everyone is this area is related and they want the money from tourists. I decided to walk to my camp, a few kilometers across the dessert. with not much water in a very hot day and with no clear idea where my camp was
- After almost 1h walking I reached the first camp really thirsty and tired. It was not my camp but there was a woman in charge of this camp who treated me like her son, giving me a chair to rest, water and food without charging me. It was the most beautiful moment in the whole trip
- Sadly I do not remember the name of this lovely camp, maybe more humble than others but with amazing people in charge
- She told me the next camp was the one where I had my booking. I walked 10 more minutes to reach it and I was very unhappy about how they treated me because I had not booked the tour with them (Bedouin Lifestyle Camp)
- I spent the night there, did not pay and next morning I went back to that wonderful woman, whose husband took me back to Visitor centre. I paid him the money I should have paid in the camp
- Despite this experience, Wadi Rum looks great and camping there is very nice
- On the 26th I visited the Red Sea in Aqaba. I found the public beach a bit dirty and did some snorkeling but I did not find it that impressive
- I wish I had had my Padi by then because one year later I dived in the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia and it was great
Mount Nebo:
- Last day, on my way back to Amman, I visited Mount Nebo
- I would not go unless you have a lot of time in Jordan but still the views were nice
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