Jerash

In its heyday, Jerash (known in Roman times as Gerasa) had a population of 15, 000 to 20, 000 inhabitants and, although it wasn't on any major trade route, its citizens prospered from the good agricultural land that surrounded it. The ancient walled city that survives today was the administrative, commercial, civic and religious center of Jerash. The bulk of the inhabitants lived on the eastern side of Wadi Jerash (now the modern town of Jerash) and the two centers were linked by causeways and processional paths.

The city's golden age came under Roman rule and the site is now generally acknowledged to be one of the best-preserved Roman provincial towns in the world. Hidden for centuries in sand before being excavated and restored over the past 70 years, Jerash reveals a fine example of the grand, formal provincial Roman urbanism that is found throughout the Middle East, comprising paved and colonnaded streets, soaring hilltop temples, handsome theaters, spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains and city walls pierced by towers and gates.

Beneath its external Graeco - Roman veneer, Jerash also preserves a subtle blend of east and west. Its architecture, religion and languages reflect a process by which two powerful cultures meshed and coexisted - The Graeco-Roman world of the Mediterranean basin and the traditions of the Arab Orient.

Ajloun

Ajlun (or Ajloun) is just a short journey from Jerash, so it can be combined with an easy day trip from Amman. It is filled with pine forest and olive groves and boasts scores of ancient sites, including watermills, forts and villages, all in the beautiful hills and valleys of northern Jordan.
In Ajlun town the mosque, just southwest of the main roundabout, has a minaret dating back some 600 years.

As the countryside of pine forest and olive groves is good for hiking and is popular with picnicking locals in summer, when the surrounding hills are a few degrees cooler than the rest of Jordan. If possible, visit on a clear day - the views are superb.

While Ajlun Castle (Qal'at Ar-Rabad) is the place that must not be missed, it was built by one of Saladin's generals in 1184 AD to control the iron mines of Ajlun, and to deter the Franks from invading Ajlun. Ajlun Castle dominated the three main routes leading to the Jordan Valley and protected the trade and commercial routes between Jordan and Syria; it became an important link in the defensive chain against the Crusaders, who, unsuccessfully spent decades trying to capture the castle and the nearby village. 

The original castle had four towers, arrow slits incorporated into the thick walls, and was surrounded by a moat averaging 16m in width and up to 15m deep.

In 1215 AD, the Mameluk officer Aibak ibn Abdullah expanded the castle following Usama's death, by adding a new tower in the southeast corner and a bridge that can still be seen decorated with pigeon reliefs.
The castle was conceded in the 13^th century to Salah ed-Din Yousef Ibn Ayoub, ruler of Aleppo and Damascus, who restored the northeastern tower. These expansion efforts were interrupted in 1260 AD, when Mongol invaders destroyed the castle, but almost immediately, the Mameluk Sultan Baybars re-conquered and rebuilt the fortress.

Nearby is the Ajlun Nature Reserve, a 13 sq. km protected area of outstanding beauty and diverse wildlife. Within the reserve are two nature trails and chalet-style accommodation. The reserve is managed and maintained by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN).

Amman - Jordan

The modern city that is built on the sands of time........

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

In the commercial heart of the city, ultra-modern buildings, hotels, smart restaurants, art galleries and boutiques rub shoulders comfortably with traditional coffee shops and tiny artisans' workshops. Everywhere there is evidence of the city’s much older past.
The downtown area is much older and more traditional with smaller businesses producing and selling everything from fabulous jewellery to everyday household items.

The people of Amman are multicultural, multi-denominational, well-educated and extremely hospitable. They welcome visitors and take pride in showing them around their fascinating and vibrant city. 

Amman  is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the World.  Recent excavations have uncovered homes and towers believed to have been built during the Stone Age with many references to it in the Bible.

Amman was known in the Old Testament as Rabbath-Ammon, the capital of the Ammonites around 1200 BC, it was also referred to as "the City of Waters".

Under the influence of the Roman culture, Philadelphia was reconstructed in typically grand Roman style with colonnaded streets, baths, an Amphitheater, and impressive public buildings.  In the 3rd century BC, the City was renamed Philadelphia (Greek for "The Brotherhood Love") after the Ptolemaic ruler Philadelphus (283-246 BC). 

The City later came under Seleucid as well as Nabataean rule until the Roman General Pompey annexed Syria and made Philadelphia part of the Decapolis League.  Under the influence of the Roman culture, Philadelphia was reconstructed in typically grand Roman style with colonnaded streets, baths, an Amphitheater, and impressive public buildings.

During the Byzantine period, Philadelphia was the seat of a Christian Bishop, and therefore several churches were built.  But As Islam spread northwards from the Arabian Peninsula, the land became part of its domain and its original Semitic name Ammon or Amman was returned to it.

Today Amman has grown rapidly into a modern, thriving metropolis of well over two million people.  It has never rivaled Damascus or Cairo as a grand Islamic city of antiquity. For those arriving from Syria or Egypt it can, depending on your perspective, feel either refreshingly or disappointingly modern and Westernised.

Residents talk openly of two Ammans. Conservative and Islamic in its sympathies, Eastern Amman (which includes downtown) is home to the urbanised poor. And western Amman is a world apart, with leafy residential districts, trendy cafés and bars, and impressive art galleries. It's impossible to gain a full understanding of Amman, or even Jordan, without visiting both areas.

How to get to Jordan

Jordan is almost completely land-locked with a small outlet on the Red Sea in the Gulf of Aqaba and a frontage on the Dead Sea. Jordan is bordered by Israel and the West Bank (Palestinian Territories) to the west, by Syria to the north, by Iraq to the east and by Saudi Arabia to the south. 

Getting to Jordan by Plan

Jordan's national airline is Royal Jordanian Airlines and is also served by a number of foreign carriers including BMI, Air France, Air Baltic, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Egypt Air, Emirates, Alitalia and Delta Airlines, plus Low-cost airline such as Air Arabia.

Queen Alia International Airport is Jordan's main airport. It is 35km south of Amman. You should allow 45 minutes to reach the airport from the downtown Amman, approximately 30 minutes from West Amman.

In addition to Queen Alia, Jordan has two other international airports:

• Marka International Airport in East Amman (serving routes to nearby Middle Eastern countries, as well as internal flights to Aqaba).
• King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba.

Getting to Jordan by Car

From The Holy Land

You can cross into Jordan by car from Israel, but the border formalities are time-consuming and expensive as Jordanian insurance is required and you will even have to change your license plates.

From Syria 

Long distance taxis operate the route from Damascus to Amman.

This trip should take around 3.5 hours. 

From Iraq

It is theoretically possible to enter Jordan from Iraq depending on your nationality.

From Saudi Arabia

Entry from Saudi Arabia is by bus. Jordan-bound buses can be taken from almost any point in Saudi Arabia or the Gulf.  .As the crossing is the middle of the desert, be absolutely sure that all paper work is in order before attempting the journey, otherwise you might be lost in a maze of Arab bureaucracy. The trip from the border to Amman is 3 hours and up to 20 hours to the either Dammam, Riyadh or Jeddah on the Saudi side. The trip can be uncomfortable but is cheap.

By Bus

Long distance services operate from a number of Middle Eastern destinations including Tel Aviv and Damascus.

By Boat

Jordan can be entered at the port of Aqaba via the Egyptian port of Nuweiba. There are two services, ferry and speedboat. 

Expect to pay around $30 for the ferry or around $60 for the speedboat (both one way) if you are a non-Egyptian national. The slow ferry might take up to 8 hours, and can be a nightmare in bad weather. The speedboat consistently makes the crossing in about an hour, though boarding and disembarking delays can add many hours, especially since there are no fixed hours for departures. 

You cannot buy the ticket in advance and the ticket office does not know the time of departure. You can lose an entire afternoon or even a day waiting for the boat to leave. 

UPDATE: prices have increased. The speedboat is now $70 and the ferry is $60 (+$10 or 50 EGP departure tax from Egypt).

Jordan Laisure

Are you seeking for enjoyable activities in Jordan? 

Jordan with its vast history, culture and spectacular land scape, has something for every traveler whether for adventure, relaxation, business or religion.
The popularity of the spa vacation has increased worldwide as many people are adopting healthier lifestyles. For this reason, Jordan has complimented its natural therapeutic sites with first class resorts offering a diverse range of amenities. The goal is to provide its visitors with a unique and relaxing experience catering to all of their health and fitness and beauty needs.

 

The Dead Sea


At 410m below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth. Jordan’s Dead Sea coast is one of the most spectacular natural and spiritual landscapes in the world, and it remains as enticing to international visitors today as it was to kings, emperors, traders, and prophets in antiquity.
 

The main attraction of the Dead Sea is of course the soothing, abnormally salty water itself. The salt content of the water is 31.5% making the water so buoyant that it is impossible for the visitor to sink. The water also contains 21 minerals including high levels of magnesium, sodium, potassium, and bromine and 12 of these minerals are found in no other body of water in the world. 

A trip to the Dead Sea would not be complete without a visit to one of the first class health spa facilities of the luxury hotels. Here the visitor can enjoy year-round a massage, Dead Sea mud bath, use the excellent fitness facilities, or just spend the day relaxing on their beautiful private beaches.

 

Hammamat Ma’in / Ma’in Hot Springs


The wonder of Hammamat Ma’in (Ma’in Hot Springs). Popular with both locals and tourists alike, the springs are located 264m below sea level in one of the most breathtaking desert oases in the world. Thousands of visiting bathers come each year to enjoy the mineral-rich waters of these hyper-thermal waterfalls. These falls originate from winter rainfalls in the highland plains of Jordan and eventually feed the 109 hot and cold springs in the valley. This water is heated to temperatures of up to 63° Celsius by underground lava fissures as it makes its way through the valley before emptying into the Zarqa River.

 
  


In and Around Amman
 

Jordan’s modern hotels and resorts are all equipped with spas, fitness centers, swimming pools, and tennis courts. In and around Amman, it is easy to find facilities for track and field sports, horseback riding, cycling, hiking, gliding, golf, and it is possible to go to the impressive Sports City to watch professional football, basketball, handball, and other sports.


Shopping in Amman is amazing as of what you can find, from modern shopping Malls and Boutiques to small shops located in the down town area that sell souvenirs, Arabian rugs and perfumes, Bedouin  and Arabic dresses to all the things that represent Arabia and Jordan. 

Aqaba
 

In the south of Jordan, the seaside resort of Aqaba provides the perfect location for rest and relaxation on the shores of the Red Sea. In addition, it offers first-class scuba diving and snorkeling with some of the most beautiful and best-preserved coral reefs in the world. The visitor can also participate in swimming, sailing, windsurfing, water-skiing, or enjoy views of the active marine life on a ride in a glass-bottomed boat. Aqaba is renowned for its warm water and sunny weather and is a delightful destination that can be enjoyed all year round.
  
Wadi Rum


Wadi Rum offers a truly unique and adventurous experience. The visitors will be amazed by their surroundings amid the stupendous cliffs, canyons, and seemingly endless orange sands as they enter the desert on a camel, horse, or 4x4 jeeps driven by a local Bedouin.  Rock climbing is a popular activity and visitors come from around the world to tackle Wadi Rum’s challenging climbs. Many have described these routes as comparable to those found in the Dolomites.

Shopping in Jordan

Every town has a souk (market) selling everything from meat and live chickens, to clothes and jewellery. The gold is usually 18kt or above and there is no charge added for the craftsmanship of items like bangles, chains and earrings.

Tourist-oriented towns offer many handicrafts, including mosaic; mosaic schools train young people to work with the colourful, locally hewn stone.

Another distinctive local craft is ostrich-egg painting: the paint is applied with needle pricks and designs can take weeks to complete.

Other hand-crafted items include sand jars, hand-blown glass and embroidered clothing. Bottled Holy Water from the river Jordan can also be purchased, as can skin-care products made of Dead Sea mud.

 

Shopping hours: 

Sat-Thurs 0930-1330 and 1530-1800; some open as early as 0800 and close at 2000 or even later. Some shops are closed on Friday except for the souks which usually open from 1600.

 

Nightlife in Jordan

For many Jordanians, an evening's entertainment is going out for a meal. Amman does have nightclubs in the modern districts, mostly attached to 5-star hotels. Many high-end hotels have popular bars. Some cinemas in Amman show English-language films, and there are cultural centres for concerts and exhibitions.
Outside the capital, nightlife is thinner on the ground. The Dead Sea resorts offer a variety of entertainment (not usually open to non-residents), as do the 5-star hotels in Wadi Mousa and Aqaba. In smaller towns, the local coffee shop sometimes doubles as a bar for locals

Working in Jordan

Working in Jordan is not really an option for most foreigners passing through, but it is possible for anyone with the right qualifications or interests who has done some planning before leaving home. Your employer in Jordan should be able to deal with the bureaucratic requirements of working permits.

 

 

Business hours

Government departments, including most tourist offices, are open from about 8am to 2pm every day apart from Friday - and sometimes they also close on Saturday. Visitor centres keep longer hours. Banks are normally open from 8.30am to 3pm every day but Friday and Saturday. The opening times for post offices vary from one town to another, but tend to be from about 8am to 6pm every day except Friday, when they close about 2pm. Many sights, government departments and banks close earlier in winter.
Almost all major tourist attractions are open every day, normally during daylight hours.
Smaller shops and businesses are open every day from about 9am to 8pm, but some close for a couple of hours in the middle of the afternoon, and some do not open on Thursday afternoon and Friday. The souqs (markets) and street stalls are open every day and, in fact, Friday is often their busiest day.

Jordan Culture and Religion

Jordan is an ideal destination for those seeking cultural knowledge and spiritual enrichment. Jordan values its ethnically and religiously diverse population, consequently providing for the cultural rights of all its citizens. 

This spirit of tolerance and appreciation is one of the central elements contributing to the stable and peaceful cultural climate flourishing within Jordan. 

More than 92% of Jordanians are Sunni Muslims and approximately 6% are Christians. The majority of Christians belong to the Greek Orthodox Church, but there are also Greek Catholics, a small Roman Catholic community, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and a few Protestant denominations. Several small Shi'a and Druze populations can also be found in Jordan.

Social conventions

Handshaking is the customary form of greeting. Jordanians are proud of their Arab culture and hospitality is a matter of great importance. Visitors are made to feel very welcome and Jordanians are happy to act as hosts and guides, keen to inform tourists about their traditions and culture. Islam always plays an important role in society and it is essential that Muslim beliefs are respected. Arabic coffee will normally be served continuously during social occasions. To signal that no more is wanted, slightly tilt the cup when handing it back, otherwise it will be refilled. If invited for dinner, a small gift is customarily given. Women are expected to dress modestly and beachwear must only be worn at the beach or poolside.

Photography 
It is polite to ask permission to take photographs of people and livestock; in some places photography is forbidden.

Language in Jordan

Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken. French, German, Italian and Spanish are also spoken in many tourist areas.