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Places / Asia

Jordan

Visited

At a glance

Region
Western Asia
Capital
Amman
Population
11.5 million (2025)
Area
89,342 km²
Languages
Arabic
Currency
Jordanian dinar (JOD)
Drives on the
right
Calling code
+962
Visited: Jordan

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Before you go

Overview

Jordan is located in western Asia at the bank of Jordan River.

By 2018 it recorded a population of 9.956 million and covers an area of 89,342 km2. The capital city is Amman. It is the economic, political and cultural centre. It has landmarks such as the famous Roman Theatre built in the 2nd century during the Roman period; has a capacity of 6,000 people for conducting events like commerce, chorals, orations and plays.

Al-Dayr (“the Monastery”) at Petra.

History

Jordan became an independent kingdom in 1946.

It had war with Israel that ended in 1994 after signing a peace treaty. King Hussein died in 1999 and was succeeded by his son Prince Abdullah.

Food & culture

The culture of the country is founded on Arabic and Islamic principles but it is also influenced by Western culture.

The crops grown in the country include wheat, barley, tobacco, cucumbers, cabbages and lentils. The leading industries include fertilizer, mining, petroleum, pharmaceuticals, refining and organic chemicals.

Wildlife

The wildlife living include striped hyena, jungle cat, caracal, sand cat, Arabian wolf, golden jackal, Arabian red fox, Egyptian mongoose, fennec fox and leopard.

Festivals & events

The main celebrated festivals include the Aqaba Traditional Arts Festivals conducted in February to honour Bedouin traditions by activities like displaying their handcrafted goods. Azraq festival is also conducted in February at Azraq town to display the town’s art, crafts and culture. Jerash festival is conducted in July at Jerash city for honouring the culture of the community. Amman International Theatre Festival is also a common festival that is largely attended.

Things to see

Jordan is a modern city which maintains the ancient ruins and historical forts like the Roman Temple of Hercules and Umayyad Palace Complex which are worth seeing.

A famous tourist attraction site in Jordan is Petra which is an archaeological site. It has tombs and temples which look like pink sandstone cliffs which make it to be nicknamed “the Rose City”. It also has a very high temple, Al Khazneh with a Greek-like orate called the Treasury.

Mount Nebo where Moses stood while viewing Canaan. Madaba town preserves mosaic-rich Church of Virgin Mary and artefacts of Roman and Hellenistic ages.

Interesting facts

Majority of the population adhere to Sunni Islam religion.

The official language is Arabic.

The most popular sports are football, basketball and handball.

One of the oldest civilizations on earth is at Petra surrounded by rocks and architecture and is one of the famous tourist attractions in the world.

City guides

Cities & towns I’ve visited

Famous hikes in Jordan

Petra Back Trail to the Monastery

Distance
About 10 km
Time
Half a day
Best time
March to May, or September to November

How to do it: Hike in from Little Petra with a local guide, arriving at the Monastery from above and finishing through Petra itself. Your Jordan Pass or Petra ticket covers entry.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Jordan

3 of 8 visited. See every site I've been to.

My photos from Jordan

From 2 trips, newest first, so you can see which places each set of photos came from.

November 2019 Overlanding East Africa - Oasis Overland + Extras

Maan, Petra

Whole trip gallery
  • The Monastery carved into the rose-red rock of Petra.
  • Tombs carved into the cliffs at Petra.
  • A man in sunglasses taking a selfie in the Siq with Petra's Treasury behind him.
  • A man in sunglasses sitting on rocks in front of the carved Royal Tombs at Petra.
  • Ornate tomb facades carved into rugged red sandstone cliffs at Petra.
  • Remains of a colonnaded street with stone columns in front of sandstone mountains at Petra.
  • The huge carved facade of the Monastery set into a rocky sandstone mountainside at Petra.

January 2010 Petra and Wadi Rum Desert

Petra, Wadi Rum Desert

Whole trip gallery
  • A man crouching between two resting camels with colourful saddles in a canyon at Petra.
  • A smiling man in a black T-shirt crouching on sandstone rocks above a canyon at Petra.
  • A man standing in front of the carved rose-red facade of the Treasury at Petra, with visitors around.
  • A man standing on red sand beside towering sandstone cliffs in the Wadi Rum desert.
  • A natural rock arch against the blue sky in Wadi Rum.
  • The carved facade of one of the Royal Tombs at Petra.
  • Jordan
  • Jordan

Plan your trip to Jordan

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Neighbours

Bucket List goals in Jordan