Okay, I’m not saying I looked cute… but I did have some cute outfits because I am basically a professional shopper ;) haha! Jordan is an Arabic country with a Muslim culture and you have to be dressed appropriate, aka cover up a LOT, but it’s also a very hot desert state. Here are my tips on how to dress in Jordan and look half-way decent as well as a few packing tips for Jordan.

This post will be pretty short and sweet with mostly images because as they say, pictures speak louder than words!

How to Dress in Jordan

This outfit was from my first day in Amman. I actually put on jewelry. It only went downhill from here, lol. I tend to be so excited at first I actually try and even put on lipstick but by day 3 I’m struggling to give two shits! I can’t be the only one like this. But, this outfit was fun and perfect for the city. The silk pants are TIA (a shop I love in Goa) and are wrap around so I actually used the sewing kit (or swing kit as they had it labeled) at the hotel to makes stitches near the knees so they didn’t fly open. The top is a linen wrap top I had made here in Goa, which was a copy of a cute Urban Outfitters one I had. I have a crop top under it.

These sunnies are Sunday Somewhere and the shoes are Sol Sana. I am in love with these shoes by the way and put them in my top 5 items this year to travel with. They made the perfect sandal for this trip. They were dressy enough and nice leather that formed to my feet. Full disclosure: both the sandal and sunnies were gifted to me by the brands but I love them for real! The bag is from Bali and is a leather fringe bag… perfect size for this trip.

This outfit is from FARA, another Goa brand. You can buy FARA on Etsy and TIA on Etsy. The pants are silk harem pants and I love these because they are kind of fancy and I felt good I them. The top is a raw silk top that should not have been put in the washing machine but was so now these photos are what I have to remember it by…. RIP.

It’s so black on black it’s hard to tell, but I’m wearing black leggings, a black tank top, and a silk black kaftan that had slits to the thigh. This was my second favorite outfit here and was SO comfortable and easy.

A bit of a recycled outfit, this is the same FARA trousers with an urban outfitters top. Other than the black Sol Sana sandals and simple leather Reef flip flops, the only other shoes I took were Tom’s. I wore them for adventures like camel riding in Wadi Rum and even wore them trekking at Petra. It was fine.

This was a fun outfit too. These are green wrap around silk trousers from TIA as well but thicker than the ones in the first photo and I didn’t have to stitch them. The breeze on my legs was great in the hot desert. The kaftan, surprise surprise, is TIA as well and is cotton. It was perfect even at the airport on the way in with leggings. I wore a crop top under. It wasn’t see-through.

This is the same kaftan which I wore as a swimsuit cover up at the Dead Sea. You can dress how you like at the 5-star hotels. People were all in bikinis. I wore a one piece but it was lace-up so I mean… not exactly swim team material. I wore the Reef flip flops here and the Ma’in spa but they weren’t totally necessary and I could have skipped packing them.

This is a Top Shop silk dress which was spaghetti strap. I wore leggings under and this fringe sweater over. Not my cutest look, but did the trick.

This is us at Petra. I wore the silk harem pants with Toms and a black tank top with a kaftan over it. It’s Top Shop I think and had slit under the armpit for a breeze and I could take my arms out and have it be sleeveless. Not totally appropriate but people at Petra were in jeans shorts and mini dresses, so I was kinda like err eff it at some points…

So there we go. I was there more days than this but didn’t always take photos of my outfits, and also can’t remember what I wore!

I did pack another pair of legging which I didn’t need, Helen Jon pants for the plane one way, and leggings the other way, 4 T-shirts for the plane rides each way and sleeping, and a lungi (sarong) for the Dead Sea. I packed my leather jacket which I did wear at night in the forest areas. I only took the one purse.

I took a [easyazon_link identifier=”B005X1Y7I2″ locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]portable charger[/easyazon_link], laptop (thank god for movies!), [easyazon_link identifier=”B00OQVZDJM” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Kindle[/easyazon_link], no makeup this time, a few rings and necklaces, and my toiletries. I actually thought this packing one out the most because it was conservative and did pretty well!

You should plan your outfits exactly when you come here because it just makes it so much easier and you know you’ll have to cover up before you go so actually lay out what you will wear each day or you’ll end up taking stuff you don’t need. I hope this can help you know how to dress in Jordan!

I have SO many blog posts on Jordan – here are some that will get you started in planning

• Check out my list of 5 favorite things I did in Jordan
• Follow along with my 10-day itinerary and map. Cut out things to make it fit your time frame.
• Check out the best hotels in Jordan and book ahead.

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Looking back at my trip in Jordan, I am in awe of how many cool things I got to do there! I was surprised that I enjoyed it so much as my favorite places are beaches, followed by cities, and then lastly, nature. Not that I don’t like nature, but it’s just not my top choice. Jordan has a unique history that blows your mind as you travel there and learn about it (not just Greeks and Romans, but all the way back to the Bible!). Here are my 5 favorite things to do in Jordan!

Before you go: You DO need a visa. You’ll get it on arrival and I think it was around $60. You will likely fly to Amman and start your travels from there. It’s a good hub. You will want around 10 days in Jordan to see everything. Here is my itinerary. DO get travel insurance for all the adventure activities. Here is a list of what is and isn’t covered by World Nomads so you can choose the right plan.

5 “Must Do” Things to do in Jordan

1. Hot Air Ballooning in Wadi Rum

This is my number one- even though while I was up there I felt sick- because it was beautiful, adventurous, and something I won’t forget. I always wonder what it would feel like being in a basket in the sky and let me tell you, it didn’t feel like I thought it would!

• Read more about my time in Wadi Rum
• If you want to do a hot air balloon and are coming here only for a night, then check out this tour on Viator which is $200 and includes transport there and back from Amman, hot air balloon ride, all meals, camping in desert, 4×4 Jeep ride, and other things. You can read up on it and book it on Viator with this link.

2. Exploring Petra

I guess this is a given! You can’t come here and NOT see Petra right? Definitely ride an animal here! The camels, donkeys, and horses are everywhere and make they day a little more adventurous. Petra was amazing. Because I was tired, hot, and sweaty I don’t know if in the moment I realized HOW amazing it was. I was so hot I had a hard time even listening to my guide. I recommend coming and resting up the day before so you’re really fresh and mentally prepared for a little trek in the heat!

• Essential tips for visiting Petra
• You can take a full day tour to Petra from Amman for $190. It’s definitely more expensive than going on your own, but I know some of you prefer tours. This is the highest ranked tour on one of the top tour sites, Get Your Guide. Read more and book it here.

3. Checking out Rainbow Street in Amman

Like I said, I really like the cities. I loved exploring this trendy little street, eating ice cream, and just people watching. You learn about places in the cities as much as the rural areas. I mean, Wadi Rum, Petra, and more were quite touristy. Cities are just people living! So, it was cool to see the architecture, the small shops, people on their way to work, the types of cars they drove… really just all the small details.

• Top things to do in Amman

4. Getting a Spa Treatment at Ma’in Hot Springs

I am such a sucker for massages! I literally am addicted because they are around $8 in India (and that’s when the masseuse comes to my house!) so I get them nearly weekly and actually feel stiff when I go too long without one… I know.. it’s ridiculous. But Ma’in is the best spa in Jordan based on many publications and the tourism board there, and I was NOT disappointed. Beyond that, the place and food were great and Ben LOVED being in the hot springs and natural waterfalls. Like a kid in a candy shop!

• More on Ma’in, prices, review, and photos

5. Floating in the Dead Sea

Of course this is on the list… Like Baloo in the Jungle Book, I floated around.. “forget about your worries and your strife.. I mean the bare necessities, old mother nature’s recipes, that bring the bare necessities of life!” The Kempinski Hotel is a masterpiece and I only wish I could have stayed longer. I love that you can use the mud from the pit and do a DIY spa treatment… plus there were 7 swimming pools.

• My top tips for visiting the Dead Sea and where to stay

So there we have it, my 5 favorite things to do in Jordan and the main memories I think of when I look back on my time in Jordan. I wrote SO many articles about it and you can see them all HERE.

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Jordan was truly the trip of a lifetime! There are multiple places in Jordan that are on your bucket list. This Jordan itinerary could be done in 7-15 days but I put 10 just for ease of the title – as it’s really up to you how you want to travel. As you can see on the map below, all the ducks are in a row, so to speak. The airport is in Amman in the middle so you need to cover the North than the South or vice versa. I’ll help with that in the Jordan itinerary below.

Also below for most places I have a link to my blog post on tips for each place, so I won’t go into detail here.

Views from the road:

the countries’ flower, black iris

You may even choose to skip the North entirely, as most major sites are in the South and it would save a lot of time in the car. For reference, you can drive from the most Northern star on this map, Um Qais, to the most Southern, Aqaba, in 5-6 hours with no traffic if you take the main Highway. I suggest the Kings Highway for parts which are slower but shows the “Grand Canyon of Jordan” with fantastic views through winding hilly roads, in the photos just above.

Jordan Itinerary Sample: 10 Days

Amman

Amman International airport is where you will fly in therefore you have to be in Amman. It is worth seeing. The citadel and Roman theater and amazing ruins and I enjoyed seeing trendy Rainbow street. I stayed at one of the most famous luxury hotels, the Intercontinental.

Check out my blog post on things to do in Amman and see the best tour options as well.

From here if you want to take the time to go North, the spots to visit are Um Qais, Ajloun, and Jerash. You can read about these places and decide and if not skip ahead to the South starting at Amman to Karak Castle.

Um Qais

So what’s worth visiting here? More ruins! There are some amazing Greek ruins to explore. At the top, there is a delicious (seriously) restaurant Um Qais Resthouse, a Romero restaurant, which while we were there we saw the King’s Uncle eating at. Very cool. From the top when you look out you interestingly see both Isreal and Syria. Even cooler, you can see the “Sea of Galilee” where Jesus walked on water! I thought that was just amazing. It was my first time seeing biblical references (that I can remember).

Ajloun

Ajloun is a great place for nature lovers and is where you could stay the night after seeing Um Qais. We stayed at the Aljoun Eco Lodge which was peaceful, clean, and quiet. We heard animals all through the night. Food is served in the lodge buffet style. Here you can take hikes and although we only stayed the night you could spend time here bird-watching. There is a castle here as well.

Jerash (Jarash)

Jerash is one of the two places on this list I did not visit due to time. These are also famous ruins and if I could go back I would see them. In my opinion, if you’ve been to Athens and Rome, then you don’t need to see all the ruins in Jordan you can pick and choose. These are quite famous, though. The ruins had been covered because of an earthquake and were only found in 1806. In photos, the hippodrome and theater look impressive!

Now drive back down past Amman to the South.

Karak Castle (Kerak)

If you fancy seeing this castle, now would be a great time to do it. This is a larger crusader castle that was built in 1140. From wiki: Because of its position east of the Dead Sea, Karak was able to control Bedouin herders as well as the trade routes from Damascus to Egypt and Mecca. It is quite impressive, but unless you have a guide to tell stories (which is what makes it special) you may find it underwhelming. We ate lunch here and it was delicious!

Dana Nature Reserve

Dana is another nature-lovers’ place and we stayed at the Dana Rummana campsite. I’m in two minds about the place because the tents are not waterproof, nor is the dining area and we were there in a thunderstorm. I think on a sunny day if you like camping, then this is a beautiful option for you. I think if you are a hotel-type traveler you might want to just see Dana passing through – or if you’ve been to Ajloun, give it a skip. The views were stunning. We ended up asking to leave and go to their nearby guesthouse which was a good option, as that evening the remaining group of Italians there came in drenched around midnight- they had to leave their luggage behind and wait for someone to bring it separately as they woke up with flooded tents. Great idea of a place, but not perfectly executed. The staff was so nice though and the campfire and tea were lovely. The guesthouse, unfortunately, I don’t know the name was the same company and was very cozy! It has some reviews from people saying it was their favorite part of Jordan and others that had not so great experiences. Check them out in the link above and keep in mind tents are a little less than $100.

More photos from Dana:

Petra

Petra, one of the new wonders of the world and the #1 reason people visit Jordan. Obviously, you CANNOT miss Petra while you are here. I have written an extensive amount of tips which you can read here. We stayed at the awesome Movenpick which I highly suggest. It is literally at the doorsteps of the entrance to Petra and it has a pool. 5 stars in Jordan are relatively affordable.

Wadi Rum

Again, I have written all about Wadi Rum (the most popular desert destination). I did hot air ballooning here, stayed at a campsite I don’t recommend, and rode a camel! There’s a lot to do here but many people choose to stay just for the day. Please read up on my article on Wadi Rum for full advice on this.

Aqaba

The second and last town on this list that I did not get to visit while in Jordan was Aqaba which is the popular coastal vacation spot and where you can scuba dive in the famous Red Sea. Ben was really looking forward to going here but it just didn’t work out this time. I definitely would go here if I was given a second chance! I would actually skip seeing the North of Amman in exchange for going here. Wadi Rum, Petra, and Aqaba are sometimes called the tourists “Golden triangle”. Read all about it here.

Ma’in

Ma’in is the home of amazing hot springs (and I mean, HOT!) and huge waterfalls that drop the hot water on your back for a massage! We stayed at the fantastic Ma’in Resort. I wrote all about the resort and spa in a blog post of it’s own which you should check out – but definitely don’t skip Ma’in. It was Ben’s favorite other than Petra and he doesn’t even like spas.

Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is, after Petra, the next biggest tourist attraction for outsiders! I loved seeing it; it’s been on my bucket list since I can remember. I wrote all about it with SO many tips and a look at our hotel, the Kempinski, which was amazing.

Head back to Amman to fly home!

Some tips for booking your Jordan trip:

• I search kiwi.com first for flights.
• Make sure to get travel insurance. I use World Nomads.
• You can rent a car, hire a driver, or take a tour. I use rentalcars.com when I rent. Roads are great here.
• You will get your visa on arrival.
• You’ll want to pre-book hotels here. I have info on all the places I stayed in my articles on each city I went in Jordan.

The Top Tour Options to Cover a Similar Jordan Itinerary

It can seem like a lot to plan a trip like this from scratch and I had the help of the tourism board, who gave me a driver. You can rent a car and do the trip yourself (the roads are very good) or you can book a tour with a driver. I use Get Your Guide and Viator when I book day tours and tend to look at G Adventures for longer tours like this, but I compared them all. Keep in mind, G Adventures tours are run by them while the others are outsourced to anyone who wants to add a tour there – so that is why G Adventures is so mugh higher in price. I am going to link the highest rated tours here with the price and where to read more information and book it.

• 8-Day Highlight of Jordan tour from G Adventures. Book it here for $999. This tour covers all the big highlights (for real) and also goes down to Aqaba. You go by private car and hotels are included. It’s actually a really good price. You can look at their other tours as they have one focused on adventure in the same price range.
• 3-Night Jordan tour to Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea from Viator. Book it here for $456. This tour has the same inclusions for the most part but open them up and compare. It comes down to how much time you have and if you want to see everything or just these key places in the 3-day tour.

I hope that this Jordan itinerary can help you plan out your trip. Jordan was an incredible experience. Thank you to the Visit Jordan for facilitating the trip.

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I tried out a few spa options during my time in Jordan like the luxury Intercontinental in Amman and Kempinski with the magical Dead Sea salt, but I think Ma’in Hot Springs is the ultimate spa experience in Jordan. and the famous hot springs at Ma’in (Hammamat Ma’in) are what make it the best spa in Jordan – or in other words, one you better not miss while you’re there!

Although I haven’t tried all the spa treatments Jordan can offer, I did try the ones with the best reputations. Beyond that, the other top spas in Jordan are in 5 star hotels. I’ve had signature massages at, for example, the Four Seasons in a few locations in the world and I can guess that they would be similar here as well – same goes with other top 5 star hotel spas in Jordan.

The Best Spa in Jordan

I was a guest of the tourism board in Jordan and I told them that I am massage-obsessed and they said I just had to try the spa at Ma’in and in their mind it was the very BEST the country could offer. I was like yeah, I’m in (obvi). So what makes Ma’in the best spa in Jordan?

-The mineral rich hot springs and natural waterfalls!

-It’s a Six Senses Spa.

Six senses is a brand of resorts and spas. To me, the most famous is the one in the Maldives which has won loads of recognitions. Not only was the spa amazing, but the Ma’in Resort itself was incredible. Ben could care less about spa stuff but was like “we’ve got to come back here!”

Beyond that, CN Traveler did a round-up of the “readers’ choice” top spas in the world and Ma’in is #2, granted it was a few years ago.

It’s at 264 meters below sea level and very close to the Jordan River and Dead Sea. I’ve shared about how the Dead Sea is full of minerals and mud that celebrities use to look young and some people even use to heal a variety of ailments. This is no different in that sense, although the water isn’t salty like the sea. It’s still mineral-rich with Potassium, Magnesium, and Calcium.

These hot springs do have areas that are open to the public, pay per use. The ones in here are not open and there are two places you can use them the resort pool and the spa pool. The spa pool is a little walk away (enough that they offer a car). The spa pool is definitely the best of the two. The waterfalls come into the pools and you can stand under for a back massage. The water is 113 degrees (and higher) in the falls.

I had a mud wrap and an “oriental” massage. The mud wrap was of course Dead Sea mud and after it was put on, I had to get into a heated space blanket (like in Istanbul!) and then got a massage until it was too hot to take! After taking that off I had the second half of the treatment, which was basically a Balinese. I loved it! It was a two-hour treatment and absolute heaven.

The Ma’in Resort

The resort is a “wooden” theme I guess you’d say? Ha, it’s all natural looking. Even the pens at reception are wooden. I loved the decor and feel like I could live in a place decorated like this. The rooms were cozy with huge bathtubs and balconies. The food was also quite stellar.

The food was fantastic. We had big sandwiches for lunch with Caesar salad and the dinner buffet had.. wait for it…. make your own fajitas complete with gooey cheese sauce. This was our last night in Jordan so I felt okay having some Western food after eating Jordanian food all week. Although it was a buffet ha, I had a little of everything!

The morning that we left, we had about 30 minutes before check out and Ben was like, “I have to get in that waterfall one more time!” He swam and jumped and played… and I said Ben we have to go! He’s like Ohhh 5 more minutes! Ha, like a kid at the pool. He really loved it and I did too.

Historically, this area was frequented by the folks in the Bible! John the Baptist was killed here & King Herod used the waterfalls!

I highly recommend this resort & spa. You can book here!

Address: Six Senses Spa, Evason Ma’in Hot Springs, Madaba, Ma’In, Jordan. You can read more about visiting this area on Lonely Planet.

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When you think of Jordan, you wouldn’t be alone if you picture deserts first. Many people first think of the big empty deserts and the famous Indiana Jones site of Petra. While in Wadi Rum, which should definitely be on your itinerary,  you can camp at a traditional Bedouin site and relax or you can go looking for adventure. I choose adventure! Riding hot air balloons in Wadi Rum might be the most extravagant, and camel rides and jeep safaris are other great options for adventure in Jordan.

Wadi Rum: “the valley of the moon”

Nabateans left traces of their lives here as well as Petra and you can see it in rock carvings, temples, and graffiti. If you’re wondering where to stay for the best Martian experience, this is it! Guess what was just filmed here? The Martian!

Touring around Jordan tends to be more of a “tour” than just wandering around like you would in Europe. From what I saw, most foreigners were on tour groups. These can be pretty exhausting so just remember when the group does something you’re not into you can skip it. Just make sure you save energy for these fun things!

Hot air balloons in Wadi Rum… the greatest adventure in Jordan!

I have always wanted to ride in a hot air balloon! It was ever since I saw photos of Cappadocia, Turkey which is one of the most famous places in the world for riding in a hot air balloon. What makes it so famous are the amazing sandstone structures down below. I did not expect Wadi Rum to have the exact same looking structures! I thought it would be barren and I wasn’t sure what would make the view so spectacular. I was in awe when I saw the area we were going to fly above, the only thing I wish was different is if it were a little less hazy.

I suggest bringing a book along with you. You have to wake up early and drive out to the site but it takes about 30 or 45 minutes to get the hot air balloon all set up. Then again, after you have to wait for them to take it apart and pack it up.

Tip: If you are on a budget keep in mind on the way out you can ride in the back of the truck which is the same type of experience as a pricey desert jeep ride (although you aren’t going to any tourist sites). You could kill two birds with one stone.

Ta-da! It was ready and filling up with hot air. There’s a lot more to it than the Disney movie Up! makes it seem! I was riding next to the “driver” because I was a late booking. He warned me that his spot, and now mine, is the hottest in the balloon. The combo of that, no breakfast and not much to eat the day before, an early wake up, and a windy day made me feel a little light headed as we floated along higher and higher.

Here’s what my view looked like straight down:

Pretty fantastic right? I don’t recall exactly how high up we went, but it was really freakin’ high lol. Another girl also felt sick and we both actually sat down for about 10 minutes. It was about an hour ride. I love heights and adventure like bungee jumping, cliff jumping & canyoning, and hang-gliding, so I’m not sure what got me this time. But man were the views worth it!

Because it was so hot, he gave me an extra hat to wear. I am kind of leaning into the passenger side in this pic while we were on land but in the air, I had to stand all the way to the left and got blasted by heat. I didn’t look at the hat until we landed. I saw it was MICHIGAN and about died laughing. Michigan was my rival in University.

I told the owner that but there was a misunderstanding and he thought I was saying I went to Michigan so he gave me the hat. I didn’t want to say no and be rude, so thanked him. I left it in the back of his truck though so he could keep it. I sent a photo to my family and was immediately labeled a traitor haha!

contact: website: rumballoon.com (this is via their business card, but the URL is down now) email: rumballoon@yahoo.com. You absolutely need to book at least two weeks ahead of time! 10 days was not enough and I had to cross my fingers for a cancellation. 

If you want to book a tour in Jordan, I suggest checking out this tour from G Adventures, an 8-Day Highlight of Jordan. Book it here for $999. This tour covers all the big highlights and includes a hot air balloon ride and other fun activities. You go by private car and hotels are included. It’s actually a really good price. You can look at their other tours as they have one focused on adventure in the same price range.

Sunset camel ride in Wadi Rum

I am no stranger to a camel ride in the desert, but this time I didn’t drink a giant lassi filled with marijuana ahead of time. I’ve grown up, ya know?

We came to Wadi Rum directly from Petra and I was exhausted. The camel ride was only 1 hour which I was actually really appreciative of. I did a two-day one in Rajasthan in the past and it was rough. Camel rides actually hurt and it’s not uncommon to hear of tourists falling of their camels.

I couldn’t really believe Ben got on one. But then, I also never thought I’d see him on a donkey and that happened. One hour was the perfect amount of time but sadly there was no sunset. It was just really hazy while we were there. We climbed up some rocks half way through to take a few photos.

If you haven’t been on a camel, I don’t really have any tips… you kind of have to just get on one to see what it’s like. They sort of bow down and you get on and when they go up, they go up fast and awkward. They go back down awkward as well and this is when you need to not be too stiff and just go with it. Hold on tight!

If you want to laugh your ass off watch how camels run in this video. When I rode in India my camel helper boy kept making mine run while I was on it. It’s terrifying. 

I must give Ben credit for this photo.. because he said so.

Jeep ride to Lawrence of Arabia site

If you aren’t up for camel rides or just want another option, then take a jeep safari. We went after breakfast and did it kind of quickly because we had a car ride ahead of us. You should have about 2 hours for this. There are some attractions that all the Jeep safaris go to which I’ll share below.

Here you can see some of the carvings (just barely over the rock in the middle). I can’t seem to find my picture that I took once I climbed up. I am also looking very camouflaged in this picture! It’s hot and sandy on these rides so definitely bring sunglasses.

This was next to the ancient carvings and no one actually said if this legitimately was a table or if it’s just a coincidence. I think it’s just a coincidence? But we did the tourist shot because, why not?

You can see some Bedouin people in this picture. They are considered nomads and used to ride only by Arabian horse, but these days have 4×4 trucks and more permanent homes. They earn through mostly tourism. They still have that nomad spirit though and know the desert better than anyone!

This was one last stop we made. Look at that view! Just incredible. So, the jeep ride was short and sweet but totally worth it. We also saw the site where Lawrence of Arabia was filmed. I haven’t seen the movie, so it wasn’t that special of a moment for me. I definitely want to see it. Sometimes movies help you get a look at a culture so it’d be cool to see a story about Wadi Rum back in the day. Below are the carvings from the Lawrence of Arabia site, of him.

Where to stay in Wadi Rum…

This is a tricky one. I’m not going to mention my place because I don’t highly recommend it. In fact, from what I’ve heard more people say the group camping sites are mostly the same. I would say either look into a private camping site or stay outside Wadi Rum at a hotel instead of camping.

It’s not that I don’t like camping, but there were 200 people there. They were college-aged kids, drinking, and partying. You can imagine in a Muslim country there isn’t a lot of that allowed in the city, so they really let loose in the desert with no authorities around. There were a few “tourists” and we all kind of went to bed early. They set up a proper DJ with disco lights and everything…

We didn’t see a single star.

I was pretty bummed by this and so was Ben. Also, imagine 200 people in line for a buffet at dinner time. The cottages were okay but you need to bring your own towels and I recommend bringing a sheet too. I guess I just had different expectations. When we arrived there were only 10 people sitting around and we thought we might even sleep in sleeping bags out by the campfire but that was impossible we realized once we came back from our camel ride in the evening and saw all the other people arriving. I think the music went off around midnight. I had to be up for sunset for the hot air balloon ride, so it wasn’t ideal.

Overall, Wadi Rum is an amazing place in the world and I think you’d be crazy to go to Jordan and not check out the desert. If you go through a tour company just mention that you do not want a group campsite and would to be somewhere peaceful and small. So there we go, some adventurous things to do in Jordan! I think hot air balloons in Wadi Rum is a great option if you can choose only one adventure thing to splurge out on.

Read more: 10 day itinerary for Jordan & how to dress in Jordan

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You’ve probably heard of Petra, one of the new wonders of the World and the filming site of many movies (like Indiana Jones)! But a lot of people don’t know what it involves to tour Petra. I wanted to put together some essential tips for visiting Petra so you’re well prepared. The more prepared you are the better the experience will be.

These huge sandstone carvings in Wadi Musa are on every traveler’s bucket list. The walkway in called the Siq, is over 660 feet high and keeps you shaded and cool as you walk toward the main sights.

My Essential Tips for Visiting Petra!

1. Absolutely do a Petra Tour

For many places, I think that exploring on your own is fun and you can read signs as you go through, but at Petra, the Rose City, there were very few signs explaining the history. Without a guide, you won’t know what you’re even looking at. The stories behind the sculptures and carvings are what made it such a special day. Guides can be very inexpensive and if you split the costs with your travel buddies, it’s very well worth it. Have you heard of the Nabataean dynasty? No? Then take a tour for sure! I do recommend reading up on it a little before because you’ll appreciate it even more. Here are a few quick facts:

• Nabateans made this place is 312 BC
• UNESCO heritage site
• Was unknown to the West until 1812! Bedouin tribes kept it secret because they feared people would come treasure hunting in their home.
• Trade of things like frankincense and myrrh happening here and people passing by had to pay a fee.
• One of the new 7 wonders of the world (see the rest here)
• No one actually knows what the treasury was for.
• Moses’ brother Aaron is buried around here at the tip-top of the mountain.

These are the first sights you’ll see as you walk into the Siq:

2. Travel to Petra – Amman to Petra, getting there

You will want to ask your driver to take the “Kings Highway” which isn’t as fast but is a scenic route that some locals call Jordan’s Grand Canyon. The sights were great and we stopped at a few lookout points for photos so add in about 30 minutes. You can also stop at Karak Castle if you go this way. I’ll be posting an itinerary soon! This route is very windy and hilly so don’t take if you get car sick.

3. Consider Petra by Night

… but don’t plan your trip around it. Petra by Night is a “performance” at Petra, at night, go figure! Although it was neat to see the lights, we were very tired from our trip and maybe could have given this a skip. So many people loved this experience, like Ashley & Jessica, so definitely do some research before deciding. The performance was good and they pass around tea. I would have preferred to check out Petra town, shop, and eat some street food after dinner and just wait to see Petra in the morning. We went a little late so had no mats to sit on which made it not so fun, but we also had the walk through the lit up Siq all to ourselves. If you want some images, check out the posts linked above because I have no clue how to take night photos!

4. Where to stay in Petra

The two great 5 star hotels are the Movenpick & Marriott although the Movenpick is the most famous of the two. It’s just outside the entrance of the site and has a pool! We stayed there and it was cool to know that Ben’s dad also stayed there years ago!

For a great but more affordable option, check out Petra Guesthouse. It’s got a more boutique feel and many like that more than a 5 star! If you want something budget, stay at the famous (and cheap) Al Rashid Hotel. DO book ahead for any hotel in Jordan. Don’t just show up.

5. Petra is not just the treasury!

The treasury is what you see on all the photos and what you probably have heard of but the Monastery which is a huge walk away is much larger and more impressive. I heard the same thing from others who have been there which is that guides imply it’s not worth going to, which might be because they don’t want to make the walk up.

I am here to say it IS worth going to. I wouldn’t have if Ben didn’t want to. He was determined so I went along with it and am so happy we did. The monastery did not use to be open to the public, so it’s great that we are now able to see it.

Here is what you’ll see BEYOND the treasury!

Colosseum 

map via ZigZag

6. Get there early

We got there about 9 AM which was a decent time but earlier is more preferable. We saw some people rocking up at 2 PM and felt so bad for them being out in the hot sun. You need 7 hours to walk to the monastery and back. We did it in 5 but we SERIOUSLY speed walked and we took a donkey part of the way up to the monastery (I’ll get to that later). It starts to get really hot around 1 pm so the earlier you go the better, plus there will be fewer people around.

this kid above was hilarious. I had my guide ask for a photo of him and we gave him some candy in exchange. For the photo, he chugged his juice box then slammed it to the ground with this huge attitude haha theatrical. 

7. Take a donkey up to the monastery… but not like I did

I am a huge animal lover but really did feel like this was an okay thing to do. It gives money to the people working there and donkeys are really strong animals that, from what I understand, can walk these steps without issue. The monastery is at the top of 822 very steep and uneven steps. Many people wore hiking shoes and brought a walking stick. I wore silk trousers and my favorite

Then, I nearly fell off! I was wearing a tank top with a sweater over it and went braless because I knew it’d be all hot and sweaty out there. I didn’t know I’d be on a bumpy camel ride. As soon as I let go with one hand to hold my chest (because the donkey had started trotting) my silk pants failed me and I started to slip to the left…

I just knew I was going down!

I yelled out and my left leg sort of tripped the donkey. I couldn’t balance out and was feeling like a bitch for tripping an innocent donkey but the guy who was walking with us (he owned them) pushed me back up and Monica, my dear donkey friend, kept on walking like nothing happened. I think she winked at me like girl, don’t worry, no one saw. But let’s be honest, people saw.

We paid 5 dinars each for the ride up ($15 USD all together) which was offered to us as we walked by, not negotiated. I did see others pay 10 dinars each for a ride.

8. Save the camel ride for Wadi Rum (unless you aren’t going there)

There are camels rides which you could take from the bottom of the monastery back toward the treasury (and you could ride a horse or chariot back from there). If you’re going to Wadi Rum on a camel safari I suggest saving your money and waiting to have this experience in the desert instead of a crowded historic site.

The chariot is great if you have difficulty walking and is about $40 dinar each way. Not cheap!

9. Buy the two-day pass

Chances are you will go there two days, not just one – after all, you’ve flown all this way! The one-day pass is $70 USD and the two-day is $77 USD. You can read more about the passes here. Tickets come with a free horse ride which is about a 5-minute ride but it’s not actually free because you need to tip 5 dinars (about $7 USD). It looked like fun, but I passed on this. Petra by night is an additional $25 bucks.

10. What to wear in Petra

Wear comfortable walking shoes! I was fine in Tom’s really and Ben was in flip-flops so this isn’t as major as everyone makes it out to be but yes, of course, hiking shoes would make it easier.

This is a Middle Eastern country (duh) and although not as strict as somewhere like Saudi, there are customs you should follow. I wore silk Ali baba pants which were breezy and comfortable. I wore a tank with a long sleeve kaftan (sort of) over it. It had slits in the armpit where you could get a breeze and also take your arms out and make it a tank top kaftan. It was hot, but you should cover up here. I saw girls in mini dresses and jean shorts, so to each their own. Most of what I wore was from the brand Tia.

Do NOT forget sunscreen! I am obsessed with Sun Bum… lifesaver!

11. Bring money

You can shop as a few places. There are food and tea stalls (and even free WiFi). I bought my mom a seriously overpriced pice of jewelry because it was that cute. I can’t say what because I haven’t given it to her yet! Ben got an overpriced coin that may or may not be from ancient times. I try not to be cynical though! We also paid for water, tea, and our donkey rides. Kids are selling post cards as well.

this is the famous Rosemary spice shop, definitely make a stop by! You can’t miss it.

12. What I would do differently…

Of all my tips for visiting Petra, this is the one I think is most important. As I mentioned I would skip Petra by Night to explore the town. Unfortunately with just 2 or 3 days you end up going from the hotel to Petra and entering the blocked off UNESCO site. There IS a whole town there where people live and work. I wish I could have explored outside the tourist attraction and next time would do so. There was one place outside that we did try, which is my next point.

13. Eat at Qantara

This is a popular restaurant owned by the self-proclaimed Arab Al Pacino (lol) and it was very tasty! This was the only thing we did outside of Petra site and the hotel due to time constraints and I loved this meal.

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Visiting the Dead Sea is something I’ve always wanted to do and I was lucky to visit this dream destination on my recent trip to Jordan. You can also visit this Sea from Isreal. There were a few things I didn’t know ahead of time so wanted to share some tips for the Dead Sea in Jordan so you can enjoy it to the fullest.

Hey, Ash… are there any fish in the dead sea? (me to my tour guide)

–(his reply) umm.. no, that’s why it’s called the dead sea.. everything dies. 

Right, that makes sense… my bad.

I should have Wikipedia’d this place before! lol I knew it was so salty you could float but that’s about it. As I started traveling in Jordan people were talking about the magical mud from the Dead Sea. This didn’t come as a huge surprise because since I can remember there have been Israelis/Jordanians/Palestinians selling Dead Sea Products in the middle of the malls of America in Kiosks. I have tried those products and did like them but never thought that much about it. I also was excited to see what it felt like to float. So, here are my tips for visiting the Dead Sea in Jordan.

Tips for the Dead Sea in Jordan

Visit SOON before it’s too late

Sadly, this sea (which is really a lake) has shrunk by 30% and scientists say we may only have 50 years to float in these healing waters. The water comes from the Jordan River which is also used as drinking water for everyone around. There so far is no solution in sight.

Choose the perfect hotel

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for most people. There are dozens of great hotels to choose from but if you can budget out $280 a night you’ll be sleeping in one of the best hotels in the world: the Kempinski Ishtar. Kempinski is one of the most high-end hotel brands in the world and you don’t often find such an incredible hotel at these prices (even in India it’s more at the Leela Kempinski Goa). To put it into perspective, a room like this in Waikiki usually goes for about $700.

I wouldn’t suggest splurging out like this on your whole trip to Jordan. Most people visit so many desert and forest places that don’t have luxury options, that this would be your one-time splurge… one that is well worth it!

Definitely book ahead for the spa

If you stay at the Kempinski, which many people do (it’s HUGE), you need to book ahead for a spa treatment as they fill up. They were voted the best spa in Jordan and for good reason. You can get “Dead Sea mud treatments” all over this region, but here you’re actually at the Dead Sea getting it straight from the source.

You actually can just go to the sea and use the mud free of charge, but a treatment would be a heated mud wrap, olive oil or mud facial, and a massage.

You luckily can buy this mud at Macy’s, Nordstrom or [easyazon_link identifier=”B004UQH4CW” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]online here[/easyazon_link]! AHAVA is the best brand!

This wonderful skin-perfecting mud stains!

You should wear either an old swimsuit or a black swimsuit. The mud does stain some light-colored fabrics. I wore my TIA one piece bikini because it’s my darkest one. You can wear a bikini, though, it doesn’t have to be a one-piece. Once you’re in a 5-star hotel in Jordan you can dress a little less covered up if you really feel like it and you can drink booze!

Most of the hotels are set up along the Dead Sea, so this doesn’t just go for where I stayed, the Kempinski. You can expect that the hotel will provide towels, an outdoor shower, and a little container of mud to dig into.

You can’t actually dig down and get the mud yourself because you can’t get this water in your eyes… which leads me to my next point.

This water will BURN your eyes and open cuts

In fact, you should not even shave the few days before you get in the Dead Sea. Razor burn would be MISERABLE! After about 10 minutes, I started to feel a tingle on my skin so I got out. You shouldn’t stay in more than 15 minutes.

The routine for your skin was told to us as: Get in and float 10 minutes. Get out and apply mud. Let the mud dry. Get in for another 10 minutes. Rinse off in the shower.

The rinsing off in the shower is the most important bit! The mud actually sticks on so once you back to your room you should wash up again.

This mud is well-known to help your skin look like a lasered celebrities skin and is highly recommended.

You can’t actually swim as the water is so thick with salt you are forced to float. Make sure you fall backward into it and not onto your face.

The Dead Sea has healing properties… loads of them!

People didn’t start coming here because they could float. People came because the water was magical. It’s said to heal all kinds of problems like psoriasis and osteoporosis. There is not only a lot of salt in the water but many other minerals. Along with soaking in mineral rich water, you are very far below sea level (in fact, the lowest point on earth!) so that you aren’t getting the sun rays that will burn you. For that reason it’s a safe place to lay in the sun and let the mud and salt water work their magic. People come from all over the world on medical trips to help their health, while looking for alternative cures.

Make time for the River Jordan

We really tried but didn’t get the time. I hadn’t realized until I got there that it was where Jesus was baptized. I really wanted to get our friend (and dogsitter) Ryance some water from the river, as well as my brother and his wife. It’s only 20 minutes from the hotel area, plus a 20 minutes shuttle but with their timings (9 AM- 4PM as we were told) it never worked out to make it on time. Later, we found tiny bottles in a shop with water from the River Jordan and bought it, although I have a sneaky suspicion the used similar sales tactics to the man who sold Ben the RayBans Tom Cruise wore in Risky Business ;)

Here are a few links to similar pieces that I wore here!

The post Tips for the Dead Sea in Jordan… a cool & crazy experience! appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Before going to Amman I didn’t have many expectations. I hadn’t done a lot of research and the city really blew me away and is unlike anywhere I have been in the past. I want to share some things to do in Amman Jordan. With only two days there, I covered a lot of ground but I would guess you need more like 4 days to explore it more in-depth. You can get more information on Visit Jordan, which is the Jordan tourism board.

The Amman airport is located outside the main parts of the city as you can see below and you can either get a cab there or rent a car. The roads are very good, traffic isn’t bad, and they drive on the right side of the road. There are many automatic cars so renting is a very good option here. I use rentalcars.com because they compare all the major sites.

Jordan Travel Guide

• How to dress in Jordan and Look Cute
• 10-day Itinerary for Jordan
• Best Luxury Hotels in Jordan
• 5 Best Things to do in Jordan
  • Camels and Hot Air Balloons in Wadi Rum Desert
  • Where to stay at the Dead Sea

Amman Jordan is usually people’s starting off point before they go to the hotspots of Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea but I hope you take at least a couple of days to explore what the city has to offer. Amman weather varies and can be quite hot (this is the middle east!) but you still need to stay covered up while exploring. Although I didn’t prepare much for my itinerary, I DID prepare my outfits lol! You guys know I like to be stylish no matter where I travel. Here are tips for what to wear in Jordan.

Everything mentioned in pinned on this interactive map below. Just click the zoom in button so you can see it more clearly.

Top Things to do in Amman

1. Check into the city’s oldest 5-star hotel

There are many options for Amman hotels, but the Intercontinental has a rich history and fantastic location. You are only about 10 minutes from the very cool “rainbow street” which I’ll share about later. The spa is great (I had a signature massage), there are two pools which once you feel the heat of Jordan, you will really appreciate, and there are 6 restaurants. The buffet lunch was delicious. We tried the Cinco de Mayo Mexican (because we can’t get Mexican food in India) and it was actually REALLY good. Keep in mind the alcohol in 5 stars in Jordan is really expensive because you can’t get it in a lot of places.

Because it’s an older hotel and rates are less here than say, Europe, you will be shocked how good of a deal you can get! Read more reviews and book here.

2. Eat the best falafel and humus in Amman

Hashem Falafel is renowned for being the best place for your falafel lunch. Honestly, it’s the best hummus I’ve had in my life and I didn’t have any better while I was in Jordan. The olive oil on it was SO freaking good I wish I could have bought 10 bottles! There are so many restaurants in Amman as you walk around but while you’re downtown, take the time to search this place out. We had to wait about 5 minutes for a table. Try the mint tea too!

3. Grab a snack at the most famous local shop

Habibah Knafeh on Al-Hazzar St is very famous as well for their khunafa. It’s a traditional dessert which is a layered desert: goat cheese, some crusty bits (I don’t know what!), and pistachios on top plus a sugary sweet syrup. I love goat cheese but this was a little sweet for me- but most sweets are. You’ve got to give it a try though! It’s very near to Hashem so you can do these back to back no problem.

4. Rainbow Street

This is a little trendy road that has so many restaurants and shops along it. I loved looking at the Ottoman architecture and taking photos of the colorful graffiti. I cannot get over how many ice cream shops there were! Seriously, every 3 shops were ice cream. We went itothe first one we saw and I have never seen anything like it… all shops should do ice cream this way! They had gelato and sorbet ON A STICK! THEN you choose a melted flavored chocolate to dip it in… THEN, before it dries you choose a candy to ROLL IT IN! then it dries and is the perfect layered customized popsicle! I also loved the old Mercedes everywhere; it seems everyone drives one!

5. Al-Balad

This is considered the heart of Amman and really a place you must explore. It’s just below the Citadel and is the old downtown- so old it’s from the Neolithic period! There are a lot of shops around here, but in Jordan most shops are closed on Fridays. The Habibah shop mentioned above is in this area. Check out the famous Arab Bank, buy some roasted peanuts, Souk Bukharia (market), and more! This all connects through to the Citadel & Roman theatre I’ll mention further down.

We visited a souvenir shop which has won awards by the tourism board, and I agree. As someone who thoroughly enjoys shopping in India and other places I visit, this shop was amazing. They were so friendly so I want to give you their information: Qusaybate Shop, St Al Hashme, Amman.

6. King Abdullah Mosque

One place I didn’t have time to make on this list. I wasn’t that bummed since I was just in Istanbul at the Blue Mosque but photos of this place look really cool and if this is your first time seeing a Mosque, you should take the time to visit. I would have if I had more time!

7. Grab a Shawarma

There was a VERY popular little place just near us at the Intercontinental that had a HUGE line. I’ve pinned it on the map “Shawarma Reem”. Shawarma is a don’t miss while here.

8. Citadel

Once called Philadelphia… wait, what!? Yes, which means “brotherly love” in Greek. The whole of Amman was called Phili which is definitely a fact I didn’t know! It was very cool wondering these ruins especially since Ben hadn’t seen them before. It was neat to learn about which designs were Roman and which were Greek ruins as they took their turns running this town. This is where you’ll get some of the best views in town. I highly recommend taking a tour so you can learn the history while you’re here.

PS If you want even more tips on where I shop for stylish clothes, check here

9. Theatre

We continued on from the Citadel to the Roman theatre down a back way with a lot of stairs, thank goodness going downhill! But you can google maps this to make sure you take a best route. Definitely a very cool ruin to see. It always makes me sad at theatres to learn about the fights that went on for entertainment. Here, you can see in the middle a slight slope and drain… for the blood. You can see as well there are a few different entrances, as the highest classes wouldn’t use the same as the “peasants” or “commoners” or whatever they called lower-class people back then.

10. Smoke shisha

Ben was sick so we didn’t go out and check out the nightlife. Luckily, Loren lives there and wrote a few great places to go. You can smoke shisha all over Jordan, but Amman would have been a really cool place to do so and see what the scene is like once the sun has gone down.

Tips for Visiting Amman

• You will want a cheap flight. I search kiwi.com first. They are literally the best.
• Get travel insurance, especially if you are riding camels and such. Check rates on my preferred company, World Nomads. They are who Lonely Planet and most top bloggers say to use and I have for years.
• Probably a rental car unless you plan on doing a tour or hiring a driver through a travel agency. I use rentalcars.com.
• You’ll want to pre-book hotels here. I have info on all the places I stayed in my articles on each city I went in Jordan.
• You do need a visa and you get it on arrival at the airport.

Day tour options to try in Amman are a great idea! I had a guide with me who was from the tourism board as I was there for work – but you can get a guide on Get Your Guide GYG) or Viator, my two favorite sites.

• A 2-hour dinner experience with a local family for $34 per person. Read reviews and book on GYG.
• City tour of Amman for 2 hours with a guide and driver. Read reviews and book on GYG.
• Add in Jerash and you can do a full day of Amman and Jerash for $143. This tour has a lot of 5-star reviews. Book it on Viator.

Pin things to do in Amman Jordan for later:

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From riding Arabian horses in Amman to riding in a hot air balloon in the deserts of Wadi Rum, there is no shortage of luxury in Jordan. The country may not be as rich as it’s Gulf neighbors, but it’s luxury options are many if that’s the type of trip you want to take. I was in Jordan for 10 days and stayed in 4-star properties and other unique boutique properties and am going to share the best luxury hotels in Jordan.

Getting to Jordan is easy enough. You fly into Amman, which is just outside of the city, about 30 minutes drive. You could go super luxury and use a private jet hire into and out of Amman! I recommend hiring a car (I use rentalcars.com) rather than taking a taxi unless you have a tour set you up. Most 5 star hotels will arrange airport pick up for you as another option. Many countries are offered a visa on arrival at about 40 Jordanian Dinar (around $60 USD). Get more information on visas here.

Also, check out:

• My 10-day itinerary which has a map with all the highlights of Jordan and how to do it all in under 10 days.
• Tips on how to dress in Jordan

The Best Luxury Hotels in Jordan

Intercontinental, Amman

Can’t go wrong starting out with this hotel. It’s the oldest 5 star hotel in Amman and you can feel the tradition here. The prices are very low here compared to Intercontinental hotels around the world. The buffet is incredible. As it’s an older hotel, you will notice that the rooms are a little outdated in style. There are two pools and a spa and the location is ideal. Click through here to book.

Four Seasons, Amman

TipAdvisor reviewers have chosen this as the #1 hotel in Amman and although it doesn’t have the rich history, it is newer and fresher. The hotel is stunning and Four Seasons brand is one of my all time favorites. There is a pool, incredible spa, and it’s just 15 minutes from Old Downtown (which is where you want to sight-see). Click here to book.

Kempinski, Dead Sea

This is the most luxurious hotel in Jordan! If you are saving up for one splurge out night, this is the place to do it. Brad and Angelina agree, as they stayed in one of their private villas. The spa is the #1 Spa in the country and there are 7 pools! Honestly, one of the coolest hotels I’ve stayed at. The “basic” rooms are HUGE. Click here to book.

Crowne Plaza, Dead Sea

This hotel is a serious rival for the Dead Sea and actually ranks higher than them on TripAdvisor. Although I will always choose a Kempinski property (the one in Istanbul is amaze-balls), this one is a great option as well and would be my second choice, so check out the prices and compare. Location-wise, it’s just next to the Kempinski. Click here to book.

Movenpick, Petra

You won’t visit Jordan without going to Petra I hope! This is the top 5 star hotel in the area, hands down. This hotel is the nicest in the area plus it’s LITERALLY right outside the entrance to Petra. That’s extra ideal for early morning walks there and seeing “Petra by Night”. There is a swimming pool (you can wear bikinis here while in 5 star hotels). The hotel is older, but feels like something very regal. The bar area is absolutely stunning. Click here to book.

Marriott, Petra

Another great option, although not as awesome as the Movenpick, it’s sometimes cheaper (based on searches I’ve just down) so definitely worth your consideration. It’s a 5 star and has fantastic views! You won’t have that Movenpick service and charm, but Marriott is always a good brand. Click here to book.

Ma’in Hot Springs Resort, Ma’in

This is a no-brainer option for visiting the Ma’in hot springs. There are no other luxury options in the area and this hotel is out of this world. The wooden and natural decor is how I want my house one day! The swimming pools are full or hot water which is rushing down from natural waterfalls into the pool- a nice free back massage. The spa was the bomb. Definitely go for the dead sea mud wrap and massage. You can use the spa pool as well which is really neat and quiet. The food is also the best we had in the hotels in Jordan. Click here to book.

Kempinski, Aqaba

Aqaba is the coastal beach hotspot here and on most tourists itinerary. Maybe you’ve noticed I love Kempinski hotels, but overall in all of Jordan this hotel won the TripAdvisor best hotel in Jordan. I sadly didn’t make it this far South, but when I do go back, this is 100% where I’ll stay. It looks like amazing modern architecture and pools, right next to the ocean. Click here to book.

More hotels in Jordan…

You may be curious why there aren’t hotels listed for the other popular options like Wadi Rum, Dana Nature Park, and Ajloun. The reason is what’s available, although very cute and fun to stay at, are not luxury options. They are tents, camping, and eco-lodges. For this reason, many people make day trips to these areas from other places. I also didn’t find any “boutique” style hotels and options here so if you want luxury go for 5 star!

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