Planning to visit Jordan? Jordan is a country located in the Middle East. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south, Iraq to the east, Syria to the north, and Israel and Palestine to the west. The capital of Jordan is Amman.
Jordan is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. The king of Jordan is the head of state and the prime minister is the head of government. Jordan has a population of 9.5 million people. Arabic is the official language of Jordan.
When is the Best Month to Visit Jordan?
The best time of year to visit Jordan if you want to see a lot of the country at once is in the spring, from March to May. It’s when the weather is warm but not hot.
Wildflowers are blooming all over the country, even in the desert. The hills and valleys that run down the middle of the country are lush and colourful.
The worst of the rain is over by March, but it doesn’t stop until late April in northern Amman and the hills around it. Everyone is happy with the humidity, and low, clear sunlight makes the desert rocks look like a rainbow.
Winds from the desert, which are full of dust and rocks, blow out from the Arabian interior every spring or early summer. This is the only thing that could go wrong.
This is called the khamseen in the Middle East because it usually lasts for 50 days, but in Jordan, it usually only lasts for a few days. It can darken the sky and raise the temperature by 10°C, covering everyone and everything in the sand.
Climate in Jordan
In spite of its small size, Jordan has a lot of different climates. Amman, Petra, and Wadi Rum are all over 800 meters above sea level, while Dana and Ajloun are even higher (up to 1500 meters).
The Dead Sea is 400 meters below sea level. This means that where you want to go in Jordan will help you decide when to go.
All of these cities are more than 800 meters above sea level. Dana and Ajloun, on the other hand, are even higher than that (up to 1500m).
Dead Sea: The Dead Sea is 400m below sea level. The same day in January could have you playing in the snow in Ajloun or getting a new tan on the Red Sea beaches.
Jordan is 90% desert, so the summers are hot and dry. Aqaba and the Dead Sea can get up to 40°C in July. It’s important to remember that the nights are cold, though. The sands of Wadi Rum can get down to 4°C in the winter, for example.
In contrast, the northwest of Jordan is a lot more green than the rest of the country, so it gets the most rain each year. In January, for example, it gets 69mm of rain. Along with Petra, which is 1,100m above sea level, it is some of the coolest places in the country.
When is the Best Month to visit Jordan?
If you want to go on a trip, the best time to visit Jordan is either in April or May. Most of the rain has stopped and the temperature hasn’t yet reached the 45°C highs of the summer.
If you’re planning on going hiking in Jordan, now is a great time. The country has a lot of wildflowers blooming in its lush valleys and rolling hills. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the evenings are still cool, especially in the northwest around the city of Amman.
When to visit Jordan in winter
Winter months in Amman can be very cold, with bitter winds blowing through the valleys, rain, and even snow, but the sun is never far away.
With short days and freezing nights, the winter season in Petra can be hard. There have been times when the temperature was as low as -8°C.
Aqaba, on the other hand, is a great place to go for a break. Even in January, there’s sunshine and warmth, and the water in both the Red Sea and the Dead Sea stays around 24°C all year.
Visiting Jordan in December – January – February
Mid-winter might be the best time to go to Jordan. For some people, this is the best time to go. There is a lot of suns and warm water in southern Aqaba, which happens to be on the northern shores of the Red Sea. This makes it ideal for beach-themed vacations.
Amman and Petra, which are both at a higher altitude, are less welcoming because they get a lot of snow. Make sure you’ve dressed appropriately for the weather if you plan to go on a trip.
When to visit Jordan in spring
During spring in Jordan, the months of March to the end of May are the best time to visit. If you think about the weather, it’s the best time to visit Jordan because it’s a good time because the weather is good. This is also Jordan’s high season. The best thing is to book rooms ahead of time in places where people go.
If you want to avoid the rainy season, it’s best to visit Jordan in late April or May. Keep in mind that things start to get hot around the Dead Sea and Aqaba in the south at that time.
However, when you visit Petra, the best time of year to do so is in May. 4mm of rain falls each year, and the temperature rarely goes above 30°C.
Visiting Jordan in March
A lot of wildflowers start blooming in the north of Jordan in March as the cold winds and rain of winter start to die down. This means that spring has begun in Jordan.
This time of year, there is still a lot of rain in Jordan, but the rain tends to be short and quick. Hikers start to show up around this time of year, especially in the hills around the Dead Sea and in Jordan’s nature parks.
When to visit Jordan in summer
In the summer, from June to September, Amman can get very hot. It can get up to 40°C in the city centre, but it’s not very hot and the hills get some cool breezes.
In Aqaba, a hot wind makes you feel like you’re baking in a fan-assisted oven. The temperatures at the Dead Sea and Aqaba have been known to reach 45°C.
High, hazy light makes the desert look like a flat, brownfield. It also takes away all of the desert’s beauty. If you want to be like the people in your city, you should sleep in between noon and 3 pm. In the summer, Gulf country tourism is at its busiest.
Visiting Jordan in June – August
People don’t often say that the best time to go to Jordan is between June and August. Why? Because it’s hot. People who live near the Dead Sea, where the temperature rises to a balmy 40°C in August, like this.
However, the heat is dry, so it isn’t very hot, and the hills can get cool breezes. At the height of summer, you’ll also get 13 hours of sunshine.
People in Jordan hold most of their festivals in the summer, no matter how hot it is outside. To go to the Jerash Festival for Culture and Art is a good thing to do. During the month of July, it takes place in Jerash. It focuses on Jordanian dance and music.
This isn’t the only thing to keep in mind when it comes to the weather. For the next three years, the hajj will be in July. When people go on pilgrimage, they travel to Mecca Saudi Arabia. A lot of connecting flights go through Jordan, so planes have to be blocked out. Make sure to book early.
When to visit Jordan in autumn
Most of the time, the typical fall weather (mid-September to mid-Nov) doesn’t pass by Jordan. Only a few weeks are marked by the end of high summer.
Even though this can be a great time to visit. They start to fall in early or middle October. This makes the countryside bloom again, and the temperature drops to a level that is more comfortable for people to live with.
Visiting Jordan in September – October – November
Everyone is excited about the start of fall in September because the temperature finally starts to fall to a level that everyone can enjoy. Between September and November, the shoulder months in Jordan are the best time to visit Aqaba and the Red Sea, but prices go up as the weather cools.
Oct. is a good time to visit because the first rain comes after a hot summer. This makes the dry countryside bloom again.
There is a lot of fish in the Red Sea around Aqaba in October, so it’s a good time to go diving. The water temperature is 26°C, and there is a lot of fish.
Is It Safe to Visit Jordan as A Tourist?
People may be afraid of the region, but Jordan is one of the safest places to visit in the area, and it’s likely that little will go wrong. As it turns out, the government of Jordan is very concerned about making its visitors feel safe by having a lot of security and police officers around.
So, what do you need to think about before you go? Then, are there any parts you should not do?
Before you go to Jordan, read these safety tips to make sure you don’t get into any trouble. If you follow these tips, you’ll be very safe while you’re in Jordan!
1. Be aware of your belongings
Because there are more police in Jordan, even small crimes aren’t that common, but it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on where your things are. You might be at risk of being robbed if you’re in the more crowded parts of Amman’s old town center or at some of the most popular tourist spots.
2. Avoid the borders with Syria and Iraq
It’s well-known that Syria and Iraq are dangerous places to visit right now, and this also applies to their borders with the country of Jordan. Nobody important to tourism is near these borders, so it makes sense to stay away.
3. Stay away from public protests
Public protests in Jordan seem to be mostly peaceful, but it’s common sense to stay away from big crowds like this if you can.
On Thursday evenings or after Friday morning prayers, there are often protests near the office of the prime minister in Amman, which is the capital city.
They also happen when big economic issues are being talked about or on important dates. If you don’t want to get caught up in any local protests, keep an eye on the local news.
4. Be aware of your safety in taxi rides
There have been a few reports from women who have been harassed by taxi drivers. Sit in the back and stay alert to avoid this. These are very rare occurrences, but in general, taxi drivers in Jordan are very kind.
5. Be careful on the Desert Highway
In Jordan, Highway 15 runs from north to south. It’s one of the main ways to get from Amman to other cities, like Aqaba, and back again. Because of unrest in Ma’an in the south, the highway has been closed at times.
Other parts have been blocked from time to time. If there are any road closures in your area, check the local news. Always follow police instructions.
6. Buy travel insurance
As soon as you leave for a trip, you should always have the right amount of travel insurance. You never know when something will go wrong.
Make sure you get travel insurance when you book your trip so that you can get help if you get into trouble or get hurt or stolen. Because I don’t leave home without it.
7. Food hygiene in Jordan
Middle Eastern food is well-known around the world for a good reason. Many of the most popular dishes are made from plants, like falafel, hummus, and baba ganouj. They tend to be better when they stay at room temperature for a long time.
They should not order meat that looks like it has been out for a while. It’s safe to eat fruits and vegetables, but be sure to wash any produce you buy at an open-air market before you eat it.
8. Nightlife safety in Jordan
Drinking alcohol is not a big deal, but it isn’t as common as in other parts of the world. Foreigners are welcome to drink alcohol, but they should be as careful as they would be in other countries.
Avoid getting drunk and take a taxi home if you have too much to drink. Amman, the capital city, has a lot of traffic and can be dangerous for pedestrians who are drunk.
What are the Best Places to Visit in Jordan?
Jordan is in the middle of a big cut-out on the Arabian Peninsula. It’s been a stable country for a long time, sandwiched between the more tumultuous countries of contested Israel, Iraq, and Syria. It has a lot of amazing UNESCO World Heritage Sites and cultural hotspots, including the Nabatean ruins of Petra and the place where Jesus Christ is thought to have been baptized.
Add in a long, long history that goes back thousands of years to the time of the first humans, and Jordan starts to show off its crumbling Roman cities, its exquisite Ottoman charm, and its Persian treasures and Egyptian relics from long ago.
Jordan isn’t just about going back in time, though. You can find world-class diving in Aqaba on the Red Sea, or a burgeoning nightlife scene in Amman, the capital city.
The best places to visit in Jordan are shown below:
1. Petra
The best thing about Jordan is a place that isn’t like any other place in the country.
An ancient city built in 4th-century BC is found in the middle of red-hued desert escarpments in southern Egypt. It’s thought that people lived there for a long time before that.
It was the birthplace of the Nabataean civilization, which thrived in the Arabian Peninsula. The rock-cut treasuries and temples here made it one of the most important places to trade in the region.
Today, the whole beautiful site is known for its roles in movies like Indiana Jones. It’s hidden between a series of winding siq (tunnels made by erosion) passageways that are a real treat to explore.
In short: Petra is not to be missed!
2. Al-Maghtas
When it comes to biblical artefacts found on the Jordan River, Al-Maghtas is likely one of the most important. It’s a group of small dig sites and buildings that are covered in dust.
It has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is becoming a popular pilgrimage site for Christians. It’s thought to have been the place where Jesus was baptized.
Aside from that, the site has a lot of interesting religious artefacts, Roman buildings, and Orthodox monasteries from the Ottoman and Mamluk eras, among other things.
3. Amman
To get a sense of the history and culture of Jordan as a whole, go to Amman. It’s a great place to get a sense of the heartbeat of Arabia.
The famous area of Balad is made up of a mosaic of souks and mosques that ring out in the middle of the city. You can see this by going to the warren of streets that weave and twist through the city’s busy centre.
Or, you could go to Abdali, where leafy streets give way to chic cafes and high-end stores.
Some must-see sights and landmarks are also on the list: a huge Roman Theater; a few Ammonite fortifications; the Jabal al-Qal’a citadel, which is made up of mosques, churches, and palisades.
4. Jerash
Almost as many people visit the ruins of Jerash, north of Amman, as the famous rock-cut temples at Petra. This is a sign of how much immersive history there is still to be found there.
This mix of tall colonnades, old forums, interesting temples turned into Byzantine churches, and great plazas are said to be the best Roman provincial city that’s still alive and well today.
You can stand where merchants from the Med used to show off their goods, or imagine camel caravans coming from the sand dunes of the great Arabian sand sea and coming to this place.
5. Wadi Rum
The Wadi Rum region of southern Jordan is one of the most amazing natural wonders in the area. It is sun-scorched and glows bright orange and red under the Arabian sun.
Located on the eastern edge of the city of Aqaba, the famous valley is made from rocky limestone cliffs that rise and fall dramatically.
Rock-ribbed mountains rise up on the horizon. Petroglyphs from ancient Nabatean peoples hide in small spaces. Camel groans, climbers swing from ropes around the hoodoos, and camels squeal in the desert.
It doesn’t surprise me that this was used as the background for Lawrence of Arabia in 1962.
6. The Dead Sea
Middle Eastern Levant heartland: The Dead Sea cuts its way through this area, which is in the middle of the country
In the middle of the world’s oceans, the lowest and saltiest water body is the Dead Sea. It’s surrounded by high mountains and ochre-hued sand dunes, which shine in the sun as the Arabian sun shines down on the surface.
A lot of the land that is now in both countries has beaches and hotels on it. The mineral evaporation pools on the south side of the sea are also very interesting. They were built to get carnallite and potassium from them.
The favourite thing to do? People who are on the surface of the water are able to stay afloat thanks to the high salt density.
7. Aqaba
You can see Eilat in Israel across the border. It has a lot of palm-lined promenades and beaches with yellow sand on top of salty water, too.
Today, Aqaba is becoming the best place in the Middle East to go to the beach because of a lot of new construction and the building of super-luxurious resort hotels in Tala Bay to the south.
Take a tour of the ancient ruins of Tall Hujayrat Al-Ghuzlan. You can also see the date trees of the Shatt Al-Ghandour or go underwater on a SCUBA trip to see the colourful reefs that surround the submarine beds all around.
8. Mujib Nature Reserve
This huge area of northwest Jordan has some of the most beautiful backcountries in the world, with winding river valleys, dust-covered gorges, steep-sided valleys carved over time, and a ton of hidden walkways carved out of the rocks.
You can visit what’s called the world’s smallest nature reserve. It slopes down to the salty waters of the Dead Sea, which are at the bottom.
In today’s world, it’s mostly been taken over by adventure tourists and outdoor outfitters, who offer everything from adventurous hikes to heart-pounding rock climbing in the canyons to zip-lining through the dry and dusty air.
9. Dana Nature Reserve
With a trip to the Dana Nature Reserve, you can go back in time and see how the land looked back then.
There are valleys carved by water and rock-ribbed hills covered in scrub. There are also scrub-covered mountains and mountains that have been carved and are covered in crumbling rocks.
This is not only Jordan’s largest protected area, but it also gives you a glimpse into the lives of the Middle Eastern people who have lived here for a long time.
It’s possible to stay in dry stone huts that were built in the ancient villages, or you can choose to camp under the stars. Then, you’ll spend days hiking through the dusty canyons and seeing rare Nubian ibexes on the hills.
It’s great for people who like to be outside.
10. Madaba
The old, old city of Madaba can be found right next to the famous King’s Highway, which runs through the dusty desert hills and through the heart of Jordan’s history.
Dominated by its beautiful, gold-gilded mosque and a group of spiked minarets, the town also has some great old mosaics that date back to the Umayyad era.
It’s not just the Orthodox Saint George Cathedral that has amazing Byzantine art in its alcoves and chapels. There are also a few Roman ruins scattered around the town.
As you walk down the main street, you can also try spicy Jordanian mezze and smoky shisha in the old Ottoman houses that are still there.
11. Ajloun
Ajloun, a historic town in northern Jordan, now consists of just a few small villages and hamlets. It used to be the centre of the green and undulating hills.
Most people come to these parts because of their famous Ajloun Castle, which is the main reason they come.
Muslims built this great fortress on top of the ridges of Jabal Ajlun. Above the wadis that ring the peak, it’s the best place to see it.
It’s now possible to hike up to the old gates and enter the inside courtyards.
There’s a lot of information about the castle’s history inside. It shows how many different people have lived there over the years.
12. Irbid
Yarmouk University, which is one of the most well-known universities in the world, has helped Irbid grow. There are also many other well-known universities in the area.
It’s clear that people in this northern city are excited about their forward-thinking, more off-the-wall reputation, so the vibe here is lively and young.
In recent years, there have been a lot of theories that this was once one of the great 10 cities in the Roman east, like Decapolis. There are a lot of interesting relics and archaeological evidence in the local museum to back them up.
13. Zarqa
In other parts of Jordan, you won’t find totemic archaeological ruins or huge historical monuments of biblical proportions like in Zarqa. But there’s something else that draws people to this down-to-earth part of Amman: a rough and lived-in feel that oozes Middle Eastern excitement.
Over time, the town of Zarqa has been swallowed up by the growing city, but it hasn’t lost its blue-collar character. There are now a lot of bazaars and markets, interesting little local food shops, teahouses, and more to see between the traffic-clogged alleys.
14. Ma’an
Another one of the places where the King’s Highway makes sharp turns is Ma’an. It now stands on the line between the old and the new.
When you look south of the dusty, sun-scorched city that can be seen today, you can still see a much older settlement.
During the Nabateans, Ma’an was an outpost that was far from Petra and the capital. These are thought to be from that time as well.
Ma’an is also a good place to stopover in the southern part of Jordan. It’s ideal for people who want to go to Egypt, Israel, and the Red Sea.
15. Shobak
Ancient ruins at Shobak are another great place to visit in Jordan if you’re a history fan. They’re surrounded by dry-mud hills, with a few scraggly shrubs and hardy acacia trees here and there.
As it should be called, the Shobak Castle is all that stands on the edge of the beautiful Dana Reserve. The great palisades and arched gates that once stood there are now crumbling and cracking.
For tourists, they’re not very well-known, but they give a unique look at the fortification structures of European crusader groups in the 11th century and 12th centuries. Winding tunnels and hidden dungeons will be all over the place.
Conclusion
Visit Jordan is an amazing and eye-opening experience. The country is full of history, culture, and natural beauty. There are endless things to see and do, and the people are warm and welcoming. I highly recommend a visit to Jordan for anyone looking for an amazing travel experience.