World-Class Cuisine, Spellbinding Souqs, and Aquatic Adventures: The 4-Day Weekend in Aqaba, Jordan

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (best recognized simply as Jordan) is considered by many to be one of the Middle East’s most mesmerizing destinationsOpens a New Window.. Despite ongoing turmoil between neighboring nations, JordanOpens a New Window. has been consistently referred to as an oasis of stability in an oft-dismissed corner of the globe. As one of the region’s safest countries, it’s also one of the tiniest—but don’t let that fool you. What Jordan may lack in size, it more than makes up for in culture, adventure, and unforgettable attractions.

Home to about 10 million people, the semi-arid country sprawls over approximately 35,000 square miles (roughly the same size as Indiana or Portugal). Its impressive collection of iconic sites have long enchanted visitors, like the ancient rose-colored city of PetraOpens a New Window.; Wadi Rum’sOpens a New Window.dramatic, Mars-like landscapes; and the intense blue waters of the Dead SeaOpens a New Window., aka the lowest point on earth. But while most visitors use Amman (the country’s bustling capital) as a basecamp during their Jordanian journey, there’s a new hotspot that’s starting to build some serious buzz.

Beyond hummus: 10 foods you must try in Jordan

Amman, Jordan (CNN)  

 "Stretching from the Syrian border to the edge of the Red Sea, the Kingdom of Jordan has long been a cultural and travel crossroads.Ancient sites tell the stories of Roman emperors and Nabatean kings, and Crusader castles perch on strategic hilltops.In the bustling streets of the earth-toned capital city, conversations might be inflected with Syrian, Egyptian or Iraqi accents, while the country's Bedouin tribes remain fiercely proud of their nomadic traditions and desert heritage.And at tables across the country, Jordanian cuisine is a delicious immersion in the country's diverse heritage, a vibrant mix of Bedouin flavors and local takes on the Levant's most iconic dishes.Whether you're sipping sweet tea in Petra or searching for Amman's tastiest falafel, cuisine is an essential part of exploring Jordan."

 

Jaw-Dropping Jordan: From Amman and Petra to Wonderful Wadi Rum, here is a Country for an Epic Adventure

"The donkey police are in pursuit as my hapless steed runs out of control through Jordan’s most popular tourist destination. As we career towards Petra’s most famous building, a furious official blows his whistle in a bid to make me dismount.Built by Arab Nabateans more than 2,000 years ago, Al-Khazneh — or the treasury — was the spectacular backdrop to the finale of Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade. But my arrival at the intricately carved sandstone facade is straight from a Carry On farce.It’s unlikely that World War I legend T. E. Lawrence would have suffered the same ignominy when he visited this wondrous site. As it happens, it’s the centenary of some of his most famous victories in Jordan while leading the Arab Revolt against the Ottomans.The British Army officer rode out on a more majestic camel before upgrading to an armoured Rolls-Royce. In 1918, he was awarded a Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his efforts — a story retold in the 1962 biopic Lawrence Of Arabia, starring Peter O’Toole"

Jordan: The quirkiest destination in the Middle East

I’ve done downward dog in some strange places: from a Tibetan monastery to the deck of a boat drifting down the Amazon River. None compare, though, to the sun-roasted rocks of Little Petra – or Siq al-Barid (“the cold canyon”) – whose Unesco-listed sandstone canyon walls are carved with the same ancient Nabataean buildings found at Petra. “Jordan has a unique energy,” says our yoga teacher, Sandra Jelly, as we scamper behind the Seven Wonders Camp where we’re staying. A jangle of jewellery and tight grey curls, she gave up her career in advertising eight years ago to move from Amsterdam. Now, she offers yoga and “horse meditation” classes to travellers who want to reconnect with the country’s ancient spirit and themselves. Although seated between Syria, Israel, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Jordan is an oasis of peace in a noisy neighbourhood. It’s not only safe and easy to enter (with a visa on arrival), but it has a quirky array of activities found nowhere elsewhere in the Middle East, making it ideal for both families and adventurous travellers.

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