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.

Thru-Hike The 400-Mile Jordan Trail: “The Inca Trail Of The Middle East”

Jordan Trail: ‘the Inca Trail of the Middle East’

"Stretching from Umm Quais in the north, passed 52 villages (Wadi Rum and Petra), before terminating at the Red Sea in the south, the 40-day hike was inspired by Petra’s architects, the Nabataeans, who used the route primarily for the spice trade. The country’s diverse terrain adds another degree of difficulty as it crosses a range of landscapes including its famous wadis (valleys), desert sands, olive groves, and hot springs… There are a few shorter options. The 55-mile stretch that connects Wadi Rum to Petra … five-day alternative was a favorite for Lawrence of Arabia as it provided a great “sampler” of the best of Jordan including stargazing in the desert, cliff hiking, mountain scrambles, and Bedouin camps."

9 Destinations Every Adventurous Woman Should Visit in 2017

Jordan
“There’s a reason Matt Damon’s hit movie The Martian was filmed in Jordan: The country encompasses a lunar-like, desert maze and larger-than-life sandstone formations that are the closest most of us will ever get to experiencing life on Mars. The country is fast becoming an adventure hub in the region, given the diverse landscapes and wide array of activities available. During a trip, traverse the recently erected Jordan Trail, which crosses through the entire country, from top to bottom, and offers nearly 400 miles of trail. Hike through the rolling wooded hills of the north, the salty waters of the Dead Sea, and colorful corals of the Red Sea. For a culturally immersive experience, opt to explore the country with Absolute Travel. Begin with a hike past waterfalls and oases in Wadi Mukheiris, journey along the King’s Highway past crusader castles, and end with a candlelit exploration of Petra. The experience culminates with a safari through the Wadi Rum, where you can explore local Bedouin life during a stay in a traditional tent”

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