Jordan Travel Guide

Jordan has a rich history and is home to some of the best historical sights in the Middle East. In addition it is a welcoming place for Westerners compared to many other countries in the area. Petra is one of the most spectacular ancient cities in the world and undoubtedly the most famous attraction in Jordan. Founded over 2000 years ago, Petra - one of the updated seven wonders of the world - is a city of elaborate temples and giant buildings hewn out of the sandstone walls of a deep canyon. Watch Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade for a look at Petra. After Petra, the second most popular site in Jordan is Jerash, an excellently preserved walled Roman city that contains a Hippodrome, a Forum and many temples. The setting for another famous film (Laurence of Arabia), Wadi Rum has a stunning desert landscape of sheer sandstone cliffs and ancient valleys. It is the home of several Bedouin tribes and is a good place to camp out among the stars. Madaba contains a very detailed mosaic map of Palestine as well as some ancient buildings. Visit Karak Castle, a crusader stronghold that dominates its namesake city, to see one of the largest castles in the Middle East. The capital Amman has a number of ancient ruins, including a citadel at the high point of the city.