Family holidays to Jordan

Fun for all - Kids (and Dads...) who fancy themselves as little Indiana Joneses will love a holiday in Jordan: with camel-back rides, ancient temples and dungeons, camping in tents and of course visiting the original film location for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade in Petra!

Whilst adventure is guaranteed to be on the menu, there's also accommodation with all the comforts you'd need as a family and plenty to fascinate grown-ups and children alike. Whether you fancy a starlit night, observing the constellations and watching the glow descend upon the dunes from your Bedouin tent, or prefer a splash in the pool at a hotel, our holidays offer bags of activities but also plenty of "me" time. Why not use a trip to Jordan to brush up for those school history and geography exams? Swap the boring books for real Roman cities, Crusader castles, floating on the Dead Sea and racing across the desert with its fascinating wildlife and magical stories. It is also the birthplace of the world's great religions with a rich and vibrant cultural history.

Jordan images

The blend of rich history and modern cities means Jordan is ideal for families who want a thrilling experience, a real "getaway", without giving up on the necessities and luxuries that make travelling with children not only easy, but a pleasure. The Jordanians are known for their hospitality and children are especially fussed over, you will find restaurants and hotels most accommodating and happy to go out of their way to help.

Adventure and activities

There's a reason Jordan is the backdrop to so many epic stories, from Lawrence of Arabia to Indy and his whip-cracking escapades. Put it simply, this is a land made for adventurers. With the Dead Sea at one end, sprawling desert and Wadi Rum at its heart and thick Mediterranean forests in its Western highlands, there's no end to activities available, from watersports to trekking, camel-riding and rock-climbing. Many of our holidays also include Egypt, so you can snorkel the stunning, teaming waters of the Red Sea one day, before defying gravity in the Dead Sea on the next!

Expert guides will have you leading the way on your camel before you know it, or if you prefer something a bit more familiar, saddle up on horseback for a trip through the Wadi Rum's impressive dunes and soaring sandstone structures. Bystanders can watch the breakneck Roman chariot racing at the hippodrome of Jerash, a beautifully preserve Roman city.

Other modes of transport which make for great experiences are cycling tours, or 4x4 safaris. If not, serious hikers will enjoy just getting along on their own two feet! Jordan is also a great place for canyoning, boasting as it does a wide choice of Wadis, and some incredible waterfall cascades at Wadi Himara.

Sunsets take on a whole new meaning in Jordan, where the colours of the desert sands play with the rays of sunlight to produce spectacular colours and effects. This becomes all the more impressive when viewed from the carved city of Petra, with its pinkish-hued walls and atmospheric location.

Visit a bustling market to haggle with locals, an experience in itself and a great way to mingle with locals and learn a thing or two about the local culture, food and produce of the country. When not in the city, you can head to a National Park, or nature reserves of which there are six in Jordan. The largest of these, the Dana BIosphere Reserve, is host to more than 800 plant species as well as many rare endangered animals.

Culture and wildlife

Jordan is a modern Arab country, predominantly Islamic in faith. Its people are warm and friendly and renowned for great hospitality. With its position at the crossroads of so many cultures, the birthplace of the major religions and an important trade stop between East and West, Jordan is a country of rich and diverse tradition and reflects influences from both eastern and western culture. English is widely spoken as it is taught in all schools.

So many civilisations have lived in or passed through Jordan, leaving their mark on the land. These remains make it a great country to explore for lovers of history and legend, with an array of Roman temples and ruins, including the Graeco-Roman town of Jerash, with its amphitheatre, forums, plaza and hippodrome. In the capital Amman, the Roman theatre and ancient Citadel sit alongside Neolithic ruins, Ottoman architecture and towering modern skyscrapers. The Jordan Museum of Popular Tradition houses some beautiful examples of costume and jewellery and the Citadel Archeological museum is home to some of the Dead Sea Scrolls and ornate sarcophagi. The souks and markets are great for a morning browsing and shopping and soaking up the local vibe. Pick up some spices, or locally made narghile (hubble-bubbles), lanterns, pottery, glassware or silver. It's also a great chance to sample some local food and delicious coffee. Meze of fresh, Mediterranean ingredients: aubergines, chickpeas, olive oil, hummus and flat breads are popular, as is the national dish of mensaf, a whole lamb baked and served with yogurt on a bed of rice. Coffee is drunk more as a ritual for meeting friends and conversation and wine-making in Jordan has been going since Roman times.

For nature lovers, Jordan offers plentiful landscapes and protected parks to explore. Many endagered species are now protected in reserves, such as the Syrian Serin, the Lesser Kestrel, Blanford's Fox and the Nubian Ibex. There are also plenty of reptiles, from lizards to snakes and arabian wolves! The Azraq wetland oasis sits at the centre of the arid desert and is home to many varieties of African and Arabian birds. The Wadi Rum is the place to head to spot Griffon Vultures, Fan-Tailed Ravens, Eagles, and Tawny Owls.

Petra, the Nabatean city carved into the pink rock of the desert, is one of the new Wonders of the World, a sprawling cave city built more than 2000 years ago at the heart of the silk and spice routes. You might not meet Harrison Ford here, but a lingering mystery and sense of awe is inevitable as you approach it's entrance from the shady winding canyon passage.

Aqaba in the south of the country, sits on the Red Sea, a snorkelling and diving paradise. Other watersports abound here, or you can view the sea floor from the comfort of a viewing boat or simply unwind on the beach.

Holidays

Responsible Travel offers a range of family holidays geared to you and your family getting the most out of all the country has to offer. All of them visit Petra and the Wadi Rum. Combine Egypt and Jordan on a holiday which takes you from the majesty of the pyramids across the Wadi Rum and through to Petra, finishing in Dana National Park and the Dead Sea. ON the way you'll have the chance to visit the Valley of the Moon with a Bedouin guide, go on a camel safari and snorkel in the crystal coloured sea.

Relive one of your favourite childhood movies (and hopefully favourite of your kids too!) and arrive at the entrance to Petra's magical city on horseback just like Indiana Jones. This family holiday to Jordan also includes a visit to Jerash, the Roman city and Amman the buzzing capital. Camping in the desert offers you a chance to enjoy not only spectacular sunsets, but also a perfectly clear view of the Milky Way and its glittering constellations.

Along the King's Highway to Petra, stands the fort-like Kerak Castle, which has been in existance since the Iron Age but was most famously inhabited by the Crusaders. Experience the King's Highway on this Lost City of Petra holiday and also enjoy a camel ride in the Wadi Rum.

Let the kids loose in the souks and markets on this family adventure holiday, giving them a chance to shop and barter for food and then assist with cooking a traditional communal meal for all to enjoy. They will also learn survival skills from Bedouin tribesmen and explore the beauty of the desert with them before going on a 4x4 ride across the dunes.

Finally, see the impressive mosaic map of the holy land at the Byzantine Church of Saint George at Madaba on this Jordan family holiday where you can dip your toes in the water both in the Red Sea at Aqaba and in the Dead Sea near Amman.