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Things to see & do in Jordan

There is a huge range of things to see and do in Jordan. Get out and explore the country by driving the King’s Highway or walk and camp out with the Bedouin in the desert watching the stars around the campfire. Relaxing things to see and do in Jordan include bathing in hot springs and floating in the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea. One of the best and most rewarding things to see and do in Jordan is getting to know the locals over a coffee – an ancient ritual and a real insight into the culture of Jordan.

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Things to see & do in Jordan

Our top activities in Jordan

See Petra by candlelight

Walking through the 1.2km long sandstone “corridor” of Al Siq is the classic way to enter Petra, with the astounding sight of the Treasury revealing itself at the end. You might think it would be hard to top this experience – but the Jordanians thought otherwise, and decided to light 2,000 candles in front of this monument each night. Returning after dusk to witness this is a travel experience not quickly forgotten, as the rose-coloured rock appears to glow from within.

Learn to cook Jordanian food

Hummus, falafel and kebabs are popular here – but visitors should try some of the more distinctly Jordanian dishes, such as mansaf, where seasoned lamb is cooked with onion in yogurt to create a delicate creamy sauce. Or go a step further and visit Petra Kitchen, just a short walk from the famous ruins, where local women and chefs teach visitors to cook Jordanian delicacies – so that you can recreate the flavours back home.

Sleep under a billion stars

Wadi Rum’s isolation and clear skies make it an incredible spot for stargazing, and at night the blackness all around shrinks the vast desert down to the size of your campsite. Gazing skyward, you’ll understand how the navigators of old found their way using these celestial markers, as virtual maps are traced across the velvet night sky. If you visit during a full moon, the desert appears floodlit.

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Float in the Dead Sea

The water in the Dead Sea is a powerful cocktail of salt and other minerals that means nothing can survive in its depths, or on its shores. However, this vast lake has enticed visitors for centuries, as the high salt concentration allows you to float easily on its glassy surface.

Shop in Jabal Amman

Shop with a difference in Jabal Amman, a buzzing district stretching out along Rainbow Street, where crafts from across the country can be found, from wall hangings and handwoven rugs, to jewellery and organic fruit jams.

Don’t miss the Soap House – a beautiful old villa where you can buy handmade cosmetics, soaps and candles, many of which are made using Dead Sea salts.

Bring your binoculars

With almost 10 percent of its landmass declared an Important Birding Area and a total of 412 species recorded here, Jordan is not the place to forget your binoculars. Dana Reserve, the wetlands of Azraq and Petra itself are all fantastic spots for bird watching, with the Sinai rosefinch, Bonelli’s eagle, steppe buzzard and Syrian serin all waiting to be ticked off the twitcher’s checklist.

Responsible Travel would like to thank the Jordan Tourism Board for their sponsorship of this guide

Photo credits: [See Petra by candlelight: Susanahajer] [Learn to cook Jordanian food: Unai Guerra] [Sleep under a billion stars: Visit Jordan] [Float in the Dead Sea: SarahTz] [Shop in Jabal Amman: Visit Jordan] [Bring your binoculars - Bonelli's eagle: VivekMalleshappa]

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