Travel

Jordan Holidays

Handy Information

Population - 6.3 million

Currency - Jordanian dinar

Capital - Amman

Time Difference - GMT + 2 hours

Average flight time from London - 5 hours

Language - Arabic

Religion - Islam

Telephone - International Dial - 00 1 876

When To Go

Jordan boasts a wonderful Mediterranean climate, offering great conditions for a visiting throughout the year. However, it can be argued that the best times to visit Jordan are between March and May or September and November, when temperatures are not at their highest but there is still minimal rainfall and fantastic conditions for whatever you may choose to do during your stay in Jordan.

The summer months of July and August can see high temperatures well into the 30s, particularly in the drier areas such as the Jordan Valley and Wadi Rum. Festivals are frequently staged at this time, a very popular time for tourists to visit. Furthermore, many of Jordan's main tourist attractions only operate around the summer months.

Winter on the other hand can be very cold, with Amman occasionally seeing snow. The deserts are particularly cold, especially at night time. if you do visit Jordan during winter it is advisable to bring plenty of warm layers.

The month of Ramadan is a tricky time for visitors as you shouldn't eat, drink or smoke in public during the day, although visiting during Eid al-Fitr, the large celebration at the end of Ramadan, is recommended as a great time to visit.

What To See

Above all else Jordan is famed for its historical attractions. Petra is a stunning city, one of the wonders of the world, carved into the rock face more than 2000 years ago. Visiting Petra is a truly awe-inspiring experience.

However, Petra is not the only historical attraction in Jordan. Visitors can explore the ruins of ancient Roman cities, Crusader castles and desert citadels. People can also venture to the mountain top from which Moses viewed the Promised Land.

On top of the traditional attractions of Jordan, visitors can also enjoy a fantastic array of activities including water sports and diving in the Red Sea's crystal clear waters at Aqaba.

Adventure tourism is also growing increasingly popular in Jordan. Visitors can retrace the steps of Emperor Hadrian in four wheel drive vehicles from north to south, or go on fantastic camel and donkey treks through Jordan's eastern deserts and central highlands just as Lawrence of Arabia did hundreds of years ago. The wild red desert of Wadi Rum can also be explored by the adventurous among us.