Places to Visit

Wadi Rum
"Our little caravan grew self-conscious, and fell dead quiet, afraid and ashamed to flaunt its smallness in the presence of the stupendous hills." So T.E. Lawrence, in his book, The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, describes the effect that Wadi Rum has on its visitors. A series of hills thrusting out of the desert, north of the gulf port of Aquaba, it must be seen in order to appreciate its scale and beauty. Still home to Bedouin tribes, who graze their flock on its sandy, shrubby floor, Wadi Rum radiates age and history. The limestone walls bear testimony to its past, in the form of Thamudic, Safaitic, Nabataean, Greek and Arabic graffiti, stretching back almost 3,500 years.

Crusader Castles
A legacy of the troubled times during the Crusades, these castles are a testament to the resolve and architectural ingenuity of both the Christian invaders and their Arab counterparts. The most famous of these is Kerak, which lies 100 miles south of Amman. Kerak’s central fortress is surrounded by underground galleries, halls and secret passageways and was built in 1142, by Payen Le Boutellier. It protected traffic on the desert highway that bisects Jordan. The most famous Arab castle is Qala'at al-Rabadh, built in 1184 by Saladin's nephew, Usama ibn-Munqich, on the site of an ancient monastery. It overlooks the Jordan valley and has some of the most breathtaking views in the country.

Petra
The most famous of all Jordan's many places of interest, Petra was the result of the advanced culture of the Nabateans, who carved a city straight out of the red limestone rock. Much of Petra's appeal comes from its spectacular setting, deep inside a narrow desert gorge, or siq, that has walls 200 metres high. Situated on an important trade route, the city flourished, though the Nabateans were forced to become experts at water conservation and relied on an ingenious and intricate complex of dams and water. Though most famous for its imposing treasury - seen in an Indiana Jones film - there are many more treasures that the city can boast, including many hundreds of buildings, temples, palaces and tombs.