Roman-era Temple of Hercules (2011-03-02) by Walter BibikowGetty Images
Jordan is a country steeped in history, mystery and natural beauty. From rock-carved cities that are something quite literally out of an Indiana Jones film, to gravity-defying salt lakes and awe-inspiring ancient ruins—Jordan has a wealth of places waiting to be explored.
So, take a virtual tour with us of 10 incredible locations that shouldn't be missed.
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1. Wadi Rum
You’d be forgiven for feeling like you’re on another planet when you look out at the expanse of ochre sand and rugged mountains of Wadi Rum; the protected desert wilderness in southern Jordan has been used as a filming location to stand in for Mars in The Martian and Red Planet, among others. Wadi Rum is Arabic for “Sand Valley" and was home to prehistoric human cultures who have left rock paintings etched on the sandstone walls.
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2. Lawrence Spring
Nestled in the west of Wadi Rum is Lawrence’s Spring, named after the titular character in the classic film Lawrence of Arabia, which was partly filmed on location here. The spring itself is unassuming, but it is its location in the expanse of surrounding desert that makes it seem like a veritable lush paradise. The water comes from rainwater that filters down through the porous sandstone, pools down at the bottom and seeps out—making it an important watering hole for travelling caravans on old trade routes.
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3. Petra
Lying on the slope of the mountain Jabal Al-Madbah, Petra is an archeological city thought to have been settled around 9,000 BCE. Its most recognized piece of architecture is Al-Khazneh, an elaborate temple carved out of the sandstone rock face. Al-Khazneh translates as treasury, which derives from a legend that a band of pirates hid their loot in a stone urn high on the exterior. You can see bullet damage from where hopeful treasure hunters have tried to retrieve the hoard. Unfortunately for them, the urn is solid sandstone. You might also recognize Al-Khazneh for it's role in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
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4. Jerash
The ancient city of Jerash has a history that goes as far back as the Neolithic period, with scientists finding two human skulls that date back to around 7500-5500 BCE. It flourished as a city during the Greco-Roman period due to its fertile land and fresh water, but was later destroyed by an earthquake. It briefly became a fortress during the Crusades before being occupied under Ottoman rule. Now it is considered one of the largest and best-preserved sites of Roman architecture outside of Italy.
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5. Mount Nebo
Mount Nebo is named in the Hebrew Bible as the place where Moses first caught sight of the Promised Land after 40 years of leading the Israelites through the desert. At 710 meters above sea level, the summit provides a view of the “Holy Land”, an area roughly located between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, and on a clear day, Jerusalem. The Moses Memorial Church now sits on the site to commemorate it as the spot of Moses’s subsequent death.
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6. Amman Citadel
On the top of the highest hill in Amman lies the Amman Citadel, the most ancient part of the city. Excavation work within its walls has uncovered a tomb containing pottery and scarab seals that date back to around 1650 BCE. The Citadel is considered one of the world’s oldest continually occupied places, with the Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad civilizations all being some of the inhabitants to leave their stamp on it. Once called Rabbath-Ammon, it was renamed Philadelphia under Greek rule in 331 BCE.
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7. The Baptismal Site
Al-Maghtas, meaning "baptism" or "immersion" in Arabic can be found on the east bank of the Jordan river. It marks the spot at Bethany Beyond the Jordan where it’s believed that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, after archaeological structures were found that seem to have been built to commemorate the historical baptism, such as churches, chapels, a monastery, hermit caves, a cruciform baptismal pool, and a pilgrim station. The area is now an important Christian pilgrimage site.
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8. Amman Beach
The Dead Sea, despite what the name implies, is actually a salt lake bordered by Jordan, Palestine and Israel. It’s 9.6 times more salty than the ocean, too harsh for any living creature to survive in. The rich black mud and minerals in the water are thought to have healing properties, and the high salinity of the water makes it possible to float unaided on the surface, making it a popular location for health spas. The Dead Sea is also the lowest place on Earth, at 431m below sea level.
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9. The Royal Automobile Museum
The museum tells the story of modern Jordan through the collection of vehicles of King Hussein, who reigned from 1916 to 1924. As Jordan lies in the middle of the East-West caravan routes, it greatly benefited from the advent of the automobile and the car played a large part in the day-to-day business of the royals and the development of the country. The collection consists of vehicles ranging from pre-1950s regal models to modern-day sports cars, and even contains the Mars Rover used in the filming of The Martian, gifted to the country for its hospitality.
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10. King Abdullah I Mosque
The striking blue dome and soaring minarets that reach into the sky above Amman belong to the King Abdullah mosque, built in 1989. It was commissioned by King Hussein as a memorial to his grandfather, the first ruler of Jordan. The 35 meter dome is decorated with mosaics of Quranic inscriptions and can house 7,000 worshippers in the octagonal prayer hall that lies beneath it.
