Jordan
Jordan is an Arabic kingdom in the Middle East that lies between Israel, Syria and Saudi Arabia. It has a small amount of coastline bordering the Dead Sea and the Red Sea in the south, but most of the country is landlocked. It is an Islamic country, but is very liberal and has fewer restrictions than many of its neighbours.
Main Attractions of Jordan
The top tourist attraction in Jordan is Petra, which lies in the Southern Desert region of the country. This is an ancient complex of tombs, houses and temples, which were carved out of high cliffs many thousands of years ago. Petra’s rocks are coloured in natural shades of pink and red, which are particularly beautiful at sunrise and sunset. To the north of Petra lies the Dead Sea; the lowest point on earth and the sea with the highest concentration of salt. To the east of the Dead Sea is the Mujib Reserve, a mountainous region which not only preserves wildlife but is home to Jordan’s Grand Canyon and its high waterfall.
Suggested Driving Route
On arriving at the airport in the capital city of Amman, collect the hire car that Rent.it has organised for you. Drive to visit the well-preserved Roman amphitheatre in Amman, and then drive south and call in to the small city of Madaba to see its famous mosaic of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Driving west will bring you to the Dead Sea, where you can enjoy bathing in the salty waters that will not let you sink. From there, drive due south until you reach Petra, and spend time exploring the beautiful and historic rock city. If you wish, you can continue south on the Desert Highway that goes to Aqaba to see the harsh but spectacular scenery of the Wadi Rum desert, made famous by Lawrence of Arabia.
