A bustling, vibrant capital city that's home to more than one million people, Amman is a modern metropolis with ancient roots.
Amman
Aqaba
This port on the southern tip of Jordan is the country's main gateway to the sea. It's a popular destination for Jordanians hoping for some sea with their sun and sand.
Wadi Rum
Sleeping under the stars in a Bedouin camp in the desert and admiring the Seven Pillars of Wisdom, the rock formations immortalised by TE Lawrence.
Little Petra
A short distance to the north of Petra is Siq al-Barid, a small archaeological site commonly referred to as Little Petra, because it's essentially a miniature version of the world-famous ancient Nabatean capital. It's thought that Little Petra is where many Nabateans lived as it's mostly home to a series of dwellings with very few... Continue Reading →
Petra: The Monastery
On our second day in Petra, we set off at 7am to hike to the Monastery, an enormous monument cut into the rose-red rock, high on top of one of Petra's many mountains. Having learned our lesson about hiking in the searing midday sun the day before and with temperatures set to be even hotter... Continue Reading →
Petra: The High Place of Sacrifice and the Royal Tombs
After our wonderful introduction to Petra via the Siq and the Treasury, we continued exploring the ancient Nabatean capital via the Outer Siq. The Outer Siq is a large path that leads to the heart of the City of Petra, and the rocks surrounding it are home to countless tombs and dwellings. As we walked... Continue Reading →
Petra: The Treasury and the Siq
I don't mind admitting I've been dreading writing this post, not because I didn't enjoy Petra or because I had nothing to write about, but because it's such an extraordinary, unique place, it's almost impossible to do it justice in a blog post. How do you succinctly sum up one of the great wonders of... Continue Reading →
Kerak Castle
An enormous 12th century Crusader castle, perched high on a hill overlooking its modern-day namesake town.
Madaba
Tucked away among the narrow streets of Madaba is St George's Church. And while from the outside, it may look like any other church, inside it's home to one of Jordan's greatest treasures – the sixth century map of Madaba. The Madaba Mosaic Map is a mosaic map of the Holy Land that's thought to... Continue Reading →
Mount Nebo
According to the Bible, Jordan's Mount Nebo is the place from which Moses saw the Promised Land right before he died. The mountain, which overlooks the Dead Sea, is today home to the prophet's purported grave, as well as a church and a small museum. It was bright and early when we arrived atop Mount... Continue Reading →
The Dead Sea
At 431 m below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth. A slither of receding water between Jordan and Israel, the Dead Sea is actually a large lake, part of the Jordan Rift Valley, and it's where I spent a late afternoon relaxing during my week-long sojourn in Jordan. As we... Continue Reading →
Jerash
The most striking thing about the ruined Roman city of Jerash is its size – it's a vast site home to two extraordinarily well-preserved amphitheatres, two temples and even an intact mosaic floor. Known as Gerasa in ancient times, Jerash in north-west Jordan dates back to the 3rd century BC and today lies in the... Continue Reading →
Little Old World 