+962 77 50400 18
[email protected]
A well-travelled bridge between sea and desert, east and west, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a land of mesmerizing beauty and contrasts, from the Jordan Valley, fertile, ever-changing, to the remote desert canyons, immense and still. Visitors can explore splendid desert castles, gaze in awe at the haunting wilderness of Wadi Rum, or bathe in the restful waters of the Red Sea.
Travel with ease with Jordan’s Zenith and get the best Jordan travel advice.
Jordan is also famed for its friendly inhabitants, for which the welcoming of visitors is a matter of national pride. Chances are, it will not take long until you are welcomed into the homes of complete strangers. Ask someone for directions, and they will probably drive you to your destination.
Tourism accounts for almost 20% of the GDP of Jordan, making it our most important resource, one which a very large portion of the population depends upon directly or indirectly.
These are some resources we are putting at your disposal in order for you to find out more about Jordan prior to your visit. Our tour consultants will also be at your service should you have any questions about our destination.
His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein assumed his constitutional powers as King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on February 7th, 1999, the day his father, the late King Hussein, passed away.
His Majesty King Hussein bin Talal, the father of modern Jordan, will always be remembered as a leader who guided his country through strife and turmoil to become an oasis of peace, stability, and moderation in the Middle East. Among Jordanians, his memory is cherished as the inspiration for Jordan’s climate of openness, tolerance, and compassion. Known to his people as Al-Malik Al-Insan (“The Humane King”), King Hussein was the forty-second generation direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him (PBUH).
Hussein was proclaimed King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on August 11, 1952. A Regency Council was appointed until King Hussein’s formal accession to the throne on May 2, 1953, when he assumed his constitutional powers after reaching the age of eighteen, according to the Islamic calendar.
Throughout his long and eventful reign, King Hussein worked hard at building his country and raising the living standard of every Jordanian. Early on, King Hussein concentrated on building an economic and industrial infrastructure that would complement and enhance the advances he wanted to achieve in the quality of life of his people. During the 1960s, Jordan’s main industries – including phosphate, potash, and cement – were developed, and a network of highways was built throughout the kingdom.
His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein married Queen Rania on June 10th, 1993. The Royal Couple has two sons – Prince Hussein, born on June 28th, 1994, and Prince Hashem, born on January 30th 2005 – and two daughters – Princess Iman, born on September 27th, 1996, and Princess Salma, born on September 26th, 2000. The King has four brothers and seven sisters.
As a Muslim country, Jordan’s culture is quite conservative, although not as conservative as some other Middle Eastern countries.
Despite the outside influences, Islamic traditions are strong in Jordan with spectacular mosques signalling the call to prayer five times a day, Ramadan being observed each year and some segregation of the sexes occurring.
The desert-dwelling Bedouin have a distinct culture of their own, drawing on traditions that have been passed down for centuries. Living a largely nomadic lifestyle, the Bedouin rely on the herding of animals and the creation of handicrafts in the absence of a fertile environment to farm. With a strong musical heritage, traditional instruments are played and time-honored traditions are continued.
Hospitality is a crucial element of Jordanian culture.
Most visitors will be humbled by the kindness, sincerity and genuine care shown by Jordanians.
Being welcomed into peoples’ homes is common and can probably be attributed to the custom of welcoming strangers and sharing food when travelling in the unforgiving desert.
It is often said that one of the best ways to experience a country is by eating and that is especially the case in Jordan. Whether you’re sampling street food, savouring a cheap eat or indulging in a banquet, there are endless culinary options to choose when travelling in Jordan.
Featuring typical Middle Eastern ingredients like lamb, chickpeas, garlic and a range of aromatic herbs and spices, Jordanian cuisine is delicious.
Like many other Middle Eastern countries, a plate of shared breads and dips is a great way to begin a feast.
This traditional Bedouin dish of lamb and yoghurt is usually served with rice and bread. This is the national dish of Jordan, so definitely try it before you leave.
These small, sweet pastries made with honey and nuts will have you going back for more.
The coffee in Jordan is strong. Often spiced with a hint of cardamom, coffee is strongly linked to the famed Jordanian hospitality, so drink up – it would be rude not to!
The Jordanians have an innate sense of welcome. You will often be surrounded by people wanting to talk to you or even offered a mint tea out of the blue. Some people will even pay for your bus journey, discreetly! You’ll be amazed.
Jordan has a tradition of welcoming visitors: camel caravans plied the legendary King’s Highway transporting frankincense in exchange for spices while Nabataean tradesmen, Roman legionnaires, Muslim armies and zealous Crusaders all passed through the land, leaving behind impressive monuments. These monuments, including Roman amphitheaters, Crusader castles and Christian mosaics, have fascinated subsequent travelers in search of antiquity and the origins of faith. The tradition of hospitality to visitors remains to this day
with a fascinating culture, and whose inhabitants are very hospitable.
Visit Petra and Wadi Rum or spend some time in the desert of this beautiful Middle Eastern country.
The two best periods for going to Jordan are spring and autumn, because the temperatures are most pleasant. Between November and March there is more rain. In winter it can be very cold and it may even snow. Also, be aware of the differences in climate between different regions: although the eastern desert is bearable in summer, the southern desert is so hot that it’s a real ordeal.
It’s very hot on the King’s Highway in the summer.
It’s better to go there in spring or autumn, because it rains a lot more from November to March. Travel along the King’s Highway, an ancient route which has seen many different travelers, towards the Wadi Mujib gorge, and along the way you can look at the perfectly peaceful landscape of hills and olive trees. Once you enter the Wadi Mujib gorge you will be surrounded by avenues of poplars and fig trees, and market towns. Don’t miss the mosaics at Madaba, or the fortresses of Kerak and Shobak.
