Jordan Highlights
Amman
Jordan's capital spreads out over several mountains, its scattered ancient monuments standing next to high-rise apartment blocks. The hectic downtown area is dominated by the old Citadel, the site of Roman, Byzantine and Omayyad remains as well as the Jordanian Archaeological Museum containing some of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Jarash
Jarash (ancient Gerasa) in northern Jordan is one of the best preserved Roman cities in the world. The magnificent cardo links a succession of beautifully preserved temples, plazas, churches, markets. In July the South Theatre hosts the annual Festival of Arts and Culture.
Ajlun Castle
One of the best preserved examples of medieval Arab/Islamic military architecture in the entire Middle East, Ajlun Castle was built in 1184-85 by Izz ed-Din Ousama, one of the most capable governors of the Islamic leader Salaheddeen (Saladin), who evicted the Crusaders from Jordan in 1189. The castle's galleries, towers, staircases, and many chambers are fun to explore and offer some magnificent views.
Umm Qays
The most dramatically situated Roman-era town in Jordan is Umm Qays (Roman Gadara), overlooking the north Jordan Valley, the Syrian Golan Heights and Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee). Among the most impressive ancient remains are a stunning black basalt theatre and a basilica with courtyard strewn with beautifully carved black sarcophagi.
The Jordan Valley
The kingdom's Garden of Eden, the Jordan Valley is noted for its physical beauty and its many historical and biblical associations. It is extremely fertile, as indicated by the swathes of banana plantations, citrus orchards and vegetable farms. There are also a number of hot springs in the valley, including those at Himma.
The Dead Sea
Situated less than an hour's drive from Amman, the Dead Sea is the lowest place on the earth's surface. Though many large wadi systems empty their silty floodwaters from the surrounding mountains here, there is no outlet for the water. Combined with fiercely hot air temperatures, this produces a high rate of evaporation. The evaporation leaves a mixture of salts and minerals, giving the sea its glutinous surface.
Azraq and the Desert Palaces
East of Amman, at the confluence of three different types of desert, stands the much-reduced Azraq oasis, its pools filled by a complex network of aquifers fed from the Jabal Druze area of southern Syria. Well-preserved Omayyad palaces as well as an impressive castle at Azraq can be seen in an easy day-trip from Amman.
Shaumari Wildlife Reserve
This park lies to the south of Azraq, near the main road to Saudi Arabia. Its visitors' centre has a tower for viewing animals, including the Arabian oryx, an elegant white antelope.
The King's Highway
Winding south from Amman to Arabia, the King's Highway is an ancient route, along which traders, armies and pilgrims have passed for more than 3,000 years. It plunges into major and minor wadis (valleys), the most spectacular of which is the formidable Wadi al Mujib. Around every corner in the winding road is either an archaeological site or natural landmark, inviting travellers to stop and explore.
Madaba
With its origins in biblical times, Madaba is famous as a "city of mosaics". The Byzantine-influenced designs are made from the local stone. The highlight in Madaba is the 6th-century Madaba Map found during construction, in 1898, of the Greek Orthodox Church of St George's, itself on the site of a Byzantine church.
Petra
Far and away Jordan's most spectacular tourist site, Petra offers a combination of impressive Nabataean antiquities and sensational natural scenery, all of which demands at least a couple of days' exploration. The Nabataean Arabs established the city in around the 6th century BC. Carved out of the rock face deep in the mountains, it is approached via a narrow siq (a natural kilometre-long fissure) which emerges in front of al-Khazneh ("the Treasury"), Petra's most photographed monument.
Wadi Rum
The vast tract of southeastern Jordan known as Wadi Rum is often described as a mini Grand Canyon. Here, rocky mountains rear out of a pink sandy landscape to spectacular effect.
For centuries the Bedouin have engraved representations of the animals, people and events of their world on the rocks here. Today, visitors can join Bedouin-led explorations of the area, soaking up its atmosphere and camping under the stars.
The Gulf of Aqaba
As Jordan's only outlet to the sea, the port city of Al 'Aqaba represents the promise of relaxation to most Jordanians. It is known for its clean, sandy beaches and agreeable climate. It also offers world-class scuba-diving on the coral reefs of the Red Sea.