Top Attractions in Jordan

First visit: April 2016
My Country #58

Traveling to Israel and Palestine with a sidetrip to Petra, Jordan

A few weeks ago, I traveled again with the Singelresor group after our trip to New Zealand and this time, we went to Israel and Palestine making a side trip to Petra, Jordan. With all the negative things being written about the safety of traveling to these countries, we actually did not experience anything that could be considered unsafe. Nevertheless, it is always advisable not to go to where the "conflict" is. The highlight of this trip for me was definitely being able to visit Petra and Jerusalem. We flew with Turkish Airlines in economy class so I did not write any flight reviews.


Photo Review: Turkish Airlines Business Class Lounge, Ataturk Airport (IST)
Top Attractions in Jordan
Top Attractions in Israel and Palestine
Photo Review: DAN Lounge Concourse C, Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Intl. Airport (TLV)
Review: Hilton Garden Inn Istanbul Ataturk Airport

Me and the Treasury in Petra, Jordan

A few weeks ago, I was able to visit Jordan for the first time, thanks to Singelresor. Our itinerary included a visit to Petra which is no doubt the top tourist attraction in the country. We then headed to Madaba, known as the "City of Mosaics", and made our last stop at Mount Nebo, believed to be the place where Moses was buried. Here are some of the sights we visited during our short trip to Jordan.

The Treasury in Petra: A lot of people think that Petra is only about "The Treasury" as it is the most photographed of all inside Petra but it is just one of the many things you can visit while in Petra.

This is me and the "Treasury" in Petra!

The Royal Tombs in Petra: It consists of four magnificent facades adjacent to each other and is hard to miss.

The Theater in Petra: This is the only theater in the world carved into the rock.

The Great Temple in Petra: Believed to have been constructed by the end of the 1st century BC by the Nabataeans, this temple is worth to be explored even with scorching sun and the temple's height.

The Byzantine Church in Petra: After all the fire and earthquake that hit Petra, the floor mosaics have been well preserved and is worth a visit.

Camel Ride: Where else can you ride a camel and at the same time gaze at the beauty of Petra?

Our guide told us that the "Monastery" which is one of the largest sites in Petra is also a very popular site but since it would take about an hour and half to visit it and come back again, we decided to skip it. Of course, you can ride a donkey for an extra cost if you want to make the walking easier as it is uphill.

Watching the guards in Petra (a show)

I also learned from our guide that you can visit "Petra by Night" starting from 8:30pm to 10:30pm for the price of 17 Jordanian Dinar and it is definitely recommended if you want to see another side of Petra. Unfortunately, it only runs every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and since we were there on a Tuesday, we were not able to do the tour. Well I guess I have another reason to come back to Petra.

Ain Musa (Moses Well): Moses made a stop here in Wadi Musa and is believed to struck this rock where spring water started gushing.

The Greek Orthodox Church of St. George in Madaba: Inside the church, you will find the 6th century Byzantine mosaic map showing Jerusalem and other holy sites. This masterpiece is surely not to be missed when in Madaba.

Visiting a mosaic shop in Madaba: Since Madaba is known as the "City of Mosaics", you wouldn't want to miss visiting a mosaic shop here.

Mount Nebo: This place is believed to be the place where Moses was buried and is therefore considered as the most revered holy site in Jordan.

From the top of Mount Nebo, you can see as Moses did, the Dead Sea, the Jordan River Valley, Jericho and Jerusalem.

Enjoying a traditional dish from Jordan: During our stay in Petra, we were able to have a taste of their local food, one of which is Maqluba, a dish including meat, rice and fried vegetables placed in a pot and then flipped upside down when served.

Jordanian Dinar: This is something for those who like collecting bills from different countries.


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