Uncategorized – Jordan Tours

Jordan Entry Regulations /COVID-19.

seif● — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 09:38:00 +0000

All restrictions have been lifted!

Nonetheless, please purchase health insurance that will cover your stay.

TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS:

Jordan’s airports are open and functioning. Public transport is also operating as normal, with no social distancing. Jordan’s land border crossings are open but smooth travel is dependent on regulations set by the differing countries.

Note: All the above regulations are subject to change as per the Jordanian government’s regulations. All updates will be posted and our team is always ready to assist you.

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A Rose-Red City Half As Old As Time

seif● — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 07:49:16 +0000

John William Burgon (1813-1888) was a British clergyman who later became the Dean of Chichester Cathedral.

Like Percey Shelley in Ozymandias, Burgon was very taken by the beauty of a place despite never actually casting an eye upon it. Burgon entered the Newdigate Prize competition three times and won on his third time in 1845. Other winners of the prize include Oliver Wilde and John Buchan of ‘The Thirty-Nine Steps’.

The theme that year was the up and coming destination of Petra, famed for its hugely rewarding destination- albeit after an immensely tricky journey. Petra had been gaining popularity after the more adventurous western tourists who had undertaken the journey wrote about their treks after arriving home.

Buron did actually visit Petra in 1862, seventeen years later as a guest of Miss Elizabeth Frances Webb. The group of seven set off from England on 10 September 1861. After a cruise down the Nile and sightseeing in Suez and Mt. Sinai, the group reached Aqaba on 5 April. Their trip to Jordan involved a taxing, month-long camel trek.

Burgon spent four days in Petra over the Easter weekend 16-21 April. He made sketches of Petra; sadly, it is unknown if these survived. He commented in a letter that Petra was ‘the most astonishing and interesting place I ever visited, and may well stand alone.’ The sandstone cliffs … in colour unrivalled’ but goes on to say: ‘… there is nothing rosy in Petra, by any means’.

After departing from Petra, Burgon’s group traversed through Wadi Araba to Hebron before reaching Jerusalem on 29 April 1862. Their journey by camel had totalled 50 days. Upon arrival, Burgon fell ill and as a result missed the rest of the trip to eastern Jordan. He was carried by mules and then lifted onto a boat that took him to Beirut. Deathly ill, he spent more than a month recovering before catching a steamer to Marseilles, France in June and arriving home in July 1862.

He is buried in Oxford along with many notable others including Kenneth Graeme of The Wind in the Willows fame.

The last couplet of Petra has become one of the most famous in poetry, and the poem is 370 lines in its entirety.

An excerpt of Petra, a Poem:

It seems no work of Man’s creative hand,
by labour wrought as wavering fancy planned;
But from the rock as if by magic grown,
eternal, silent, beautiful, alone!
Not virgin-white like that old Doric shrine,
where erst Athena held her rites divine;
Not saintly-grey, like many a minster fane,
that crowns the hill and consecrates the plain;
But rose-red as if the blush of dawn,
that first beheld them were not yet withdrawn;
The hues of youth upon a brow of woe,
which Man deemed old two thousand years ago,
Match me such marvel save in Eastern clime,
a rose-red city half as old as time.

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The Jordan Direct Guide to Driving in Jordan

seif● — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 23:13:38 +0000

Considering a self-drive trip to Jordan? Maybe think again. Whilst many drivers abide by the rules, many do not. Jordanian roads are often governed by laws of mutual understanding between locals, built over decades of experience. Let us guide you through some of the slightly anarchic things you should expect if you choose to self-drive Jordan.

Stop Signs

Expecting a stop sign to mean stop? Not in Jordan. Right of way is a grey area here. Never assume traffic will yield. Always be on the lookout for drivers in a hurry, and double check your rear. Drivers often don’t leave enough space to anticipate your sudden stop.

Traffic Lights

You may think that, of all highway infrastructure, traffic lights are the simplest to understand. Not in Jordan! Even though running a red light is an offence in Jordan, it’s not uncommon. City roads can turn into drag strips haunted by super tuned pick-up trucks and muscle cars. If your reactions aren’t on par with a fighter pilot on the green, expect a melee of frustrated car horns in your direction.

Roundabouts

Again, we come back the issue of yielding. Whilst on a roundabout, don’t expect drivers to give way. The legendary formula one driver Ayrton Senna once said: “if you no longer go for the gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver”. Jordanian drivers have taken this to heart. On roundabouts always be prepared for others to join you with little warning.

Pedestrians

While the government is working towards more pedestrian friendly streets in Amman, there are a few clear pedestrian crossings, and jaywalking is very common. Sidewalks in Jordan are not always conducive to walking, and even on very fast roads, pedestrians will risk life and limb to save half a minute until the next gap. Always be prepared to brake suddenly and watch your rear.

Speedbumps

Foreign drivers are often caught out by Jordan’s spine shattering speedbumps. These are littered all over the countries road network and warning is usually only provided immediately before the speedbump (when we say immediately – we mean it).

Expect the Unexpected!

Anything is possible while driving in Jordan. Expect a sudden change in lanes, double parking in major streets and cavernous potholes. Welcome to the wild west!

Driving in Jordan is manageable, but often stressful. To get the most out of your trip, we recommend booking with a driver who knows the country’s roads inside out and has insurance should anything go wrong.

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Travel Restrictions for Jordan Eased by CDC

seif● — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 13:37:58 +0000

Because of the decreasing numbers of Covid-19 cases in Jordan, and due to the progress in the number of vaccinated Jordanians, the U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has eased travel restrictions for Jordan.

CDC has lowered Jordan’s risk rating to “level 3” which advises travel for fully vaccinated travellers.
This risk reduction by the State Department is now applied to 61 countries and territories. Some of the countries now listed at “level 3’’ like Jordan, are the United States, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland amongst others.

Up till the beginning of June, more than 1.8 million Jordanian citizens have been vaccinated. The governmental goal now is to achieve the vaccination of 4.5 million Jordanians by September, with the objective of eradicating the coronavirus from the kingdom as soon as possible.

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New Travel Protocol for Jordan announced

seif● — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 10:51:21 +0000

The Jordanian Ministry of Tourism recently issued the protocol for visitors to Jordan. The protocol details steps to be taken by clients wishing to visit the country. Most notably, the Covid PCR test time has been extended to 120 hours before departure. It is expected that persons possessing vaccination certificates will be soon exempted from taking the PCR after arrival, but this decision will be confirmed once put into effect.
Jordan also recently cancelled the Friday curfew, so now visitors may move freely on that day. There is now only a partial evening curfew in place. Covid cases are continuing to fall, and vaccinations are progressing smoothly.

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Adventure in Jordan – Hiking & Trekking

seif● — Sun, 04 Apr 2021 09:17:31 +0000

If you are an adventure-seeking traveller, then Jordan is the right place for your next adventure! With its novel and unique places to explore, the abundance of diverse and beautiful natural sights, the country boasts countless attractions and experiences. The main elements for adventure in Jordan are the endless miles of trails, Wadis and canyons, the distinctive natural beauty, and not to forget the rich cultural history. With the enchanting deserts, glistening seas, Rocky Mountains and canyons, Jordan offers you one of the greatest opportunities for adventure and exploration. In addition to all the mentioned, Jordan provides its visitors with an array of services and accommodations, such as; Camps, guest houses, hotels, resorts, wild camping and more.
For this part, we will start with Hiking & Trekking trails to give you the information you need and help you decide which is the most convenient trail for you, and covering all locations from the North to the South.

Hiking:
Hiking is considered the broadest and most outstanding adventure activity in Jordan. The kingdom’s nature offers hiking trails that suit all levels of fitness and experience. The huge diversity of landscapes from mountains, to deserts, forests and fields gives nature and adventure lovers a variety of options inside and outside the nature reserves. Scenic views, biodiversity, and historical significance all result in a once in a lifetime experience that you will find in no other place but Jordan.

Trekking:
This multi-day activity requires planning as it is a more meticulous outdoor experience that is meant to test your ability, stamina, and sanity. The most extensive trek in our country is “The Jordan Trail”, a distinctive experience that is divided into 8 segments. Starting in the very North of Jordan and ending at its South. This trail offers you 40 days of hiking over more than 650 kilometres and travelling through 52 villages and towns on its way.

Northern Jordan:
Starting with the Yarmouk Forest Reserve, where you can choose one of the 4 guided and self-guided hiking trails in and around the reserve. The trails range from easy to moderate as some take 1 to 2 hours and other trails take up to 7 hours, still each trail offers unparalleled views of the surrounding areas.
Moving to Umm Qais where you will be spoiled for choice, with eight trekking routes to pick from, all varying in landscape and level of difficulty. A one-hour drive from Umm Qais, you can reach Pella and enjoy the healthy walk around the oak-dotted limestone hills of Pella near the archaeological site of Tabaqet Fahl.
Another interesting trail is the Umm Qais to Ajloun trekking trail that takes approximately 4 days to complete and covers the visits of multiple archaeological sites.

Centre of Jordan:
Starting in the city of As-Salt and making its way through Fuheis, Iraq Al Ameer, Roman Road, and ending at the Dead Sea canyons of Wadi Zarqa Main and Wadi Wala is the Salt to Wadi Zarqa Main trekking trail, 62.4 kilometres trail taking approximately 4 days to complete.
A 45-minute drive from the City of Mosaics, Madaba, you will reach Wadi Khashabah; a 4.8 kilometres out and back hiking trail located near Thiban, offering scenic views. Wadi Khashabah’s hiking trail is considered moderate and is primarily used for nature trips. Close by is Machaerus where you can try the 1.6 kilometres loop trail that is suitable for all skill levels. If you are looking for a challenge, you can try the Muheros Canyon trail; a 17.9 kilometre out and back trail near Thiban, that features a lake and is certainly rated as difficult.
Moving on to Mujib Biosphere Reserve’s Ibex trail; starting at the visitors’ centre and following the Dead Sea highway before ascending into the reserve. This trail runs parallel to the Dead Sea and then continues along several dry valleys (Wadis) to the Raddas Ranger Station, where you might have the chance to see the Nubian Ibex, and is also where the famous rock statue of Lot’s wife can be seen. After a short break, the trail continues along a road for almost an hour until you reach the reserve’s entrance.

Southern Jordan:
The Southern part of Jordan extends hiking and trekking options that include major trekking trails starting from Dana to Petra, from Petra to Wadi Rum, and from Wadi Rum to Aqaba. Each of these trekking trails makes its way through countless natural wonders and historical ruins. Dana Biosphere reserve alone offers you 10 trails to choose from. Varying in difficulty levels some of these trails are Campsite Trail, Rummana Mountain Trail, Nawatef Trail, Wadi Dathneh Trail, and much more.
Proceeding to the astonishing desert of Wadi Rum (The Moon Valley), you will find various options of guided and self-guided hiking trails that include great scenery and guaranteed thrill. Wadi Rum’s hiking trails include Makharas Canyon Hike (unguided), Jebel Rum Round Trip (guided/ extremely difficult), and Jabal Umm Ad Dami Ascent (guided). Maybe the most interesting hike is the Ascent of Jabal Umm Ad Dami, as its route scales 1832m which makes it Jordan’s highest peak on the rarely visited southern border with Saudi Arabia. This trail includes a professional guide along with a 4WD vehicle and it is moderately difficult.

The numerous choices might confuse you, but our consultants will help you make the right choice according to your preferences and the difficulty level that you can handle.

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