Top 10 reasons to visit Jordan

Swim in the Dead Sea, visit Petra and more don't forget to take a trip to Jordan. Here are the top 10 reasons to visit Jordan:

10. Swim in the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea, bordering Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories, is actually a lake and quite brackish - its waters contain about 34% salt, which is almost ten times more than sea water. The bright blue waters attract many swimmers who want the weird feeling of swimming without any effort.

The extremely high salinity of the Dead Sea means that as soon as you step into the water, your body instantly floats to the surface, providing the opportunity to lie down, relax and enjoy diving at the lowest point on the planet.

After bathing, you can apply Dead Sea mud, which is said to have tonic properties, and even buy some scrubs, salts or other foods as souvenirs. Jordanians often refer to the Dead Sea as "the lowest natural resort on earth."

Its shores are home to many luxury resorts that offer massages or special mud treatments.

9. See a huge number of attractions in just a week and at any time of the year

Do you only have one week off? You can visit many of Jordan's landmarks without rushing. Each region offers its own gems.

One possible route is to fly to Amman and spend the day seeing its sights, including the Citadel and the ancient palace. You can take a day trip north to explore the remains of ancient Roman cities, then work your way south along the 5,000-year-old route along the Kings Highway into the Gulf of Aqaba, stopping at Petra, near the Dead Sea and other historic sites such as Jerash.

Fortunately, Jordan has a dry, pleasant climate that makes travel easy all year round. (Although, if you don't like the heat, it is better not to go in August, when the temperature in Amman can rise to 35 degrees, and even higher in the desert).

8. Visit the ancient city of Petra

Once the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom, this city built of stone is a UNESCO World Heritage Site - and rightly so. The tombs and monuments of the centuries-old capital, deeply carved into reddish rocks, are unlike any other on Earth. Most visitors to Petra, however, see only the main attractions - Al Khazneh or the Treasury, which is the city's most famous spot - and do not turn off the main road.

To truly get lost in the wonders of Petra, lace up your sneakers and get ready to sweat. Climb 800 steps to the monument known as Ad Deir (Monastery), where the Nabataeans may have celebrated religious festivals. Then, climb the mountain to the Highest Place of Sacrifice for a scenic view of where the ancient culture sacrificed animals. Or hire a guide to show you lesser-known trails, including one where you can look down at the Treasury from above - a perspective few get.

7. Back to Roman times

When you find yourself in the former Roman Empire, do as the Romans did and appreciate the beautiful architecture. In about the first century AD, modern-day Jordan lay in the heart of the Decapolis, a loose federation of more than ten Roman cities on the eastern edge of the empire. (Even Amman, then called Philadelphia, was part of the Decapolis.)

Today, visitors can explore the remains of some of these cities scattered across the country. In the northern city of Umm Qays, you can wander the rows of the amazingly preserved Roman amphitheater, built of dark hard volcanic rocks.

Also in the north of Jordan is Abila, where you can look inside the caves where the ancient dead once lay. The sarcophagus ceilings are decorated with stunning frescoes. In Jarash, in central Jordan, Roman-era cobblestones still bear the tracks of ancient chariot wheels, and the impressive Hadrian's Arch, built to commemorate the visit of the Roman Emperor Hadrian to the city in 129, continues to rise centuries later.

6. Spend the night in a camp under the stars with the Bedouins

The Bedouins, whose Arabic name bedu means desert dweller, are renowned for their endurance and hospitality. These semi-nomadic people traditionally live in remote communities, graze camels and goats and build goat hair houses. Fortunately, visitors can experience Bedouin life in a more comfortable environment in Wadi Rum, a stunning desert in southern Jordan. Several campgrounds allow you to spend several days wandering through this protected wilderness that has been inhabited by humans since prehistoric times.

Marvel at the towering cliffs of Wadi Rum and the vibrant ocher dunes from an open-top SUV or, if you dare, from the back of a beautifully decorated camel. At night, Bedouins host guests under the bright stars of the desert and tell stories of their culture. Back at camp, they can start performing traditional songs and dances and ask to join them.

5. Eat like a king

Jordan is a gourmet's tale. The national dish is called mansaf - a ram or goat cooked in yogurt and seasoned with aromatic herbs and spices, sprinkled with almonds and pine nuts and served on a mountain of rice. Jordanians spend hours making mansaf, the preparation of which takes place in several stages. Usually this dish is eaten with hands.

Another classic Jordanian dish is stuffed lamb stuffed with rice, chopped onions and nuts. If you're looking for a more basic meal, you'll be in love with Jordanian falafel, especially if you get the chance to watch it cook on the street.

Vendors shape chickpea pâté balls, fry them, and then serve them lukewarm. Wrap them in fresh pita bread from the oven and voila - perfection. If you are looking for a delicious souvenir, olive oil can be found almost everywhere in Jordan, which is a major producer of it.

4. Snorkel and enjoy the beauty of the Red Sea reefs

Tired of desert dust? Go to see the magnificent reefs and beaches of Aqaba, Jordan's Red Sea city. For over 2,000 years, Aqaba has been an important port for shipping routes from Asia, Africa and Europe - and it still remains today, as evidenced by the numerous large ships in the harbor. You can relax on the private beach or, as we advise, book snorkeling and spend the whole day in the Gulf of Aqaba.

The clear waters of the Red Sea boast a veritable rainbow of marine life, including over 1,000 species of fish - such as lionfish and clownfish - and 200 species of coral. Other animals that are sometimes spotted among the reefs are manta rays, sea turtles and dolphins. (If you arrive in winter, be aware that the water can be a little chilly). While you are in the Persian Gulf, do not forget to ask the boat captain to point out the shores of three countries - Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Israel.

3. Pay homage to the Holy Place

One of the most sacred sites in Jordan is Mount Nebo, where the biblical prophet Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land. According to the Bible, he died on Mount Nebo at the age of 120 and was buried there, although the location of his grave is unknown. Since then, many Christians have made pilgrimages to this hill in western Jordan, near Amman.

At the top is a stone monument to Moses, as well as a Byzantine church built by monks in the third or fourth century AD.This ideal vantage point offers dazzling views of the Prophet, the vast brown ridges of the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Another testament to the importance of Mount Nebo: in 2000, about 20,000 people gathered here to listen to the sermon of Pope John Paul II.

2. Admire ancient mosaics

We can say that the mosaics made Madaba known to the world. Situated next to Mount Nebo, the city preserves detailed stone mosaics, such as the oldest known depiction of Palestine on the floor of the city's Greek Orthodox Church (one third of Madaba's residents are Christian). Called the Carta of Madaba, the sixth-century work was once made from two million tile fragments depicting major biblical sites in the Middle East.

Much of the map has disappeared, but enough fragments remain to inspire awe today’s visitors. The Madaba Archaeological Park has an even more ancient mosaic - the first century BC, an artifact from the palace of Herod the Great. If you love mosaics, Madaba Museum has a lot more to see. As a tourist city, Madaba has many craft shops where you can buy yourself a handmade masterpiece - the Tree of Life mosaics are especially beautiful.

1. Walk in the footsteps of Hollywood actors

You may not realize it, but you've probably already seen some of Jordan's vibrant spots on the big screen. In the recent sci-fi movie The Martian, the Wadi Rum dunes act as the barren landscape of the red planet. Wadi Rum is also known to movie fans as a stunning backdrop for the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia.

And in the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Harrison Ford found the Holy Grail inside Al Khazneh, Petra's most iconic monument.