Jordan takes its name from the Jordan River, which forms much of the country's northwestern border. For me, it meant enduring 28 hours of stressful flying and worrying about entering a country that requires a visa, yet not having one until I landed. Would you do it?

Well, I'm in! I made it despite all the worries about the visa. Hahaha...

Amman, Jordan - Rooftop view of my hotel Hawa Amman hotel

I have some friends heading to Jordan soon, so I am going to write a lot of tips for their trip.

First, let's talk about the visa. You often hear about getting the visa on arrival, how much it will cost, and that they only accept cash (Jordanian Dinar). You also need proof of your departure, hotel details, and your itinerary. Well, I had everything prepared and followed the line to the visa booth. To my surprise, there were six guys there, all busy playing games on their mobiles. All I had to do was hand over my passport and use my card to pay the fee of 40 JD ($82.55 AUD). Then, he went back to his game, and I had two stamps in my passport.

Note: I did read something about a Jordan Pass while at the airport, but I didn't get it since I already had a tour arranged. However, it seems worth considering.

The Jordan Pass offers hassle-free prepaid entry to over 40 attractions in Jordan, free downloadable digital brochures covering all of Jordan's tourist attractions, and waiving of tourist entry visa fees if you purchase the Jordan Pass before arriving in Jordan and stay a minimum of three nights (4 days).

Now, let's talk about money. This is going to hurt because Jordan is not cheap (and there are two systems to consider):

First, based on my exchange rate, I got 0.4020 Jordanian Dinar (JD) for 1.00 AUD. So, I exchanged $389.01 for 160.00 JD.

Secondly, for cost breakdowns, I am using the Triposo app (yes, you should download it for travel). It provides current rates at the time of calculation, and although the math might not match the figures above, it will give you a good estimation.

Now, let's move on to getting to Amman from the airport. There are two booths outside, one for the bus and another for taxis. It will cost you about 22.50 JD ($46.42 AUD) to take a taxi, and it's approximately a 45-minute drive. Since it was late, I opted for the taxi. Otherwise, the bus would cost around 3.80 JD and take over an hour to reach the main bus stop in town.

Amman citadel otherwise known as Temple of Hercules.

A short walk up to the top of the hill in Amman will lead you to the Amman Citadel, also known as the Temple of Hercules. It's like a playground; if you think you can climb it, you can climb it. And that's exactly what I did. Never before had I been so close to sandstone pillars that are over 2000 years old.

Today, after braving the 6-degree cold weather that unfortunately is going to stay with me throughout the trip, there is some good news. It does reach a high of 14 degrees during the day; I just couldn't tell you exactly when. But I'm incredibly relieved that I packed my jacket at the last moment. So, back to the story. After enduring the weather, I changed hotels and had a meet and greet with my tour buddies. The group consisted of a couple of Americans, a Canadian, a couple from New Zealand, and, of course, no tour would be complete without a bunch of Aussies. In total, we were a tour group of 11 people, ready to explore the sights together. After exchanging hellos and sharing some laughs, we headed up to the hotel roof for a photo with the Roman Theater. Tomorrow, we embark on a road trip to our new destination...

We drove 236 kilometers along the border of Israel and Jordan, making stops at the Moses Memorial at Mt Nebo and taking a refreshing, albeit strange, dip in the Dead Sea. In the Dead Sea, you cannot sink due to the high salt content. Even if you try to go underwater vertically, your shoulders remain above the water, and you can't touch the bottom with your toes. It was truly an incredible experience and a must-do. We paid 15 JD ($32.90 AUD) to use the Amman Dead Sea beach, which is also situated 380 meters below sea level. There are other free areas to stop off along the roadside, but I've heard there are sinkholes, so it's up to you. However, don't miss out on going to the Dead Sea.

Afterward, we headed to the Karak Castle to take in the sights before making our way to Petra for the night.

From 8 am until 4 pm, we were on our feet, walking a total of 18 kilometers and taking 26,388 steps. During that time, we managed to explore two-thirds of the Rose City, also known as Petra, which is one of the seven wonders of the world. Nobody knew just how massive this place was. It's absolutely huge, but witnessing its magnificence was truly a sight to behold. What an unforgettable experience it was...

Petra Treasury, one of the 7 wonders of the world.

And if all that walking didn't scare you off, I highly recommend going for the night tour. It is truly amazing.

A day pass ticket to Petra will cost you 50 JD ($103.24 AUD), while a night pass is priced at 17 JD ($35.10 AUD). The night time show is only available on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, so make sure to plan your visit accordingly. (The Jordan Pass is now looking really good as it can help you save some money.)

Spending a night in the middle of the Wadi Rum desert is an experience you shouldn't miss. It is vast and magnificent, and it has served as a backdrop for numerous movies like Lawrence of Arabia, The Martian, Aladdin, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and many more. I felt like a movie star in that setting. Without further delay, I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

Now, it's a quick drive to the port of Aqaba, carrying three important things: 10 JD ($20.70 AUD) for the Jordanian exit tax, $25.00 US dollars, and my passport. I am heading to Egypt, my number one bucket-list country.

Click to continue the adventure

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