Jordan Travel Guide

Take a ride through Wadi Rum at sunset and it's easy to see why TE Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) was so drawn to this land of weathered sandstone and reddened dunes. But Jordan's desert landscapes are not confined to the southeast: they encompass a salt sea at the lowest point on earth, canyons flowing with seasonal water, oases of palm trees and explosions of springtime flowers scattered across arid hills. Minimal planning and only a modest budget is required for an adventure.

Safe Haven

It takes tolerance to host endless waves of incomers and Jordan has displayed that virtue amply, absorbing in recent times thousands of refugees from Palestine, Iraq and most recently Syria. Despite contending with this and with ever-growing numbers of tourists who are often insensitive to conservative Jordanian values, rural life in particular has managed to keep continuity with the traditions of the past. While Jordan faces the challenges of modernisation and growing urbanisation, it remains one of the safest countries in which to gain an impression of the Middle East.

Wadi Rum NEIL FARRIN/GETTY IMAGES

By Jenny Walker, Author

From the first 'ahlan wa sahlan' said in welcome, I knew that Jordan was to become a lifelong friend. After going in search of TE Lawrence as a student, I have returned many times to the low-slung tents of the Howeitat, sipped tea with rug-makers and walked in the wake of shepherds. Beautiful though it is, and blessed with a disproportionate number of wonders, Jordan inspires this loyalty primarily because of its spirit of generous optimism opening its arms to strangers and sharing its meagre wealth with neighbours in need.