Cori Cummings is the Site Specialist for Morocco, Jordan, India and Greece
Sitting squarely in the middle of the Middle East, Jordan, or the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is more than just a desert landscape, filled with a wealth of historic significance and modern conveniences. While you may know a little bit about Jordan, here are 10 things that you probably don’t know about the country.
1. Home to World Wonders:
Of course you’ve heard of Petra, but I bet you didn’t know it’s one of the new 7 Wonders of the World. Teeming with exciting history, the still standing, awe-inspiring Palace Tombs was the capital of the Nabataean empire over 2000 years ago!
2. Red Sea Bliss:
Jordan is home to some of the best snorkeling in the world. Head over to Aqaba on the Red Sea, just a 3 hour drive from Amman, and you can snorkel with exotic fish and some of the most beautiful coral reefs on earth.
3. Lights, Camera, Action!:
Action movies such as Lawrence of Arabia, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Mummy Returns, and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen were filmed in Wadi Rum and Petra; the vast, beautiful red sand desert and city located in the south of Jordan.
4. Explorer’s Paradise:
Jordan hosts the lowest Nature Reserve on the planet. You can hike through Wadi Mujib’s towering canyon walls to a waterfall perfect for cooling off.
5. History Hot Spot:
Some of the most remarkable world history happened in Jordan. Still standing today are a variety of castles built during the 7th and 8th century. A famous castle, Qasr Azraq, or “the blue fortress,” was base for T.E. Lawrence in 1917-1918.
6. Athletic Adventures:
Jordan hosts exciting athletic events such as the Dead Sea Marathon, which starts in Amman and finished in the Dead Sea. Other races, like the Jordan Valley Triathlon and Duathalon, are hosted annually as well.
7. Turkish Bath houses aren’t just in Turkey:
Amman has plenty of relaxing, luxurious bath houses to visit, one of the most popular being Al-Pasha.
8. Indoor Climbing:
Looking for world class indoor climbing walls? ClimbAt Jordan has over 200 set climbing routes and two different bouldering walls in a state of the art facility.
9. Hot Springs:
The Ma’In Hot Springs are a series of hot mineral springs and waterfalls to which people have traveled for thermal treatments and leisurely baths. Notable historical figures have been said to bathed in and sought healing from the springs, one of the most famous being King Herod.
10. Resorts Galore:
Jordan is home to some of the most incredible resorts in the Middle East such as The Four Seasons in Amman, Moevenpick Resort Petra, Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea, Evason Ma’In Hot Springs and Jordan Valley Marriot Resort & Spa to name a few 5 stars!
Start your study abroad journey to Jordan!
