5 Reasons You’ll Love Discovering Jordan with Intrepid Travel
Written by Jessica - November 16, 2022
Last month, I had the incredible experience of joining a small group guided tour with Intrepid Travel. I’ve been to a lot of places (Jordan was actually country #30 for me!) but this small and ancient country blew me away and surprised me with its beauty unlike anywhere else I’ve been. It is a very special, and often misunderstood - or even unknown - destination that should be on everyone’s travel list.
Going on a guided tour on my own was a first for me - and it turned out to be enriching and fun beyond my expectations! I love adventure, but don’t seek it out enough on my vacations - I usually travel with my family, friends, or husband, who tend to not be as interested in adventure as they are relaxing. This trip reminded me of how great it is to do your own thing sometimes.
Even though I was traveling without friends or family or my hubby on this trip, I never felt alone. I met 11 amazing new friends from around the world, and had experiences that I never would have had if I planned a trip to Jordan completely on my own. Our tour, called “Jordan Discovery”, was a perfect balance between adventure and comfort. You can peruse the details in my Itineraries section.
I can confidently say that it will definitely not be my last trip with Intrepid, they have opened up a whole new way of traveling.
Below are 5 reasons why you’ll love discovering Jordan with Intrepid Travel
#1: Expert itinerary full of unique experiences
Hike in the red sand desert of Wadi Rum before watching the sun set over the mountains…
Stay at a desert camp overnight, and listen to local Bedouins play the oud by the fire under a sky full of stars …
Relax on the beach with a cocktail …
Have dinner with a local Jordanian family in their home …
See one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World …
Take a black mud bath in the Dead Sea…
… all in just a week !
It is amazing what you can see and do in such a short amount of time here. Jordan is full of real life wow experiences, from ticking off Bucket List sites to being treated to a home-cooked meal there is so much to see and do.
Trip itineraries with Intrepid are specifically crafted to include as much time as possible doing local things with local people. They’re not simply about getting from point A to point B, or ‘seeing the sights’ – anyone with a guidebook can do that. What they offer is the local knowledge and experience to help you get behind the scenes of a culture and understand what makes that destination tick. These are unique and authentic insights into local life that have been facilitated specifically for Intrepid groups.
We had amazing experiences each day of our trip, I came home with so many memories - and great photos. Sometimes, those can speak louder than words…
#2 Travel made easy
Visiting a foreign place can be complicated, and quite overwhelming logistically - that is often a barrier for many of us to make the trek to lesser-known spots.
A comprehensive, organized group travel experience with Intrepid is especially great for a destination that you are interested in visiting but may be hesitant about (for one reason or another), like Jordan was for me.
Is it safe to go there as a solo female?
What if I can’t communicate with anyone?
How do I know what to order at restaurants? What if I don’t find anything I like to eat? Or get sick?
How do I get around?
How do I know where to go, other than the top tourist sites?
I was always drawn to Jordan and wanted to visit, but all of these questions were swirling around in my head, keeping me safely at home.
Intrepid solves all of these concerns, because their tours are expertly organized, from start to finish. They have been industry experts for over 30 years, operating their small-group adventure tours on all 7 continents. It’s safe to say that they know not only where to go and how to get there, they’ve learned how to delve into a local destination and make it come alive.
Intrepid’s trip styles include Premium, Comfort, Original, and Basix, each with different levels of star ratings & inclusions depending on what you’re looking for. The Comfort itinerary that I experienced on my Jordan tour has all of the week’s logistics expertly taken care of, making it an easy and stress-free trip where you can fully relax and enjoy the ride.
We’ve smoothed away some of adventure travel’s rougher edges to craft a style of travel that has a few more pleasantries included. Enjoy a more relaxed pace of travel, inviting accommodation, more included activities and many meals along the way.
- Intrepid website
This included comfortable 3-4* hotels in safe, clean, and well-located areas at each overnight stop (and trust me, you’ll mostly be busy - not in your room). Our primary mode of transport was a private mini bus, complete with AC, free wifi, a friendly local driver the whole week. A Comfort level trip has none of the hassle of travelling, with many of the activities, meals and an arrival transfer from the airport all included. The experienced local leaders will also have plenty of tips for how best to fill free time.
What more can you ask for?
#3: JordanianFood
Let’s talk about another hugely important part of travel for most of us: FOOD.
If you’re not enjoying your meals while on a vacation, it’s just disappointing. Conversely, if you have amazing local food in a destination, it helps you fall in love with it even more.
That was what happened when I went to Jordan - I fell in love, food first!
The food is simple (definitely not fancy or white-glove), hearty, flavourful and delicious. There’s a great variety of dishes available at restaurants, most of which are meant to be eaten family-style. You can enjoy a mix of fresh and cooked dishes, mild and spiced, vegetarian and meaty. They’re definitely not stingy on portions, either!
Most meals include a variety of side dishes, such as (but not limited to) hummus; moutabal; plates of white onion, hot peppers, turnips & pickles; fresh salads like fattoush and/or tabbouleh; fries, potatoes, or rice; and always a pile of fresh pita.
The most common main dishes include falafels, shish tawook (BBQ chicken breast), and kebabs of ground lamb or mutton. Beef was less common.
Did you know?
Our local guide Mohammad told us that falafels
are traditionally only eaten for breakfast or for dinner - never for lunch.
Jordan is a great food destination for vegetarians. With wonderful fresh produce and many delicious local dishes, you'll have a great time on this trip.
The best meal of the week was the home-cooked dinner we had in a local’s home in the town of Petra.
They made our group a fresh batch of maqluba (pictured).
This is a casserole of rice, vegetables, and chicken that’s slow-cooked upside-down for hours in a blend of spices, then flipped and served with yoghurt.
It’s an amazing local dish often served for special occasions, as it is made in a large amount meant to share with a group.
It’s a must try!
The national dish of Jordan is called mansaf , made of lamb cooked in a sauce of fermented dried yogurt and served with rice.
Freshly squeezed in front of you
While you can get tea basically at every corner, there is also an abundance of fresh and boxed fruit juice everywhere you go.
Try the fresh-pressed pomegranate (my personal favourite), orange, or lime and mint juice for a refreshing and hydrating drink.
The lime and mint juice was very popular among the group, but make sure it’s fresh - not bottled. It’s quite a treat, especially in the heat.
Being a mostly land-locked desert nation, there is not a lot of fish or seafood in Jordan. But if you visit the city of Aqaba , it is one place that you can enjoy a great fish dinner (pictured) with fresh fish from the nearby Red Sea.
There are also fantastic desserts at every turn - you can tell the good places by the length of the lineup. Cheesy and sweet knafeh is another must-try.
The local food in Jordan is amazing, and well worth the trip on its own!
For those who want to dive even deeper into the delectable food culture of Jordan, Intrepid also offers a 6-day Real Food Adventure.
#4: A Safe Place with Friendly Locals
How welcome you feel in an unfamiliar place will directly relate to how you feel about that place when looking back.
Our trip wouldn’t have been the same without our wonderful local guide and tour leader, Mohammad (pictured).
He’s an experienced tour guide with Intrepid and a native of Jordan who loves to show people his home country. He was fun, friendly, contentious, and he has an incredible a wealth of knowledge and information; he knew all of the factual or historic details of each place we visited, but he would also share details about local culture, and great stories.
I was continuously entertained and surprised by what he would tell us. We learned things from him that you just can’t find in tour books!
Something that is very special about Intrepid is that they employ all local businesses or people for transportation, hotels, and meals. It makes a big difference to work with local people who know their country best - you come away with a more personal and authentic experience of a destination. And, you are directly supporting locals, not large corporations.
The people of Jordan are very friendly.
I never felt unsafe or afraid, at any point of my trip.
Granted, I mostly traveled with the tour group, but it really did feel safe everywhere we went, even at night.
This was our lovely bus driver (pictured), who stopped off to make us some fresh roadside coffee!
The people of Jordan are quite open and friendly to tourists, I found. Often locals would smile at us as we walked by, or would say ‘As-salam alaykum’ (Arabic for ‘hello’) in passing. One night, a friendly family started talking to our group on the street, and the lady was proudly showing off her baby to us - at about 11pm at night.
The capital city of Amman (pictured below) is bustling and hectic, but there are no homeless people at all, no begging. Just busy locals going about their business - and quite a lot of traffic. The downtown comes alive at night, when everyone comes out to socialize, eat, shop, and smoke shisha.
The people I encountered were all kind and welcoming, everywhere we went. Jordanians are friendly, and quick to smile or laugh.
However, if you go to a bazaar or tourist area like Petra, you will get hassled quite a bit to buy things. You will have people constantly asking you to take a look at their wares, or offer you a tour or donkey ride or cold drink. It’s just part of the experience, these sellers are trying to make a living in a tough place with high unemployment rate. Just simply smile and say no thank you.
Or, have a look - I came home with many interesting finds, beautiful things that aren’t just trinkets. Just remember to always bargain for a good deal - it’s part of the culture to do so, don’t worry about offending them!
#5: AmazingHistory and Sightseeing
This point seems quite obvious, but it is one of the top reasons to visit Jordan. The sightseeing and historic significance of this small country will blow you away. Here are my recommendations for the top Can’t Miss experiences.
The top of the list is, of course, Petra.
One of the New7 Wonders of the World, this long-lost ancient city has wowed modern-day visitors since its rediscovery by a Swiss explorer in 1912.
Its buildings are carved out of the pinkish-red sandstone cliffs, with many different trails that take you to various lookout points or special sites like the Monastery, or to the lookout over the iconic Treasury.
No matter which trail you choose, you’re bound to have some incredible views.
Wandering around a city this ancient in such a well-preserved state is an experience like none other.
The day we spent at Petra, I walked more steps than I ever have in a single day - it was hard, and very hot, but so memorable.
It’s a bucket list site to visit, but to see it in its entirety would take multiple days. There are actually over 800 registered sites to explore here! We hiked two different trails during the day, and then went back to experience Petra By Night (which was nice, but much more crowded than expected and could maybe be skipped).
Visit the Roman ruins of Jerash.
The site at Jerash is considered one of the largest and most well preserved sites of Roman architecture in the world outside of Italy, and its history goes back more than 6,500 years. It has spectacular features, such as colonnaded avenues, temples, a large plaza, and a massive sports arena that once had a seating capacity of 15,000 spectators.
You can walk up to the Temple of Zeus to get an even better view of the colonnaded site and the city beyond it.
For history buffs, Jerash has a lot to love. Hopefully you get a sunnier day than we did!
Tip: There's almost no shade at Petra, or Jerash.
Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and a sun hat to keep yourself protected from the harsh rays.
See ancient mosaics in Madaba
The city is home to the "largest number of mosaics discovered in their original location in the world", many of which are located on the floors of churches and buildings around the city.
Inside the relatively unassuming St. George's Church (pictured), you’ll find one of the most noteworthy mosaics in Jordan: the Madaba Mosaic Map (pictured).
This 6th-century map depicts the Holy Land during the Byzantine period, showcasing Biblical-era cartography, offering a glimpse at what the Middle East looked like many centuries ago.
You can see more mosaics at the two Archaeological Parks.
To this day, mosaics are a big part of the city’s culture; it is home to The Madaba Institute for Mosaic Art and Restoration, a school that trains Jordanian artists in the production and restoration of mosaics, and works to actively preserve mosaics throughout the country.
Take a mud bath in the Dead Sea.
The lowest point on Earth accessible by road, this body of water is located at 418 meters below sea level.
It’s a very unique experience to jump into the water - and float! You feel so buoyant and bouncy, it’s so much fun to swim and float around.
No matter what you do, you’ll only stay at the surface. But be extremely careful to not get any Dead Sea water in your eyes - it is 10 times saltier than the ocean (ouch).
The Dead Sea is renowned for its mineral-rich water, which supposedly has healing properties for the skin.
For the ultimate wellness experience, you need to enjoy a mud bath with some black Dead Sea mud. Spread a thin layer all over your skin, and let it dry in the sun for a few minutes before washing it off in the Sea - you will be amazed at how baby-soft your skin is!
You can reach the Dead Sea region in about an hour by car from Amman. It’s perfect for a day trip.
From the Dead Sea, to the Red Sea!
Aqaba is a nice beach city located in the south of Jordan on the Read Sea, with Egypt and Israel visible on the other side.
It is a lively and fun place, with several nice hotels and a great stretch of beach to enjoy. After so much walking, learning, and sightseeing, a day at the beach will be a welcome respite.
We went to a private beach club with Intrepid, complete with heated pools, loungers, and a nice little beach bar. Most women at the pubic beaches wear burquini’s, so here we felt a bit more comfortable in our Western bikinis.
There are daily cruises of the Red Sea, or you can enjoy the best scuba diving in the Middle East - but we chose just to relax, swim, and enjoy a leisurely day by the sea with some drinks (Petra beer!).
The water was incredibly clear, you could easily see the bottom.
Last but not least - the desert beauty of Wadi Rum.
Wadi Rum was my favourite site of the whole trip. Wow - Prepare to be amazed.
This protected desert area is known for its unique red sand, which looks especially striking against a clear blue sky. And, it is huge - nearly as large as New York City, but much more naturally beautiful (and much less busy!).
Most of it is made up of sweeping sand dunes punctuated with rock mountains, a spectacular series of natural arches, towering cliffs, massive landslides, dramatic cavernous forms and narrow gorges. Together it creates an almost fairy-tale setting that feels truly other-worldly, like you’ve stepped onto another planet.
Wadi Rum is a Hollywood favourite for films set on Mars - it has served as the backdrop for films like The Martian (2015), The Last Days on Mars (2013), Red Planet (2000), and Mission to Mars (2000). The newest Aladdin movie was also recently filmed here.
Wadi Rum offers many desert adventures.
We took an open-air Jeep drive through the vast desert, which was so much fun!
You can also go on a camel safari, or soar above on a hot air balloon ride, go rock climbing on the sandstone mountains, or even try sand-boarding down the dunes.
We stayed overnight at a desert camp, which was far more comfortable than I had expected. The facilities were simple and not fancy at all, but the hospitality and food they cooked for us far made up for it (food is the way to my heart!).
The local Bedouins who ran the camp cooked our dinner in an ancient-looking contraption that was buried in the sand to slow-cook for hours, and then dug up just prior to serving.
Roasted chicken, potatoes, vegetables, plus a variety of salads and dips on the side. Delicious!!
At night, we sat around the campfire as one of the Bedouins played music on his oud and another one sang along. We sipped tea as the stars twinkled above - more stars than I’ve ever seen anywhere in my life. The darkness is so pure and absolute, with very little light pollution out here. It is incredibly peaceful.
It is a moment I will never forget.
While in Wadi Rum, make sure to enjoy at least one desert sunset or sunrise - they are beyond beautiful.
Going on a guided tour and not knowing another soul I’d be traveling with for a week was a first for me,
but it was enriching and fun beyond my expectations! Intrepid made it such a pleasure, from start to finish.
I got quite lucky with the other people on my tour - all pictured here (except for our guide, Mohammad).
I am not the most outgoing person, so was a bit nervous about spending a week with strangers at first, but everyone was so friendly and nice - we all got along great. It was wonderful having a group of like-minded travelers who were just as eager to explore Jordan as I was.
Shoutout to all of them for making this trip so wonderful, memorable, & fun!
We created some memories together that will last a lifetime; I now have 11 new friends from around the world.
This will definitely not be my last trip with Intrepid -
my husband and I are already checking out their itineraries for Brazil and Argentina…
Where would you like to explore with Intrepid?
Do you have questions about Jordan, or my tour?
Please reach out any time, I would love to chat all things Jordan and Intrepid.
