JORDAN: BEYOND PETRA
Jordan’s unexpected popularity among travelers this year took us by surprise, but staff member Derek K. Ong discovered on his own recent visit exactly why so many people are clamoring to go. In addition to the famous ruins at Petra, he found so much more, including the preserved Roman ruins at Jerash, the Dead Sea, the nomadic Bedouin culture, and the many sites of Christian, Judaic, and Islamic importance. He also found Jordanians to be exceedingly hospitable, progressive and sophisticated – most Jordanians dress in fashionably casual clothes and there is no requirement on covering one’s head. “The food was the best surprise,” recalls Derek. “I fell in love with mansaf, a fragrant stewed lamb dish served with warm yogurt gravy on a bed of fluffy rice!” He advises Jordan-bound travelers to spend a minimum of a week there, which would be enough time to explore Petra, the Wadi Rum desert, Amman and nearby Jerash, and the Dead Sea. He also hopes travelers consider stopping over from Egypt or Israel, both easy and sensible combinations. In fact, Jordan’s Dead Sea resorts are, in many people’s opinion, better than Israel’s – our top choices are the Kempinski and the Movenpick. Visit our website to learn more about Jordan and see some of our suggested itineraries.
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