Explore Ancient Civilizations in Jordan
Throughout history, a number of cultures and civilizations have begun in the Kingdom of Jordan. The kingdom, usually known simply as "Jordan," is situated between Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Israel and Syria. Unlike its war-torn neighbors that count violence as a part of daily life, visitors to Jordan find only peace and serenity. It offers visitors the exotic atmosphere of other Middle Eastern countries, but is the safest country in the region.
No matter what your interests, the country has a wide variety of activities to meet your needs. You can eat in fine dining restaurants or from food carts. You can go for a ride on a camel, look at art in a stunning museum or take a tour focused on the history of world religions. Locals are renowned for being proud of their country, culture and traditions, and are usually willing to show it off to strangers. It's not unusual for a local family to even invite tourists to their home for a traditional meal! Both culture and religion continue to be important to life in Jordan. Muslim prayer calls sound from mosques five times a day, beginning each morning at dawn.
Jordan is an enchanted land featuring striking scenery, from natural wonders to ancient historical sites. Moses led the Children of Israel through the Jordanian desert, and Alexander the Great crossed through the country on his way to Egypt. You can walk through the same desert today. Perhaps most remarkably, things look much as they did when all of these things happened. You can still see the massive facades and buildings that were carved out of the red sandstone in Petra. Jordan also had a role in the Roman Empire, where it served as an extravagant and lavish trading center. Many Roman structures still exist, and you can visit them throughout Jordan.
Jordan's most modern city is also its capital, Amman. With a population of more than two million, Amman mixes both traditional culture and a Western attitude. The landscape of the city is based on seven large hills, known as the Seven Hills of Amman. Modern stores and restaurants are right beside ancient ruins and relics of long-passed civilizations on each of these seven hills. The Citadel still rises above Amman, reminding locals and visitors that the city is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited places.
There is much more to Jordan than Amman, however. Jersah is a well-preserved Greco-Roman city just to the south of the capital. There are forums, columns and temples to visit. The Hippdrome in Jerash even features daily chariot races, centurions and gladiators. If you're looking for even earlier historical sites, you can visit Mt. Nebo, which is mentioned in the Bible in conjunction with the last days of Moses. From the top of the mountain, you can look out over the Dead Sea and the Jordan Valley just as Moses probably did 3,000 years ago.
The Dead Sea, famous for its healing powers, has inspired a number of spa resorts to open in the area. If you are interested in an ocean where you can swim, Jordan has 26 kilometers of shoreline thanks to the Gulf of Aqaba. You can relax on the beach or snorkel in the reefs.
The lost city of Petra is perhaps the most breathtaking of all the historic locations in Jordan. It is a complete ancient city intricately carved into red sandstone rock face. The gigantic sculpted facades would be difficult and expensive to construct today, so it is hard to imagine that it could have been possible as early as 309 BC.
There are many tours for hire in Jordan . Many of these tours are architectural, cultural, environmental, historical or religious tours. On holiday in Jordan, one can visit beaches, the renowned Dead Sea, World Heritage sites and a number of modern attractions as well. As the home to some of the most ancient civilizations ever discovered, Jordan also played a role in the early days of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The country, even with all of its modern conveniences, also still offers visitors a view of its past. This diversity makes it a perfect vacation spot for almost any family, no matter what they are looking for.
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Booking family holidays to jordan is one of our specialties. No matter if you are looking for an all-inclusive group trip, a private holiday that includes some guided tours or some time to explore the country on your own, we can help you create the holiday of a lifetime.
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