Tourism has tanked in Jordan due to the conflict in Israel, but Jordan itself is incredibly safe and absolutely worth the visit. Here are my top tips.

Petra, Jordan

Wadi Rum Village, Jordan

Jordan

Amman, Jordan

Jordan - a must-see

Jordan was initially an add-on to my Egypt trip since I was 'going to be in the area anyway'. It was a four-night exploration of a country which I believe requires more time and a lot more love (I'll certainly be back to explore more someday).

While I was on an organised tour (MyHoliday2), it wasn't the most well-planned itinerary - or maybe I just wish we'd had more time there - so this guide is all about what I saw, and what I'd recommend to those planning their own Jordan trip.

To kick it off, here is my YouTube video:

Quick trip to Jordan | Wadi Rum, Petra, Mt Nebo

My visit to Jordan was in November and the weather was absolutely stunning. It was a bit cool, but still warm enough to enjoy the pool and the Dead Sea (and not have to layer up too much outside).

Based on some research, the best times to visit Jordan are March to May and September to November. 

If you're wanting to do some canyoning, go in the warmer months as they close the canyons in Winter due to potential flooding.

I'd also recommend going as soon as possible. The lack of tourists meant we were able to see major attractions without the massive crowds. We got to walk through The Siq at Petra and get photos of the gorge without anyone in them... in normal tourist times, the gorge is packed to the brim.

The best way to get to Jordan would be to fly into the capital Amman. I say this because we went by ferry, and it was the longest day of my life.

Our journey started with a bus ride from Sharm El-Sheik in South Sinai, Egypt to Nuweiba Port. From here, we would catch the ferry to Aqaba in Jordan.

Disaster struck immediately when we couldn't get through security at the port because we hadn't been sent our tickets... Luckily, one person on the tour had mobile coverage and called our tour company, who then enlisted the help of our bus driver to talk our way through security.

Security was another drama as we all got picked up for something - mine was my 200mm camera lens (the Egyptians don't like anything telescopic).

After another hour waiting in the terminal, we boarded the ferry, expecting to leave immediately. NOPE! We sat on the vessel for three hours before it moved... and then the journey was another three hours. We didn't arrive in Aqaba until 8pm. That meant we didn't get to our Wadi Rum accommodation until after 10pm.

We were on an organised tour, so were on a bus for each segment of our Jordan experience, but from what I've read (and what I saw on the roads), if you're on a self-guided tour, a rental car would be the way to go. Apart from inside the city of Amman, most roads seemed pretty calm and navigable, and without the millions of security checkpoints they have in Egypt.

Sometimes referred to as 'Mars on Earth', Wadi Rum Protected Area is full of fine red sand and large rock formations. Ride the back of a 'Jeep' (really a ute, but they call them 'Jeep' rides) to explore this awesome area.

Visiting the Treasury at Petra has been on my bucket list a long time, particularly after watching Indiand Jones and the Holy Grail. You can imagine my surprise when we arrived and our guide said you could easily spend four days hiking around all of the buildings and carvings.

Floating in the Dead Sea needs to be on everyone's to-do list. Here are some key facts:- The Dead Sea is the lowest place on Earth - at lowest, I was 438m below sea level- The salt level is so high, you can float - no drowning here- The salts and minerals in the water and mud are supposed to be great for your skin

Mt Nebo is a key Christian site... it's where Moses is said to have looked upon the Promise Land before his death. From the peak, you can see out over the Dead Sea and across to Israel, as well as a nearby valley the Israelites settled in before finding the Promise Land.

Another site important to Christianity in Jordan is the Madaba Map in St George's Church. The mosaic map is the oldest biblical map on earth, and while only half of it is visible today, the map actually helped uncover some major landmarks (like Mt Nebo).

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Spend a couple of days in Amman to fully appreciate this city. There are multiple day trips you can take to other sites, including Roman ruins (and Mt Nebo/Madaba could be a day trip).

As I mentioned, we were only in Jordan for four nights, so it was an incredibly quick trip. For reference, this was our itinerary:

Arrived Aqaba port approx 8pm, bus ride to Rum Oasis Luxury Resort in Wadi Rum.Stay overnight in Wadi Rum.

Early morning sunrise at Wadi Rum.2-hour 'Jeep' tour of the desert, stopping at a few great vantage points.Drive to Petra (couple of hours), spend a couple of hours seeing the Treasury.Drive to Dead Sea (2 hours).Stay overnight at the Dead Sea - we stayed at Dead Sea Spa Resort.

Go for a float or two in the Dead Sea at your leisure.If you have a rental car, you could go exploring a bit more - in warmer months, there is a canyon activity nearby.

Drive to Mt Nebo.Explore Mt Nebo and look over the Promise Land from where Moses stood.Drive to Madaba and look at the Madaba Map.Continue to Amman - visit Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre and Amman downtown area.Overnight in Amman.

Spend the morning at leisure exploring the city.Depart via Amman airport (approx. 45 mins from downtown by car).

Snappy Exploring - Facebook

Snappy Exploring - Instagram

Some tours will include sandboarding down one of the dunes, but ours didn't. We did, however, get to see a caravan of camels trudging through the desert and a sculpture of Lawrence of Arabia.

We spent the night in a luxury dessert camp, but didn't arrive until 10pm. When organising your trip, I'd recommend getting there before sunset or staying two nights. I got to watch the desert come to life at sunrise, but really wish I'd gotten to see sunset as well!

Luckily for us, the rain held off. If there's too much rain, the site is closed to tourists because of flood risks. Instead, we battled a large sandstorm (added to the experience).

Due to the conflict in Israel, Jordan's tourist numbers are well-below average. This meant we were able to walk through The Siq - the gorge between the entrance and the Treasury - without the usual shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.

You have a few ways to get through The Siq:1. Walk - it's about 1km and allows you to stop frequently to see the sights on the way and take photos.2. Donkey - this is included in your ticket, but remember to pay the driver a tip3. Buggy - this drives you from the visitor's centre to The Treasury for about $20 USD and is great for those with mobility difficulties.

The below photo was taken from a viewing point at The Treasury. A young kid offered to take us up for photos for $20USD each. We climbed the cliff face and got photos from two different points. The kid took lots of decent photos, and even a couple of videos. I thought it was absolutely worth the money to have this momento! Tip: despite your $20USD fee, the 'photographer' will still expect a tip.

You could also get a photo sitting on a camel, but I'd done that at the Great Pyramids of Giza so opted out in Petra.

If you want to go to the Dead Sea, I'd recommend going sooner rather than later. The water level is dropping at a rapid rate. We stayed at the Dead Sea Spa Resort, and while the water level was up with the hotel originally, guests now have to walk a fair way down the hill to reach the water. We were told that some resorts even have to BUS their guests down to the water.

Atop the mountain, there is also a church with a number of restored mosaics on display. Layer upon layer of mosaic was unearthed when the church was excavated, and each layer is displayed across the wall, with the bottom-most mosaic in its original position on the ground.

Madaba town is also a cute little place great for some lunch and some shopping. We didn't spend much time there, but I would have liked to.

We were only in Amman overnight before flying back home, but I would recommend everything we saw.

Amman Citadel - perched atop a hill, you get panoramic views of the city while walking through old ruins, including the Temple of Hercules.

Roman Theatre - located in downtown, this theatre was pretty neat. Climb up the theatre if you're feeling fit (the stairs are quite steep), have a look in the museum, and see how the acoustics of the theatre change based on where you stand on the stage.

Downtown Bazaar - spend some time here! Try some Jordanian street food, watch the locals go about their business and try not to get lost. We raced through here, but I recommend spending some time and trying what the stalls have on offer.

Jordan - a must-see

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