Petra

DEAD SEA A spectacular natural wonder the Dead Sea is perfect for religious tourism and fun in the sun with the family. With its mix of beach living and religious history, you can soak up the sun while Biblical scholars can get their daily dose of religious history. The leading attraction at the Dead Sea is the warm, soothing, super salty water itself – some ten times saltier than seawater, and rich in chloride salts of magnesium, sodium, potassium, bromine and several others. The unusually warm, incredibly buoyant and mineral-rich waters have attracted visitors since ancient times, including King Herod the Great and the beautiful Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra. All of whom have luxuriated in the Dead Sea's rich, black, stimulating mud and floated effortlessly on their backs while soaking up the water's healthy minerals along with the gently diffused rays of the Jordanian sun. Deep in the Jordan Valley and 55 km (34 miles) southeast of  Amman , is the Dead Sea, one of the mo

Traditional Jordanian Dishes You Need to Try Jordan is famous for its spectacular food filled with Levantine flavors. There is no real count for the most delicious traditional dishes that the Jordanians pride themselves with. Some of them, though, you cannot leave Jordan without trying  Mansaf Jordan’s most famous traditional dish and a nationally celebrated pride is mansaf. It is enlightening to know that Jordanians go back to solid Bedouin roots, from which the concept of mansaf has seen life. The very fatty dish consists of rice stirred with heavy domestic margarine, cooked separately from the thick yogurt essence, and is stirred until boiled. Big lumps of meat are added to the yogurt to cook until it’s well-done. Bedouins would use camel or sheep meat, but nowadays, some use calf meat, and others substitute it with chicken, but Jordanians would make teasing jokes about the later, for as the famous Jordanian saying goes: “Chicken mansaf won’t satisfy a true

Ma'in Hot Springs The Ma'in Hot Springs also known as Hammamat Ma'in are a series of hot mineral springs and waterfalls located between Madaba and the Dead Sea in Madaba Governorate, Jordan.  The Ma'in hot springs are located 74 km (64 miles) south of Amman in Madaba Governorate and are 27 km away from Madaba. Ma'in hot springs is located 264 meters (866 feet) below sea level. The region contains a total of 63 springs at different temperatures but similar chemical composition, containing important elements such as sodium, calcium, chloride, radon, hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide. Temperatures in some springs reach 63 degrees Celsius The five-star Main Spa Resort has a capacity of 97 hotel rooms and three meeting rooms, along with natural pools, sauna rooms, a public swimming pool and restaurants with mountain views. Within the resort, there is an integrated health treatment center specializing in therapeutic health and massage with the presence of s

The Roman Theater is the most impressive monument of old Philadelphia, as Amman was known when it was part of the Roman Decapolis, the cities network on the frontier of the Roman Empire in the southeastern Levant. According to an inscription, it was built during the era of the Antonine emperors, at the end of the 2nd century AD. Its tiered, semicircular seating space, carved into the Jabal Al-Jofeh hill in three horizontal sections with a total of 44 rows can seat around 6,000 people. It faces north so that the audiences are protected from the sun. Social rank dictated the places for the audience. The urban poor, foreigners, slaves, and women were restricted to the upper section. The stage building, about 100 m wide, was probably three stories high. The wooden stage elevates 1.5 meters from the chorus performance space, the orchestra, which has a radius of 13 meters. Today, the Roman Theatre is again in use for performances, concerts, and events. In addition, halls on both si

The Jordan River Baptism Most scholars agree that it was at this spot on the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized. Now you can visit the exact location where John baptized Christ. It can often be hard to separate the man from the movement. Especially when the movement has been largely built around the man. But for any real discussion about Jesus and history, we need to put faith to one side for a moment and look around at the broader picture. Almost all of what Christians believe about Jesus comes from the Bible – that he is the son of God, that he preached particular messages, that he performed miracles, and that he was resurrected. But none of that is provable. And, in fact, much of it is clearly not true unless you are willing to accept the supernatural. There are even some scholars who believe that Jesus did not exist at all and was a fictional character created simply as a figurehead for a new religion. But, after centuries of research and investigation, most exp

Wadi Rum Wadi Rum Protected Area is a renowned picturesque landscape of a red sand desert with steep sandstone cliffs rising and creating long narrow canyons. Within Jordan, it is one of the countries standout attractions alongside the world wonder of the rock-hewn tombs of Petra and the ancient Roman city of Jerash. Due to Wadi Rums elevation, at an average altitude around 1,000m above sea level and long, high and narrow valleys, it has cooler temperatures than the surrounding region and has been used as a passage on ancient transport routes for millennia as a result. It has also been inhabited continually by man throughout the ages despite limited sources of water. Due to its natural uniqueness as well as its cultural significance, it was added as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2011. There is an amazing array of landforms within the Wadi Rum Protected Area including Sandstone Valleys, Natural Arches, Gorges, Sandstone Cliffs, Caves, and Sand Dunes. The site also hosts a va

Dead Sea Escape the tensions of city life and take a trip to the shores of the Dead Sea. Lie back and relax, absorbing the stunning combination of mountain and sea landscapes. Allow the soothing waters to ease the stresses away and enjoy a delicious lunch in a local beach-side hotel and spa. Journey to the lowest point on Earth: The hypersaline waters lap the shore at 1,400 feet (427 m) below sea level. Though animals struggle in this environment—the water is nearly 10 times saltier than seawater—the natural beauty makes up for it. Gaze across the water to the Jerusalem hills in the west and to mountains flanking the east, and appreciate the dramatic and beautiful landscape. Take a dip—or afloat—in the tranquil setting and feel the mineral-rich water work its magic on your skin. Let the heady mix of salty water, rich mud, and Jordanian sun fortify your body. Break for lunch at a nearby spa and savor the flavors of a local meal as you admire the inspiring views once more. t

Is Madaba worth visiting? All part of the route around  Madaba  the Archaeological is well  worth  a  visit . The mosaics are beautiful and leave less to interpretation than the  Madaba Map. the cost is 2 JD and gives you entrance to the museum and the Church of The Apostles. Good as part of a walking tour of  Madaba .  How do I get from Amman to Madaba? Madaba  is about 1 hr from  Amman . Buses from  Amman’s  Tabarbour Station cost 1.20 JD (Oct 2018). Also, there are frequent minibusses from the 7th circle in  Amman  (1 JD)—they come from the center direction and take a turn south onto the airport road, directly after which you will find the bus stop.  What does Madaba mean? Madaba  (Arabic: مادبا‎; Biblical Hebrew: מֵידְבָא‬ Medvah) is the capital city of  Madaba  Governorate in central Jordan, with a population of about 60,000. It is best known for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics, especially a large Byzantine-era mosaic map of the Holy Land.  Is Madaba safe? Jord