Arriving in Jordan from Egypt

After our fantastic 10 days in Egypt, we decided to fly to Jordan for a four‑day tour of some of the country’s highlights.

Once our time in Egypt concluded, we flew directly to Jordan on a short, uneventful flight. Upon arrival, we obtained our visas and passed through passport control easily. The entire process took about an hour. We then met our transportation and began the drive to our hotel for the night.

Dead Sea Panorama Museum & First Impressions

Before reaching the hotel, we stopped at the Dead Sea Panorama Museum to get our first taste of the region and learn some history. https://museums.visitjordan.com/en/Museum/29

We were the only visitors at the time. Though small, the museum offered stunning views of the Dead Sea along with fascinating artifacts and geological exhibits. There was a restaurant onsite, but we did not eat there. We spent about an hour total, and it was well worth the stop—on a clear day, you can even see Jerusalem.

Mövenpick Resort & Floating in the Dead Sea

Afterward, we continued on to our hotel for the night, the Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea. https://movenpick.accor.com/en/middle-east/jordan/dead-sea/resort-dead-sea.html?merchantid=seo-maps-JO-B4P9&sourceid=aw-cen&utm_medium=seo+maps&utm_source=google+Maps&utm_campaign=seo+maps&utm_content=Dead-Sea

Some of our travel companions were disappointed with the rooms, which were fairly basic, but I was perfectly content given the setting. The buildings and landscaping were beautiful, and the resort was situated directly on the Dead Sea, only about a five‑minute walk away.

While there is not much to do in the immediate area outside the resort, we made the most of our stay. We enjoyed a great dinner, floated in the Dead Sea, and experienced a traditional mud bath, which felt amazing. My wife and I agreed we would return, though we would plan additional activities elsewhere to complement the stay.

Mount Nebo & Madaba Food Stop

The next morning, we had several stops planned. Our first was Mount Nebo, where we spent a few hours exploring the site. https://www.holylandsite.com/mount-nebo-moses The history was remarkable, and the church with its original mosaics was especially impressive. It was well worth the stop on our drive south toward Petra.

For lunch, we stopped at a local family‑owned restaurant in Madaba called Hikayet Sitti – Food Basket. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293989-d7294498-Reviews-Hikayet_Sitti_Food_Basket-Madaba_Madaba_Governorate.html

The meal was fantastic. We enjoyed a traditional Jordanian dish called Maqluba, or “upside‑down chicken,” served with pita bread, salad, soup, and hummus. Everything was delicious, and I highly recommend checking out the restaurant.

Petra Travel Experience & Hiking Reality

After a few more hours of driving, we arrived in Petra for the night.

Our day in Petra was a big one. I had naively assumed Petra was essentially a single mountain carving, but in reality, experiencing the site involves more than five miles of hiking, including a steep ascent to the Monastery. History and culture are overwhelming in the best possible way.

We began our tour walking through carved mountains, inscriptions, and caves as our archaeological guide shared the site’s history.

The Treasury

After about two miles through desert and canyon terrain, we reached the Treasury, the iconic image most people associate with Petra. Standing there was incredible and reflecting on how it was constructed was awe‑inspiring. Our guide explained that another structure lies about twelve meters below ground, though it will likely never be excavated due to cost, time, and disruption.

The Monastery Hike

After passing the Treasury, we continued another couple of miles through the complex, viewing mountain dwellings, tombs, and remarkable carvings. The final challenge was the ascent to the Petra Monastery—a nine hundred‑step climb.

The climb was steep, rocky, and slick, requiring some light scrambling. While I did not find it overwhelming, many people did not complete it. Good balance, mobility, and fitness are essential, and the donkeys sharing the path present an additional challenge—they do not move.

If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend visiting Petra. It is truly unforgettable.

On our final day in Jordan, we headed north toward Amman, stopping at Jerash along the way. The ancient Roman complex there is considered one of the largest and best preserved in the world. I found the chariot stadium particularly fascinating, along with the remarkably intact market area. We spent about an hour and a half exploring, which felt just right.

Lebanese House Restaurant in Jerash

Our final stop was lunch at the Lebanese House Restaurant in Jerash. https://beytigroup.com/

Throughout our time in Jordan, the food was consistently excellent, and this meal was no exception. We enjoyed a multi‑course, family‑style meal with salad, soup, pita, hummus, kabobs, and dessert. The service was outstanding—five stars from me.

Final Thoughts on Traveling Jordan

Afterward, we returned to our hotel, and following a short night’s sleep, headed to the airport for a 3 a.m. flight and began our twenty-four‑hour journey home.

Our four days in Jordan were incredible. While I did not cover every stop—such as a mosaic site and several great roadside coffee shops—we fully intend to return. Next time, we plan to spend more time in Amman and further immerse ourselves in the culture. The people were welcoming, kind, and incredibly accommodating, and we felt comfortable everywhere we went.

Thanks again for reading, and please feel free to leave any questions or comments.

—Jack

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