Places to Visit in Jordan for Malaysians

You may be asking why I am writing this, and the reasons are that most general Malaysians usually travel for under a week, leaving only a few places to fully explore.

Jordan is a beautiful place, and it is best to spend at least a week to see all the beautiful places; if you have read other reviews on Jordan, they usually target the whole world in one post.

I have read many articles on Jordan, and everyone wants to have the top ten things to do in Jordan or the top ten places to visit in Jordan. Still, again, sometimes these are not suitable for elderly or family travellers, especially from Malaysia or Southeast Asia. 

I visited Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum, Aqaba and, of course, the Dead Sea, but in his article, I will highlight a few of these places and why.

Most visitors would spend a night here before moving to the next destination, but for those staying in Amman, one of the must-visit places is Rainbow Street, the leading lifestyle area of Amman. 

Generally, you can come here and walk around to explore the place. If you visit Rainbow Street on a Friday, check out Souk Jara near the King Hussein Mosque. This souk is like a flea market with exciting crafts and local items. 

This historic spot has been around from the Bronze and Iron Ages, as well as the Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad periods where the rich history and structures still stand here. Among them is the famous Temple of Hercules, a Byzantine church and the Umayyad Palace. 

Alternatively, there are signs for each historical spot in English as well. To get from the town centre, take a taxi, which will cost around JD1-2.

The entrance ticket price for the Amman Citadel is JD2 per person. Prepare to spend around two to three hours here, and the best time to go is after lunch when the tour buses have left. Bring your water bottle and snacks too.

This place is filled with ancient history dating back to the Bronze Age right to the Ottoman period, and to see the entire Jerash, you would need half a day, and there is a lot of walking involved.

However, for photography and historical knowledge, this is the place to explore, and it is best done with a local guide. 

There is a main mini souk at the entrance with souvenir shops and cafes, and once you head into Jerash, there is no food or drinks, so you must bring water and some snacks.

The first structure you will encounter is the Arch of Hadrian. After walking through, you will find massive historical structures like The Temple of Artemis, a Hippodrome, temples, churches and loads of Roman and Greek pillars.

Petra is also the most visited place in Jordan, where this ancient site was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. The town just outside Petra is Wadi Musa, where all the hotels, cafes and restaurants are located.

Among the notable spots in Petra is the Siq, the main beautiful gorge that leads you into the Treasury, a massive temple carved out of a mountain.

The Treasury Building in Petra, Jordan.

Further in, there are the Royal Tombs, Hadrian Gate, Cardo Maximus, and the Monastery, another structure like the Treasury. 

For me, I stayed at Movenpick Resort in Petra, which is the closest hotel to the entrance of Petra, so it is easier for those wanting immediate access.

At the entrance, the Petra Visitors Center is an excellent place to start, as it provides all the information needed.

Walking inside the beautiful Petra gorge, heading to the Treasury.

Petra is so huge that it takes two full days to see everything. I recommend staying at Wadi Musa for at least three days to take your time and enjoy Petra.

There is a lot of walking here, but for those wanting quick access, the local Bedouin people provide transportation using donkeys, camels and even horse carriages for a fee.

We are looking at prices of JD$5 to JD$30 per person, depending on the area, too. In total, I walked 16 kilometres from morning to evening in Petra, so you can imagine the distance there. For elderly travellers, take your time and use the transportation services if required.

If you would like to see more photos of Petra, I did a series of Petra Jordan Photos, which shows unedited photos taken from a Note 5 smartphone. This would give you a better visual image of Petra and its offer. 

In those three hours, you will see much desert scenery; therefore, you can get some sleep on the way there. Make sure you get a comfortable van or car, too.

Along the way, you can make rest stops at various restaurants cum souvenir shops, and this would be your toilet break or prayer stop.

The Dead Sea is also the lowest point on earth, with an estimated 429 meters below sea level, while the length is 50 kilometres long and 15 kilometres at its widest point.

This is also one of the saltiest lakes on earth, where the saltwater here tastes 10 times saltier than normal seawater. 

Also, the word dead simply means no life can live in it due to the high salinity. With tons of tourists, you will find many hotels and resorts located along the Dead Sea. 

There is even a small shopping mall here called Semarah Mall, and there are a couple of restaurants, cafes, a small supermarket and some retail stores here.

As for my trip, I stayed at the Movenpick Dead Sea and Spa Resort, which is truly a fantastic place, especially if you are travelling with a family. 

A visitor floating in the Dead Sea.

Yes, this is the phenomenon here where no matter what you do, you cannot sink at the Dead Sea. Trust me, as I tried this and failed.

One thing you must be cautious about is the Dead Sea water getting into your eyes and mouth, as it will sting painfully.

The wellness process here is simple; at most resorts, they have a mud pail where you can cover yourself with mud and then slowly get into the water, soak yourself slowly and then float and keep your head up. 

You can imagine the number of people experiencing this as I did. Well, I had to try it to write about here, and I also did drink some of the Dead Sea water; it is the saltiest thing I have ever tasted.

If you are doing a round trip in Jordan, start in Amman, head to Petra, then to Wadi Rum, then Aqaba and then up to the Dead Sea before heading back to Amman.

As for me, I visited Aqaba to experience Diving in the Red Sea as it has been one of my diving bucket lists. 

At Wadi Rum, Desert Safaris and Desert Camping is the main attraction where you can experience hot days and cold nights and explore the beautiful natural structures in a 4×4 around this 74,000-hectare protected desert. 

The Ma’in Six Sense Spa manages this luxurious resort, which is deep down in an Oasis with no other nearby property. In other words, luxurious and exclusive.

Generally, a can of Coke is 1 JOD and going to the public restrooms along the highways will also cost you 1 JOD. Food is relatively reasonable, with dishes priced at around 3-5 JOD and a meal around JD4-8.

In general, you should take note of the conversions, especially when paying for souvenirs and other minor things.

This is one of my experiences where the Ringgit Malaysia or other non-popular currency is accepted at a really low rate.

I recommend you change your Jordanian Dollar in Malaysia or your respective country before going to Jordan.

Alternatively, bring US dollars to be changed there as you would get a much better rate. Generally, US Dollars always save the day, so keep some spare. Credit cards are accepted in most places.

However, many other airlines do a stopover before landing in Amman, and price-wise, the difference is only around RM500 versus the direct flight.

• Royal Jordanian/Malaysia Airlines via Bangkok
• Saudi Airlines via Jeddah (Cheapest Flights)
• Emirates via Dubai (Cheapest Flights)
• Turkish Airlines via Istanbul

For single female travellers or backpackers, caution should be observed, especially in desert areas or attractions. I recommend you get a proper guide at some of these places. 

However, you can find international food, mainly at hotels and resorts, but in the towns or cities, it’s pure Jordanian food, which is fantastic.

The local Hummus is a must-try, while the local grilled food is also recommended. But one thing that you must try is the Mansaf, which is the national dish of Jordan, made of lamb cooked in a fermented, dried yoghurt sauce and served with rice or bulgur.

Sunset at the Dead Sea in Jordan.

Many Europeans and Americans are seen around Jordan as part of their Middle East Tour, and for Malaysians, many Malaysian students are studying here in Jordan.

Amman to Petra map showing how long it takes to drive there.

Do a complete loop where you start in Amman, head to Petra and spend two nights there, then to the Dead Sea for another night and back to Amman, which can be done in five to six days.

Alternatively, you can also head to the resort city of Aqaba from Petra, then up to the Dead Sea and back to Amman.

Again, this article was written primarily for Malaysia as many locals would want to know the best places to visit in Jordan for Malaysians.