From awe-inspiring sand dunes and ruins to buzzing souks and beaches Jordan has it all
When the plane came in to land at Aqaba, a port city on the Red Sea, the Jordanian mountains below us looked like the surface of Mars.
No wonder that The Martian and Star Wars: Rogue One were filmed in the desert here.
But Jordan’s not just about the awe-inspiring sand dunes and ruins – there are beaches, too, which I’d soon discover.
Spice up your life
With its views out across the sea to both Israel and Egypt, Aqaba is famous for its markets or souks, where you can pick up local spices and sweets.
On Friday evenings, the buzzing Souk By The Sea has fantastic live Jordanian music and Arabic coffee ().
Dinner at Captain’s Restaurant, where the staff don sailor outfits, is also a delight with its fab mixed grill, £10, and mezze, £2, which comes with heaps of houmous. ().
Meanwhile, on a boat trip along the Red Sea coastline, we stopped off to snorkel among lion fish on the pretty coral reefs – you might even spot a hawksbill turtle if you’re lucky.
Snorkelling boat trips cost from £25 per person for three hours, including lunch, and can be booked through your hotel or at the marina.
Booze-wise, Jordan is predominantly dry, but you can drink in hotels, and the Mövenpick Resort And Spa in Tala Bay has a brilliant late-night bar, complete with a cigar menu if that’s your thing.
The bedrooms are huge, with balconies looking out over the mountains, plus there’s a lagoon-style swimming pool with waterfalls and sea views – it’s a perfect escape from the intense heat.
Double rooms cost from £88 a night ().
Petra rocks
A two-hour drive from Aqaba lies the city of Petra, dating back to the 4th-century BC.
It’s carved into the ancient pink rocks of the Jebel al-Madhbah mountains and known as the Rose City.
A guide led us along Petra’s long but thankfully shady mountain path to its most famous site – a temple built into a cliff face and known as the Treasury.
A day pass to the city costs from £53 ().
Meanwhile, foodies should try a cookery class nearby, £38 per person, to create a traditional lunch, including lentil soup, spicy chicken, tabbouleh salad and houmous ().
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Just deserts
Two hours further south is Jordan’s protected desert, Wadi Rum, AKA the Valley of the Moon.
Hop on a camel, £53 for two people for a day, or get a Jeep tour of the sand dunes, £32 for two for a half-day ().
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Camping in a luxe pod at Wadi Rum Night Luxury Camp with night-sky views is special, from £71 per person per night ().
After sunset, we sipped mint tea and watched the stars, brighter than we’d ever seen them before!
FYI
THE BEST times to visit Jordan are in the spring and autumn.
Plan your trip at .
Return flights from London Gatwick to Aqaba take five hours 10 minutes and cost from £153 ().
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