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. ().
Petra rocks
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 ().
Just deserts
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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 ().
Return flights from London Gatwick to Aqaba take five hours 10 minutes and cost from £153 ().
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