Extraordinary Jordan in 48 hours; my short but unforgettable experience

48 hours in Jordan – by no means enough time, but absolutely enough to be blown away by the warmness of the people and you-must-see-this-once-in-your-lifetime treasures. I found this trip to be really intense, naturally due to its length but also because I learnt so much about the place amidst enjoying what it had to offer.

I didn’t go to Jordan with preconceived notions, as it’s just never been something that I do. I go with a blank mind and without fear – I must say that the blank mind is generally because I genuinely don’t know much information prior (I did the same thing when I moved to Colombia – I read two articles on Google before arriving). The no fear really comes from something that my dad told me once when I was younger, which is: when it’s your time to go you’ll go. I really do believe that, and I also believe that many of the countries we fear are full of people living their lives, and often in a very fulfilled way.

But back to Jordan, brimming with beauty but also located in the Middle East – firmly in the centre of the many countries we currently see on the news, war torn and in conflict. Naturally it has suffered in terms of tourism, as people perceive it to be dangerous due to its proximity. The truth is that Jordan is a very historically peaceful country; they even have dedicated tourism police and very rigorous safety checks going into hotels.

If 2016 has taught us anything it’s that we are subject to danger anywhere, and although I wont sit here and tell you that Jordan is completely safe, I would say that neither is London and that the Jordanians have put the right infrastructure in place to make sure that you don’t become in danger while enjoying this beautiful country.

Getting back to the good stuff. I was here for a work trip, so my fun was reduced to much less than 48 hours: but I managed to explore Petra, enjoy dinner with a local family and take a drink in the oldest bar in the world! All the while I was being fed nuggets of Jordan’s history, it’s culture and its welcoming nature by the tour guides that shaped my trip. It’s worth noting that I’m not a huge fan of tours but with Jordan, this did nothing but richen my trip as I really had so much to learn. See my experiences below and contact local operator Amani tours if you wish do to the same.

Hiking in Petra (click for more details) 

Petra is one of the rare places in the world that is not possible to overhype. I did an intensive hike while exploring and it took my breath away in more ways than one! From the pink sand and multi-coloured rocks to hearing your voice echo in the wind and edging your body past foot-long width rocks – it was a wave of senses, a must see for anyone who has the opportunity to go.

Dining with a local family (click for more details) 

The local family dining experience (Hikayet Sitti) was the dream of foodies everywhere. Way more food than you could ever consume but also so diverse and delicious. The wife’s grandma gifted the house to the couple and they use it for hosting these dinners, it had a really homely feel and they were so welcoming and good-humoured.

Cave Bar – the oldest bar in the world (click for more details)

My final highlight is Cave Bar: the oldest bar in the world. Which is of course you guessed it, a cave. The intimate location played live music and had little coves where you could sit down with your party. Shisha is really big in Jordan, and a typical local activity. This bar offers shisha as well as normal alcoholic drinks.