Explorer’s Journal: Journey With Destination Expert Isabel in Jordan

Join SA Explorer Isabel on a spellbinding journey through Jordan, where ancient wonders, desert landscapes, and timeless traditions weave together into one of the world’s most unforgettable destinations. From wandering the colonnaded streets of Jerash and marveling at Petra’s rock-carved Treasury to stargazing under Wadi Rum’s otherworldly skies and floating in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea, Isabel’s adventure revealed Jordan’s breathtaking contrasts—an expedition filled with history, culture, and natural beauty at every turn. 

Hello from Jordan! I’m Isabel, a Destination Expert here at SA Expeditions – follow along as I take you through my recent travels in Jordan! 

First Impressions of Amman & Ancient Jerash 

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Isabel explores Jordan’s timeless wonders, from ancient gateways to soaring Roman ruins. (Photo: Isabel Falls)

Our journey began in Amman, Jordan’s capital, famously built across seven hills and often called the “city of a thousand steps.” A vibrant cultural hub, Amman offers a glimpse into the country’s modern pulse. 

Just an hour’s drive north lies Jerash, one of the world’s best-preserved Roman cities. Jordan itself is home to two of the oldest settlements on Earth, Jerash and Petra, both destinations well worth exploring. Today, we started with a visit to Jerash. Originally built by the Greeks, much of the city was destroyed by a major earthquake in 749 AD and remained hidden for centuries until it was rediscovered in 1806. Wandering through its colonnaded streets, grand plazas, and towering temples, it’s easy to imagine life here two thousand years ago. 

We next visited a women’s cooperative, where you can browse handmade crafts, taste locally produced olive oil, join a cooking class, and savor a traditional Jordanian lunch featuring mezze platters filled with spices, fresh vegetables, and flavorful spreads. 

We returned to Amman to explore the Citadel, which sits on the highest point of the city and offers sweeping 360-degree views. From here, we could even spot the remarkably well-preserved Roman Theatre, which we later explored up close. 

Tomorrow, we head south to the Dana Biosphere Reserve for some hiking.

Hiking the Dana Biosphere Reserve 

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Hiking through Dana’s rugged trails on the way to Petra — every step revealing Jordan’s incredible landscapes. (Photo: Isabel Falls)

Today we left Amman to begin our journey south. After three hours on the road, we arrived at our first stop: the Dana Biosphere Reserve. Jordan has ten nature reserves, but Dana is the country’s first and largest, with a breathtaking blend of mountains, valleys, and desert landscapes. It’s also the only reserve in Jordan that contains all four of the nation’s bio-climate zones: Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian, Sahara-Arabian, and Sudanian Penetration. This unique mix makes the area incredibly rich in wildlife, with over 700 kinds of plants and more than 400 species of birds. 

We set off on foot along winding trails. Our local Bedouin guide, who grew up in these mountains, shared the history and traditions of the area as we explored. We even spotted some ancient fossils along the way—it’s amazing to see the traces of a landscape shaped over millions of years. 

We stopped for lunch with a beautiful view of the valley and enjoyed a cup of sweet tea prepared by our guide, a staple of any excursion in Jordan. Then it was back on the road for the two-hour drive to the spot we’d been most excited about: Petra. 

Discovering Petra’s Hidden Paths 

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Taking the back door into Petra, Isabel hikes past ancient tombs and temples to stand before the Monastery and the iconic Treasury. (Photo: Isabel Falls)

Today we visited Petra, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a must-see on any Jordan journey. The Nabataeans, Arab Bedouins from what is now Yemen, built Petra as their capital, carving from the top down into the sandstone. The city was abandoned after earthquakes, and Bedouins lived here until 1985, when it became a UNESCO site. 

It’s very common to enter Petra through the main gate, but today we took the more adventurous “back door” route. We left at 7:00 a.m., driving about 15 minutes through a landscape of surreal rock formations before arriving at the shuttle pick-up point. 

The hike began with zig-zagging steps, then leveled out for a scenic 1.5-hour walk to the Monastery, carved 2,000 years ago as a tomb and later used by the Romans. From there, we descended through Petra’s temples, tombs, and rock-cut façades, passing just a fraction of the city. It’s amazing how much there is to see, while only 20% has been excavated! It makes you wonder what else lies hidden under the rocks. 

Our route ended at Petra’s most famous sight, the Treasury, its intricate façade perfectly framed by the narrow walls of the Siq. It’s truly incredible to see the carvings up close and marvel at how well they’ve been preserved over the years. 

Adventure Under the Stars in Wadi Rum 

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Isabel’s Wadi Rum adventure: desert arches by day, stargazing from a dome by night. (Photo: Isabel Falls)

Our next stop was Wadi Rum, Jordan’s breathtaking desert often referred to as the “Valley of the Moon.” Covering over 700 square kilometers, its towering sandstone cliffs, sweeping red dunes, and winding canyons make it feel like another planet. The unique landscape has been the setting for several movies, including Lawrence of Arabia, The Martian, Dune, and Star Wars. 

We explored the desert on a jeep safari with our local Bedouin guide. We sat in the back, venturing through the rugged terrain and stopping at ancient petroglyphs and natural arches. 

As the sun began to set, our guide built a fire where we enjoyed tea and biscuits before heading back to camp to take in the night sky. Wadi Rum offers a range of camps, from traditional desert tents with plumbing and air conditioning to modern bubble domes with panoramic windows. Wherever you choose to stay, be sure to take time to enjoy the night sky. With minimal light pollution, Wadi Rum is one of the best places in the world for stargazing. 

Floating in the Dead Sea & Exploring Sacred Sites 

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From the healing waters of the Dead Sea to ancient holy sites, Isabel closes her Jordan journey in awe. (Photo: Isabel Falls)

The following morning, we left Wadi Rum for the Dead Sea, a scenic four-hour drive. The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth, and it’s so salty that nothing lives in its waters. Over time, it has been shrinking rapidly, losing nearly one meter of water each year, which amounts to almost four feet of drop annually. Scientists warn it could disappear as early as the 2030s, so we were grateful to experience it now. 

Once we checked into our resort right on the Dead Sea, we made our way to the shoreline to experience the incredible floating sensation. While you can float in its dense waters, you can also cover yourself in mineral-rich mud and then rinse off to absorb the full benefits of the Dead Sea’s minerals. 

The following morning, on our way back to Amman, we stopped at Mount Nebo, a small but significant biblical site where Moses is said to have first glimpsed the Promised Land. Mentioned in the Torah, Bible, and Quran, it is revered by three major religions and draws pilgrims from around the world. 

We then made a stop in nearby Madaba, known as the “City of Mosaics.” Madaba is home to the St. George Greek Orthodox Church, where you can see an extraordinary Byzantine mosaic map of the Holy Land. Made from around two million tiny stone pieces, this map is the oldest surviving depiction of Jerusalem and its surroundings and is believed to have taken six years to complete. Madaba’s mosaics bring the biblical stories of the Holy Land to life in a truly breathtaking way. 

This journey through Jordan was nothing short of extraordinary. From ancient cities and desert horizons to sacred sites and the healing waters of the Dead Sea, every moment carried a sense of wonder and discovery. Traveling through this remarkable country is a reminder of how enriching it is to step beyond our routines, connect with history and culture, and embrace the beauty of the world around us. I’m grateful to have shared this unforgettable adventure through Jordan with you!