Petra and other Jordan Things to Do Tips

Petra was built by the Nabataeans who had their era of greatness for a couple of hundred years, about 2000 years ago. The population in Petra was by then 20 000 persons. The Nabataeans were good tradmen and they controlled the trade through the area.
After going through the narrow siq for 1,2 km it ends and you will have the Treasury (Al-Khazneh) just in front of you. It is an impressive sight when you first get a glimps of it between the narrow walls of the siq. The Treasury is carved in to the rook and the facade is 43 m high and 30 m wide. It is a tomb of the Nabataean king Aretas III. The tomb got its name from a story that said that a treasury was hidden in the large stone urne on the second floor (it is made of massive stone though).
The ancient city of Petra is spread over a vast area. It is recomended to spend at least two days exploring the site. I found that enough and not too much. In July 02 a two-day ticket was 13,5 JD.

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To swim in the Dead Sea is a strange feeling. Due to the high salinity you float. When I came to the Dead Sea it was calm and no people in the water. The water looked really thick, almost oily. If you have any cuts you will feel it when you enter the water. Avoid getting water in your eyes - it hurts (I know)! If you get water in your eyes don't rub them - rinse with a lot of fresh water immideatly.
There is a special black mud on the bottom in some places which is supposed to be good for your skin. At the beach at Dead Sea Spa Hotel it could be found close to the shore (the grey mud is not the right one). Let the mud dry on your skin before you rinse it off.
There are a few places to go to (don't try to swim where you cant take a shower after). I went to the Dead Sea Spa Hotel which charges 10 JD for a day at the beach. It's a clean beach, not too much people and above there is a swimming-pool with restaurants.
About 5 km north of the Spa Hotel is the Dead Sea Rest House which is cheaper and to where there are minibuses going from Amman and Madaba.

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Mt Nebo is the mountain from where Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land and where he died. The view from here is good and you can see the Dead Sea (at summertime it's not to clear though).
Inside the church there are several beautiful mosaics showing animals and people hunting and making wine.
The admissinon is 500 files.
Mt Nebo is northwest of Madaba.
To get here I took a taxi from Madaba. I paid 1 JD, but that was surprisingly little according to others (the driver told me there was no other way for me to come back than letting him wait). The way back to Madaba I shared a service taxi and paid 500 fils.

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Madaba is a small town 30 km southwest of Amman. It's famous for its Byzantine mosaics in churches or at archaeological sites. The most impressive mosaic is the map over many biblical sites which is in St George's Church. This mosaic is from 560 AD, showing sites from Lebanon down to Egypt, including Jerusalem with its walls.
Admission to St George Church is 1 JD. For another JD you can buy a combinationticket to the museum, the Archaeological Park and the Apostoles Church.
Madaba is the most important Christian center in Jordan. From the hotel I could hear not only the caller to prayer but also the churchbells.
Madaba is also a good base if you want to visit Mt Nebo and the Dead Sea.
Busses to Madaba are frequent and leave Amman from Abdali busstation. The ticket costs 300 fils.

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Are you going to Dana? I hadn't planed to go there first but as I passed by on the way from Madaba to Petra and were invited for tea at the Tower Hotel I changed my mind. I skipped Jerash (as I have seen so many other Roman ruins) and came back to Dana for a couple of days.
It's a very nice place for walking and relaxing. The atmosfair is so peaceful.
Dana village is a stonevillage with origins in the 15th century. There are a few hotells and three small "supermarkets". In Dana Nature Shop at the Visitors Center pottery and silverware made by local women can be bought. Craft made in the workshops in Dana are also sold in other parts of Jordan.
Dana village is on the border to Dana Nature Reserve, where you can find several trails to walk. The entrance fee to the reserve is 5 JD.
How to get there: Fist time I passed by with a car, second time I came with bus and taxi. I took a bus from Aqaba to Ma'an (1 JD) and changed buses in Ma'an to go to Qadsiyya (1JD). From Qadsiyya I took a taxi the last km to Dana. Leaving Dana we got a ride to Qadsiyya. Bus to Tafila is 300 fils. From Tafila to Amman it is 2,1 JD.

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Address: Off The Kings Highway, north of Shobak

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Karak is built on a high hill by the King's Highway. The town is dominated by the old crusader castle built in 1142. Some parts are well preserved, others not. When I was there reparations were done in one part and the small museum was closed.
It is good to have someone to show you around to point out the stables, kichen, prison cells etc. Be careful as, in many other places, there are no fences and walls can be high and holes deep.
If you are going this way Karak it is absolutly worth a stop.
Entrance fee is 1 JD + something for the man who showes you around.

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The Siq (Al-Siq) is a 1,2 km long path with high and steep walls only a few meters wide. Nowdays the path is covered with asphalt which makes it easy to walk. Also during the Roman period the path was paved with stones, stones that can be seen at some places.
While you are walking along the siq look along the side for the waterchannels the Nabateans cut in the walls. At some places you can even see the old terracotta pipes. In the walls of the rock you can also see niches where it once stood figures of gods and small niches for oil lamps for the night.
It feels amazing to walk down the Siq and finaly see the Treasuru (Al-Khazneh) when you reach the end.

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The Monastery (Al-Deir) is the largest monument in Petra. It is 50 metres wide and 45 metres high and looks really impressive (can you see the small donkey in front of Al-Deir in the picture?).
Al-Deir is far away from the other monuments but it is worth to climb to see it. It takes about 45 minutes by foot, but you can always pay for a donkey to take you up. The path starts close to the restaurant.

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