Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Things to do in Wadi Rum

Things to do in Wadi Rum, Jordan

Much has been said about the famous Wadi Rum Desert in Jordan, historically speaking this area is well known for its role in Arab Revolt and its importance to T.E. Lawrence.

As we all know this spectacular place is a surrounded by sand dunes, sandstone cliff mountains, impeccable Nabatean rock inscriptions and bridges.

Wadi Rum offers a range of possible things to do from few hours, overnight or several days of stay. Check out our list to have an idea of what you might want to add on your itinerary. 


Jeep Ride
The most common activity here is a jeep ride ranging from 2 hrs up to 8 hrs. 
A short jeep tour shows you a glimpse of the desert, you'll see Nabatean Temple, Rum Village, Khazali Canyon and Lawrence Spring.
The drive is bumpy, in an open air, vehicles use are old and no A/C. The jeeps are owned by the Bedouin Association. 





Active & adventurous traveller might as well consider exploring the area by;


Camel ride or trek
Camels are remarkable creatures, they are known as the ships of the desert. Camels are biologically adapted to desert life, can go long periods without water. Similar to horses camels carry and deliver goods from one point to the next since ancient times.

Pointers on how to ride a camel
  • Unlike horse riding you do not need any experience to ride a camel, it is easy. The getting on is the difficult part.     
  • With the camel handler supervision you mount the camel when they were sitting down/position, get one leg over the camel’s hump, sit on the saddle, making sure you are in a comfortable position and hold on the saddle. 
  • Sit and hold the handle attached to the saddle, as the camel stand up or sit down its important you lean backwards and hold on to handle.
  • Be relaxed, comfortable and confident as camels can sense when a person riding them is uncomfortable.
  • If you feel like you are going to tumble, do not panic and hold on tight.  
  • Good posture may also keep you from falling from your camel. 
  • Dismount camel when they are in sitting position or scaffold. 


Interesting facts about camels
  • Camel are the only mammals with oval red blood cells, this is the reason they can go long periods without water.
  • Camels can drink up to 40 gallons of water in one go.
  • Camels can kick in all four directions with each of their legs.
  • Camels can close their nostrils against wind and sand when needed.

Riding a camel is a fun, relaxing activity and another option to explore the beautiful desert landscape of Wadi Rum. Enjoy, have a great and memorable experience.

Horse back ride
An active way to discover the splendour beauty of the desert is by a horse ride. To be able to fully enjoy the experience you have to be an experienced rider, able to control the horse at any pace in an open area. 



By foot, hiking or trekking (some requires scrambling)


Enjoy sipping a Bedouin tea during your short break at the desert.

Don't miss the chance to watch the legendary Wadi Rum Sunset.





For an authentic and unforgettable experience you might like the idea of staying in a camp enjoying the tranquillity and calmness evening, watching the starry sky, tasting a tradition Bedouin meal and listening to their music and story and sleeping in a Bedouin tent. 
Bedouin Zarb
Important reminder:
We encourage each traveller to have a travel insurance while on tour as no one can predict when something is going to happen. To be on secure side and to secure yourself avail a travel insurance plan. 

Monday, December 9, 2013

Qasr Al Hallabat Jordan

Qasr Al Hallabat Jordan

The desert castles consist of a number of castles and fortresses situated over the desert in Jordan. Most of the remaining castles are situated eastern Amman. 


© Petra Nights Tours

One of them is the Hallabat Castle originally a Roman castle built under Emperor Caracalla to guard its residents from Bedouin tribes. 


© Petra Nights Tours

The castle shows it was built between 2nd and 3rd AD, although a Nabatean presence is evident at the site. 


© Petra Nights Tours

The complex includes the Castle, a mosque, a large reservoir, cisterns, agricultural enclosure and a bath house.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

The Dead Sea Panoramic Complex

Dead Sea Panoramic Complex 
An hour drive away from Amman and 40 minutes from Madaba, perched at the edge of the Zara mountain range, the Dead Sea Panoramic Complex offers a spectacular view of the Dead Sea and the Holy Land.

The Complex is consist of:
Panorama Restaurant The floor to ceiling windows gives you an ambiance and scenery as a lookout restaurant. An outdoor seating is a nice spot to have a cup of coffee under the nice weather.

Dead Sea Museum  The interesting museum dedicated to the natural and cultural history of the Dead Sea. It consists of 4 main sections – Origins, Ecosystem, Human Interaction and Dead Sea in danger – presenting the background necessary to appreciate the wonderful location. The museum will answer all your questions about the sea, presenting the past, present and future of the Dead Sea.

Lookout point/Viewing vistas - Located in front of the restaurant terrace you can take in breathtaking view over the Jordan Rift Valley and Dead Sea basin.

Outdoor Amphitheater  Located between main building and restaurant, an ideal venue for lectures, group studies or mini concerts.

Zara Cliff – An easy path that allows you to discover the cliffs with its exceptional views and astonishing biodiversity.

The Dead Sea Panoramic Complex is open every day:
9:00am to 5:00pm during summer time
9:00am to 4:00pm during winter time




Monday, October 28, 2013

Shobak Castle Show

                             Shobak Castle Show


If you are on the way to Petra or near Petra area you might as well consider to include a short visit to the Crusader Castle in Shobak formerly known as Mont Real (Montreal) built by King Baldwin I in 1115AD.

Inside the preserved castle, you will see two churches, ruins of baths, cisterns, archways, old Islamic inscriptions and a deep tunnel with over 300 steps down leading in a well.


There's a Castle Show that runs every Saturday, Monday, and Thursday at the following time slots: 9:00am, 10:30am, 12:00noon and 1:30pm. The show is a re-enactment during the Ayyoubi decade/Saladin's era. 








*Photo Credit - Jordan Heritage Revival Company*

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Having Lunch in Jordan

Having Lunch in Jordan

After, a long day of visiting a site whether after a long walk or hike, having lunch is something to look forward to. Familiarize yourself with the eating-places around the sites you are visiting, to ease things for you and to ensure you enjoy a nice and delicious meal. To help you plan that, below are the lists of the dining options in each site. 

AMMAN
Dining places in Amman are available everywhere and offers wide selections of restaurants. Every types of food are available from traditional Jordanian food to an American cuisine or anything in between.


UMM QUAIS
While you are in Umm Qais there is an option to dine in Umm Qais Rest House serving Italian and Middle Eastern cuisine. The restaurant location offers a beautiful view of The Golan Heights and The Sea of Galilee. 

JERASH
After a long walk in archaeological site, choosing to dine close by is the best idea. Most types of food offered in Jerash are Middle Eastern cuisine. Closest restaurants are:
The Green Valley: Middle Eastern cuisine located at the main route south of the archaeological site of Jerash
The Lebanese House: Lebanese cuisine – ten-minutes walk from Jerash's Visitor Centre 




MADABA
Closest restaurant is Haret Jdoudna:  Middle Eastern Cuisine located in a side street not far away from St. George's Church. 

DEAD SEA
In the Dead Sea Restaurants are located in hotels, they are quiet expensive. An alternative option you can consider to have is to enjoy lunch at Amman Beach for a low price. 


KERAK
After visiting the Kerak Castle, you can enjoy a lunch in a nearby restaurants
Kir Heres Restaurant: offers vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes both local and international food
Kerak Rest House:  Offers buffet for lunchtime. 

PETRA
After a long walk or hike in Petra archaeological site, choosing to dine close by is the best idea. It also depends on how far you reach inside of Petra.  If you only plan to walk to the treasury and back, you can choose a restaurant close by the site or eat at local hotels. If you go further towards the end of the main trail to the monastery, there are two restaurants to select from.





AQABA
Dining places in Aqaba are available everywhere. Seafood and fresh fish restaurants are very popular and can be found everywhere in Aqaba. Other international restaurants are also available, even fast food restaurants. There are wide selections to pick from; it all depends on the individuals' preference.  

WADI RUM
Only places to eat are at the camps if you are staying overnight since, Wadi Rum is a natural reserve.

AZRAQ
After visiting the 3 Desert Castles, there are couple of options for restaurants in the area other than the Al Azraq Rest House.  
Azraq Palace: This restaurant is close to Azraq Castle. It would be a place to take a break and eat, after the long walk from the Desert Castles. They offer Middle Eastern lunch buffet.
Cave Restaurant: The restaurant is on Highway 30 within Azraq city, around 1 km south of the T-junction.  A local restaurant offers Middle Eastern food. 

SALT
Salt City is only half an hour away from Amman. If you decide to dine there for lunch, there is an option to stop by The Mountain Breeze Country Club; a garden restaurant and outdoor activity centre set in the picturesque Gilead Mountains. They offer Lebanese and international cuisine.  



Sunday, October 13, 2013

Business hours of sites in Jordan

Business hours of sites in Jordan

Below are the operational hours of most tourist sites in Jordan depending on the season. 


Ramadan
Friday
Winter
Summer
Name of Sites
8 am – 3 pm
9 am – 4 pm
8 am – 5 pm
8 am – 7 pm
Citadel
8 am – 3 pm
9 am – 4 pm
8 am – 5 pm
8 am – 7 pm
Roman Theater
8 am – 3 pm
9 am – 4 pm
8 am – 4 pm
8 am – 8 pm
Jerash
8 am – 3 pm
9 am – 4 pm
8 am – 4 pm
8 am – 7 pm
Umm Quais
8 am – 3 pm
9 am – 4 pm
8 am – 5 pm
8 am – 7 pm
Ajloun
8 am – 3 pm
9 am – 4 pm

8 am – 7 pm
3 Desert Castles
8 am – 3 pm
n/a
8 am – 5 pm
8 am – 7 pm
Shaumari Reserve
8 am – 3 pm
n/a
8 am – 5 pm
8 am – 7 pm
Azraq Reserve
8 am – 3 pm
n/a
8 am – 4 pm
8 am – 6 pm
Baptism Site
8 am – 3 pm
9:30 – 5 pm
8 am – 5 pm
7:30 – 6 pm
Madaba Church  
8 am – 3 pm
n/a
8 am – 4 pm
8 am – 7 pm
Kerak Castle
8 am – 3 pm
n/a
8 am – 5 pm
8 am – 7 pm
Dana Reserve
8 am – 3 pm
n/a
8 am – 5 pm
8 am – 7 pm
Wadi Mujib
8 am – 3 pm
n/a
Daylight hr
Daylight hr
Shobak Castle
7 am – 4 pm
n/a
6 am – 4 pm
6 am – 6 pm
Petra

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Petra Nights Tours Mobile App

Petra Nights Tours Mobile App 
Check out our new easy to use app providing travel info and facts that can help you to prepare for a Jordan vacation.

App Main Menu
Contact Us & Media Sharing
Day Tour & Excursion
Package Tours
Private Transfers
Welcome to Jordan
Petra Nights Tours App is absolutely free. Visit Google Play or iTunes for details and download. 

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Dana Guest House, Dana Hotel, Rummana Camp

Dana Guest House, Dana Hotel, Rummana Camp


If you wish to stay in a quiet and peaceful place the village of Dana might be your choice. The village is 50 km north of Petra and about a two hours drive from Amman, with amazing views over Wadi Dana. There is a camp and several small hotels to spend the night, some of them we introduce here.  


The Dana Guest House offers 9 bedrooms. The rooms are simply furnished, with only one room being ensuite, therefore most rooms have sharing bathrooms. Some of the rooms have a terrace overlooking a 1,000 metre drop to the basin of the Wadi Dana. Facilities include a dining room, a sitting area and a terrace. Next door to the Guest House is a small handicraft workshop and nature reserve museum.












© RSCN (all photos)