Jordan Mini Guide
   Source: World Travel Guide

Overview

Petra, the jewel in the crown of Jordan's antiquities, has been declared by popular ballot one of the 'new' Seven Wonders of the World. The magnificent rock-hewn city of the Nabateans hardly needed further billing (since Jean Louis Burckhardt discovered it in the 19th century, it has been a favourite destination for Europeans) but at sunset on a winter's day, when the rose-pink city catches alight, it's easy to see why it has charmed a new generation of visitors.

Not to be outdone by Petra's success, Wadi Rum, that epic landscape of Lawrence and Lean - 'Arabs' man' and moviemaker - is a contender as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Two such weighty accolades would be entirely disproportionate to the minimal size of Jordan.

But Jordan, once an important trading centre of the Roman Empire and straddling the ancient Holy Land of the world's three great monotheistic religions, is no stranger to punching above its weight. Stand on Mt Nebo, newly consecrated by Pope John II, and survey the land promised to Moses; unwrap a scarf or two at Mukawir, where Salome cast a spell over men in perpetuity; float in the Dead Sea, beside a pillar of salt, reputed to be Lot's disobedient wife - go just about anywhere in Jordan and you'll find every stone bares a tale, and those of Madaba's legendary mosaics tell more tales than most.

With so much history wrapped up in this tiny desert kingdom, it's easy to overlook the modern face of Jordan - something the new king is trying to address in ambitious developments at Aqaba and along the Dead Sea. In the meantime, the Bedouin still herd their sheep across an unchanged landscape in living continuity with the ancient past.

Passport/Visa

Passports

Passport valid for six months required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visas

Required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except the following:
(a) transit passengers continuing their journey to another country by the same or first connecting aircraft within 24 hours provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport. Transit visas can only be issued at Jordanian airports/airlines and not at embassies or consulates.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Visa Note

1. (a) Nationals referred to in the chart above can obtain a one month, single-entry visa on arrival at any point of entry in to Jordan except for the King Hussein Bridge at the Jordan/Israel border. Multiple-entry visas can only be obtained at the nearest embassy/consulate. (b) Visas may be extended for three or six months by registering with a police station in Jordan. (c) If visiting Israel and the Palestinian authority it is advisable to obtain a multiple entry visa before departure. (d) For stays over six months, nationals are required to take an AIDS test at a local government medical authority.

Types of Visa and Cost

Tourist, Transit and Business: £11 (single-entry); £21 (multiple-entry). Visa on arrival: JD10 (single-entry).

Validity

Validity varies according to nationality. For Australian, Canadian, UK and US nationals, visas are valid as follows: Tourist: Two months for single-entry if obtained from the embassy or two weeks if obtained at the airport, these can be extended at any Jordanian police station; Multiple-entry are valid for six months; Business: Three months. After the first two weeks of stay, all visitors holding a visa must report to the nearest police station.

Applications to:

Consulate (or consular section at embassy); see Contact Addresses.

Working Days Required

Five working days. If application requires approval, four to six weeks.

Money

Currency

Dinar (JOD; symbol JD) = 100 piastres or 1,000 fils. Notes are in denominations of JD50, 20, 10, 5 and 1, and 500 fils. Coins are in denominations of JD1, 1/2 and 1/4; 10, 5, 2 and 1/2 piastres; and 1 and 1/2 qirsh.

Currency Exchange

Foreign currencies can be exchanged easily in banks and bureaux de change. Most hotels also provide exchange facilities. The daily exchange rates are published in local newspapers.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

American Express, Visa, Diners Club and MasterCard are accepted in hotels, restaurants and larger shops. ATMs can be found in most of the larger towns and throughout Amman.

Traveller's Cheques

Those issued by UK banks are accepted by licensed banks and bureaux de change. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars.

Currency Restrictions

Restrictions apply.

Banking Hours

Sat-Thurs 0830-1500. Hours during Ramadan are 0830-1000, although some banks open in the afternoon.

Health

Vaccinations

* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age coming from infected areas.

Food and Drink

It is advisable to stick to bottled water and pasteurised milk. Avoid dairy products made from unboiled milk. Be careful with food and water in rural areas: ensure meat and fish are well cooked and avoid raw vegetables and ready-peeled fruit.

Other Risks

Vaccination against tuberculosis and hepatitis B is sometimes recommended.

Health Care

Health insurance is strongly recommended. There are excellent hospitals in large towns and cities, with clinics in many villages.

Note: An HIV test is mandatory for anyone planning to stay longer than 14 days.

Getting There

Getting There by Air

The national airline is Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ) (website: www.rj.com).

Approximate Flight Times

From London to Amman is 5 hours.

Main Airports

Queen Alia International (AMM) is 35km (22 miles) southeast of the capital. To/from the airport: The airport is connected by a good highway (journey time - 40 minutes). There is a regular bus service to Amman (journey time - 50 minutes), and taxis are also available. Facilities: Duty-free shops, ATMs, bank/bureau de change, eating and shopping facilities and car hire.

Departure Tax

None - included in ticket. Jordanian nationals need to pay JD20 on international departures.

Getting There by Water

The only port is Aqaba (tel: (03) 201 4031; website: www.aqabaports.com.jo), which is on some cruise itineraries. There is a daily car and passenger ferry between Aqaba and Nuweiba in Egypt, run by AB Maritime (tel: (03) 209 2000; website: www.abmaritime.com.jo); the company also operates a high-speed service to Nuweiba that takes less than one hour.

Departure tax: JD5 for foreigners and JD6 for Jordanian nationals.

Getting There by Rail

The Hejaz Railway (tel: (06) 489 5414; website: www.jhr.gov.jo) operates twice a week on the old Ottoman track between Amman and Damascus (Syrian Arab Republic). It uses ancient rolling stock and takes about nine hours. It is really only worth making the journey for the experience. The journey by car takes about half the time.

Getting There by Road

There are roads into the Syrian Arab Republic via Ramtha or Jaber. The route to/from the Syrian Arab Republic to Western Europe is through Turkey. Driving time from Amman to Damascus is four hours. From Egypt, there is a ferry connection from Nuweiba to Aqaba, with bus connections from Cairo (visa should be obtained in advance). Multiple-entry visas may be needed.

A coach service runs from Damascus to Irbid or Amman. JETT (tel: (06) 585 4679; website: www.jett.com.jo) is one of the main operators.

There is a share-taxi service from Amman to Damascus.

Public buses and coaches run from Amman to a number of international destinations, including Cairo, Jeddah, Riyadh, Damascus, Beirut, Baghdad and Istanbul. With a visa, obtained in advance, it's also possible to enter the Palestinian National Authority Region at Allenby Bridge. Border crossings with Israel are at Sheikh Hussein Bridge (Jordan River Crossing) near Lake Tiberias in the north and Wadi Arabah (Arava Crossing) in the south, the latter linking Jordan to the Israeli Red Sea resort of Eilat. Most nationalities can obtain a visa at the border (for information see Passport/Visa).

Road departure tax: JD4.

Climate

The Jordan Valley and the area around Aqaba is warm during winter (January-February) with chilly evenings, and extremely hot in summer (June-August). In the Eastern Desert, the winter can be bitterly cold and dry and the summer intensely hot. The central spine of hills can receive snowfall in winter and is cool in the evenings in summer. Rain falls between November and March.

Required Clothing

Lightweight clothes are advised between May and September. Thick winter clothes are essential for winter and a warm layer is necessary for cool summer evenings. Rainwear is needed from November to April.

Contacts

Jordan Tourism Board in the UK

Kennedy House, 1st Floor, 115 Hammersmith Road, London W14 0QH, UK
Tel: (020) 7371 6496.
Website: www.uk.visitjordan.com

Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in the USA

3504 International Drive, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 966 2664 or 2861 (consular section).
Website: www.jordanembassyus.org

Jordan Tourism Board in the USA

6867 Elm Street, Suite 102, Mclean, VA 22101, USA
Tel: (703) 243 7404/5 or 1 877 733 5673.
Website: http://na.visitjordan.com/

Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in the UK

6 Upper Phillimore Gardens, London W8 7HA, UK
Tel: (020) 7937 3685.
Website: www.jordanembassyuk.org
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1500.