“I have always loved the desert. One sits down on a desert sand dune, sees nothing, hears nothing. Yet through the silence something throbs, and gleams.” Antoine De Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince
‘Ahlan wa sahlan’ – Welcome to Jordan!
The area that is now the Kingdom of Jordan has a strong tradition of welcoming people, from caravans and traders passing through the desert, to crusaders, the Romans, writers inspired by the desert landscape and even the famous T.E. Lawrence.
Jordan is also a nation of refugees. From early on in the establishment of the Kingdom, when over a million Palestinian refugees entered, to large influxes of Iraqis in the late 1990s and early 2000s, to more recently, hosting refugees from Syria and Northern Africa who are fleeing war and conflict.
And despite the challenges with balancing this integration and the surrounding instability of the region, Jordan manages to continue to be a safe and welcoming place for tourists. Ahlan wa sahlan – Welcome to Jordan!
Why I Love Jordan
I first visited Jordan in 2014, on holiday from my job in Uzbekistan. I’m not sure it was top of my list at that time – but, hey, it was the cheapest flight from Central Asia and you take what you get.
I fell in love instantly, with the warm sweet Jordanian tea, the soft desert light, hectic streets of Amman and vibrant history. People were open and welcoming. I hitched rides and shared meals with strangers, hiked wadis (canyons), swam in the Red Sea, saw Petra and camped under the stars in the desert of Wadi Rum. And then, in late 2015, I returned for a job with the UN and spent a year doing much of the same.
Throughout my time in Jordan I took a LOT of photographs.
In this post, I’ve included 20 of my favorite photos to inspire you to visit the lunar landscape of Jordan and take a step into the middle east!
And if you are finally convinced, check out my post on how to spend two weeks exploring Jordan, including tips for traveling around.
A view of the famous Al-Khazneh (“The Treasury”) in Petra
Looking across the lego-like buildings of Amman
People watching on the steps of the Roman Amphitheater in Amman
Picking wildflowers in Dana Nature Reserve during a sunset hike
Salt formations along the Dead Sea
Qasr kharana, one of many desert castles in Jordan
The Duke’s Diwan, a hidden gem in downtown Amman
One of the most beautiful sights in Jordan, hands reaching over each other sharing the yummiest of food
An example of the vibrant and thought provoking street art that is all around Amman
Camel spotting somewhere along the famous and ancient King’s Highway
A bedouin calls three camels towards him in Wadi Rum
The beautiful Jordan desert light at sundown
A view across Wadi Rum at sunset
The hectic Amman cityscape from the Citadel
More views of Wadi Rum because it’s just that beautiful
Wandering the ruins of Jerash
The rock in Jordan seems to flow like waves across the desert
Ajloun Castle
One of the many wadi hikes in Jordan
Read More on Jordan:
The Ultimate Itinerary for 2 Weeks in Jordan
Jordan: Camping in Dana Nature Reserve
Sleeping in Wadi Rum at a Bedouin Camp
Travel Video: Road Tripping Through Jordan
A Guide to Visiting Petra
26 Comments
Daddy Duck
August 23, 2017 at 3:00 pmVery nice. Some of those photos were mahhhvelous!
Eleonore Everywhere
August 26, 2017 at 8:44 pmThanks, pops! Am glad you were able to come to Jordan and visit 🙂
Tasha Amy
August 26, 2017 at 8:34 amWow im in love! That photo with the camel in the Nissan is hilarious haha
Eleonore Everywhere
August 26, 2017 at 8:44 pmhaha – it’s one of my favorites! Xx, Eleonore
Chiera
August 26, 2017 at 8:44 amWow! If there was ever any doubt that I wanted to go to Jordan, now I’m convinced! What a beautiful country !
Eleonore Everywhere
August 26, 2017 at 8:45 pmI’m so glad, Chiera! You won’t be disappointed Xx, Eleonore
Bejal
August 26, 2017 at 8:56 amThis is such a beautiful post! I adore the photos. Jordan is definitely on my never-ending list!
Josie
August 26, 2017 at 9:18 amGreat photos. I don’t need much inspiring since I am already planning on being in Jordan in a couple of months, but this adds to my excitement.
Eleonore Everywhere
August 26, 2017 at 8:46 pmThat’s exciting, Josie! I hope you have a great time. Xx, Eleonore
Fay
August 26, 2017 at 9:21 amBeautiful photos, Jordan is definitely on my bucket list!!
Emma
August 26, 2017 at 10:52 amBeautiful pictures. 🙂
I really love Jordan and that makes me want to go back again and explore a little further !
Sarah
August 26, 2017 at 2:43 pmWell you achieved your goal… these pictures definitely make me want to visit Jordan! I especially love the camel in the truck. It looks like such a beautiful place.
Amanda
August 26, 2017 at 3:34 pmLove Jordan and really need to go back and see more, thanks for the inspiring images 🙂
Indie Chick
August 26, 2017 at 3:39 pmWow! I’m in love with these photos! I’ve been wanting to go to Jordan for a few years now, but haven’t gotten there yet. I want to sleep under the stars in the desert, go to Jerash and eat that delicious Jordanian food! Thank you for the photo journey of this beautiful country!
Sara Essop
August 26, 2017 at 7:25 pmBeautiful photos. I saw some of these places when I was in Jordan a few years ago. I missed out on Wadi Rum though – so I need to go back again 🙂
Eleonore Everywhere
August 26, 2017 at 8:46 pmWadi Rum is THE best and I hope you do make it back to see it 🙂 Xx, Eleonore
Kashlee Kucheran
August 26, 2017 at 9:12 pmJordan has always intrigued me, but now I think it’s time to officially add it to the bucket list! 😉 This was such a good visual guide!
C-Ludik
August 26, 2017 at 9:31 pmLovely photos, brought back memories ! I’ve been to Jordan few year ago and I really enjoyed this country. There’s something special about visiting a place that you can still feel the authenticity of the culture permeating the air. Jordan made me hungry for adventure, discovery, and cultural intimacy to learn more about not only Jordan, but the Middle East as a whole !
Helena
August 26, 2017 at 9:45 pmThat camel in the car made me laugh out loud. Jordan has been on my bucket list for quite a while, these photos have just convinced me even more 🙂
Eleonore Everywhere
August 26, 2017 at 10:00 pmHahaha! You should have seen me trying to take a picture of that thing from the car – I was giggling HARD! Xx, Eleonore
Kristen
August 27, 2017 at 5:13 amYour photos are so lovely! Petra has been a bucket list destination for me for a long time. It’s surely one of the top spots on my list! Thank you for sharing your experience!
Brianna
August 27, 2017 at 1:12 pmI just booked a trip to Israel for next year, and I am DETERMINED to visit Jordan too! Seeing Petra is super high on my bucket list!
Ana
August 27, 2017 at 3:07 pmDid you travel solo there? I love the country and I want to visit so bad, but I keep reading contrary opinions about being/not being safe for a solo traveler, especially a woman. Right now my mind is set on finding a tour. The dilemma with that is that I love to explore by myself with no one pressuring me to “hurry up” and “how many more pictures do you need” :))
BTW love the photos!
Eleonore Everywhere
August 29, 2017 at 8:38 amHi Ana, I lived in Amman, Jordan for a year and was often getting around the city on my own and also did some travel throughout the country on my own too. I always felt safe and most of the women I knew there felt safe too – but it really depends on your comfort level I think. Like I said in a comment below, I’m 5’10 with blue eyes and light brown hair so I definitely stuck out and made heads turn…I think mostly out of curiosity. In downtown Amman (less so throughout the rest of the country) men will stare and sometimes whistle or cat call, but it’s very unlikely to be more than that. Again, this is all just in my experience. I’d encourage you to go as a woman on your own, especially if you are on the tourist circuit (Petra, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea, etc). You could even hire a private driver if you’d feel better about having that set up. Let me know if you have any more questions of need any recommendations for places to see – or you can see my post on two weeks in Jordan, linked in this post. Xx, Eleonore
Zephyriousity
August 27, 2017 at 3:20 pmNo doubt! Your photos are ah-mazing! Jordan seems near to us since we’re in Asia. Would love to add this on my list. You are ah-mazing too 🙂
ARIANA DEL RIO
August 27, 2017 at 8:23 pmEye-catching photos and certainly would say that I’m called back to the Middle East again, having visited Israel earlier in the year. Love to see photos displaying the beauty of this region. Cheers!!