| Jordan ((ar)الأردنّ ) | |
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| Flag | |
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| Information | |
| Capital city | Amman |
|---|---|
| Area | 89 341 km² |
| Population | 10 428 241 hab. () |
| Density | 116,72 inhab./km² |
| Other languages | Arab English |
| Cash | Jordanian dinar (JOD) |
| Electricity | 220 V/50 Hz |
| Telephone prefix | 962 |
| Internet suffix | .jo |
| Flow direction | Right-hand drive |
| Spindle | UTC 2 |
| Location | |
 31 ° 12 ′ 0 ″ N 36 ° 30 ′ 0 ″ E | |
| Government site | |
| Touristic site | |
The Jordan, in long form on Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a country of Middle East, border with Israel and the West Bank to the west, the Syria to the north, theIraq to the northeast and theSaudi Arabia At the South-East.
Understand
Geography
The country is bordered to the north by Syria, to the east by Iraq, to the east and south by Saudi Arabia. To the west, we find the West Bank and Israel. The only access to the sea is to the south in Aqaba which gives access to the Red Sea. The north and west of Amman are mountainous, while the east and south are desert.
Amman is located in altitude (around 900m depending on the hill) and you can descend to the Dead Sea at -400m below sea level, the lowest place on the globe. It is always good there even when it is snowing in Amman.
The country is arid, it is one of those which suffers the most from the lack of water. Indeed, the Jordan is the main river from which water is drawn so much for agriculture and for human activity that only a small stream arrives which is no longer sufficient to fill the evaporation of the sea. Dead. Its level decreases from year to year.
Weather
Spring begins in March and ends at the end of May, it is high season. At this time, beware of strong thermal amplitudes between day and night. Summer continues until September, autumn stretches until November again the high season, then winter sets in.
Story
Population
Holidays and public holidays
Regions
Jordan can be divided into four major regions:
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Cities
- 1 Ajlun – 12th century castlee century.
- 2 Al-Karak – Castle of the Crusaders.
- 3 Amman – The capital.
- 4 Aqaba – In the far south of the country on the Red Sea.
- 5 Jerash – Ruins of the Greek then Roman city. This is ancient Antioch.
- 6 Madaba
Other destinations
- Petra - unmissable attraction of Jordan, the Nabataean city with its temples carved into the cliff; Petra is on the list of Unesco heritage
- the desert of Wadi rum : this exceptional site is also on the list of Unesco heritage
- Umm Qais - ruins of the Greek then Roman city, in the north of the country (it is the ancient Gadara)
- Shobak - Crusader castle. Also called Chateau Montreal.
- the dead Sea
- the desert castles
- the Dana nature reserve and the ancient village of Dana
For tourists with limited time, visits to Petra and Wadi rum are needed. If we have more time especially Jerash (curiously absent from the Unesco list), then Shobak and Karak in that order are absolutely to be seen.
Umm Qais is also well worth the trip but is very eccentric, at 110 km north of Ammann, near the borders with Syria and Israel.
To go
Formalities
- Jordan
- Exemption from Visa
- Visa on arrival
- Visa required
A visa is compulsory for French, Belgian or Swiss nationals. The country's main airport is located about thirty kilometers south ofAmman (Queen Alia International Airport in Amman). The visa can be purchased on arrival in local currency (20 JD approximately 40 euros per person for a single entry). Directly opposite, there is an ATM and a currency exchange office. Once the passport has been stamped, we are quickly assailed by uniformed porters who seek to help for a few JD (dinars).
If you are visiting the country, it is preferable to buy a package before entering the territory that includes the visa plus a few site visits including entry to Petra.
By plane
In case of late arrival, it is possible to sleep on the benches. The place, like the country, is very safe.
A bus Airport Express shuttles between the airport and the northern bus stationAmman. This shuttle runs every day. Departures take place in both directions every half hour from 6 h 30 - 18 h, then every hour until midnight. Two additional buses, departing from the airport only, depart respectively from 1 h and 3 h in the morning. Count between 45 min and 1 h of journey approx. The trip costs 3 dinars per person. Company number: 00962 (0) 64891073. (information updated on 12/29/2012)
By taxi, count 15 dinars during the day and 20 dinars at night to reach Amman, to be adapted according to the destination in the city. If you want a hotel near the airport, it's easier and closer to stay in Madaba.
Apart Amman, the airport ofAqaba (in the far south of the country) also receives international flights, including several charters from Brussels, which is very popular with Belgian and French travelers (Thomas cook and Tuifly). For a short stay, a visit to the Wadi rum and to Petra (the 2 main sites in the south) can perfectly and economically be organized fromAqaba. Additional advantages:
- when we arrive and leave by Aqaba, the identity card is sufficient for EU nationals (which will not prevent the security services or others from asking you for your "passport", you will then present your identity card)
- Aqaba is a free zone ie duty free. This is especially beneficial for cosmetics, medicines ... and excellent Jordanian wine!
NB: when you arrive and leave by Aqaba, the entry visa or what takes its place (a green card) is free, but you have to pay an exit tax on departure, in the order of 20 JD.
On a boat
Since theEgypt , we can get to Aqaba, in the south of the country. There is a way to pay for your visa when entering Jordan.
The Egyptian ports served are Taba (pedestrians) and Nuweiba (pedestrians and vehicles, see section "by car" below).
By train
The rail network is very limited and almost exclusively reserved for goods (phosphate transport line to Aqaba).
By bus
Since Israel (Allenby / King Hussein Bridge)
At the Israeli border post, the Jordanian company Jett provides a shuttle to the Jordanian post. The shuttle is free for passengers, but 1.5 JD is charged per piece of luggage. Departures take place when the shuttle is full. (Note that on the Jordanian side, this border post can only be crossed with a visa previously obtained.)
A bus station is located behind the border post. Not to be confused with the parking lot from which the shuttles leave for Israel. (Also do not rely on the taxi drivers stationed at the exit of the station to indicate where to find the buses!)
Buses serve the directions of Amman (northern bus station), Zarqa, and Irbid. (No direct buses to Petra.) They leave when they are full (20 seats).
Buses to Amman leave approximately every hour. The cost per person is 3 JD, with no extra charge for luggage. The journey takes a little over an hour.
By collective taxi
Since Israel (Allenby / King Hussein Bridge)
Namely: An exit tax from Israeli territory must be paid (172 ILS in November 2012); According to arbitrary criteria, some travelers may be subjected to extensive questioning at the Israeli post; the visa for Jordan is not issued at this border post: it must be obtained in advance.
TO Jerusalem, near the Damascus Gate, at least two shared taxi companies serve the Allenby Bridge border post. (One of them is called Abdo.)
Departures take place every half hour, from 7 h, and up to 11 h (or 13 h ?). The rate is 40 ILS / person (November 2012). The journey to the border takes approx. 30 min.
Taxis cannot cross the border. We must therefore change transport.
The Jordanian bus company Jett provides transfer to the Jordanian post (see section "By coach"), where taxi drivers wait for customers.
Shared taxis for Amman leave when they are full (4 passengers), and charge 7JD / person (November 2012), with no extra charge for luggage.
By car
Please note, Jordan does not sell diesel (diesel engines prohibited).
Until 2010 it was relatively easy to reach Jordan with a European car, by taking the ferry Venice - Alexandria (Egypt) - Tartous (Syria) (http://www.visemarline.com/Since the events in Syria and until further notice this ferry no longer operates.
Since then the only possibility (somewhat adventurous) is to transit through Egypt (ports of Alexandria or Port Said), to cross the Sinai peninsula at the wheel and then to take the Nuweiba - Aqaba ferry.
It is also possible to ship a vehicle from Europe or from Suez, but in principle you will not be able to accompany your vehicle.
Circulate
Jordan has three main routes, from North to South (between Amman and Aqaba to simplify) :
- Dead Sea Highway (n ° 65, alias M40) runs along the dead Sea and Israel. Pretty, a bit long, a lot of military checks (no problem for tourists).
- King's Highway (n ° 35) is mountainous. She passes near Petra and continues to meander. Full of small villages, grandiose landscapes between Karak and Tafilah (Wadi Hasa gorge: depression close to 800 m), sometimes steep slopes.
- Desert Highway (n ° 15, alias M47) is very fast. As it is the fastest, it is crowded with trucks and crosses the desert monotonously. Long and steep slope before arriving in Aqaba, do not be surprised by a truck driving at a walk.
Few roads connect the Dead Sea Highway and the King's Highway but they are among the prettiest in the country. From North to south :
- the road going down from Madaba to the Dead Sea via Mount Nebo (***)
- the road going down from Madaba to the Dead Sea through the "Panorama Complex" (****)
- the road going down from Lib towards the Dead Sea passing by the "Maïn Spa" and the "Panorama Complex" (****) (roads 2 and 3 meet between the "Maïn Spa" and the "Panorama Complex")
- road no.50 down from Karak to Mazraa, at the southern end of the Dead Sea (aka Potash City) (***)
- the road n ° 60 going down from Tafila towards the dead sea (****) (the beginning in Tafila is a bit difficult to find)
- the road going down from Al Beida (= little Pétra) towards the dead sea (****) (in 12.2012 this road is not finished, but it is passable)
Be careful, these roads are very steep in places: not too recommended for cyclists!
The road Wadi Musa (Pétra) - Um Sayum - Al Beida (little Pétra) - King's Highway is also beautiful. It is easier in that direction because on the King's Highway the junction is not indicated.
By plane
Apart from the link Amman-Aqaba, there is no domestic line for tourists. But what is the point of flying for 300 km when the bus is so cheap?
By bus
Two networks coexist: a network of modern buses serving the main cities of the country (see in particular the government company JETT) and a network of minibuses for all distances (short, medium and long) between the various bus stations in each city.
By minibus, the journeys are very inexpensive, on the other hand, the schedules are to match. Be especially careful not to leave too late, most minibuses leave early in the morning (before 8 h) and it is rare to have minibuses after 16 h. Finally it is difficult to follow the king's road by minibus (very few connections, most of the traffic using the desert road), unless you have a lot of time and do a lot of flipping.
By car
No particular difficulties. You can rent a car for 25 to 30 dinars per day. A European license is sufficient to drive a rented car (an international license is required if the car is not rented). In general, there is a small supplement if there is more than one driver.
Signage meets international standards; the various mentions are made in English and Arabic.
General speed limits:
- Highway: 120 km / h
- Route: between 80 km / h and 90 km / h
- City : 40 km / h
Be aware that it is strictly forbidden to drive after having swallowed the slightest drop of alcohol.
As far as possible it is better to avoid driving at night.
Petrol price: the price of unleaded 90 is set at 0.620JD (June 2012). The 95 is around 1JD. In the south of the country, we cannot say that there are few gas stations but some are not very visible (example: in Shobak).
In small stations the quality of the fuel (index 90 or 95) may only be indicated in Arabic: practice distinguishing a 0 (٠) and a 5 (٥) from Arabic writing, for example by comparing 5 and 10 JD tickets!
To speak
It is rare to come across someone speaking French; on the other hand, no problem with English, spoken by a very large majority of Jordanians. Bedouins are nevertheless very gifted for languages, when they have a lot of contact with visitors as in Wadi rum (the Zalabieh) or to Petra (the Bedul), they very easily absorb words or whole sentences in French, Dutch or German for example!
At Wadi rum, the Jordan Tracks family agency can perfectly converse with you in impeccable French.
Of course and in general, a few Arabic words will never hurt!
To buy
The currency of Jordan is the Jordanian dinar (dinar, JOD).
We mostly come back from Jordan with eye-catching images ... and memory cards! Apart from the bottles of colored sand (in Petra) and Madaba mosaics (maybe not done there), you could bring back some your trip :
- cosmetics (especially from Aqaba, it's cheaper). For example creams, aftershaves etc. with mineral salts from the Dead Sea
- drugs (idem).
- Jordanian wine, especially Saint-Georges Zumot, made from grape varieties from the Madaba / Mont Nébo region. It is easily found in towns and at airport shops, around JD 6 per bottle and well worth it. You can also consume it on the spot in large hotels and restaurants. This wine is produced by the Christian minority in Jordan, who live in perfect harmony with Muslims.
- an artisanal rug, therefore preferably from the craftsman who makes it. For example in the street leading down from Karak Castle. Note that their looms do not allow making rugs larger than 75 cm width. Usually the length is 175 cm. We sometimes sell it, at the same price but we can haggle a little, along the road of the kings, south of Karak, in the great descent to wadi Hasa (a place where we naturally stop to appreciate the landscape). mesmerizing).
Eat
The small stalls provide food for around 2 dinars per meal and per person.
Enjoy local pastries and delicious teas, for example.
Have a drink / Go out
Housing
Count at least 5 dinars for a double room, but prices in tourist towns often start around 10 dinars. Possibility of negotiating, apart from Amman.
For small budgets and in hot weather, many hotels have the option of sleeping on a mattress on the roof for 1 to 2 dinars per person. A very good solution for those who do not want to pay for air conditioning. We then take advantage of the cool of the night for a record price.
To learn
To work
Communicate
Manage the day-to-day
Security
 | Emergency telephone number: All emergency services:911 |
It is an extremely safe country. Jordan has signed a peace treaty with Israel and the border is closely guarded (always carry your passport or identity card with you). So there is really no problem there and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should not prevent tourists from going there.
Girls, especially alone, can be approached. Avoid provocative outfits and attitudes. Wearing pants and having your shoulders covered is usually enough to avoid problems, but you should remain vigilant especially to Aqaba, one of the most conservative cities in the country, and especially in Ma'an (there is also nothing of interest in Ma'an for tourists).
There are also persistent segregation habits: women do not go to cafes where men meet to smoke hookahs, just as there are often two rooms in popular small restaurants: one for single men and one for families, couples, etc. No danger if you sit in the wrong room except the risk of being stared at very insistently. In some tourist cities or simply more modern like Amman or Madaba it is much less the case.
Government travel advice
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Belgium (Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) 
Canada (Government of Canada) 
France (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) 
Swiss (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs)
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Health
Respect
Ramadan date
Majority of Muslims insist on local sighting of the crescent moon to mark the start of Ramadan, but others insist on calculating the new moon or declaring it saudi to determine the start of the month. Since the first crescent after the new moon is not visible everywhere at the same time, the start and end dates of the month depend on what is visible in each location. Therefore, the dates vary from country to country, but usually only one day. |
Even though the Jordanians are very open, they remain very conservative. Be careful not to offend or shock them with alluring or inappropriate outfits. Drunkenness is obviously very frowned upon. Likewise, avoid openly criticizing the royal family.
As for the Jordanian's attitude towards you, it will generally be discreet and it is extremely rare to be bothered. If you ask him something he will always try to help you, and if he doesn't understand you he will usually say "welcome in Jordan" with a big smile!
