Almost three decades ago, Indiana Jones made Petra famous when it was used as the setting for the climactic scene where Jones enters the Treasury to find the Holy Grail. We lived out our Indiana Jones fantasy when we visited Petra but Jordan has so much more to offer. The food, artwork, and various historical sites are truly awe inspiring and the people are incredibly hospitable and passionate about their country. Our experience was wonderful and if you ever get the chance, we highly recommend visiting Jordan. Check out our top highlights from our trip!
What we Saw
We started off in Amman, the capital of Jordan, and took a day trip to the city of Jerash. After Pompeii, Jerash is the most well preserved ancient Roman city and is nick-named the City of a Thousand Pillars. And let me tell you, the name holds true – between the oval forum, the Temple of Artemis, and the Temple of Zeus, it feels like you’re transported back to ancient times. The main street even has wheel track marks from when chariots used to plow through the road.
In Amman, we explored the citadel and the city markets before making our way south to Petra. Along the way, we stopped at Mount Nebo and the church at the top. This is a place of religious significance since Moses died here. The church has some of the prettiest and most intricate mosaics I’ve ever seen and they are incredibly well preserved. We also stopped by a church in Madaba that has the oldest documented map of the Holy Land, especially Jerusalem, in mosaic form.
The next day we spent the entire day at Petra, an ancient city of the Nabatean Kingdom with intricate buildings all carved out of sandstone. A visit to Petra deserves a day as there is a lot to see and everything’s quite spread out. Be ready to walk for at least four to six hours or you can opt to take a donkey, horse, or camel ride. After passing through the visitor center, you take a five kilometer walk into and through the slot canyon, called the Siq, that then opens up into a stunning view of the Treasury.
Fun fact: the Treasury was actually not used as treasury but instead as a mausoleum and crypt, discovered later under the main façade.
But the Treasury is only a small part of all of Petra. We also explored the Royal Tombs from which you get a great aerial view of the amphitheater and the Great Temple. After lunch, we did the hike to see the Monastery. This is quite the climb but definitely worth the view of the façade. It’s very similar to the Treasury, but way less crowded. I think in total, we walked about 9 miles but were treated to a chocolate happy hour at our hotel, which was the perfect end to a day filled with experiencing beautiful architecture.
The next day, we visited Little Petra, a small ancient settlement that was used as a stop before entering Petra. As the name suggests, this was a smaller and less grandiose version of Petra.
From the architecture, you could tell it was much more functional rather than for pomp. We were hit with a pretty severe sandstorm in this area, which reminded us of how harsh this land can be. We wondered how people in ancient times traveled and settled in the area. The human capacity to adapt always amazes us.
What we Ate
As you probably know by now, we are BIG foodies, so experiencing local dishes is an important part of visiting any place.
Lebanese spread at the Intercontinental Amman & local restaurant
This spread of food was bigger and better than anything we could have imagined. Our tour guide had to warn us that the ten plates of various dips and vegetables that was first brought out is only the first course! Think three different types of hummus, baba ghanoush, tzatziki, roasted eggplant, peppers, onions, dolmas, an okra stew, all served with warm, fresh pita bread. With just this first course, our tummies were so happy, but of course then, they brought out a large platter filled with different types of kebabs and grilled vegetables. The kebabs were spiced perfectly and incredibly tender. You would think that we’d be done, but of course, they didn’t forget about dessert which included different phyllo dough pastries. We highly recommend trying this impressive spread at least once but be warned, you’re going to want to take a very long nap after.
Muqabla
A must try local rice dish similar to biryani. This one pot dish was studded with various vegetables and succulent chunks of chicken all spiced with cardamom and cinnamon. The spices of this dish were subtle and not overwhelming but all the flavors melded beautifully together. We tried this at a family-owned guest house in Madaba and you could tell this place was popular with both tourists and locals alike.
Knafeh
This may be one of the best desserts we’ve ever had. It’s made of a spun pastry, soaked in a lightly rose flavored sugar syrup, and layered with fresh cream or cheese. It can be topped with crushed nuts, particularly pistachios. We tried both the fresh cream and cheese versions and while both are amazing, the fresh cream takes the cake. This dessert was melt-in-your-mouth while not being overly sweet. The crunch of the pastry pairs well with the softness of the cream. We couldn’t stop eating this every chance we got – we even got some at the airport before our flight out of Jordan!
Where we Stayed
Amman Intercontinental
Movenpick Resort Petra
If you’d like any more information or have questions about our time in Jordan, feel free to drop a comment or reach out to us on Instagram!
