{"id":50217,"date":"2023-06-16T10:15:33","date_gmt":"2023-06-16T10:15:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/?p=50217"},"modified":"2023-07-10T17:34:27","modified_gmt":"2023-07-10T17:34:27","slug":"six-top-experiences-in-jordan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/six-top-experiences-in-jordan\/","title":{"rendered":"Six Top Experiences in Jordan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A view of Amman from the Amman Citadel. Photo credit: Jake Smith<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jordan is a top destination<\/strong> for travelers<\/a> \u2013 and rightfully so. The country, though relatively small, is home to six separate UNESCO World Heritage Sites<\/strong> covering Biblical, Greek, Nabataean, Roman, and Arab architecture and archaeology. You can snorkel over pristine tropical reefs<\/strong> in the Gulf of Aqaba in the morning, float in the Dead Sea<\/strong> at noon, and be in a pine forest in the hills<\/strong> around Ajloun by evening. It is an amazingly diverse and historical place<\/strong>.<\/a> MIR\u2019s Jake Smith recently had the opportunity to travel through Jordan. Here he shares his six favorite experiences in the country, including a few that are off the beaten path.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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1. The Backdoor to Petra<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What is it? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cbackdoor\u201d to Petra is five-mile path starting at Little Petra (Petra\u2019s smaller neighbor) and ending at the Monastery (the outermost monument within the main Petra site).<\/p>\n\n\n

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The “Backdoor” trail from Little Petra to Petra. Photo credit: Jake Smith<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Why visit?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Approaching Petra in this way, you\u2019ll minimize your exposure to the crowds<\/strong> that flock to the main monuments like the Treasury and the Royal Tombs. The well-maintained trail passes through breathtakingly beautiful desert and mountain scenery<\/strong>. It is also a good way to get a sense of the terrain, the flora, and the fauna that surround the ancient Nabataean city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I visited the Treasury through the main entrance to Petra early in the morning, when the light at the Treasury is best but the crowds are at their worst. Then right after lunch I did the \u201cbackdoor\u201d hike. This got me to the Monastery in the late afternoon, when the light there is best. The morning crowds had dissipated by then, and it almost felt like I had the place to myself<\/strong> as I walked back down the main route past the Royal Tombs, Treasury, and Siq. I was pretty exhausted by the end of the day though, so a more relaxed approach would be to spend two full days at Petra, approaching the sight from the main entrance on one day and from the \u201cbackdoor\u201d the next.<\/p>\n\n\n

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