Types of Tourism in Jordan
BEACH HOLIDAYS
In the southwest of Jordan, a small part of it is washed by the waters of the Gulf of Aqaba of the Red Sea. The length of the coastline is 25 km. The country’s only port, Aqaba , is located here. Sandy beaches stretch along the entire city, rocky beaches begin only in its southern part. You can relax in Aqaba all year round, in winter the temperature of coastal waters does not fall below +20 degrees, and cool breezes soften the summer heat. Upscale hotels are located in the northern part of the resort. Aqaba has both public and private beaches. Mostly locals relax on public beaches, so it’s better to pay a small amount and relax on the beaches owned by hotels.
You can also sunbathe and swim in the Dead Sea. In the northern part of the sea there is a recreation area with hotels and beaches. There are 3 hotels here – Movenpick, Dead Sea Spa Hotel and Dead Sea Holiday House. The coast of the Dead Sea, with the exception of artificially equipped zones, is rocky. Swimming in the Dead Sea is truly amazing, because due to the high salinity of the water you cannot even dive, your body will always stay on the surface of the water. The coastal mud of the Dead Sea is considered therapeutic, it contains many minerals, so tourists often apply it to their skin. Marine sediments on the shore and at the bottom of the sea have sharp edges and can hurt your feet, so it is advisable to wear sandals. Check top-medical-schools.org for travel information in Jordan.
DIVING
In the coastal waters of the Gulf of Aqaba, not far from the coast, there are coral reefs with a colorful underwater world. There are about 30 dive sites here, 27 of which belong to the Marine Park. About 300 species of coral are found in coastal waters, and the coral gardens that surround the coast are home to 1,000 species of fish. Underwater visibility at the resort reaches 40 m, and in the summer months it can exceed 50 m.
The most popular dive site is Cedar Pride. This is a sunken ship that has been at the bottom since 1985. It is located 130 m from the shore at a depth of 25 m. This place is suitable for trained divers, because strong currents are noted here. In the area of the coral wall “Power Station” you can see sharks, wrasses and moray eels. In the northern part of the so-called First Bay there are very beautiful reefs, the local sandy bottom is covered with red corals. Diving depth varies from 12 to 30 m. The “Eel Garden” with black corals at the bottom is a great place for underwater photography, stingrays are often found near the reef of King Abulla, turtles near the “Black Mountain”, and in the “Moon Valley”, which was named after the valley in the Wadi Rum desert – sharks. For night dives , Rainbow Reef is suitable, where there are a lot of lobsters and starfish in all colors of the rainbow. “Japanese Gardens” famous among snorkelers for their colorful underwater world. There is even a tank in coastal waters. This is an American tank that was submerged in 1990 to create a popular dive site.
HIKING
The best place for hiking in Jordan is the Wadi Rum desert . It is located 50 km northeast of Aqaba.. Here you will see dry riverbeds, sand dunes and mountains, among which is the highest point in the country – Jebel Ram (1734 m). At sunset, the mountains turn red, creating a unique landscape. The best time to visit Wadi Rum is in the spring, when the desert turns green for a short period after the rains. Wadi Rum is a real sand museum. The events described in the Bible took place here, and ancient drawings remained on some rocks. In the desert, you can take a safari by jeep or camel, and tours in a hot air balloon are also arranged. In addition to the local landscape, tourists will be able to see the Bedouin settlements and get acquainted with their culture. Hiking can also be done in Jordan reserves, among which the most popular is Dana.
ECOTOURISM
IN Jordan has created 6 reserves. Azraq reserve is considered the most popular. This is a unique wet oasis, which is located in the arid region of the country’s eastern deserts. Birds make a stop here every year during their flights between Africa and Asia. The largest number of birds is observed here in the winter months, when during the rains they gather near the shores of small reservoirs. Also notable is the Shahumari Wildlife Sanctuary, home to endangered gazelles and Arabian oryx, once common throughout Jordan. Dana Reserve covers an area of 308 sq. km. It stretches along the Wadi Rum desert and includes the elevated areas of the rift zone. Of greatest interest here is the rock of Wadi Dana, Mount Ramman with the ruins of the ancient city of Feinan and many animals and plants. About 600 species of plants grow on the territory of the reserve, 37 species of mammals and about 190 species of birds live. The Wadi Mujib reserve is the lowest reserve in the world because it is located on the shores of the Dead Sea. The landscape of the reserve is mountainous with numerous canyons. The elevation difference here reaches 1300 m. A large number of predators live here, such as caracal (desert lynx), hyena and Syrian wolf. The mountain goat, the Nubian ibex, which was practically exterminated in past centuries, is especially protected on the territory of Wadi Mujib.
