Early August, the Jordan Tourism Board invited me to discover their country. Despite being bordered by Iraq, Syria and Israel, Jordan has proven to be an island of security in the Middle East turmoil. At no point during my trip I felt unsafe. Together with 2 Belgian and 4 Dutch bloggers, I flew Royal Jordanian direct from Amsterdam to the Jordan capital Amman. After a night at Le Meridien Amman, we drove to Petra where we had the pleasure to stay at the Mövenpick Resort located at the entrance of the Petra Visitor Center.

Pic: Bart Lapers at the Treasury, Petra, Jordan (Aug 2014)
Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985 and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, is Jordan’s most-visited tourist attraction. The highlight of this hidden city is Al Khazneh (“The Treasury”) which was carved out of a sandstone rock face at the beginning of the 1st Century AD. I was initially disappointing by the colors of the sandstone, as the sunlight was too harsh during the early afternoon. I managed to make better pictures with almost no other visitors around in the late afternoon (5pm).

Pic: The Monastery in Petra, Jordan (Aug 2014)
After our Petra guided tour had ended with a lunch near Colonnaded Street, I started hiking a nearby trail not knowing where it would lead me. To my surprise, a similar building to the Treasury called Ad Deir (“The Monastery”) was located at the top of the mountain. The views from the nearby peaks were just amazing!

Pic: The Monastery Petra – Panoramic View (click for full size)

Pic: Petra by Night in Jordan (Aug 2014)
After dinner, we returned to Petra for a spectacle which takes place 3 times a week: Petra by Night. The Treasury as well as the Siq leading to Al Khazneh were lit by hundreds of candles creating a unique atmosphere.

Pic: The Treasury – Petra by Night, Jordan (Aug 2014)

Pic: The Treasury – Petra by Night, Jordan (Aug 2014)

Pic: Wadi Rum desert in southern Jordan (Aug 2014)
After a full day at Petra and a night of sleep at the Mövenpick, we headed south for the Wadi Rum desert. Jordan, being a relatively small country, allowed us to travel from one highlight to the next in just a few hours. At the Wadi Rum desert we stayed at a Bedouin camp (no luxury here!) and discovered the desert by 4×4 and camel ride.

Pic: Ships of the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan (Aug 2014)

Pic: Swimming Pool at Kempinski Hotel Dead Sea (Aug 2014)
Fortunately, we were booked at the Kempinski Ishtar Dead Sea after our dusty night in the desert. This 5 star luxury hotel situated on the edge of the famous salt lake (which is the lowest point on earth – 427m below sea level!) provides uninterrupted views across the vast Dead Sea towards the West Bank.

Pic: Panoramic view from Kempinski Dead Sea (click for full size)
With 34.2% salinity, the Dead Sea is one of the world’s saltiest bodies of water. The unusually high salt concentration means you can easily float in the Dead Sea due to natural buoyancy, something I had to try! 🙂

Pic: Swimming Pool & Beach at Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea
Conclusion: Looking for a sanctuary in the Middle East? Visit Jordan. A safe, liberal and friendly country with several amazing highlights located close to each other. Perfect for a one-week vacation!