Yes, the idea of a girls getaway might sometimes seem to veer into that overly stereotypical “pink” place of what marketers think women like, but for me it just means a really nice vacation with your friends that happen to be women. It’s about getting closer and getting to relax and have fun while exploring a new place.

Miami, Barcelona, LA, Ibiza. These might be the kind of places you think of when you think girls getaway. They all have a big nightlife scene and tons of trendy restaurants right next to world renowned museums and shops. But what about Jordan? A Middle Eastern country probably doesn’t spring to mind when you’re thinking of a destination to visit with a bunch of women.

But it should! The week I spent there with my fellow #GirlsGoneJordan was basically the perfect girls getaway. It was a mix of adventure and culture and delicious food and late night laughs.

With that said, here are six reasons why you should consider Jordan for your next girls getaway along with some tips on how to make it a trip to remember.

Amman is full of culture

Amman, the capital of Jordan, is a great place to start your trip for a crash course in both historic and modern Jordanian culture. We began our trip on the ancient side of things with visits to the Citadel and the Roman theater learning about the many inhabitants of this city that was once called Philadelphia.

Photo by Julika

Another worthy stop if you’re interested in history is The Jordan Museum which details the history of the country form prehistoric to modern times through artifacts and interactive displays. For art lovers check out the National Gallery which includes an impressive display of 2,000 works mainly from Jordanian and other Islamic artists.

For a look at modern Jordanian culture, head on over to Rainbow Street, a public space on Jabal Amman that is home to many shops, restaurants, and shisha bars. First, stop at the Jordan River Foundation showroom for some shopping. This NGO was started by Queen Rania to help women in Jordan become employed through several socio-economic programs. Here you can buy their handicrafts which are a far cry from the shoddy tourist trinkets you’ll find in many places.

Have dinner at Sufra, a traditional Jordanian restaurant with a lovely outdoor terrace and rooftop, before grabbing cocktails at the nearby Books@Cafe, a cafe cum bar dedicated to creativity, peace, equality, and tolerance. End the night at one of the area’s many shisha bars. It’s customary to order one per person, but we often shared one between two of us. Try lemon and mint or double apple.

Amman is also a great place to get acquainted with the culinary culture of the country and there’s no better way to do this than through a cooking class. We spent an evening at Beit Sitti learning to cook a variety of Jordanian dishes in a family like setting. Maria and her sister bought their grandmother’s house when she died and decided to open a cooking school to share her favorite recipes and love of food.

On their beautiful terrace overlooking the city we made bread and chatted about Jordan’s significance in the region and favorite Jordanian dishes. A few days after the class was over Maria emailed us all the recipes so we can practice them at home.

If you don’t want hummus everyday all day, there are some international food options as well. (And you might be crazy because hummus is awesome.) Our first meal was actually at Bonita Restaurant, a Spanish tapas bar.

You can party in Aqaba…

As a Muslim majority country, alcohol can be hard to find or very expensive in much of Jordan. The exception to this is Aqaba, a resort town on the Red Sea in the south of the country. While it still might be hard to find in restaurants and very expensive at the many hotels, there are quite a few liquor stores in Aqaba that sell cans of beer for around 1.5 JD ($2US).

My tip would be to buy a few cans for each person and head out onto the Red Sea for a little beer cruise. We sailed around for a couple of hours and had a great time sipping on our beers, tanning on the boat with Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Egypt in view, and swimming in the clear sea when we got too hot.

Afternoons are best spent lazing around the beach or pool. As the swim up bar at our hotel wasn’t open for the season yet, we opted for the girliest cocktails we could possibly find on the beach instead. These ran around $10 but who can resist a little treat when you’re on vacation?

If you’re looking for some fun after the sun sets, there’s an Irish pub called Rovers Return in town that sells both beer and liquor and often has karaoke nights or live music.

…and then pamper yourself at the Dead Sea

If there’s one place in Jordan to come and completely relax it’s the Dead Sea. With resorts and spas lining the shore of this salt lake, this is the place to shell out a little extra cash and have a luxurious time. Most of the resorts are huge complexes that include spas, pools, an assortment of restaurants, and their own beach front.

We started our day down at the beach for a mud treatment. Mud from the Dead Sea is said to have therapeutic qualities that can cure skin problems and relieve arthritic pain and muscle soreness, among other things. Most resorts will have buckets of mud for you to lather on after you’ve soaked in the salty water for about 10 minutes.

We were there on an unfortunately windy day which made relaxing in the water reading a newspaper like you see in photos impossible. I got in for about three minutes and after I saw Ashley get rescued by two lifeguards I hobbled out of the water and began slathering the black mud all over my body. After waiting the requisite 20 minutes (and taking about 300 photos) I began the arduous task of rinsing myself off. I don’t know if Dead Sea mud will cure your rheumatoid arthritis, but I can say that my skin was the softest it has ever been.

Photo by Julika

As more clouds began to roll in we decided to head indoors to the spa. While you can book a variety of treatments including a massage I really would’ve loved, we were short on time so we stuck to the different pools and hot tubs. Make sure you spend a few days at the Dead Sea so you can take full advantage of the relaxation opportunities available.

Our day ended with sundowners and shisha at a pool overlooking the water, which for me is the perfect relaxing ending to a day on a girls getaway.

It’s small enough to travel around easily

Jordan is a fairly small country in terms on land, about the same size as the state of Indiana, making it easy to see a lot of places even if you’re limited on time. For example, from Amman in the north to Aqaba, the most southern city, is only about a four hour drive.

Public transportation between cities in Jordan isn’t always timely and can be difficult to navigate if you don’t read Arabic, but long distance taxis can be found for relatively cheap as long as you haggle.

If you’re with a group of girlfriends, though, try renting a car. The main roads are well maintained and outside of Amman the driving was too crazy. Some of my favorite moments in Jordan was sitting in the van with the rest of the girls recapping our days, coming up with puns to use as Instagram captions, and taking stupid selfies. What’s better than a little road trip girls trip?

It’s not that conservative

Traveling with a group of women, or even as a solo woman, is fine in Jordan. Women can travel without a male escort and Jordanian women often go out in groups without men. As noted above, alcohol, though harder to find and sometimes more expensive, is sold in the country. At some hotel breakfasts you could even ask for pork sausage if you really felt like you couldn’t go one more day without it.

Women in Jordan are not required to cover their head and you’ll see many women, especially in Amman, with their hair uncovered. Dress is more conservative in the west, but you won’t be expected to don a baggy floor length dress everywhere you go. The most basic rule is to make sure your chest, shoulders, and knees are covered at all times. In Amman you can get away with a little but more, but in smaller towns and more conservative areas it may be better to err on the side of caution. I chose maxi skirts or loose patterned pants and light long sleeved cardigans or button downs on those days.

In resort areas like Aqaba or the Dead Sea it’s fine to wear a tank top or even a bikini! I still covered my shoulders and knees if we left the hotel, but in the resorts I was comfortable walking around wearing a little less.

It’s safe!

Jordan is safe. It really is. I wouldn’t keep repeating myself, but the undoubtedly the first question I’m asked when I tell people I was in Jordan earlier this year is about safety. So yes, once again, Jordan is safe. Was I stared at a few times in the street? Yes. Did it make me feel unsafe? Not at all. In fact, the street harassment in southern Italy was about three hundred times worse.

There are metal detectors at every hotel entrance and we were stopped at roadside checks a couple of times, but these are just precautions and never made me feel unsafe. Hell, you have to go through metal detectors in the US to enter any major sporting event and I had to scan my bags to enter a shopping mall in Manila.

When planning a trip to Jordan safety should be one of your last concerns. Spend most of your time worrying about how you’re going to fit in all the amazing sites.

Would you go to Jordan on a girls getaway? 

Disclaimer: I was a guest of the Jordan Tourism Board, but all opinions are my own. 

6 Reasons Why Jordan Is the Perfect Place for a Girls Getaway is a post from: Farsickness

Like, I will plan my entire day in a new city around being in the best place at the right time (usually with a beer in hand) to see the sky change color as the sun makes its way toward the horizon.

I realize this is probably the most cliche thing ever and that sunsets happen pretty much every single day, but there’s something about the beauty of them and the fact that they happen no matter where in the world I am, that makes me happy.

Before we left for Jordan I read Liz’s post about the sunsets she saw while there and hoped that we’d be able to have just one epic evening of dazzling colors. I didn’t know then that there would be four sunsets that were not only beautiful, but helped me truly fall in love with Jordan.

The sunset that made us late for dinner at Wadi Musa

After two days in Amman we began our journey south toward the town of Wadi Musa, the gateway to Petra. When we arrived at our hotel we only had a few minutes to throw our stuff in our rooms before we were supposed to head out to dinner so we could make it in time for Petra by night.

Once we got to our rooms and I opened the balcony door I knew we were going to have to push that dinner back. The Edomite Mountains were beginning to glow gold. This was going to be an epic sunset. We all quickly started gathering camera equipment and ran out to the terrace to begin our golden hour photo shoot. 

As the sky began to turn pink and orange and red, I stopped shooting for a moment and just smiled. This was a country I was told to be afraid of. This was a country in a region of the world I’d been brainwashed to believe was nothing but unstable governments and harsh climates. But here I was standing with a group of teenage girls on a school trip squealing with delight as I admired one of the most beautiful sunsets I’d ever seen. This was nothing like I’d imagined Jordan to be, but everything that it actually is.

Sunset teas at Feynan Ecolodge

Located in the Dana Biosphere Reserve, Feynan Ecolodge is an award winning eco-friendly hotel that prides itself in not only helping the environment, but giving guests the ability to interact with the local Bedouin community. Our plan at Feynan was to meet with a Bedouin family and then hike up a small hill and watch the sunset.

When we arrived it was cloudy and windy and felt as if a storm was brewing. We weren’t sure the sunset viewing would be happening and we began to day’s activities with our fingers crossed.

Our guide, Mohammed, brought us to the tent of a family who lives near the lodge where we learned about Bedouin hospitality, drank tea, and had traditional kohl eyeliner applied by a young girl. The matriarch of the family showed us how to bake a traditional bread underground, something easy that the nomadic men can make while they are out herding the goats.

The skies were still cloudy as we began our hike up the hill. We had a choice to make. Should we brave the whipping wind and wait to see if the skies cleared or give up and walk back to the lodge? Initially we started to head back, but then Jessica and I looked at each other and realized we couldn’t give up so quickly.

We turned around and with warm cups of sweet tea between our hands we waited. We sat on rocks and talked about politics and feminism in the Middle East and in that time the clouds parted and our wish came true. We saw a truly beautiful sunset.

The sunset after I fell off a camel in Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum, known as The Valley of the Moon because of its otherworldly appearance, is one of Jordan’s most popular destinations and one of the places I was looking forward to the most. You see, somehow I’d never been to a desert. Growing up my domestic travels were firmly rooted on the East Coast and this dry terrain was one I’d yet to see.

And it didn’t disappoint. We rolled up to Captain’s Camp, a posh camp site run by local Bedouins, and immediately upon stepping out of the can I had a man tying a shemagh mhadab around my head. While traditionally worn by men, this checkered scarf would provide good protection against the wind and sand in the desert. (And when I walked out in mine it was pronounced that I looked “full Arab”.)

After some sweet Bedouin tea, we climbed into the back of a pickup truck and began speeding up and down sand dunes and around huge rock formations. Then we reached the camels. Leading up to this, everyone else had been scared to ride the camels and I was the one saying, “Oh no, they do this all the time. No on is going to fall off.”

Well, someone did. And it was me.

As I was mounting the camel it started to stand up and I immediately knew things were going to end badly. I thudded to the ground on my back holding my camera out in front of me, luckily saving it from any damage. I laid on the ground stunned for a while and once I got up I promptly declared that I would never be attempting to ride one of those creatures again.

That was apparently not an option (you know what they say about getting back on the horse) and I soon found myself white knuckling the saddle as we were led around the desert.

Photo by Julika

We dismounted with just enough time to climb up a small rock as the sun began to set. My back hurt and I was dusty and tired and wanted to lay in bed and cry, but then I saw the herd minder tenderly leading his camels away and our Bedouin driver carefully building a fire next to jeep to brew more tea and I realized the pain didn’t matter so much.

The yellow sun dipped below the red earth in a place like no other I’d ever seen before and I felt so happy to have seen such beauty, even if it involved falling five feet onto my back.

Sunset shisha at the Dead Sea

On our last night in Jordan we wanted to do something special. And by something special I mean have a drink. We headed down to a poolside bar at the Crowne Plaza Dead Sea Resort for a sundowner and shisha before dinner. The sunset itself wasn’t that impressive. There was a storm brewing over the Dead Sea and most of the colors were covered by thick clouds, but it was the company and culmination of a great trip that made this sunset memorable.

Ashley, Jessica, Julika, and I spent an hour or two reminiscing about our favorite Jordan moments and how much we were going to miss the hospitality, history, and rich culture of this country. Okay, we also spent a lot of time laughing about how Ashley had to be rescued by lifeguards earlier that day while swimming in a body of water in which it is impossible to drown.

Photo by Julika

I always feel sentimental when I catch the sun setting on my last night in destination that meant a lot to me and as the sky got darker and darker I could feel myself getting a bit sad. I felt that familiar pull at my heart. The one I get when I don’t want to leave a place or a person. As a traveler, though, leaving is inevitable but it was this sunset that made me vow to one day come back and experience Jordan once again.

Which is your favorite Jordan sunset?

Disclaimer: I was a guest of the Jordan Tourism Board, but all opinions are my own.

The 4 Sunsets That Made Me Fall in Love With Jordan is a post from: Farsickness

But mostly, I fell in love with the food.

As someone who grew up in Metro Detroit, an area home to one of the biggest populations of Arabs outside the Middle East, the flavors were familiar, but the variety of dishes, way of eating, and presentation were often new and exciting.

Pack some stretchy clothes, don’t eat for a week before leaving, and get ready to be pleasantly surprised (and permanently stuffed) by the food in Jordan.

Mezze

Most meals in Jordan start with mezze, a bunch of small plates that are enough food to be a meal in and of themselves, but are usually the the appetizer course. The mezze were my favorite part of each meal, not just because it meant I got to try a little bit of many tasty dishes, but also because of the communal aspect.

Bread is a staple at every meal. There are a variety of types of bread served in Jordan, but the most common is a type of pita bread. Don’t think it of like the pitas you buy in a package at the grocery store, though. This is much thinner and tastes a lot better.

You’re also likely to find hummus, chickpeas blended with lemon, garlic, and tahini; tabbouleh, a salad of tomatoes, mint, parsley, bulgur, and onion; labaneh, a thick sour yogurt; olives; and pickled vegetables during most mezze. I ate hummus at breakfast, lunch, and dinner most days and loved every second of it.

Other common mezze dishes include moutabal, roasted eggplant pureed with garlic into a dip; fattoush, a salad of chopped vegetables (usually tomato and cucumber) served with bits of fried pita bread and sumac sprinkled on top; and grape leaves.

My favorite mezze were those that included fried Haloumi; falafel, fried balls of chickpea flour; and sautéed chicken livers. Because I value heart health, obviously.

Mains

With such an abundance of delicious mezze in front of you, it can be hard to remember to save room for the main course, but rest assured a main course always comes and is also so tasty that you’ll be testing the limits of your stomach once again.

The most common main dishes were shish taouk  and kofta. Shish taouk, more commonly known as a shish kebab in the West, is pieces of chicken that have been marinated, placed on a skewer, and then grilled. My favorite iteration of this dish is when the chicken has been marinated in yogurt as it makes it oh so juicy. Lamb is also often served grilled on skewers in a similar style. Kofta is kind of like an Arab meatball that isn’t always round. Ground beef or lamb is spiced and shaped, in Jordan it was usually cylindrical, and then grilled to perfection.

Mansaf, the national dish of Jordan, is made with lamb cooked in fermented yogurt, served over rice, and topped with shaved almonds. Mansaf isn’t just delicious, it’s also fun to eat as customarily you don’t use cutlery, just your right hand. Each person takes an area of the communal tray as their own, pouring a bit of the fermented yogurt sauce on top to moisten everything and form some of the rice into a ball. Our guides were able to lightly toss it into the perfect ball and then place it nicely in their mouths, while we ended up looking like barbarians just shoving huge, messy clumps rice into our mouths. We soon learned, though, that appearances don’t matter as much when something tastes this good.

My favorite main dish of the trip, though, was maklouba, meaning upside down. Rice, meat, and vegetables are placed into a pot which is then flipped upside down at the table, hence the name. The version we had was made with chicken, potatoes, and cauliflower and was a nice Jordanian example of the simple, earthy, peasant food flavors I find so appealing. Plus, carbs on carbs.

When Maria, the wonderful cooking instructor instructor at Beit Sitti, described fattet jaj I wasn’t sure what to expect. Yogurt isn’t once of my favorite foods, so I wasn’t sure how it would fit into a casserole of chicken, fried pita bread pieces, and rice. Turns out they go really, really well together and I found myself going in for a second helping of this simple but flavorful dish.

Zarb can be best described as Bedouin barbecue. A large hole is dug in the ground and hot charcoal is placed on the bottom. A tier of meat and vegetables is then placed on top of the coal and whole thing is covered and then buried so that no heat is able to escape. A few hours later the whole thing is pulled out of the ground and dinner is served.

Desserts

Baklava, layers of filo pastry with honey and nuts, might be the most famous Middle Eastern dessert around the world, but it wasn’t my sweet treat of choice in Jordan. Instead, I fell in love with the use of rosewater in desserts.

The light semolina and coconut cake hareesa (also called basbousa) had the slightest taste of rose and was light and not too sweet after a big lunch. I want this as my birthday cake next year.

Osmaliyeh, rosewater cream between two layers of shredded pastry, was refreshing, and again, light.

Drinks

Lemon-mint juice is quite possibly my favorite non-alcoholic drink ever. I’m already pretty obsessed with fresh lemonade, but the addition of mint made it even more refreshing, especially on those hot days.

Almost every meal in Jordan ended with a tiny cup of coffee. While it looked similar to the espresso that Italians enjoy daily, the coffee in Jordan is traditionally flavored with cardamom. This cardamom coffee took a little but of getting used to, but by the end of the week I was happily sipping away. After I added about 2 tablespoons of sugar, of course.

Tea plays an important part in Bedouin culture and while in the desert we were offered many, many cups. Served in small glasses, the tea was always very sweet and very hot. Though I burned my fingers most every time my glass was filled, I couldn’t say no to another refill.

Surprisingly after stuffing my face with food in Jordan all week, I came back thinner than before. I guess there is something to say about that Mediterranean diet!

Are you a fan of Arab food? Which Jordanian dish sounds the best to you? 

Disclaimer: I was a guest of the Jordan Tourism Board, but all opinions are my own.

The Ultimate Guide to Food in Jordan is a post from: Farsickness

As I sat in the back of a van driving through Jordan’s capital city, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. It was dark. I wasn’t even sure what day it was. It was my first time in the Middle East. We drove past brightly lit shopping malls and crowded American chain restaurants. I was confused.

The next day, though, I felt comfortable. I felt at home. I felt like I’d been in this city before. I realized that Amman reminded me a lot of Rome, a city I once called home and will forever call my favorite. I spent the next three days continuously noticing the similarities and by the end of my stay I was convinced.

Rome and Amman are twins who were separated at birth and sent to live on different continents. 

Why do these two cities strike me as similar?

Amman once actually was Rome

The first mention of Amman was way back in in the 13th century BC when it was known as Rabbat Ammon. Throughout history the city was conquered by many, including the Romans in 106 AD when it became part of the Decapolis and was known as Philadelphia. So, when you’re standing in the middle of Roman ruins, it’s hard not to feel like you’re in Rome. Because essentially you are.

A mix of (really) old and new

While most of Amman was destroyed in an earthquake thousands of years ago, the city is still home to some impressive ruins, much like Rome. The rest of the city has grown up around these ruins in distinct neighborhoods.

Western Amman is the new part of the city, home to the shopping malls and leafy European-style streets. Eastern Amman is older and more traditional. Central Amman, or al-Balad, is home to the Citadel, Roman amphiteatre, and busy souks. Similarly, Rome’s different neighborhoods offer a mix of ancient history, more recent history, and modern buildings.

An abundance of good food

If Jordanians and Italians have one thing in common, it’s that they take a great pride in their cuisine and that they want you to eat a lot of it. When I lived in Rome as an au pair my host family was constantly feeding me. No was not an acceptable answer when asked if I wanted a second helping, and they were constantly buying me food items they thought I’d like.

I felt similarly full in Jordan. Every meals started with an elaborate mix of mezze and as soon as I was too full to eat anymore the main course was brought out. After stuffing myself with something meaty, it was time for dessert. And a post-meal tiny cup of coffee, similarly Italian.

Perfect spring weather

Turns out Jordan isn’t one huge desert. Amman, located in the northwest of the country, experienced a Mediterranean climate that is very similar to Rome’s with four seasons and, gasp, sometimes even snow!

The weather in early April was beautifully springlike- mostly sunny, highs in the 60s or low 70s, with a slight breeze. There were flowers blooming and the sun didn’t set until nearly 7 pm making it the perfect time of year to sightsee.

Frenetic energy

When people ask me why I love Rome so much, it’s often hard for me to articulate the reason because it’s not something you can see or do. It’s the energy. Romans have a very in your face way of doing things and even though “la dolce vita” it about enjoying life, everything in Rome seems to be crowded and busy in a way to breathes life into the city.

That’s how I felt in Amman. During the day the souks were crowded with shoppers and sellers alike. Women gazing over colorful spices and men hawking their wares whether it was gold and Jordanian rose perfumes. The call to prayer reverberated between buildings making the city seem like it was singing to its people.

At night the city came alive with shisha lounges, coffee shops, restaurants, and even bars overflowing with people enjoying themselves.

Built on seven hills

Amman was originally built on seven hills. The ancient walls of Rome surrounded seven hills that formed the city.

While they’ve both since expanded (Amman is currently built on 19 hills, or jabal in Arabic), learning this little fact confirmed my suspicions.

Rome and Amman are sister cities.

Have you ever found two cities surprisingly similar? 

Disclaimer: I was a guest of the Jordan Tourism Board, but all opinions are my own. 

Finding Bits of Rome in Amman is a post from: Farsickness

I’M GOING TO JORDAN!

On Thursday!

I’ll be spending a week traveling around the country as a guest of the Jordan Tourism Board as part of a campaign that I helped create. That’s right. This isn’t any old press trip. This is a press trip created by Ashley, Jessica, Julika, and me with our interests and the interests of our readers in mind.

Introducing #GirlsGoneJordan

After the success of our #GirlsGoneMAD weekend, the four of us knew we wanted to take our girly adventures somewhere else. Jordan may not seem like the ideal locale for a girl’s getaway, which actually made it the perfect destination for our next campaign.

We want to show that Middle East can be an accessible, safe, and fun place for women to travel. We want to break the stereotype that this entire region is a bad place for women. We want to showcase Jordan as a country for women.

Sunday Skype planning sessions.

In addition to visiting some of Jordan’s most famous sites, we will be meeting women all across the country who are doing great things. These are women who own businesses, women who have started organizations to help the poor, and women who are leaders in their families.

The essence of the #GirlsGoneJordan campaign is to show a new side of Jordan to fellow female travelers while still traveling and doing the same things we would do if were by ourselves. Which means I’ll still be talking a lot about food and beer. Don’t worry.

But is Jordan safe to visit right now?!

If you’re anything like my dad, you are probably imagining me being kidnapped by cloaked figures as soon as my flight touches down in Amman. In reality, though, Jordan is safe.

The Middle East, contrary to the apparent belief of many in the West, is not one giant country. While Jordan may share a border with both Syria and Iraq, it is actually one of the most liberal and modern countries in the region.

Women are not required to wear hijab, homosexuality is legal, and you can buy alcohol (there’s even one microbrewery in the country!). King Abdullah speaks often of religious tolerance and has worked hard to liberalize the press in Jordan, including making it illegal to detain journalists. His wife, Queen Rania, steadfastly campaigns for women’s rights in the entire Arab world. And she has half a million Instagram followers!

On the news we only hear the bad things about the Middle East. Reporting about groups of crazy extremists is a lot more interesting than talking about the millions of Muslims who live peaceful lives. Yes, there have been some tensions near the border, but there have been no killings or captures inside Jordan and the country continued to fight religious extremism.

Just as Americans are different than Canadians and Germans are different than Austrians, just because countries shares a border, a language, and a religion does not make them the same place. Jordan is not Iraq. Jordan is not Syria.

If you asked me if I was even a little scared to be traveling to Jordan right now, my answer would be not at all.

The #GirlsGoneJordan Itinerary

In addition to meeting local women and exploring Jordanian culture, we have plans to visit some kickass places. While the itinerary isn’t finalized, the week is going to go something like this:

We’ll start in Amman and take in a bit of modern Jordanian culture while exploring the well preserved ancient ruins both in and around the city.

From there we will head to Petra, also known as the Rose City, to explore the impressive rock-cut architecture.

Then we are moving onto Wadi Rum, a deep valley in the south, for camel riding and dinner with the Bedouins. I’m pretty terrified of most animals and have about zero coordination so I’m sure camel riding will be an interesting experience for me. I’ll definitely be eating my feelings that night.

After that we go to Aqaba, a resort city on the Red Sea, for a little relaxation. This will definitely be the “vacation” part of the trip.

Finally, we are stopping at the Dead Sea to take some epic floating photos before our making our way back to Amman.

Follow along!

We will be updating in real time on social media for the duration of the trip. If you’re not already following us all on social media, make sure you are and don’t forget to stalk the #GirlsGoneJordan hashtag on Instagram and Twitter!

Facebook: Amanda | Ashley | Jessica | Julika

Twitter: Amanda | Ashley | Jessica | Julika | #GirlsGoneJordan

Instagram: Amanda | Ashley | Jessica | Julika | #GirlsGoneJordan

All photos courtesy of Visit Jordan. Map courtesy of Lonely Planet. 

What are your opinions of traveling to the Middle East right now? Have you been to Jordan? What do I have to eat? 

I’m Going to Jordan and Yes It’s Safe: Introducing #GirlsGoneJordan is a post from: Farsickness