"Escaping the City: Best Day and Weekend Trips from Amman" by Kevin Zalinsky
Madaba & Mount Nebo
First up is the charming “City of Mosaics.” Stop by St. George’s Church to see its famous floor mosaic – the oldest map of Jerusalem in the world! Next, swing by St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, where you can climb the bell tower, explore underground tunnels, and take pictures of the many beautiful mosaics for which Madaba is known.
After you visit the churches, stop by nearby Mount Nebo. According to the Bible, Moses was granted a view of the Promised Land from Mount Nebo, and now it’s your turn! The views of the Jordan River Valley, Jericho, and (on a clear day) Jerusalem are spectacular.
Umm Qais (Ancient Gadara)
A bit farther from Amman is Umm Qais, located to the far north near the borders of Syria and Israel. The ruins of ancient Gadara make this trek well worth it. See mosaics, Greek statues, and towering columns, explore the largely intact amphitheater, and take in the beautiful views of the Sea of Galilee, Tiberius, and the Golan Heights. If ruins are your thing, the archaeological sites of Pella and Jerash have plenty more to offer, but I found the views at Umm Qais to be second to none.
Ajloun Forest Reserve
If you find yourself pining for greenery after a few weeks in beige Amman, I highly recommend going for a hike in the Ajloun Forest Reserve to the north. It’s quiet, peaceful, and a nice reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the city. I hiked the Zubiya Trail, which winds through dense forests and past Roman ruins. While you’re in the area, you might as well stop by Ajloun Castle, a twelfth-century marvel that has held up remarkably well.
Aqaba & the Ayla Oasis
This one requires an entire weekend, but trust me when I say that it’s worth it. The few days I spent in Aqaba were my favorite of the two months I was in Jordan, and that’s saying a lot! The trip from Amman takes about five hours by bus, so I recommend catching the Thursday evening Jett bus from the Abdali station in order to maximize your time in Aqaba. Stick your toes in the Red Sea so you can tell your friends back home that you’ve been in the Red Sea, but those public beaches are rocky, littered, and crowded. If you want white sand, crystal-clear water, chill lounge music and cocktails, Ayla Oasis is the place for you.
Shawmari Wildlife Reserve & Azraq Wetlands
To the east of Amman is Azraq, home to the Shawmari Wildlife Reserve. The reserve is small, only 8.5 square miles in area, but it’s well worth a visit to see the gazelles, Persian onagers, Somali ostriches, and Arabian oryx who call this place home. I recommend the two-hour jeep tour: my guide gave detailed explanations of the many indigenous plants and herbs (and their uses!), and he knew all the best spots to see the oryx in action.
After your tour of Shawmari, consider paying a visit to the nearby Azraq Wetlands. Unfortunately, because of water mismanagement, the wetlands are only a fraction of what they once were, but this oasis still offers a serene respite and (during the winter months) the chance to see migratory birds stopping by on their way to warmer climates.
Desert Castles
These Desert Castles are the remnants of the Umayyad Caliphate, which at its peak stretched from present-day Morocco to India. I visited three castles: al-Azraq, used by T.E. Lawrence as his base of operations during the Great Arab Revolt; al-Kharanah, a well-preserved and impressive structure which offers some of the earliest examples of Islamic architecture; and my personal favorite, Qusayr ‘Amra, which wasn’t actually a castle at all but rather a hammam, filled with beautiful frescoes in the early Islamic style.
Wadi Rum
There’s a reason why movies like Lawrence of Arabia, Prometheus, and The Martian were filmed in Wadi Rum – the place is incredible. Words and pictures just don’t do it justice. I debated whether or not to put this one on the list – every best-of-Jordan list includes Wadi Rum – but in the end I gave in. It lives up to the hype!
Take a tour of the desert in the back of a pick-up truck, discover 2,000-year-old inscriptions, enjoy afternoon tea, Bedouin-style, and sleep under a blanket of stars. You’ll feel like you’re a world away from Amman, and it would make for the perfect last hurrah for your semester abroad.
