23 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Jordan - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Jordan

Petra

An ancient capital city that dates back 3,000 years old and harbors many surprises.

Petra District, Jordan

Little Petra

A more chill but no less fascinating version of the famous ancient archeological site.

The Ruins of Jerash

Gladiators battle and chariots race daily in the ruins of a once-great Roman city.

Hand of Hercules

The most gigantic, swoony, intimidating trio of fingers in all of antiquity.

Areedh Sub-District, Jordan

River Canyons of Jordan

Concentrated around the Dead Sea, these surprising canyons are filled with coursing water, fish, and even crabs.

Madaba Mosaic Map

The world's oldest map of the holy land gives us a fragmented glimpse of the layout of biblical nations.

Wadi Rum Village, Jordan

Wadi Rum

Known as the "Valley of the Moon," this Jordanian wadi is one of the most amazing desertscapes on Earth.

Roman Theater of Amman

This exceptionally well-preserved ancient marvel also houses a small museum dedicated to Jordanian folk tradition.

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Stories About Jordan

A volunteer with the reforestation effort walks through a woodland near Amman. Today, only about one percent of Jordan is forested.

To Resurrect Jordan's Lost Forests, Plant a Seed in Hearts and Minds

Environmentalists see small reforestation pilot sites around the capital of Amman as a first step to a greener future.

by Jason Ruffin

Most Circassian fare is hearty and meant to sustain energy in the cold Caucasus climate.

The Women Keeping Circassian Cuisine Alive in Jordan

A restaurant in Amman preserves the cooking traditions of a diaspora.

by Jason Ruffin

A multidisciplinary research team believes a catastrophic impact event may have inspired the Biblical story of the destruction of Sodom.

Is an Asteroid to Blame for the Biblical Story of Sodom?

A massive space rock impact event may have inspired the tale of godly wrath.

by Christopher R. Moore

November 1, 2021

Wadi Rum in southern Jordan.

In Jordan, Bedouins Are Preserving Ancient Rock Art With an App

Locals are using their phones to document and assess the engravings of Wadi Rum.

by Robin George Andrews

Two laborers build the city and discuss their work in the captions.

Found: An Ancient Roman Comic Strip With Speech Bubbles

“Alas for me! I am dead!”

by Matthew Taub

September 28, 2018

Malted barley: just a couple of steps away from beer.

Found: Evidence of the Oldest Beer Ever Brewed

It's possible that beer even came before bread.

by Matthew Taub

September 12, 2018

The Scanning Electron Microscope photograph of bread found at Shubayqa 1.

Found: 14,400-Year-Old Flatbread Remains That Predate Agriculture

The burned crumbs shed light on prehistoric hunter-gatherers’ diets.

Hamzeh AlMaaytah in his bookstore's storage room.

A Jordan Bookseller's 24-Hour 'Emergency Room for the Mind'

At his bookstore in Amman, Hamzeh AlMaaytah administers life-affirming literature.

by Shira Telushkin

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