Surrounding Area Attractions

Aqaba:

For over five and half thousand years, Aqaba has played an important role in the economy of the region. It was a prime junction in the land and sea routes from Asia, Africa and Europe, a role it continues to play. Because of this vital function, there are many historic sites in the area, including what is believed to be the oldest purpose-built church in the world.

With its wealth of other attractions, Jordan’s splendid Red Sea resort is often overlooked by modern-day visitors. But apart from being a delightful place for discerning holidaymakers, this is actually a great base from which to explore various places of interest in southern Jordan.

Aqaba is a fun place. It is a microcosm of all the good things Jordan has to offer, including a fascinating history with some outstanding sites, excellent hotels and activities, superb visitor facilities, good shopping, and welcoming, friendly people, who enjoy nothing more than making sure their visitors have a good time.

Perhaps Aqaba’s greatest asset is the Red Sea itself, with some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world. The temperate climate and gentle currents have created a perfect environment for corals and marine life. Here you can swim with friendly sea turtles and dolphins as they dart amongst the schools of multicolored fish. Night dives reveal the nocturnal sea creatures, crabs, lobsters and shrimp, as they search for a midnight snack.

There are several dive centers in Aqaba, offering well-maintained diving equipment, professional instructors, and transport by boat to a variety of dive sites.

Wadi Rum:

This is a stupendous, timeless place, virtually untouched by humanity and its destructive forces. Here, it is the weather and winds that have carved the imposing, towering skyscrapers, so elegantly described by T.E. Lawrence as “vast, echoing and god-like”..

A maze of monolithic rockscapes rise up 1,750 meters from the desert floor, creating a natural playground for serious mountaineers. Hikers can enjoy the tranquility of the boundless empty spaces or explore the canyons and water holes to discover 4000 year old rock drawings and the many other spectacular treasures this vast wilderness holds.

Also known as ‘The Valley of the Moon’, this is where Prince Faisal Bin Hussein and T.E. Lawrence based their headquarters during the Arab Revolt against the Ottomans in World War I. Their exploits are intrinsically woven into the history of this amazing area.

There are several options for exploring Wadi Rum. Visitors should head for the Visitors Centre where they can hire a 4x4 vehicle and driver/guide, or alternatively, a camel and guide, for a two or three hour tour of the Wadi's best-known sites. The visit can be planned beforehand, as can a stay under the stars in a Bedouin tent, with a delicious traditional campfire meal accompanied by Arabic music.

Dana:

In 1993, the Dana Nature Reserve was officially registered with the Government as a protected area and the site has been designed to be a model of sustainable development for the world. The efforts behind the Reserve encompass more than establishing a protected area. It involved the establishment of a viable economically beneficial program for the people living in the nearby village, near the southern district of Tafila, about 200 kilometers south of Amman.

The Dana Reserve is also home to a variety of indigenous plants and animals, including juniper, pistasia, cyprus, oak, pine trees, Nubian ibex, the mountain gazelle, wolves, fox, jackals, badgers, hyraxes, porcupines, hares, striped hyenas, Indian crested porcupines and wild rabbits. The panthera pardus lives in the reserve, as well as three wolf packs. Its wide variety of climate zones (ranging from mountain heights of 1500 meters to the deserts of Wadi Araba) make it rich in wildlife. But, until recently, development and degradation threatened its biodiversity.

The history of the Dana project adds to the allure of the site. In 1992, a group of 12 women from Amman decided they wanted to help the people of Dana Village. The village had decayed to such a state where poverty and poor living conditions, including a lack of water, were forcing people to abandon it. When the project was started, only 300 villagers remained. The women, who called themselves the "Friends of Dana," saw a great potential, as the village was beautiful, rich in culture and history, and bordered what could be one of the most important nature reserves in the Kingdom. The group worked with the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), the largest environmental non-governmental organization in Jordan, to raise funds to improve the infrastructure of Dana. As of 1997, they have renovated 65 village houses, built a new mosque, paved the main road and provided a new spring head so that people have easy access to water. This project, combined with the socio-economic project of RSCN, has given Dana a new start.