Entering Jordan by way of Israel is relatively simple. There is one major airport in the Jordanian capital, Amman, but if you don’t want to get on another flight, you can opt for one of the three land crossings that Jordan has with Israel:
1. The first is The Allenby border Crossing- known as “The King Hussein Border Crossing”. This is located between Jerusalem and Amman and is currently the only crossing which local Palestinians are allowed use which typically makes it more time consuming to cross.
2. The second is The Yitzhak Rabin border crossing, known as the – “Wadi Arava Border Crossing”, located between Eilat and the Jordanian city of Aqaba.
3. The third crossing is The Jordan River border- “Sheikh Hussein Crossing”, located in northern Israel near Beit Shean, approximately a 2 hour drive from Jerusalem.
Places to visit:
Petra- One of the major attractions in Jordan is the city of Petra, one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites and an UNSCO World Heritage site. Petra is an ancient Nabataean caravan-city in southwest Jordan, situated between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea. The city is half built and half carved into the rock and as of 2007 is one of the “New 7 Wonders of the World”. You can come tour for the day and even stay for the “Petra by Night Show”.
Wadi Mujib- Located about 2 hours south of Amman, you can find the Wadi Mujib, a river that flows into the Dead Sea. This Wadi is full of mountains, hot springs and canyons, which makes it an amazing destination for travelers seeking adventure. Wadi Mujb is a unique area, nicknamed the “Grand Canyon of Jordan”.
Wadi Rum- Another site is Wadi Rum, known also as the Valley of the Moon is located 37 miles to the east of the Jordanian city Aqaba. Alongside the Wadi’s stunning desert landscape, 25,000 petroglyphs (rock carvings), 20,000 inscriptions and 154 archeological sites have been discovered here.
Jerash is an ancient city which lies north of Jordan. It is mentioned in the book fo Josephus as a rich city populated by Jews and Syrians. It is also mentioned in the New Testament as “the region of the Gerasenes” (Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26). Jerash is renowned for its preserved ruins from the first century AD, when the city was under Roman rule. Visitors can experience the city’s pristine columns, plazas and temples. Jerash is one of the largest and well- preserved sites of Roman architecture in the world outside Italy.
Mt. Nevo lies about 800 feet above sea level and is mentioned in the bible (Deuteronomy 34:5-6) as the site from which Moses saw the Promised Land before he died. At this mountain top visiting pilgrims are able to see the Dead Sea, Jordan rive,r valley, Jericho, Bethlehem and even the hilltops of Jerusalem. At the summit lies a church at was built in the 3rd or 4th century.
Madaba- Situated only 9 km from Mt. Nevo, Madaba is known for its 6th century floor mosaic map of the Holy Land which lies inside the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George. The site is part of an archaeological park which preserves the mosaics found in the Church of the Virgin Mary as well as other artifacts from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and other periods.
Bethany on the Jordan- This site is most easily accessed if you visit Jordan via Northern Israel. You can stop by “Al- Maghtas”, meaning baptism. The site is officially known as baptism site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” and is located on the eastern bank of the Jordan River. This site was designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2015.
Aqaba- Home to the Islamic-era Aqaba Fort is a Jordanian port city on the Red Sea’s Gulf of Aqaba. The city’s beach resorts are popular for vacationing, water sports and scuba diving, with notable dive sites including the Yamanieh coral reef in the Aqaba Marine Park.
Amman, the capital city of Jordan, is a captivating blend of modernity and history nestled in the heart of the Middle East. With its vibrant neighborhoods, bustling markets, and towering skyscrapers juxtaposed against ancient ruins, Amman offers a unique snapshot of the country’s rich cultural heritage and its rapid development. Visitors are greeted by a harmonious fusion of traditional Jordanian hospitality and contemporary urban living, making Amman a hub for exploration and cultural immersion. The city’s historical sites include the Roman Theater and the Citadel.
