Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GETTING AROUND
Jordan is a relatively small country, making it possible to drive the 430km from the Syrian
border in the north to the Saudi border in the south in just over five hours - but of course
size isn't everything. Most of Jordan's attractions lie not along the main arteries (such as
the Desert Highway) but along the spectacular switchbacked mountain roads of the north or
the historical, ambling and rural King's Highway. As such, if you want to make the most of
your trip to Jordan, you need to factor in more time for your journey than the distance on
the map may indicate.
Public transport is designed primarily for the locals and as it is notoriously difficult to
reach many of the sights of interest (especially the Dead Sea, desert castles and King's
Highway) consider hiring a car or using tours organised by hotels in Amman and Madaba.
Alternatively, hire a yellow private taxi; often the driver adds untold value to the trip by
giving you local information and cultural insights.
Air
There is only one domestic air route, between Amman and Aqaba. You can buy tickets at
any travel agency or Royal Jordanian office. See
Click here
for details.
Royal Jordanian
( 06-5100000;
www.rj.com
)
Flights twice daily (one way JD37, one
hour).
Royal Wings
(
www.royalwings.com.jo
,
website under construction)
A subsidiary of Royal
Jordanian, it has daily flights.
Bicycle
Cycling can be fun or sheer folly depending on the time of year. From March to May and
September to November are the best times to get on your bike - you won't have to battle
with the stifling summer heat or the bitter winter winds. Spare parts are not common in
Jordan, so carry a spare tyre, extra chain links, spokes, two inner tubes, repair kit and tool
kit with spanner set. Also bring a low-gear set for the hills and a couple of water contain-
ers; confine your panniers to a maximum of 15kg. It may be an idea to contact the
Cycling
Association
(
www.cycling-jordan.com
)
for tips before departure.
