Jordan Holiday

Jordan has a long and distinguished history and its staggering scenery, the ancient city of Petra and its biblical past draw thousands of visitors a year.

The small nation gained independence from Britain in 1946, following the Second World War, and was ruled by King Hussein until his death in 1999. He was succeeded by King Abdallah II and the nation has remained relatively calm, despite upheavals in the region over the past half century, managing to juggle diplomatic relations with the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Western powers.

Jordan's history stretches back beyond the Stone Age, and there are a number of places to see the remains of early settlements, particularly around the Dead Sea.

The country was explored by the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans, and there were significant settlements in Jordan trading with most of the major ancient empires.

The Nabatean Era, between 312 BC and 112 AD was one of the most important for the history of Jordan. During this period, the capital city was Petra, the distinctive city hewn from a rock wall.

The city is one of most unique sites in the world and indescribably beautiful in the soft light of dawn or dusk. Hundreds of buildings, tombs, temples and streets are carved into the desert gorge, and there are rock drawings and a 3000-seater open air amphitheatre on the site.

The Jordanian capital Amman is a bustling jumble of traffic and buildings. It has a number of luxury hotels, excellent restaurants and interesting markets and the ancient city is also spattered with Roman ruins.

Near Amman is the charming town of Madaba, which houses some stunning Byzantine-era mosaics, including a sixth century map of Palestine at the Greek Orthodox St George's Church. Other key sites of interest include the crumbling Crusader Castle and the Amman Citadel, which includes the Umayyad Palace, the National Archaeological Museum and the Temple of Hercules.

The vast, barren desertscape of Wadi Rum, a haunt of Lawrence of Arabia, astounds visitors with its alien rock formations and sheer granite and sandstone cliffs. It is enjoyed by casual travellers, hikers and rock climbers alike and tourists can travel the desert by camel, camping in a Bedouin tent, or in 4x4 vehicles.

The archaeological site at Jerash houses a strikingly well preserved Roman city, including a vast oval forum, and there are countless biblical sites around the country for religious tourists.

The country has an arid, dry climate and is hot for most of the year. A relatively small nation, Jordan has just 26 km of coastline and borders most of the major Middle Eastern powers. Around the inland Dead Sea and the Red Sea coastline, there are a number of excellent and luxurious beach resorts, which can provide a base for exploring the country's numerous treasures and offer watersports and diving opportunities.

Renowned for being welcoming to tourists, Jordan offers some incredible sights and experiences. The unrest in the Middle East has deterred many Western visitors, but the country tends to be safe and calm, with friendly people and a significant number of English speakers.

Many leading travel companies arrange tours to the most important sites and accommodation and flights are relatively easy to come by all year round, with an increasing number of cheaper deals available.