Jordan Convention Bureau

Strategically situated at the heart of Abdali, the new downtown of Amman, the Boulevard is a mixed-use complex that consists of a 370 – meter long and 21 - meter wide outdoor pedestrian spine that is bordered by 12 buildings. These buildings offer unique premium retail outlets, high street cafes and restaurants, avant-garde office spaces, luxurious Arjaan by Rotana hotel serviced apartments and exclusive rooftop lounges. The Boulevard compliments Abdali’s vision in redefining modern living in the Jordanian capital by blending business, pleasure and contemporary urban lifestyles at one prestigious address, thus enhancing the capital’s touristic and economic offering.

A city of mosaics. Sites to visit in Madaba include St. George's Church, which houses the remains of a mosaic map of the Holy Land, the Madaba Archaeological Park, the Madaba Museum, the Church of the Apostles, and a mosaic school.

Petra is known as the Rose City due to the color of the stone out of which it is carved. Surrounded by spectacular rose-colored mountains, Petra offers stunningly breathtaking scenery and will take you on a journey back in time. Petra has been a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, described by UNESCO as “one of the most precious cultural properties of man’s cultural heritage”. Petra was chosen by the Smithsonian Magazine as one of the 28 places you should visit before you die. The city of Petra, capital of the Nabataean Arabs, is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. It is located 240km south of Amman and 120km north of Aqaba. Petra, a world wonder, is undoubtedly Jordan's most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction. It is visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists a year from all over the world.

This is the place where it is believed Moses was buried; it is one of the most revered Christian holy sites in Jordan. When you stand at the top of this mountain, you can see, as Moses did, the vast panorama that encompasses the Jordan River Valley, the Dead Sea, Jericho and Jerusalem. According to legend, this is also the place where Jeremiah hid the Ark of the Covenant. It was a place of pilgrimage for early Christians and Mount Nebo’s first church was built in the 4th century to commemorate the site of Moses’ death. Six tombs from different periods have been found hollowed out of the rock beneath the mosaic-covered floor of the church. In the present presbytery you can see remnants of mosaics, the earliest of which is a panel with a braided cross. The Serpentine Cross, which stands just outside the sanctuary, is symbolic of the brass serpent taken by Moses into the desert and the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.

The striking red sandstone desert, celebrated for its Lawrence of Arabia fame, is certainly worth a trip while you are in Jordan. Wadi Rum is best experienced with an overnight trip, where you can take in the sunset and sunrise, spend the night in a traditional Bedouin tent and learn about the unique culture and hospitality of the wonderful people who live in this desert. The star-filled sky will leave you in awe.

The Bible confirms that John preached and baptized in a place called Bethany Beyond the Jordan, which Byzantine and Medieval texts, as well as modern archaeology, identify as the site called Tall Al-Kharrar and Elijah’s Hill. Stunning archaeological discoveries since 1996 reveal pottery, coins and architectural remains from a 5th century Byzantine monastery. The discoveries also reveal an earlier 3rd century building with fine mosaics and what is known as a Christian prayer hall, possibly one of the earliest such facilities in the world. It has also been identified as the cave where John the Baptist lived, according to numerous Byzantine pilgrim texts. The cave was turned into a church and a freshwater channel running from the cave, purportedly used by John for baptizing, can still be visited today.

Perhaps Aqaba's greatest asset is the Red Sea itself. A maritime gateway to the world, the Aqaba port is the preferred port for cargo vessels from major Asian countries transporting to and from the Levant, as it saves the hassle of going around Africa. It is also the second busiest container port along the Red Sea coasts. The Red Sea offers some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in the world. The warm climate and gentle currents have created a perfect environment for the growth of corals and a teeming plethora of marine life. Here you can swim with friendly sea turtles and dolphins as they dart among the schools of multi-colored fish. Night dives reveal nocturnal sea creatures, crabs, lobsters and shrimp that roam the sea floor. Aqaba is easily accessible from around the world by air, land and sea. There are seasonal flights to and from several major European cities, as well as two daily flights from Amman to Aqaba. You can also access Aqaba by land from Israel through the south Wadi Araba Crossing border. Alternatively, you can travel via ferry or speedboat from Taba and Nuweiba in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula to Aqaba. Kindness, hospitality and humor are the core of the people of Aqaba. Their warmth and welcome will make you want to come back time and time again.

The Mujib Biosphere Reserve is the lowest-altitude nature reserve in the world, which offers a spectacular array of scenery near the east coast of the Dead Sea. The reserve is located within the deep Wadi Mujib gorge which enters the Dead Sea at 410m below sea level. The reserve extends to the Karak and Madaba mountains to the north and south, reaching 900m above sea level in some places. Due it its 1,300m variation in elevation, combined with the valley's year-round water flow from seven tributaries, the reserve enjoys a magnificent biodiversity that is still being explored and documented today.