Jordan is a country that usually doesn’t come up in many travelers' list of places to go. It isn’t like Thailand, India, Brazil, Japan or France. For many who end up journeying to Jordan, the reviews always come in the territory of: fascination, sweet-surprise and wanderlust satisfying. The reasons? There are many reasons. Hovering under the radar of most wanderers, the country of Jordan hides a wealth of historical and cultural wealth situated in places gifted with some of the best set of landscape scenery in the world. To further introduce Jordan to you, here are some must-see places in Jordan. Wadi Rum A place seemingly out of this world, it became the shooting setting of the Matt Damon film "The Martian". The vast desert land of Wadi Rum comprising of waving rocky hills and chiseled canyons - separated by golden sand dunes, is a sight to behold. It instantly will take all your worldly worries away. The famous Lawrence of Arabia, Thomas Edward Lawrence described it as "vast, echoing, and God-like". Indeed, a minute into stepping foot on the soil of Wadi Rum and you will immediately appreciate the work of God in creating such jaw-dropping place you wouldn't expect to exist in Planet Earth. The Wadi Rum is also home to the group of people called the Bedouins. They are the nomadic descendants of Arabs who settled into the Syrian and Jordanian dessert many centuries ago. Bedouins is translated into the local language as "dessert dwellers". Wadi Rum is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Petra Poet John William Burgon described it as "A rose-red city half as old as time" because Petra - like wine, appears more beautiful as centuries goes by. Hidden from the world for a long time before a team of explorers led
Jordan is a country that usually doesn’t come up in many travelers’ list of places to go. It isn’t like Thailand, India, Brazil, Japan or France. For many who end up journeying to Jordan, the reviews always come in the territory of: fascination, sweet-surprise and wanderlust satisfying. The reasons? There are many reasons. Hovering under the radar of most wanderers, the country of Jordan hides a wealth of historical and cultural wealth situated in places gifted with some of the best set of landscape scenery in the world.
To further introduce Jordan to you, here are some must-see places in Jordan.
Whether you experience a little discomfort or end up with serious trouble... A gluten allergy is always difficult when it comes to traveling abroad. How do you explain your condition to locals? And what can you eat? Learn all about going gluten free in Jordan! Gluten free in Jordan Gluten allergies are not really known in Jordan. It's better known in the bigger cities such as Amman, where there more and more gluten free menu's and food are on offer. If you go to the high end restaurants and 5* hotels you will find professionals who know everything about gluten, cross contamination and how to avoid that last one. But most of the locals don't know what it is, let stand ever heard about it. Therefore we provide everyone with a gluten allergy, with a document that explains a gluten allergy in Arabic what you can and can't eat. You can also show it to the locals when going to any restaurant. We also always communicate your food preferences and allergies to the hotels and restaurants when you pre-book your meals. Gluten free dishes It might surprise you but there are many dishes in Jordan that are gluten free! Think about the delicious local mezzes with dips such as hummus*, baba ganouch*, Dawali (Rice stuffed grape leaves) or Makdoosh (garlic and hazelnut stuffed baby aubergines). Another great gluten free starter is Lentil soup, a nice full soup with loads of protein but especially taste. There is no such thing as gluten free bread in Jordan. You can buy it at select amount of selling points and in Amman only. For example at Crumz or at the "Beat tha wheat shop' in Cozmo 7th circle. If you're don't have the opportunity to go here, it's better to bring your own gluten free
Whether you experience a little discomfort or end up with serious trouble… A gluten allergy is always difficult when it comes to traveling abroad. How do you explain your condition to locals? And what can you eat? Learn all about going gluten free in Jordan!
Maglooba – the upside down one-pot gluten free Jordanian dish!
Gluten free in Jordan
Gluten allergies are not really known in Jordan. It’s better known in the bigger cities such as Amman, where there more and more gluten free menu’s and food are on offer. If you go to the high end restaurants and 5* hotels you will find professionals who know everything about gluten, cross contamination and how to avoid that last one.
But most of the locals don’t know what it is, let stand ever heard about it. Therefore we provide everyone with a gluten allergy, with a document that explains a gluten allergy in Arabic what you can and can’t eat. You can also show it to the locals when going to any restaurant. We also always communicate your food preferences and allergies to the hotels and restaurants when you pre-book your meals.
Maglooba – Jordanian gluten free dish
Gluten free dishes
It might surprise you but there are many dishes in Jordan that are gluten free! Think about the delicious local mezzes with dips such as hummus*, baba ganouch*, Dawali (Rice stuffed grape leaves) or Makdoosh (garlic and hazelnut stuffed baby aubergines). Another great gluten free starter is Lentil soup, a nice full soup with loads of protein but especially taste.
There is no such thing as gluten free bread in Jordan. You can buy it at select amount of selling points and in Amman only. For example at Crumz or at the “Beat tha wheat shop’ in Cozmo 7th circle. If you’re don’t have the opportunity to go here, it’s better to bring your own gluten free crackers or bread and dip away; going gluten free in Jordan!
Be careful though, some of these dishes contain *tahini (sesame paste), which may be processed in a factory that also processes wheat.
Makdoush : stuffed baby aubergines – Gluten free in Jordan
Gluten free main courses
You can eat a variety of main courses. Jordan is rich in one-pot rice dishes such as Maglooba. It’s a one-pot upside down rice dish, with veggies, potatoes, chicken, sprinkled with roasted peanuts and parsley. Or go for the traditional Zarb Dinner, the famous Bedouin dish that’s prepared under the ground. It consists of roasted chicken and a variety of roasted vegetables. But also dishes such as Bamia and Mlokhia are incredibly delicious and gluten free. Bamia is made out of okra’s in tomato sauce. Mlokhia is a kind of spinach soup full of garlic. Both are traditionally eaten together with rice.
Dishes to watch out for, they contain gluten:
Fattoush salad. Part of this salad is deep-fried bread.
Foul: Although this dish is made of beans, they often come from cans before being processed into this dish.
Tabouleh: Parsley salad that contains couscous.
Any pastry or other types of bread.
Please note that you always should be very careful with what you eat. The above list is just a small one; the Arabic cuisine contains many many dishes and varieties of them, making it impossible to list all of the Arabic dishes that contain gluten.
NOT GLUTEN FREE – Tabouleh salad – parsley salad with couscous. Watch out!
Other allergies
Also when you have other allergies, you can come to Jordan. Our travel consultants live in the country and can help you with an advise on what (not) to eat and give you a proper advise on food in Jordan. We also create wonderful itineraries that meet all of your wishes! Contact us any time and we’re more than happy to help.
Generous meals in Beit al Baraka A typical Arabic breakfast – do you know what’s gluten free?
A special thanks goes to Mariangela, our favorite Chef in Jordan and Italian Chef the Cuisine of Hilton Dead Sea for the extra tips and tricks about going gluten free in Jordan!
Meet Khaled Sabbah Atieg, In2Jordan's colleague in Wadi Rum! Let him tell you about his job, his favourite places and what it's like growing up in the desert. Name: Khaled Sabbah Atieg Age: 34 years old Occupation: Tour guide and camp owner of Khaled's Camp in Wadi Rum Languages spoken: Fluent in Arabic and English Q: How long have you been working with In2Jordan? A: I have been working with In2Jordan for 6 years now. Q: What is the best part of your job? A: The best part of my job is meeting new people every day! It is very nice is to help them explore and discover the desert of Wadi Rum, especially if they are visiting for the first time. Q: What parts of Jordan do your guests get most excited about? A: I think usually people who come to Jordan and Wadi Rum are most excited about Petra, the Dead Sea and of course Wadi Rum. Q: What is the hardest part of your job? A: There is not really a hard part in my job but what I don’t like when guest leave Wadi Rum and they are sad because they don’t have enough time to stay longer in the desert. Q: Where is your favourite place in Jordan? A:. My favourite place in Jordan is Wadi Rum, of course! But I also like Petra as well as Um Qais and Jerash in the north of Jordan. Q: What was it like growing up in Wadi Rum? A: Growing up in Wadi Rum means being close contact to nature. There is a big connection between me and the desert because I was born and grew up here. I'm in love with the desert and I cant imagine any life different. Being a Bedouin means knowing how to live in the desert and
Meet Khaled Sabbah Atieg, In2Jordan’s colleague in Wadi Rum! Let him tell you about his job, his favourite places and what it’s like growing up in the desert.
Name: Khaled Sabbah Atieg Age: 34 years old Occupation: Tour guide and camp owner of Khaled’s Camp in Wadi Rum Languages spoken: Fluent in Arabic and English
Q: How long have you been working with In2Jordan? A: I have been working with In2Jordan for 6 years now.
Q: What is the best part of your job? A: The best part of my job is meeting new people every day! It is very nice is to help them explore and discover the desert of Wadi Rum, especially if they are visiting for the first time.
Q: What parts of Jordan do your guests get most excited about? A: I think usually people who come to Jordan and Wadi Rum are most excited about Petra, the Dead Sea and of course Wadi Rum.
Q: What is the hardest part of your job? A: There is not really a hard part in my job but what I don’t like when guest leave Wadi Rum and they are sad because they don’t have enough time to stay longer in the desert.
Q: Where is your favourite place in Jordan? A:. My favourite place in Jordan is Wadi Rum, of course! But I also like Petra as well as Um Qais and Jerash in the north of Jordan.
Q: What was it like growing up in Wadi Rum?
A: Growing up in Wadi Rum means being close contact to nature.
There is a big connection between me and the desert because I was born and grew up here. I’m in love with the desert and I cant imagine any life different.
Being a Bedouin means knowing how to live in the desert and how to survive with limited resources in food, water and technology. It also means to know how to appreciate everything that nature has to offer. Our rhythm of life is the rhythm of nature.
For us, it is important to keep our traditions with generosity and hospitality and welcoming people. I am really proud to be a Bedouin .
Looking for a new destination for your New year' resolution on taking care of yourself? If you're looking for some great adventures to a special destination, we got you covered! Recently we were featured in this fantastic article on the Telegraph UK. It covers 10 destinations to find peace and quiet around the world. Our unique Horse Wisdom Retreat we offer in Little Petra is one of them. Jordan: a place for your next horse wisdom retreat Jordan is a fantastic country, where we daily learn from the local customs. For example from the Bedouins, who love to live in the moment. Something we tend to forget in our daily lives. Being your authentic self, or just enjoying the moment without the continue updates from social networks or work. Just with a cup of tea, slowly brewed on the camp fire. During the horse wisdom retreat in Little Petra The authenticity of the Bedouins, living in the moment and getting back to who you really are. All of this is combined in our horse wisdom retreat. Host Sandra Jelly is a great coach and certified yoga teacher. Together with her horses she guides you to on a quest to find your true self. You can experience the horse wisdom retreat during this round-trip to Jordan. Or as an extension to your own itinerary with this 3 day workshop. During this mini retreat you increase wellness & get inspiration while on a breathtaking in Jordan; Little Petra. You enjoy yoga, but also meditation & horse coaching, which will all invite you to connect from the heart and embrace the moment. Our horse wisdom retreat is mentioned in the Telegraph UK by Travel Journalist Emma Thompson: "Take your Namaste to the next level and try horse meditation. In this version of equine-assisted therapy, the
Looking for a new destination for your New year’ resolution on taking care of yourself? If you’re looking for some great adventures to a special destination, we got you covered! Recently we were featured in this fantastic article on the Telegraph UK. It covers 10 destinations to find peace and quiet around the world. Our unique Horse Wisdom Retreat we offer in Little Petra is one of them.
Jordan: a place for your next horse wisdom retreat
Jordan is a fantastic country, where we daily learn from the local customs. For example from the Bedouins, who love to live in the moment. Something we tend to forget in our daily lives. Being your authentic self, or just enjoying the moment without the continue updates from social networks or work. Just with a cup of tea, slowly brewed on the camp fire.
During the horse wisdom retreat in Little Petra
The authenticity of the Bedouins, living in the moment and getting back to who you really are. All of this is combined in our horse wisdom retreat. Host Sandra Jelly is a great coach and certified yoga teacher. Together with her horses she guides you to on a quest to find your true self.
You can experience the horse wisdom retreat during this round-trip to Jordan. Or as an extension to your own itinerary with this 3 day workshop. During this mini retreat you increase wellness & get inspiration while on a breathtaking in Jordan; Little Petra. You enjoy yoga, but also meditation & horse coaching, which will all invite you to connect from the heart and embrace the moment.
Sandra, coach during horse wisdom retreat in Little Petra Jordan
Our horse wisdom retreat is mentioned in the Telegraph UK by Travel Journalist Emma Thompson: “Take your Namaste to the next level and try horse meditation. In this version of equine-assisted therapy, the horses intuitively mirror your state of being to offer powerful insights into your hidden behaviour. This three-day retreat at Little Petra combines yoga sessions with excursions to Wadi Rum and private Bedouin camps inside Petra. Massages, horse rides and stargazing are also on offer. It’s hard to say neigh…”
Salt is located only 35 km outside of Amman and has recently been nominated as UNESCO world heritage site. This ancient town was once the most important settlement between the Eastern Desert and the Jordan Valley. We figured this small town is definitely worth a visit when in Amman - here are the top 10 things to do in Salt on a day trip! 1. Stroll down Hamman Street and Al Ein Plaza You should not miss a stroll down Hammam Street. With plenty of small shops lining up next to each other and full of locals, there is lots to see (and taste!). Vendors offer everything: local food and produce, clothing, household goods, handmade perfumes, delicious sweets from bakeries, old Arabic beddings, traditional crafts, more clothing and more food. Back in the days, the lower half was sued to sell cattle and horses, while the upper half was filled with shops selling fruit and veggies. Al Ein Plaza is considered the heart of the city. Here you'll see the local old men playing a traditional game called Manqala and you'll hear the Islamic call for praying. Most people from As-Salt come here every day to talk to others, pray in the surrounding churches or head to the markets, as part of their daily routine. 2. Eat at Salaam (Peace) Restaurant The perfect place for lunch on a day out in Salt! Head to Salaam Restaurant, which is located close to the Archaeological Museum for some good and local food. We ordered half a chicken with bread, cucumber salad, tahina salad and pickled vegetables - very delicious! 3. Head up to the mosque on top of the hill for amazing views Climb up the hill towards the mosque on top, and you can enjoy nice views over As-Salt -
Salt is located only 35 km outside of Amman and has recently been nominated as UNESCO world heritage site. This ancient town was once the most important settlement between the Eastern Desert and the Jordan Valley. We figured this small town is definitely worth a visit when in Amman – here are the top 10 things to do in Salt on a day trip!
1. Stroll down Hamman Street and Al Ein Plaza
You should not miss a stroll down Hammam Street. With plenty of small shops lining up next to each other and full of locals, there is lots to see (and taste!). Vendors offer everything: local food and produce, clothing, household goods, handmade perfumes, delicious sweets from bakeries, old Arabic beddings, traditional crafts, more clothing and more food. Back in the days, the lower half was sued to sell cattle and horses, while the upper half was filled with shops selling fruit and veggies.
Al Ein Plaza is considered the heart of the city. Here you’ll see the local old men playing a traditional game called Manqala and you’ll hear the Islamic call for praying. Most people from As-Salt come here every day to talk to others, pray in the surrounding churches or head to the markets, as part of their daily routine.
2. Eat at Salaam (Peace) Restaurant
The perfect place for lunch on a day out in Salt! Head to Salaam Restaurant, which is located close to the Archaeological Museum for some good and local food. We ordered half a chicken with bread, cucumber salad, tahina salad and pickled vegetables – very delicious!
3. Head up to the mosque on top of the hill for amazing views
Climb up the hill towards the mosque on top, and you can enjoy nice views over As-Salt – in every direction! Just head towards the tower of the mosque on the hill from the Al Ein Plaza, which will also lead you through characteristic, small alleyways.
Photo by: Vadim Skorobogatko
4. Check out Salt’s museums
In Salt, there is the Historical Old Salt Museum and the Archaeological Museum that are well worth a visit. The Historical Museum has free admission and is located right next to the visitor centre. In the visitor centre, you’ll also find plenty of useful brochures and maps for walking tours through As-Salt. There is also a nice cafe with a terrace, and you can buy local produce from there. The rather small Archaeological Museum is 2 JOD per person and filled with old artefacts from the surrounding region.
5. Dinner with a local family
The perfect finishing touch for a day out in Salt: Have dinner with a local family. You’ll meet them at their home, help prepare the food and learn how to prepare a traditional dish. And then, of course, you’ll eat dinner together. This is a great way of meeting locals, learning from them and discovering new food! Get in touch with us, we can organise it for you: [email protected]
6. Empower locals by buying handmade products
The ideal place to get some souvenirs for your loved ones back home! The shop is located right next to the visitor centre and sells local products made by the people in As-Salt. It is a community project which aims to give locals the opportunity to display their items. That way, they can sell their products directly and without intermediaries, ensuring a fair price. You’ll find things like soaps, oils, jewellery, homemade jams and other produce or bags and paintings.
7. Go on a city walking tour with a local guide
A great way to get to know As-Salt is by going on a walking tour through the city with a guide, who will be able to tell you about the history and personal stories of local people. There are also several different routes, depending on your interests. The first one focuses on religious harmony in As-Salt and will take you to various mosques, churches and heritage buildings. The second trail is called Daily Life trail and is all about tasting new foods, buying unusual products and speaking to locals. Finally, you can choose to do the Educational Trail, where your guide will tell you more about the educational buildings in As-Salt, and you will pay a visit to the secondary school there. Click here for more information: http://www.saltcitytour.com/
8. Visit the churches in Salt
There are three churches you should visit in Salt: the Al-Khader Orthodox Church was built over the remains of an old chapel and Muslims as well as Christians come to pray at this church. There is also the Dormition of Virgin Mary Orthodox Church, constructed in the 16th century. The local community funded part of the refurbishment of this church. Last but not least, you should visit the Latin Church. It was designed by an Italian architect and back in the days, the basement of this church was used for storing supplies of the Turkish Army and local citizens.
Photo by: L’esc Photography
9. Go paintballing at the Mountain Breeze Resort
You can also combine your day in Salt with an overnight stay or visit to the Mountain Breeze Resort. Here you can do all sorts of exciting and fun stuff: Go paintballing (the only paintball field in Jordan!), unleash your inner Robin Hood and do some archery, play volleyball or football, hire a bike, ride ponies or go on a hiking tour! Follow this link for more info: http://www.mountainbreeze.jo/about/
Photo by: Mountain Breeze Resort
10. Get Lost
You can discover many characteristic alleyways in Salt. Most likely you will get lost, which is not as bad as it sounds: You will find small local shops, old and abandoned houses, stunning architecture and lots of friendly people who are more than happy to help you to get back on track again!
Going to Jordan for an internship that has nothing to do with NGOs or aid organisations but for tourism sounds pretty random at first. When I tell people what I'm doing here, most people look at me in surprise and wonder "Why Jordan?"- I found that the best answer is "why not Jordan?" Why Jordan? Jordan is a great place to do an internship. It has so much to offer: from breathtaking landscapes and a warm and welcoming culture to endless activity offerings and food that makes your mouth water. Whether it's an internship for 3 months or a year, you'll have plenty to see and do in your free time. You can, for instance, go diving (or snorkelling), abseil from waterfalls, go on exciting hikes through canyons, sleep in Bedouin camps, join Arabic classes, see the world wonder Petra, float in the Dead Sea or race on a camel through the desert. From Jordan, it is also easy to pay a visit to the surrounding countries like Israel, Egypt, the UAE or Lebanon for example on a slightly longer weekend. Why In2Jordan? In2Jordan is a fantastic company to work for. Everyone in the company is incredibly friendly, doesn't hesitate to help, give advice and share their knowledge. I always felt very comfortable and when working and enjoy going to work every morning. Moreover, I was able to learn a lot from my internship with In2Jordan. Through the fact that I was involved in so many different and varied tasks, I feel like I gained more experience in several areas at the same time. Like, for instance, sales, product development or social media. If there is a conference or seminar taking place, In2Jordan will send you to go there if possible. I, for example, was able to visit the women
Going to Jordan for an internship that has nothing to do with NGOs or aid organisations but for tourism sounds pretty random at first. When I tell people what I’m doing here, most people look at me in surprise and wonder “Why Jordan?”- I found that the best answer is “why not Jordan?”
Why Jordan?
Jordan is a great place to do an internship. It has so much to offer: from breathtaking landscapes and a warm and welcoming culture to endless activity offerings and food that makes your mouth water. Whether it’s an internship for 3 months or a year, you’ll have plenty to see and do in your free time. You can, for instance, go diving (or snorkelling), abseil from waterfalls, go on exciting hikes through canyons, sleep in Bedouin camps, join Arabic classes, see the world wonder Petra, float in the Dead Sea or race on a camel through the desert. From Jordan, it is also easy to pay a visit to the surrounding countries like Israel, Egypt, the UAE or Lebanon for example on a slightly longer weekend.
Why In2Jordan?
In2Jordan is a fantastic company to work for. Everyone in the company is incredibly friendly, doesn’t hesitate to help, give advice and share their knowledge. I always felt very comfortable and when working and enjoy going to work every morning.
Moreover, I was able to learn a lot from my internship with In2Jordan. Through the fact that I was involved in so many different and varied tasks, I feel like I gained more experience in several areas at the same time. Like, for instance, sales, product development or social media.
If there is a conference or seminar taking place, In2Jordan will send you to go there if possible. I, for example, was able to visit the women cooperation in Iraq al Amir, which was a great day and gave me a better insight of what they are offering.
When I arrived and before coming here, In2Jordan was very helpful with getting things organised. They helped me in finding a place to stay as well as pickup, transfers and accommodation in the first few days. They also assisted me with visa renewals and helped me to get a Jordanian phone number.
Last but not least, for some periods during my internship, I was able to work from home – or where ever I was. One day I worked in Wadi Rum!
My role during the internship
My duties in my role were varied and wide-ranging. I communicate directly with clients about what they want and how they imagine their holiday to be like, and create an itinerary accordingly. Part of that is also to calculate quotations and look after the payment procedure. I also book the hotels and activities for them, which means that I am in direct contact with suppliers. I am also available while customers are travelling, in case there are any issues or they have questions. Although colleagues who are from Jordan or lived here longer are often more useful in that as they know the country better.
Further duties include doing the monthly accounting, keeping up with posts on our social media channels, writing blog posts for our website or creating new trips and uploading them to our various sales channels. Lately, I have also started translating our itineraries into German, as we will soon be offering our customised holidays to the German market. This will be very exciting…
Options for after the internship
If the internship goes well for everybody and you enjoy the work, there are several possibilities for once the internship finishes.
You can, for example, continue working for In2Jordan as a travel consultant, but be based outside of Jordan. That means that you can choose to live where ever, as the job can be done from your laptop. Also, you might happen to be in the same country as some of the clients, which is also an advantage.
There is also the possibility of staying with the company as a fully trained travel consultant and living in Jordan. You can choose to base yourself in Amman, Aqaba, Petra or which place you would like best.
So, all in all, it might have been a bit of a lucky coincidence for me to have ended up in Jordan. I did not assume that this was the country I would work in after my studies, and before coming here I would not have thought that I would decide to stay in Jordan after my internship. But I have to say, I had a great time in Jordan and with In2Jordan, and I can only recommend it.
We notice that nowadays more often people choose to ‘’travel local’’. But what does it mean to travel local in Jordan and why would it be something for you? Did you ever wonder where your money would end up during your all-inclusive holiday? Perfect, your holiday is arranged from A – Z, you don’t have to worry about anything. Your room is getting cleaned, three times a day a hot buffet meal is waiting for you and if you are bored of the beach and the swimming pools, then the inhouse ‘travel agency’’ can arrange a ‘jeep safari’, ‘local diner with authentic dance performance’ or a ‘camel tour’ in just a wink. Why not? It is often cheap, easy and arranged without any hassle and you will even have the idea that you have learned something about a new country. But, did you ever wonder about what kind of impact your dream holiday has on the local community and economy? Often, your money will disappear and goes to all those who are working behind the scenes. For the locals, there’s nothing left. The wages are poor, working conditions bad and often Europeans are flown in to take over the reception and hostess work. Even worse, local tour guides can’t find business anymore when the tour operators take their own guides from abroad. The same counts for cab drivers and restaurant owners. They get an offer from the big companies. But in the end, they lose their profit on ridiculous high amounts of commission. It’s not worth to participate in the end. I am sure you cannot agree with this. But can you change this positively? You can, and it is even easier than you think! Travel local! This way, the local people and the country’s economy benefit from your stay.
We notice that nowadays more often people choose to ‘’travel local’’. But what does it mean to travel local in Jordan and why would it be something for you?
Did you ever wonder where your money would end up during your all-inclusive holiday?
Perfect, your holiday is arranged from A – Z, you don’t have to worry about anything. Your room is getting cleaned, three times a day a hot buffet meal is waiting for you and if you are bored of the beach and the swimming pools, then the inhouse ‘travel agency’’ can arrange a ‘jeep safari’, ‘local diner with authentic dance performance’ or a ‘camel tour’ in just a wink. Why not? It is often cheap, easy and arranged without any hassle and you will even have the idea that you have learned something about a new country. But, did you ever wonder about what kind of impact your dream holiday has on the local community and economy?
Wadi Araba
Often, your money will disappear and goes to all those who are working behind the scenes. For the locals, there’s nothing left. The wages are poor, working conditions bad and often Europeans are flown in to take over the reception and hostess work. Even worse, local tour guides can’t find business anymore when the tour operators take their own guides from abroad. The same counts for cab drivers and restaurant owners. They get an offer from the big companies. But in the end, they lose their profit on ridiculous high amounts of commission. It’s not worth to participate in the end. I am sure you cannot agree with this. But can you change this positively? You can, and it is even easier than you think!
Travel local!
This way, the local people and the country’s economy benefit from your stay. Make sure to choose how and where to book your next holiday wisely. There are numerous companies who do care about the country and their people. Like this, drivers and guides will be booked and paid directly instead of the money rolling from here to there before arriving in the country.
Something else you can do while traveling, participate in a community based project such as a local family dinner or come along for the day with a local farmer and see how he’s harvesting olives to make soap or oil out of it. Projects like these can be found in almost every country in the world. Have a sincere look at the holiday destination of your choice and sign up for one of those projects to support the locals.
Zikra initiative, local family dinner
Traveling local is not boring or old fashioned. Local destination experts know the ins and outs, like hidden gems and hotspots, that you definitely must visit during your holiday. Traveling local will certainly has a positive effect on your holiday experience.
Enough reasons to think twice about where to book your next holiday, so that you can ensure that local people get the profit they deserve and that your money is not disappearing behind other people’s back.
Traveling with In2Jordan automatically means that you are supporting Jordan’s locals. We choose our drivers and guides carefully. We know them and their family’s personally. In this way, we know that the profit goes to our drivers and guides and their families as well.
This list shows you 5 of the many community based activities that In2Jordan is offering in order to support local communities:
1) Local family dinner: Enjoy a fresh home-made dinner at a local family. Experience how Jordanians live. Enjoy a cup of sweet mint tea while listening to their stories. 2) Bedouin weaving workshop: Experience centuries of old weaving techniques together with the Woman from Udruh (Petra area). You will go home with a unique handmade souvenir. 3) Visit the woman’s initiative of Iraq al Amir: Let the ladies show you their handicraft skills: from making soap to pottery and handmade paper.
Local woman in Udruh, weaving course
4) Visit local initiatives in Ajloun: At the soap house, you can learn more about traditional soap making, don’t leave without buying one of the unique soaps. 5) Come along with a local Bedouin and his goats to experience what it’s like to be a herder in rural Jordan. This day you can experience in Feynan, a ecolodge situated in the middle of Jordan.
To get more information about community based itineraries and what excursions we offer, please click here.
Don’t miss out on the ultimate food experience when travelling in Jordan. The kingdom’s national dish, Mansaf, should be a point on every traveller's bucket list. What is Mansaf? It is a traditional Arabic dish, noticeably most popular in Jordan, which has made Mansaf its national dish. It is a dish made of rice, lamb, dried goat yoghurt (also called jameed), pine nuts and shrak (very flat bread, similar to crepes). Sometimes, the head of the lamb is placed on top as a symbol of good quality and fresh meat. In fairness, Mansaf is also popular in Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Palestine, with slight variations in preparation. In Jordan, it is usually served on a huge platter, with the shrak spread out on the bottom. Then, a gigantic mountain of rice is piled on top of it. The lamb meat is scattered on top, and pine nuts are sprinkled over the whole dish. Mansaf is more than just delicious food, it is an experience in itself! A bit of history There is no better way of putting it: Mansaf is not only food, it is part of the Jordanian culture. In the past, the dish was known to resolve conflicts between Jordanian tribes. Nowadays, it is common to eat Mansaf at parties, family reunions or celebrations. Mansaf was first prepared by Bedouins in the Arabian desert. Back then, it was made with camel or lamb meat, shrak bread and ghee or meat broth. Rice and jameed were included in the dish at a later stage. As Bedouins lived like nomads and moved around a lot, they spread their recipes throughout the region. Etiquette around Mansaf There is a certain Jordanian pride and significance that goes with eating Mansaf. The national dish is served on one big platter, with everyone
Don’t miss out on the ultimate food experience when travelling in Jordan. The kingdom’s national dish, Mansaf, should be a point on every traveller’s bucket list.
Photo by: WAELBQ
What is Mansaf?
It is a traditional Arabic dish, noticeably most popular in Jordan, which has made Mansaf its national dish. It is a dish made of rice, lamb, dried goat yoghurt (also called jameed), pine nuts and shrak (very flat bread, similar to crepes). Sometimes, the head of the lamb is placed on top as a symbol of good quality and fresh meat. In fairness, Mansaf is also popular in Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Palestine, with slight variations in preparation.
In Jordan, it is usually served on a huge platter, with the shrak spread out on the bottom. Then, a gigantic mountain of rice is piled on top of it. The lamb meat is scattered on top, and pine nuts are sprinkled over the whole dish.
Mansaf is more than just delicious food, it is an experience in itself!
A bit of history
There is no better way of putting it: Mansaf is not only food, it is part of the Jordanian culture. In the past, the dish was known to resolve conflicts between Jordanian tribes. Nowadays, it is common to eat Mansaf at parties, family reunions or celebrations.
Mansaf was first prepared by Bedouins in the Arabian desert. Back then, it was made with camel or lamb meat, shrak bread and ghee or meat broth. Rice and jameed were included in the dish at a later stage. As Bedouins lived like nomads and moved around a lot, they spread their recipes throughout the region.
Photo by: Delphine Vincent
Etiquette around Mansaf
There is a certain Jordanian pride and significance that goes with eating Mansaf. The national dish is served on one big platter, with everyone eating from the same platter with their hands. Amongst locals, women and men sometimes have separate platters. Usually, Mansaf is eaten while standing around the table it’s served on.
In a very traditional setting, the host is always serving the guests. This shows appreciation, respect and good hospitality. The host is expected to continuously place pieces of lamb in front of all guests, and also keep pouring the jameed sauce. As a guest, you would not help yourself to the meat, but a good host will ensure that there is always some in front of you. You should also only eat from the “section” in front of you and not take food that is placed in front of other people. The host is not supposed to stop eating until the last guest has finished.
And finally: After your feast, you are allowed to lick your hands! Only if you don’t intend to dip your hands back into the platter, of course…
How to eat Mansaf
To really get the taste of Mansaf, you should eat it the traditional way: with your hands. It’s not as easy as it sounds, though. First and foremost, you should eat with your right hand and your left hand behind your back.
When aiming to catapult the first load into your mouth, take a good handful of rice and lamb, and form a ball in your hand. Avoid squeezing the rice too hard, as it will stick to your palm otherwise. Eat the entire ball in one bite and try not to touch your mouth or lips, if possible. Also, try to keep your face and the space around you tidy J
Updated In2Jordan travel app: Your personalised travel app will now provide an even better experience, having everything you need for your holiday in one place! What is Vamoos? Vamoos is an incredibly handy (and free) travel app. With the app, you can access all your documents, important information and even the local weather forecast. Moreover, you can easily share your holiday photos and message with your travel companions. All you need in one place! Other features of Vamoos include: Your itinerary and a count-down to your departure date A map with all the locations you will visit A general overview of local customs, language tips, and additional excursions that might be useful during your visit Your transport and accommodation vouchers suggested points of interest in your surrounding area Links to external websites Separate sign-in for all travellers With In2Jordan being the first company using Vamoos in the Middle East, you've got a clear advantage if booking with us! How does it work? It's really easy, you cannot go wrong. Firstly, our In2Jordan experts work with you to create your perfect holiday. When you're happy with the itinerary, we'll invite you to download Vamoos via the App Store on your phone. Once downloaded, enter your personal reference number, which you will have received from your destination expert. Upon opening the app, you will be presented with the names of all travellers. Choose your own name and enter the app. You will be presented with a fully personalised app, containing all the information about your holiday. Simple! Why use it? Apart from all the obvious reasons why you should use it, here is another one: We also aim to reduce our environmental footprint by digitising many tourism paper-based processes, making them available 24/7. The updated Vamoos app houses all your travel essentials on your phone.
Updated In2Jordan travel app: Your personalised travel app will now provide an even better experience, having everything you need for your holiday in one place!
What is Vamoos?
Vamoos is an incredibly handy (and free) travel app. With the app, you can access all your documents, important information and even the local weather forecast. Moreover, you can easily share your holiday photos and message with your travel companions. All you need in one place!
Other features of Vamoos include:
Your itinerary and a count-down to your departure date
A map with all the locations you will visit
A general overview of local customs, language tips, and additional excursions that might be useful during your visit
Your transport and accommodation vouchers
suggested points of interest in your surrounding area
Links to external websites
Separate sign-in for all travellers
With In2Jordan being the first company using Vamoos in the Middle East, you’ve got a clear advantage if booking with us!
How does it work?
It’s really easy, you cannot go wrong. Firstly, our In2Jordan experts work with you to create your perfect holiday. When you’re happy with the itinerary, we’ll invite you to download Vamoos via the App Store on your phone.
Once downloaded, enter your personal reference number, which you will have received from your destination expert. Upon opening the app, you will be presented with the names of all travellers. Choose your own name and enter the app. You will be presented with a fully personalised app, containing all the information about your holiday. Simple!
Why use it?
Apart from all the obvious reasons why you should use it, here is another one: We also aim to reduce our environmental footprint by digitising many tourism paper-based processes, making them available 24/7. The updated Vamoos app houses all your travel essentials on your phone.
For In2Jordan, responsible tourism is a priority. We build itineraries that allow you to spend as much time with locals as possible so you can learn their ancient culture from the grassroots and make the most out of your holiday!
Here is a list of the 7 biggest differences between Western and Jordanian culture. Some of them will blow your mind! 1. Clothing in the Jordanian Culture It’s pretty obvious that clothing is a major difference in culture. Especially with locals and tourists, different ways of clothing often lead to misunderstandings. If you show too much skin it can come across as disrespectful and offensive in Jordan. You will also notice that Jordanians pay more attention to dress well than people in the West. You would rarely see someone walking down the street in scruffy looking clothes! In Jordan, both men and women, expose as little skin as possible and always cover upper arms. 2. Culture around invitations Here is something worth knowing: When being offered something, it is actually considered polite to refuse a few times before accepting! If you genuinely don’t want to accept, this is a way of saying no in a socially acceptable way. With a big smile and right hand over your heart saying ‘shukran shukran’ (which means ‘thank you, thank you’). Although, you might have to say this a few times due to the ritual of polite insistence… A tip for female travelers in Jordan: If you're happen to be invited to a local family for dinner, it might be handy to wear trousers instead of skirts or low cut waists. Also bring a scarf with you. Most of the people sit on the ground to eat and you need to bend over to reach the food. On this way you're sure to not show any cleavage, whether it's on the front or the back! Jordanians also eat with their right hand, as the left one is for the toilet. You might want to do the same if you don't want people looking at
Here is a list of the 7 biggest differences between Western and Jordanian culture. Some of them will blow your mind!
1. Clothing in the Jordanian Culture
Photo: Lauras Eye
It’s pretty obvious that clothing is a major difference in culture. Especially with locals and tourists, different ways of clothing often lead to misunderstandings. If you show too much skin it can come across as disrespectful and offensive in Jordan.
You will also notice that Jordanians pay more attention to dress well than people in the West. You would rarely see someone walking down the street in scruffy looking clothes! In Jordan, both men and women, expose as little skin as possible and always cover upper arms.
2. Culture around invitations
Here is something worth knowing: When being offered something, it is actually considered polite to refuse a few times before accepting!
If you genuinely don’t want to accept, this is a way of saying no in a socially acceptable way. With a big smile and right hand over your heart saying ‘shukran shukran’ (which means ‘thank you, thank you’). Although, you might have to say this a few times due to the ritual of polite insistence…
A tip for female travelers in Jordan: If you’re happen to be invited to a local family for dinner, it might be handy to wear trousers instead of skirts or low cut waists. Also bring a scarf with you. Most of the people sit on the ground to eat and you need to bend over to reach the food. On this way you’re sure to not show any cleavage, whether it’s on the front or the back! Jordanians also eat with their right hand, as the left one is for the toilet. You might want to do the same if you don’t want people looking at you in a confused way 🙂
Another cultural difference exists around gift giving: Be aware when complimenting someone’s possessions. As opposed to in the West, if you show interest in an object your host is supposed to give it to you!
3. Interactions between men and women
Men and women interact very differently with each other in Jordanian and Western culture. Public displays of affection between a man and a woman like holding hands or kissing are not recommended, even if the couple is married. Though you see more couples holding hands these days, a kiss on the lips is still kept for inside the house.
It is less known that Islamic women cannot interact freely with men outside their direct family (e.g. father, brother, closest cousins). Therefore, it is also common for a man to only greet the husband. Greeting the wife could be interpreted as showing too much interest.
Tip for male travelers: A woman might place a hand on her heart when greeting you, which means that she would not like to shake hands with a strange man.
A tip for female travelers: You might automatically look everyone in the eyes at home. It’s considered a sign of honesty in the West. Though, in the Middle East it might be considered as an invitation to something more than that!
4. Status of women
You will notice a big difference regarding the status of women in Jordan and in Western countries. In the Middle East, most women are staying at home, taking care of the family and children instead of having a career of their own. However, many women actually go to university (and even more so than boys) but once married don’t work in their profession.
Motives of decision making are also different, with the Western culture being more individualistically oriented. Jordanian women, on the other hand, are more focused and make decisions based on the collective interest of the family.
In order to empower more women to work and to be self-sustainable, we organize different activities around Jordan. If you are interested, consider joining one of our excursions to the Iraq Al Amir Women Cooperative Society in Amman or the Looming Ladies of Udruth in Petra. The women there have numerous skills to teach you, like producing soap or Bedouin weaving! Click here for more info: https://in2jordan.com/tours/workshops-in-jordan/
5. Customs around social interaction
Photo: petergustafson9
Jordanians are very energetic with regards to social interaction. Even if they are strangers they will hang around for a chat and exchange opinions. Westerners, who are not used to lengthy conversations with strangers, can often come across as cold or uninterested if not being too chatty when in a shop, for example.
So, when travelling in Jordan, have a chat with shopkeepers, they are genuinely interested where you come from.
Jordanians also shake hands more often – also with strangers. You’ll notice that sometimes Jordanians also shake hands with each other while in conversation when agreeing on something or joking around.
6. Muslim men can have up to four wives
In Jordan, Muslim men are allowed to have up to 4 wives – unimaginable in Western culture! Still, in Jordan polygamy is restricted and the first wife has to give her consent. It is not very common anymore, though.
7. Family is important
Family is very important in Jordanian culture. Here, people like to stay close to their family and relatives, and daily visits are not uncommon. If the family is not in close proximity, you’ll see a lot of people talking on the phone or Skype to their relatives, sometimes for hours or while doing other things. Respect for the elderly is also a big part of the culture, as well as taking care of parents when they grow old.
If you want to interact with locals and experience the famous hospitality of Jordanian families, have a look at our community-based tourism itinerary. Click here for more information: https://in2jordan.com/tours/community-based-tourism-jordan/
Meet Khaled Sabbah Atieg, In2Jordan’s colleague in Wadi Rum! Let him tell you about his job, his favourite places and what it’s like growing up in the desert.
