Vacation Packages to Jordan

General Information about Jordan

Jordan is an Arab country on the Asian continent located in the Middle East region, on the banks of the east side of the Jordan River. Its neighboring countries are: Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Israel and the West Bank.

Geographically, Jordan is distinguished by having small mountainous areas and among them several valleys that segment this great plateau. In the west there is a descent to the Jordan River that includes from north to south the Sea of ​​Galilee, the Dead Sea, the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea. Much of Jordan is desert and its climates very arid.

The capital of Jordan is Amman and its official currency is the Jordanian Dinar. Jordan is home to the Nabataean capital of Petra, an archaeological site from 300 BC also called the "Pink City", as the tombs, temples and monuments found in this valley were carved into the pink sandstone cliffs found there.

The Cultural Richness of Jordan

Much of Jordan's cultural heritage is due to the Arabic elements found in its language, values, beliefs and traditions, and also to the contribution that migrant peoples, including Circassians, Armenians and Chechens, have made to the culture. .

In turn, Jordan has received Iraqi and Palestinian artists who had to go into exile from their territories, and in the very constitution of Jordan you can trace various civilizations that disputed this territory, so if you travel to Jordan you will be able to find a great mixture of ethnic groups and customs.

How is the culture in Jordan

Jordanian Traditional Food and Drink

Jordan is an excellent destination when it comes to food. If you plan to go to a restaurant during your visit, you should know that all Jordanian meals usually start with a mezze, a kind of appetizer in which several cold dishes are served, such as chickpea hummus, a paste made with this legume, or baba. ganoush, a paste made with roasted eggplant.

As a main course we recommend you order fasoyileh, a dish made from stewed beans with fried tomato, or maqluba, an Arabic paella that is usually eaten on Fridays, the day assigned as a religious break.

As for the drink, you must try the Jordanian coffee, its strong, highly aromatic flavor will surprise you, and for dessert you cannot miss the exotic booza, an orchid-based ice cream.

The Importance of Coffee in Jordan

If you plan to travel to Jordan, you should know some facts about its traditions, and one of the most prominent is the Bedouin coffee ritual.

This coffee is consumed by Jordanians during the second day of Ramadan, a religious ceremony, and is their first drink of the day. Both its preparation and the way it is drunk make this coffee an incomparable experience. Below we will tell you a little about this little-known rite.

Bedouin Coffee Ceremony

The Bedouin coffee ceremony is an extremely interesting experience if one takes into account that each detail represents something different in the rite, be it the hand with which the container with the coffee is held or the number of cups that one decides to drink.

And it is that if we go back to ancient times in which the caravans crossed the desert, it should be noted that the different tribes resolved their conflicts through this delicious coffee.

The preparation of the coffee is given in turns, thus, each day a different family is in charge of preparing it and inviting it. When serving the coffee, the host must get up and take the jug with his left hand and the cups with his right. And guests can only drink sitting down, since standing or lying down is considered disrespectful.

Also, cups must only be passed from the right hand to the right hand and it must be hot, otherwise it can be considered an offense. If at the end of the cup you no longer want more, you should shake your wrist, just returning the empty cup would imply that you want more.

The ritual ends with a blessing from the guest to the host in gratitude for their hospitality. While the first cup is taken for hospitality, the second one is to assume an alliance in terms of security. The third cup implies wisdom and a fourth, means you are abusing trust, unless they are trying to solve a big problem.

So now you know, if you are invited, do not reject the Bedouin coffee!

What to Give If You Travel to Jordan

If you travel to Jordan and do not know what to bring as a gift to your loved ones, we suggest some of the most outstanding options:

1. The typical red and white scarf from Jordan, which is a national symbol as it is normally used in the desert.
2. Carpets and textiles. From rugs and rugs to luxurious silk gowns and tunics, the range of textiles in Jordan is exquisite and we guarantee that your honoree will feel like royalty.
3. Cosmetic products from the Dead Sea, since its use is very famous in spas and beauty centers for its healing properties.
4. Spices. You will find them at very good prices and with an amazing variety to bring Jordanian cuisine to any home.

Cultural Differences with Jordan

If you are interested in discovering the wonders of Jordan, it is important to know some issues specific to its idiosyncrasy, sometimes very different from Western culture.

To begin, it is necessary to keep in mind that Jordan is a fairly conservative country in terms of the way women dress. They do not show their shoulders or legs, so it is recommended that tourists dress modestly if they want to avoid attracting too much attention.

Secondly, in Jordan it is forbidden to drink alcohol in public and it is necessary to ask the locals for permission to take a photo in which they appear.

When going shopping keep in mind that haggling is very common and fun in this region, so go ahead and negotiate prices, it will be seen as a sign of good manners.

Finally, keep in mind that Ramadan is celebrated in Jordan, a religious holiday, and during these dates you should eat and drink with discretion. Likewise, if someone buys you a drink or a meal, the most respectful way to return the favor is by making a small gift.

What to See and Do in Jordan

Jordan stands out for its varied landscapes, which include coasts, deserts and the wonderful Dead Sea, and archaeological and cultural treasures, such as castles in the middle of the desert, pieces in the Amman museum or the incredible pink city of Petra. This makes it one of the most chosen destinations by travelers around the world.

Are you looking to get to know a different culture full of flavors, colors and incredible traditions? Do you want to visit the most impressive archaeological finds?

If the answer is "Yes" in Greca we have several proposals for tourist packages to Jordan, which you can modify and adapt according to your needs and times. There are travel packages for all tastes. Choose your own adventure according to your needs!