Activities in Jordan
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FEATURED
Private Tour: Petra Day Trip from Amman
10 hours (Departs Amman, Jordan)
by Viator
No visit to Jordan is complete without a visit to the rose-red city of Petra, one of the wonders of the world. Carved from the pink-hued stone more than 2,000…Not LP reviewed
from USD$243.75 - All activities
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Dive Aqaba
A highly professional training centre known for its high-quality teaching staff.
reviewed
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Arab Divers
Highly recommended year after year by Lonely Planet readers.
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Amman Beach
This newly upgraded public facility goes under the full title of Amman BeachTourism Resort, Restaurant & Pools. The beach, 2km south of the main resort strip, is run by Amman municipality to give affordable access to the Dead Sea. The grounds are attractively landscaped and the beach is clean, with sun umbrellas, freshwater showers and a vibrant local flavour, making it a great place to strike up conversation with a Jordanian family. There are also a number of swimming pools, a restaurant (JD10 buffet), some drinks stalls, basketball courts and an amusement park next door. It gets very busy at weekends (especially Thursday night and Friday). Locals will generally…
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Madaba Turkish Bath
If you’ve had just about enough mosaics for one day, you could always enjoy closely knit tiles of a modern kind at MadabaTurkish Bath. These small and cosy baths are clean and intimate but opening times, like elsewhere in Madaba, are flexible. Call ahead to reserve the baths for an hour or so. Women can choose a female or male attendant and couples can share the facilities if they wish. You begin with a shower, sweat it out for a few minutes in the steam room, relax on a heated marble slab, lounge in the Jacuzzi and finally lie down at the mercy of the masseur. If you behave nicely, you’ll be rewarded with mint tea in the comfortable majlis (lounge) area.
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Al-Wadi Resort
Newly opened, this public resort has a variety of water games, including a wave machine and slides, in pleasantly landscaped surroundings. There are two restaurants (open 9am to midnight), one selling snacks and the other offering an Arabic menu. Children are measured on entry: those under 95cm are admitted free! The resort is about 500m north of the Convention Centre at the head of the Resort strip.
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Hammamat Ma’in
Drive anywhere in the hills above the Dead Sea and you’ll notice occasional livid green belts of vegetation, a trickle of water as it catches the sunlight, or a curtain of ferns across a disintegrating landscape of sulphurous rock. On closer inspection, you may catch a puff of steam and the hiss of underground water. These hills are alive with the sound of thermal springs – there are about 60 of them suppurating below the surface, breaking ground with various degrees of violence. The most famous spring is Hammamat Ma’in, a resort in Wadi Zarqa Ma’in. The water, ranging from 45°C to a blistering 60°C, tumbles off the hillside in a series of waterfalls and less assuming…
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Al-Himma (Mukheiba) Baths
In Roman and Byzantine times, the ancient hot-spring town of al-Himma was the site of Gadara's bath complex, which was famous throughout the empire for its lavish design and architecture. Today, the al-Himma hot springs are located in the pleasant village of Mukheiba. The area is subtropical and lush, and though soaking in the springs can be a bit unpleasant during the muggy summer months, a therapeutic trip to Mukheiba is certainly worth the effort. The public baths consist of three indoor hot pools and one natural outdoor hot pool. There are separate bathing times for men and women, which alternate every two hours. At the time of research, men ruled the roost from 10am…
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Rum Horses
An alternative and memorable mode of four-legged transport through Wadi Rum and surrounding areas is by horse. A hack costs around JD20 per hour. These trips are for people who have some experience of riding, and novices should not underestimate the challenge of riding high-spirited Arab horses in open country. Among the agencies or guides who can organise such an expedition is Rum Horses, a professional French-run trekking, camel- and horse-trekking agency located on the approach road to Wadi Rum visitor centre, about 10km from the Desert Highway. Look for a signboard beside the road.
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New Orthodox School
For those who like Madaba well enough to stay, there’s an opportunity to teach English at the New Orthodox School that would make for an excellent gap-year experience. Run by Father Innocent (Innokentios) and attached to St George’s Church, the school promotes ‘mutual respect and peaceful coexistence’ among youngsters of different religious communities. The school is a non-profit organisation, supporting needy students. Volunteers receive free accommodation, pocket money and private Arabic lessons. Email Father Innocent for details (diodoros@wanadoo.jo).
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Zara Spa
This luxurious spa offers a range of facilities and treatments in a beautiful environment and costs JD25 for guests and JD35 for nonguests. These rates include access to a gym, private beach, pool, sauna, steam room, foot-massage pool, infinity pool and aqua-pressure pool. Extra services include a mud wrap (one hour, JD60), dry flotation, hot-stone therapy, shiatsu and other massages (from JD60 for 50 minutes). A day package costs JD190 for 3½ hours of treatments; a three-day package is JD365.
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Sindbad
A local company Sindbad operates a number of popular cruises around the Gulf of Aqaba. Prices range from JD15 per person for a two-hour sunset cruise, to JD29 for a half-day trip with snorkelling (equipment included) and barbecue. The cruises operate on a daily basis and depart from the end of the pier. Most hotels can book you on these trips, or simply turn up 30 minutes before departure (1pm for barbecue trip; 6pm for a sunset cruise) and buy a ticket from the Sindbad staff.
reviewed
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Private Tour: Petra Day Trip from Amman
10 hours (Departs Amman, Jordan)
by Viator
No visit to Jordan is complete without a visit to the rose-red city of Petra, one of the wonders of the world. Carved from the pink-hued stone more than 2,000…Not LP reviewed
from USD$243.75 -
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Aqaba Turkish Baths
Aqaba Turkish Baths offers the full works – massage, steam bath and scrubbing – for a very reasonable JD12. Women are theoretically welcome to attend, but as ‘special arrangements’ need to be made (single men are evacuated for the session and a female attendant found), entry isn’t guaranteed. Book a couple of hours ahead on a quiet day and you could be in luck. Couples can make similar arrangements.
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Un Relief & Works Agency
Those hoping to work with Palestinian refugees should contact the public information office of the UN Relief & Works Agency. There is no organised volunteer program, but if you are in Jordan for a few months (they prefer longer-term commitments, rather than just a few weeks) and have a particular professional skill in education, relief or health, you may be able to arrange something. Contact them at least three months in advance.
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Bisharat Golf Course
The Bisharat Golf Course comprises of a nine-hole course, putting greens and even a golf pro. Nine holes with equipment rental will set you back around JD45, though the day becomes a bit more expensive if you factor in transportation costs. The club is located 14km south of downtown, and signposted from the Desert Highway on the way to Queen Alia airport – a taxi should cost around JD10 to JD15 each way.
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Spa
Free for guests and JD25 for nonguests (it costs an extra JD20 for access to the beach, pools and gym), this spa includes a heated pool, Dead Sea saltwater pool, Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. Treatments include massage (JD70, 55 minutes), body wraps, salt scrubs, phytomer facials, mud facials, dry flotation and hydro baths. Day packages range from JD150 to JD225; a week package costs around JD750.
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Sports City
SportsCity in northern Amman has an Olympic-size pool. Non-members are charged JD5 to JD10, depending on how early you arrive in the day (it gets cheaper as the day goes on), and your fee also nets you a private locker. Note that women may feel uncomfortable swimming here. The Sports City complex also has tennis courts, which you can rent for JD2 per hour.
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University of Jordan
The archaeology department at this Amman-based university is a good contact point for finding out about joining an dig. The Language Center offers tailormade courses with private instruction for individuals and small groups, geared to students’ special interests. Rates are US$50 per hour per group, for groups of one to six students.
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Private Half Day Tour to Madaba, Mount Nebo and The Dead Sea
6 hours (Departs Amman, Jordan)
by Viator
You will leave Amman to visit Madaba a city known for it's mosaics. The most popular and well known is the ancient and most complete mosaic map of Jordan and…Not LP reviewed
from USD$93.75 -
Private Half Day Tour to Jerash
4 hours (Departs Amman, Jordan)
by Viator
You will leave your Amman Hotel and head to Jerash - the most complete and well preserved city of the Roman Empire. Jerash is one of the Decapolis cities of the…Not LP reviewed
from USD$87.50 Advertisement
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Power Hut
Power Hut is one of the best gyms in town. A day/week pass costs JD10/25 and gives access to a wide range of machines, free weights, spin and taebo classes, and a sauna and steam room. The gym is women only from 9.30am to noon.
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Amman Waves
Your children will love you for taking them to this Western-style waterpark, about 15km south of town on the highway to the airport. Note that adults should respect local sensibilities and wear appropriate swimwear (no Speedos or bikinis).
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Royal Racing Club
The Royal Racing Club holds horse and camel races in spring and summer, and offers horse-riding classes. Details are available from the club, located off the Desert Highway and on the way to Queen Alia airport.
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Private Half Day Jerash and Amman City Sightseeing Tour
5 hours (Departs Amman, Jordan)
by Viator
You will leave your Amman Hotel and head to Jerash - the most complete and well preserved city of the Roman Empire. Nestled in a green and well-watered valley…Not LP reviewed
from USD$106.25 -
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Haya Cultural Centre
Designed especially for children, the Haya Cultural Centre has a library, playground, an interactive eco-museum and an inflatable castle. It also organises regular activities and performances for kids.
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