When I told people that I plan going to Jordan (for the third time) they responded with an eyebrow at best, or a worried face at worst. “its really dangerous there!” and “aren’t you scared?” There were almost all the responses I heard. so yes. In my knowledge, Jordan is dangerous as much as in Barcelona, London and New York. Incidentally, those targets were more terrorist attacks and incidents this year than they have been in Jordan in the past decade, and I have not heard of friends who canceled trips.
Of course, if you are scared, then no trip is worth sense of concern all the time. But after taking friends with me to Jordan, I realized that people simply do not know how to access this country which is ten minutes from Eilat and how to start planning a vacation there.
Therefore, the guide to vacationing in Jordan is presented to those who come from Israel. Non-Israeli passport holders do not need advance booking with an agent, but this can make your trip easier.
Step one: Set up with a Jordanian travel agent
Entry of Israelis into Jordan via the Rabin Crossing, which is very close to Eilat, requires an agent at the border who will greet you and know where you are throughout your stay. It sounds a bit burdensome but in fact it is very convenient for you to meet a taxi driver on the other side of the border, and an agent who arranges prices for you at all reasonable prices.
Non-Israeli passport holders do not have to use an agent. However, there is a possibility that officials at the border crossing will ask you about your stay and plans in the country.
I recommend the Bird Piece Agency whose owner is Ukla Abasat. I chat with him in email (okla_abasat@outlook.com) and Whats-app and I received excellent and kind treatment from him.
Step two: Choose destinations
Jordan is known for three major tourist sites: Petra, Wadi Ram and Aqaba. Don’t miss the three of them on your first visit! If you have time I also recommend to visit the stunning trails on the east side of the Dead Sea, but unfortunately for the last two years, many of the wadis have been closed to travelers, so it is worth checking the matter with a local agent before planning three days of trekking in Wadi Khasa. I love Jordan mainly because of the Scuba dives: cheaper, the sites to the south of Aqaba are less crowded with divers than Eilat, the atmosphere in the hostels on the beach reminds the beaches of Sinai area.
Step three: Build a track
You can make a one-day trip from Eilat to see Petra and return. But because Jordan’s interest in keeping tourists in the country, the price of entering Petra if you only enter for one day is 90 dinars, compared to 50 dinars if you spend more than one day in the country. Even those who do not visit Petra and enter for just one day will pay another 70 dinars on leaving the state.
Take the opportunity to take a few days off to visit all the sites! It is most convenient and easy to ask your agent to coordinate everything, along the main lines that you define. It is true that it takes commissions but is quite low and prevents you from encountering scammers or inexperienced instructors.
Four-day trip planning:
Day 1: Driving to Eilat, leaving the vehicle at the terminal. Arrival at Aqaba hotel and tour the city
Day 2: A jeep tour starts at noon in Wadi Ram, organized in a wadi tent and star viewing
Day 3: Petra, back in the afternoon to Aqaba
Day 4: Diving / snorkeling on the South Coast and driving home
Another option is to combine Wadi Ram and Petra for one full day, without lodging in Wadi Ram or vice versa, to sleep in a hotel close to Petra and stroll there more.
Step four: Choose a hotel
On my last vacation in Aqaba I only traveled for a dive, so I chose the southern hostels to be close to coral. In retrospect – most of the time we took taxis to the city center and spent time there, so it is totally better to choose the city center and only get off once a day for the dives. The dive clubs will organize a free or low-cost shuttle for you.
Mövenpick Resort & Spa Tala Bay Aqaba.
At this price in Eilat, you will probably receive a three-star hotel with excited high school guests in the next room. But here, for a price starting at NIS 400 a night, breakfast is full of pools, spas, restaurants and even water slides. To the hotel website
Kempinski Hotel Aqaba Red Sea.
The location of this hotel is winning, right above the downtown market. The rooms are luxurious and the price for night starts from NIS 350. By the way, despite the Jewish name, he has no real connection with Israel.
Scuba clubs scuba diving in Aqaba
Twenty minutes’ drive from the center of Aqaba is the area of Aqaba Dive, and most of the dive hostels are located there. I tried two dive clubs there (they are also the best known) and slept in each club’s hostel.
The first is Arab divers center and the other is Red sea dive center. Both are located next to each other.
The prices of accommodation and dives are almost the same, the hostels are very similar and in general it is very difficult to distinguish between them in terms of accommodation conditions. These are three-star hostels, around NIS 150 a night with a basic breakfast and simple rooms, but they include a pool and stunning views and provide a calm and quiet atmosphere. Important tip: Book places as early as possible, because at Passover and other holidays many Israelis come to dive here.
