Within a notoriously challenging region, Jordan manages to make a name for itself as a relatively safe and incredibly beautiful place to visit and experience. The organized trips to Jordan are usually designed to allow tourists to visit the most interesting and simultaneously safe places among many.
Dead Sea, Wadi Rum Desert, Mount Nebo, Red Sea, Petra by Night: the opportunities are many, and the beauties encountered during these journeys are hard to ignore. Jordan is a truly beautiful country and one of the most accessible and interesting in the entire Middle East.
However, there are a number of things to avoid in order to fully enjoy trips in Jordan. A country with a culture to respect: every good traveler knows this, and taking a great group trip among Petra, the desert, Amman, and some of the most important sites for the cradle of our cultures is even more enjoyable if no one gets upset.
At Meeters, we have proven experience in creating events and trips designed to help forge new friendships among those who decide to join our experiences.
For this reason, we have firsthand experience with some of the mistakes we will mention in this article and want to make them as publicly known as possible.
That said, let's discover what to avoid when in Jordan for an organized trip (or if you want to organize a trip to Jordan independently).
Where to Find Information
Having direct access to the most important information has always been a game-changer when it comes to travel. The same applies here, so if you don’t want to rely on a Jordan tour operator, it’s good to know where to look for the most important information.
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In this case, it’s important to know that the Farnesina website offers a range of guidelines and information that can be extremely useful for anyone wanting to explore this splendid country and its slice of the Middle East.
If that’s not enough, besides searching online as is common nowadays, you can also rely on the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) which has a well-stocked page on the subject, including all specific legal provisions and necessary information to best enjoy an experience in this small treasure of a country. This page is fully accessible to Italians as well, given the presence of our language among local minorities, which mandates translations of public service web pages.
Which Places to Avoid in Jordan?
Jordan is a country at the heart of a region—the Middle East—not exactly known for its peaceful nature or relaxed situation.
Although security measures have increased over the years, it’s undeniable that the risk of terrorist acts exists throughout the country, albeit far lower than in less touristy destinations. Generally, to stay safe, it’s best to avoid planning trips to three specific areas.
Border with Iraq
The area bordering Iraq is quite unstable security-wise and has been declared a military exclusion zone. Therefore, trips to these areas are strongly discouraged to avoid risks and/or problems with local security forces.
Border with Syria
The area bordering Syria is also problematic due to regular clashes between security forces and various criminal groups from the neighboring country. This zone is also designated as a military exclusion area, and travel to border regions is strongly discouraged.
Jordan Valley
No exclusion zones this time, but even worse: minefields. The Balqa and Irbid districts, specifically, have uncleared minefields. In most cases, these fields are marked with no-entry signs, and when in doubt, it’s best to check with locals and authorities.
Are Organized Trips Safe?
The most popular destinations in Jordan tours (such as Petra, Wadi Rum Desert, Dead Sea, Red Sea, Mount Nebo, Amman, and so on) are areas SAFE because they are geographically distant from risky regions.
Among these places, the “most dangerous” is the old city of Amman where the risk of being pickpocketed is slightly higher than average. Mugging is rare, while the risk of credit card fraud (cloning, for example) is on par with European averages.
A slightly different story applies to women visiting a country with sadly high rates of sexual harassment. Women traveling alone should therefore be especially cautious or, more generally, be accompanied by trusted individuals. Booking taxis through hotels can be a good solution.
More than ever, group trips are recommended: the communal nature of the journey deters ill-intentioned individuals, and the recommended destinations are usually among the most accustomed to tourism (and thus safe from this perspective).
General Information on Mistakes to Avoid
Jordan’s laws are stricter than Italy’s in several contexts: here are some examples of actions strongly discouraged while in the country.
- Being caught driving after drinking alcohol: in Jordan, you can only drive with 0.0% blood alcohol content.
- Royal Family: publicly insulting the royal family or damaging photos of the king are both crimes.
- Photography: most cities can be photographed, but special care must be taken around military installations and government buildings.
- Drugs: violations of drug laws are much harsher than in Italy. Penalties range from several years in prison up to life imprisonment, even for small amounts of drugs.