But while Petra is indeed one of the most stunning attractions in the Middle East, Jordan offers so much more for the modern traveler. For a small nation, Jordan packs a huge punch in terms of a travel experience. The country offers a wonderfully diverse range of experiences and terrains and is home to four UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Rose-Red City of Petra, and the awe-inspiring desert landscape of Wadi Rum. Beyond these ‘big names’, there is plenty more to explore, and amazing adventures await any traveller.

Enjoy a float on the salty water of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth. Products made from the Dead Sea’s mineral-rich black mud are legendary, but there’s nothing like experiencing the real thing.

A well-traveled bridge between sea and desert, east and west, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a land of mesmerizing beauty and contrasts, from the Jordan Valley, fertile, ever changing, to the remote desert canyons, immense and still. Visitors can explore splendid desert castles, gaze in awe at the haunting wilderness of Wadi Rum, or bathe in the restful waters of the Red Sea.

For adventure lovers, there’s horse riding, 4×4 safaris, rock climbing and hiking. For taking it easy, nothing on earth compares to the Dead Sea and the Red Sea, with their many spa facilities.

Modern Jordan was founded by King Abdullah I after World War I. It was ruled by his grandson, the late King Hussein, for 46 years until his death in 1999, when his son, King Abdullah II, assumed the throne. Jordan has grown into a modern nation that has enjoyed a remarkable measure of peace, stability and economic growth in recent decades.