Whoa, slow down a minute. I've never even thought about going to Jordan.
Then you're missing out! There are a million reasons to go – from the extraordinary cultural heritage, UNESCO world heritage sites, the unique lifestyle, and so much more.
Did you know you can follow the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia on the back of a camel or donkey? Or you can bathe in the mineral waters of the Dead Sea or scuba dive in the Red Sea?
Imagine taking a hot air balloon ride in the desert over the Mars-like landscape of Wadi Rum.
I had no idea. That seems really cool! But surely visiting all these amazing places must be complicated.
No, not at all. Sure, they may be thousands of years old and in the middle of the desert, but getting there is fairly straightforward.
Jordan has great infrastructure that makes it easy for visitors to see the country’s treasures – the roads are smooth and well maintained and there are plenty of bus shuttle services to all major tourist attractions.
The hardest part is choosing which places to see – there are just so many!
Got it. But is it safe?
Of course! Jordanian society is modern and pretty progressive in many ways, while still drawing inspiration from its remarkable cultural history. Crime levels are low – Jordan is generally as safe as or safer than many major cities in the US or Europe.
The only area the US State Department doesn't recommend visiting these days is a small area near the Syrian border – but there's still an entire country to be discovered.
Okay, that's good to know. So what exactly is this Jordan Pass thing?
Glad you asked! The Jordanian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in cooperation with the Jordan Tourism Board introduced the Jordan Pass in late 2015 with the express goal of making it easier for foreign tourists to see more of the country at a lower cost.
It’s already extremely popular – basically it’s the key to a smooth tourist experience in Jordan, allowing you to see all the sights without any hassle. There are more than 40 attractions included.
40! Really? That's a lot! What if I'm only interested in 10?
That’s fine – you'll still save a ton of time and money with the Jordan Pass. It gives you free entrance to all included attractions. So it doesn’t take long before the Jordan Pass starts paying for itself.
Hmmm. I’m still not sure. Can you give me an example?
Sure. Take the ancient stone city of Petra – an attraction at the top of almost everyone’s Jordan wish list. A day pass to Petra normally costs about $70.
And then you’ll for sure want to see Jerash – knows as the Rome away from Rome – and that costs about $14. So visiting those two attractions alone costs $84.
Compare that to the Jordan Pass – which costs as little as $99 and includes entrance to basically everything. It’s a real bargin.
That seems like a pretty good deal, I gotta admit.
It is! And it gets better. Not only does the Jordan Pass save you money, it also saves you time by allowing you to avoid lines to purchase tickets on-site. It’s like a VIP pass to Jordan’s top attractions.
And less time in line means more time inside marvelling at the ruins or getting that killer selfie where ancient kings once stood.
This Jordan Pass sounds better and better. I wonder!
… Oh! I almost forgot. When you stay in Jordan for at least three nights, the Jordan Pass also waives your tourist visa fee – which normally costs $56.
Wow! That was my next question actually. What about a visa? It’s free?
Yep, with the Jordan Pass and a three-night stay.
Cool. But I bet the visa application process can be a hassle. How many months in advance do I need to contact the embassy?
You don’t have to contact the embassy at all. If you purchase the Jordan Pass before travelling to Jordan, you can just show it at the airport and receive your visa upon arrival.
Seriously? Sounds like it time to start looking at flights. But how long does the pass last?
Once activated, the Jordan Pass is valid for two weeks – plenty of time to explore everything the country has to offer. But you can also buy the Jordan Press far in advance or even as a present for someone else. It can activated up to 12 months after purchase.
Nice. So let me get this straight, with the Jordan Pass I won’t have any visa hassles, I get to skip the ticket line at Petra and other attractions, and I save a boatload of cash?
That’s right. Did I mention you also gain access to downloadable digital brochures for the all the attractions?
No. But you didn’t have to. I want to know how I get my hands on the Jordan Pass.
It's simple – just go to www.jordanpass.jo. You can buy the pass online and it will be emailed to you as a PDF. Show it on your phone or print it off – it's up to you!
Access to all the wonders of Jordan are only a few clicks away.
Awesome. I’m checking flights as we speak.
Have a great trip!
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