at a glance

Geographical area
89,206 sq km (slightly smaller than the state of Indiana, USA). Jordan comprises mostly desert plateau in the east and highland areas in west. The Great Rift Valley separates the East and West Banks of the Jordan River.

Capital
Amman (approx. 1.8 million inhabitants).

Population
Approximately 5.5 million people.

People
98% Arabs. Of this number, more than 60% are Palestinian Arabs. There are small communities of Circassians, Chechens and Armenians. The Bedouin were originally desert dwellers and form the majority of the indigenous population, though today not more than 40,000 are truly nomadic. Jordanian people as a general rule are a conservative society.

Language
Arabic. English is widely understood amongst the middle and upper classes.

System of Government
Constitutional Monarchy. King Abdullah II is Jordan’s head of State..

Currency
Jordanian Dinar (JD). JD1 consists of 100 piastres.

Religion
92% Sunni Muslim. Jordan is a secular state and guarantees complete freedom of worship to non-Muslims.

Exchange rate (July 08)
GBP £1 = JD 1.40 USD $1 = JD0.70 (subject to fluctuation).

Time Zones
Jordan is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. Daylight saving time is from the last Sunday in March to the Saturday before the last Sunday in October. During this period, Jordan is 3 hours ahead of GMT.

Weather
Average daily maximum temperatures in Amman range from 12 C in January to 32 C in August. The weather in the Jordan Valley (Petra) and south of the country is very hot during the summer months of April through September. Daytime temperatures can exceed 38 C and increase to as high as 49 C. In winter (Dec to Feb) temperatures can range from 0 C to just 12 C. If visiting during winter, you will need to pack warm clothes for sightseeing and also for your stay in the desert at Wadi Rum.

Trading hours
9am to 2pm Saturday to Thursday. Banks are open from 08.30am to 12.30pm and 4pm to 6pm Saturday to Thursday. Private businesses keep similar hours but are more flexible. Friday is generally Jordan’s leisure or rest day, where few businesses remain open.

Voltage
220 Volts. Sockets are of the European, 2 pronged variety. If taking a hairdryer or camcorder, be sure to pack a power adaptor.

On the go is a specialist operator of cultural and adventure tours in the Kingdom of Jordan. Fun and informative group tours of Jordan offering frequent departures at realistic prices from Amman include highlights such as the Rose City of Petra, the Dead Sea, Wadi Rum, Roman Jerash, sunny Aqaba, Madaba mosaic town, biblical Mt Nebo, neighbouring Damascus and Bosra in Syria. Trek Petra walking holidays, Petra Kitchen cooking classes, the annual Distant Heat Desert Rave at Wadi Rum, Christmas in Petra, New Year’s in Wadi Rum and tailored Jordan are also a hallmark.