Five reasons why Jordan is a great place to travel with kids

When we told friends and family that we were planning on touring Jordan for two weeks with our kids (aged 4 and 1), we got a few funny looks. ‘Are you sure?’, ‘Is it safe?’, ‘How will you manage with the baby?’, people asked.

But having got through covid and done a few more ‘low-key’ trips with the kids to Cyprus and Spain, me and my husband were desperate to reclaim our travelling youth and do something a bit more adventurous. I had spent a month in Jordan as a student, and had a fabulous time geeking out in all the historical sites, so Jordan it was! And it was wonderful. The kids loved it, but just as importantly, we loved it too!

So here are five reasons why Jordan is fantastic for family travel:

#1 You WILL feel like Indiana Jones (if he travelled with kids)

I’m not ashamed to admit that I felt pretty cool walking down the Siq (canyon route into Petra) with a baby strapped to my back, like ‘Yeah, I’m Adventure Mum’. And there is no shortage of places to make you, and your 4 year old, feel like rogue archaeologists. My son had an absolute blast exploring desert castles (no roped off areas here!) and climbing over Roman temples. Petra is basically like one huge adventure playground. And if you want a sure-fire way to get both kids to nap, try a camel ride.

#2 It’s small but diverse

You can drive from top to bottom in under 6 hours so it’s very easy to get about, especially if you hire a car like we did. The roads are mostly good and traffic free, and having a car meant we could be completely independent and stop whenever the kids got fed up and needed a break. In the north, you’ve got the Ajloun Forest reserve, which has a green, Mediterranean feel. There’s also the lush Azraq Wetland Reserve in the East, the stunning canyons of the Mujib Reserve, and the lunar desert landscape of Wadi Rum, not the mention the short but beautiful Red Sea coastline, backed by huge red mountains. It certainly makes for some good scenic driving!

#3 There’s accommodation to suit everyone

Whether you are looking for 5* luxury or something more basic, there’s plenty of choice in Jordan. We chose to bookend our trip with some resort time in Aqaba, flying in and out direct from London. This gave us time to adjust at first, and relax at the end, with access to kid-friendly pools and pristine beaches. In Petra, we stayed at a homestay guesthouse close to the entrance, and then we based ourselves in Amman for a few nights in a lovely apartment in the city centre, which gave us a break from all sharing a room.

Next time, I’d definitely like to try out one of the luxury desert camps in Wadi Rum, where you can stay in bubble domes which look like something out of Star Wars!

#4 Kids are popular

Jordan is one of the most welcoming countries, I’ve ever visited, and kids are no exception to this. Everywhere we went they got chatted to, cooed over and given little gifts of sweets or trinkets.

Though restaurants are a bit hit and miss with things like high-chairs, there was never a time where we felt unwelcome going for dinner with the kids, even in some of the posher joints.

If you’re used to the hustle of somewhere like Egypt, fear not! There was virtually none of this in Jordan, and when we did get approached, it was very no pressure.

#5 The food is very kid-friendly

Mezze. Need I say more? Ice cream and chips also readily available.

So if you want to have your own Adventure Mum moments, get in touch! I can design you and your family a bespoke itinerary to help you get the most our of your holiday in Jordan or beyond.