Planning a Trip

Visitor Information

The Jordan Tourist Board website (www.visitjordan.com) offers very thorough information about touring Jordan and Petra.

The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature website (www.rscn.org.jo) has specific information about ecotourism to Wadi Rum, south of Petra, the wild, mountainous Dana Reserve, north of Petra, as well as to other nature and wildlife reserves in the Kingdom of Jordan.

Travel To Jordan -- In November 2005, there were three simultaneous terror attacks in Amman, Jordan, but at press time, the general security situation in Petra remains stable.

Current information on travel and security in Jordan may be obtained from the Department of State by calling tel. 888/407-4747 within the United States, or 202/501-4444 from overseas. U.S. citizens should also consult the Consular Information Sheet for Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip; the Middle East and North Africa Public Announcement; and the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement at the Department's website at http://travel.state.gov.

Tour Operators

Reputable tour operators that run excursions to Petra (among other locations in Jordan) include Abercrombie and Kent Jordan (tel. 962-06/566-5465 in Amman; www.abercrombiekent.com); International Traders (tel. 962-06/560-7014 in Amman; www.traders.com.jo); Discovery Ecotourism -- Jordan Circle Tours (www.discoveryJ.com); and Petra Moon Tourism (tel. 962-03/215-6665 in Petra; www.petramoon.com).

Money

The Jordanian dinar is valued at approximately US$1.40, £0.76, and about NIS 6.3. So US$1 = JD 0.71; £1 = JD 1.31.

The Jordanian dinar (JD) is divided into 1,000 fils: 10 fils are 1 piaster; 500 fils are generally referred to as 50 piasters. Paper currency comes in denominations of JD 1, 5, 10, 20, as well as 500 fils (half a JD); there are silver coins for 25 fils, 50 fils, 100 fils, and 250 fils; copper coins are 5 and 10 fils.