Welcome to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , 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. Images of the ancient Nabataean city of Petra, carved from the rock over 2,000 years ago, have long been most people ' s first impression of Jordan.

While Petra is indeed one of the most stunning attractions in the Middle East and the world , Jordan offers so much more for the modern traveller. A well-travelled bridge between sea and desert, east and west, Jordan is a land of mesmerizing beauty and contrasts. From the Jordan Valley, fertile and 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 is horse riding, 4x4 safaris, rock climbing, canyoning, and hiking. For pure relaxation , nothing on earth compares to the Dead Sea and its many spa facilities .

(Source: Jordan Tourism Board)