3 Days Exploring Amman & Camping in the North

Camping in Sharhabil Bin Hassneh (SHE) Ecopark

We arrived at the entrance of the Sharhabil Bin Hassneh Ecopark and realized that the gate was locked. We imagined the worst, but some guy came up to the gate and told us that the park was fully booked. Thank God we had our own tent, so Moni clarified that and got us in.

We found the best spot in the park, under the shade, and set up her tent.

Prior to coming to the park, we thought there would be a restaurant inside. However, there were none. Fortunately, we had bought a few fruits before leaving Amman. So, we grabbed our apples and bananas and ate them on a tree (her idea), like wild animals.

Moni tried her best to look natural in front of the camera.

Things to Do in Sharhabil Bin Hassneh Ecopark

We spent that afternoon continuing our discussion about all things spiritual. While we were walking back to our tent, we met Angus, a student from the US who was doing research on animals around the park. He tipped us off about a place we could go swimming, and he would join us later.

We followed Angus's directions and found a water reserve surrounded by mountains. It was the perfect spot.

Me, Moni, and Angus found a great spot, far away from the local tourists, and jumped straight in. We swam until the sun went down completely and called it a day.

That night, we were not so keen on eating our plain food that we had brought with us. Fortunately, Angus offered us his leftover lunch, and we were able to dine like kings and queens in our tent rather than in a tree. :) Thank you, Angus!

Trust me... I'm a morning person!

In my defense, the night before, those hellhounds were barking like crazy all night, so I barely got any sleep. After washing up, I asked Moni the hard question, "What should we do today?" We did not know until the staff suggested that we give them a hand in building fences around the park. A little volunteering work? Why not?

Well, we did nothing but watch, so I don't know if we could call it volunteering, but it was still fun to see how they work.

They invited us for lunch, and I had the most heartwarming experience with them. People joked with each other as if they were family, and all I could do was watch in amusement since I did not understand a word they were saying. What I realized, though, is how friendly Jordanians are. They even gave us a free ride back to Amman at the end!

After we got back to Amman, we went out for a nice drink with her friend (who was supposed to go camping with her in the first place but couldn't) at Rainbow Street in downtown Amman, and we ended the day.

Things to Do in Amman

In the morning, I said goodbye to Moni as we went our separate ways. It was good fun hanging out with her, but our lives went on. She went back to Lebanon, and I went out and explored Amman.

I took the day a little slowly and walked around the city.

I may have taken the day a little too slowly as I went to the Jordanian National Museum, but it was closed. I decided not to let the day go to waste and started climbing to the Citadel.

From the citadel, you can get a 360-degree view of the capital city of Jordan.

I spent hours exploring every single ruin in the area. One of the most impressive ones was the Temple of Hercules and the iconic hand fragment of Hercules.

The Citadel Hill was the perfect place to watch the sunset over the city.

While I was waiting for the sunset, two locals approached and socialized with me. One was speaking perfect English, and the other was able to speak a little bit. That was enough for me to learn about their lives.

The one on the left was from Amman, whereas the other one was originally from Syria. He migrated to Jordan when ISIS took over. He is now happily studying in Amman.

After a few hours at the citadel, I went back down through Rainbow Street and bought myself a few souvenirs before going back to the hostel. As I walked through the door, the guy at the reception told me great news. The next day, there would be an unguided day tour going to the Dead Sea, and he was able to find three people to join the tour. Since the cost is shared among travelers, we were able to drive the price down to 15 JOD each. The day tour includes a few church visits, Mt. Nebo, and the Dead Sea. Fifteen JOD was quite a deal to pass up, so I decided to join the tour.

Spend a Day Swimming in the Dead Sea

At around 9 AM, Ramon, Luana, Liu Ding, and I took off to see Mt Nebo. Mt Nebo was mentioned in the Bible as the place where Moses was granted a view of the Promised Land. It sounded great and all, but the monument was not as epic as it sounds. More than 80% of the area was closed to visitors. We were not able to get a closer look at the monument because it was fenced off. Mt Nebo was not worth a visit in my opinion, but since it was included in the tour, why the hell not. :)

We decided to spend less time on the monuments and more time swimming in the Dead Sea. We went straight to the Dead Sea, got into our swimsuits, and experienced one of the weirdest feelings in the world... not being able to sink in the water.

As you walked in the water, it felt quite normal. But once you started to go deeper, you realized that your foot no longer touched the ground, and you just floated there, unable to control where you were going.

It was one of the most unnatural feelings I have ever felt, right up there with the feeling before doing the bungee jump. I was unable to sink no matter how hard I tried. It was also a good idea not to, since the salty water of the Dead Sea could easily damage your eyes and respiratory system. That is why it is recommended to swim with your back in the water rather than the other way around.

Ramon and Luana showed me how cool it looks to float in water while reading a magazine. :)

After 3 hours at the Dead Sea, we drove back feeling salty and awesome at the same time. Visiting the Dead Sea, either on the Israeli side or the Jordanian side, is a must-do experience!

That evening, Luana, Ramon, and I went out for kebabs on Rainbow Street before we said goodbye to each other. They were heading to Petra the next day, while I had to catch my flight to my next destination, Istanbul, Turkey.

Go Cafe-Hopping in Amman

The only cheap flight I found from Amman to Istanbul was at 3 am the next day via Aegean Airline, so I spent the whole day working in the many cool cafes around Amman. One of those was the Books@Cafe, a cafe-bookstore hybrid with an awesome garden terrace. I worked there for the whole day before reuniting with Andrew, an Aussie I met in Petra. We spent that evening sharing our travel stories. He told me how awesome it was to go to Iran, and I told him how sucky it is to have a "third-world" passport and not be able to go wherever I want. :) It was great fun and totally killed all the time I had in Amman. We said goodbye again, and I went to the airport, preparing myself for Istanbul, Turkey.

Where to Stay in Amman?

Budget

Sydney Hostel

Dorm | $

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👍 Top Pick

Mid-Range

Nomads Hotel

Double Room | $$

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High-End

Landmark Amman Hotel & Conference Center

King Room | $$$

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Getting to Sharhabil Bin Hassneh (SHE) Ecopark

We returned to Amman from Petra the day before and decided to find the cheapest way to go to the Sharhabil Bin Hassneh Ecopark. The hostel we stayed at quoted us 60 JOD for a 3-hour drive. It was overpriced as usual, so we decided to give Uber, a taxi-hailing app, a try. We were picked up in less than 10 minutes and he drove us there for 30 JOD, half the quoted price! If all else fails, try Uber. It might be your savior.

Looking for a guide to Petra?The Ultimate Day Hiking Guide To Petra, Jordan

What to Pack for Amma, Jordan?

As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Amman, Jordan:

• Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
• Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
• Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
• Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
• Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
• Swim Suits: A swim trunk is a must-pack item if you are planning to visit Amman, Jordan in the summer, just in case there is a body of water you can jump in.
• Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
• Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
• Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
• Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
• Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
• Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
• Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.

For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.

Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:

Flights: Skyscanner and Expedia are the best places to start looking for cheap flights and great deals from your home country.

Accommodation: Hostelworld, Booking.com, and Agoda.com are the ultimate go-to platforms to search for amazing hostels and hotels at affordable prices.

Travel Insurance: Heymondo covers theft, medical emergencies, cancellations, and more during your travels. Get a 5% discount if you sign up today.

Transportation: For buses, I always go with Omio when traveling in Amman, Jordan while for trains, Omio is my go-to place to book all my train travels in advance.

Car Rental: DiscoverCars.com is a great and reliable platform to find rental cars.

Internet: Airalo is the best way to get a sim card and has reliable internet access for your trip. All you need is an esim compatible smartphone, install it on your phone prior to your trip, and you are all set.

VPN: To stay connected with people at home, I always make sure to have ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and I can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.

Day Trips & Tours: Viator, GetYourGuide and TripAdvisor are great platforms to search for trips and tours to join.

Tickets & Deals: Klook is always my go-to website when I want to find cheaper deals for entrance tickets to tourist attractions.

Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.

Further Reading for Jordan

I hope you found this travel guide useful. I have a ton more written about Jordan, and if you are interested in reading more, here are a few additional travel guides about Jordan.

• While in Amman, be sure to take a day trip and visit Jerash. Here's a guide on how to travel to Jerash from Amman on public transport.
• Petra is among the most popular attractions not just in Jordan but in the entire world, and for good reasons. Here’s how to spend 2 days in Petra.
• Petra is also a prime place for hiking. You will be able to see the Treasury from a perspective not many have seen. Here’s a complete one-day hiking guide for Petra.
• Looking for something to inspire you to visit Jordan? I’ve got you covered. Here are 22 photos that will inspire you to visit Jordan.
• You can also watch my Jordan travel video here: Adventure in Jordan.
• To see all articles about Jordan, visit the Jordan Travel Guide page.
• Looking for more travel guides for the Middle East? You can find more on my Middle East Travel Guide page.
• For more of my travel guides, visit my Destinations page.