The Middle East is being ravaged by conflict.

But, contrary to popular belief, that doesn't mean every single country in the region is unsafe.

In the last few months, I've visited Qatar, the UAE, and now Jordan, with the not-so-surprising realization that these places are safe, peaceful, and very much open to tourists.

My week in Jordan was absolutely amazing! From the people I met to the sights and sounds the country has to offer, it was an eye-opening experience in so many ways!

Not my Typical Trip

Over the last 18 months, I've gotten accustomed to taking on places solo, and from that standpoint, my Jordan trip was a little different because I went on an organized group tour with 12 other strangers.

The tour company, Contiki, specializes in trips for 18-35 year-olds looking to have fun while traveling.

It was a different experience, to say the least. I'm used to planning my entire trip myself–accommodation, transportation, and things to do. Having all this organized for me felt strange.

I almost missed having complete control, even if that would have meant failing to curate the experience to the same level as the group tour.

But Jordan is a tricky country to get from place to place without a car as the infrastructure outside of the capital, Amman, is poor. So it was probably for the best that the logistics were left to the experts.

Dead Sea

Before the tour started, I took a day trip to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the planet (413 meters below sea level).

The salt concentration in this sea is so great that no living beings can survive, hence the name.

For humans, it's generally only safe to wade a few feet in and stay for a maximum of 20-30 minutes.

Not exactly your holiday paradise.

But as a geographic novelty, it was super cool! I spent the day at a resort on the water, chilling by the sea and eating way too much Jordanian food before heading back to Amman for the start of the tour.

New Year's Eve in Amman

If you thought that just because Jordan is a Middle Eastern country they wouldn't know how to party it up for New Year's, then you'd be mistaken.

Our newly formed group went out to a bar in the city and danced the night away.

The bar consisted of mostly men partying together, which I figured was probably because of cultural norms surrounding women in the Middle East.

But I wasn't going to let that stop me from having a good time. I jumped into a dance circle with all the Jordanian dudes and soon we were all dancing together and having a great time.

Soon after celebrating the clock striking midnight, our group decided to head out. Before doing so, one of the guys we had been dancing with grabbed me really close and asked me if I was gay.

"No, I'm straight," I responded. "Are you?"

"Yes," he replied, "All of us are."

It was at that moment that I realized I had completely misread the situation surrounding my assumption of cultural norms and the lack of women at this bar.

This was actually the first (and only) gay bar in the entire country of Jordan.

...

What a way to ring in the new year!

Jarash

Our first stop after Amman was Jarash, boasting some amazing Roman ruins.

Yeah. ROMAN RUINS. In Jordan.

Those dudes really did conquer everything. I had no idea they made it as far as the Middle East.

I also had the unique experience of meeting a vendor outside Jarash who gave me a free Jarash magnet, just because I told him I was from the US and showed him on a map exactly where.

I've never seen a vendor give something away for free to a tourist. I was trying to give it back because I figured it was one of these tricks where they give you something and then ask you to pay for it, but he was sincere.

Example #1000 on how people in the Middle East carry more genuine friendliness than anywhere else in the world.

Petra

Our next stop was one of the 7 Wonders of the World, Petra. Before being conquered by the Romans, it was inhabited by a tribe called the Nabateans, who were absolutely remarkable engineers and architects.

They lived in a desert where it rains 86mm each year. By comparison, Washington, DC receives 981mm of rain each year, and it's not known for being a rainy city.

For the ancient inhabitants of Petra, this meant they had to build extremely elaborate water channels and reservoirs to sustain the population. Many of these engineering marvels still exist today, the scale of which was insane to see in person.

However, the real reason that Petra is one of the 7 Wonders of the World is the architecture. The most famous structure, the Treasury (see above), was carved straight into the rock formations of the area.

It's hard to put into words how difficult an undertaking that must have been.

The detail is impeccable and because it was literally carved into the rock, they didn't get any do-overs.

Wow. It is a sight to behold.

Petra is more than just the Treasury as well. It was an entire civilization enclosed by these amazing rock formations. We walked around all day and still didn't get to see everything.

Wadi Rum

From Petra, we made our way to Wadi Rum, an absolutely stunning desert landscape. If it looks like Mars, that's probably because it's where The Martian was filmed.

I apologize because the photos don't really do this place justice, but it's absolutely breathtaking. We got to enjoy some home-cooked Jordanian food from a tribe local to the desert and glamp out under the stars.

I also got to witness one of the greatest sunrises of my life the following morning.

What a place.

Wrap-Up

Jordan is an amazing country boasting kind people, stunning landscapes, rich history, and amazing food.

We learned from our tour guide that their tourism industry is being severely affected by the war next door in Gaza, negatively impacting their economy.

Jordan is not Israel and it is not Palestine. It is safe, peaceful, and open for visitors.

If you've considered going but are concerned about safety, do your research! You'll find that the internet will echo these sentiments, and it's totally worth the experience.

I'd recommend it 100% and I'm hoping to return to Amman later on in my journey.

Give it a shot and you won't be disappointed!