The weather in Jordan in Winter

In the winter months, the weather in Jordan can be quite changeable and, although it is only a small country, the weather can vary a lot from place to place.

When I visited in February, it was 20-25 degrees Celsius in the sun, chilly when cloudy, 2 degrees Celsius overnight in the desert, heavy rainfall one day in Amman, and snow was forecast (though that didn’t happen).

So you sort of need to pack for all weathers!

What to pack for Jordan in Winter

So what should you pack? Here’s what I recommend, based on my experience in February.

Clicking on the images or links will take you to the product page on Amazon. If you decide to buy something, I will get a small commission, but rest assured there won’t be any additional cost to you.

The first images (which link to Amazon products) are items for women, and the second are for men.

Down Jacket

A down jacket is a must-pack item for any trip that isn’t going to be boiling hot. They scrunch up small and compact and are super light, but also super warm.

I like Trespass down jackets as they are a good quality mid-price brand.

Pack some Hiking Boots for Jordan in winter

Make sure you pack some good hiking boots. It might rain in Jordan in winter, so it’s a good idea to take a waterproof pair.

I swear by my KEEN Terradora Waterproof Hiking Boots, which have seen me through long treks in many locations – including Jordan.

You can read my review of my Keen Terradora boots if you’d like to know more about them.

Hiking Socks

You’re likely to do a lot of walking in Jordan, particularly if you are planning to visit Petra – it’s a huge site!

I love my Karrimor trekking socks, as they aren’t too hot and they have plenty of padding in the right places.

Waterproof Jacket – it can rain in Jordan in winter

It doesn’t normally rain very much in Jordan but it can do in winter and, if it does, you’ll be glad to have a lightweight waterproof jacket.

When I visited in February, it rained so much in Amman that the centre of town flooded. That is unusual, but I certainly needed the waterproof jacket!

I like packable waterproof jackets, as they do the job, are light and scrunch up nice and small.

Fleece for the Wadi Rum in winter

As I said, the weather is mostly likely to be relatively warm, however if you’re planning on spending any time in Wadi Rum (the desert) then you will need to wrap up warm.

In the desert, it can get down to 0 degrees Celsius and it can also be very windy.

I love my North Face Fleece because it’s very warm, lightweight, and has lasted really well.

Long Sleeve T-shirts

Make sure you take a few long sleeve t-shirts. I recommend long sleeve as Jordan is a mainly Muslim country. Ladies, you’ll want to make sure they have a higher neckline too – no cleavage on show.

Short sleeve t-shirts are fine for men, and you can get away with them as a woman too, however it’s more respectful to wear long sleeves.

I love FatFace long sleeve tops, as they are comfy, really great quality, and not too expensive.

Leggings or Hiking Trousers

I took two pairs of leggings, one pair of thermal running leggings and one pair of normal sports leggings. If opting to wear leggings, take along some longer t-shirts which will cover your bum.

Hiking trousers are great for men or, if preferred, for women too. I personally find leggings more comfortable and they can double as pyjama bottoms.

Jeans

Jeans are commonly worn in Jordan and you’ll fit right in wearing them. In winter, they are a good choice for wearing in the towns and cities as they’re warm.

Tight, skinny jeans are completely fine for women.

Pack a thin scarf

Just for the colder evenings and time out in the desert, I was glad to have a scarf. I took just a lightweight cotton scarf and found that to be enough. I don’t think it would have been worth the weight to take a wool one.

Swimmers for the Dead Sea in winter

Jordan is a very conservative country, so you might wonder what kind of swimming costume is appropriate. You’ll only be wearing it in the resorts, so the answer is that you can wear whatever you like.

I personally chose a more conservative bikini than I typically would, and took along one of my surfing ones.

It ill be warm enough for a swim in the Dead Sea, even in winter.

Technology to pack for Jordan

Power Bank

A bit like India, the plug sockets in the hotels in Jordan can be a bit hit and miss. You’ll find a combination of British and European-style plug sockets, and some will work and some will not!

You can save yourself some potential drama by taking a fully-charged power bank with you.

I have an Anker PowerCore 20100, which I’m really happy with. It isn’t perhaps the lightest, but the charge seems to last forever!

Headphones

I have Bose QuietComfort 20 Headphones which I just would not be without. They are Noise Cancelling so they are great on planes, trains and buses.

You can read my review of them here.

Camera

I always travel with my Nikon D3500, which I love. I’ve been using this model (and a previous version of it) for the years.

It’s a great entry level DSLR, which is easy to operate, takes brilliant photos (even in fully automatic mode) and, despite the kit lens, is really quite light compared to other DSLRs.

GoPro for the Dead Sea

I thoroughly recommend taking a GoPro (or other waterproof camera) with you if you’re planning on going to the Dead Sea.

It’s really bizarre being able to float on top of the water, and it’s fun to capture on film. A GoPro is a great option because you will be able to both film and take still shots.

I have an extendable selfie-stick-style handle for my GoPro, which you can loop around your wrist in water.

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When I told people at home I was planning a Jordan Multisport trip, I got some strange reactions. Some people stared at me blankly before asking where Jordan is, some people said nice things whilst the look on their face said something else, and some people flat out told me not to visit the Middle East.

Yes, Jordan borders Iraq and Syria, but it doesn’t suffer from the same political issues. It’s a small, safe country filled with lovely friendly people, many different landscapes, and amazing historical sites not to be missed.

Here’s my review of the G Adventures Jordan Multisport trip.

Exploring Amman before the G Adventures Jordan Multisport tour starts

Most flights to Amman, the capital of Jordan, from the UK arrive late at night. So I arrived a day before my Jordan Multisport trip was due to start. I stayed at the Signature Hotel Amman, which is located close to downtown and a short walk up to the Citadel.

As a tourist walking around Amman alone, you can expect smiles from the locals. Some people might even stop to ask your name, ask where you’re from, and welcome you to Jordan!

The Citadel is a great first place to visit in Amman. High on a hill, there are panoramic views of the huge sprawling city together with a Roman ruins to explore. Afterwards, you can head down the hill to the Roman Amphitheatre, visit the King Abdullah Mosque and shop for souvenirs in downtown Amman.

Kick off the Multisport tour Hiking the Ajloun Forest Reserve

As I mentioned, Jordan has many different landscapes and the Jordan Multisport trip shows you all of them. The Ajloun Forest Reserve is… well… sort of a Forest. It’s muddy, green and filled with trees.

The hikes here are short, no more than a couple of hours, and can be slippy if it has recently rained. Don’t expect your clothes to be clean at the end of a walk!

It seemed to me that G Adventures have designed this day to ease you in to the hiking with a fairly gentle walk.

Hiking Wadi Mijub with views of the dead sea

Wadi Mijub is river canyon which enters the Dead Sea. In the summer, you can take a wet hike in the river, wading through the water deep in the canyon.

I travelled to Jordan in winter, so there was very little water in the canyon. So, instead, took a trail up onto the rocks high above the Dead Sea.

I’d love to go back and do the wet hike, but I’m glad I didn’t miss the view from up high. The Dead Sea isn’t actually a sea, but a lake. But from this hike you will understand why it was once mistaken for an ocean!

Floating in the Dead Sea with your G Adventures pals

Floating in the Dead Sea is a must do for any trip to Jordan or Israel. And it’s might be something you should tick off your bucket list relatively soon. My G Adventures guide told me that the Dead Sea will disappear in the next 50 years.

The water level is currently reducing at a rate of 1 metre per year, due to Jordan’s salt industry. The lake is about 50m deep, so if it continues at the current rate that will be that. Let’s hope not!

Floating in the Dead Sea is really fun, if a little strange. Just relax and you’ll stay right on top of the water. One thing I found out the hard way is that turning onto your front is a bad idea. It’s suuuuper hard to keep your face out of the water! I was filming my attempt on my GoPro, but it ain’t pretty… so I might just keep it to myself!

I stayed at the Dead Sea Spa Hotel, which is a resort hotel with a few bars, restaurants and swimming pools onsite. You can walk right down to the Dead Sea from here within a couple of minutes.

I completely recommend the hotel, but can advise you not to play Fuzzy Duck with your tour buddies before dinner… the hotel layout doesn’t make much sense at the best of times, and it becomes almost impossible to find your room after a few cocktails.

Yes, I know, I thought my drinking game days were well and truly over too! This isn’t typical of a G Adventures active trip, and completely optional.

Hiking in the Dana Biosphere Reserve

I loved the Dana Biosphere Reserve and it was probably my favourite hike on the G Adventures Jordan Multisport trip. The photos I took really don’t do the landscape justice. The hike is quite steep – both up and down – and in some places more like scrambling.

This area has plenty of opportunities to climb up onto a high sandstone rocks for an amazing view.

Make sure your hiking boots (I’m still in love with my Keen Terradoras!) have plenty of grip before taking this trip!

Visit Little Petra

The Dana Biosphere Reserve is close to Petra, so it was possible to stop off at Little Petra on the way to our hotel (I stayed in the Seven Wonders Hotel, which was nice and in a good location).

Little Petra, or Siq al-Barid, is similar to Petra in that it is from the same historical period and has many buildings carved into the walls of the sandstone canyon. It’s thought to have been a suburb of Petra.

As the name suggests, it’s much smaller than Petra, but it’s also free and much less crowded. You can climb up into some of the buildings and go inside.

At Little Petra you’ll see signs pointing tourists to the ‘Best view in the world’. It’s fun to follow the signs and climb up steep, crumbling stairs to… one of the most underwhelming views in the world. Do it though, it’s kind of funny!

Visit Petra by night (optional on the G Adventures Jordan Multisport tour)

In Petra, you have the option of going to Petra at night. It costs about 20 JD and you walk through the siq (canyon) to the Treasury by candlelight. The walk is fun and exciting, especially if it’s your first time at Petra.

You’ll arrive at the Treasury where you can sit amongst the candles (and lots of other people!) listening to traditional music before being told a (very short) story about Petra.

Next comes a light show, in which the Treasury is light up in brightly coloured lights, which makes it possible to take photos without a DSLR and a tripod.

It was fun, and I’m glad I did it. But don’t worry too much if you don’t have the time or money. The story is really very short and the light show is a little bit naff, so it’s more about the walk and the building excitement!

A day hiking Petra with G Adventures

Petra is AMAZING. Seriously, one of the most awesome places I’ve ever been.

The most solid advice I can give you is to arrive early – we’re talking 6:00am. If you do that you can take your time walking through the siq, passing only the odd few people as you go.

If you pay attention, you’ll see many buildings carved into the rocks, as well as some half-worn away decorative carvings of camels and carts. My guide on the Jordan Multisport trip was excellent and pointed out things I certainly would have missed.

Arriving at the Treasury at this time of the morning is magical. You’ll have time to stop for photos as the siq opens out to give you your first glimpse. There won’t be many people around at this time either, so you should be able to get some good shots of you and the Treasury without other tourists in the way.

Petra doesn’t stop at the Treasury though! Make sure you take the time (and effort) to hike the 800 steps up to the Monastery. This is another building, similar to the Treasury, but bigger. And with even less people around. There’s a cafe at the top which is a nice spot for lunch.

You can also take another 600-step hike up to an aerial view of the Treasury. There’s a cafe at the top here as well and they do make you buy something (a very cheap cup of tea) in order to enjoy the view. I think it’s worth it, and you probably want a drink after all that hiking anyway.

When you leave after all of that, you’ll understand my advice to arrive early in the morning. Heading back through the siq in late afternoon you have hundreds of people, donkeys, horses and carts to contend with. It can be a little overwhelming.

4×4 in Wadi Rum – the bit that makes the G Adventures tour ‘multisport’

After all that hiking, you might be keen to give your legs a rest. And what better way to relax than sitting on the back of a 4×4 as you speed through the desert? I absolutely recommend for a few hours in a 4×4 by plenty of stops for photos.

Staying the night in a traditional Bedouin desert camp is also an experience not to be missed. I was there in winter so it was cold, perhaps 2*C overnight, so if you’re travelling at this time of year do take extra jumpers and a warm down jacket.

The Bedouin tents, however, are pretty cosy and they provide as many blankets as you need to feel warm. So, once you’re tucked up in bed, you’ll be just fine!

Visit Jordan on the G Adventures Jordan Multisport tour

Jordan is a safe country to visit and an excellent introduction to the Middle East. It’s relatively easy to travel around, but I recommend taking a tour as you can fit much more into a short space of time.

I travelled Jordan on G Adventures’ Jordan Multisport trip (which turned out to be just hiking as the weather prevented us from doing the planned cycling). As per usual with G Adventures, the guides were great and everyone on the trip was fun to be around!

You can fly to Amman, Jordan relatively inexpensively from most major airports – check out Momondo for deals. You can even fly Ryanair from the UK with a stopover in Poland!

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