I travelled to Jordan in February with G Adventures on their Jordan Multisport trip (which was amazing! You can read my review here.). It was a great time of year to go. But what should you pack for Jordan in winter?
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.
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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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