Transportation in Jordan

Most people arrive in Jordan by air, although it is also possible to come via road, rail or water. Amman, the capital, is home to the country's only international airport, and is also the start or end point of many other types of transport. Getting to other destinations throughout the country is possible by domestic airline, bus or taxi.

Amman is the main transport hub of Jordan, and as such, most travellers tend to spend some time there at the beginning or end of their trip!

The national carrier of Jordan is Royal Jordanian Airlines (www.rja.com.jo). Flights to Amman arrive at Queen Alia International airport, which is located about 35 kilometres to the southeast of Amman. Taxis and regular buses make the 40-50 minute journey. The airport has all facilities expected of an international airport, including duty-free shopping, bureau de change, ATMs, car hire, restaurants and shops. There is no departure tax for foreign nationals.

For transport from the airport to the city (or from the city to the airport), we recommend Green Path Transfers, who offer eco-friendly airport transfers in hundreds of destinations around the world.

Aqaba features Jordan's sole port, and it is a stopover on a number of cruises throughout the Middle East. Ferries, both car and passenger, and a high-speed hydrofoil, make the crossing to Nuweiba, in Egypt. There is a JOD 5 departure tax for foreign nationals.

There is a twice weekly trains between Amman and Damascus (Syria), operated by the Hejaz Railway (http://www.jhr.gov.jo/). It is uses ancient rolling stock and the journey can be tortuously slow, and as such the only real reason to take the journey is for the experience itself.

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Main road access is possible from Damascus, or from Egypt via ferry. Share taxis and coaches service the route to Damascus, which takes about 4 hours from Amman. Other destinations serviced by coach include Turkey, Iraq, Israel and Saudi Arabia. Please feel free to contact us for more detailed and up to date information about border crossings. Road departure tax is JOD 4.

The only domestic flights available in Jordan are from Amman to Aqaba. These are operated by Royal Wings (http://www.royalwings.com.jo/).

If renting a hire car, make sure you stick to main, paved roads, unless you have a high-clearance 4WD vehicle, as desert tracks can be very tough on vehicles. Also make sure your vehicle is in good repair and that you have plenty of spare water available to you in case of a break down.

Car hire is available in major cities, as well as from many hotels and travel agents. It is also possible to hire drivers for the day. In case of breakdown, contact the Royal Automobile Club of Jordan (tel: (06) 585 0626; http://www.racj.com/). International Drivers licences are valid in Jordan, and traffic drives on the right.

Buses are a great way of getting around, as they are efficient, cheap and relatively comfortable. Modern, air-conditioned fleets are operated by Alpha (tel: (06) 585 0626), JETT (tel: (06) 566 4146) and Trust International Transport (tel: (06) 581 3427).

Taxis all use meters, and can be hired for a whole day. There are also share-taxis which service all towns on fixed routes, and they can be chartered for private use. If you wish to take a share-taxi to Petra it is best to book in advance due to demand. A tip of about 10% is appreciated.

Buses and fixed-route 'servis' share-taxis are the most common and convenient ways of getting around towns and cities. These usually have a standard fare, although the 'servis' do not have set pick-up or drop-off points. The easiest place to catch these are from terminals.

When researching your next Jordan Travel experience select from our range of Jordan Hotels, located around the country in each of the following cities and towns:

          * Amman Hotels                  *   Aqaba Hotels
          *  Petra Hotels                      *   Dead Sea Hotels
          * Wadi Rum Hotels             *   Kerak Hotels
          * Wadi Mousa Hotels         *   Dana Hotels
          * Madaba Hotels                 *   Sweimeh Hotels

We also offer a range of Jordan Tours and happy to help plan a full Jordan travel itinerary.

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