Welcome to Scopia LLC's page for Jordan. Ahlan wa Sahlan!

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan welcomes you with open arms. There is a misconception amongst many travelers that Jordan is Petra and vice versa. This a very partial picture of Jordan, as the country has so much to offer you beyond Petra. As a matter of fact, my preferred guide in Jordan - Ahmad - was kind enough to record a full online lecture about "Jordan beyond Petra", which you can view on the site's lectures page.

In the north of Jordan, you can find sites such as Jerash, probably the best kept ancient Roman city in the Middle East. Next to it, at Ajloun, there is a magnificent Islamic castle. More to the south, you'll find the capital city of Amman, which itself has quite a bit to offer. Closer to the Dead Sea you'll find the map city of Madaba, the religious sites of Bethany and Mount Nebo and the Dead Sea itself. More to the south you'll find the crusader fortress at Al Karak, the world-famous site of Petra, the stunningly beautiful desert landscapes of Wadi Rum and the resort city of Aqaba on the Red Sea.

As you can see, Jordan has a lot to offer you, and this is before we start talking about sites that are off the beaten tracks, the opportunities to meet Jordanians and learn about their lives. Scopia LLC can help you - in a private or group setting - to visit Jordan whether it's for a day, two or more. To view some sample Jordan itineraries, visit my Jordanian itineraries page.

Since most people visit Jordan as an extension to Israel, here is some information about the three border crossings:

• North: Jordan River crossing (Sheikh Hussein crossing on the Jordanian side): This border crossing is located near the Israeli town of Beit She'an, about 30 minutes south of the Sea of Galilee. You can get a Jordanian visa at the border, or Scopia LLC can help you arrange it in advance which helps a bit to expedite the process.

• Center: Allenby Bridge (King Hussein crossing on the Jordanian side): This border crossing is located near the Palestinian town of Jericho, a bit north of the northern edge of the Dead Sea. For a host of reasons, this crossing is considered by tourism professionals to be the least preferred location to cross between Israel and Jordan.

• South: The Yitzhak Rabin crossing (Wadi Araba on the Jordanian side) is located just north of the resort cities of Eilat in Israel and Aqaba in Jordan. To cross here, you will need to have your Jordanian visa in advance, which can be arranged by sending Scopia LLC your passport details prior to the tour. 

Generally speaking, it's always good to check about the Jordanian entry requirements in advance, as these change on fairly frequently. You can do so here, on the Jordanian Ministry of Tourism website.

For US Citizens, the visa fee to Jordan for those coming in to see Petra for just one day, is about $60 (as of today's rate of exchange). There's also a Jordanian exit tax which needs to be paid when leaving Jordan via one of the crossings. Not to worry with Scopia LLC - everything will be explained in detail and my local partner in Jordan will handle everything.

Of course, there is no law that states you have to visit Jordan coming from Israel. It is very easy to arrange a tour of this beautiful country based on an arrival at Amman's Airport (QAIA).

For a list of current tours offered to Jordan, please visit the Upcoming Tours page.

Please be sure to visit the Useful Links page for information about tourism, health (CDC) and safety (travel advisories).

Visit Scopia LLC's Lectures Page for some interesting, guided lectures about Jordan and other destinations.