Is Jordan Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Jordan has been somewhere that’s been on my travel bucket list for a while. With its mystical deserts, amazing food, and historic architecture, it’s a one-of-a-kind destination. However, I’ve always asked myself is Jordan safe for solo female travelers? 

Well, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with this complete guide. I’ll go into how I felt as a solo female traveler in Jordan, where I went, and my top tips for staying safe and enjoying your time in this amazing country. 

So, let’s dive in and find out more!

Did I Feel Safe in Jordan as a Solo Female Traveler?

Okay, let’s start off with the big question – did I feel safe in Jordan as a solo female traveler? Well, yes I did. I was pleasantly surprised at how clean, modern, tech-savvy, and respectful Jordan was, especially in the capital, Amman. 

Having just come from Egypt, it felt like a completely different world! People weren’t staring and making me feel uncomfortable and there wasn’t the same vibe that often gives the Middle East a bad rap with solo female travelers. 

I was also surprised at how many people here spoke English and spoke English well! Here I was fully ready with my handy translator, but I really didn’t need it at all. It’s a good idea to have data on your phone or an eSIM like Airalo just in case you need Google Translate, but the language barrier was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be. 

Of course, there’s always a common-sense element to consider here. I stayed in hotels and resorts that were close to the action so I wasn’t having to take a ton of taxis or walk around at night. I also stuck to the tourist path of Amman, the Dead Sea, Wadi Rum, and Petra. Outside of these destinations, I’m not sure about the atmosphere for solo female travelers. 

Where to Visit in Jordan as a Solo Female Traveler

When you’re a solo female traveler and you’re not sure about how safe a certain place is going to be, sticking to the tourist areas where people are used to foreigners, there are people who can speak English, and there’s infrastructure set up can be reassuring. 

So, with this in mind, I organized a jam-packed itinerary that took me to:

• Amman
• The Dead Sea
• Wadi Rum
• Petra

For anyone – solo female or otherwise – coming to Jordan for the first time, this is the itinerary I’d recommend. It ticks all the boxes and gives you a good blend of city vibes, beach relaxation, cultural experiences, and a little bit of desert adventure. 

Visiting Amman

So, I landed in Amman which is the capital of Jordan. This is where most of the flights come into the country, so it’s a great jumping-off point. Amman is super modern and clean, with some tech vibes going on which I didn’t expect but definitely appreciated after the limited coverage and connection in Egypt. 

I stayed in the Boulevard Arjaan by Rotana which was right in the heart of the city, surrounded by all these cool cafes, and the staff at the hotel couldn’t be more helpful. They helped with taxis and directions in effortless English, so it really was a great start to the trip. 

While I was in Amman, I opted to do a delicious foodie experience at a Jordanian-Lebanese cafe called Habib Beirut. I love a food tour, it’s an amazing way to get a feel for the local culture and vibe while finding spots off the beaten path. 

When I say I ate well on this Habib Beirut experience, I am not kidding. There were plates and plates of savory and sweet options and they explained what everything was and a bit of information about the culture of each dish. 

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Visiting the Dead Sea

From the sleek city vibes of Amman, I moved to the relaxing atmosphere of the Dead Sea. This place is amazing if you’re looking for a spa beach break with one of the big brands. I stayed at the Dead Sea Marriott Resort and Spa, which had a ton of great beachfront loungers, drinks offers, and – of course – spa treatments.

With the high salt content of the Dead Sea and the minerals in the mud, it’s one of the best places to go for mud wraps and thalassotherapy experiences. If you’re in need of a bit of R&R after a few days traveling from place to place like I was, it’s going to be a welcome respite. 

You’ll find a lot of people who just book a week on the Dead Sea as an alternate resort holiday to destinations like coastal Egypt, Tunisia, or Turkey, so there are plenty of tourist-friendly amenities around this area, and it’s also good for families. 

As a solo female traveler, I loved the vibe, but only for a couple of days, because really it felt like a place you come to with friends or your other half for a relaxing break. 

Visiting Wadi Rum

Okay, so when I was organizing the trip to Wadi Rum, I saw all these photos and videos of these bubble hotels that are like geodomes in the middle of the desert. They looked insane and beautiful, and that was high on my bucket list for this trip. The one I stayed in was called The Memories Camp and it had a few different bubble rooms, some tents for shared areas, and a deck that ran throughout. Of course, there were catering areas as you can’t really cook or get to a strip of restaurants in the middle of the desert. 

Part of the reason we chose this hotel was for the opportunity to stargaze and go on desert tours. We did both of these things, one of which was a sunset tour with a driver who was also a photographer, so as an Instagram girl, I was all over that.

We could stargaze without even leaving our hotel which was an insane experience, and much appreciated when I was dying from no sleep and a bout of food poisoning! 

One activity that I would definitely recommend is the Shisha Caves. These were spectacular and well worth jumping on an organized tour or asking your guide about. 

Visiting Petra

Let’s be honest, you can’t go to Jordan and not go to Petra. This ancient desert UNESCO World Heritage Site draws crowds from all around the world and is 100% a bucket list item. There was no way I was missing out on this. 

As it’s Jordan’s top tourist attraction, there are some major hotel brands there – I stayed at the Movenpick Petra which is located right opposite the gates to the UNESCO Site. This made everything super easy and convenient and meant we didn’t have to mess around with taxis.

How Long Should I Spend in Petra?

One major thing to know about Petra is that it is huge. It’s not just the Treasury, which is the main tourist spot and what everyone sees when they think of Petra. It’s a massive site that can take anything from two to five hours to explore depending on your cardio level and how far you want to explore. So, with that in mind, make sure you bring comfortable walking shoes or boots for the day.

Many people prefer to break up the trip over two days to avoid the heat and crowds, but if you do this, make sure you have a Jordan Pass or a two-day ticket to avoid spending a fortune or being disappointed. 

Another note on clothing is that I would definitely bring layers. This isn’t because of a religious or modesty thing – that wasn’t really a thing at Petra – but it’s more that in the morning and evening, the site gets pretty cold. Before the sun hits Petra, you have pretty cold desert landscapes, so a shawl, cardigan, or lightweight layer will be useful here. It’s also handy to keep the sun off your shoulders as well as there’s not a lot of shade here. 

The Nabataean Ladies Cooperative

Finally, you’re going to see a local store at the gates of Petra. Normally I would avoid buying souvenirs and gifts from tourist attractions, but this store is a little different.

The Nabataean Ladies Cooperative supports the women and families who were displaced from Petra when it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They sell all kinds of local crafts and items, so bring some extra cash to support these women and the local community! 

Top Tips for Being Safe in Jordan as a Solo Female Traveler

Okay, so now you know all about my wonderful Jordan itinerary, here are some final tips for being safe in Jordan as a solo female traveler. 

Be Respectful

Respect is a huge thing in Jordan and you could feel it in pretty much every destination, even at the more Western resorts in the Dead Sea. Make sure that you’re being respectful of people around you whether that’s keeping the volume down, dressing more modestly around religious sites, or just listening very carefully to your desert guides.

Jordan Pass

Consider purchasing the Jordan Pass, especially if you’re visiting both Wadi Rum and Petra. This pass gets you into all the top sights and it saves you having to buy twenty different tickets and worry if you’re getting scammed. You can buy it online or from the concierge of most big hotels in the tourist hotspots. 

Location

I’d recommend spending a little more on your accommodation to get the prime location. A lot of the time, I’m not super bothered about being next to the attractions. However, as a solo female traveler, I didn’t want to have to walk at night or be at the mercy of local taxi drivers, especially if there’s a language barrier.

For me, it was an unnecessary risk and easily resolved with a little more budget into the accommodation versus transport. 

Get Your Hotel to Organize Taxis

If you do need to get around Jordan by taxi, get your hotel to organize them. Every place in the world has different ways of getting hold of a taxi, and Jordan is no different.

By organizing your taxi through the hotel, you know you’re not going to get ripped off and will largely be safe. The hotel will have a list of recommended taxi companies to choose from that’ll be vetted on their end. 

Bring Imodium

Honestly, this isn’t glamorous, but it is valid. Unfortunately, I did get food poisoning on this trip and it was in the desert, so it’s not like there are pharmacies around every corner. Bringing Imodium or similar medications is just a no-brainer. It’s better to have it on you and not need it than be stuck without it! 

In a similar vein, make sure you bring bandaids, paracetamol, and plenty of bug spray with you. You’ll be able to buy stuff in many of the cities, but if you’re doing Wadi Rum desert stays and you get a blister, you won’t be able to roll up to the store and buy some on a whim. 

Tip Culture

Jordan does have a tipping culture across the service industry and the expected standard is 10%. This applies to tour operators and drivers as well so make sure you have plenty of cash to hand when you’re out and about. Of course, you can always tip more than this, but 10% is the standard minimum that you should be putting down at hotels, restaurants, cafes, spas, and tours. 

Dress Code

While you don’t have to wear a headscarf around Jordan as a female traveller – unlike in many Middle Eastern countries – it’s important to still be respectful and read the room. Wearing a bikini at your resort in the Dead Sea is one thing but wearing denim hot pants in the Treasury at Petra is another. Shorts can still be seen as immodest and can draw unwanted attention, so consider longer dresses or lightweight pants instead. 

For one thing, it’ll just be uncomfortable. Bring plenty of light, floaty layers, including a ton of linen items because even though it can get super hot, you still want to be protected from the intense desert heat and all the sand that gets absolutely everywhere! 

Do Not Bring Your Nicest Swimsuit to the Dead Sea

This is a PSA for everyone who buys a cute swimsuit for the resort part of their Jordan trip. The high salt content in the Dead Sea changes the color of your swimsuit and affect the look and condition of the item. It’s kind of similar to when you go to a geothermal hot spring and it gives your bikini an orange tinge.

It’s because of the salt content that you need to rinse out your suit as soon as you take it off, otherwise, it won’t dry probably and it will get damaged in the long run! 

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