Jordan is a stunning country to explore, a male-dominated country, some of the women that you encounter on the streets cover their head with a scarf or a veil. However in the cities and the main Jordan tourist sites, Jordanians are used to seeing solo and Western female travelers and the facilities are generally set up with tourists in mind.
If you are planning on visiting Jordan as a woman, Solo female travelers should feel safe visiting the Dead Sea or Aqaba alone, but to avoid unwanted attention from men, stick to resorts instead of public beaches. Get off the beaten track and you’ll encounter restaurants with separate areas for women to eat as well as a separation on public transport.
In Petra, Jerash and Wadi Rum, avoid venturing off alone to remote areas as off-beat paths may not be well marked. Avoid dark alleys and unlit streets and take additional safety precautions when going out late.
Etiquette tips for women traveling in Jordan
Restaurants
In most Jordanian restaurants, a separate family seating area which can also be used by solo female travelers available. A way to make female in more comfortable section to sit in order to avoid any unwanted male attention.
Fake a Ring
Visitors are highly appreciated and respected in Jordan, furthermore married women are very respected in Jordan, Where possible it may be useful to wear a wedding ring in order to prevent unnecessary attention.
Walk Confidently
Ignore any look and smile while keeping walking confidently towards where you were off to, stopping to listen to conversation will only make you feel vulnerable. Confidence shows you are strong and focused. You can even have your headphones on with no music.
Travel Wisely
When moving around a place make sure that the you go for cabs that are registered. It’s even better if you use cab hailing apps such as Uber. If the driver tries any suspicious move you can always report them to the taxi company or rate them poorly. Sit at the back of the car and try to have less or no talk with the driver. Sometimes when you are traveling to a new place its O.K. not to be friendly until you’re comfortable with the area.
Late Nights
Having late night drinks or going out for dancing is probably in your travel plans. However, if you cannot find a friend to tag along you are better skipping this part of the trip. You are more vulnerable to an attack at night than you are during the day. So you have to be extra careful when roaming around at night anywhere.
Safe accommodation tips
Amman is one of the safest capitals in the region, but female travelers should stick to accommodation in Al Balad (downtown district), Jabal Hussein, Jabal al-Weibdeh, Jabal Amman, and Rainbow Street. In Aqaba – the same as in Amman.
When visiting Petra and Wadi Rum, book a hotel, guesthouse, or official desert camp that has a proper website with positive references. Though some local Bedouins will offer accommodation in traditional caves, this practice is not allowed and can prove dangerous for women.
General Style Tips
Solo travellers often worry about being lonely, but forming bonds with the people of Jordan is easy. Locals are very welcoming and yearn to connect with visitors. There are also many expatriates living in the hills of Amman, and you can easily find them in Jabal Al Lweibdeh and Jabal Amman, not only in the capital, but in other cities like Al-Karak and Aqaba, Regular meet-ups for expatriates and tourists are often held all around the country, so keep an eye out on social media.
Jordan has a progressive record for women’s rights in the region, as Jordanian women are highly educated and the constitution promotes equal opportunities. Although Jordan is culturally conservative, you’ll find warm hospitality from most people, which means that beyond avoiding remote areas and keeping an eye out for potential scams, travelling to Jordan alone is an accessible adventure.
The Kingdom offers organised tours for the solo traveler – our tours/excursions to Jordan will safely take you into the lesser-known parts of the country under the guidance of a Local Insider.