Situated between Israel, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Jordan is unexpectedly peaceful amid the turmoil of its neighbouring countries and is a wonderful place to visit.  With a reputation for being one of the most friendly countries on earth, it is sad that so few people dare to explore its immense sense of history, as well as two of the most magnificent sights in the Middle East - the ancient rock hewn city of Petra and Wadi Rum's spectacular desert scenery.

PASSPORT & VISA REQUIREMENTS
Australian passport holders must have a valid passport and a visa is required.  A 30 day visa can be obtained on arrival provided the purpose of travel is for tourism.

CURRENCY
The official currency is the Dinar (JOD), which is divided into 100 piastres or 1000 fils.  Banks are closed on Fridays.

LANGUAGES
Arabic is the official language, but English is understood by most people involved in the tourist industry and by the middle to upper class Jordanians.

VOLTAGE
Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz European two-pin plugs are the most common.

TIME DIFFERENCE
Local time is GMT +2 (GMT +3 from April to October). 

HEALTH REGULATIONS
Inoculations are not required unless travelling from an area infected by yellow fever of cholera.  It is best to check with your local doctor before travelling.  It is advisable to drink bottled water, which is cheap and widely available, although better hotels have their own filtering systems.

TIPPING
Most of the better hotels and restaurants will add a 10-12% service charge to the bill, but smaller establishments usually expect a tip.  It is customary to round up the price of a taxi trip instead of tipping.

CUSTOMS
The consumption of alcohol is strictly forbidden in the streets.  It is advisable to respect local Muslim conservatism regarding dress and women in particular will be better respected if their legs and shoulders are covered in public places.  It is advisable to ask permission before photographing people.  Bargaining is expected with merchants, especially in the markets.  Religious customs should be respected, particularly during the month of Ramadan when eating, drinking and smoking during daylight hours is illegal.  Bedouin hospitality is genuine, but custom requires that visitors should leave some small gift in return for a meal or glass of tea.