Visiting Jordan during the Cold Season

We are often asked if winter season is the best time to visit Jordan or how do they make the most of the trip while staying warm. There are a lot of options for sightseeing, hiking and other activities to be experienced. Below we have listed some good points to answer those questions.

How cold it can be or does it snow in Jordan?

If you are visiting between December to February, do pack warm clothes. December is the start of the winter season in Jordan, with temperature rapidly decreasing and rain and snow often falling throughout the country. January is the coolest month, with temperatures of 5-10°C. 70 percent of the average rainfall in the country falls during this period. It may seem that the temperature is higher in Jordan than your home country, the feel of the temperature can be quite different. There can even be snow! Wearing layers is advisable, as it means you can react flexibly to changing temperatures (day/night, inside/outside), plus a decent coat, sturdy shoes, and warm socks. In Jordan, the buildings generally have room heaters (hot water carrying wall units), AC units (that are also able to blow hot air), or space heaters (electric or gas) as primary heat sources. Hotels should always be comfortably heated in the winter. Preparation is the key, always make sure to check the weather forecast before you come for any signs of any rain or snow.

Winter is off season: Sites are relatively uncrowded.

During summer, places in Jordan are congested with tourist and the scorching sun can make outdoors unbearable. But in November to February is a quiet time to visit Jordan, so sites may be empty, or there are few tourist around.

Other sites to visit

Take a trip in the town of Madaba, where you could visit several heated museum and churches and take a walk also on the nearby Mount Nebo. The view over the Holy Land is best at this time of the year, during the dust in the air has been washed away by the winter rains. In Madaba, a town that is dominantly Christian, there are few churches that can be visited – most important the Church of St. George accommodating the oldest existing map of the region. Another option you can visit is the Dead Sea. During this time of the year, the climate is much warmer and the you may be a able to relax and swim (though swimming in the sea could be chilling).