How a Solo Trip to Jordan Empowered Me

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When I booked my trip to Israel, I knew I HAD to visit Jordan! I was traveling alone, and I expected to receive backlash from my family and friends about my solo trip to the Middle East! Given that I have visited the Middle East (UAE and Oman) before, and I am familiar with Middle Eastern travel etiquette, I tried to convince my concerned circle of loved-ones that I would return safe and sound!

Looking for more posts on Jordan? Read Exploring Wadi Rum Desert in Jordan and A Journey through Petra

My fellow travelers understand the NEED to visit Jordan (Amman, the Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum, and the well-known Jordanian hospitality), but my family and friends were NOT convinced that traveling to Jordan alone is a perfectly sane and safe idea for a blonde-haired American girl. Most reactions were quite typical, “Are you crazy?” “You are going ALONE to the Middle East?” and my favorite response “You probably won’t make it back alive!”

After hearing many bad reactions to my upcoming solo trip, I started to self-doubt my decision. Although I consider myself to be an experienced traveler and have traveled alone before, I admittedly became nervous about traveling alone in Jordan! But there was something I felt deep-down within my soul telling me that I NEEDED to go! I know it sounds crazy, but I just had to do it. Sometimes in life, I just feel we need to take a leap of faith and do the things we have dreamed of doing! A visit to Petra has been one of my travel dreams for as long as I can remember! So, taking into account all my Jordanian research, positive energy, inward thoughts, and using all my courage, this 5-foot tall, blonde country girl from Ohio booked a solo trip to Jordan!

Guess what? It was one of THE best travel decisions that I have ever made!

Before all my travels, I spend hours researching the location. I read travel books and magazines, other travel blogs, and I visit the city/country’s tourism website. Jordan was no exception, I researched women’s safety, how to travel throughout the country, sites to visit, accommodations, etc. Through my research, I found that booking with a tour company (which I have never done before) was the best way to experience Jordan with my time constraints, and it gave my family a little piece of mind about my solo trip! I booked the Petra and Wadi Rum from Israel Tour from Tourist Israel, including all transportation, admission fees (except border crossing fees), accommodation, and food. The tour wasn’t cheap, but I was safe, met other solo travelers, and made incredible memories that will last a lifetime!

My short adventure in Jordan, left me feeling exhilarated! There is so much joy in my heart because of my Jordanian experiences, the wonderful people I met and the pride that comes with accomplishing a dream! The memories of Jordan make me smile. I beam with the gratitude of being a global citizen, the gratitude for Jordanian hospitality, the gratitude towards my fellow travelers whom welcomed me into their worlds, and the gratitude for moments I will always treasure!

Traveling solo to Jordan allowed me to reflect upon my life and to search inward for self-confidence and courage. I felt empowered knowing that I was living my life to the fullest, collecting moments that I will treasure in my mind and heart forever, and for the first time in my life, I felt like a badass!

 Jordan ~ www.ohiogirltravels.com Petra, Jordan ~ www.ohiogirltravels.com

Petra, Jordan ~ www.ohiogirltravels.com Petra, Jordan ~ www.ohiogirltravels.com

Wadi Rum, Jordan ~ www.ohiogirltravels.com Wadi Rum, Jordan ~ www.ohiogirltravels.com

Wadi Rum, Jordan ~ www.ohiogirltravels.com Wadi Rum, Jordan ~ www.ohiogirltravels.com

So I encourage you to act upon a dream that you have within your heart, despite the self-doubt and negative comments from others. You will be glad you did! The smile on your face, the joy in your heart, and the confidence it will give you, are all irreplaceable!

 

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           Solo travel can change you in ways you didn't even know were possible. Find out how I overcame the doubt of my decision to travel solo and why my solo trip was the best decision I ever made. You'll want to save this for inspiration to plan your first solo trip to the middle east. #solotravel #jordan #middleeast Solo travel can change you in ways you didn't even know were possible. Find out how I overcame the doubt of my decision to travel solo and why my solo trip was the best decision I ever made. You'll want to save this for inspiration to plan your first solo trip to the middle east. #solotravel #jordan #middleeast

 

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4 Comments

  1. Amanda C @ UnrestingSea says:

    Wow, I didn’t realize how well traveled you are in the middle east! That’s amazing.
    I hope this post of empowerment empowers others too.

    Would you still go given current events and new travel warnings?

    1. Thanks Amanda! I hope this encourages others to follow their dreams! 🙂

      I would still visit Israel and Jordan with the current events and travel warnings. I felt completely safe and welcomed in both countries! I would be a little nervous about flying over the Middle East right now, but as travelers, I feel we always take a risk when flying around the world!

  2. I love this post!! You are right in that sometimes you just “know” you have to do something! Like you, I have also done solo trips to other countries, and I cherish those memories! Thank you for inspiring others! I’d love to visit Israel and Jordan one day!! Wow!!

    1. Sarah, thank you so much for the kind words about this post! So glad to inspire others to see the world! Hope you can visit Israel and Jordan soon, it will be at trip of a lifetime! 😉

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