Jordan is an open country, but it’s still a conservative one. Women should plan to cover up just a bit, especially outside key tourist attractions.
At tourist-heavy places like Petra, it’s normal to see women in shorts and t-shirts, or even tops that have bare shoulders. In the cities, plan to wear sleeves and cover your legs (at least to the knees).
At the resorts, resort-wear is expected and normal. A good pool coverup is essential, and don’t hesitate to wear a bikini. (Do NOT, however, wear a bikini at a public beach.)
This is a post that’s focused on roughly April – October, when the weather is mostly warm. You’ll want a whole different set of things if you’re visiting in the winter!
When you’re in Jordan, you could be hiking, at a spa, floating in the Dead Sea or riding a camel. You need a wardrobe that’s flexible (and breathable!).
So what should you wear in Jordan in the summer?
Shirts for Women to Wear in Jordan
Columbia Tamiami II Shirt: This is a great travel shirt – it wicks away moisture, and has easy roll-up sleeves that let you have long sleeves when needed. (And that can be great for cool desert nights!)
Nike Women’s Dri-FIT Cotton V-Neck Short Sleeve Tee 2.0: You’ll want performance fabrics for Jordan (especially in the summer!)
New Balance Women’s Perfect Tank: Again, keep a focus on the performance fabrics!
Nike Element Half-Zip Women’s Long Sleeve Pullover: Jordan is mostly desert, and the desert gets cold quickly at night. I’d make sure to pack a pullover! I love this one because it’s light, and has thumb holes to keep your hands warmer. It manages to keep me warm while also not feeling like I’m wearing a giant, heavy pullover.
Pants and Bottoms for Women to Wear in Jordan:
Prana Women’s Halle Pant: These pants are great for travel but don’t LOOK like they were made for travel. They won’t scream “tourist” quite like the zip-off ones do! (They do convert to capris via rolling up the pants!)
Levi’s Women’s Classic Shorts: Shorts aren’t for everywhere, but I would bring a pair! And I recommend Levi’s for traveling overseas – they’re extremely expensive and tend to be more popular overseas than in the US!
ExOfficio Women’s Wanderlux Convertible Skirt: Skirts are great for a dressier evening… and what I love about this one is that it’s convertible into a strapless dress. It makes it perfect for double duty – skirt and pool cover up! (In the dress form, I would NOT recommend wearing this in public in Jordan. At the resort to the pool is fine!)
Women’s Accessories for Travel in Jordan:
Lululemon Vinyasa Scarf: I cannot say enough how much I LOVE this scarf. It’s the perfect plane friend – it can be a great scarf or a blanket. It can be turned into a vest easily, and it’s big enough to cover your shoulders if you need!
ExOfficio Women’s Give-N-Go Bikini Briefs: It’s not something you always think about, but travel undies are a great buy! These have performance fabrics that breathe well, and will breathe well in the heat. They’re also easy to wash (even in a hotel sink!) and dry quickly. The company claims you could travel anywhere with just two pairs (but I believe in more!).
wallaroo Women’s Scrunchie Sun Hat – Lightweight and Packable Sun Hat – UPF 50+: You’ll want a sunhat for those Instagram-perfect pictures! Get one that’s packable and lightweight, so that it doesn’t get ruined traveling, and you don’t have to worry about what you’re doing with it while you’re traveling. Oh, and Jordan is hot and has lots of sun – you’ll actually want a hat for it’s purpose beyond Instagram.
Balega Hidden Comfort Socks: Like undies, no one wants to think about socks. But Petra especially is a ton of walking and you’ll want your feet to be comfortable. I do not recommend buying the white socks. Get the gray or black – the dust at Petra makes the white ones look dingy quickly.
Trina Turk Women’s Ibiza Molded Cup Bandeau Bikini (bottoms here): You’ll need a cute swimsuit for the pool!
Best Women’s Shoes for Jordan:
Nike Women’s Flex Trainer 5 Shoe: I recommend some sturdy walking shoes for Petra especially! You’ll be doing a lot of walking!
Merrell Women’s Jacardia Sandal: I like these over Chacos because of their fit and lack of top strap. The toe strap strangles my toe! I do NOT recommend that you wear these to Petra. The area is quite sandy and it’s easy for sand to get stuck under your foot and cause blisters. And bottom-of-the-foot-blisters are especially bad! (Speaking from experience)
OluKai Ho’opio Sandal: I LOVE these flip-flops. The arch support is great, and they’re incredibly durable. These are the flip flops that finally got me away from my Rainbows! The Ho’opio model is the one with the slimmer strap – I like it better than the thicker option! But if you like the thick option, you can find it in the Kia’I Wahine.
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