Hitchhiking

Let’s Go does not recommend this. Service and minibuses are cheap enough to make hitching unnecessary except in remote areas such as along the King’s Highway. For those feckless die-hards who ignore this sound advice, rides between small towns (Jordan Valley, Amman environs, Irbid area) are easy to come by. As with anything in the Middle East, be aware that even short waits in the sun can be dangerous; bring lots of water and cover your head with a straw boater.

When hitchhiking within a city (Amman, Irbid, Jerash, Ajlun), empty taxis will pester you with their horns as they careen by. The steady stream of trucks serving the port facilities compensates, with many drivers eager for company on their long trans-Jordan hauls. To flag down an approaching vehicle, travelers stick their arms out with their palms facing the ground.

We repeat: Let’s Go does not recommend hitchhiking. Women especially should never hitchhike alone. Hitching in the Wadi Araba highway is prohibited for all.