This was also my first question when I booked my trip to Jordan! I had so many questions before my trip so I was driving myself crazy!

As a result, I made a clear list of what to wear in Jordan to make sure you too can pack smart, respect the customs and still look cute!

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I really wish I made those mature thoughts when I was 19 and I traveled to Dubai! Thinking back at it now, I remember how my knee-length summer dresses and long blonde hair attracted huge attention!

So this time around, I was determined to get it right. No more epic travel fails (at least in fashion)

Though Jordan may technically be in be Asia (geographically), the Asian rules do not apply here!

How strict are the Muslim laws in Jordan?

Many blogs I read painted a very conservative, strict picture of Jordan.

But after visiting myself though, I realized that that is simply not the case!

Yes, I got masses of attention(and a few marriage proposals). But not because I dressed provocatively; simply because of how different I looked in comparison to the local women.

The attention and stares did get tiring, but I never once felt threatened, and no one ever created trouble for me, based on what I was wearing.

If you would like all general info on Jordan, such as climate, customs, visas, and so on, please click here and read my Jordan Travel Guide.

So without further ado, read on for the ideal packing guide! Tips for men are also included below!

What to wear in Jordan in the summer: Women                  

What To Definitely Pack

• Maxi skirts with a tank top, crop top, or t-shirt
• Maxi dresses. Worn with sandals, trainers, or heels, these are a total lifesaver!
• Leggings. You can layer those under a dress too.
• Long Summer trousers of thin, breathable material.
• Scarves or pashminas. These can be used in a multitude of ways; like covering up arms and hair in a flash when needed, or in case of sudden rain.
• Trainers –or hiking shoes. These are absolutely vital for visiting Petra or Jerash as you will be walking and hiking a lot! To make sure you don’t miss out on the best things to do in Jordan, ready my guide!
• Flat Sandals or flip flops. I personally recommend sandals for better comfort during walking! There is a lot of walking!
• Definitely a small, practical handbag or a trusted backpack like my favorite one from Vans!
• A hat to protect from the sun (and hide hair if needed)
• An old bikini of a dark color to swim in the Dead Sea and enjoy the mud baths – anything light will likely be ruined from the mud and the salt (the Dead Sea has almost 10 times the saltiness of the sea)

What NOT to Pack

• Very short Shorts. Your daisy dukes can stay home!
• Very Short skirts
• Cleavage – Nooooo Cleavage!
• Long Jeans – Avoid them simply because they are so uncomfortable in the heat!
• See-through Clothing
• Hair: Most Locals tend to cover their hair and arms, but visitors don’t need to be too prudent about that. I didn’t cover my hair – only at times when I wanted to visit a mosque or a church. Carrying a light pashmina, or headscarf is ideal so you can cover up quickly at a moment’s notice.  

ADDITIONALLY RECOMMENDED PACKING ITEMS

• A good pair of Sunglasses
• Universal Travel Adapter 
• Mosquito repellant bracelets that are natural, DEET-free, and safe for children too!
• Activated charcoal – a complete lifesaver!!  – Sorts out bloated tummies, food allergy stomach problems, upset stomach from food or water, and many more.  I have IBS, and lactose intolerance and the smallest thing can make me ill –so  I never travel without it and all my travel companions end up using it too! You can find it from your local chemist!
• Piz Buin Allergy Sun lotion.  Perfect for sensitive skin, prickly heat, and the dry desert sun! I had been suffering from a type of sun allergy for years, and finding this allergy lotion literally saved me! If you too, experience redness and severe itching after sun exposure, try this brand and write a comment below! 
• Passport Holder for your visa, vaccinations, and passport, as well as hotel reservations or car-hire papers)
• A small makeup bag – pay special attention to oil-free primers and products to keep the shine away- and keep the rest of your makeup (if you wear any) natural.
• Hair accessories and chunky jewelry for that dessert boho-chic look!

A few extra tips for women and men

1. Replace your disposables with reusable items.

For example, cotton rounds, cotton swabs, and tissues. We use trillions of them! I swapped to reusables 2 years ago, and haven’t looked back since!

In particular, I picked up swabs for my ears, pointy ones for my make-up, cotton rounds for skincare, and even tissues.

Yeap, all reusable, from the incredible Last Object, which by the way, delivers from various warehouses – both Europe, Canada, and the US, so you don’t have to pay loads for delivery!

Just ONE of these eco-friendly swabs replaces over 1000 cotton swabs that end up in our oceans! They come in gorgeous colors, are durable, and are super easy to clean! Use code TIA for 10% off all purchases!

2. Get a portable ashtray

Cigarette butts are the single greatest source of ocean pollution, with more than 60 million collected over 32 years! Yuk!

To save our oceans, just carry a portable ashtray like this one in your backpack!

This pack of two can be fastened to any backpack! With every use, you are taking a huge step towards responsible tourism.

3. Carry a water bottle and straw

A simple reusable cup and metal straw are the best, and contribute a lot to the solution; trust me!

This filter bottle is great as it reduces chlorine and micro-particles. You can fill it up from any tap, or at your hotel to avoid buying a million plastic bottles when you travel.

100,000 marine creatures and 1 million sea birds die from plastic entanglement in a year.

Personally, I have tried paper straws and pasta straws too, but I really hate them! This stainless steel straw set comes with a handy pouch, and a brush to clean too!

4. Switch to shampoo and conditioner bars

There is no need to carry plastic bottles that you will later throw away. Not when you can get top-quality shampoo and conditioner in a bar!

This shampoo and conditioner set smells like heavenly lemon and eucalyptus, and don’t laugh, but mosquitos hate the smell of lemon so this is a WIN for me!

What To wear in Jordan – Men Edition

Men are so lucky !! No one will ever call you inappropriate, too sexy, or disrespectful during your travels… But that’s a subject for a different blog post!

For now, here is what to wear for Jordan:

• Jeans for nights out in New Amman.
• Chino trousers
• ¾ length trousers of any kind (doesn’t have to be dressy)
• T-shirts – 1-2 per day. You will be walking a lot and sweating a lot!
• A Scarf – Jordanian men often wear them. They are great to protect hair and scalp from the sun too! You can buy one locally 🙂
• Trainers or hiking boots and flip flops
• Bathing suit for the Dead Sea – one of a dark color to avoid damage from the Dead Sea Mud.
• Backpack – so you can finally stop stealing all our handbag space!

Thanks for reading my Jordan packing guide!

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Love, Tia x

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Other Jordan Articles

Jordan Travel Guide – All The Information you need to know before you visit.

The Best Things To Do In Jordan – A guide to the best activities in Jordan

Vegan Jordan – A vegan and vegetarian restaurant guide in Jordan

What to wear in Jordan – The ideal packing guide

Jordan In Ramadan – Tips to Visiting the country during Ramadan

The post What to wear in Jordan – Packing guide appeared first on Tia Does Travel.