Refreshing and welcoming. It was our first night in Amman, Jordan and the atmosphere was electric. Lights twinkled in the trees, cascading a feeling of warmth to the busyness of the streets. People weaved in and out of traffic as cars whizzed by. We got an Uber from the hotel to take us downtown for some dinner and exploring. After being in Egypt for ten days, stepping onto the streets of Amman was freedom. Fear of travelling, especially to a strange country, doesn’t matter as much as you think.
This post contains affiliate links; if you click through and purchase something I may receive payment.
Table of Contents
The Middle East
Jordan is the safest and most peaceful country in the Middle East. This is apparent when you step onto the streets. Our small group of nine went for dinner at Hashem for falafel to start off our eight-day tour of Jordan. The meal was delicious and affordable. According to our guide, Zuhair, the King of Jordan frequents this establishment and it is “the place” in Amman for Falafel. After dinner, we walked around the streets to enjoy the evening and get accustomed to the surroundings.
G Adventures
We booked our National Geographic Journeys tour in Jordan with G Adventures. This was our first trip to the Middle East and we felt safer with a group rather than going solo. First of all, driving in the Middle East is NOT like North America. Second, we see only the worst on the news. Safety in numbers, so they say. Third, I had spoken to a number of G Adventures reps and looked at the different tours on their site.
There was a good mix of religious and historical sites on the tour with some adventure thrown in. One night was to be spent in Wadi Rum in a Bedouin tent. The selling point for this Wadi Rum experience over others I read about? The tent came with its own ensuite. Our own bathroom was highly appealing! There’s nothing wrong with a little comfort, is there?
But, What If?
Fear of travelling alone or even fear of planning a trip to an unknown country often paralyzes people and they don’t travel at all. To help overcome this fear, educate yourself on safety while travelling. Also, booking with a reputable tour operator takes care of the planning process. Another key anxiety is, “What if I book with a small group and I get in with people I don’t like?” If you fall into this category, think of it this way. Yes, it is possible you will get “that one guy” on the tour, BUT, you will get to see sites like these…
The thing is, you are not forced to be with the group all the time. There is freedom as there are optional excursions and chances to eat at establishments of your choice as not all meals are planned together. There is also the time when you get to relax at the end of the day however you please. We were fortunate to have a great group to travel with.
Benefits of Small Group Tours
Another benefit of small groups in a foreign country is your guide. They can help with all your questions. Our guide was born and raised in Jordan and still lives there so he had wonderful insight into the area and connections that helped us feel safe. They know where to go and where not to go. After all, they want everyone to have the best experience too. They are proud of their country and want to show you the best parts of it.
The beauty of travel is this: you get to experience the different culture, food, drink, historical sites and learn more about other countries than if you stay home and read about them or watch documentaries. Reading and watching are good but it is not the same as experiencing it firsthand. Use your curiosity about other countries to fuel your passion for travel. Get inspired! Take inspiration you get from a movie and put it into real life. Live your dreams. Have you ever heard someone say they wish they had never gone on their dream trip?
How to Overcome Your Fear of Travelling
Small groups may not be for everyone but it may be for you. If you want to explore but have a fear of travelling, check into small groups to help get you started. Get out of that rut. Facing your fears is good! There are lots of options available for travel these days. If you just don’t know where to start, start by looking at tour operators specializing in small-group travel. Look at the itineraries. Look at their activity in the communities where they work. What is their travel philosophy? A small-group tour just may be the perfect place to take your first trip to an area you have always wanted to go but were too afraid to try. Besides, you just may meet some great people along the way.
“Anyone who dreams of an uncommon life eventually discovers there is no choice but to seek an uncommon approach to living it.” Gary Keller
All pictures in this post are taken by Charlotte, yours truly, as always, unless otherwise stated.
Pick up my Published Travel Memoir for Inspiration
Roam Free is a deeply personal and often hilarious travel memoir that pulls you in to the wild and woolly ride of my epic travel adventures. If you loved Peter Mayle’s A Year in Provence, you’ll delight in Roam Free’s sweetly innocent deep dive into a life of untethered long-term travel. Get your copy on Amazon and become inspired today.
“I just finished your book and I wrote a great review on Amazon. Congratulations on your book, your blogging career, and mostly on your courage to step out of the box then burn the damn box!! Your book is inspiring. Bravo.” – Irene Cabay
Book Your Flight and Car Rental
Find cheap transportation by using Kiwi.com! This search engine combs websites and airlines around the globe to become the ultimate travel hack.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book hotels, apartments, resorts, villas, B&Bs and guest houses at Booking.com! They consistently return the most economical rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.
Like surprises? Try Hotwire.com and Save up to 60% off 4+ Star Hot Rate Hotels!
Always been curious about Airbnb but afraid to try? Now you can check them out and earn up to $62 CAD off your first trip!
Check out our world recommendations page on Where to Stay!
Book Your Small-Group Tour, Activities and Attractions
For the best small-group tours check out G Adventures’ Insanely affordable tours!
Viator is another great option so don’t miss out! Guaranteed lowest prices on tours and activities.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. We like World Nomads because they have great rates and cover a range of adventurous activities.
P.S. – If you’ve found our website helpful, please consider booking your next trip through the links on our Resources Page. We have personally used the companies listed there in our own travels. By booking through these links, the small commission we earn helps us keep the content up to date, expand our resources, and keep the website community supported.
Great article! Traveling to a new place, especially one that we hear only horror stories about in the news, can be quite intimidating! You did a wonderful job of showing us that there are many different ways to travel and small groups can be one of them! They provide a safety net unlike any others along with a group of like-minded individuals and a local guide. I am now very interested in taking one of these trips myself so thank you!
You are welcome! I am happy that you were inspired 🙂 I think it’s important to explore the different kinds of travel styles available. They all offer such unique experiences. Travel on!