JORDAN – THE LAND OF THE BAPTISM.
‘I baptize with water,’ John replied, ‘but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’ This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
--The Gospel of John 1:26-28Jordan - The Land of the Baptism
‘I baptize with water,’ John replied, ‘but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’ This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
COME ON A JOURNEY FILLED WITH RICH HISTORY,
SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE, AND MEMORABLE CULTURE.
The voice crying in the wilderness. The desert, the wind, the reeds, the river, the springs.
Flocks from all over the region come for baptism. The One comes.
John baptizes. The heavens open.
The Holy Spirit descends upon the beloved Son.
The Father speaks.
The Divine Relationship is revealed.
The mission begins.
Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan, the Wilderness of John east of the River Jordan where Jesus was baptized, is like no other place on earth. According to Scripture, the heavens opened twice here – first as Elijah was taken up to heaven on a chariot of fire, and second at the baptism of Jesus, when the Holy Spirit descended like a dove upon him, and His Heavenly Father proclaimed His beloved Son. This is the same wilderness area of “The Crossing,” where Joshua and his people crossed the Jordan after their long Exodus journey, so it is no coincidence that Jesus came to this very place before crossing from east to west to begin his public ministry.
Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan welcomes pilgrims from around the world. Located just north of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, visitors can walk the pilgrim trails of this protected park, just as the first pilgrims did during the early days of Christianity. Here, the remains of early churches that were built to commemorate the very place of baptism are easily accessible. In addition, new churches and guest houses of varied traditions offer places of worship and rest for individuals and groups alike. For an online tour of the many archaeological sites within the park – offered by the very guide who has led popes, priests, world leaders and other dignitaries – please click here.
As the birthplace of Christianity, Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan is of profound importance to believers. However, it is just one of the many Old and New Testament locations in Jordan easily accessible to pilgrims who make the journey.
Christian Bloggers Journey To Jordan
One Pilgrim. One Journey.
Follow Your Bible Map To Jordan
Close-up of the famed sixth century “Madaba Map,” the oldest surviving mosaic map of the Holy Land. Visitors to Jordan can see this world heritage map on the floor of the Orthodox Church of St. George in Madaba – the City of Mosaics. Madaba was part of the biblical land of Moab, just off the storied King’s Highway. Today, Madaba is within easy driving distance of many biblical locations, including Mount Nebo; the Dead Sea; Lot’s Cave; Amman; and the Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan Baptism Site.
The Bible Trail
Discover more about the roots of your faith in Jordan by clicking on the holy sites along our Bible Trail interactive map.
Map Key
![]() |
Old Testament Sites |
![]() |
New Testament Sites |
![]() |
The Jordan Trail |
Follow the Prophets. Follow Jesus.
Follow the original Pilgrims.
In Old Testament times, the land east of the Jordan River included the Ammonite, Moabite and Edomite kingdoms. In the New Testament, the region included most of the cities of the Decapolis. The Greeks called it Perea, which meant the “territory beyond.” This is where Jesus taught multitudes, performed miracles and cast out demons, as he traveled back and forth between east and west, proclaiming his message.
Welcome to Jordan
Explore mount Nebo
Are you a member of the clergy
interested in leading your church group to jordan?
Jordan’s depth of biblical history, combined with the unspoiled nature of the holy sites and the variety of experiences available throughout the kingdom, are just a few reasons to organize a pilgrimage for your community.
Want monthly updates on
the latest news from Jordan?
Sign up for our newsletter
Interested in special offers for travel trade? Sign up below!
If you're looking for trade educational programs or FAM/Inspection Tours featuring holy sites in Jordan, then fill out the form below and one of our team members will be in touch with you soon!
Testimonials
“My experience in Jordan was wonderful. From the food to the accommodations to the holy sites and ancient ruins we visited, my visit wastruly extraordinary. I walked in places I had only read about in the Bible. I stood in the Jordan River. I marveled at the ancient architecture of Petra. I shall not soon forget the warmth and welcome of the Jordanian people or the magnificent beauty of the night sky above Wadi Rum.”
- Curtis Ramsey-Lucas, American Baptist Home Mission Societies, October 2017
“A highlight of my visit to Jordan was when I stood above an archaeological site at Bethany-Beyond-the-Jordan and realized I was staring down at a very large cruciform baptismal font. As I gazed at the massive flight of steps leading down to the font, I imagined what it must have felt like to walk down those steps, clothed in white, trained in the catechism, and ready to be immersed in the water (which flowed directly into the pool from the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized).
- Elizabeth Palmer, The Christian Century Magazine, October 2017
“The beauty of this country is breathtaking. Watching the sun melt into the vast, orange, sandstone mountains of the Wadi Rum desert, lying in the sand stargazing under the clearest night sky I have ever seen, standing on the shores of the crystal blue waters of the Red Sea, reflecting at the grand overlook of the Galilee Sea from the cliffs of Gadara…. these experiences deeply moved me.”
- Pam VanArsdall, Writer for A Million God Stories, October 2017
Latest Stories from Holy Jordan
Roman ruins: A taste of Arabian sights
If you are heading to Western Asia and dreaming of time travel in beautiful Roman ruins, take a trip down to the many historical and archaeological sites in Jordan, and enjoy the taste of Arabian sights. Read More
Petra, Jordan: Stories in Stone
Petra is mentioned in Isaiah 16:1 and 2 Kings 14:7 by its ancient name, Sela, which translates to “rock.” Petra is in the land of the Edomites, the descendants of Esau, and is also frequently mentioned in the Old Testament. Read More
Everything You Need To Know About Pilgrimages to Jordan
All of the Abrahamic religions have roots in Jordan. Whether you wish to travel to ancient holy places mentioned in the Old Testament or trace the steps of Jesus and his disciples... Read More
NOT SURE WHERE TO BEGIN YOUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY? HERE ARE OUR THOUGHTS
Amman, Anjara, Ajloun Jaresh
Amman is the economic and cultural center of the country. Stand atop the fortress where David sent Uriah the Hittite to his death and see the cave in Anjara known as a resting stop for Jesus and his mother, Mary.
Um Qais & Pella
Bethany Beyond the Jordan, Madaba & Mount Nebo
Explore the area where John the Baptist came to preach and the site where he baptized Jesus. Visit Mount Nebo, where Moses arrived after his long Exodus journey and viewed the Promised Land he would never enter.
Petra
Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Moses and the Israelites are said to have passed through the Petra area in ancient Edom. This magnificent city has rich history and impressive remains that is a must-see on every trip to Jordan.
Wadi Rum
Here you will enjoy this largest and most magnificent of Jordan’s desert landscapes. Wadi Rum is indeed a foreign world, so make sure to take in the stars at night as you lay by a campfire outside your Bedouin tent.
Aqaba
The Red Sea and its surrounding pink mountains is truly one of nature’s most breathtaking sites. Visit the first sites in southern Jordan mentioned in the Exodus, Eziongeber and Elath.
Lot's Cave
Visit the sites from Old Testament stories, including that of Lot, whose wife was turned into a pillar of salt for disobeying God’s will. Visit Lot’s cave, where he and his daughters found refuge and the site believed to be Lot’s wife along the way to the Dead Sea.
The Dead Sea
The curative properties of the Dead Sea have been recognized since the days of Herod the Great and Queen Cleopatra. The Dead Sea has been referenced by many names in the Bible such as the "Salt Sea", or the "Former Sea".
Are you ready to take the first step
on your #HolyJordan Journey? Jordan may be an open-air Sunday School, but there is plenty more for you to enjoy as you make your way along the Bible Trail. Discover more about the experiences awaiting you in Jordan – the eastern part of the Holy Land.
STORIES FROM JORDAN...IN THE WORDS OF TRAVELERS
Jordan Day 5 Vlog from N. Connor Eberhart on Vimeo.
JTB Explorer Video from N. Connor Eberhart on Vimeo.
Plan your Trip
Contact Us
1420 Beverly Road, Suite 203
McLean, VA 22101
703-243-7404