Moody ruins, spectacular desert landscape and a friendly cup of tea.

Bible stories, lost cities, Lawrence of Arabia - Jordan has romantic associations up to its eyeballs. It's a country that ought to be awash with tourists, but the Middle East's bad reputation has kept them away in droves. Don't be fooled: Jordan is, on the whole, peaceful.

More than that, it's one of the most welcoming, hospitable countries in the world. Where else could you leave your belongings on the street for hours at a time, and find them there when you get back? Where else do total strangers with nothing to sell invite you into their homes?

Travellers to Jordan should exercise caution in popular public sites and be informed at all times of the current political situation. Borders with Israel and Iraq are obvious potential trouble spots. Some travellers have been tempted to use Jordan as an easy route into Iraq - not a good idea.