Archeology Internships: Intern abroad in Jordan

Accommodation and WiFi

Our Archeology internships in Jordan have a varied itinerary for each of the 4 weeks of the program, as it takes place in several locations including Petra, Wadi Rum, and Madaba. Please note some of the accommodations used during this time below:

1. La Maison Hotel, Petra - Uniquely located in Wadi Musa, a 5-minute walk from the Jordanian world wonder, the Red Rose City of Petra. This accommodation is used for the Saturday night of your first week, before moving onto the Sela Dig house on Sunday. You can expect to share a hotel room with one or two more interns of the same gender.
2. Sela Dig House, Petra - This will serve as your main accommodation for the majority of your internship, while you are working at the dig center in Petra. The house is simple with basic amenities. It has three twin bedrooms, so you can expect to share one of these rooms with other interns of the same gender. The house also has one bathroom, kitchen, a common area, and a garden. It is conveniently located only five minutes from the dig center.
3. Rahayeb Camp, Wadi Rum - Rahayeb Desert Camp is a Bedouin-style oasis nestled within the Wadi Rum Protected Area, surrounded by sand dunes and majestic mountains. This will be the accommodation on Friday of the third week, when interns go on the tour of Wadi Rum. Interns stay in deluxe tents, each housing two or three interns of the same gender. Each tent has a private ensuite bathroom and air conditioning.
4. Salome Hotel, Madaba - This is the accommodation in Madaba, used on the Thursday night of your 4-week program, before you depart on Friday. The hotel is a 10–minute walk from the city center and only a 30-minute drive from Amman. You can expect to share a hotel room with one or two more interns of the same gender.

Bedrooms in all of these accommodations are shared. Bathrooms are shared and toilets can be accessed by diverse genders. Note that the toilets may be equipped with a bidet shower, which is common use in Jordan. Water is used instead of, or together with, toilet paper, for hygiene purposes. Given that most toilets in Jordan do not always contain toilet paper, all interns are advised to ensure they prepare to source their own throughout their time spent in Jordan. It can be purchased in-country, very affordably, at an estimated cost of US$4-8 per month.

Air conditioning and/or fans are available. The summer season runs from late May through early October. July is typically the hottest month, with an average high of 88°F / 31°C (and low of 66°F / 19°C). If you are sensitive to the heat, you may consider joining this program during cooler months.

All of these accommodations have basic WiFi. To keep connected when out and about, you can also purchase a local SIM card with data for an unlocked mobile phone. The local team can assist you with this.

Please note that we cannot guarantee the number of guests within accommodation at any given time, since participation numbers vary throughout the year. Please enquire if you have specific requests to be accommodated with others. Likewise, alternative arrangements may be made with homestays, subject to availability.

Meals

Internships in Jordan include daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, served at your accommodation.

Staples of the diet usually include rice, potatoes, cauliflower, cucumber, yogurt, meat (such as lamb or chicken), olives, flatbread, and liberal use of traditional herbs and spices. Breakfast and dinners tend to be smaller portions with mixed platters including falafel, dips, bread, eggs, fresh fruit and vegetables. Lunch is the bigger meal of the three, and can include a range of meats, breads, rice dishes, salads and vegetables.

Tap water is not drinkable; however; bottled water is readily available to purchase. Interns should budget approximately US$10-15 per week for this.

If there are special snacks you like to have (or meals/treats above and beyond what is provided), please budget for them and take care of your own preferences independently. A weekly budget of approximately US$50 should be generous for covering extra snacks, treats, and drinks (as a supplement to what’s already going to be included for you). However, consider that your weekly spending budget will be determined by your own personal spending habits and lifestyle choices, so please take this into consideration and plan accordingly.

Note that gluten free products and alternatives (such as gluten free breads, cereals, cookies, etc) can sometimes be difficult to source in Jordan (and you may not find certain brands that you’re used to).

Ramadan (the ninth month of the Islamic calendar) is observed by Muslims around the world. The holiday of Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Shawwal (the next lunar month). Eid celebrates the end of this fasting period. The approximate dates for 2025 are beginning the evening of March 1st and ending between March 31st - April 2nd.

During this holy month, there is a focus on prayer, reflection and community, in addition to fasting. Many adult muslims will abstain from eating and drinking, from sunrise to sunset. These rules do not apply to visitors or non-Muslims and you can eat and drink as normal. Interns are still provided meal services through the program. However, note that local eateries which cater to locals won’t be open during the day. International chain restaurants, hotel restaurants, and other eateries that market to tourists will remain available. Please be considerate of those who are fasting and avoid eating and drinking in public, during fasting hours, or in front of others at either the placement or accommodation.