A field guide for traveling to Jordan in 2025
Yulia Denisyuk
Award-Winning Storyteller, Travel Journalist, Writer, Photographer & Filmmaker | Storytelling Speaker & Educator | Founder, Travel Media Lab | Host, Going Places
Welcome to Going Places! This newsletter revolves around travel and storytelling, occasional travel and creative entrepreneurship news, and updates on my show, Going Places with Yulia Denisyuk.
First up, a field guide for traveling to Jordan in 2025 – plus, savings this month.
On the latest Going Places episode, I discuss five places you shouldn't miss in Jordan. These places are often overlooked in favor of the more famous sites like Petra, but they are just as incredible as the ancient Nabataean capital that everyone knows about.
I also answer this question: Is it safe to travel to Jordan in 2025? and cover flight disruptions and cancellations, how you can get a different perspective on the Middle East by joining our trip, and what blockbusters like The Dune, The Star Wars, and The Martian have to do with Jordan.
For travelers considering coming to Jordan with me this May, now is the time to join:
Throughout February, you can save $150 off your booking by using code GOINGPLACESFEB. The code expires on Fri, Feb 28.
Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the site, or check out my interview on YouTube.
Help my colleague build a hostel in Pakistan.
My friend and peer in the travel industry, Alex Reynolds, who runs the popular Lost With Purpose platform and has been known to ride a rainbow bike solo across the world, has embarked on a new project.
She is building a hostel in the mountains of Northern Pakistan with her local business partner, and they're trying to do things the right way, which is not cheap.
Here's what Alex says about the project:
"We’re building primarily with natural local materials and traditional methods: stone walls, mud plaster, local and repurposed wood. No cement unless there's no alternative!
We’re building with the environment, not against it. We’re relocating trees rather than cutting, using mountain streams to water the soil, and doing plantation to reinforce the land against climate change-related floods and heat waves.
We’ve hired 100% local people to get the job done—and our staff are 100% local, too. The land is leased from locals, not purchased. We've also hired women for our staff (not easy in patriarchal Pakistan) and we’re paying staff proper wages year-round, unlike most seasonal hotels in the country."
Alex has already spent $20,000 on this project, and there's more to go. She's now fundraising to help open the hostel in the summer of this year, and if you like this project, you can chip in!
My Okinawa Women Empowerment trip dates are here.
This November, I'm running a very special trip to Okinawa.
On this trip, we'll tap into the fierce female spirit of this island. We'll visit the sacred places where the female goddess Amamikyu touched down when she was creating the world and spend time with the female priestesses who still guard Okinawa today.
The dates for the trip are Sun, Nov 2 through Sun, Nov 9. The airport we'll be flying into is Naha (OKA) and Eva Air has some of the best flights from this side of the world.
Stay tuned for trip announcement coming your way soon.
In the meantime, my friend and colleague Joe Baur , who traveled to Okinawa with me, has just published this excellent video that explains why Okinawa is not the Japan you think you know:
Where I’m Going Next
Where I’m Going Next is a preview of my upcoming travel plans.
If you’d like to meet up or have a work proposal for these locations, get in touch at [email protected].
Going Places 2025 trip schedule
Jordan trip is now open. Save $150 with code GOINGPLACESFEB. See what it feels like to be in Jordan with me in this 30-second Instagram reel.
What I'm Reading
Stories from across the web that have caught my attention.
Guess This Place
One way in which Okinawa differs from mainland Japan is the Okinawan diet. It's heavily focused on root vegetables like taro, a special type of fermented tofu, and meats like pork (pork broth serves as the basis for many Okinawan dishes). At the remote Yashiki village in the northern mountains of Okinawa, we've had a simple, yet delicious home-cooked meal that represents the Okinawan diet well (pictured here).
Yashiki is one of the villages we'll stay at during our trip. We'll also visit a traditional herbal sauna, go Shikuwasa orange harvesting, try our hand at Bingata indigo dyeing, and more. I can't wait to share this experience with you!
100% human-made \ support this newsletter with a cup of coffee here
Let's stay connected ↓
Business Owner at Amani Tours
2 周Excellent work Yulia
I tell stories from the trail and beyond, capturing the highs, the hardships, and even the face-plants—through writing and film—to inspire others to explore the world off the beaten path.
4 周Thanks for sharing, Yulia! You're a mentsch :).
Owner I CEO Jordan Tours, Petra Kitchen, Jordan Production Film Svcs, Petra Boutique Hotel, Partner Petra By Night
4 周It is stunning ??