There's a tendency to romanticize places we travel to.
(I'm guilty of it sometimes.)
But many countries across the globe now face similar challenges: water scarcity, climate change, industrial-scale agriculture that lowers the quality of our food.
Jordan is not an exception.
Situated within the Fertile Crescent, the region where humanity's agriculture originated, the country is dealing with soil degradation due to mono-crop planting, desertification, urban expansion, and more.
The loss of soil is a problem in nearly every country in the world.
More like this: Meet the Couple Revitalizing the Land of a Portuguese Village
It's an issue I first learned about when I met Rakan Mehyar, an adventure guide-turned farmer in Madaba, an Arab Christian town in Jordan dating back to the times of the Crusaders.
Rakan got into soil restoration when he became a dad and started looking into what his children eat.
He founded Carob House, a farm-to-table restaurant and zero-waste farm, to produce clean, nutritious food using time-tested practices like crop diversity and composting, and work with local farmers to reimagine the way Jordan grows its food.
I've always been drawn to people like Rakan in my journalism work.
These individuals are passionate about their work. Their examples light up the world and help us understand it a little bit better.
Once I met Rakan, I knew I wanted him to be part of my Jordan trip experiences.
We've been visiting him ever since.
🐪 We are returning to Jordan next June 🐪
Join us June 5-14, 2026 on a 10-day trip to this country we love so much. We'll visit the Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum, Amman, and many off-beaten spots in between. And we will meet Rakan and taste his award-winning food.
Save $200 by booking an early-bird spot by Jan 5, 2026.
A visit to Carob House starts with the soil, which Rakan holds in his hands as he explains what makes it special.
Under the shade of a giant carob tree, he lets us touch it, smell it, engage with it.
(Read the Conde Nast Traveler story in which I mention Carob House.)
Rakan's passion is contagious.
By the end of the farm visit, we get a glimpse into restoring food traditions indigenous to his region.
Then, we taste those traditions at Rakan's award-winning restaurant with dishes like pumpkin kubbeh and carob ice cream (my favorite).
It's a perfect cap to the day spent under the olive and carob trees learning about Jordan's food.
1 - Carob ice cream at Carob House; 2 - Rakan & I
“Unless we create abundance in the soil, reimagine the way we grow our food, and share the goodness with others, I see a gloomy world.” – Rakan Mehyar
Spending time with Rakan at Carob House is one of many examples of how I approach curating my upcoming trip to Jordan this June.
Yes, we have lots of fun.
Yes, we explore the country and see its incredible sights.
But there is more.
Backed by my journalistic practice, we also get a deep insight into Jordan through people like Rakan, who spearhead beautiful, important projects there.
Ready to dive deep with me?
Trip Dates
Trip Price
🐦 Book by Jan 5, 2026 to save $200 off the full price of $3,325
How are we different?
When you travel with us, your money funds our journalism at Going Places AND the work of local communities in Jordan.
Your trip will directly support over 100 Jordanian families working across numerous organizations like Dar Nemeh, which employs 3,000+ women & refugees across Jordan.
Through our deep relationships with people who live and work in Jordan, you'll get a close look at this country we love – all while having some fun with like-hearted travelers.
“It was a privilege to join this well-curated journey as seen through Yulia's heart. She attracted an amazing group of compassionate, intelligent, and fun-loving people, all with a sense of adventure and curiosity." – Sandra S.
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