If you hire Raed Haddad to convey you through the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, be sure to bring a recording device.  You will be getting the equaivelnt of an honors' seminar in the history of the Arabian peninsula, and you won't want to miss a thing.  His knowledge on the subject is inexhaustible.  Whether narrating the rise and fall of the Nabaetan kingdom or unpacking the long-range effects of the Arab victory at the Yarmuk, he fills tourists with the dizzying sense that they are treading atop millennia of civilization.  Minus that perspective, a visit to the Holy Land is just a spell at Club Med with extra sand.

This isn't to say that Raed is a pedant or a know-it-all.  God forbid.  Personable, down-to-earth, sensitive to the limits of the occidental attention span, and above all fun, he's more like a scoutmaster with a long reading list and an uncanny memory.  To say that his English is perfect would do it a disservice.  Raed speaks exactly -- and I mean exactly -- like John Wayne.  Although that can be a bit jarring when he takes you to Wadi Rum, recognizable from David Lean's epic Lawrence of Arabia, the general effect is of getting an unexpected and welcome reminder of home.

Since 2008, I have had the opportunity to visit Jordan on three different occasions. Each time, I was fortunate to have very good and very competent tour guides. My most recent trip took place in October. Raed Haddad led our group, which was comprised of religious writers and bloggers of all denominations and non-denominations. From the moment I met Raed, it was as if we had been lifelong friends. He was very warm and welcoming. His English is impeccable, which was very helpful because my previous guides were sometimes difficult to understand. Raed is very knowledgeable about Jordan and its rich history. He's also very patient, which is important when you're dealing with diverse groups of people, and goes out of his way to make every person in the group feel important. The best compliment that I can give Raed is that, when you first meet him, you think of him as your tour guide but, by the time you leave Jordan, you consider him to be your friend. He's a great ambassador for the Royal Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

During my 10 year career as a travel professional I could confidently say that Raed is the best tour guide in Jordan. His enthusiasm and energy is infectous and he is a great ambassador for his country. Had a week trip with him across Jordan and knowledge and passion like him is rarely found nowdays.I had the best time of my life and he is a major factor. Got a lot to know about the wonderful country. Plus Fact - He is awesome photographer and a wise guy who is always up for a fun discussion during a smoke.  Would certainly recommend Raed.