Jordan in Depth

Duration:

11 day

An 11-day itinerary showcasing the wonders of Jordan.

Highlights:

Amman, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Azraq, Kerak, Dana, Petra, Wadi Rum, Ma�in

Day one:

ARRIVE AMMAN

Arrive at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman. You will be met by our staff inside the airport, and assisted through immigration. Transfer directly to your hotel in Amman for check-in.

Overnight:

Four Seasons Amman

Day Two:

AMMAN

After breakfast, begin your full day city tour of Amman including stops at the Citadel, the Archeological Museum, the Roman Theatre, and the Folklore Museum. Then walk downtown through the bazaars and the gold market to Darat al Funun. Housed in three historical residences built in the 1920s alongside the remains of a sixth century Byzantine church, Darat al Funun is dedicated to the promotion of the fine arts. It preserves the country's heritage by restoring beautiful architectural examples of their time, whilst bringing art to a more populated area of the city and making it accessible to a wider segment of society. Then drive to Jabal Amman, one of seven hills that originally made up Amman, for a traditional falafel lunch. Enjoy a guided walk from the Amman Nature Centre (RSCN) to find out more about the nature reserves in Jordan. Your guide will then show you the old houses of Amman dating back to the 1920s and 1930s, one being the house where the late King Hussein was born, before ending the walk at Pasha Turkish Bath for a bath and a massage.

Back to your hotel in Amman.

Overnight:

Four Seasons Amman

Day Three:

AMMAN

Today you will visit Umm Qais, Jerash and Ajloun. Stop for lunch at Um Qais Rest House with its beautiful view. Continue to Ajloun to visit Al Rabad Castle. Drive to the Greco-Roman city of Jerash for half day visit. Second only to Petra in tourist appeal, the ancient city of Jerash in remarkable for its long chain of human occupation. Here at a well-watered site in the hills of Gilead, remains from Neolithic times have been found, as well as Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad.  Jerash's golden age, however, arrived with Roman rule. Jerash was a member of the Decapolis, a dynamic commercial league of ten Greco-Roman Cities. Today it is acknowledged as one of the best-preserved province cities of the Roman Empire.

Back to your hotel in Amman to freshen up before dinner at Fakhr el Din, the best Lebanese restaurant in Amman. Interestingly, the restaurant is located in Jordan's first Prime Minister's old house.

Overnight:

Four Seasons Amman

Day Four:

MADABA - MOUNT NEBO - AZRAQ

After breakfast, you will be drive to Madaba for a walking tour. Begin at the Visitors Center, and then stop at the Archaeological Park with its School of Mosaic. The quality and quantity of the mosaic flooring in Madaba has made it one of the most prominent cities in the world for mosaics. Continue on foot through the beautiful houses and shops to St. George's Church, which has the oldest known mosaic floor map of the Holy Land.

After lunch, you will visit the Apostles Church in Madaba. Next stop is Mount Nebo. Today the mountain is a memorial site and includes the "Church of Moses", built by the first Christians.  Ever since the first days of Christianity this mountain has been a holy place and a destination for pilgrimage. Like Moses, you can have a great view over Jordan, the Dead Sea and Israel. When the weather is clear, you should even be able to see Jerusalem, which is about 60 kilometres away. After, drive north to the Azraq Reserve Lodge. Azraq is a unique wetland oasis in the heart of the semi-arid Jordanian desert. The reserve is the perfect location for bird watching. Other attractions of the reserve include several natural and ancient built pools, a seasonally flooded marshland, and a large mud flat known as Qa'al-Azraq.

Tonight you will experience a one hour night safari in Shaumari.

Overnight:

Azraq Lodge

Day Five:

AZRAQ - KERAK - DANA - PETRA

After breakfast you will drive to Petra, via Kerak and Dana.

Visit the Crusader's castle in Kerak. It was chosen by the Crusaders as the location for their stronghold due to its advantageous location. Situated mid-way between Jerusalem and Shobak, another Crusader castle, Kerak is perched on a hilltop 1,000 metres above sea level and surrounded on three sides by a valley.

After lunch continue to Dana for a one hour tour visiting some spectacular viewpoints above Dana village. Explore the terraced gardens, meet some local farmers, visit a traditional bakery, a jam factory, and a soap and silver workshop.

Proceed south to Petra, where pre check-in will be arranged at Petra Movenpick Resort. Tonight you will experience the Petra Kitchen, a delightful way to round out your Jordan travel experiences.  Like any home kitchen, the Petra Kitchen is a relaxed, informal atmosphere where you'll gather to prepare an evening meal, working alongside local women under the supervision of an experienced chef.

Each evening meal includes soup, cold and hot mezza and salads, and a main course�all typical Jordanian dishes. You will get an inside glimpse of the secrets behind the famous regional cuisine of the Levant. Great care has been taken to make the Petra Kitchen a truly Jordanian experience - right down to the furnishings, crafted in Jordan, the tableware, all produced by the Iraq al Amir Women's Co-operative, and the aprons and table linens, all hand-embroidered by the Jordan River Foundation.

Overnight:

Petra Movenpick Resort

Day Six:

PETRA         

After breakfast, begin your full day tour of Petra. Start with a horse ride from the main gate of Petra to the entrance of the old city (about 800 metres). Then walk on foot along the Siq to discover the ancient city of Petra. The ancient city of Petra was built from 800 BC to 100 AD by Nabetean Arabs. In this era Petra was a fortress, carved out of craggy rocks in an area which was virtually inaccessible. In the first and second century, after the Romans took over, the city reached the peak of its fame. Petra covers an area of about 100 square km, where over 800 monuments can be found. When shipping slowly displaced caravan routes, the city's importance gradually dwindled. It fell into disuse and was lost to the world until 1812, when it was re-discovered by the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. Today Petra is Jordan's number one tourist attraction, known as the "rose-red city half as old as time". The Khazneh (the Treasury) even starred in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

Lunch today will be inside the ruins of Petra at Basin Restaurant.

Back to your hotel in Petra with time to relax before tonight's dinner.

Drive to the old site of Beida, or Little Petra as it is known among the local people, for a private dinner. A path illuminated by small paper candles will lead you to an open area, surrounded by rocks; this special evening will be catered by Petra Movenpick Resort.

Overnight:

Petra Movenpick Resort

Day Seven:

PETRA - WADI RUM

After breakfast, you will be drive to Wadi Rum for an excursion to the Jordanian desert. Otherwise known as the "Valley of the Moon", it was the setting for the film Lawrence of Arabia and the actual location where T.E. Lawrence set his camp. Lawrence's book The Seven Pillars of Wisdom was named after the seven natural columns varying in height located en route to Wadi Rum. Bedouin camps are present in the Wadi which is still home to a number of Bedouin families who welcome visitors with the hospitality and generosity that Bedouins are so famous for. The journey takes three hours by 4X4 vehicle, the vehicles are provided by a charity foundation which aims to support the local Bedouin people. Please note that the condition of these vehicles is poor.

A light snack will be served at Wadi Rum Rest House upon arrival.

This evening you will enjoy a special traditional dinner in the desert of Wadi Rum with local folkloric music.

You will overnight at a private camp in Wadi Rum. You will sleep in a traditional Bedouin tent: this is very basic accommodation.

Overnight:

Traditional Bedouin Tent

Day Eight:

WADI RUM - MA�IN

This morning you will have time for an hour long camel tour in Wadi Rum. Depending on weather conditions, you might be able to take to the skies in a hot air balloon to enjoy the views over Wadi Rum. Later you will be driven to the Ma'in area to the Six Senses Hotel, located 264 metres below sea level.

The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Overnight:

Six Senses Hotel

Day Nine:

Ma�in

Today is at leisure to relax and enjoy the resort.

Overnight:

Six Senses Hotel

Day Ten:

Ma�in

Today is at leisure to relax and enjoy the resort.

Overnight:

Six Senses Hotel

Day Eleven:

DEPART AMMAN

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Amman airport for your return flight