Jordan Explorer

Join Amman

If you are arriving into Queen Alia International Airport, Amman, on Day 1 you will be met and transferred to the group hotel. If you are not arriving on Day 1, please make your own way to the hotel or ask us for private transfer details (additional cost applies). Amman is the capital of Jordan, and was known in biblical times as Rabbath Ammon, and under the Ptolemies, as Philadelphia. It is situated on a series of Jebels (meaning hills) and is divided by wadi’s (or dry river beds) into modern and ancient quarters. Remainder of day at leisure to explore Amman. Please check at hotel reception for the time to meet your guide tomorrow.

Jerash, Ajlun, Um Qais (275 km)

After breakfast, we drive to Jerash, where we visit one of the largest and best preserved Graeco-Roman ruins in the Middle East. The grandeur of Imperial Rome is evident from the extensive remnants of this ancient city. We then continue to the village of Ajlun with its fortress and magnificent view into the Jordan Valley. Afterwards we will drive north to Um Qais, a city rich with basalt ruins and perched on a hilltop with excellent views overlooking the Jordan Valley, Golan heights and Lake Tiberius (the sea of Galilee). We will enjoy cooking a traditional meal with locals at Beit Khairat Souf. Dinner and overnight local guesthouse.

Desert Castles and Dead Sea (270 kms drive)

After breakfast we will visit Um Qais Castle, and afterwards transfer to the Desert Castles. We will visit Kharaneh, Qasr Amra, and Azraq. Scattered throughout the black basalt desert these temples stand as testament to the beginnings of Islamic civilisation and are widely considered the most spectacular monuments to early Islamic art. Continue to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the surface of the earth for a swim in its warm salty waters. Free time at leisure. Overnight hotel.

To Petra via Madaba, Mt Nebo and Kerak (405 kms drive)

Madaba is best known for its beautiful Byzantine-era mosaics, including the 'Madaba Map', a 6th century mosaic map of the Holy Land. A remarkably well detailed layout of the region which is made up of two million pieces and shows the Nile, the Dead Sea and Jerusalem, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. We make a visit to the nearby Mount Nebo, a high hill overlooking the Dead Sea from where Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land. Our last stop before Petra is the well preserved crusader castle at Kerak, where we will also have an opportunity to have lunch (own account) in one of the local eating houses. Overnight hotel.

Full day visit to Petra

Chief among Jordan's archaeological riches is the soul-stirring, rose-red city of Petra, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Petra is the legacy of the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled in south Jordan more than 2,000 years ago. We will approach the city on foot through a 1km long narrow gorge or siq, flanked by towering cliffs. The sudden view of Petra's most spectacular monument, the Khaznah, or Treasury at the end of the Siq, is a dramatic sight. Used in the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, this towering facade is only the first of Petra's unique structures. Various walks and climbs reveal literally hundreds of buildings, facades, tombs, baths, funerary halls, temples and haunting rock drawing and reliefs. Overnight hotel.Note: Your entry ticket into the city of Petra includes a horse ride into the site and you will have the option to ride a donkey to the end of the Siq. In line with our commitment to animal welfare in tourism we encourage you to walk, rather than ride a horse and donkey. There have been a number of instances where travellers have been upset by the treatment of the horses and donkeys by their handlers.

Beidha and Wadi Rum (125 kms drive)

Our first stop this morning is Beidha, also known as Little Petra. This is the place where the Nabateans used to entertain their guests in the 1st and 2nd centuries BC but it is believed this ancient settlement had its origins in the 11th century BC. After a short visit here we drive south to the enchanting desert of Wadi Rum, Jordan’s largest desert and one of the most spectacular desert landscapes in the world. It is a unique valley of colored sand dunes surrounded by beautiful rugged mountains. We enjoy a jeep safari inside the Wadi to our Bedouin campsite and delight in a traditional dinner. NOTE - At the time of booking, there is an option to upgrade to a Martian Dome Tent - additional supplement applies; subject to availability.

To Amman via Aqaba (400 kms drive)

It takes around an hour to travel to Aqaba and we should reach the seaside resort by mid morning. Around 2 hours have been set aside to relax by the Red Sea, before returning to Amman. Overnight hotel.

In Amman, trip concludes

Trip arrangements conclude after breakfast. If you are departing Jordan today, you will be transferred to the airport. If you require additional nights in Amman or a private transfer on any other day, please ask your Reservations Consultant for details. Additional cost applies.