Pillars & ruins of the domed audience hall at the Citadel, Amman | Richard I'Anson
Pillars & ruins of the domed audience hall at the Citadel, Amman  | Richard I'Anson
The imposing Treasury at Petra is a sight to behold  | Richard I'Anson
Wadi Rum's desert landscape at sunrise  | Richard I'Anson
Views from Kerak Castle  | Rachel Imber
The ancient city of Jerash  | Rachel Imber
The vibrant colour of the salty Dead Sea  | Rachel Imber

Jordan Explorer

Explore Jordan's historical sites and geographical wonders

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 3 reviews

8 Days from

$2300 USD

Trip Code: JEX
View dates to BookEssential Information

Extra trip options & supplements

*Prices listed are per person

Wadi Rum - Martian Dome tent upgrade supplement per person per night
$100 USD
Single Supplement
$670 USD

Duration

  • 8 Days

Activities

  • Day Walking
  • 4WD jeep tour

Accommodation

  • 5 nights hotel
  • 1 night Bedouin camp
  • 1 night guesthouse

Meals

  • 2 Dinners
  • 7 Breakfasts

Difficulty Grading  

2 / 10

Adventure touring

Trip highlights

  • Enjoy Bedouin hospitality in the dramatic desert landscape of Wadi Rum
  • Visit the magical hidden city of Petra
  • Explore Kerak crusader castle, and the ancient Byzantine mosaics of Mt Nebo and Madaba
  • Take a dip in the Dead Sea
  • Discover the historical ruins of Jerash and Um Qais
  • Revel in the local hospitality whilst cooking a traditional meal

Overview

For such a compact country, Jordan has an overwhelming array of historical sites and geographical features ripe for exploration. From the magical hidden city of Petra where the Queen of Sheba once showered her gifts on King Solomon, to Wadi Rum where Lawrence of Arabia spent time during the Arab Revolt, and from the Dead Sea to the Crusader Castles dotted throughout the country, this journey manages to encompass all of the highlights. Our day walks in Petra take us to the High Place of Sacrifice at sunrise and the Treasury. We visit Madaba and Mt Nebo, from where Moses is said to have seen the 'Promised Land'; and travel the Kings Highway to the prominent crusader castle of Kerak. We visit Jerash, 'the Pompeii of the East', and enjoy cooking a traditional meal with locals at Um Qais. A 4WD journey into the Wadi Rum allows us to spend time among the local Bedouin people and marvel at the changing colours of this dramatic landscape. We return to Amman via the shores of the Red Sea, a fine finale to this all encompassing trip.

Itinerary

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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.

Meals: Nil

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.

Meals: B,D

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.

Meals: B

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.

Meals: B

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.

Meals: B

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.

Meals: B,D

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.

Meals: B

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.

Meals: B

Map

Elevation

The map and elevation chart are for illustrative purposes only and meant to provide general guidelines.

Ready to start your adventure?

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What’s included?

Included

  • 7 breakfasts and 2 dinners
  • 5 nights in 3-4 star hotels on a twinshare basis
  • 1 night in local guesthouse on a twinshare basis
  • 1 night in Bedouin camp on a twinshare tent basis (option to upgrade in Wadi Rum to a Martian Dome Tent - additional supplement applies; subject to availability)
  • English speaking local driver
  • English speaking local guides at the major sites visited (English speaking guide throughout for 6 or more guests)
  • airport transfers (day 1 and 8 only)
  • private transport
  • Wadi Rum 4WD tour
  • entrance fees and sightseeing as listed in itinerary

Not included

  • International flights & airport departure taxes
  • Meals and beverages not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Items of a personal nature, eg laundry, drinks, spending money
  • Visas
  • Tips
  • Travel Insurance
  • Medical treatment
  • Excess baggage costs
  • Airport transfers if not arriving/ departing on Days 1 & 8

About your guide

Please note that for groups of 2-5 people, you will have a local English-speaking driver only, and local guides at the major sites visited. For groups of 6 or more people, an English-speaking guide will accompany the group throughout, in addition to a local driver.

Reviews (3)

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