Jordan Adventure Holiday

Join tour today in Amman, the capital of Jordan. It is a fascinating city of contrasts – a unique blend of old and new. The Temple of Hercules is in the commercial heart of the city along with ultra-modern buildings, hotels, smart restaurants, art galleries and boutiques that rub shoulders comfortably with traditional coffee shops and tiny artisans' workshops. Everywhere there is evidence of the city’s much older past. Due to the city’s modern-day prosperity and temperate climate, almost half of Jordan’s population is concentrated in the Amman area. The residential suburbs consist of mainly tree-lined streets and avenues flanked by elegant, almost uniformly white houses in accordance with a municipal law, which states that all buildings must be faced with local stone. The downtown area is much older and more traditional with smaller businesses producing and selling everything from fabulous jewellery to everyday household items. The people of Amman are multi-cultural, multi-denominational, well-educated and extremely hospitable. They welcome visitors and take pride in showing them around their fascinating and vibrant city.

Overnight Standard Hotel

This morning we travel northwards to ancient Jerash. Located in the Gilead Hills, it is considered to be the best preserved city of the Decapolis, a confederation of ten Roman cities. One of the highlights of the Middle East, a triple arch gateway gives way to colonnaded streets, theatres, temples and baths. Particularly striking is the elegant forum. This afternoon we head south to Madaba, a small Christian town with its collection of extraordinary mosaics, including the Great Map of the Holy Land (6th century). Discovered in 1896, and only fragmentary, it contains a good picture of Jerusalem. Moving on we investigate Jebel Neba (808m), better known as Mount Nebo, it is a pilgrimage centre for Christians principally because Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land from this summit.  From here we journey back to Amman for our overnight stop.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we journey along the stunning King's Highway. We head south to Kerak, imposingly situated upon a hilltop. Kerak became famous in the time of the Crusades as one of a chain of fortresses in the Holy War against Islam. The castle was built in 1132 by Baldwin of Jerusalem, a Crusader king. We continue south to Shobak Castle the sister fortification of Kerak, perched on a small hill it is an grand site, less well known than its sister, Shobak is well worth the visit. Our day of exploring crusader castles ends with a short drive to Petra. We arrive in time to take an optional candlelight tour of the ancient city. Abandoned centuries ago, Petra is unique and unforgettable: a strange otherworldly place, enhanced by the play of light and shadow, an altogether overwhelming experience.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Over the next two days we really get the opportunity to discover all that Petra has to offer and to soak up this unique and mysterious city. We start with a guided orientation tour that will take us to some of the key parts of this remarkable site before our free afternoon and day tomorrow where we can explore in more detail, its beautiful and awe inspiring buildings and scenery. You can climb steep paths to the sacrificial ‘High Places’ (altars) for a stunning view over Wadi Araba and the Negev Desert, trek up to the impressive ‘Royal Tombs’ or Monastery or simply enjoy Petra, a place to lose oneself in the atmosphere of the past.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

We spend today experiencing the beautiful area of Wadi Rum. We head off south for an exciting half day drive along a 4WD drive route to Wadi Rum. Via the old Roman road, we explore the lesser known northern areas of Wadi Rum, seeing natural rock bridges and viewing incredible rock sculptures on the way to our overnight camp. During the afternoon you may take an optional camel trek through the dramatic Siq al Barrah. We ride or walk for approx 2 and 1/2 hours through a landscape of sandstone mountains and white and pink coloured sands. The desert is another world, inhabited by the nomadic Bedouin peoples for generations. Before our night under the starry sky, we may be lucky enough to witness a spectacular desert sunset. We sleep in a single, large, traditional goat hair tent (the best protection against typical desert extremes of hot and cold) which is laid out with rugs, mattresses, pillows and sleeping bags. The evening is normally spent around a campfire, with spectacular desert stars overhead: Limited washing facilities and WC are available close by. Overnight in Bedouinstyle tent.

Overnight Basic Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leaving Wadi Rum we walk a short distance to our bus and then we drive to Aqaba on the Red Sea. Here your tour leader will be on hand to arrange optional activities including the chance to swim or snorkel in the Red Sea or view coral and marine life from a special reef viewing boat. 

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

We drive on to the shimmering Dead Sea. Surrounded by barren hills, this unique water body has an amazingly high salt content (33%) that means no animal life survives and that it is almost impossible to sink! Finally we drive on to Amman and spend our last night in the bustling capital with some free time to do some last minute shopping and sightseeing.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

 Tour ends in Amman after breakfast.

Included meals: Breakfast