Treasures Of Jordan

Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++) in Imperial Palace

This morning we will take you to a castle in the desert.  Not just any castle, but the best known  castles located in Jordan today.  It is believed to have been built 1200 years ago and it is said to be one of the first examples of Islamic Architecture in the region.  After our visit we continue to Jerash another of the Middle East treasures. 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. From here we return to Amman for our overnight stay.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++) in Imperial Palace Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we visit the unique saline waters of the Dead Sea. At nearly 400m below sea level this is the lowest point on earth. Surrounded by barren hills, this unparalleled water body has an amazingly high salt content (33%) that means no animal life survives and that it is almost impossible to sink! We will have time here to enjoy the strange delights of floating on the Dead Sea and bathing in the skin soothing (and allegedly youth making) Dead Sea mud as well as visiting the Panoramic Complex and Visitors Centre of the Dead Sea before heading to Madaba, a small Christian town with its collection of extraordinary mosaics, including the Great Map of Palestine (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.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++) in Imperial Palace Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we leave Amman and travel to the Crusader Castle of Kerak, imposingly sited on 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. After visiting this magnificent castle we then continue down to Petra for a 3 night stay. Abandoned centuries ago Petra was the rock cut stronghold of the Nabateans, a fortress city built to protect the lucrative levies its citizens imposed on the rich caravans heading north. Surrounded by imposing mountains and approached through a deep, narrow cleft in the rocks, known as the Siq, it is a unique and unforgettable place and, enhanced by the play of light and shadow, an altogether overwhelming experience. Approaching on horseback (optional) we then enter the Siq on foot, following its towering sandstone walls towards the site of the captivating and iconic splendour of the beautiful Khazneh (The famous Treasury). A guided orientation tour will take us to some of the key parts of this remarkable and ancient site, one of the most impressive and exciting anywhere in the world. We’ll take in the Colonnaded Street and the Royal Tombs, enjoy the site of its amazing theatre, with its 8,000 seats carved from the solid rock, before a free afternoon to continue exploring at your leisure.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++) in Beit Zaman Included meals: Breakfast

Today you have a full free day at Petra (‘rock’ in Greek). Returning to the city you can climb steep paths to the sacrificial ‘High Places’ (altars) for stunning views over Wadi Araba and the Negev Desert. Or take the high road up to the Monastery, which is the largest of Petra’s monuments and certainly worth the climb up to it. Towering to a height of 40m its doorway alone measures 8m in height, dwarfing anyone framed within it. It is a place to lose oneself in the atmosphere of the past. We also recommend a trip to El Beidha (or ‘Little Petra’ as it is known) or to an excavated Stone Age village where you can see the remains of houses, fireplaces and workshops dating from around 6000BC. And after a full day’s sightseeing, what better way to relax than with a traditional Ottoman Bath (optional). This evening there may be a possibility of enjoying an enchanting tour of the city by night (optional).

Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++) in Beit Zaman Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

Today is left free for further exploration of the remarkable site of Petra or should you wish there is an optional overnight trip into Wadi Rum that can be arranged.  This will involve a 4WD to through the rolling desert landscapes towards the haunting vistas of Wadi Rum. From here we enter another world, one inhabited by the nomadic Bedouin for generations and steeped in the legend of Lawrence of Arabia, whose exploits have become the stuff of legend. Indeed scenes from the remarkable film of his life were shot here, deep in the fabulous purple-black mountains that rise from the sand of the desert. On arrival you have the option to take either an optional and unforgettable Camel trek through the dramatic Siq al Barrah marvelling at the panoramas of what must surely be some of Jordan’s most dramatic wilderness or an optional 4x4 drive exploring the dramatic scenery of Wadi Rum. Words struggle to adequately convey the beauty of this special place. After these optional activites, we will journey together to your campsite for the night. The camping is in traditional Bedouin style (not InStyle). 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. This is an optional activity which can be arrived and paid for locally.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++) in Beit Zaman Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

Leaving Petra (or Wadi Rum) behind and returning north we continue to our final destination for today, back to Jordan's Capital, Amman where we take a guided tour of Jordan's Capital City. The origins of this remarkable city have been traced back some 9,000 years, but it was the arrival of the Ammonites in 1200BC that saw the city begin its rise to prominence as the great city of Rabbath Ammon. The intervening centuries saw it fall under the influences of the Israelites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Ptolomids, Seleucids and the Romans, under whose auspices it thrived as one of the 10 cities of the Decapolis. Our tour this morning will take in some of the highlights of ancient Amman (Philadelphia), including the Temple of Hercules and the 8th century Ummayad Palace. We’ll also take in the sumptuous grandeur of the King Abdullah Mosque, one of the city’s major landmarks, before paying a visit to the gold and herb markets in the city’s downtown district. There may be some free time in the afternoon after the visit for you to further explore Amman at your leisure.

Overnight Comfortable Hotel (H++) in Imperial Palace Included meals: Breakfast

Included meals: Breakfast