Day 1: Amman
Meet & Greet Service, Welcome to Jordan and the start of an amazing adventure. Transfer to Amman
Overnight: Amman
Day 2: Mt Nebo
Today we tour the citadel and Archaeological Museum of Amman before we take a walk through the bustling local souk to enjoy typical Jordanian street treats of falafel and hummus at the country’s most popular local street stand. As the pictures on the wall will prove, the unglamorous food stand was a great favorite of the late King Hussein.
Leaving Amman we’ll stop first at Mt. Nebo, This amazing panorama includes the Jordan River Valley, the Dead Sea, Jericho and the spires and domes of the Mt. of Olives and Bethlehem on the Judean hills just across the wide valley. Later we visit Madaba en route to Petra where we see the Church of St George, the Madaba Archaeological Park, Apostles Church and Madaba Museum.
Our next port of call is Um ar-Rasas, one of Jordan’s World Heritage sites and once an important stop on the busy caravan routes. The impressive mosaic floor of the St. Stephen Church features medallions commemorating all the early Christian pilgrimage sites of the region, and the extensive ruins also include one of the area’s earliest Stylite towers, where a Byzantine hermit lived atop the tower and preached to the pilgrimage visitors.
Our final stop of the day is Petra. Consider doing a Petra by Night excursion, it takes place Mondays; Wednesdays &Thursdays (payable locally) for a tantalizing candlelight stroll through Petra’s Siq ... a romantic preview of things to come.
Overnight: Petra
Day 3: The Nabatean City of Petra
Begin the day with a walk through the mysterious mile-long Siq, the narrow gorge with towering sandstone walls which leads into the ancient capital city of the Nabatean trading empire. Explore the Khazneh (the temple of Indiana Jones fame), Theatre, Colonnaded Street and Museum. After lunch, climb to ad-Deir (the Monastery), Petra’s largest carved façade.
In the evening, why not try your hand at Petra Kitchen to join fellow travelers for a cuisine course at the Petra Kitchen, where you’ll help prepare a memorable Jordanian feast. Petra Kitchen (optional)
Overnight: Petra
Day 4 : Wadi Rum deserts cape
This morning we have the opportunity to join our guide for a return to Petra along the “secret way” of al-Madras, with visits to the High Place of Sacrifice and Wadi Farasa. At lunchtime we stop in Wadi Musa souk to pick up delicious shawarma sandwiches or fruit and veggie snacks from the local produce souk before making the scenic drive to Wadi Rum.
We make a late afternoon jeep tour of this moonscape desert terrain, arriving to our remote camp site deep in the heart of the Wadi Rum. We enjoy a magical evening under the brilliant stars of the desert night sky, including a scrumptious traditional Jordanian dinner.
Overnight: Wadi Rum
Day 5 : Crusader Castles, Wadi Mujib Canyoning & the Dead Sea
After breakfast at the campsite, we head north along the Desert Highway. Taking a drive through the market town of Karak under the towering shadows of the Karak Crusader Castle, descending some 1300 meters to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the earth’s surface. More than 400 meters below sea level, the mineral-rich Dead Sea is the world’s original health and beauty spa. Drift out and bob in the waters and slap on some of the famous black Dead Sea mud to give your skin an invigorating boost.
(For confirmed tours between April and October) we’ll head up the King’s Highway to Wadi Mujib. We’ll embark on a moderate –paced two hour trek along the Siq Trail. Measuring 500 metres in depth and spanning 4 kilometres across, the impressive Wadi Mujib is one of Jordan’s most remarkable natural features. This dramatic canyon features sheer rocky walls and sparkling waterways that range from puddle height to depths that are perfect for swimming (chest height or deeper) depending on the rainfall. When the water level is high you should be prepared for having to climb up ladders, clamber across boulders and be happy to wade through water. The canyon is just one feature of the Mujib Biosphere Reserve, the lowest nature reserve in the world, home to a surprising diversity of wildlife and plant species. After our trek we make our way to the Dead Sea. For those not interested in taking the full hike, you can walk part of or wait by the Visitor Centre till the group returns. After our trek we make our way to the Dead Sea.
Overnight: Dead Sea
Day 6: Dead Sea
Take a final dip in the Dead Sea this morning then transfer to Amman Airport assist / farewell
Note: If you plan to cross to Jerusalem via King Hussein’s bridge, Allenby Border the transfer will be amended accordingly