Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Jordan.
You will be met at Queen Alia International airport and transferred to your hotel in Amman.
Day 2: Madaba - Mt Nebo - Kerak Castle - Petra
After breakfast, we explore Madaba, a town with a vibrant and well-preserved Christian heritage most evident in its superb collection of mosaics. The stand-out attraction is the Greek Orthodox Church of St George which houses the magnificent 6th Century mosaic map of the Holy Land. Set into the floor of the church and comprising two million pieces of colored stone it depicts hills and valleys, villages and towns and even the central colonnaded street of Jerusalem with a clearly visible Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
From Madaba it is a 10km / 6 mile drive up the hill to Mount Nebo. This 1,000m (3,300ft) mountain is a very important Christian pilgrimage site, for it was here, on the edge of a ridge overlooking the Dead Sea, that Moses first caught sight of the Holy Land, having led his people from Sinai. It is said that he also died and was buried here. Mount Nebo offers fantastic views of the Jordan valley and the Dead Sea, with the West Bank city of Jericho usually visible from the summit and Jerusalem apparent on very clear days.
Kerak was the capital of the biblical kingdom of Moab and Kerak Castle is the largest and best-preserved of the Crusader Castles in the region. It sits on top of a steep outcrop, an almost impregnable position and, built in 1132 by Baldwin of Jerusalem, became famous at the time of the Crusades as one of the chain of fortresses used in the Holy War against Islam. Kerak Castle is a typical example of Crusader architecture, with Romanesque-style stone vaults, numerous corridors, and strong doorways. The upper courtyard includes the remains of a Crusader chapel and provides excellent views over the Jordanian landscape to the Dead Sea. From Kerak Castle, we drive to our hotel in Petra.
Day 3: Petra
Today we enjoy Petra, the rose-red city ‘half as old as time’ which is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The city was carved into the Sharah mountains by the Nabateans, who grew rich through their control of the frankincense trade routes through Arabia. Petra fell into obscurity about a thousand years ago, while its existence, and location, were kept a closely guarded secret by the local Bedouin, until 1812 when the Swiss explorer John Louis Burckhardt tricked his way into the site.
Our guided tour of this unique and unforgettable site commences with a walk through the Siq, the narrow and winding fissure between towering cliffs, which we exit through a tiny cleft to be confronted by the awe-inspiring splendor of the Treasury monument, Petra’s most elaborate ruin, hewn into the sandstone rock. Local legend has it that this tomb once stored the gifts of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon. We progress to explore the royal tombs, a Roman theater and the colonnaded street to name but a few of the astounding attractions on view. We will also walk up the 800 steps to view the vast and impressive Monastery (Ed Deir), which enjoys fabulous views over the whole area and a mountain atmosphere.
After lunch, which we will take on site, the afternoon is free to explore one of the most impressive and exciting sites of ancient history anywhere in the world. One option is to walk up to the High Place (Attuf Ridge), once the venue for sacrificial offerings, which gives wonderful views over the Petra Basin and out towards Jebel Harun and Wadi Sabra. We overnight in Petra.
Day 4: Petra - Wadi Rum - Dead Sea - Amman
After breakfast we drive from Petra to Wadi Rum. This valley possesses one of the world’s most colorful landscapes of desert and mountain scenery. Though nowadays famed as the location of many of Lawrence of Arabia’s exploits, rock carvings bear witness to the passage of ancient tribes and traders across this desert for thousands of years. We will will enjoy a jeep safari with a Bedouin guide, the best way to view the Thamudic inscriptions, burial mounds, ancient megaliths and ruined buildings that abound. We will see Nabatean rock carved stairways, dams and temples as well as myriad unusual geological formations.
After lunch we drive to the Dead Sea. For millennia people have been coming here, drawn by the medicinal qualities of the mineral - laden waters. Because of the high salt concentration in the water, 38% or four times more salty than normal sea water, swimming in the Dead Sea is a novel experience with its sensation of weightlessness. We will enjoy a few hours of floating in the sea, sunbathing and perhaps undergoing one of the very popular and relaxing black mud treatments. After showering and drying off we leave the Dead Sea and drive to our overnight accommodation in Amman.
Day 5: Depart Jordan
We transfer you to the airport in good time for your flight home.
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Meets and assist at airport
- All transfers by deluxe Van/Bus on classical excursions
- Hotel accommodation at middle class hotels in Amman & Petra on a B&B basis
- A Guided sightseeing tour of Petra including entrance fees
Tour guide for full 5 days from airport to the airport
- Horse ride in Petra
- Bedouin guides in Wadi Rum.
Price Excludes:
- Tips
- Amman Airport departure tax
- Travel insurance
- Cost of Visa
- Miscellaneous expenses: drinks, souvenirs etc.
- Any other item not mentioned in our offer.
Also see tour packages in:
Middle East
Jordan
Local Culture
Cultural Journey
Pilgrimage/Spirituality
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