A land of biblical stories and ancient civilizations, Jordan witnessed the rise and fall of numerous rich and powerful empires and was the setting stage for a number of miracles mentioned in both the Old & New Testaments and the Qu’ran. Ongoing digs reveal the traces of civilizations dating as far back as prehistoric times, making Jordan one of the most Interesting destinations in the world and your trip one of the most memorable!
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival at Amman International Airport (called Queen Alia International). Our representative will meet the clients holding a sign with the clients’ name on it and will assist them through visa procedures & luggage identification before introducing them to the guide that will be on call throughout the program. Upon completion of the formalities, we will drive to the hotel for assisted check in, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: City Tour – Madaba – Mt. Nebo – Petra
Start the day with a full buffet breakfast at the hotel, followed by a city tour of Amman. Amman is the capital of Jordan, a fascinating city of contrasts - a unique blend of old and new, ideally situation on a hilly area between the desert and the fertile Jordan Valley. 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 street 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. The visit will include the fascinating Roman Theater and Nymphaeum that reflect the historic legacy of the city, and the enchanting Citadel which has stood since the ancient times of the Ammonites. If it's shopping you're after, then the pedestrian Wakalat shopping district offers a wide selection of international brand names to choose from. For a more exotic and traditional experience you can visit the old-downtown, also known as the "Souq", and take in the traditional sights and smells of the spice market, and shop for authentic souvenirs.
The tour will continue with a visit to Madaba, best known for its spectacular Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics. Madaba is home to the famous 6th century Mosaic Map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. With two million pieces of vivid colored local stone, it depicts hills and valleys, villages and towns as far as the Nile Delta. The Madaba Mosaic Map covers the floor of the Greek Orthodox Church of St.George, which is located northwest of the city centre. The church was built in 1896 AD, over the remains of a much earlier 6th century Byzantine church. The mosaic panel enclosing the Map was originally around 15.6 X 6m, 94 square meters, only about a quarter of which is preserved. Continue to visit Mount Nebo, the mountaintop memorial Of Moses with captivating views of the Jordan Valley, Dead Sea and the River Jordan. A small Byzantine church was built there by early Christians, which has been expanded into a vast complex. During his visit to Jordan in 2001, the Late Pope John Paul II held a sermon here that was attended by some 20,000 faithful. The tour will end in Petra for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Petra
Your day will begin with breakfast at the hotel followed by a full day visit of Petra. Petra, the world wonder, is without doubt Jordan’s most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction. It is a vast, unique city, carved into the sheer rock face by the Nabateans. These industrious Arab people who settled here more than 2000 years ago, turned the city into an important junction for the silk, spice and other trade routes that linked China, India and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome. The entrance to the city is through the Siq, a narrow gorge, over 1 kilometer in length, which is flanked on either side by soaring, 80 meters high cliffs. Just walking through the Siq is an experience in itself. The colors and formations of the rocks are dazzling. As you reach the end of the Siq you will catch your first glimpse of Al-Khazneh-Treasury. This is an awe-inspiring experience. A massive façade, 30m wide and 43m high, carved out of the sheer, dusky pink, rock-face and dwarfing everything around it. It was carved in the early 1st century as the tomb of an important Nabatean king and represents the engineering genius of these ancient people. The Treasury is just the first of the many wonders that make up Petra. You will need at least four or five days to really explore everything here.
As you enter the Petra valley you will be overwhelmed by the natural beauty of this place and its outstanding architectural achievements. There are hundreds of elaborate rock-cut tombs with intricate carvings - unlike the houses, which were destroyed mostly by earthquakes, the tombs were carved to last throughout the afterlife and 500 have survived, empty but bewitching as you file past their dark openings. Here also is a massive Nabatean-built, Roman-style theatre, which could seat 3,000 people. There are obelisks, temples, sacrificial altars and colonnaded streets, and high above, overlooking the valley, is the impressive Ad-Deir Monastery – a of 800 rock cut steps takes you there. Upon completion of the tour, we will return to the Hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4 : Petra – Wadi Rum – Aqaba – Amman
Depart Petra to Wadi Rum - This is a stupendous, timeless place, virtually untouched by humanity and its destructive forces. Here, it is the weather and winds that have carved the imposing, towering skyscrapers, so elegantly described by T.E. Lawrence as “vast, echoing and god-like”. A maze of monolithic rocks capes rise up from the desert floor to heights of 1,750 meters creating a natural challenge for serious mountaineers. Hikers can enjoy the tranquility of the boundless empty spaces; explore the canyons and water holes to discover 4000 year old rock drawings and the many other spectacular treasures this vast wilderness holds in store. Also known as ‘The Valley of the Moon’, this is the place where rinse Faisal Bin Hussein and T.E. Lawrence based their headquarters during the Arab Revolt against the Ottomans in World War 1 and their exploits are intrinsically woven into the history of this amazing area. We will arrange for 2hrs Jeep Tour inside Wadi Rum and then continue to Aqaba City for a panoramic tour of the Red Sea City - free time at leisure to explore Aqaba – early afternoon return Journey to Amman for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Amman – Bethany – Dead Sea – Amman
Drive to Dead Sea Area to visit The site of John the Baptist's settlement at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where Jesus was baptized, and has long been known from the Bible (John 1:28 and 10:40) and from the Byzantine and medieval texts. The site has now been identified on the east bank of the Jordan River, in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and is being systematically surveyed, excavated, restored, and prepared to receive pilgrims and visitors. Bethany Beyond the Jordan is located half an hour by car from the Jordanian capital Amman. Following Bethany, we will continue to the Dead Sea Beach area which is 400 meters, (1,312 ft) below sea level. The lowest point on the face of earth, this vast stretch of water, receives a number of incoming rivers, including the River Jordan. Once the waters reach the Dead Sea they are land-locked and have nowhere to go, so they evaporate, leaving behind a dense, rich, cocktail of salts and minerals that supply industry, agriculture and medicine with some of its finest products. We will arrange an entrance to Dead Sea Spa Hotel to have the chance to enjoy the Spa Hotel facilities or float on the Dead Sea Salty water. Return to Amman for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Amman – Umm Qais – Jerash – Amman
Following breakfast at the hotel, we will drive north to Umm Qais Site of the famous miracle of the Gadarene swine, Gadara which was renowned in its time as a cultural centre. It was the home of several classical poets and philosophers, including Theodorus, founder of a rhetorical school in Rome; one poet called the city "a new Athens". Perched on a splendid hilltop overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Sea of Galilee, Gadara is today known as Umm Qais and boasts impressive colonnaded streets, vaulted terraces and the ruins of two theatres. You can take in the sights with a breathtaking view of three countries meeting together in one place (Jordan, Israel and Syria)!
The tour then continues to Jerash - A close second to Petra on the list of favorite destinations in Jordan, The ancient city of Jerash boasts an unbroken chain of human occupation dating back more than 6,500 years. It lies on a plain surrounded by hilly wooded areas and fertile basins. Conquered by General Pompey in 63 BC, it came under Roman rule and was one of the ten great Roman cities, the Decapolis League. The city's golden age came under Roman rule, during which time it was known as Gerasa, and the site is now generally acknowledged to be one of the best preserved Roman provincial towns in the world. Hidden for centuries in sand before being excavated and restored over the past 70 years, Jerash reveals a fine example of the grand, formal provincial Roman urbanism that is found throughout the Middle East. It comprises paved and colonnaded streets, soaring hilltop temples, handsome theatres, spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains and city walls pierced by towers and gates. Return to Amman for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Amman – Desert Castles – Amman
Right after breakfast at the hotel, we will drive East to see Jordan's Desert Castles, beautiful examples of both early Islamic art and architecture, which stand as testament to a fascinating era in the country's rich history. Their fine mosaics, frescoes, stone and stucco carvings and illustrations, inspired by the best in Persian and Greco Roman traditions, tell countless stories of the life as it was during the 08th century. They are called castles because of their imposing stature, the desert complexes actually served various purposes as caravan stations, agriculture and trade centers, resort pavilions and outposts that helped distant rulers forge ties with local Bedouins. Several of these are preserved compounds, all of which are blustered to the east and south of Amman. We will then drive back to Amman for a free afternoon.
Day 8: Amman – Airport/Departure. After breakfast we will transfer you to the airport for departure. Our representative will assist you with the formalities. Keep the memories alive and we hope to see you in Jordan again soon!
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
These are weekly guaranteed departures - every Sunday
Price Includes:
- Accommodation in the hotel category of your choice
- Daily Breakfast & dinner at the hotels booked
- Service charges & sales taxes at hotels applicable at the moment
- Transportation in comfortable air-conditioned tour coaches, vans, etc.
- Services of a private professional English or Spanish speaking guide throughout the tour
- All entrance fees to sites visited and services of local guides where necessary
- Horse ride at Petra
- Assistance with immigration and customs formalities at Amman airport, arrival & departure
- Porterage of luggage at the airport & hotels
- 2 hours Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum.
Price Excludes:
- Visa fees, USD 15 per person
- Telephone calls, laundry and other items of personal nature
- Lunches while on tour
- Tips to hotel, restaurant staff, drivers and guides & horse boys in Petra
- Any item not mentioned above.
Also see tour packages in:
Middle East
Jordan
History Whiz
Archeology/History
Sightseeing
Email it to a friend:
Click here to email this vacation to a friend
|
, ext: 19660
