The Jordan Express

We will be there to greet you at the airport and take you to your hotel in Amman, the busy capital of Jordan. Before our sightseeing begins tomorrow, you are free to explore Amman on your own after we assist you with check-in and direct you to any nearby stores, cafes, or restaurants.

OVERNIGHT: Hotel in Amman.

MEALS: Not at all.

EXTRAS: Standard Hotels (JOSHJS) single room supplement. Standard level pre-tour extra day in Amman. Bethany and Salt go on tour. Supplementary room: Superior Hotels (JOSHJS). Superior level pre-tour extra day in Amman

Point of departureAfter completing passport control, picking up your bags, and passing through the last security checkpoint, you will be greeted in the Amman airport’s arrivals area adjacent to Starbucks. Queen Alia Airport Road, ال جيزا, Amman, Jordan مطار الملكة علياء الدولي

We start the day by heading north from Amman to Jerash, which is close by and has one of the biggest and best-preserved Roman architectural collections outside of Italy. Jerash, which is frequently referred to as the “Jewel of the North,” has an uninterrupted history of human habitation that dates back more than 6,500 years. Extensive excavations and restorations over the past 70 years have revealed a spectacular example of the large, formal Roman provincial urbanism that is common throughout the Middle East, despite being hidden beneath sand for generations.

We tour Jordan’s capital, Amman, which is renowned as the “white city” because of its profusion of white limestone structures, when we return there in the afternoon. Archaeological excavations have uncovered artefacts from the Neolithic, Hellenistic, late Roman, and Arab Islamic periods, spanning Amman’s millennium-long history. The Citadel, the ancient location of the Temple of Hercules, the Umayyad Palace, and the Byzantine Church are all included in our itinerary. The magnificent 6,000-seat Roman Theatre, which dates back to the time when the city was known as Philadelphia, will also be on our itinerary.

After touring the ancient buildings, we sample some street cuisine to get a sense of the lively environment of Downtown Amman.

Depending on what’s available when we arrive, you may be able to try some of the local specialities, which usually include sweet Kunefa, cool Sugar Cane Juice, and savoury Falafel. Before our evening excursion, there will be time to head back to the hotel and rest.

We’ll have an evening visit to the Wild Jordan Centre to wrap out the day. In addition to being a great place to unwind, this special place is essential to preserving Jordan’s natural heritage and local communities.

By providing revenue to rural people residing in and around Jordan’s nature reserves and supporting conservation initiatives, it acts as a centre for the ecotourism and handicraft initiatives of the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature. You are invited to stay at the hotel if you would rather have a more laid-back evening.

OVERNIGHT: Hotel in Amman.

MEALS: Morning meal.

EXTRAS: Not included

Today, we depart from Amman and travel towards Petra along the picturesque King’s Highway. The trip itself is stunning, taking you past olive orchards, over deep wadis, and through isolated rural communities, giving you a unique perspective on locals’ daily life.

Our first destination is the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George in Madaba, which is well-known for its amazing Byzantine mosaic map of the Holy Land and other biblical locations from the sixth century.

We will then ascend Mount Nebo, a prominent vantage point that provides stunning sweeping views of the Jordan Valley and the Holy Land.

We’ll drive again, this time over the breathtaking Wadi al-Mujib gorge. The path climbs across the deep gorge to Shobak Castle after winding through olive groves. Another striking example of the Crusader castles constructed in the early 12th century to protect the crucial trade routes between Egypt and Damascus is Shobak, which is perched steeply on a mountainside.

We’ll check into our hotel when we get to Petra. You can choose from two optional activities this evening. With the evocative Petra by Candlelight experience, you can choose to have a mystical first look at Petra while strolling down the Siq canyon and witnessing the famous Treasury lit exclusively by hundreds of candles.

As an alternative, foodies could take pleasure in learning the techniques of making traditional Jordanian delicacies by taking a hands-on cooking lesson at the famous Petra Kitchen. Please be aware that due to limited space and high demand, reservations are required for the Petra Kitchen experience.

OVERNIGHT: Hotel Petra.

MEALS: Breakfast.

EXTRAS: Cooking Class at Petra Kitchen. Petra at night (paying locally)

Today’s focus is on exploring the Petra site in the Nabataean. Up until the Romans eventually seized control in 106 AD, it served as the capital of the Nabataean economic empire. The indigenous Bedouins were the only ones who remembered Petra for a long time before Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt rediscovered it in 1812. At the edge of the Wadi Araba desert, Petra is nearly inaccessible due to the high hills and canyon walls, save for a small opening in the rock called the Siq.

Because the Nabataeans opted to chisel their homes into the multicoloured sandstone cliffs, Petra has very few free-standing structures. One of Jordan’s top tourist destinations is Petra.

Today, we have the most of the day to spend exploring this historic city (a guided tour lasting two to three hours, followed by free time to explore on our own). We begin by traversing the Siq, which reaches a height of 200 meters above us and in some places becomes only 2 meters wide. Look for the remains of the terracotta pipes that supplied water to the city, as well as the ancient Nabataean water channel that is still visible on one wall.

As we turn a curve, the Khazneh (Treasury), one of Petra’s most recognisable landmarks, will suddenly appear in front of you. In addition to discussing the building style’s spiritual importance, our guide will describe how this and the other buildings here are primarily ornate facades carved into the rock from the top down.

There are graves carved into the rock on both sides of the valley that opens out from the Treasury. You’ll catch a peek of the colonnaded streets and the abandoned Roman amphitheatre.

The imposing ‘Monastery’, which is 50 meters high and 45 meters wide and offers stunning views of the Wadi Araba desert, may be reached by foot during your free time along a steep and narrow winding valley.

the Jordan Valley as well. The Lion Fountain and the High Place of Sacrifice are reached after another ascent.

Overall, visiting one of the most well-known ancient sites in the world is a long, exhausting, but incredibly gratifying day. Today, you must walk at least 3 km via the Siq to the Treasury and back, plus a few more to see a few tombs; 8 km to follow the route all the way to the main basin; and a few more km to the Monastery and back (more than 800 stairs up and down).

Golf buggies, which cost about $25 per person one way and $40 per person round trip, are available for anyone who are less mobile or who are concerned about the distance. They will take you the 1.2 km through the Siq to the Treasury and back at a predetermined time. Although there are horse-drawn carriages available, we advise against utilising them for reasons related to animal welfare.

We depart Petra later in the afternoon and go into Wadi Rum’s breathtaking desert landscape. A traditional camel ride through the sand dunes, a hot air balloon ride over the landscape (usually around dawn, weather permitting), and other optional activities are available while staying in Wadi Rum to enhance your desert experience.

We begin the day early, touring Wadi Rum’s stunning desert and mountain landscape. Look for the copper-colored rocky ‘jebels’ that caught T.E. Lawrence’s attention during his trips to the desert during the Arab Revolt and were later featured in the film Lawrence of Arabia.

We’ll see more of the sheer cliffs and strange, weathered rock formations when we go on a jeep safari into the breathtaking desert terrain.Later in the morning, we bid Wadi Rum farewell and go north to the Dead Sea, one of the most breathtaking natural and spiritual settings on Earth. At about 400 meters below sea level, it is not only the lowest point on Earth but also a place full of breathtaking natural beauty. The Jordan River is one of the several rivers that feed the Dead Sea. The waters evaporate under the harsh desert heat once they reach the Dead Sea because they are landlocked and have no way out. This technique produces a thick, rich mixture of minerals and salts that are well-known across the world and provide some of the best raw materials for the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and agricultural industries.

It’s considerably easier (and definitely more picturesque!) to just float lightly on the surface than it is to swim normally. Because the high quantity of salt will cause stinging, keep in mind not to splash water into your eyes.

An optional journey to the nearby Wadi Mujib Nature Reserve is accessible for the daring, mainly during the summer months (April to October, depending on local conditions and opening dates). This offers the opportunity for an exhilarating siq trek through canyons filled with water.

OVERNIGHT: Resort by the Dead Sea.

MEALS: Morning meal.

EXTRAS: Siq Trail Day Trip to Wadi Mujib

Before your flight out, you get the day to yourself at the Dead Sea. As an alternative, you could like to go on one of the many optional day excursions. The ‘Desert Castles’ tour, a visit to Pella and Umm Qai, or a full-day journey to the baptism site at Bethany and Ajloun Castle are some of these options.

For those who choose to combine this journey with one of our Israel tours, we can also set up a fly or land transfer to Tel Aviv. Last but not least, if you want to go on one of our Egypt excursions, we can also fly you to Cairo.

For complete information, please contact us. We would be happy to assist you in organising a trip extension.

OVERNIGHT: N/A

MEALS: Morning meal

EXTRAS: Standard level post-tour additional day at the Dead Sea. An additional day in the Dead Sea after the tour—superior level

Final destination
Included is a departure transfer to Amman International Airport, Queen Alia Airport Road, ال جيزا, Amman, Jordan.