A fascinating, historic and diverse land, Jordan is a welcoming country and home to the jewel of the region - the exceptionally preserved 'Red Rose' city of Petra.
Starting in the Amman day visits will be made to Roman Jerash and the fabulous desert cities to the west of the capital before heading to Petra and spending a night under canvas in the desert at Wadi Rum. After relaxing on the Red Sea at Aqaba, time will also be spent in the beautiful Dana Nature Reserve and the unique Dead Sea.
Amman – Petra – Wadi Rum – Aqaba – Dana Nature Reserve – Dead Sea
Trip Highlights
- Visit Jordan’s evocative desert castles including Qasr Amra and Qasr Kharana
- Both a UNESCO site and Wonder of the World, take a private tour of awe-inspiring Petra
- Stay in a desert camp in Wadi Rum for stargazing and an exhilarating 4WD valley trip
- Explore Dana Nature Reserve, home to breathtaking scenery and archaeological sites
Itinerary
Day 1
The UK to Amman
Fly from London with British Airways or Royal Jordanian Airlines to Amman where you will be met upon arrival and transferred to your accommodation.
Amman Marriott Hotel
Day 2
Amman
Today leave Amman and visit the Roman ruins of Jerash. One of Jordan's most significant historical sites, Jerash was one of the great cities of the region and the extensive, well preserved remains need little imagination and make exploration worthwhile. Highlights include Hadrian's Triumphal Arch, the Hippodrome and the Oval Plaza.
Day 3
Amman
After breakfast leave Amman and drive west into the desert to visit the evocative desert castles that were once part of a chain that stretched from the north of Damascus to Khirbet al-Mafjar near Arih—a place better known as Jericho. Visits will be made to Qasr al-Hallabat, Qasr Amra and Qasr Kharana as well as the desert town of Azraq home to the fortress of Qasr al-Azraq.
Day 4
Amman to Petra via Mt Nebo and Madaba - 263 kms
Today leave Amman and drive south along the Kings' Highway to Petra and stop en-route at the Byzantine Church of Mount Nebo with its spectacular views over the Jordan Valley, Jericho and the Judean Hills. It was from here that Moses is said to have seen the 'Promised Land' and afterwards, proceed to Madaba—home to a unique 6th century mosaic map which portrays the Holy Land. Leave Madaba and continue onto Petra. Hewn from solid rock, the 'Red Rose' city of Petra is one of the wonders of the ancient world.
- Breakfast
Movenpick Resort Petra
Day 5
Petra
Famously accessed by foot through the Siq Canyon, today explore Petra with your guide. You enter the city through the towering cliffs, with a narrow winding path that dramatically opens up to expose the awesome facade of the Treasury. This historic site includes temples, baths, houses, paved streets, public buildings, theatres, reservoirs and cisterns.
- Breakfast
Movenpick Resort Petra
Day 6
Petra
Today return to Petra with your guide to further explore the city.
- Breakfast
Movenpick Resort Petra
Day 7
Petra to Wadi Rum - 112 kms
This morning leave Petra and head south to the desert lunar landscapes of Wadi Rum, made famous by Lawrence of Arabia. Later explore the desert and take an exhilarating 4-wheel drive across the dunes.
- Breakfast,
- Dinner
Wadi Rum Desert Camp
Day 8
Wadi Rum to Aqaba - 72 kms
This morning leave Wadi Rum and drive through the desert countryside to Aqaba. Located at Jordan's southernmost point, Aqaba borders the Red Sea and is the country's only true beach resort. Despite its importance as the mercantile gateway of Jordan, today Aqaba is most famous for being a beach destination—a place of palm groves, sandy beaches, coral reefs and warm seas.
- Breakfast
Movenpick Resort and Residences
Day 9
Aqaba
At leisure to relax and enjoy your hotel.
- Breakfast
Movenpick Resort and Residences
Day 10
Aqaba to Dana Nature Reserve - 182 kms
This morning leave Aqaba and drive north to Dana Nature Reserve. A series of wadis and mountains extending from the top of the Rift Valley to the desert lowlands of Wadi Arabah, Dana offers breathtaking natural beauty, scenic views and numerous sites of archaeological interest. Later visit the reserve and the nearby picturesque Dana village with your guide.
- Breakfast
Dana Guesthouse
Day 11
Dana Nature Reserve to the Dead Sea via Kerak - 169 kms
After breakfast leave Dana and drive to the Dead Sea stopping en-route at the majestic crusader castle of Kerak. With fantastic views towards the Dead Sea and a commanding position guarding the arterial route of the ancient King's Highway, Kerak's location has held such strategic importance over the years. Afterwards continue onto the Dead Sea.
- Breakfast
Movenpick Resort and Spa
Day 12-13
Dead Sea
The lowest point on earth—at over 400 metres below sea level—the Dead Sea is part of the Great Rift Valley that stretches from Ethiopia to Turkey and is famous for having the highest salt content in the world. Over the next two days you are at leisure to relax and enjoy the gently lapping waters which are noted for their curative powers.
- Breakfast
Movenpick Resort and Spa
Day 14
Dead Sea to Amman - 70 kms / Amman to the UK
Transfer by car 70kms direct to Amman Airport for your return flight to London Heathrow.
- Breakfast
Extending your stay...
Extend your time in Wadi Rum by staying for two nights which will allow you an opportunity to relax, feel the quiet solitude of the desert and experience the shifting colours from sunrise to sunset.
Experience Bethany Beyond the Jordan which has long been considered by Christians as the location where Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist. Explore Roman and Byzantine remains including churches and chapels.
Soak in the Ma’in hot springs. Located between Madaba and the Dead Sea, this collection of thermal waterfalls and hot mineral springs sit 120m below sea level and are known for their healing properties.
Discover Ajloun Castle a 12th century citadel constructed by revered leader Saladin. Set on a rocky outcrop to the north of Amman, from the battlements there are far-reaching views of the Jordan Valley.
Guide to Price
14 days from £3900 - £4290 per person
What's Included
- International flights
- Private car and driver
- Sightseeing with accompanying English speaking guide
- Hotel accommodation and taxes
What's Not Included
- Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Expenses of a personal nature
- Meals unless specified
from £3900 - £4290
Travel Information
Getting There
There are daily direct services from the UK to Jordan with British Airways and Royal Jordanian. Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Oman Air and Air France all offer connecting flights to Amman via their respective hubs.
Flying Times From UK
Direct flights from UK to Amman take approximately 7 hours.
Time Zone
Jordan is +2 hours ahead of GMT.
Visa Requirements
A visa is required to enter Jordan and you can obtain a single entry visa, valid for one month, on arrival. Multiple entry visas need to be obtained prior to travel from the Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in London.
Do’s & Don’ts
Dress in a conservative fashion when in public areas and ensure arms and legs are covered if visiting mosques or other religious sites.
Being kissed on the cheeks is a traditional greeting in Jordan.
Ask permission before taking photographs in public places – especially if women are in the shot. Some people may not mind but others may say no.
Drinking alcohol in public taboo although it is available in hotels and restaurants.
Money
Jordan's currency is the dinar (JD). One dinar is made up of 1,000 fils, or 100 piastres. Coins come in denominations of one, five, 10, 25 and 50 piastres. Notes come in denominations of one, five, 10, 20 and 50 dinars. Although Jordan is primarily a cash society, and money will be needed when shopping in bazaars, reliable ATM machines are found throughout the country and all major credit cards are widely accepted.
Tipping
When dining out, tips of 10% are expected in restaurants, although often, the service charge is already included in the bill. With taxis it is expected that customers will round up their bill to the nearest 250 fils or hand back the loose change. A guideline for tipping your drivers and guides will be advised prior to travel.
Food & Drink
Jordanian cuisine has many characteristics of Middle Eastern cooking but with a distinct twist due to the inclusion of freshly-made, local cheese and yoghurt in many dishes. Popular vegetables in many recipes are chickpeas, aubergines, beans and lentils. The staple diet is generally based on rice and flat Arabic bread, known as khoubs. Jordan’s speciality is the Bedouin feast, mansaf, consisting of boiled lamb or mutton on a bed of rice, with pine nuts and a creamy sauce of goat's milk yogurt. Fresh fruit usually rounds off a meal, although Arabic desserts, or halawiyyat, are traditionally made of sugar, butter, syrup and honey.
Accommodation
Jordan has numerous international-standard, luxurious, five-star hotels, particularly in Amman, Aqaba and Petra. Jordan’s Dead Sea hotels boast some of the world's best spa resort complexes and all have excellent facilities and services. Without exception, nearly all hotels in Jordan are larger modern properties and there are very few small traditional properties or homestays. In Wadi Rum it is possible to stay under canvas in the desert in a traditional Bedouin-style camp and accommodation at Dana Nature Reserve is in a small and simple guesthouse.
Shopping
Jordan has a diversity of shops to suit all tastes. In particular, there's a variety of craft outlets selling traditional items, including the Haret Jdoudna Complex in Madaba, with its luxurious range of mosaics, textiles, ceramics and clothing, and the Jordan River Foundation shop in Amman, selling hand-loomed rugs, Palestinian-style embroidery, handbags, cushions, Dead Sea products and baskets. Jordan also has its share of malls in Amman, where visitors can choose from seven shopping centres. In Amman the gold souk is well worth visiting and on the Dead Sea beauty products can be bought.
Suggested Reading
Rough Guides, Lonely Planet and Bradt all offer excellent guide books and cover the country comprehensively. Other interesting suggestions include:
‘A History of Jordan’, by Philip Robins
‘Married to a Bedouin’, Marguerite van Geldermalsen
‘Seven Pillars of Wisdom’, T.E. Lawrence
‘A Line in the Sand: Britain, France and the Struggle that Shaped the Middle East’, by James Barr
‘A Leap of Faith: Memoir of an Unexpected Life’, by Her Majesty Queen Noor
‘Petra: A Traveler's Guide’, by Ann Jousiffe
‘Live From Jordan: Letters Home from my Journey through the Middle East’, by Benjamin Orbach
‘East of the Jordan: A Record of Travel’, by Selah Merrill
Health
Your doctor is the best person to advise you on staying healthy whilst abroad but current recommended vaccinations are Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus and Diphtheria. Yellow Fever is compulsory, but only if you have visited an affected Yellow Fever area within 5 days prior to your arrival. In some instances anti-malarial tablets may also be needed. For current information on health advice you may wish to visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website Travel Health Pro on https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/. The Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA) website (www.masta.org) is also a useful resource.
Travel Advice
For current information on Japan the best resource is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) which is a comprehensive resource and updated regularly. We would also recommend visiting the Safer Tourism Foundation website (safertourism.org.uk) before you travel and will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.
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Our Reviews
What our clients say
Everything went like clockwork
CP & DP - Jordan - October 2021
Just a quick note to let you know that we returned yesterday, safe and well from a most incredible trip. Everything went like clockwork thanks in no small measure to your excellent organisation.
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