Jordan - discover the country:

Introduction

This trip focuses on the fascinating culture and history of the kingdom of Jordan, which goes back thousands of years and features many of the holy places in the biblical world. Jordan has much to offer the tourist from major archaeological sites such as the city of Petra to natural wonders such as the Dead Sea – the lowest point on Earth. This tour reveals some of this historic destination to the interested traveller, beginning at the Jordanian capital of Amman. You will travel in an air-conditioned coach with an English speaking guide and stay in comfortable hotels, eating at locally owned Jordanian restaurants serving traditional food. The whole trip bursts with historical and cultural interest to give you a true insight into this desert kingdom.

Day by day tour itinerary

Day 1: Arrival Amman
Jordan Beauty representative will meet and assist at Queen Alia International Airport, Followed by transfer guests to Amman (33 km from airport) for check-in and welcome drink at hotel. Freshen-up followed by briefing, then dinner and O/N hotel.

Day 2: Amman – Desert Castles
Breakfast in hotel, 9:00 am departure for 2-hour city tour of Amman (Ancient Philadelphia, Citadel, Temple of Hercules, Roman Theatre, Nymphaeum, King Abdullah Mosque [Blue Mosque] and Ummayad Palace) followed by transfer to tour the desert castles. The Ummayad Caliphs in the 8th c. AD built the desert castles and palaces. They built these castles and palaces in the Jordanian desert in order to maintain the caravan routes and to secure the loyalty of Jordanian tribes. We will tour Azraq Castle, (90 km from Amman) including lunch . We will then continue to Kharanah Palace, Amra Palace, and then transfer back to Amman for freshen-up followed by transfer to Dinner outside hotel , for an authentic Jordanian dinner. Back to hotel for O/N.

Day 3: Jerash – Ajloun – Amman
Breakfast in hotel, followed by 8:00 am transfer to Jerash, (45 km from Amman) one of the most important and preserved Roman cities in the Near East. Half-day tour of Jerash, visiting the oval plaza in the south theatre, the colonized street, the Temple of Artemis, Zeus and the Three Churches of Cosmos and Demanos. Lunch in Jerash. After lunch, transfer to Ajloun (24 km from Jerash) to visit the only Islamic castle in Jordan, which was built from 1184-1185AD and one of the very few Islamic castles built to protect the country against Crusader attacks. Transfer back to Amman to freshen-up followed by dinner Outside hotel . Back to hotel for O/N.

Day 4: Umm Qais – Pella – Dead Sea
Breakfast in hotel, 8:00 am transfer to Umm Qais (old Gadara), dating back to 2^nd century AD, sightseeing over Golan Heights and Tayberias Lake. Tour Umm Qais, one of the most important cities during the Greco-Roman period, dating back to the 2^nd c. AD including lunch. Continue driving along the Yarmoukh River beside the Jordanian / Israeli border to Jordan Valley viewing Pella, which has been inhabited for over 6000 years (a Decapolis city of the Roman Empire), tour Pella. Then continue to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the earth, 409m below sea level. Free afternoon to swim, float and relax in the water rich in mineral salts, ideal for

spas and medicinal treatments. Dinner and O/N hotel at the Dead Sea.

Day 5: Madaba - Mt. Nebo - Mekawir - Kerak - Petra
Breakfast in hotel, departure at 8:00 am to Madaba (20 km from Dead Sea), famous as a land of Mosaics. The most famous of the mosaics being the wonderful map of Palestine and Jordan in the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George. Continue to Mt. Nebo for tour of the site believed to be home to the tomb of Moses. Then transfer via the Kings’ Highway to Mekawir. This is the site of Herod’s Palace, where John the Baptist was beheaded. Tour of Mekawir, transfer via Kings’ Highway to Kerak (located 129 km from Amman) one of the finest examples of Crusader military construction, its walls are strengthened with rectangular projecting towers, long stone vaulted galleries lit only by narrow slits, and a deep moat from the west which completely isolates the site. Lunch at Al-Mujib (in Kerak), followed by transfer to Petra for dinner and O/N hotel.

Day 6: Petra
Breakfast in hotel, 8:00 am departure for full day tour of Petra (the Rose-Red city) including the Siq, the Treasury, city centre, the Royal tomb, the theatre, the High Place of Sacrifice, Wadi Farasah and the Roman Soldier Tombs. Lunch in Petra, then evening hike back via the Siq to Wadi Musa for freshen-up followed by transfer to Beidha (little Petra) for gala B-B-Q dinner under the stars, then back to Wadi Musa for O/N hotel. ***The dinner will be Arabic cuisine served open buffet style including Bedouin (folklore) entertainment.

Day 7: Petra
Breakfast in hotel, 9:00 am departure for full day Petra tour including Al-Dheir, the Monastery and Al Habis castle. Lunch inside, followed by evening hike back via Siq back to Wadi Musa for dinner and O/N hotel.

Day 8: : Beidha (Little Petra) - Wadi Rum - Aqaba
Breakfast, then checkout of hotel, 9:00 am departure to visit Little Petra (Beidah, 8 km from hotel), a caravan station from the 3^rd century BC. Then drive via the caravan roads back to Wadi Musa for lunch at the Red Cave Restaurant. After lunch, bus transfer to Wadi Rum (Valley of the Moon) for a 2-hour jeep tour to explore the Arabian desert and watch the beautiful sunset. Tour through the Sharah Mountain to Aqaba for dinner and O/N hotel.

Day 9: Aqaba
Breakfast in hotel, followed by free morning in Aqaba, situated on the gulf of the Red Sea. Guests can swim, snorkel, dive or just relax. Lunch in Aqaba , followed by afternoon glass boat trip for all guests to explore the beautiful coral reefs situated in the Red Sea. Followed by gala B-B-Q dinner on the hotel beach then O/N in hotel.

Day 10: Departure
Breakfast and checkout of hotel, followed by transfer to departure.