jordan - THE GRANDEUR OF PETRA, THE SPLENDORS OF JORDAN:

Introduction

The Royal Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a charming land that has preserved a remarkable character unlike any other in the Near East. Ruled by the recently enthroned King Abdullah (H.E.), (His brother, Prince Feisal, graduated from Brown in 1985) the people have an unparalleled reputation for hospitality, from the office worker in the city to the Bedouin in his desert camp. Parts of the country are so rich in archaeology that it is literally impossible not to step tens of thousands of years back into time. The unique majesty of Petra, the Roman splendor of Jerash, and the elegant Omayyad fortress-palaces scattered in the eastern desert are only a few of the major attractions. And in addition to a splendid wealth of ancient cities, castles, Christian churches, and mosaic masterpieces, the landscape offers some of the most breathtaking vistas to be had anywhere on earth.  

This 14 day trip has been designed to provide you with the resources and the time to gain an understanding and appreciation of the country and its compelling history. The itinerary includes several highlights, including private tours of the archaeological site at Petra, the marvelous repository of Nabataean culture, and ACOR, the American Center of Oriental Research. Here we will enjoy a private tour of collections, including the intriguing Petra Scrolls, guided by Center Director Pierre Bikai. 

ITINERARY:

(B) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner

DAY 1: Arrive Amman. Transfer to the Days Inn Hotel, our base for the next five nights. (D) 

DAY 2: Begin today at one of the best-preserved examples of medieval Arab military architecture in the entire Middle East, the 12th-century Ajlun Castle. Continue to the most dramatically located ancient city in Jordan, Umm Quais, perched on a high plain overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Sea of Galilee. At Pella we will see mud-brick houses and fortification walls dating from the Bronze and Iron age towns, and the later remains from the Roman, Byzantine, and early Islamic periods. Gather this evening for our elegant welcome dinner party, held in a local restaurant. (B/L/D)   

DAY 3: We begin today's exploration of Amman by climbing up to the Citadel, dominating the vibrant city of Amman. Here, we will visit the National Archaeological Museum for an overview of Jordan's past. The Dead Sea Scrolls found in 1952 are one of the most important exhibits here. Continue to the nearby 8th century Omayyad Palace, the Temple of Hercules dedicated to the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius in the 2nd-century, and a small Byzantine church. Learn of the Roman city while viewing the amphitheater that seats 6,000 people and is still used for performances today, and the recently-restored odean. In the afternoon, drive to 'Ain Ghazal, the site worked by our study leader. We will then visit the American Center of Oriental Research (ACOR), where the director will give us a private tour including seeing the Petra Scrolls. Dinner is own our own to enjoy one of Amman's superb restaurants. (B/L)  

DAY 4: Today’s all day tour takes us east of Amman along ancient desert tracks to explore several spectacular Omayyad palaces. The exquisite brickwork and colossal size of Qasr Mushatta make this one of the most extraordinary of all the castles. Twenty-three round towers nestle within the brick walls that encircled the huge complex. Oasr al-Hallabat began as a Roman fort and ended as a luxurious country estate under the Omayyads. Nearby is its bathhouse, Hammam al-Sarah, constructed of fine limestone. Crafted of the area’s black basalt, Azraq Castle is located in an oasis and takes advantage of the important strategic position of the region’s four springs. The fortress was probably begun in the second century AD by the Romans, and was still in use when T. E. Lawrence used it as a base in the winter of 1917-18. The audience hall at Qusayr Amra is covered by three barrel-vaults; the ceilings and walls are covered with charming, vividly painted frescoes. And the mighty fortress of Qasr al-Kharaneh is the most complete of the Omayyad castles. Even though the steep walls rising abruptly from the flat plain create a feeling of strength, archaeological excavations show that the building was probably used as an elegant palace. (B/L/D) 

DAY 5: An all day tour takes us to two impressive sites. West of Amman is Wadi as-Seer, one of the most attractive valleys in Jordan and containing Qasr al-Abd, the Palace of the Slave. This important Hellenistic palace is one of the most interesting ancient monuments in the Middle East. Nestled in a green and fertile valley in the biblical land of Gilead, the remains of Jerash are impressive. Stroll along the city’s colonnaded streets and through ancient marketplaces, and visit imposing theaters sitting beside Roman, Christian and Muslim houses of worship. (B/L/D) 

DAY 6: Today is filled with history. Madaba was inhabited for nearly 3,500 years, and contains the most impressive work of art to survive from the mid-6th century - a mosaic map of Palestine, located within St. George’s Church. Bible references speak of Mt. Nebo as the place where Moses died. Visit the ruins of the 6th-century basilica, the Chapel of the Virgin Mary, and the monastery. The Church of Saints Lot and Procopius, Martyrs contains a masterpiece of the Madaba School of mosaics. Nearby Maqdas is a recently discovered baptismal site on the Jordan River. This evening’s welcome to Petra includes cocktails with Brown University’s Martha Sharp Joukowsky and the staff of the Great Temple Project. Overnight four nights in Petra at the Petra Movenpick Hotel. (B/L/D)

DAY 7: Early this morning, we will walk through the siq, the fissure that is the gateway to the splendid capital city that the Nabataean Arabs carved and built at Petra almost 2,500 years ago. Here, we will meet with the man who has spent the last decade studying this entrance to the great city. Ueli will give us a privately arranged tour to show us the secrets that have been exposed by his work. Our first view of the Rose City is the dazzling Al-Khasneh Farun, or Treasury. From here walk along the Streets of Facades and view the magnificent tombs, theatre, markets, the Petra Church with its glorious mosaics, and the Great Temple, being excavated by Brown University. In the evening, we will enjoy a zarb, a traditional Bedouin meal of roasted lamb cooked in a hand-built mud oven. (B/L/D) 

DAY 8: Early this morning we will continue our exploration of Petra by climbing into the more remote areas. This climb is for the hardy! Begin in Qasr al-Bint Temple, the most impressive structure dating from the time of Christ. The small mountain overlooking the temple is al-Habees. Walk to the Habees High Place, one of the easiest of the climbs overlooking the city. Pass the Unfinished Tomb showing that the Nabataeans carved from the top down, and the Columbarium, a former tomb with hundreds of small niches. Continue to the 12th-century Crusader fortress on the summit of al-Habees. For those who want to continue climbing, visit the Lion Triclinium guarded by two feline reliefs, Qattar ad-Deir to see the Nabataeans’ water source. After lunch onsite, we will join Dr. Joukowsky as she takes us through the Brown University excavations in the Great Temple, including a private viewing of the artifacts found during excavations and now being analyzed in the project’s lab. In the afternoon, visit the small museum onsite. Dinner is on our own. (B/L) 

DAY 9: One of the marvels of the Classical World, Petra offers much more than stunning antiquities. Within a 25-mile radius, we will explore an exceptional array of monuments and entire settlements that span the last 9,000 years of human civilization. This morning’s drive takes us to Beidha, one of the most magical ancient sites in the entire Middle East. Walk among the standing walls, plastered floors and doorways of a village that was inhabited between 7000-6500 BC, at a time when humankind was first making the transition from nomadic hunter-gatherers to year-round settled villages. Nearby is “Little Petra”, or Siq al-Barid, where we will see several immense cisterns carved into the rocks, and after walking through a miniature siq, or fissure in the rock cliff, a splendid collection of tombs, temples, houses, and staircases will appear before us. (B/L/D)

DAY 10: Our full day drive will take us past the Seven Pillars of Wisdom, of T. E. Lawrence fame, to Wadi Rum. Known to the Arabs as The Valley of the Moon, Wadi Rum’s combination of immensity, richness of color, and awesome shapes creates an atmosphere that is other worldly. After exploring the valley, the largest and grandest of a network of valleys used by trading caravans to the Arabian peninsula, return to Wadi Musa. Dinner is on our own. (B/L)  

DAY 11: This morning’s climb takes us to Ed Deir to view a temple with the largest façade carved at Petra. After lunch we will return to Amman. End the day with a stop at Bani Hamida House, home to a Bedouin women's craft project, to see beautiful flat weave rugs for sale. Gather this evening for our final dinner party in one of Amman's finest restaurants. (B/L/D)

DAY 12: Begin the day at Umm el Jimal, located at the edge of the eastern desert and inhabited for more than seven centuries. Encircled by formidable walls, the huge metropolis contains buildings constructed of black basalt blocks. After returning to Amman we will visit the Jordanian Museum of Popular Traditions to view an exquisite collection of clothing and jewelry from the area. Dinner is on our own. (B/L)

DAY 13 : An early morning transfer to the airport for our departure for the USA. (B)