Embark on an epic and definitive tour through Jordan’s highlights and attractions. Get immersed in Jordan’s rich history and culture, visit desert castles, admire the otherworldly landscape, and enjoy some well-deserved relaxation time in the Dead Sea where you’re free to bathe and float.
Welcome to Jordan! Today your sense of reality ends as you enter a world full of dreams. Desert Adventures staff will meet and assist you at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman with DAT’s VIP meet and assist treatment. After identifying your luggage, guests will head to the vehicle awaiting them where they will be transferred to your hotel in Amman.
Overnight at Amman Hotel
Breakfast in the hotel. The day’s adventure begins in the ancient ruins of Umm Qais, overlooking the Sea of Galilee
Then you will be driven to the hilly evergreen town of Aljoun.
Continue to the Roman City tour of Jerash “Gerasa “. It is one of the 10 Decapolis cities in the old Roman Empire and one of the best- preserved roman cities in the world.
Return to Amman for an Oriental dinner at local restaurant.
Back to your hotel. Overnight at Amman Hotel.
Um Qais
In addition to Jerash and Amman, Gadara (now Umm Qais) and Pella (Tabaqit Fahl) were once Decapolis cities, and each has unique appeal.
Perched on a splendid hilltop overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Sea of Galilee, Umm Qais boasts impressive ancient remains, such as the stunning black basalt theatre, the basilica and adjacent courtyard strewn with nicely carved black sarcophagi, the colonnaded main street and a side street lined with shops, an underground mausoleum, two baths, a nymphaeum, a city gate and the faint outlines of what was a massive hippodrome.
Ajloun
Ajloun Castle (also known as Qal’at [Castle] Ar-Rabad) was built in 1184 by ‘Izz ad-Din Usama bin Munqidh, a general of Saladin, who defeated the Crusaders in 1187.
A fine example of Islamic architecture, the fortress dominated a wide stretch of the northern Jordan Valley and passages to it. From its hilltop position, Ajloun Castle protected the communication routes between south Jordan and Syria and was one of a chain of forts that lit beacons at night to pass signals from the Euphrates as far as Cairo.
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. The city’s golden age came under Roman rule 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, comprising paved and colonnaded streets, soaring hilltop temples, handsome theatres, spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains and city walls pierced by towers and gates.
Breakfast in the hotel. Head east and explore the country’s famous Desert Castles, a cluster of historic structures that reflect ancient Islamic art and magnificent architecture. Stop by forts and hunting lodges, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Qusayr Amra, and the black basalt fort of Azraq, known as the headquarter of Lawrence of Arabia.
After the historical fort-hopping, prepare for some relaxing time in the Dead Sea where you’re free to bathe and float.
At the end of the day, back to Amman. Overnight at Amman Hotel.
Qusayr Amra
One of the best-preserved desert buildings of the Umayyads, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Qusayr Amra is the highlight of a trip into the Eastern Desert. Part of a much greater complex that served as a caravanserai, bathhouse and hunting lodge, the qusayr (little castle) is renowned for its rather risqué 8th-century frescoes of wine, women and wild times.
Walking downhill from the visitor centre towards the modest little structure, it’s hard not to wonder what all the fuss is about. Even entering the main building into the audience hall, where meetings, parties, exhibitions and meals were once held, is decidedly underwhelming as the searing light of the surrounding desert all but obliterates the frescoes within.
Qasr Al-Kharranah
Located in the middle of a vast, treeless plain, this imposing thick-walled structure was the most likely inspiration for the ‘desert castle’ moniker and is arguably the most photogenic of all the desert castles. There is controversy about its function and purpose, but this important Umayyad structure remains an interesting sight for visitors, off the main Azraq–Amman road.
Although it clearly isn’t a castle, Al-Kharana was a vital building for the Umayyads as evidenced by its dramatic size and shape.
Despite the fact that it has the appearance of a khan (caravanserai), Kharana wasn’t located on any major trade route, and there appears to be a total absence of structures for water storage. That just leaves the supposition that the building served as a meeting space for Damascus elite and local Bedouin.
Qasr Al-Azraq
On the edge of dusty Azraq, this imposing fort is where TE Lawrence and Sharif Hussein bin Ali based themselves in the winter of 1917–18 during the Arab Revolt against the Turks.
Lawrence set up his quarters in the room above the southern entrance, while his loyal followers braved the elements in other areas of the fort. They were holed up here for several months in crowded conditions with little shelter from the intense cold – gaping holes in the roof were patched up with nothing but palm branches and clay.
Despite the hardships endured during his stay at Azraq, TE Lawrence writes fondly about the time spent with his men at arms. In the evenings everyone would assemble before a great fire in the open courtyard and break bread while swapping stories of war, peace and love. At the time, the castle also commanded sweeping views of the nearby palm-fringed oasis at Azraq.
Constructed out of black basalt stone, Qasr Al Azraq was originally three storeys high. Some paving stones in the main entrance have small indentations, carved by former gatekeepers who played a board game using pebbles to pass the time. By the courtyard entrance, look for the carvings of animals and various inscriptions.
Comparatively little is known about the history of Qasr Al Azraq, and there’s been little excavation and renovation. Greek and Latin inscriptions date earlier constructions on the site to around AD 300, coinciding with Roman occupation.
Dead Sea
Without a doubt the world’s most amazing place, the Jordan Rift Valley is a dramatic, beautiful landscape, which at the Dead Sea, is over 400m (1,312 ft.) below sea level. The lowest point on the face of the 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.
The leading attraction at the Dead Sea is the warm, soothing, super salty water itself – some ten times saltier than sea water, and rich in chloride salts of magnesium, sodium, potassium, bromine and several others. The unusually warm, incredibly buoyant and mineral-rich waters have attracted visitors since ancient times, including King Herod the Great and the beautiful Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra. All of whom have luxuriated in the Dead Sea’s rich, black, stimulating mud and floated effortlessly on their backs while soaking up the water’s healthy minerals along with the gently diffused rays of the Jordanian sun.
After breakfast, transfer to visit unique site which has been recognized by all the major traditional Christian Churches as the real and only true site where Jesus was baptized by John (John 1:28), and thus is the beginning of Jesus’ mission and indeed the beginning of Christianity.
Then visit Monastery in Mount Nebo where Moses viewed the Promised Land. After that proceed to the Christian Town of Madaba ‘The City of Mosaics’.
On the way to Petra visit Kerak castle. Overnight at Petra Hotel.
Madaba
The trip south from Amman along the 5,000- year-old Kings’ Highway is one of the most memorable journeys in the Holy Land, passing through a string of ancient sites.
The first city to encounter is Madaba, “the City of Mosaics.” The city, best known for its spectacular Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics, is home to the famous 6th century mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. With two million pieces of colored stone, the map depicts hills and valleys, villages and towns as far as the Nile Delta.
Mount Nebo
Within the area is Mount Nebo, one of the most revered holy sites of Jordan and the place where Moses was buried.
A small Byzantine church was built there by early Christians, which has been expanded into a vast complex.
During his visit to Jordan in 2000, the Late Pope John Paul II held a sermon here that was attended by some 20,000 faithful.
Kerak
The best-preserved are underground, and to be reached through a massive door (ask at the ticket office).
The castle in itself is more imposing than beautiful, though it is all the more impressive as an example of the Crusaders’ architectural military genius. Kerak’s most famous occupant was Reynald de Chatillon, whose reputation for treachery, betrayal and brutality is unsurpassed. When Baldwin II died, his son, a 13-year-old leper, sued for peace with Saladin. The Leper King, however, died without an heir, and in stepped Reynald, who succeeded in winning the hand of Stephanie, the wealthy widow of Kerak’s assassinated regent. He promptly broke the truce with Saladin, who returned with a huge army, ready for war.
Reynald and King Guy of Jerusalem led the Crusader forces and suffered a massive defeat. Reynald was taken prisoner and beheaded by Saladin himself, marking the beginning of the decline in Crusader fortunes. The castle was enlarged with a new west wing added by the Ayyubids and Mameluks.
After breakfast, visit of the ancient Nabatean Capital, starts on horseback, followed by a walk through the Siq.
The tour then proceeds to gradually unfold the mysteries of the Red Rose City with its spectacular Treasury, Royal Tombs, Burial Chambers and high places of sacrifice.
Then back to your hotel. Overnight at Petra Hotel
Petra
The ancient city of Petra is one of Jordan’s national treasures and by far its best-known tourist attraction.
Located approximately three hours south of Amman, Petra is the legacy of the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled in southern Jordan more than 2,000 years ago.
Admired then for its refined culture, massive architecture and ingenious complex of dams and water channels,
Petra is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site that enchants visitors from all corners of the globe.
Much of Petra’s appeal comes from its spectacular setting deep inside a narrow desert gorge.
The site is accessed by walking through a kilometer-long chasm (or siq), the walls of which soar 200m upwards.
Petra’s most famous monument, the Treasury, appears dramatically at the end of the Siq.
Petra By Night
To visit Petra during daylight is awe- inspiring; to experience it at night by the light of 1,800 candles is truly out-of-this-world!
Walk through the Siq to the Khazneh following a candle-lit path and enjoy the haunting music of the Bedouins at the Treasury. Tours start at 8.30pm and finish at 10.00pm
The activity is available on each Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The activity is subject to the weather conditions in Winter seasons as it might be cancelled.
After breakfast, proceed to Wadi Rum desert one of Jordan’s main tourist attractions being the most stunning deserts cape in the World.
Enjoy 2 hours 4×4 Jeep tour to explore a vast, silent place, timeless and starkly beautiful.
Then transfer to Aqaba. Overnight at Aqaba Hotel
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 rockscapes rise up from the desert floor to heights of 1,750m creating a natural challenge for serious mountaineers. Hikers can enjoy the tranquility of the boundless empty spaces and 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.
After breakfast, Free day at Aqaba for Relaxing and leisure
Water sports (diving, Scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, wind surfing, parasailing, Skiing, Jet Skis and canoeing) can be organized with extra cost, glass-bottomed boats for those who prefer their marine life is also a good option.
Overnight at Aqaba Hotel
Aqaba
With its wealth of other attractions, Jordan’s splendid Red Sea resort is often overlooked by modern-day visitors. But apart from being a delightful place for discerning holidaymakers, this is actually a great base from which to explore various places of interest in southern Jordan.
Aqaba is a fun place. It is a microcosm of all the good things Jordan has to offer, including a fascinating history with some outstanding sites, excellent hotels and activities, superb visitor facilities, good shopping, and welcoming, friendly people, who enjoy nothing more than making sure their visitors, have a good time
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Aqaba Airport for your departure back home.
We Bid You Farewell
Ma Alsalama!
