AmmanDead SeaAqaba PetraKerak jerash
At the intersection of three continents, Jordan boasts a cultural legacy that thrives in its dry landscapes. This tour showcases the country’s fascinating history and geography, taking you to the classical city of Jerash, known for its Roman ruins, the Biblical location of Mount Nebo, and both the rock-carved city of Petra and its lesser-known counterpart, ‘Little Petra’. Your exploration will conclude with a visit to the moving sands of Wadi Rum and the mineral-laden waters of the Dead Sea and time to relax on the beach in Aqaba.
Itinerary Highlights
What’s included
flexibility
This is an example itinerary. It is fully flexible; you can add or detract days and include hotels at your chosen budget. It departs daily.
20
Nights
Price Guide
$6000 – $8000+ pp
Our quotes are bespoke for your customised trip. The prices displayed are indicative only, read more
Fly to Amman
Amman
Discover the fascinating capital of Jordan, Amman. Here, you can select different ways and tours to discover the elegance of this Middle Eastern capital. Visit the King Abdullah Mosque, known as the Blue Domed Mosque. The late King Hussein built this mosque as a memorial to his grandfather. Or wander through the old part of the city exploring its architecture. Tonight, you could take a tasting tour of local Jordanian wines. Amman truly has so much to explore.
Desert Castles
Today, take a day trip east to the Desert Castles of Jordan. Visit Al Kharaneh, Qasr Amra and Al Azraq castles. The Umayyads built these to serve as caravan stations and hunting lodges for travellers, where some of their walls and floors are adorned with frescos and fragments of mosaic. You can also visit the Azraq Wetland Reserve for a hiking experience of the oasis.
Jerash and Ajlun
Leave the city behind and visit the Greco-Roman City of Jerash, also known as the city of the Thousand Columns. Jerash showcases Imperial Rome’s grandeur (sometimes called the Pompeii of the East). It is considered one of the largest and most well-preserved sites of Roman architecture in the World outside Italy. In the afternoon, choose to explore the town of Ajlun with its fortress, one of the best-preserved examples of medieval Arab military architecture in the entire Middle East, which Saladin once governed. Enjoy the magnificent views of the Jordan Valley.
Umm Qais and Sea of Galilee
Journey north to visit Umm Qais, a city rich with black basalt ruins of the Hellenistic era in which it was known as Gadara, a hilltop site in the north-west corner of Jordan with grand views of the Golan Heights and Lake Tiberius (the Sea of Galilee). Umm Qais is also famous for being one of the ten cities that belonged to the Decapolis. Continue to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the earth’s surface, for a swim in its unique salt-rich waters.
Mujib and Bethany
This morning, travel to the Mujib Reserve, the lowest nature reserve on earth, for a hiking experience. The reserve’s spectacular mountains border the Dead Sea coast and contain several river-filled canyons and hillside hikes, thus offering some of the best canyoning and hiking adventures in Jordan. Continue to visit the Baptism Site “Bethany beyond the Jordan”, where John the Baptist lived and baptised. Then, travel back to the Dead Sea to relax at your hotel or enjoy a Dead Sea spa treatment.
The Dead Sea
Free to relax on the waters of the Dead Sea or maybe have a spa treatment. The number of days here is up to you.
Kerak and Dana Reserve
Today, head south to the city of Kerak, where you can choose to visit the Crusader’s Castle, with its diverse history dated from the Byzantine to the Mamluk period and get to know the architectural military brilliance of the Crusaders. Then, you can proceed to the Dana Biosphere Reserve for a hiking experience. The reserve is remarkable for its diverse habitats and many plant and animal species that live there. Apart from its wildlife, the reserve has archaeological sites and local cultural attractions to choose from.
Petra
Embark on a journey to discover Petra, the “Rose-Red city, half as old as time”. The Nabateans established This ancient city 2,000 years ago, and is renowned for its colossal architectural structures and multicoloured stones. Your exploration begins with a horseback ride and a walk through the Siq – a long, narrow fissure between two towering cliffs. As you reach the end of the Siq, you will be mesmerised by the Treasury, Petra’s most famous landmark. Your tour will then gradually unveil the mysteries of the city. Finally, return to your hotel in Petra.
Little Petra
Explore Little Petra, where you can choose to start your day with a hike. Enter Petra via ‘The Back Door’, avoiding most tourists. This way follows a Nabataean route out of the valley and skirts around the final mountain on a natural rock terrace, which has been ‘improved’ for the safety of walkers. Even so, it still narrows slightly before reaching a hidden plateau high above the impressive chasm of Wadi Siyyagh. Just beyond, carved into the cliff face, ‘The Monastery’ suddenly comes into view, where there is a Bedouin café for refreshments if you would like.
Wadi Rum
Continue your journey south towards the mesmerizing Wadi Rum desert, which is not only the largest desert in Jordan but also one of the most stunning desert landscapes globally. Take a 4×4 Bedouin Jeep Tour of the Wadi to see its highlights and enjoy traditional Bedouin tea while enjoying breathtaking views. After the tour, transfer to the campsite located within the desert. In the morning you could take a hot air balloon ride to experience the desert from a whole new perspective.
Madaba and Mount Nebo
Today, you can visit the Christian Town of Madaba, known as ‘The City of Mosaics’. You will be visiting the St. George Greek Orthodox Church, where you will see the masterpiece of Madaba (a Byzantine mosaic map of the Holy Land that goes back to the 6th century, showing Jerusalem and other cities); you will also visit the Archaeological Park, which houses the remains of several Byzantine churches, including the amazing mosaics of the Church of the Virgin.
The park complex includes a school to restore and conserve ancient mosaics. Then explore Mt. Nebo, considered one of the most important holy sites in Jordan, as it is believed to be where Moses climbed from the Valley of Moab and from where God showed him the Promised Land, as well as Moses’ last resting place. It features ruins from the 4th to the 6th century, with marvellous mosaics adorning the church grounds still visible.
Aqaba
Travel south to the Red Sea port of Aqaba, where this afternoon, you can enjoy a cruise and explore the reefs in your glass bottom, go for a dip and snorkel, and enjoy lunch before heading back to your hotel for the evening.
Fly home
A note on price
The prices outlined above are a rough guide to give you an idea of costs and enable you to budget for your trip.
Guide prices are generally for private arrangements based on twin share, in well located, good quality accommodation (excluding international flights).
Please note costs are indicative and may vary due to a number of factors such as; travel date, hotel choice, room category, number of people travelling and prevailing exchange rates.
Price Guide $6000 – $8000+ per person
When to travel
July and August are the hottest and driest months of the year, especially in Amman and the Jordan Valley, and in the desert areas, with temperatures over 36°C. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant times to visit with clear, sunny days and moderate temperatures. The winter months from December to March can be very cold, particularly in Amman, with snow, rain and wind, but there is little rainfall in the desert regions and in Aqaba, which makes a pleasant wintertime resort. About 75 percent of the country can be described as having a desert climate with very little annual rainfall.
Add on’s
Israel, Palestine, Oman and Turkiye all make perfect add-on destinations for your Grand Tour of Jordan.
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