Highlights of Jordan
Uncover a lost city in the desert
Get lost in the beauty of Jordan, a country that's home to some of the Middle East’s most spectacular sights! Spend 6 or 7 nights exploring the capital of Amman, the UNESCO City of Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea.
What's Included
- Round-trip economy class airfare to Amman (AMM)
- 1 night in Amman at the Bristol Hotel, or similar
- Guided tour of Madaba, Mount Nebo, Kings Highway (Kerak) & Shobak Castle
- 2 nights in Petra at the Old Village Hotel & Resort, or similar
- Guided city tour of Petra
- 1 night near the Dead Sea at the Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea, or similar
- Wadi Rum visit
- 3 nights in Amman at the Bristol Hotel, or similar
- Guided city tour of Amman
- Guided tour of Jerash & Ajloun Castle
- Breakfast daily
- Entrance fees to sites visited
- Transportation by modern, air-conditioned vehicles
- English-speaking tour guide on the specified touring days
Great Ways to Explore
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Carved into red sandstone, Petra is truly one of the wonders of the world.
- Explore Wadi Rum, a majestic desert where countless movies like Lawrence of Arabia were filmed.
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Head up to Mount Nebo where Moses showed his people the Promised Land.
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Float away in the Dead Sea and cover yourself in mineral-rich mud!
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From Roman ruins to hooka lounges, the capital Amman has something for everyone.
With a warm and welcoming population, jaw-dropping historical sites and majestic desert landscapes, it's no secret Jordan is at the top of many traveler's bucket lists. Discover this jewel of a country on this 7-night escorted vacation!
See where Moses showed his people the Promised Land on Mount Nebo, tour a castle and see the sites along Kings Highway. You'll then head to one of the Wonders of the World - Petra! From the iconic treasury to temples, discover Jordan's stunning city made of stone.
Feel like you landed on Mars with a day trip to Wadi Rum before spending one night near the Dead Sea. Renowned for its restorative properties, floating in the Dead Sea is a must! Your trip ends in the capital of Amman, home to countless Roman ruins and museums. Tour the famous citadel and amphitheater, then enjoy time to explore on your own.
Helpful links for travel to Jordan:
Please note that some recommendations in the following suggested itinerary may not be included in your package. Check What's Included above for full details on inclusions.
- Round-trip economy class airfare to Amman (AMM)
- 1 night in Amman at the Bristol Hotel, or similar
- Guided tour of Madaba, Mount Nebo, Kings Highway (Kerak) & Shobak Castle
- 2 nights in Petra at the Old Village Hotel & Resort, or similar
- Guided city tour of Petra
- 1 night near the Dead Sea at the Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea, or similar
- Wadi Rum visit
- 3 nights in Amman at the Bristol Hotel, or similar
- Guided city tour of Amman
- Guided tour of Jerash & Ajloun Castle
- Breakfast daily
- Entrance fees to sites visited
- Transportation by modern, air-conditioned vehicles
- English-speaking tour guide on the specified touring days
-
Carved into red sandstone, Petra is truly one of the wonders of the world.
- Explore Wadi Rum, a majestic desert where countless movies like Lawrence of Arabia were filmed.
-
Head up to Mount Nebo where Moses showed his people the Promised Land.
-
Float away in the Dead Sea and cover yourself in mineral-rich mud!
-
From Roman ruins to hooka lounges, the capital Amman has something for everyone.
With a warm and welcoming population, jaw-dropping historical sites and majestic desert landscapes, it's no secret Jordan is at the top of many traveler's bucket lists. Discover this jewel of a country on this 7-night escorted vacation!
See where Moses showed his people the Promised Land on Mount Nebo, tour a castle and see the sites along Kings Highway. You'll then head to one of the Wonders of the World - Petra! From the iconic treasury to temples, discover Jordan's stunning city made of stone.
Feel like you landed on Mars with a day trip to Wadi Rum before spending one night near the Dead Sea. Renowned for its restorative properties, floating in the Dead Sea is a must! Your trip ends in the capital of Amman, home to countless Roman ruins and museums. Tour the famous citadel and amphitheater, then enjoy time to explore on your own.
Helpful links for travel to Jordan:
Please note that some recommendations in the following suggested itinerary may not be included in your package. Check What's Included above for full details on inclusions.
Day 1. Welcome to Amman!
Arrive in Amman, Jordan's modern capital with one foot firmly rooted in the past. After settling into your luxurious accommodation, get out and explore the city! Stroll through downtown and get your first taste of Jordanian cuisine.Â
Transfer to Amman hotel
Check-in - Bristol Hotel Amman
Stay close to the city at the Bristol Hotel, a 5-star accommodation in Amman. Relax in comfort from each of the individual guestrooms that come equipped with an in-room safe, Wi-Fi, LCD flat panel TV, marble bathrooms, and terrycloth bathrobes. Breakfast is served daily in the bar in addition to Mediterranean cuisine at the restaurant and drinks and snacks at the lobby bar. Enjoy a variety of spa treatments including steam baths and massage as well as fitness classes and a gym. The Bristol Hotel is located within a short distance to King Abdullah I Mosque, the ancient ruins at Jebel al-Qala'a and within a 35-minute drive from Queen Alia International Airport.Â
Day 2. Amman - Petra
Leave Amman today as you make your way toward Petra. On the way, explore Mount Nebo (where Moses showed his people the Promised Land), Shobak Castle and more.Â
Check-in - Old Village Hotel & Resort
Located one mile from the UNESCO World Heritage site of Petra, the Old Village Hotel & Resort puts you right in the heart of one of the world's great man-made wonders. Situated on the outskirts of Wadi Musa and overlooking the Sahara Mountains, the hotel offers five-star comforts for all travelers. Relax and enjoy a sweet cup of mint tea or Arabic coffee while enjoying the spectacular sunset over the mountains.
All rooms have Wi-Fi access, tea and coffee making facilities, television, air conditioning, safe deposit box and a mini bar, while bathrooms are well equipped with bath/shower, hairdryer and complimentary toiletries. Rooms are furnished to reflect the history and culture of the area as well as showcase local handicrafts. There is an indoor swimming pool and sauna for relaxation after a busy day exploring Petra. From the hotel, enjoy free shuttle transportation to Petra Visitor center.Â
Guided tour of Madaba, Mount Nebo, Kings Highway (Kerak) & Shobak Castle
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 you will 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. Other mosaic masterpieces found in the Church of the Virgin and the Apostles and the Archaeological Museum depict a rampant profusion of flowers and plants, birds and fish, animals and exotic beasts, as well as scenes from mythology and everyday pursuits of hunting, fishing, and farming. Literally hundreds of other mosaics from the 5th through the 7th centuries are scattered throughout Madaba's churches and homes.
From Mount Nebo’s windswept promontory overlooking the Dead Sea, the Jordan River Valley, Jericho and the distant hills of Jerusalem, Moses viewed the Holy Land of Canaan that he would never enter. He died and was buried in Moab, "in the valley opposite Beth-Peor" (Deuteronomy 34:6). His tomb remains unknown. After consulting the Oracle, Jeremiah reportedly hid the Ark of the Covenant, the Tent and the Altar of Incense at Mount Nebo.
Mount Nebo became a place of pilgrimage for early Christians from Jerusalem and a small church was built there in the 4th century to commemorate the end of Moses' life. Some of the stones from that church remain in their original place in the wall around the apse area. The church was subsequently expanded in the 5th and 6th centuries into the present-day large basilica with its stunning collection of Byzantine mosaics.
The Serpentine Cross, which stands just outside the sanctuary, is symbolic of the bronze (or brazen) serpent taken by Moses into the desert and the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.
The Kings' Highway winds its way through the different ecological zones of the country, including forested highlands, open farmland plateaus, deep ravines, the edge of the Eastern Desert, and the warm tropical Gulf of Aqaba. Lining both sides of this 207-mile thoroughfare is a rich chain of archaeological sites that reads like an index of ancient history and a biblical gazetteer - prehistoric villages from the Stone Age, biblical towns from the kingdoms of Ammon, Moab and Edom, Crusader Castles, some of the finest early Christian Byzantine mosaics in the Middle East, a Roman-Herodian fortress, several Nabataean temples, two major Roman fortresses, early Islamic towns, and the rock-cut Nabataean capital of Petra. First mentioned by name in the Bible, the Kings' Highway was the route that Moses wished to follow as he led his people north through the land of Edom, which today is in southern Jordan. The name may, however, derive from the even earlier episode recounted in Genesis 14, when an alliance of "four kings from the north" marched their troops along this route to do battle against the five kings of the Cities of the Plain, including the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
A lonely reminder of former Crusader glory is Shobak Castle, less than an hour north of Petra. Once called "Mont Real," Showbak dates from the same turbulent period as Karak. It is perched on the side of a mountain, with a grand sweep of fruit trees below. The castle's exterior is impressive, with a foreboding gate and encircling triple wall. Despite the precautions of its builder, the fortress fell to Saladin only 75 years after it was raised. Inscriptions by his proud successors appear on the castle wall.
Day 3. Petra
After breakfast, you'll tour Petra, also known as the Rose City. Once the Nabatean capital of 30,000 inhabitants, Petra has enchanted travelers for centuries. Today you get to check this destination off your bucket list!Â
Guided city tour of 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 0.62-mile-long chasm (or siq), the walls of which soar 650 feet upwards.
Petra's most famous monument, the Treasury, appears dramatically at the end of the Siq. Used in the final sequence of the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the towering façade of the Treasury is only one of the myriad archaeological wonders to be explored at Petra. Various walks and climbs reveal literally hundreds of buildings, tombs, baths, funerary halls, temples, arched gateways, colonnaded streets, and haunting rock drawings - as well as a 3,000 seat open-air theatre, a gigantic 1st-century Monastery, and a modern archeological museum, all of which can be explored at leisure. A modest shrine commemorating the death of Aaron, brother of Moses, was built in the 13th century by the Mamluk Sultan, high atop mount Aaron in the Sharah range.
Day 4. Petra - Dead Sea
Your excursion today will be a visit to Wadi Rum, also known as the Valley of the Moon. This desert landscape is unlike anywhere else in the world! After the tour, make your way to your accommodation in the Dead Sea area. Â
Check-in - Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea
Float in the ethereal Dead Sea just steps away at the Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea. A 45-minute drive from Queen Alia International Airport, the 5-star hotel comes with its own private beach bordering the world’s most famous salt lake. From your bright, spacious room sit out on the balcony or terrace and take in views of the Dead Sea or mountains.Â
In addition to the healing properties of the Dead Sea, guests can enjoy three pools, including an infinity pool, Dive Inn Bar and children's area. Luxurious massages and facial treatments are also available, using Dead Sea products of course. Watch the sunset with a refreshing drink on the terrace or enjoy live music. Dining options include several options, too.Â
Wadi Rum Visit
The moonlike landscape of Wadi Rum is unique to the world. The desert is dotted with massive mountains, colored in shades of red, yellow, and orange. Their hues spill over to color the sand dunes around the desert and the horizon of its breathtaking panorama.
This is a place where you can become one with nature, where visitors are humbled by the towering mountains and overwhelmed by the serenity and quiet ambiance of this magnificent place.
The eco-system of Wadi Rum holds many rare and endemic plants. Spring reveals hundreds of species of wildflowers, while about 120 bird species have been recorded in the area, including the Griffon Vulture, the Fan-Tailed Raven, Bonelli’s Eagle, and Hume’s Tawny Owl. Baseline surveys show the existence of the Grey Wolf, Blandford’s Fox, the Sand Cat, and the Ibex within the area.
One activity which keeps attracting thrill-seekers to Wadi Rum is mountain climbing. Ascents can range from simple hikes to serious 3,000 feet climbs up sheer granite and sandstone cliffs.
Day 5. Dead Sea - Amman
After breakfast, make your way back to Amman and enjoy a tour of the city. Explore the historic citadel, which includes pillars of the Roman Temple of Hercules, and the Roman Theatre dating back to the 2nd century.Â
Check-in - Bristol Hotel Amman
Stay close to the city at the Bristol Hotel, a 5-star accommodation in Amman. Relax in comfort from each of the individual guestrooms that come equipped with an in-room safe, Wi-Fi, LCD flat panel TV, marble bathrooms, and terrycloth bathrobes. Breakfast is served daily in the bar in addition to Mediterranean cuisine at the restaurant and drinks and snacks at the lobby bar. Enjoy a variety of spa treatments including steam baths and massage as well as fitness classes and a gym. The Bristol Hotel is located within a short distance to King Abdullah I Mosque, the ancient ruins at Jebel al-Qala'a and within a 35-minute drive from Queen Alia International Airport.Â
Guided City Tour of Amman
A sprawling city spread over 19 hills or "jebels," Amman is the modern - as well as the ancient - capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Known as Rabbath-Ammon during the Iron Age and later as Philadelphia, the ancient city that was once part of the Decapolis league, it now boasts a population of around 2.3 million people. Amman is often referred to as the White City due to its low size canvas of stone houses.
There are a number of renovations and excavations taking place that have revealed remains from the Neolithic period, as well as from the Hellenistic and late Roman to Arab Islamic Ages. The site which is known as the Citadel includes many structures such as the Temple of Hercules, the Umayyad Palace and the Byzantine Church.
At the foot of the Citadel lies the 6,000-seat Roman Theatre, which is a deep-sided bowl carved into the hill and is still being used for cultural events. Another newly restored theatre is the 500-seat Odeon that is used for concerts. The three museums found in the area offer a glimpse of history and culture; they are the Jordan Archaeological Museum, The Folklore Museum and the Museum of Popular Traditions.
Day 6. Amman
Head just outside of Amman to Jerash, the most famous Roman town in Jordan. See the ceremonial gates, colonnaded avenues, temples and theaters that make up this fascinating site. You'll also get to explore Ajloun Castle, a 12th-century fortress that protected the trade and commercial routes between Jordan and Syria.Â
Guided tour of Jerash & Ajloun Castle
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. Beneath its external Greco-Roman veneer, Jerash also preserves a subtle blend of east and west. Its architecture, religion, and languages reflect a process by which two powerful cultures meshed and coexisted - The Greco-Roman world of the Mediterranean basin and the ancient traditions of the Arab Orient.
Ajloun Castle (also known as Qa'lat 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. Today, Ajloun Castle is a splendid sight with a fascinating mix of towers, chambers, galleries, and staircases to explore, while its hilltop position offers stunning views of the Jordan Valley.
Day 7. Amman
Today is yours to explore Amman on your own. Consider starting the day at the Jordan Museum, considered one of the best in the Middle East. Discover Jordan from past to present at this beautifully designed museum.Â
Another iconic site is the modern King Abdullah I Mosque, featuring a blue dome and ornate prayer hall. Take a break in Jabal Luwaibdeh, a Bohemian neighborhood filled with enticing restaurants, cafes and shops.Â
Day 8. Depart Jordan
Your Jordan adventure ends today. At the appropriate time, you'll be transferred to Amman airport for your flight home.