From the Eastern Desert to the Red Sea
During this 9-day round trip you shall see the highlights of the historical and cultural heritage of Jordan. Next to Petra, Jerash and the mosaics of Madaba you will also visit some of the most beautiful Islamic castles in the Eastern Desert. And of course we shall also show you ...
Read Full Description- Destination:
-
Amman, Jordan; Aqaba, Jordan; Madaba, Jordan
Jordan
- Trip Length:
- 9 days
- Price Range:
- From $0 to $3000 per person See what this includes and what this excludes
- Best Time to Go:
- Any time.
- Recommended for:
-
(15-17), (18-24), (25-30), (31-35), (36-40), (41-50), (51-55)
Adventure-seeker, Religious
Family Trip, Group Retreat, Trip Around the World
Detailed Trip Description
During this 9-day round trip you shall see the highlights of the historical and cultural heritage of Jordan. Next to Petra, Jerash and the mosaics of Madaba you will also visit some of the most beautiful Islamic castles in the Eastern Desert. And of course we shall also show you some of the most beautiful Jordanian landscapes: Wadi Rum, the Azraq Oasis and the grand canyon of Jordan. And last but not least there will be ample time to spend in Aqaba near the Red Sea, to relax on the beach and enjoy the colorful coral reefs.
Trip Itinerary
Day 1 - Amman, Jordan
Airport Transfers
Flight to Amman and transfer to your hotel.
Hotels
At hotel, you will enjoy dinner and stay overnight. Hotel choices: 3*: HillSide, 4*: Arena Space, 5*: Regency Palace
Day 2 - Amman, Jordan
Sightseeing
After breakfast we will take you on a guided city tour of Amman. You will visit the Amman citadel, the Roman theatre and the Suq, a typical Middle Eastern market where you may buy almost everything. Next the bus will drive you to the north of Jordan, to Umm Qais where you may admire the impressive view on Lake Tiberias and the Golan Heights. At the guesthouse we will serve you a traditional mezze lunch. In the afternoon you will visit Jerash, the Pompei of the East. You will enter Jerash through the monumental South Gate and find yourself wandering around in a Roman city. You will walk in the Oval Plaza surrounded by colonnades, visit the Roman theatre and Byzantine churches with mosaic-covered floors. Enjoy a stroll along Jerash’ main road the Cardo and pass by the Nymphaeum.
Nightlife
Back in Amman, after dinner you will have plenty of time to enjoy the nightlife.
Day 3 - Jordan
Sightseeing
After breakfast you will depart early for the Eastern Desert. The Romans were not deterred by the desert climate and built a chain of fortresses along the ‘limes arabicus’, the frontiers of their new Arabic province. Most of the castles you can visit nowadays were built by the caliphs during the Ummayyad period. Some are decorated with fine mosaics, frescoes, stone and stucco carvings and illustrations. They stand as silent and impressive evidence of Jordan’s rich history. Today you shall see three of the best-preserved desert castles.
Qasr al-Mushatta is the largest and most richly decorated Ummayyad castle in Jordan. It’s a large, square fortress, surrounded by walls with circular towers on every side. Qusayr Amra is placed by Unesco on its World Heritage List. Its interior walls and ceilings are covered with lively frescoes and two of its rooms are paved with colourful mosaics.
Qasr al-Azraq is built in black basalt and has been in continuous use since Roman times. During the Arab Revolt it functioned as the headquarters of Lawrence of Arabia. Late in the afternoon you will be transferred to the Azraq Oasis and be shown the highlights of the oasis.
Hotels
Dinner is served in Azraq Guesthouse and you will stay there overnight.
Day 4 - Madaba, Jordan
Sightseeing
You will depart early for Madaba and visit the famous mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Your next stop will be Mount Nebo, where like Moses you will be able to overlook the Holy Land and the Dead Sea. You will leave Madaba southwards and travel along the King’s Highway to Mukawir, the hilltop stronghold of Herod the Great, which is surrounded by ravines on three sides. It was at Mukawir where Herod Antipas ordered the beheading of John the Baptist to please Salome. The journey will continue to Umm ar-Rasas where you will visit the church of St. Stephen, which contains Jordan’s largest mosaic floor featuring images of the fifteen major cities of the Holy Land. You will also visit the highest standing ancient tower of Jordan, which still puzzles specialists because it doesn’t contain a door or inner staircase. It is believed to have been home to a pillar saint. The journey to Karak takes you through Wadi Mujib, the grand canyon of Jordan.
Food and Dining
In Karak you may enjoy dinner in one of the traditional restaurants and spend the evening as you wish.
Day 5 - Jordan
Sightseeing
In the morning there will be a visit to the castle of Karak, where Saladin and Richard Lionheart fought during the crusades. You will continue along the King’s Highway, passing several ravines. In the restored medieval village of Dana your lunch is served at the guesthouse, which offers an excellent view of the Dana Nature Reserve.
In the afternoon you will visit the castle of Shobak. During the crusades period it was known as Mons Realis, since it was the first castle established by the kingdom of Jerusalem at the other side of the river Jordan.
Hotels
Late in the afternoon you arrive in Petra for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6 - Jordan
Sightseeing
In the morning a local guide will escort you into Petra and show you the highlights of the Nabatean city. You will enter the city through the Siq, the narrow gorge and be rewarded with the most astonishing and dramatic monument in Jordan: the Treasury. You will also visit the theatre, the tombs and façades and the colonnaded street.
In the afternoon you are free to wander around in Petra and explore the area for yourself. You may climb the stairs to the Monastery and admire the view over the Wadi Araba. Perhaps you would like to walk all the way up to the High Place of Sacrifice and see the obelisks which are believed to represent the most important Nabatean gods, Dushara and Al ‘Uzza. After dinner at the hotel you will have plenty of time to explore the village of Wadi Musa and maybe have a drink at the Cave Bar. Hotel : 3*: Amra Palace, 4*: Petra Panorama, 5*: Taybet Zaman
Day 7 - Aqaba, Jordan
Sightseeing
You are free to spend the morning according to your own liking. Suggestion: visit Little Petra, which dates back to prehistoric times. After lunch you will be transferred to Wadi Rum. You will pass the famous seven pillars of wisdom, described by Lawrence of Arabia. Our guided jeep tour will show you Lawrence of Arabia’s house and Thamudic and Nabatean inscriptions made centuries ago. And you may climb one of the natural rock bridges. Late in the afternoon you will continue to Aqaba, where you can spend the evening according to your own wishes.
Day 8 - Aqaba, Jordan
Beach
You can spend this day in Aqaba entirely according to your own wishes. Suggestions: relax and spend time on the sandy beaches, go diving or snorkelling, take a trip on a glass boat and enjoy the beautiful coral reefs.
Day 9 - Aqaba, Jordan
Airport Transfers
Late in the afternoon you will be transferred to Amman and fly back home.
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Meets and assist, all transfers Hotel accommodation, tour guides on spots, entrance fees to the sites, Jeep Safari in Wadi Rum, horseback ride in Petra, dinner and breakfasts.
Budget Excludes:Personal expenses, lunches, drinks, travel insurance, Visa fee to Jordan.
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