Ancient Treasures of Jordan

Saturday 11th October 

Today we depart for Amman. On arrival we’ll check into our hotel and take time to rest after our journey.

Overnight in Amman. 

Sunday 12th October 

After a late arrival we’ll have a leisurely start this morning, before driving north of Amman to the Roman City of Jerash. A spectacular historic site, we will have a guided tour through the colonnaded streets, the plaza, the amphitheatre, the temples and the church complex.  Much of this ancient site is so well preserved, it is easy to imagine the hustle and bustle of Roman life that once occupied these spaces.

Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight in Amman. 

Monday 13th October 

Leaving the capital today, our first stop is the Crusader Castle of Kerak. One of the finest examples of Crusader military construction, the walls are strengthened with rectangular projecting towers and long stone vaulted galleries whilst surrounded by a deep moat that completely isolates the site.  Our guide will take us around this magnificent castle before we continue down the stunning Kings Highway, cutting through the dramatic Mujib Canyon and onto Petra.  After checking in at our hotel and taking a little time to freshen up after the journey, we will head to our cooking lesson and learn what makes up the fantastic flavours of Jordanian cuisine. This evening we will eat our own culinary creation for dinner!

Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight in Petra. 

Tuesday 14th October 

One of the Seven Wonders of The World, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Petra, is our destination for today. Used as part of the trade routes through Arabia, discover amazing feats of engineering carved out of the desert rock built by the Nabateans. We will take a guided tour around this stunning site, approaching first through the Siq, a narrow canyon through the rocks, to the iconic Treasury. Hear the many anecdotes of films made in this spectacular setting, including the renowned Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade! The site is expansive and we will get the opportunity to see many of the principal areas whilst learning about day-to-day life in the city.   

N.B. To explore as much of the site as possible in a day will involve a lot of walking but you can explore as much or as little as you choose. 

 Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight in Petra. 

Wednesday 15th October 

After a leisurely start to the day, we will take a short drive to Siq al-barid, otherwise known as Little Petra.  Like Petra, it is a Nabatean site, with buildings carved into the rock and was likely a suburb of Petra, housing visiting traders on the Silk Road.  A much quieter and smaller site, we will take some time to explore the area before we head to our next destination – Wadi Rum. Known as the ‘Valley of the Moon’, this lunar like landscape, steeped in legend and history, consists of ancient valleys and towering sandstone mountains rising out of white and pink coloured sands. We’ll visit the most spectacular sights of Wadi Rum on a jeep tour before enjoying dinner and the rest of the night under the stars at our luxury camp. 

NB. Our camp at Wadi Rum is very comfortable.  All tents have ensuite facilities, electric lights and real beds with full bed linen.

Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight in Wadi Rum. 

Thursday 16th October 

After waking to the stillness and beauty of the desert, we’ll enjoy a lovely fresh breakfast before the opportunity to unleash our inner Lawrence of Arabia, with an optional camel ride.  These amazing creatures are so well adapted to life in the desert and offer a surprisingly comfortable, if slightly wobbly, ride! 

Leaving the desert behind we head to the sea and our home for the next two nights, Aqaba. We will take to the water on a Red Sea cruise with the chance to swim from the boat and snorkel in the warm waters of the Gulf of Aqaba. Alternatively, relax on deck in the sunshine and enjoy the beauty and sounds of the lapping water.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Aqaba. 

Friday 17th October 

After an exciting few days, we’ve left today at your leisure to relax and enjoy Aqaba at your own pace, in your pairs.  You might choose to spend time by the hotel pool, use the spa, or perhaps visit the local beach for some sun bathing, snorkelling, or a glass bottomed boat trip. Maybe a stroll along the promenade is your preference, soaking up the atmosphere of this lovely coastal town in the sunshine. Or if food is your thing, take advantage of the local markets and stock up on fresh pistachio, almonds and dates ready for the journey home. 

Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight in Aqaba. 

Saturday 18th October 

Our final full day takes us back north to the Dead Sea. The lowest point on Earth, this body of water is devoid of life but contains extremely high content of salts and minerals. These natural elements give the water its restorative powers and also provide the raw materials for the many renowned Dead Sea products. Of course, no Dead Sea experience is complete without a dip in the Dead Sea, so there’s plenty of time for relaxing and enjoying the sensation of floating here (which feels very weird at first… but you’ll soon get used to it!).  You might even want to cover yourself in the grey sea mud and then dry in the sun. Once washed off, your skin will feel silky and smooth! (and without the spa treatment price tag!)

After spending time at the Dead Sea, we will return to Amman for our final night. We’ll enjoy a celebratory group meal where we can chat over all the wonderful highlights of our trip to Jordan.

Breakfast and dinner included. Overnight in Amman. 

Sunday 19th October 

 After breakfast, we bid farewell to this wonderful country and start our journey home. 

 Breakfast included. 

UK passport holders require a visa for Jordan.  For all travellers arriving and departing on the group flights, a group visa will be arranged by our local agents and will be free of charge. Anyone not arriving or departing with the group, or not a UK passport holder, will need to seek information from their relevant embassy.