Jordan, Amman

Discovering Jordan 4^*

Pick-up and assistance by our representative at Queen Alia Airport - They will be waiting for you with your name on a sign and will be on hand to assist you before you proceed through border control and customs to obtain your visa. You will then proceed to the luggage claim downstairs area to retrieve your luggage. Once your luggage has been collected, our representative will accompany you to your driver, who will take you to your hotel in Amman for the night. The journey time to Amman is typically between 45 minutes and one hour, depending on the time of arrival and traffic conditions.

On arrival, you'll check in at the hotel, and then the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure. Overnight stay in Amman.

After breakfast, departure for the ancient city of Jerash or Gerasa, around 45 km from Amman. It is Jordan's second largest archeological site after Petra. Today it is considered one of the best preserved Roman provincial towns in the Near East. It was hidden under the sand for several centuries before being discovered and restored during a period of 70 years. The city was entirely built in orange-pink limestone. Gerasa enjoyed its heyday in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Jerash is the epitome of Roman municipal planning in the Middle East.

Continue to the former Ottoman capital of As-Salt, recently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you follow the "Harmony trail", you'll understand why this town is an example of Muslims and Christians living together in harmony in Jordan. You will then enjoy a typical meal with a local family in the area.

Lunch with a local family. Make your own dinner arrangements and return to Amman for the night.

Meet your driver to set off for the Dead Sea - but first you'll go on a city tour of Amman with a visit to the Amman Citadel, the Archaeological Museum, the Temple of Hercules, the Umayyad Palace, the Roman Theatre, and the Old City.

Then it's off to the city of mosaics, Madaba, where you will visit the Church of St George, to contemplate the oldest known map of the Holy Land. This mosaic from the mid 6th century, which has barely been altered, shows the geography of the Byzantine Near East. After this first tour, we head for Mount Nebo, 10 km to the north-west of Madaba and the famous burial place of Moses, offering a spectacular view of the Promised Land.

In the afternoon, you'll head to your hotel on the shore of the Dead Sea for a unique experience at the lowest point on the planet. Situated 400 metres below sea level, it is also considered one of the world's most spiritual landscapes, teeming with spectacular natural wonders.

Make your own lunch and dinner arrangements.
Overnight stay at the hotel near the Dead Sea

After breakfast, perhaps one final swim in the Dead Sea.

Heading to the south of Jordan, your first stop will be at Kerak, the unofficial capital of southern Jordan, which remains largely within its Crusader-era hilltop walls and boasts one of the best-preserved Crusader castles in the Middle East.

Around 125 km south of Amman, halfway between the capital and Petra, it is also a natural spot for a break on the journey between North and South.

Continue on to the Dana Nature Reserve where you will set off on a walk through the village of Dana, which has been inhabited since 4000 BC. This trail winds through the village, past terraced gardens and local craft workshops. You can meet local residents, discover original Ottoman architecture, and learn more about Dana's rich history. To date, a total of 700 plant species, 190 bird species, 37 mammal species, and 36 reptile species have been recorded in the reserve.

After Dana, it's off to Little Petra for a taste of what's in store tomorrow.

Make your own lunch and dinner arrangements
Overnight stay in Petra

After breakfast, head off for what most consider to be the highlight of the trip. Today, you will explore the renowned Nabataean site of Petra, capital of the ancient Nabataean trading empire until the Romans took over in 106 AD. Petra is situated on the edge of the Wadi Araba. Once in Petra, you will notice that there are very few independent buildings, as the Nabataeans preferred to carve their houses into the pink sandstone cliffs.

The tour then takes you to Al-Khazneh, one of Petra's most elaborate temples. You'll discover how the Nabataeans carved their territory into the rock faces.

Make your own lunch and dinner arrangements.
Overnight stay in Petra

Breakfast at the hotel, departure for the Wadi Rum desert. While Petra was sculpted by both people and nature, the cliffs, peaks and valleys of Wadi Rum owe their "serene beauty" and "overwhelming grandeur" to themselves alone. You will spend around 4 hours on a 4X4 tour of Wadi Rum, with lunch in the desert. You will explore the magnificent desert and mountainous landscapes of Wadi Rum.

In the evening, soak up the authentic Bedouin atmosphere. The itinerary includes a campfire, stargazing, and a traditional Jordanian meal. Experience a night in the desert, in a simple, minimalist camp.

Picnic lunch
Dinner in the camp and overnight stay in Wadi Rum.

After a gentle wake-up call and breakfast in the camp...

Return to the north of Jordan. You will return via the famous Wadi Araba road, for a chance to admire the beautiful landscapes of the south.

You will then arrive in Ma'In where you will enjoy lunch at the magnificent Evason Ma'In Hot Springs. You will also get to enjoy the natural swimming pool below the Ma'In hot springs.

After this relaxing break, return to Amman for your final night in Jordan.

Lunch at Ma'In Hot Springs
Make your own dinner arrangements
Overnight stay in Amman

After breakfast and depending on your flight times, transfer to the airport for your return flight.

• Day of arrival and welcome:

You will be met and assisted by a local English-speaking representative at Queen Alia Airport, who will be waiting for you with a sign bearing the name of the local agency and who will assist you before you pass through border control and customs to obtain your visa. Please note that this procedure can be lengthy, taking between 45 minutes and 1 hour depending on the number of passengers. You will then head downstairs to pick up your luggage. The local representative may have to wait at customs to collect other travellers, but once you have collected your luggage, they will accompany you to your driver, who will take you to your hotel in Amman for the night. The transfer will be in a group with other passengers. Depending on the time of arrival and the traffic in Amman, the journey will usually take between 45 minutes and 1 hour. Your tour will start the next morning where you will meet your group of 18 people (maximum).

The order of visits may change for logistical reasons.

As indicated, the hotels are classified as 4-star, according to local standards. The services provided may not be equivalent to European 4-star standards.

• Tipping:

Tipping is a very personal gesture and the decision whether or not to tip and how much to tip is your own, based on your satisfaction with the service received and your personal budget. However, tipping for services provided is part of the local culture, is often expected and is highly appreciated. As we are often asked for help and advice, we would like to suggest the following amounts:

Tourist guides: US$3-8 per person per day

Driver: US$3-5 per person per day

Restaurants: 10% or leave the change

Petra horseback riding: US$ 2-5 (for animal welfare and safety reasons, it is recommended that you do not ride horses, but the guides may still expect a tip)

• Currency

The currency used is the Jordanian dinar: Exchange offices and cash dispensers are available everywhere, and your driver and/or guide can help you with the currency exchange procedure.

PLEASE NOTE: For those booking the "hotel only" option (without international flights), please inform us of your flight details as soon as possible via the contact form located in the "Help and Contact" section at the bottom of the page, so we can organise your transfers.