Jordan, From Amman to the Dead Sea

Jordanian Charm Private Tour 4^*

On arrival, reception and assistance by our representative at Amman Airport. He will be waiting for you with a sign with your name on it and will assist you before you pass through the border police and customs to obtain your visa. You will then go downstairs to pick up your luggage. Once your luggage has been collected, they will accompany you to your driver, who will take you to your hotel in Amman for the night. Depending on the time of arrival and the traffic in Amman, the journey will usually take between 45 minutes and 1 hour. On arrival, check in at the hotel. The rest of the day is free.

Meals of your choice.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Amman.

After breakfast, set off on a journey from the 2nd to the 12th century. You will start with a visit to Jerash, the best-preserved Roman provincial city in the Near East. Concealed under the sand for several centuries before being discovered and restored over a period of 70 years, Jerash is the epitome of Roman municipal planning in the Middle East. After a break for lunch, you will head for Ajloun, where you will visit the impressive Qal'at al Rabad, a fortress built in the 12th century during the time of Saladin to defend the region and control the local iron mines. From the top, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Jordan Valley. Before sunset, return to Amman to visit the citadel, the temple of Hercules, the Roman theatre and take a walk in the old town. Return to the hotel.

Meals of your choice.
Overnight stay in Amman.

After breakfast, say goodbye to Amman and take the Road of Kings to the south of Jordan. On this road, you'll take in the beauty of the landscape while crossing olive groves, rural villages and agricultural lands.

You'll stop off in Madaba along the way to visit the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, made famous by its Byzantine mosaic map of the Holy Land from the 6th century, as well as other biblical sites. Then you'll head to Mount Nebo, the famous resting place of Moses, which offers a spectacular view of the Holy Land. Afterwards, head for the castle of Kerak, which offers an impressive insight into the architectural and military skills of the Crusaders. At the end of the day, arrival in Dana.

Dinner and overnight stay in Dana.

After breakfast and a gentle awakening in Dana's largest nature reserve, you have the choice of either going directly to Petra for a first-day visit (the drive is one hour) or spending the day in nature and discovering the flora and fauna of Jordan's nature reserves. There are several trekking possibilities in Dana; ranging from 1.5 hours to 8 hours.

Dana is the largest nature reserve in Jordan, covering some 200 miles of spectacular mountains and wadis. Dana is truly a melting pot of species from three continents: Europe, Africa and Asia. Such a combination of natural communities in one area is unique in Jordan and many of Dana's animals and plants are very rare. So far, 700 species of plants, 190 species of birds, 37 species of mammals and 36 species of reptiles have been recorded in the reserve, of which 25 are known to be endangered.

Meals of your choice.
Overnight stay in Petra.

After breakfast, head off for what most consider the highlight of the holiday.

Today, explore the renowned Nabataean site of Petra, capital of the former Nabataean trading empire until the Romans took power in 106 AD. Petra is located on the edge of Wadi Araba, and one of the best ways to get there is to go through the Siq, a narrow and winding gorge crossed by the imposing walls of the canyon and the surrounding hills. 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 guided tour takes you through the Siq before arriving at Khazneh, one of Petra's most elaborate temples. Discover how the Nabataeans carved their lands into the rocks and learn more about its spiritual significance. We will also visit the old Roman ruins of the amphitheatre and the colonnaded street. You will be guided through the city and then you'll have free time to explore at your own pace. If you still have enough energy, you can also go to Jebel al-Madhbah and the Lion Fountain.

Meals of your choice.
Overnight stay in Petra.

After breakfast we start the day exploring the magnificent desert and mountain landscapes of Wadi Rum. Look out for the copper-coloured rocky 'jebels' that fascinated Lawrence of Arabia when he travelled through the desert during the Arab Revolt. We'll take a 2h30 jeep safari through the magnificent desert landscape, discovering more sheer cliffs and bizarre rock formations.

Soak up the authentic Bedouin atmosphere this evening. The programme includes a campfire, stargazing and a traditional Jordanian meal. Spend a night in the desert in a simple, minimalistic camp.

**Dinner and overnight in Wadi Rum **

Today, after breakfast, start your return to the north of Jordan via the famous Wadi Araba road. You will leave the desert to discover the unmissable Dead Sea. Not only is it the lowest point on earth, 400 metres below sea level, but it's also considered one of the most spiritual landscapes in the world, teeming with spectacular natural wonders. The extremely salty waters lead to a unique swimming experience. In fact, swimming isn't usually possible, and it's easier (and more photogenic!) to float sitting or lying in the water. Be careful not to get water in your eyes, as it would be quite uncomfortable.

On the way to the Dead Sea, you will stop at Wadi bin Hammid for a unique canyoning experience in one of Jordan's most beautiful wadis.

Meals of your choice.
Overnight stay at the Dead Sea.

After breakfast and depending on your flight schedule, transfer to the airport to catch your return flight and assistance with departure formalities.

Arrival and reception: You will be welcomed 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 will assist you before you go through the Border Police and Customs to obtain your visa. These formalities can take between 45 minutes and 1 hour, depending on the number of travellers. You will then go downstairs to collect your baggage. The local representative may have to wait at customs for other travellers, but once your baggage has been collected, he will accompany you to your driver who will take you to your hotel in Amman for the night in a group transfer with other passengers. The journey usually takes between 45 minutes and 1 hour, depending on your arrival time and traffic conditions in Amman.

The order of visits may be modified for logistical reasons.

**As indicated, the hotel is rated 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, the decision to tip or not to tip and the amount to tip is at your discretion, depending on your satisfaction with the service received and your personal budget. However, tipping for services rendered is part of the local culture and is often expected and appreciated. Suggested amounts:
Tour guides: US$3-8 per person per day
Driver: US$3-5 per person per day
Restaurants: 10% or leave change
Knights in Petra: US$2-5 (we do not recommend horse riding for animal welfare and safety reasons, but a tip can always be expected from the boys).

**The currency used is the Jordanian Dinar: there are exchange offices and cash machines everywhere, and your driver and/or guide will be able to help you change money.

Optional tours: Some additional options are available during the tours and will be suggested by your guide. Prices are often quoted in Jordanian Dinar. These tours are optional and not compulsory.

PLEASE NOTE: For people booking the "hotel only" package (without international flights), please let us know your flight details as soon as possible via the contact form in "Help and contact" at the bottom of the page, so that we can organise your transfers.

For British nationals, a passport valid for 6 months after arrival in the country and a visa are required.

Free visa (issued on site by a stamp at Amman Airport): The visa cannot be obtained in advance, all visa procedures will be completed on arrival at Amman Airport. In order for us to provide you with this free visa through our local agency in Jordan, please send us the following information upon confirmation of your booking: flight details and a copy of your passport (to be sent to us no later than 10 days before your arrival).

To do so, use the form on the Help & Contact section of our website, under "Contact Us". For more information, see Useful Information.

After this period, you will have to pay for a visa upon arrival at the airport in Jordan. This will cost JOD40 (pay in Jordanian dinars).