Jordan, Amman

Jordan Adventure Self Drive Tour 4^*

Here you are! Amman, home to half of Jordan's population. After collecting your luggage, you will meet your driver and head for your hotel in Amman for the night. Depending on your arrival time and the traffic in Amman, the journey will normally take between 45 minutes and 1 hour. The rest of the day is at leisure and there are plenty of reasons to visit Jordan's capital.

Meals are not included. Overnight in Amman.

After breakfast: pick up your car at your hotel at around 9.00 am.

Then, here are our suggestions for things to see and do: take a tour of the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Located between the eastern desert and the Jordan Valley, Amman is home to over a million people. From the top of the Citadel, you can enjoy an incredible view of the old town. Before you go there, however, you can visit the archaeological museum, the Temple of Hercules and the Umayyad Palace. After a brief exploration of the old town, which boasts a stunning Greco-Roman theatre, head to the ancient city of Jerash, also known as Gerasa, located approximately 45 km from Amman. This is Jordan's second most important site after Petra. Today, Jerash is considered to be one of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities in the Near East. Jerash is the epitome of Roman municipal planning in the Middle East. If you have time, you can also visit the Ajloun fortress or the town of As Salt, the former Ottoman capital which has recently been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the evening, we recommend strolling through Old Amman and sampling traditional Jordanian cuisine.

Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight in Amman

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Petra

Suggested visit: drive along the Kings' Highway to visit Madaba, where you will see the oldest known map of the Holy Land. After this first visit, head for Mt. Nebo, 10 km north-west of Madaba, the known burial place of Moses. You can then continue your descent southwards via the fortress of Kerak. Known as the castle of Renaud de Châtillon. You can have lunch in Kerak and continue to Petra via the desert road. Before returning to your hotel, we recommend that you visit Little Petra to get a foretaste of tomorrows day.

Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight in Petra.

After breakfast, departure for the most eagerly awaited day of the trip.

Suggested visit: explore the renowned Nabataean site of Petra, capital of the ancient Nabataean trading empire until it was taken over by the Romans in 106 AD. Petra lies on the edge of Wadi Araba and one of the best ways to get there is via the Siq, a narrow, winding gorge cut by the imposing canyon walls and surrounding hills. Once in Petra, you'll notice that there are very few free-standing buildings, as the Nabataeans preferred to carve their houses into the pink sandstone cliffs. Meet your guide at the visitors' centre. He will accompany you for around 2 hours, after which you are free to explore the various paths of the lost city.

Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight in Petra.

After breakfast at the hotel, you can make a second visit to Petra and leave for the desert of Wadi Rum in the afternoon. If not, you can leave directly for Wadi Rum. You will leave your vehicle in the car park of the visitors' centre where you will meet your Bedouin driver who will take you to your camp for the night.

Lunch is not included.

Dinner and overnight in a desert camp.

Although Petra is the result of the combined efforts of man and nature, the cliffs, peaks and valleys of Wadi Rum owe their ‘serene beauty’ and ‘overwhelming grandeur’ to no one but themselves. You'll make stops at the main places of interest before heading deep into the desert through the magnificent desert landscape, discovering more sheer cliffs and bizarre rock formations. Tonight you will sleep in a 1001-star accommodation around a campfire. Lunch and dinner are prepared on site by the guide. You are also welcome to join in if you wish. A unique and wonderful experience.

Overnight in a desert campsite

After a gentle wake-up call and breakfast in the desert, you'll collect your car to drive back up to the lowest point on the planet.

Suggested sightseeing: drive along the Wadi Araba road to the Dead Sea. If you wish, you can stop off at the Wadi Mujib biosphere reserve, where you can go canyoning (between April and October). An unforgettable adventure that we strongly recommend. On arriving at the Dead Sea, you can enjoy the unmissable Salt Sea. Not only is it the lowest point on the planet, 400 metres below sea level, it is also considered one of the most spiritual landscapes in the world, packed with spectacular natural wonders. You can also visit the hot springs at Ma in. Drop-off the car at your hotel at around 5.00 pm.

Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight at the Dead Sea.

It's time to say goodbye.

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

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 our local agency and who will assist you before you pass through the border police 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 travellers. You will then go downstairs to collect your luggage. The local representative may have to wait at customs for other travellers, but once your luggage 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. Depending on your arrival time and traffic conditions in Amman, the journey normally takes between 45 minutes and 1 hour.
• The order of the visits may change for logistical reasons.
• For people booking the ‘hotel only’ package (without an international flight), please let us know your flight details as soon as possible using the contact form in ‘Help and Contact’ at the bottom of the page, so that we can organise your transfers.
• As indicated, the hotel is rated 4-star by local standards. The services provided may not be equivalent to European 4-star standards.

Transfers:

• In the package without transport, your transfer is provided when it is included in the dates of your tour. However, it will be optional at an additional cost if your arrival/departure date differs from the tour dates.

Tips

• Tipping is an entirely personal gesture, the decision whether or not to tip and how much to tip is at your discretion, depending on your satisfaction with the services received and your personal budget. That said, tipping for services provided is part of the local culture and is often expected and much appreciated. As we are often asked for help and guidance, we would like to suggest the following 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 recommend that you do not ride the horses for animal welfare and safety reasons, but the men can always expect a tip)

VISA

• The visa is obtained locally (a simple stamp)
• We can arrange a visa for you free of charge, provided you send us a copy of your passport at least 10 days before departure.
• After this time, you will have to pay for the visa on arrival at the airport in Jordan. The amount is 40JOD (to be paid in Jordanian dinar).
• The passport must be valid for 6 months after the date of departure from Jordan.

Currency

• The currency used is the Jordanian dinars: exchange offices and cash dispensers are available everywhere, and your driver and/or guide can assist you with the exchange.

This price includes:

- Eco CAT hire car

- English-speaking assistance on site 24/7

- Unlimited mileage

- Comprehensive car insurance

- Baby seat available (no extra charge)

This price does not include:

- Fines (fines will be invoiced directly by the car hire company).

- Fuel and any parking charges.

Car hire conditions:

- Pick-up of the car at the hotel

- Return of the car to the hotel

- A UK driving licence is sufficient for the hire

- Driver must be at least 21 years old

- Several drivers possible, to be specified in the contract

Pick-up of your hire car at the hotel on day 2 at 09:00 am and return to your hotel around 5:00 pm.

Please note: The vast majority of cars in Jordan are of Asian make. Hyundai/ Kia/ Nissan...