Jordan, Amman

Ancient Jordan: hidden treasures and legendary cities 4^*

When you arrive at Amman Airport, our representative will meet you. They will be holding a sign with your name on it. They will assist you with the administrative procedures, including border police and customs clearance, to obtain your visa. You will then collect your luggage before being escorted to your driver, who will take you to your hotel in Amman for the night. Depending on your arrival time and traffic conditions, this journey usually takes between 45 minutes and 1 hour. Once at the hotel, you can check in. You are free to relax or explore the city at your leisure for the rest of the day.

After breakfast, depart by private vehicle for eastern Jordan to explore the famous desert castles: Qasr Kharana, Qasr Amra (which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its exceptional frescoes) and Qasr Azraq, which played an iconic role in the story of Lawrence of Arabia. In the late afternoon, return to Amman to visit the Citadel and the Old Town.

After breakfast, head north to explore Jerash, one of the world's best-preserved Roman cities. Its temples, theatres, colonnades and forums offer a setting of striking beauty. Enjoy a traditional lunch along the way. Then continue to Ajloun to visit its medieval castle, which overlooks the Jordan Valley majestically. Return to Amman at the end of the day.

Have lunch outdoors and dinner at your leisure.

After breakfast, depart for Madaba, which is renowned for its famous Byzantine mosaic depicting a map of the Holy Land. Continue to Mount Nebo, where Moses is said to have viewed the Promised Land. Then, travel through magnificent landscapes to the village and reserve of Dana, where you will check into your hotel.

Lunch at leisure, dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast, set off on a three-hour hike through the Dana Reserve, accompanied by commentary on the local flora, fauna, and traditions. Then continue to Shobak Castle, a 12th-century Crusader fortress. Stop at Little Petra for a true preview of the majestic Petra. Then check in at your hotel in Petra.

After breakfast, spend the day exploring one of the Seven Wonders of the World: Petra. Walk through the famous Siq, a narrow canyon which leads to the majestic Treasury, and then explore the tombs, temples and theatres. Join a local guide for a two-hour tour and immerse yourself in the captivating history of the Nabataean city. You will then have the afternoon free to continue the tour at your own pace.

After breakfast, you will spend another day exploring Petra, this time entering the site from the back. This route offers a different and spectacular approach, leading to the majestically perched Monastery atop the mountains. Take some time to explore and soak up the unique atmosphere of this extraordinary place at your own pace.

After breakfast, set off for the legendary Wadi Rum desert, which is famous for its spectacular ochre and golden landscapes. Enjoy a three-hour 4x4 tour of the dunes and canyons, and discover the traditions of the Bedouin people. Then settle into a desert camp, enjoy a traditional dinner, and spend a magical night under the stars.

Lunch at leisure, dinner at the hotel.

After admiring the sunrise over the desert, head to Aqaba, a charming seaside resort located on the shores of the Red Sea. Explore the city before enjoying some free time to relax on the beaches, go snorkelling, or stroll through the colourful souks.

Enjoy a free day in Aqaba, where you can take advantage of the Red Sea's crystal-clear waters and exceptional seabed beauty. You can choose to either take part in water sports or relax at the hotel.

Depart by road from the Rift Valley and head to Wadi Numeira, where you can enjoy an easy hike through its spectacular gorges. Then continue to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the planet, and check into your hotel by the sea.

Enjoy a free morning to experience the benefits of Dead Sea salt and mud. Then, depart for Bethany, which is recognised as the site of Christ's baptism in the River Jordan. Continue on to Umm Qais, an ancient Greco-Roman city overlooking Lake Tiberias.

First, visit the archaeological site of Umm Qais, then continue to Pella, another jewel of the ancient Decapolis. In the afternoon, drive to As-Salt, a charming Ottoman city that is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Check in to your hotel in the heart of the Jordanian countryside.

Take a stroll through the colourful streets of As-Salt, which is renowned for its welcoming atmosphere and harmonious architecture. Follow the As-Salt Harmony Trail to discover mosques, churches and traditional houses along the way. Then return to Amman.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight.

Arrival day and welcome: You will be welcomed and assisted by a local English-speaking representative at Queen Alia Airport. They will be waiting for you with a sign bearing the name of the local agency and will help you before you go through border police and customs to obtain your visa. Please note that this process may be lengthy, taking between 45 minutes and 1 hour, depending on the number of travellers. You will then collect your luggage. The representative may have to wait at customs to meet other travellers, but once you have collected your luggage, they will accompany you to your driver. They will then take you to your hotel in Amman for the night, sharing the transfer with other passengers. Depending on the time of arrival and traffic in Amman, the journey usually takes between 45 minutes and one hour. Your tour will begin the next morning, when you will meet your group of up to 18 people.

The order of visits may be changed for logistical reasons.

If you have booked the "hotel only" option (without international flights), please provide us with your flight details as soon as possible via the contact form located in "Help and Contact" at the bottom of the page. This will enable us to arrange your transfers.

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

Tips

• Tipping is a personal gesture. Whether to tip and how much to give is at your discretion and based on your satisfaction with the service received and your budget. That said, tipping for services rendered is part of the local culture and is often expected and greatly appreciated. We often receive requests for help and guidance, so we would like to suggest the following amounts:
• Tour guides: USD3–8 per person per day.
• Drivers: USD3–5 per person per day.
• Restaurants: 10% or leave the change.
• Knights in Petra: we recommend USD2-5 (for animal welfare and safety reasons, we recommend not riding the horses, but the boys can still expect a tip).

Visa

• The visa can be obtained on site (it's just a simple stamp).
• We can obtain the visa for you free of charge if you send us a copy of your passport at least 10 days before departure.
• Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your departure date from Jordan.

Currency

• The currency used is the Jordanian dinar. Currency exchange offices and ATMs are widely available, and your driver and/or guide can assist you with currency exchange.