Jordan, Amman

Private History and Nature Tour by the Red Sea 4^*

Reception and assistance by our representative at Queen Alia Airport (Amman). He will be waiting for you with a sign bearing your name and will assist you before you go through border police and customs to obtain your visa. Once you have collected your luggage, he will accompany you to your driver, who will take you to your hotel in Amman for the night.

Have breakfast at the hotel, then depart for the ancient city of Jerash (also known as Gerasa), which is located approximately 45 km from Amman. It is the second largest site in Jordan after Petra. Today, it is considered to be one of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities in the Near East. Hidden under the sand for several centuries before being discovered and restored over 70 years, the city was built entirely of orange-pink limestone. Walking along the 'Harmony Trail', you will understand why this city exemplifies the peaceful coexistence of Muslim and Christian populations in Jordan. You will then enjoy a traditional meal with a local family in the region.

Return to Amman for the night. Dinner is not included.

After breakfast, you will go on a tour of Amman. This includes visits to the Amman Citadel, the Archaeological Museum, the Hercules Temple, the Umayyad Palace, the Roman Theatre and the Old City. Next, you will travel to Madaba, the 'City of Mosaics', to visit St George's Church, home to the oldest known map of the Holy Land. This 6th-century mosaic, which has barely been altered, depicts the geography of the Byzantine Near East.

In the afternoon, head to your seaside hotel for a unique experience at the lowest point on the planet: the Dead Sea.

Lunch and dinner are not included.

After breakfast — and perhaps a final swim in the Dead Sea — head to southern Jordan. Your first stop will be Kerak, the unofficial capital of the south, which is still largely enclosed by Crusader-era walls on top of a hill. It boasts one of the best-preserved Crusader castles in the Middle East. Next, head to the Dana Nature Reserve, where you will set off on a walk through the village of Dana, which dates back to 4000 BC. The trail winds through the village, passing terraced gardens and local craft workshops. You will have the opportunity to meet local residents, admire the original Ottoman architecture and discover more about the area's rich history. A total of 700 plant species, 190 bird species, 37 mammal species and 36 reptile species have been recorded in the reserve to date.

After this day, head to Little Petra for the night. You will get a sneak peek of what awaits you tomorrow.

Lunch and dinner are not included.

After breakfast, it's time for the most eagerly awaited day of the trip! Today, you will explore the renowned Nabataean site of Petra, the ancient capital of the Nabataean trading empire, which was taken over by the Romans in 106 AD. Petra is located on the edge of the Wadi Araba valley. Once inside, you will notice that there are very few freestanding buildings, as the Nabataeans preferred to carve their homes into the pink sandstone cliffs. Next, the tour will take you to the Khazneh, one of Petra's most elaborate temples. Here, you will learn how the Nabataeans carved their homes into the rock faces.

Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight stay in Petra.

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for the Wadi Rum desert. Admire the beauty of the desert valleys and their ‘overwhelming grandeur’. You will set off on a 2½-hour 4x4 tour of Wadi Rum, with lunch in the desert. You will explore the magnificent desert and mountainous landscapes of Wadi Rum and, finally, soak up the authentic Bedouin atmosphere. On the programme: campfire, stargazing and a traditional Jordanian meal. Experience a night in the desert in a simple, minimalist camp.

Dinner and overnight stay in the desert.

After a gentle wake-up call and breakfast in the desert, head for the Red Sea. Before departure, you will have the morning free to enjoy the desert landscapes a little longer.

Then, head for the seaside resort of Aqaba, where you will have free time to enjoy the seabed.

Lunch and dinner are not included. Overnight stay in Aqaba.

After a gentle wake-up and breakfast by the Red Sea, return to northern Jordan. You will travel up the famous Wadi Araba road to admire the beautiful landscapes of the south before arriving at Ma In, where you will enjoy lunch at the magnificent Evason Ma In hotspring resort. You will also enjoy the natural pool below the hot waterfalls. After this relaxing break, return to Amman for your last night in Jordan. Dinner is not included.

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

Arrival day and welcome: Welcome and assistance by a local English-speaking representative at Queen Alia Airport, who will be waiting for you with a sign bearing your name and will assist you before you go 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 travellers. You will then go down to collect your luggage. The local 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, who will take you to your hotel in Amman for the night in a shared transfer with other passengers. Depending on the time of arrival and traffic in Amman, the journey normally takes between 45 minutes and 1 hour. Your tour will begin the following day.

The order of visits may be changed for logistical reasons.

For those booking 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, so that we can arrange your transfers.

As indicated, the hotel is rated 4-star according to local standards. The services provided may not be equivalent to 4-star standards in the UK.

Tips

• Tipping is an entirely personal gesture. The decision to tip or not, 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 rendered is part of the local culture and is often expected and will be greatly appreciated. We are often asked for help and guidance, so 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 the change
• Knights in Petra: US$2-5 (we recommend that you do not ride the horses for animal welfare and safety reasons, but the boys can still expect a tip)

VISA

• The visa is obtained on site (a simple stamp)
• We can obtain your visa free of charge if you send us a copy of your passport at least 10 days before departure.
• Your passport must be valid for 6 months after your departure date from Jordan.

Currency

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