Jordan: The Grand Tour
The small and beautiful country of Jordan offers a fascinating glimpse into the past. Temples, castles and ruined cities are world famous due to their preserved state. A highlight is the city of Petra, arguably one of the most spectacular sights in the world.
The tour starts in Amman, Jordan’s capital. It then continues to the old roman city of Jerash. The tour heads along the Kings Highway, thereby visiting the old mosaic city of Madaba and Mt. Nebo. A highlight of the tour is the visit of one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Petra is a city which consists of carved monumental tombs, palaces and temples. Afterwards take a ride in a 4×4 across the desert before visiting the Dead Sea. The tour ends at the east bank of the Jordan River – where John the Baptist baptized Jesus.
Dates
Dates on request
Suggested Itinerary by Air
Day 1
Fly from the UK
Fly directly from London Heathrow to Amman, the capital of Jordan, where you will be met and assisted by an English-speaker through immigration formalities, then transfer to the hotel in Amman for overnight. Amman is a modern city but with an ancient past as the pillars of the Roman Temple of Hercules, the Roman Theatre and the 8th-century Umayyad Palace complex.
Day 2
Jerash, Ajloun
After breakfast, transfer to the old roman city of Jerash for a half day visit. Inhabited since the Bronze Age, Jerash is known for the ruins of the walled Greco-Roman settlement of Gerasa just outside the modern city. These include the 2nd-century Hadrian’s Arch, the Corinthian columns of the Temple of Artemis and the huge Forum’s oval colonnade. Continue to Ajloun castle for a visit and drive back to the hotel in Amman for overnight.
Day 3
Madaba, Mt. Nebo, Wadi Al-Mujeb, Kerak and Petra
After breakfast, transfer along the Kings Highway, visiting en-route the old mosaic city of Madaba and Mt. Nebo, Madaba is known for its 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land in the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George. The Madaba Archaeological Park preserves the mosaic-rich Church of the Virgin Mary and artifacts from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic eras. Northwest, the biblical hill of Mount Nebo overlooks the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. Continue along the Wadi Al-Mujeb Valley reaching Kerak, the old crusader castle and proceed to Petra for overnight.
Day 4
Petra
After breakfast, a full day visit of Petra, voted one of the Seven Wonders of the World for being one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites, where ancient Eastern traditions blend with Hellenistic architecture. In the past the city half-built, half-carved into the rock, was an important crossroad between Arabia, Egypt and Syria- Phoenicia. The group will have a guided tour of this amazing site which consists of carved monumental tombs, palaces, temples and the famous treasury from the desert’s natural rosecoloured rocks and sandstones.
Day 5
Wadi Rum, Amman
After breakfast, transfer from Petra to Wadi Rum, a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock and ride in a 4×4 across the desert. In the afternoon, drive back along Wadi Araba Road to Amman for overnight.
Day 6
Dead Sea
After breakfast, a half day visit to the Dead Sea at leisure for relaxation and swimming. The Dead Sea is known to be eight times saltier than any other ocean in the world and its water is so dense and mineral rich that it doesn’t even feel like normal water, more like olive oil mixed with sand. This unique concentration has long been known to have medicinal value. In the afternoon, continue to the east bank of the Jordan River – where John the Baptist baptized Jesus.
Day 7
Return flight to the UK
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
Spring and autumn are the best times to travel to Jordan as the days are warm. The summer months here are very hot, with temperatures reaching up into the 40Cs. In the winter months, Jordan often experiences snow and the nights get cold; especially in the desert regions. Winter is also when the majority of the rain falls, but showers tend to be short and sharp.
Main picture: Wadi Rum. Right hand pictures (top to bottom): (1) Petra. (2) Jerash.
Based on exchange rate of £1.00 = USD 1.57. All prices are per person. Price and tour leader's free place in a shared room are based on a minimum 15 full fare paying passengers sharing a double or twin room. Prices do not include UK airport transfers or travel insurance. If you would like a quote for your travel insurance please contact us. Prices are subject to availability of all services and are not guaranteed. Picture is for illustrative purposes only.
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