Best of Jordan

If you are arriving on Day 1 you will be met in the arrivals hall at the airport and transferred to the group hotel in Amman for accommodation on a twin share basis (approx. 35 kms). The day is at leisure to absorb the sights and sounds of this bustling city. Amman is the capital of Jordan, and was known in biblical times as Rabbath Ammon, and under the Ptolemies, as Philadelphia. It is situated on a series of Jebels (meaning hills) and is divided by wadi's (or dry river beds) into modern and ancient quarters. You may choose to visit the Roman theatre, a site dating back to the 2nd century AD. Nearby are the ruins of the citadel hill, the Archaeological museum, Costume and Folklore Museum and Ashrafiah Mosque, all of which are excellent introductions to the archaeology of the region. Overnight hotel. Approx driving distance: 35 kms

Meals: Nil

After breakfast we depart Amman and drive to Jerash - an incredibly well preserved Roman City. Jerash's golden age began with Roman rule, and when Emperor Hadrian visited in AD129, Jerash was already a thriving metropolis. We spend a few hours exploring the city, including the "Street of Columns" which runs for 600 metres from the oval Plaza. After enjoying one of the most preserved Greco-Roman cities in the Middle East. We continue to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the surface of the earth, for a swim in its warm salty waters. Overnight hotel. Approx driving distance: 160 kms

Meals: B

This morning after breakfast we depart the Dead Sea and make our way south to Petra for a full day visit of the city. Chief among Jordan's archaeological riches is the soul-stirring, rose-red city of Petra, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Petra is the legacy of the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled in south Jordan more than 2,000 years ago. Our visit to the ancient Nabatean Capital starts on horseback (please read note below), followed by a walk through the Siq, a long narrow fissure between two overhanging cliffs. The tour then proceeds to gradually unfold the mysteries of the Red Rose City. The sudden view of Petra's most spectacular monument, the Khaznah, or Treasury at the end of the Siq, is a dramatic sight. Used in the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, this towering facade is only the first of Petra's unique structures. Various walks and climbs reveal literally hundreds of buildings, facades, tombs, baths, funerary halls, temples and haunting rock drawing and reliefs. Overnight hotel. Approx driving distance: 270 kms. NOTE: Your entry ticket into the city of Petra includes a horse ride into the site and you will have the option to ride a donkey/horse 800m to the end of the Siq (the handler will expect a tip). In line with our commitment to animal welfare in tourism we encourage you to walk, rather than ride a horse and donkey. There have been a number of instances where travellers have been upset by the treatment of the horses and donkeys by their handlers.

Meals: B

We leave Petra this morning after breakfast and drive for about an hour and a half to the enchanting desert of Wadi Rum, Jordan's largest desert and one of the most spectacular desert landscapes in the world. It is a unique valley of colored sand dunes surrounded by beautiful rugged mountains. This is true 'Lawrence of Arabia' country and has some of the most spectacular desert scenery in the world - a desert where black, wind-sculpted sandstone hills contrast sharply with the pale sands. Many describe this area as the Valley of the Moon. We enjoy a jeep safari inside the Wadi to the meeting point for our camel trek in the desert. We ride camels through the dramatic landscape for 1-2 hours until we reach our Bedouin campsite and delight in a traditional dinner. NOTE - At the time of booking, there is an option to upgrade to a Martian Dome Tent - additional supplement applies; subject to availability. Approx driving distance/time: 125 kms

Meals: B,D

Trip concludes after breakfast. Transfer to the airport in Amman for anyone leaving Jordan today, arriving in the late afternoon in time to catch flights ex Amman @17:00. End of services. Additional nights accommodation and private airport transfers on any other day can be arranged for extra cost. Approx driving distance/time: 420 kms (± 5 hours)

Meals: B