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8 Days 7 Nights
Daily Tour
30 people
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Rock-hewn wonders and wind-swept vistas in Bedouin territory
Journey through Jordan on an 8-day Premium adventure and discover a land of desert treasures and altruistic people. From the soaring facades of Petra to the lowest lows of the Dead Sea, the sunrise colors of Wadi Rum and the ancient ruins of Jerash, Jordan’s landscapes impress at every turn. But beneath its striking exterior is its people – full of heart and deep-rooted tradition. Learn the secrets of Jordanian cuisine with a mother and her daughters, immerse yourself in Bedouin culture during dinner at their camp and travel with a local leader who will illuminate the magic of their country.
| # | Discount group | From adult | To adult | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Group Discount | 6 | 20 | 5%% |
Welcome to Jordan – cosmopolitan and contemporary yet steeped in biblical history. You will be met by an Aqaba sky Travel representative at the airport and transferred to your hotel where there will be an important welcome meeting with your group and local leader at 6pm. If you arrive early, perhaps visit a local cafe and pick up a coffee and ara’yes – a pita filled with spiced meats. Otherwise, head to the Old Town’s Roman Amphitheatre or find some culture at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts. After your meeting, head out to a local restaurant for a welcome dinner with your group and leader. Sharing food is a huge part of Jordanian culture and eating out is a social affair that’s packed with flavour. Tonight your leader will introduce you to some of the country’s most beloved dishes, like mansaf, a dish made with lamb, yoghurt and rice, and kunafa, a delicious dessert made with pastry and cheese.
Accommodation : (1 night) 4 Star Hotel
Included Activities :
Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
Amman - Welcome Dinner
Meals Included
Dinner
This morning, leave Amman for a short drive north to Jerash where you’ll find some of the world’s best Greco-Roman ruins. Reaching its peak as a favourite of the emperor Hadrian, Jerash holds a striking collection of archways, theatres, baths, public buildings and colonnaded streets. Your leader will share the incredible history of the ruins and help you imagine what life once looked like in this glorious Roman city. Grand columns encircle the city's centrepiece of the Oval Plaza – an atmospheric place to linger after exploring Jerash's riches. Afterwards, return to Amman and head to a cooking school run by a mother and her daughters, where you’ll get a special look behind the scenes of Jordanian cuisine. You’ll feel as through you’ve stepped into the welcoming home of a local grandmother as you learn how to make classics like tabbouleh, flat bread and lentil soup with passionate guidance and generations of culinary know-how. The flavours, recipes and warmth of this evening are sure to stick with you long after your time in Jordan is over.
Accommodation : ( 1 Night ) 4 Star Hotel
Included Activities
Jerash - Roman ruins
Amman - Beit Sitti cooking class and dinner
Meals Included
Breakfast
Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 2 hours.
Today you will make the journey from Amman to the Dead Sea. Named for the lack of life in its waters, this lake is so intensely salty that the water density makes swimming very difficult, but bobbing on the water's surface is a truly fun and one-off experience. En route, stop off at Mount Nebo and hear the story of how Moses saw the Promised Land before he died from what is believed to be this very spot, and St Georges Church, best known for its Byzantine mosaic depicting a map of the Holy Land. On arrival, enjoy some time to float in the buoyant waters of the Dead Sea, relax on your hotel’s beachfront or take a dip in one of three swimming pools or jacuzzi.
Accommodation
Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
Madaba - St Georges Church
Mt Nebo - Site visit
Meals Included
Breakfast
Dinner
Depart the Dead Sea and drive to the ancient Crusader castle at Shobak – your leader will explain how this ancient castle was originally built to protect the eastern flank of the Latin Kingdom and its trade routes to the sea before it fell to Saladin in 1189. Enjoy superb scenery and stop off at the viewpoint overlooking the Dana Nature Reserve before arriving in the late afternoon to your Petra accommodation. Petra dates back to the sixth century BC and is considered the crown jewel of Jordan, featuring an impressive series of tombs and dwellings carved directly into the rock. On arrival, there is time to check out the town that has grown around the site and to relax, ready for a big day of exploring Petra tomorrow.
Accommodation
Petra Elite Hotel 4 Star or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
Shobak - Shobak Castle
Meals Included
Breakfast
Dinner
Today will be spent uncovering the secrets of Petra with the knowledgeable guidance of your leader. The iconic view of the Treasury's glorious facade, glimpsed from a narrow cleft known as the Siq, is perhaps the single-most striking sight of the entire region. The Siq leads through the rock and is at points only a few metres wide, with walls soaring up to 180 metres on either side. Explore the old Roman road, amphitheatre and several ancient tombs. You will also have time to climb to the Monastery if you wish, providing a magnificent view of the entire site. There is a cafeteria on the site, where you can enjoy your own light lunch. The rest of the day will be at your leisure. This evening, perhaps take the chance to witness Petra by night if your dates align. Seeing the Treasury plaza lit up by candlelight while Bedouin music plays is a truly memorable experience.
Accommodation
Petra Elite Hotel 4 Star or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
Petra - Guided tour of Petra
Optional Activities
Petra - Petra By Night - JOD17
Meals Included
Breakfast
Dinner
For another glimpse at Petra, rise very early for an unguided morning visit, if you wish. Then, drive to Wadi Rum, a protected area of desert that impresses with sandstone mountains, canyons and arches. Enjoy some lunch in the small village of Rum and browse the informative visitor’s centre. Afterwards, jump into a local jeep and journey into Wadi Rum with your Bedouin hosts. Visit several of the area’s distinctive rock formations and appreciate the vast silence and spectacular desert landscapes. These landscapes are home to hardy Bedouin communities that live in scattered camps. You will gain a deeper understanding of their way of life as you join them for a zarb (underground oven) dinner at one of their camps, set in an amazing location deep in the desert. Tonight’s Feature Stay accommodation is a luxury camp that offers a splendid base among remote and wild surroundings. Spacious tents are fitted out with creature comforts like king-sized beds, air conditioning and en suite bathrooms, and all furniture is made by hand with décor inspired by Bedouin culture. Fall asleep beneath a magnificent canopy of stars and wake up to a sunrise over the red-hued landscape.
Accommodation
Wadi Rum Luxury Camp (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
Petra - Petra second day visit (unguided)
Wadi Rum - Desert Jeep tour
Wadi Rum - Zarb dinner
Meals Included
Breakfast
Dinner
After waking up in the unique surrounds of your Bedouin camp this morning, take a walk around the area – the length of which depends on the group’s desires – before scaling one of the large dunes to enjoy panoramic views of your surrounds. Afterwards, return to Amman for the evening. Tonight you may like to join your group for a final dinner to round off your adventure – speak to your leader about the best restaurants in the city that are popular with the locals.
Accommodation
4 star Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
Wadi Rum - Desert and dunes walk
Meals Included
Breakfast
Day 8: Amman
Your trip will come to an end today after breakfast. Check-out time is usually around 12pm and you are free to leave at any time. If you have arranged a private airport transfer, you will be advised of the pick-up time. If you would like to spend more time in Amman, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).
Meals Included
Breakfast
Jordan is generally considered a carefree country, but as in any Arab country, there are still certain cultural norms of which you should be aware. Here’s a list of things to bear in mind while travelling to this beautiful nation.
Be aware of dress codes
Jordan is quickly becoming a modern cultural hub, and this is reflected in its increasingly modern clothing styles. However, freedom in terms of dress code will always be limited; misunderstandings about what’s appropriate to wear is the biggest cause of friction between locals and tourists. In order to respect cultural norms, women should wear loose-fitting clothing and avoid wearing anything revealing. As for men, it is important to bear in mind that it isn’t acceptable to walk around topless.
Vegetarians, be alert!
Vegetarianism is widely accepted and catered to in Jordanian culture. However, those who don’t eat meat will still be left with limited choices when it comes to traditional cuisine. Almost all Jordanian dishes contain animal products in one way or another. So be prepared – say, if invited to lunch – to stare down at a table full of meat dishes, and be aware that it is very disrespectful to show disgust for food in Jordan.
Good news for smokers
Many Jordanians enjoy smoking, and it’s a custom that’s allowed almost anywhere and everywhere, including taxis, public transport, streets and shopping malls. And who hasn’t heard of the people’s most favoured smoking apparatus, the hubbly bubbly – or the argeeleh as it is called in Arabic. You’ll find an argeeleh at almost every café in Jordan.
Don’t drink water from just anywhere
Tap water is not drinkable in Jordan. Unlike in Western countries, tap water in Jordan is only used to wash things. Nonetheless, you can get drinkable water delivered to your doorstep at any time of day, or you can buy bottles in corner shops or big stores.
The Arab ‘five minutes’ rule
Jordanian people love being spontaneous and easy-going, especially when it comes to making plans and appointments. People might simply show up and hang out, invite you to come over at a specific time, or plan a road trip and leave immediately. Punctuality, on the other hand, is disregarded. When you’ve made plans with a local and they say they’ll be with you in ‘five minutes’, it is best to presume they’ll be at least 20 minutes late – so you might as well be late yourself.
Photography permissions
Jordan is undoubtedly one of the most photogenic regions in the world. The locals are often happy to pose for your photographs as well. But before attempting to take any pictures of them, always ask for permission, especially when women are present.
Love is not in the air
You might be surprised to see male locals greeting each other with hugs and kisses on the cheeks – the same goes for females, as this is a socially acceptable method of greeting. On the other hand, it is frowned on for couples to show affection in public, from holding hands to kissing. It is worth bearing in mind that homosexuality, while legalised in 1951, is still a taboo concept.
Taxis are cheap
When you need to get around in Jordan, hop in one of the yellow taxis | © Jochen Tack / Alamy Stock Photo
The famous yellow taxi can be found everywhere in Jordan. It operates on a meter, and are a cheap way to travel. Unfortunately, it’s common for drivers to play on the naivety of foreigners and have them pay double or triple the price, or simply faking a broken meter. To avoid these situations, simply ask them to turn the meter on and when arriving, indicate the you want to see the numbers on the meter before you pay them.
Avoid the rush hour
Traffic jams reach their peak between 2pm and 5 pm. It is almost impossible to find a taxi at that time, and if you do, the taxi driver will often be hesitant to take you anywhere in order to avoid the traffic. Always plan your movements through the city in advance, or choose to walk to closer destinations on foot during those times.
