Explore Jordan

Trip Type: Explorer
Jordan | 8 Days | 1 - 14 People
Starts From:

NZD 1,916.00 /Person

* Sale Price Available

A mix of natural wonders and ancient history, Jordan has so much to offer the curious traveller. Explore cosmopolitan Amman and the mystic desert l...

Explore Jordan

A mix of natural wonders and ancient history, Jordan has so much to offer the curious traveller. Explore cosmopolitan Amman and the mystic desert landscapes in Wadi Rum. Visit the towering ruins of Petra and trek to its remote hilltop village, then discover the vibrant mosaics of Madaba. This eight-day journey through Jordan’s hotspots is an exciting and enriching adventure through a desert land, best experienced with the insights of an expert local leader and packed with authentic local experiences.

Ahlan wa sahlan! Welcome to Jordan’s capital, Amman – cosmopolitan and contemporary, yet steeped in biblical history. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm this evening. If you arrive early, be sure to head to the citadel, taking in its sweeping views of Amman. The Jordan Museum – home to the Dead Sea Scrolls – and the Roman Theatre are also both well worth visiting. After your meeting, perhaps head out with your new-found travel pals and pick up a coffee from one of the cafes and partner it with an arayes (a local style toastie filled with spiced meat).

This morning, leave Amman and head to Aqaba – the only coastal city offering a pocket of beach in this otherwise landlocked country. When you arrive, explore the market and walk along the beach on a leader-led walking tour. Enjoy a couple of hours exploring this city at your own leisure, maybe by snorkelling in the Red Sea, navigating the local markets or simply relaxing by the water. After, continue on the road to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Wadi Rum, arriving in time for dinner. You’ll get a chance to sit down with the sheik of the local Bedouin tribe and get a glimpse into what life is like living in this desert environment. Enjoy dinner cooked in an earthen oven by your Bedouin hosts. Meaning ‘desert dwellers’ in Arabic, the Bedouins are a semi-nomadic people, and in Jordan up to 40 per cent of the general population is thought to have Bedouin ancestry. This evening, catch your shuteye in a simple Bedouin desert camp, either in a camel hair tent or out under the stars.

Wake up at camp and head out on a desert hike, with a break for tea and lunch. You might scale one of the large sand dunes for views of the vast valley – the perfect chance to snap some pictures. Wadi Rum is probably best known for its connection with the British officer T.E. Lawrence – or Lawrence of Arabia – who was based here during the Great Arab Revolt of 1917–18 and helped coordinate Arab forces against the Ottoman Empire. This afternoon, gear up for a half-day jeep safari through Wadi Rum. The valley is full of weird and wonderful lunar-like rock formations and traces of ancient civilisations can be seen in the many carved inscriptions found throughout the area – from pictographs to Thamudic, Nabataean and Arabic texts. The most enduring monuments in Wadi Rum are those carved by nature – the natural rock bridges, towering rose-coloured sand dunes and scattered rocky peaks. After an action-packed afternoon, tonight is yours to enjoy the traditional Bedouin hospitality and the clear night skies of the desert.

This morning, leave your desert camp in 4WDs and make your way to the main entrance of Petra, which is opposite the Seven Pillars of Wisdom – the mountain named after Lawrence of Arabia’s book. The visitor's centre here is a great spot to buy some jewellery and handicrafts, mostly made by a women's co-operative aimed at supporting local industries. Then, continue your journey to the fabled city of Petra by private vehicle. The site remained unknown to the wider world until 1812, when it was visited by Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, a Swiss explorer. In 1985, Petra was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site – spend the afternoon getting to know it on a guided tour. Squeeze through a mile-long narrow path – known as the Siq – and through huge towers of rock and get your first glimpse of the iconic Treasury complex. It’s amazing to think that this enormous, intricate building entrance was hand-carved out of the rock.

Enjoy a day of self-discovery as you explore Petra on your own today – free to wander as you wish. The site is surprisingly big, so it is up to you to choose your own route around the complex. You could explore the old Roman road, other smaller temples and several old tombs, as well as the rock-hewn amphitheatre. For those who are feeling a bit more active, there's the challenging but highly rewarding one hour walk up the steps to the secluded monastery.

Today, traverse the King's Highway to the historic crusader castle of Kerak, which stands on a cliff overlooking Wadi Karak and the Dead Sea in the distance. You’ll have time to explore the ruins and discover the legends of centuries-old battles. Pack your swim gear as you can wash off the dust in the Dead Sea – the lowest point on land with its shoreline at around 430 m below sea level. This super-salty lake is a perfect place to spend some time relaxing and float your worries away. You can also cover yourself from head to toe in a nutrient-rich natural mineral mud bath. Continue to Mt Nebo – the spot where the prophet Moses is said to have seen the ‘promised land’ and where he’s supposedly buried. Explore this sanctuary and view the remarkable mosaics of the 4th-century church. Afterwards, continue to Madaba, famous for its Ottoman-style houses and beautiful Byzantine-era mosaics, including the acclaimed 6th-century mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land at St George's Church.

Leave Madaba and make your way to Jerash – once one of the grandest ancient Roman cities in the world. These are some of the best-preserved Greco-Roman ruins around. The ancient walled town that survives today is a remarkable evocation of life 2000 years ago, with its collection of archways and theatres, baths, public buildings and colonnaded streets. Discover Hadrian’s arch, the partially restored hippodrome, ornate public fountains, the south amphitheater, and see the collection of daily artefacts uncovered during excavations. Grand columns encircle the city's centrepiece, the Oval Plaza. After a full day of exploring, return to Madaba. Maybe gather your travel buddies together and share a celebratory shisha as you reminisce on your memories of Jordan.

Your trip comes to an end this morning after breakfast. If you'd like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.

Meals
7 Breakfast(s), 1 Lunch(s), 2 Dinner(s)

Transport
Private vehicle , Jeep

Accommodation
Hotel (5 nights), Desert camp (2 nights)

Included Activities
  • Wadi Rum - Bedouin Desert Camp
  • Aqaba - Leader-lead Walking Tour
  • Wadi Rum - Bonfire Talk with the Sheik
  • Wadi Rum - Guided hike
  • Wadi Rum - Bedouin Desert Camp
  • Wadi Rum - 4WD jeep safari
  • Petra - Leader-led tour of Petra
  • Petra - Two-Day Pass
  • Kerak - Castle visit
  • Mt Nebo - Site visit
  • Dead Sea - Swimming opportunity
  • Jerash - Roman ruins
  • Madaba - St Georges Church
  • Enjoy a two-day pass to Petra, giving you time to explore the complex at your leisure after a guided tour with an expert.
  • Experience the best buoyancy this side of outer space as you effortlessly float in the super-salty waters of the Dead Sea.
  • Hop in a jeep and see the extraordinary desert scenery of Wadi Rum – a rugged lunar-like landscape of huge sandstone mountains and ancient structures hidden in the sandy dunes.
  • Spend two nights under the stars with a special experience at a desert camp run by Bedouin locals – full of good food and warm hospitality.
  • Marvel at the remarkably well-preserved ancient Roman city of Jerash on a guided tour, then discover the religious significance and Ottoman-Byzantine influences in Madaba.
  • There is quite a bit of walking involved in visiting Jordan's historic sites, especially in Petra and Wadi Rum, so a reasonable level of fitness is required. Most of the time there is no shade so remember to bring a hat, sun protection, and sturdy, comfortable walking shoes. The diversity of the seasons here makes for incredible scenery, but the weather in this region can be unpredictable. It’s best to wear layers at all times of the year in case conditions change during the day. At night the temperature can really drop, so bring your warm clothes. Camping can be especially cold at the start and end of the season. Even in the warmer months, the temperature can be low in the mountains. The desert camp in Wadi Rum is basic. There are tents and shared western bathroom facilities. Please be aware that while the desert may be very hot during the day, it will still be cool at night and warm clothes and a sleeping bag is highly recommended when travelling outside of the summer months. Despite this, the warm Bedouin hospitality and chance to be out under the stars certainly makes up for the camp’s simplicity.

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Provided by
Intrepid Travel
Reference Code:
EESJ
Trip Location
Trip Starts:
Amman, Jordan
Trip Finishes:
Madaba, Jordan
Countries Visited:
Jordan
map

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Destination Details
Jordan | 8 Days | 1 - 14 People

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