Day 1: Welcome to Jordan (Ahla wa sahla) -Arrival in Amman:
Welcome to Jordan!
Upon arrival at Queen Alia Amman International Airport, our English-speaking representative will welcome you to help you finalize the visa procedures, then transfer to your hotel in Amman by air-conditioned private car respectful of the environment.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 02: AMMAN/ AJLOUN NATURE RESERVE
(SOAP HOUSE TRACK) / JARASH/ AMMAN
After breakfast at the hotel, you will start your day with a hike in the Ajloun reserve for almost 3 hours.
This trail starts at the reserve’s visitor center and takes you to the Maison du Savon in the nearby village of Orjan. On the way you will cross thick and healthy forests filled with oaks, pistachios and oriental strawberry trees.
Make a small detour to see the ruins of a wine press before passing in front of one of the oldest strawberry trees of the reserve while descending into the valley. The trail climbs up to 1,100 m above sea level at Eagle’s View Point, then descends to the Soap House where local women follow the traditional process of making Orjan soap with pure olive oil.
Then you will head to the ancient city of Jerash or Gerasa located about 45km from the capital, it is known as POMPEII of the East for its extraordinary state of perseverance.
Jerash is full of different monuments: temples, theatres, squares, baths and streets with original colonnades that date from several eras.
Possibility to have lunch in one of the local restaurants in Jerash.
Finally, in the afternoon transfer to Amman for dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 3/ AMMAN/ LOCAL EXPERIENCE WHEN VISITING THE CITY AS-SALT/ AMMAN
After breakfast you will drive to As-Salt (45 minutes drive from Amman)
Experiment with the making of Zaatar with a local farmer and participate in the making of Managiesh (the famous local pastry) which will be baked in the Arabic oven and used to make Christmas bread and bake it in the Arabic oven.
Eat Managiesh and Christmas bread in the outdoor garden with a glass of herbal tea. Also try the traditional Salti dress.
The spices common in Jordanian cuisine: Zaatar and Sumaq are available for sale here.
Then you will take a short walk to the soap making experience under the old great oaks and meet the women of the association to teach you how to make soap and taste their local products based on olives, jam, gherkins, etc.
Food products and soap are available for sale.
You continue your different visits of the cave farm to see not only the cave but also the gazelles, the fish harvesting pond, the agricultural valley…etc
Do not miss the exceptional experience that is related to the gastronomic tradition of Jordan the manufacture of JAMEED (begins late February)
Here, visitors learn how Jameed (dry yogurt) is made and they can do it with the farmer and taste the butter milk and some fresh local dairy products with a cup of tea watching the agricultural valley.
Beekeeping experience: visitors can put on the beekeeper costume and follow the beekeeper to the hives to learn about beekeeping and taste the local honey and pollen.
Bee products are available for sale.
Discover the life of a Jordanian farmer by making Saj bread with whole wheat, collecting eggs from outdoor chickens, chasing chickens, milking a goat, feeding a baby sheep, driving the tractor into wheat fields.
Come back for a meal made on site with varied dishes, fresh from the earth to the table under the 400-year-old oak tree.
Drive back to Amman for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4/ AMMAN CITY TOUR/ VISIT OF THE SOCIETY OF WOMEN IRAQ AL AMIR/ AMMAN FOR A DINNER OF JORDANIAN CUISINE
After breakfast you will start your day with a tour of the city of Amman. You will make a detailed tour of the main tourist attractions of the capital of the Hashemite kingdom.
The Citadel built between 162 and 166 A.D. bears witness to different sites dating from different eras: the Archaeological Museum, the Temple of Hercules and the Umayyad Palace.
Then you will finish the visit of Amman by the Greco-Roman Theatre which was completed at the end of the 2nd century and which could accommodate about 6000 people.
Within the Greco-Roman Theatre is the Jordanian Museum of Popular Traditions.
Then you will have the chance to take a walk in the old town called «West Al Balad» or the city center where there are many local shops, cafes and restaurants.
Then, you will go to the village of Iraq al Amir known for its Hellenistic castle and its surrounding caves.
Visiting Iraq al Amir is a privilege for lovers of antiques passing through Jordan. «Caves of the Prince» – so called the village in French. A name it holds from the nearby rocky caves, which the ancestors of the Abaddi tribe colonized in prehistoric times. During the hike, you will visit a procession of houses carved in the rock. You will walk among olive trees and fruit trees. But the favorite of visitors to Iraq al-Amir is the Qasr Al-Abd.
Qasr-al-Abd or slave castle that sits in the center of the village is considered the most beautiful masterpiece of Hellenistic art in Jordan. Iraq al Amir, whom the Greeks affectionately called Tyros.
Then Return to Amman; Head to the BAIT SITTI restaurant for a personal cooking experience (Diner).
Finally, return to the hotel for the night.
DAY 05: DEAD SEA – RELAXING DAY
After breakfast in Amman, you will head to the hotel at the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, 400 m below sea level.
This day will be dedicated to the Dead Sea which is not a sea, but rather a salt water lake.
Since ancient times, the lake has been a renowned spa centre throughout the Middle East.
Royal figures, such as Herod of Judea and the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, bathed in its floating waters.
Try to make the most of it by relaxing at the Dead Sea.
Three distinctive features distinguish the Dead Sea: its heat, its exceptional mineral content and its location at the lowest point of the earth. Its waters contain bromine, potash, sodium and magnesium chlorides.
Whether animals or plants like it or not, the waters of the Dead Sea have recognized therapeutic properties.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel/resort at the Dead Sea.
DAY 6/DEAD SEA/ MADABA/ PETRA
After breakfast, you will start your day with a detailed tour of the city of Mādabā (the city of mosaics) known for its spectacular Byzantine mosaics that are found throughout the city.
Mādabā is home to the famous 6th century mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. This mosaic map covers the floor of the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George.
The next visit will be to Mount Nebo one of the most revered sacred places in Jordan where it is believed that Moses was buried.
From the top of the mountain you can observe a panoramic scene of the arid lands of the kingdom, the Dead Sea and on a clear day you can see Jericho and Jerusalem 45 km away.
Lunch at the restaurant “Food Basket” with a traditional culinary style.
You will have the chance to explore the local life of Mādabā up close; so the market of the ancient city is full of masterpieces of local crafts waiting for you.
Then, you will continue on the road of the Kings which follows the ancient presumed route of the Hebrews led by Moses during the Exodus, a route of about 200 km, with an admirable view of the Jordan Valley.
Arrive at your final destination at the end of this day.
Dinner and overnight in one of Wadi Moussa’s hotels in Petra.
DAY 7/PETRA VISIT/RUM VALLEY
After breakfast, you will start with the visit of Petra (a small hike) from the entrance (You can rent a horse car or a golf car to make you faster to the Treasure).
The pink city “Petra”, “the stone” in Greek, derives from the Aramaic toponym “RQM” pronounced “Rekem” or “Rakmou”, which means “two-coloured”.
Built over 2,000 years ago by the Arab nomads NABATEANS, Petra was considered a fortress city that had an estate on the trade routes through the area, including the famous Silk Road.
Then, Crossing the Siq (01 Kilometer walk) until reaching the Treasury, you will stop to see the monument of the site, “Al Khaznah”; Then continue the visit by heading to the Nabataean tombs, the Roman theater and the colonnade street.
End of visit, time to have lunch at one of the local families in Petra where you will have the chance to participate yourself in the creation of local foods, such as:
Mansaf /Maqlubah /Rahsoof /Sawani /Jaresh/ Sheshbarak… etc
Then you will take the road to the VALLEY OF RUM to settle in one of the Bedouin camps.
Dinner at DESERT CAMP, discover the special Bedouin way of cooking (ZARB) the traditional Jordanian dish under the warm sands of Wadi Rum.
DAY 08: JEEP DESERT TOUR FROM WADI RUM/ AQABA
You will start your day with a walk to discover the true charm of this famous desert.
Your Bedouin guide will be at your disposal to lead you between the pink sand dunes and the laminated sandstone mountains.
From there you will make a 4×4 jeep excursion for 4 hours, including a picnic break in the countryside.
You will discover different desert sites: Um-Ishrin – Wadi Um Ishrin – Mushroom Rock – Petit siq (Siq Um Al-Tawaqi – Umm-Fruth rock bridge), in particular you will pass by the siq of Canyon Al Barrah.
Drive to the coastal town of Aqaba where you will enjoy the sun, the sea and the myriad of multicolored fish to observe.
Many (optional) activities await you: diving, snorkeling or a glass bottom boat trip, this one is the most recommended; This is a two-hour glass-bottom boat trip to admire the seabed of the Red Sea in world-renowned places for beautiful corals and fish.
At the end of the day, have dinner and overnight in a hotel in Aqaba.
DAY 9/ AQABA/ AQABA AIRPORT OR QUEEN ALIA AIRPORT
After breakfast, you will drive to Amman (Queen Alia Airport) (5 am) for your departure flight at night.
Or departure and transfer to Aqaba airport (30 min) for departure flight.
PRICES INCLUDE (ONLY):
– RECEPTION AND ASSISTANCE ON ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
– ENTRANCE FEES FOR TOURIST SITES.
– HALF-BOARD ACCOMMODATION IN THE HOTELS MENTIONED ABOVE
– LUNCHES AS DESCRIBED IN THE PROGRAM
– TRANSFERS MENTIONED IN THE PROGRAM IN A/C VEHICLE: CAR/ MINI VAN/ MINI BUS/ COACH.
– FOR GROUPS OF 7 OR MORE: NATIONAL PRIVATE GUIDE (ENGLISH/RUSSIAN/FRENCH/GERMAN) SPEAKING ONLY DURING THE DAYS OF VISIT
– FOR HEALTHY ANGLOPHONE ESCORTS/DRIVERS (LESS THAN 7 PEOPLE) FOR THE DURATION OF VISITS AND TRANSFERS
– JERASH ENGLISH LOCAL GUIDE FOR INDIVIDUALS (01-06 PAX)
– ACCESS TO ALL THE SITES MENTIONED IN THE ITINERARY.
– ALL CULINARY / GASTRONOMIC EXPERIENCES AS DESCRIBED IN THE PROGRAM
– 02 SMALL BOTTLES OF MINERAL WATER PER PERSON PER DAY FOR TOUR DAYS
PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE:
DEPARTURE TAXES
– PLANE TICKET
– TRAVEL INSURANCE
– GRATUITIES TO PEOPLE IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES (RECOMMENDED TO SUPPORT LOCAL PEOPLE)
– ANY PERSONAL EXPENSE OF ANY KIND, THAT IS, PHONE CALL, LAUNDRY, DRINKS, MINI-BAR, ETC.
– TIPS TO GUIDES, DRIVERS, RESTAURANTS AND HOTEL STAFF.
– ANY ADDITIONAL VISITS NOT MENTIONED IN THE VISIT PROGRAMME.
– ANY MEALS NOT MENTIONED IN THE VISIT PROGRAMME.
– NATIONAL PRIVATE GUIDE (ENGLISH/RUSSIAN/FRENCH/GERMAN) SPEAKING FOR INDIVIDUALS (01-06 PAX) OF ANY LANGUAGE
– ALL SERVICES NOT LISTED IN THE INCLUDED ITEMS – EVEN IF DESCRIBED IN THE ROUTE TEXT
