Explore Jordan

( Sunday arrivals; Bethany on Tuesday, umm AL-RASAS on Friday, Wednesday arrivals; Umm Al Rasas on Friday, Bethany on Monday )

DAY 1 – AMMAN

Arrival in Amman. Meet and assist at the airport. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 2 - AMMAN – AJLUN – JERASH – DEAD SEA - AMMAN

Breakfast and departure for a visit to Ajlun Castle, a fortress built in 1185 and later rebuilt in the 13th century by the Mamluks after its destruction by the Mongols. It is a Crusader-era castle, situated atop a mountain, offering a beautiful view. Continue to Jerash, one of the cities of the Decapolis. Jerash is located north of Amman, approximately 45 km away, about an hour's drive. During the excursion, we will visit the Arch of Triumph, the oval plaza, the Cardo, the colonnade, the Temple of Aphrodite, and finally, the Roman theater, with its marvelous acoustics. The preservation of the ruins of Jerash is still surprising, allowing for a very accurate understanding of what cities were like in that era. Afterwards, transfer to the Dead Sea. Free time for swimming and mud baths. After the visit, return to Amman. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 3 – AMMAN – PANORAMIC CITY TOUR – BETHANY – MADABA – MT. NEBO – PETRA

Meet at the hotel and depart for a panoramic city tour of Amman. At the scheduled time, visit Bethany, the site where Jesus was baptized by St. John the Baptist. The Jordanian site of Bethany opened to visitors in 2000, and Pope John Paul II attended its inauguration as a sign of recognition from the Vatican. The Baptism Site of Jesus, "Bethany Beyond the Jordan" (Al-Maghtas), is of immense importance to Christianity as it is recognized as the place where Jesus was baptized. Then, continue to Madaba to visit the Orthodox Church of St. George, where the first mosaic map of Palestine is found. Continue to Mount Nebo to admire the panoramic view of the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea from the mountain. This place is significant because it was the last place visited by Moses, from where he glimpsed the Promised Land, which he would never reach. Transfer to Petra. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 4 – LITTLE PETRA – PETRA – AQABA

Breakfast and departure to the nearby town of Al Beida, also known as Little Petra. Visit this caravanserai. Then, a full day dedicated to exploring the Rose City, the capital of the Nabateans. During the tour, we will see the most important and representative monuments carved into the rock by the Nabateans. We will start with the Treasury, the famous monument featured in one of the Indiana Jones movies, the Colorful Tombs, the Royal Tombs, and the Monastery. Petra is one of those places in the world that you must visit at least once in your life. Afterward, depart for the coastal city of Aqaba on the Red Sea. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 5 – AQABA – WADI RUM

Breakfast. Free time to enjoy the city of Aqaba. Take a city tour to visit the main attractions, stroll through the traditional souks, and shop in the local markets. Early afternoon, continue to Wadi Rum. After 1 hour and 30 minutes, we arrive at the desert of Lawrence of Arabia. The visit lasts two hours and is done in unique 4x4 vehicles driven by Bedouins (6 people per vehicle). It consists of a short excursion into the lunar landscape of this desert. During the ride, we will observe the wonders created by nature and the erosion of rocks and sand. At the end of the visit, continue to the camp. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 6 – WADI RUM – UMM AR RASAS – AMMAN

Breakfast. Departure to visit Umm Ar Rasas, a Jordanian archaeological site containing ruins from the Roman, Byzantine, and early Muslim civilizations. It is located 30 km southeast of Madaba, which is the capital of the Madaba Governorate in central Jordan. transfer to Amman. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 7 – AMMAN – FREE DAY

Breakfast, free time. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 8  – AMMAN – AIRPORT

Breakfast. Transfer to Amman airport.