Land of the Bedouins

(Sunday arrivals; Bethany on Tuesday, Wednesday arrivals; Umm Al-Rasas on Friday )

DAY 1 – AMMAN

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

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

Breakfast and departure to visit 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 located on the top of a mountain offering a beautiful panoramic view. Continue to visit Jerash, one of the cities of the Decapolis. Jerash is located north of Amman, approximately 45 km and one hour away by road.

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 Theatre with its wonderful acoustics. The preservation of the ruins of Jerash continues to amaze visitors today, giving a very accurate idea of what cities looked like in ancient times. Return to Amman for free time for lunch, then continue to the Dead Sea. Free time for swimming and applying mineral-rich mud. 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 tour of the city of Amman. At the scheduled time, depart toward the border with Israel and Palestine, heading toward the Jordan River. This day is dedicated to visiting one of the most mystical and spiritual places in Jordan. We visit Bethany, the place where Jesus was baptized by Saint John the Evangelist. The Jordanian site of Bethany opened to visitors in the year 2000, and Pope John Paul II attended its inauguration as a sign of recognition by the Vatican. The Baptism Site of Jesus, “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” (Al-Maghtas), is an archaeological complex on the eastern bank of the Jordan River, about 9 km north of the Dead Sea. It is of immense importance for Christianity, as it is recognized as the place where Jesus of Nazareth was baptized by John the Baptist. Continue to Madaba to visit the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, where the first mosaic map of Palestine is located. Continue to Mount Nebo to admire the panoramic views of the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. This site is important because it was the last place visited by Moses, from where he saw the Promised Land, which he would never reach.

Transfer to Petra. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DAY 4 – LITTLE PETRA – PETRA

Breakfast and departure to the nearby village of Al Beida, also known as Little Petra. Visit this ancient caravanserai area. Then, a full day dedicated to visiting the Rose City, the capital of the Nabataeans. During the visit, we will explore the most important and representative monuments carved into the rock by the Nabataeans. We begin with the Treasury, the famous monument known worldwide and featured in an Indiana Jones film, the Coloured Tombs, the Royal Tombs, the Monastery, and more. Petra is one of those places that everyone should visit at least once in a lifetime. In the afternoon, return to the hotel in Petra. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 5 – PETRA – WADI RUM – AMMAN

Breakfast and departure to Wadi Rum. After 1 hour and 30 minutes of driving, we arrive in the desert of Lawrence of Arabia. The visit lasts about two hours and is carried out in peculiar 4x4 vehicles driven by Bedouins (6 people per car). It consists of a short incursion into the lunar-like landscape of this desert. During our tour, we will observe the wonders shaped by nature and the erosion of rocks and sand. After the visit, return to Amman. Overnight at the hotel.(The visit to Wadi Rum is conducted with our assistant or with a driver, depending on availability.)

DAY 6 – AMMAN – AIRPORT

Breakfast. Transfer to the AIRPORT.