Magic of 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 reconstructed in the 13th century by the Mamluks after its destruction by the Mongols. It is a Crusader castle located at the top of the mountain, offering a beautiful view. We will continue the visit to Jerash, one of the cities of the Decapolis. Jerash is located north of Amman, approximately 45 km away and 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 Theatre, which has wonderful acoustics. The preservation of the ruins of Jerash still surprises visitors, offering a clear sense of how the cities looked in that era. Afterward, transfer to the Dead Sea. Free time for swimming and mud treatment. At the end of 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 place where Jesus was baptized by Saint John the Evangelist. The Jordanian site of Bethany opened to visitors in 2000, and Pope John Paul II attended its inauguration as a sign of its recognition by the Vatican. The Baptism Site of Jesus “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” (Al-Maghtas) is an archaeological complex located 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 found. Continue to Mount Nebo to admire the panoramic views of the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. This place is important because it was the last place visited by Moses, and from where the prophet saw the Promised Land, which he would never reach. Transfer to Petra. 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 caravanserai area. Then, a full day dedicated to visiting the Rose City, the capital of the Nabataeans. During the visit, we will discover the most important and representative monuments carved in the rock by the Nabataeans. We begin with the Treasury, the famous monument internationally known for appearing in one of the Indiana Jones movies, the Coloured Tombs, the Royal Tombs, the Monastery, and more. Petra is one of those places in the world that one must visit at least once in a lifetime. In the afternoon, return to the hotel in Petra. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 5 – PETRA – AQABA – WADI RUM

Breakfast and departure to Aqaba. Take a city tour, visit the main attractions, stroll through the traditional souks, and do some shopping in the local markets. Early in the afternoon, continue towards 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 done in peculiar 4x4 vehicles driven by Bedouins (6 people per car). It consists of a small incursion into the lunar-like landscape of this desert. During the ride, we will observe the wonders created by nature and the erosion of rock and sand. After 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 Roman, Byzantine, and early Muslim civilizations. It is located 30 km southeast of Madaba, the capital of the Madaba Governorate, in central Jordan. After the visit, transfer to Amman. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 7 – AMMAN – FREE DAY

Breakfast and free time. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 8 – AMMAN – AIRPORT

Breakfast. Transfer to Amman Airport.