Culture and Beach Full Itinerary 7 Days
Tour Code: JD003
Day 01: Arrival Amman
You will arrive at Amman airport and will be met by our representative at the airport; you will transfer to your hotel in Amman for overnight.
Day 02: Jerash – City tour of Amman – Rainbow street
After the breakfast at the hotel, proceed to the North of Amman for a 45 minute drive to the best preserved example of Roman civilization, the city of Jerash. Jerash, part of the Decapolis (the ten big Roman cities of the East) has been called the Pompeii of the East for its unique state of preservation. The city features theatres, churches, temples (Zeus and Artemis), a Nymphaeum and colonnaded streets. After the visit back to Amman to start a city tour of Amman, the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom. Often referred to as the “White City” because of the white stone used to build houses, Amman offers a contrast between oriental and cosmopolitan. The tour will take you to the museums, the Citadel, the amphitheatre, the souks and the modern part of town.
Day 03: Madaba, Mt. Nebo, Dead Sea
Depart Amman to visit the mosaic city of Madaba, known as the City of Mosaics. Here you will visit the oldest map of the Holy Land on the floor of Saint George’s Church. Madaba, or Medeba in antiquity, features many famous mosaics that exist in public and private buildings. After Madaba, a short drive will bring you to Mt. Nebo, the alleged burial site of Moses overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. From this mountain top Mosaic had his first glimpse of the Holy Land, a land he was never allowed to enter. Here Franciscans have built a structure that protects a 4th and 6th Century Byzantine church. Proceed to Dead Sea for swimming, relaxing and overnight at your hotel.
Day 04: Petra (horse ride)
After breakfast, depart on a full day tour of Petra. Once the ancient Nabatean capital, this city gently reveals itself as you walk through its hand carved facades. Starting at the visitors center, each person is assigned a horse guided by a local Budouin who will lead you to the once hidden entrance to the lost city. After passing some tombs which are located outside the city, the visitor passes through the SIQ, an immense crack in the Nubian sandstone. It is a winding, one-kilometer-long fissure between overhanging cliffs that seem to meet more than 300 feet overhead. Near the end of the passage, the SIQ, with great style, makes one last turn and out of the gloom in towering brightness appears Petra’s most impressive monument, el Khazneh - The Treasury. This is one of the most elegant remains of antiquity, carved out of the solid rock from the side of the mountain and is nearly 140 feet high and 90 feet wide.
Beyond el Khazneh the visitor is surrounded on both sides by hundreds of Petra’s carved and built structures, soaring temples, elaborate royal tombs, a carved Roman theater, large and small houses, burial chambers and much more. The Victorian traveler and poet, Dean Burgon, gave Petra a description which holds to this day - “Match me such a marvel save in Eastern clime, a rose-red city half as old as time.” After a full day in Petra head back through the entrance to your hotel for overnight.
Day 05: Petra to Wadi Rum (jeep tour)
After the breakfast at the hotel in Petra, you will then transfer to the magical desert of Wadi Rum, home of “Lawrence of Arabia”. Upon arrival, you will take a jeep tour managed and driven by one of the local Bedouin to many of the sites in the moon-like landscaped desert. You will start from the visitor center and drive to Rum village about a 10 minute drive on paved roads. After this you will head into the ochre coloured sandy desert as you visit the sites of Rum. Visit Lawrence’s spring this spring was named for T.E. Lawrence, of Lawrence of Arabia fame, who fought in the Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire. Continue to Khazali Canyon an iconic feature in Wadi Rum, Khazali Canyon is an easy 20 minute walk that allows you to see many Nabatean inscriptions and drawings. Then head to Aqaba for overnight at your hotel in Aqaba
Day 06: Free Day In Aqaba
Free day in Aqaba for swimming & relaxing.
Day 07: Departure Amman
You will be transferred to the airport to fly back home.
