Grand Tour of Jordan

Today, set off to the east of Amman to explore Jordan’s Desert Castles. You will first stop at Qasr al-Kharraneh which dates from the 8th-century. Next, visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Qasr Amra, famed for its superb fresco paintings. Continue to Qasr Al Azraq where Lawrence of Arabia spent the winter of 1917. Finally, visit Qasr Kharana dating from the 7th-century AD with Sussaninan Persian influences. You might like to spend the evening at a local house learning the secrets of Jordanian cuisine.

Drive to Dana via Madaba, Mt. Nebo, and Kerak. Some of the world’s finest Byzantine mosaics are found in Madaba, as is the oldest known map of the Holy Land. Mt. Nebo, thought to be the burial site of Moses, boasts a splendid view of the Dead Sea. Dana is perched on the edge of Wadi Dana, with dramatic views to match. Stay at Dana Guest House.

The Dana to Feynan walk is possibly our favourite day-walk in Jordan. The downhill walk of about 16kms takes about 5-6 hours. During this walk, you pass through three different bio-geological zones – from limestone to sandstone and finally granite.  The flora and fauna change at almost every turn. We pass through green canyons where mistletoe sprouts, and pistachio and fig trees grow. You finish at Feynan, which is at sea-level and sits on the northern part of the Great Rift Valley. So far, a total of 894 plant species, 190 bird species, 37 mammal species, and 36 reptile species have been recorded in the Reserve, of which 25 are known to be endangered. Stay at Feynan Eco Lodge.

Today, you will be driven to the southern coastal town of Aqaba. You can stop at one or both of the two superb Crusader Castles en route, Kerak or Shobak. Here you can put your feet up after your walk from Dana to Feynan. It would have also been two days since spending time in a pool, so it might be a nice time to put your feet up. Stay at the Kempinski Aqaba.

Travel to Wadi Rum, where you will have the chance to explore the desert in an open 4WD vehicle with a Bedouin guide. Lawrence of Arabia spent time on this awesome moonscape of sand and wind-sculpted stone. Stay at Sun City Camp.

This morning, you might like to take a balloon flight over Wadi Rum. You will then drive to Petra, just an hour’s drive away. Spend the evening at Petra Kitchen. Stay for three nights at Old Village Resort.

You will have the whole day to explore the legendary “Rose Red City” of Petra. Petra is the legacy of the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled in southern Jordan more than 2,000 years ago. Most of the 800 monuments in Petra are carved out of solid rock. You will have a chance to see the spectacular Treasury, the 8,000-seat amphitheater, the Temple of the Winged Lions, and other monuments. This evening, see Petra by Night.

Spend a second day in Petra. We suggest taking the Wadi Farasa trail to explore the High Place of Sacrifice followed by some of the hidden tombs beyond. You can also see some of the other interesting places in Petra that are often not possible if you are just spending a day in the site.

Today, set off for the Dead Sea for three nights on R&R. Situated more than 1,000 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea has attracted travelers in search of rejuvenation for hundreds of years. The sea’s high salt content makes swimmers giddily buoyant, and the placid, pale blue waters stretching out to the horizon are blissfully calm. Spend your final three nights at the Hilton Dead Sea.

Today, drive 45 minutes to the airport for your flight home.