Marvelous Jordan

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the North of Amman in about two hours’ drive to visit Umm Qais or Gadara of antiquity. Gadara commands a magnificent view over the northern Jordan Valley, the Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberias), the Yarmouk River gorge and the Golan Heights. After the visit, transfer 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 theaters, churches, temples (Zeus and Artemis), a Nymphaeum and colonnaded streets.

After the visit, transfer back to Amman City and experience some of Jordan’s best street food such as falafel at Hashems, Jordan’s oldest restaurant, Shawarma at Reems, Jordan busiest take away, and Knafeh at Habiba, a dessert take-away that serves to thousands of locals on a daily basis.

Transfer to the hotel in Amman for overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel,

We begin 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 including: Citadel, Archeological museum, Roman theater, Folklore Museum and walking at the downtown and old markets).

After the Amman City tour, transfer to visit Mt. Nebo, the alleged burial site of Moses overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. Here Franciscans have built a structure that protects a 4th and 6th Century Byzantine church. Then a short drive to Madaba. to visit the mosaic city of Madaba, where the oldest map of the Holy Land exists 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, head to Dana Nature Reserve.

Dana is Jordan’s largest nature reserve, covering some 320 square kilometers of spectacular mountains and Wadis along the face of the Great Rift Valley. From scorching sand dunes in the west to cool mountaintops in the east, the Dana Biosphere Reserve is home to a great variety of wildlife. There are plants and animals characteristic of true desert, of Mediterranean forests and of the dry plains of Russia. In fact, Dana is really a melting pot of species from three continents: Europe, Africa and Asia. Such a combination of natural communities in a single area is unique in Jordan and many of Dana’s animals and plants are very rare. So far, a total of 700 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, including the Sand Cat, the Syrian Wolf, the Lesser Kestrel and the Spiny Tailed Lizard. Without special care, some of these could disappear from Earth forever, which makes the Dana Biosphere Reserve a place of global importance.

Arrival at Dana Guesthouse, dinner and overnight.

Breakfast at the Dana Guesthouse.

Depart Dana to visit Petra, our visit today is part of Jordan trail.

16 KM / 8 HOURS (INCLUDING SIGHTSEEING TIME)
TOTAL ASCENT: 290M / TOTAL DESCENT: 230M

Today’s hike brings you into Petra via a spectacular but little-known Bedouin trail through the mountains. You’ll begin with a couple of hours’ walk across open farmland before following the path across the eroded sandstone. Huge views begin to open up across the Great Rift Valley to the west. After another hour the trail descends towards Petra and opens onto one of the city’s most impressive sights: the immense rock-cut façade of ad Deir, the Monastery. You can rest and drink tea here, and explore the ruins, before following the stone steps of a Nabataean processional way down into the heart of Petra. After wandering through the temples and tombs you will leave through another secret slot canyon (‘the Dark Siq’) before turning back towards Petra and following the main siq for the classic entry into the city. This brings you out at Petra’s most famous monument, the Treasury. This itinerary offers a long, wonderful day’s hiking around Petra, and means you can experience the two greatest approaches to the city in a single day.

After the visit, transfer to the hotel in Petra for check in.

Overnight at the hotel in Petra.

Breakfast at the hotel.

This morning the guests have the opportunity to visit Petra further. The visit today will be hiking to the High Place of Sacrifice in Petra. Far above Petra on a mountain summit, the Nabataeans carved out the High Place of Sacrifice, their most sacred open-air altar where they performed ritual killings of animals. The path to the altar includes obelisks dedicated to the kingdom’s two main deities: Dushara, the god of strength, and al-Uzza, the goddess of water and fertility. Along with public worship, the Nabataeans also practiced private worship as evidenced by the shrines and niches cut into the surrounding rock face. They continued to practice this religion for hundreds of years, but by the early fourth century they had adopted Christianity as their main religion.

Depart Petra to the magical desert of Wadi Rum around noon time.

Upon arrival, guests will take one of the jeeps owned by the local Bedouins, for a trip into the many sites in the moon-like landscaped desert.

The tour will take the guests to visit less touristic places. The tour includes a visit to the natural rock bridge of Um Fruth and guests will have the chance to climb.
After the visits, transfer to the camp inside the desert.

As the sun sets in Wadi Rum you will experience not only the changing temperature but also the changes in the color of the rock and sand as they take on the deep red colour of the setting sun. As day turns to night the atmosphere of the desert changes from one of oppressive (heat) to relaxed and welcoming as the Bedouin prepare the fire and the sumptuous hospitality. Once the night a fully arrived the stars will come into their own as they light up the night sky.

Dinner and overnight at Discovery Bedu Camp.

Breakfast at the Camp.

Free morning to walk around the camp. Transfer from the camp inside the desert to Wadi Rum visitors’ center by Bedouin 4*4 jeeps. Board the main vehicle for transfer o Feynan Lodge.

Enter an enchanting world of authentic Bedouin hospitality and natural beauty.

Deep in the heart of the mountainous Dana Biosphere Reserve, at the end of a rugged track, an idyllic candle-lit lodge rests in the magnificent Wadi Feynan.

Upon arrival in Feynan reception, the guests will be transferred by local Bedouin pickups to reach the Lodge.

Arrival at the lodge, check in and have free time to walk around the lodge.

Enjoy healthy vegetarian dishes and a wide selection of homemade food.

After the dinner ascend candlelit stairs to a rooftop terrace laden with mattresses where guests can stretch out and sip hot tea as they gaze upwards at the Milky Way in its uninhibited glory. With no other sources of light, the sky becomes a vast dome of black velvet lit only by thousands of twinkling stars and planets with occasional shooting stars burning their tails into the night sky. Kick your stargazing experience up a notch and test out a powerful 10 inch Mead telescope to get incredible views of Saturn’s ring, or Jupiter’s moons. This night activity will be guided by Feynan Lodge guides.

Breakfast at the Lodge.

The morning is free so the guests can participate in a daily schedule of activities including hikes, Bedouin experiences and cooking activities that are aimed at giving you the full Feynan experience. All activities are guided and are included in the price of your stay. A small supplementary fee applies to activities involving the local community and this money goes directly to the family who host you. the morning activities determines two months prior to the date and it can be found by clicking on the below link:

https://ecohotels.me/feynan/calendar

After included Light lunch or lunchbox, transfer to Feynan Reception by Bedouin pickups to board the main vehicle for a transfer to Dead Sea.

Arrival at Dead Sea hotel, check in at the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day for floating at the salty waters.

According to historic legend, Cleopatra used to make special perfumes from balsam plants that grew in the area, which she used to bewitch men. The trick was that women used to put the perfume on their ankles and this would make men fall to their knees!

Overnight at the hotel at Dead Sea.

Transfer to Amman airport for departure. Our representative will meet the guests at airport and assist them with the departure formalities.