Fall Savings: Jordan

Arrive in Jordan, where your Abercrombie & Kent representative assists you with customs and immigration and transfers you to your hotel. Spend the remainder of the day relaxing or exploring the city.

Tour the city of Amman this morning, the seat of government and the hub of the country's cultural and commercial activity. Amman has served as both the modern and ancient capital of Jordan. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. See the ancient Citadel (al-Qasr) and the remains of a small Byzantine basilica, marked by Corinthian columns and the Great Temple of Amman. Proceed to the Jordan Archeological Museum, which houses antiquities from prehistoric times to the 15th century; the Roman Theater, an impressive relic of ancient Philadelphia; and two smaller museums, the Jordan Folklore Museum and the Museum of Popular Traditions. This afternoon, take a step back in time with a visit to Jerash, “the Pompeii of the Middle East.” A third-century city decimated by invasion and earthquake, it boasts the most complete ruins of a provincial Roman city in the world. Walk beneath the imposing south gate and then make your way up the “Street of Columns,” the Roman Cardo.

Travel through countryside along scenic King’s Highway, an area rich in Biblical history, passing through the Gorge of Amman (Wadi Mujib) to Petra. En route, stop at Madaba – the “City of Mosaics” – best known for its spectacular Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics. It is home to the famous sixth-century mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Hundreds of other mosaics from the fifth through the seventh centuries are scattered throughout Madaba's churches and homes. Nearby, see the traditional burial site of Moses on Mount Nebo, where he is said to have spent his final days. From up top, wake in the panoramic views of the Dead Sea, the West Bank, the Jordan River, and, on a clear day, Bethlehem and Jerusalem from Mont Nebo. As the day comes to a close, arrive in Petra and check into your resort hotel.

Embark on a daylong exploration of the “Rose-Red City” of Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Set in a canyon, it has only one siq (entrance) to protect it from attack. Carved out of the mountain rock between 800 BC and 100 AD by Nabatean Arabs who came from northern Arabia, Petra served as the Jordanian capital and was a virtually inaccessible fortress.

Explore Kerak, a former Crusader village built with defensive walls. See its Crusader Fortress, featuring underground galleries, secret passageways and thick defensive walls with narrow arrow slits. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to the Dead Sea and check into your hotel. The rest of the day is spent at leisure.

Enjoy the Dead Sea’s restorative powers at your own pace. A haven of healing, people have sought its curative powers since the days of Herod the Great. Due to high annual temperatures, low humidity and high atmospheric pressure, the air is extremely oxygenated, facts that make breathing easier. With the highest content of minerals and salts in the world, the Dead Sea water possesses anti-inflammatory properties, and the dark mud found on its shores has been used therapeutically for over 2,000 years. You may also choose to relax at your luxurious hotel.

Return by car to Amman, continuing to Queen Alia International Airport, where your departure flight awaits.