Your journey begins in Amman, the innovative white-stone capital city of Jordan. The landscape of the Hashemite Kingdom has remained largely unchanged for 2,000 years. Upon arrival at Amman International Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel, where you can choose to relax and settle in or explore at your leisure. Later, join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for dinner.
After breakfast depart for Iraq Al-Amir for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Visit a women's cooperative involving women and girls from nearby Wadi Al Seer villages. The association provides training and work opportunities for women in the region. Then, the journey to Jerash reveals the most beautifully preserved example of a Greco-Roman city still in existence. Enter through Hadrian's Arch to explore the grand ruins of the Temples of Artemis and Zeus, where you can listen to the Whispering Column. Overlook the vast Oval Plaza and Cardo Maximus, the key Roman road. Enjoy an al fresco lunch of natural produce and family recipes at Beit Khairat Souf, during a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. This women-owned cafe is combatting female unemployment and aims to build a strong community of women leaders. Return to Amman where the rest of the day is at leisure.
Continue to Mount Nebo, one of the most revered holy sites of Jordan, where Moses is said to have stood and gazed upon the Promised Land. In Madaba, visit the famous Greek Orthodox Church of St. George with its remarkable 6th-century mosaic map depicting the entire Holy Land, stretching from Jordan and Palestine in the north to Egypt in the south. Afterwards, indulge in a Farm-to-Table lunch with fresh local organic produce, and learn how the hosts connect with local farmers to build a community of conscious food producers. Follow the King's Highway to visit Shobak, an authentic 12th-century Crusader fortress perched on the side of a rocky mountain. Admire the towers and Arabic calligraphy on the external walls before stepping inside to discover the original Crusader chapel, palace complex, and even a set of secret passages. Later, head south for one of the highlights of your journey: the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Petra, voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
This day is devoted to the beautiful ‘rose-red city, half as old as time'. Enter this lost city through a narrow gorge, the Siq, with walls that rise up to 200 meters. Emerge from the path to see the magnificent Treasury (Al-Khazneh), Petra’s most iconic monument, carved out of solid rock and standing over 40 meters high. Wind your way through the canyon to explore the ancient tombs and the Roman Amphitheater, which once seated 3,000 spectators. Tonight, savor authentic Jordanian flavors during a traditional Bedouin-style dinner in the desert with locals, set against the stunning backdrop at the Ammarin Bedouin camp.
Head to Wadi Rum, the Valley of the Moon and a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for its natural drama and cultural significance. Enjoy a jeep safari through its majestic, red-hued, Mars-like desert landscape, where you will see stunning rock formations and learn about the history of the area and the local Bedouin culture. In Aqaba, Jordan's only coastal town, delve into mosaic designs during a Stone Mosaic Class—an ancient Jordanian tradition that offers a fascinating glimpse into the past.
After breakfast, depart for Amman and explore with Insight Choice. Choose to join a guided sightseeing experience, highlighting the city’s history, architecture and culture. Alternatively, explore Amman's street art scene on a guided graffiti walking tour. Later, settle in at your hotel and spend the rest of your day at leisure. In the evening, join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for dinner to celebrate the end of your Jordanian adventure.
Transfer to the Dead Sea for its warm, soothing and mineral-rich waters. Pamper yourself at your resort, which offers a wide range of treatments to soothe the body and mind.
Enjoy the entire day at your leisure. Lying more than 400 meters below sea level, this is Earth's lowest point on dry land, where the hypersaline waters make floating effortless. Alternatively, join an Optional Experience to Bethany Beyond the Jordan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the sacred place where Jesus was baptised, carefully excavated and open for exploration.
After breakfast, you are transferred to Amman Airport for your onward flight.
