One week Jordan holiday - Traditional musicians

A Week in Jordan

Experience the tiny desert kingdom of Jordan with this 8-day itinerary that will take you to the most popular and less well-known attractions. As you arrive in the capital, Amman, you'll sense the extraordinary atmosphere common to Middle Eastern cities almost immediately. Stroll past street markets and tea houses where the sweet scent of apple tobacco and honey cookies fills the air. Then you'll leave the capital as you travel through the Jordan hill country past roman excavations, ancient churches and olive gardens until you reach the rock-cut city of Petra.

During this one week Jordan holiday, you'll embark on an adventurous intermezzo in the rugged desert landscape of Wadi Rum. Together with a local Bedouin guide you'll hike past rock walls and natural rock bridges. You'll spend the night in a tent surrounded by the haunting beauty of the Jordanian desert.

Duration	8 days/ 7 nights Departs daily	Accommodation	Small, comfortable hotels, comfort level 3 1 night of camping at Wadi Rum, comfort level 1 (see accommodation)
Price	Please see our Contact Us page for more details	Includes	Airport transfer, accommodation with breakfast, excursions and transprt as described below.
Transport	Private transport by minibus and 4x4	Excludes	International and domestic flights. Tips and other meals, harbour or airport transfer and departure charge for Aqaba harbour if applicable, ENTRANCE FEES and GUIDE for Petra (55JD/£48) for 2 day pass.

Day 1: Arrival in Amman

The capital of Jordan, Amman, is about a 6 hour flight away from the UK. You'll need a visa to travel in Jordan; these can easily be purchased at the airport in Jordan on arrival. Our representative will be waiting for you in the airport's arrival hall and he/ she will take you to your hotel in the centre of Amman.

The capital of Jordan was already a well-known city in Roman times; however it was only a small city until early in the 20th century. The construction of railroads and the arrival of large numbers of immigrants from other Arabic countries caused Amman to grow rapidly since the previous century. The city is nestled between hills and the historic part of the city was built on seven hills. On this first afternoon of your Amman tour you may want to go for walk to see the view out across the many white buildings in the city. If you want to immerse yourself in Jordanian culture, you can try out the traditional Arabic bathing and steaming traditions at a hammam. Clean and revitalised you'll sleep like a rose during the first night of your one week Jordan holiday.

One week Jordan holiday - The streets of Amman

One week Jordan holiday - Roman architecture

Day 2: Amman - Jerash

As you step outside of your hotel after breakfast, the sun will already be shining brightly upon the white streets surrounding your hotel. Your guide for day 2 of the one week Jordan holiday will be waiting to take you on an excursion to Jerash. In Roman times this city was known as Gerasa and it was one of the most important trading posts in the empire. The city has been exceptionally well preserved and and your guide will take you to the most interesting spots. You'll also visit the main street where you'll be amazed by the ingenuity and the precision of the Roman architecture. After your visit to Jerash your guide will take you back to Amman and you'll part ways. It's customary to tip your guide at the end of the excursion.

You'll have the rest of the afternoon to do your own thing in Amman. Although it isn't really known as a beautiful city it's very lively, and there are many interesting places to visit. We enjoyed visiting Amman’s historic citadel. Another famous attraction in the city is the striking Roman amphitheatre. The theatre was cut out of a hill in the 2nd century and can hold 6000 people. Performances are still held here during the summer months. The highest parts of the theatre let you look out upon the thousands of lights that come on in the city after dark.

Day 3: Amman - Madaba

After breakfast you'll check out of your hotel and our driver will drive you through the suburbs of Amman and on to the town of Madaba. As you leave the capital, you'll drive through sloping fields of wheat, barley and tobacco. Before long you'll reach Madaba, an important spiritual epicentre in biblical times. The Byzantines built elegant churches with intriguing mosaics in this city. Through the centuries these works of art disappeared under layers of dust. It wasn't until the 19th century that they were rediscovered. Their brightly coloured stones and intricate shapes and patterns make it hard to believe they date back several centuries. The most well-known mosaic is the map mosaic located in the grand church of Saint George.

We recommend continuing on to the Madaba Archaeological Park, a place many travellers pass up, where you can see more historic mosaics. Most of these have only been uncovered for a few decades. Their shining terra and ochre colours give them a magical appeal. If you still have some energy left, go for a walk through the fertile hills of Madaba and the popular biblical Mount Nebo. If you rather stay in Madaba, you can stroll through the Bedouin markets where you'll find colourful cloths, bright red pomegranates and honey sweet treats. You'll spend the night in a small, cosy hotel near the centre of Madaba.

One week Jordan holiday - Bedouin markets

Day 4: Dead Sea - Kerak

After breakfast our driver will pick you up at your hotel and you'll start off on your journey to the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is the lowest lying lake in the world. The drive to this biblical lake is spectacular at times. Your driver will drop you off on the shores of the Dead Sea, near a hotel with excellent showers and towels for hire. The water in this lake is 9 times as salty as the waters in the North Sea. The water's salts and minerals are a natural health spa for your body and of course it's fun to float around on the salty water.

After you've had your fill of floating, your one week Jordan holiday itinerary will take you towards Kerak. You'll travel along the antique King's Road, a historic caravan road that runs through a fascinating desert landscape scattered with historic remnants. Your driver will drop you off at the entrance of Kerak. You'll have plenty of time to visit the castle and to learn more about the heroic legends of this fortress. After your visit to the crusader's castle you'll continue on along King's Road and the TransJordanian Highway to Wadi Musa. This is a touristic town located along the access road to Petra.

Day 5: Spend the day as you wish in Petra

Today on the one week Jordan holiday you'll have an entire day to explore the rock city of Petra at your own pace. The vast hidden city houses dozens of attractions and you can easily spend a day exploring here. We recommend pulling on your walking shoes extra early in the morning so that you have plenty of time to roam Petra and have the city to yourself before the crowds arrive. The entrance to Petra, the Siq, lies near your hotel. The path through this wavy rock crevice is like a magical gate to another time and another world.

The rock-cut city of Petra is an unbelievably large treasure chamber. As you wander through the corridors and squares of the city you'll constantly wonder how human hands were able to create all of this. We recommend taking your time and using a map to plan a fun route through the city. If you take your time and alternate the well-known with lesser-known attractions in Petra, instead of rushing past the most popular sights, you'll have a much more intense experience in this rocky city. In the afternoon you can look up a shady spot where you can sit down for lunch. A picnic between age old monuments is once in a lifetime experience. As sun begins to sink behind the rocks, it's time to head back to Wadi Musa. After a long day of walking through Petra, you'll enjoy resting up at your hotel or at one of the terraces in town. If you'd like some pampering and relaxation, visit one of the hammams or steam baths in town.

Day 6: Small Petra - Wadi Rum

After breakfast you'll head towards Siq-Al-Barid. This place is also known as Small Petra, since it was once a suburb of nearby Petra. Together with a guide you'll go rambling past the rock-cut temples and halls with lively frescos. Siq Al-Barid is a lot less touristic than Petra. We consider a guide a must in Petra, especially if you plan on venturing out on your own tomorrow.

As you travel further, the towering rock walls of Wadi Rum will start to appear. The bizarre rock formations, high sand dunes and small oases make Wadi Rum one of the most spectacular desert areas in the Middle East. The wadi has been inhabited since prehistoric times and is mentioned in the Koran and described at length by Lawrence of Arabia. There's quite a bit to explore at Wadi Rum and you'll spend this afternoon doing just that in a rugged 4x4 vehicle. Your Bedouin driver knows all the in's and out's of the wadi and will take you on a journey across natural rock bridges and deep gorges. Early in the evening you'll arrive at tonight's camp - in the beautiful village of Disi. After you've arranged your things in your tent for the night, a tasty Bedouin meal will be prepared for you at the camp's cooking area. Once night falls, the most unbelievably bright stars will appear to end another amazing night on our one week Jordan holiday.

Day 7: Wadi Rum - Aqaba

If you enjoy watching spectacular sunrises, wake up early this morning. The mountain bordering your camp will give you a stunning view of the sun slowly rising above the horizon. Out of nowhere the sun will appear as a bright orange ball of fire in the sky, its first rays warming your face. Back at camp a hearty breakfast will be prepared for you to enjoy after you've had your fill of sun-gazing. Afterwards a Bedouin guide will collect you for a hike through a part of Wadi Rum, during which he'll share his knowledge of the wadi's nature with you. It's surprising to see how many plants and animals live in the harsh conditions of the desert. After two hours of hiking, you'll say goodbye to your guide and you'll prepare to leave Wadi Rum.

You'll drive for about an hour until you reach the coastal town of Aqaba. Your hotel is strategically located on the coast near the centre of Aqaba. After you've checked in and freshened up a bit, you could go for a walk past the stores and bazaars of Aqaba or you could simply enjoy the beach. If you have enough time today, hire snorkelling equipment and explore the wondrous submarine world of the Red Sea. The most exquisite coral gardens can be found just beyond the surf. Before you know it you'll be surrounded by the most stunning exotic fish. As the evening nears the sky will turn red and as you look out in the distance you'll the lights go on in Egypt and Israel in the mountains surrounding the sea. Find a bunch of comfortable lounge cushions at one of the local restaurants and watch the evening's red sky turn into a velvety black night sky while enjoying a fruit cocktail and fresh seafood.

One week Jordan holiday - All good things come to an end, unfortunately

Day 8: End of your one week Jordan holiday

Today is the last day of your one week Jordan holiday. If you choose to fly home from Aqaba, it will only be a 20-minute drive to the airport. Naturally we can also arrange this transfer for you. If you choose to fly home from Amman, then you'll board a comfortable bus for a 3.5-hour drive to the capital of Jordan. We can also arrange these bus tickets for you if you would like us to. This can be requested on the quote request form.