Jordan - a biblical wonderland In the footsteps of the crusaders Jordan Culture & Nature Safari roman ruins, crusade castles, dead sea, bedouin culture, red sea and fantastic scenery and wildlife Oct 25 - Nov 03
2010 If total landmass was an indication of the natural and historical wealth of a country, Jordan far surpasses the bell curve, with one of the most diverse landscapes packed full of wildlife and culture. On this trip we'll visit two different seas, three different deserts, several Roman ruins, ancient Nabataean architecture and cities, Bedouin culture and villages, crusader castles, and sites of outstanding Biblical importance. Few, however, are aware of the modern day wildlife treasures that Jordan has to offer as well. Multitudes of birds annually migrate between Eurasia and Africa, and Jordan is en route, allowing the visitor to observe hundreds of birds species within a short day. Throw in tasty foods, endemic wildlife, spectacular landscapes and good company, and you have the best possible Middle East trip recipe in your hands. Our Jordan trip is easy, comfortable and truly breathtaking, a must for all nature and culture lovers. Join us on this exciting expedition in the footsteps of the crusaders! Detailed itinerary: | Oct 25 | Amman |
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| | Plan on arriving at Amman Queen Alia airport before noon today (there are many flights, especially via Europe, which allow you to do so), in order to be checked in and ready for our first sightseeing tour in the early afternoon. Our city tour will include the most important historic sites in Amman, such as the Roman Theater and Nymphaeum, the enchanting Citadel, a few of the many mosques and one of the busy and bustling bazaars (souks). We return to our hotel after sunset and have a great Welcome Dinner and Tour Orientation at its dining room. | | | Accomodation: Arabela Hotel
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| Oct 26 | Amman/Jerash/Ajloun/Um Qais/Amman |
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| | Today we have a long but very exciting day in the north of Jordan. After an early breakfast, we get on our spacious bus and drive 50 km north, to Jerash, the city famous for its beautifully preserved Roman ruins. Gerasa (as Jerash was called in the Roman days) is a fantastic archaeological site that features several theatres and arches, a circus and a forum, the Corinthium Column, and two large temples dedicated to Zeus and Artemis. The city is often referred to as “Pompeii of the East” or “Antioch of the Golden River”, and is also known as the home of Nicomachus, one of the greatest mathematicians in history. Once we finished our exciting walk here, we get back on our bus and drive further north to Ajloun – a small city best known for its Saracen castle. Saladin built this castle, during his successful campaign to drive the crusaders from Jordan in the 12th century. After a short stop, we proceed to lunch, and then move on to the northernmost areas of Jordan. Our destination is the dramatic black basalt Decapolis city of Um Qais (Gadara in the Bible), with its fine views overlooking the Golan Heights and Sea of Galilee. After touring these ruins and taking images in the sunset colours, we drive back to Amman for a well-deserved great dinner and a comfortable bed at our hotel. | | | Accomodation: Arabela Hotel
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| Oct 27 | Madaba/Mt. Nebo/Dead Sea/Wadi Mujib/Wadi Finan |
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| | After yet another early breakfast at our hotel, we check out and take off to explore the southern provinces of the country. Our first stop (after a short 30 km drive) is Madaba, best known for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics. The most famous of these is a 6th century mosaic map of the Holy Land, preserved on the floor of the Basilica of Saint George. After visiting the basilica and the Madaba School of Mosaics, we continue our drive to Mt. Nebo, believed to be the site from which Moses saw the Promised Land. It is also the alleged burial site of Moses, overlooking the Jordan River, the Dead Sea, Jericho and the hills of Judea. The site offers a series of wonderful Byzantine mosaics from the succession of pilgrimage churches that have occupied the mountaintop, along with the olive tree planted by Pope John Paul II on his visit. After a short visit at this beautiful location, we descend to the Dead Sea (the lowest point on the earth’s surface) and drive along the eastern shoreline with a 30-minute stop to “swim” in the mineral-rich buoyant waters (10 times as salty as the earth’s oceans). From here we continue to the mouth of Wadi Mujib Nature Reserve, where we utilize the comfortable picnic site to have our great lunch and a short siesta, before we take off on a 3-hour hike in the canyon. This place is considered one of Jordan’s most beautiful natural sites. After this exciting short hike, we continue south along the Dead Sea and through Wadi Araba, which has been the route for the ancient spice caravans. We are planning to arrive at Wadi Finan (the site of the world’s largest ancient copper mines) just before the sun sets. Here we jump on a Bedouin pick-up for a short ride to Wadi Finan Eco Lodge, a unique facility completely operated on solar energy and candlelight. After a fantastic and well-deserved shower, we gather for dinner and retire early to have enough energy for a great hike tomorrow. | | | Accomodation: Wadi Finan Lodge
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| Oct 28 | Wadi Finan/Wadi Dana |
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| | Today we have a fantastic hike ahead of us. After a comfortable morning and a great breakfast at Finan Lodge, we set off on a 6 hour ascend to the top of the range, to another nature reserve called Dana. (Important information: those opting out of our hike (6-7 hours) today, vehicle-based transportation will be provided for this segment, along with out luggage.) Our trail is in good condition and is not terribly difficult, but at the end of the day, we will have to gain 1,300 m of vertical elevation before we reach our destination, Dana Guest House. This place has one of the most fantastic views in Jordan, offers 9 rooms for visitors and this is the only location on our schedule where we need to share the bathrooms. The Dana Nature Reserve includes two biogeographical zones and four vegetation zones, making it a richly diverse encounter. The reserve is home to more than 200 bird species and a number of small mammals, 25 of which are listed as endangered or threatened. Our local guide is a specialist that has been trained to help us identify the flora and fauna of the reserve during our hike. Some of the best birdwatching in Jordan can be done from the sweeping terrace overlooking Wadi Dana and the Nature Reserve campsite. After our arrival, we spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure, before we gather on the terrace for a fantastic and relaxed dinner with breathtaking views. | | | Accomodation: Dana Guest House
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| Oct 29 | Dana Nature Reserve |
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| | Today we can expect to be awakened by glorious bird songs as the avian residents swoop and swirl around our rooms at sunrise. After a short photography tour in the gardens, we gather for a lovely breakfast and prepare for another day of leisurely hikes in the reserve. We are planning to spend the day hiking through the terraced gardens and nature trails of the reserve. After about 3 hours of walking, we stop at the Dana Rummana campground for a picnic lunch and a short siesta, before returning to our guesthouse on yet another trail. In the evening we'll enjoy a peaceful traditional dinner on the terrace, before retiring with excitement to see the eighth wonder of the ancient world tomorrow: Petra. | | | Accomodation: Dana Guest House
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| Oct 30 | Dana/Shobak/Petra |
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| | After our early breakfast, we pack up and check out from our nature retreat, transfer back to the world of ancient architecture and history. Just after a very short time on our bus, we stop at Shobak town, which has one of the best-preserved crusader castles in Jordan. After touring the castle, we’ll visit Siq al Barid or “Little Petra,” the northern customs outpost of Petra with a fine array of carved facades lining its narrow canyon and hike out to the Baidha Neolithic site, the world’s oldest excavated agricultural settlement. Once back on our bus, we continue our drive to Petra and check in at our accommodation for a late lunch. After lunch, we pay our first visit to the famous ancient city of Petra, and return for a great dinner and a good night sleep. | | | Accomodation: Petra Guest House
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| Oct 31 | Petra |
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| | Immediately following breakfast, we return to Petra through the breathtaking Siq, the mysterious mile-long winding canyon, which protected the ancient capital of the Nabatean Empire. We visit the Treasury, the Theater, the Street of Facades, the Royal Tombs and many other interesting sites of the ancient city center. To maximize our time, we will have lunch at the Basin Restaurant, allowing us to continue our visit until the lack of daylight forces us home this evening. Tonight, before dinner, may prove to be one of the most memorable cultural experiences of our trip, as that we will learn how to cook traditional Jordanian specialties at "Petra Kitchen" under the guidance of a professional Jordanian chef. After the class and the appetizers we've made to stimulate our palates, we return to our accommodation for an organized dinner and an opportunity to try new traditional foods. | | | Accomodation: Petra Guest House
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| Nov 1 | Petra/Wadi Rum |
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| | Despite its familiar facade, Petra is a large ancient city with much to explore, so again as with yesterday, immediately following breakfast, we will depart for Petra, but this time by the secret road of al-Madras. Along the way, we will also visit the High Place of Sacrifice and Wadi Farasa. Once we returned to our accommodation and had a relatively early lunch, we get on our 4x4 vehicles and drive to Wadi Rum, for an afternoon exploration of the inscriptions and rock formations in Wadi Um Ashrin and Bara Canyon. This spectacular sight is especially breathtaking at sunset, so we will set up our own comfortable tented camp deep in the heart of the desert for tonight, and have an outstanding traditional Bedouin dinner under the stars. | | | Accomodation: our private tented campsite
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| Nov 2 | Wadi Rum/Aqaba |
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| | The keen photographers will surely be out on top of some of the rock formations for sunrise. Once back at camp and when finished a great breakfast, we continue our jeep journey through the moonscape terrain that Lawrence rightly described as “vast, echoing and God-like.” We leave the area of the nature reserve before noon and arrive early afternoon to the shores of the Red Sea for a check in and a late lunch at our hotel. After a short siesta, we walk through the small town of Aqaba, visit some of its interesting sites, have an evening swim and beach time, and then gather on the shores of the famous Red Sea for a fantastic Farewell Dinner. | | | Accomodation: Captain’s Hotel
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| Nov 3 | Aqaba/Amman/departure |
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| | Depending on everybody’s flight schedule, we leave Aqaba today (most likely after breakfast) and drive all the way back to Amman. If time allows, we will visit the famous crusader castle of Kerak en route, before heading to the airport for our international flights. Have a great trip home! | | | |
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