Trips & Tours: A Snapshot of Jordan

Today we arrive in Amman transfer to our hotel and check in. Jordan's modern capital is steeped in biblical history and was the capital of the Ammonites before becoming Philadelphia in Roman times. Built on 7 hills it is a modern, cosmopolitan and vibrant capital that belies its 9,000 year history.

Our first stop today is at the Greco-Roman city of Jerash, one of the best- preserved in the world and a fine example of Roman civil engineering. Jesus would have known the city as Gerasa, one of the great Decapolis cities and said to have been founded by Alexander the Great’s soldiers. Our visit reveals the theatre, forum and shops along the cart and chariot-rutted main street.

After our visit we descend to 400m below sea level to bathe in the mineral-laden waters of the Dead Sea, a strange experience and one that is reputedly excellent for the health of the skin.

Later we continue to Madaba, home to an ancient map of the Holy Land picked out by tesserae in a remarkable mosaic on the floor of St George’s Church. Several other mosaics can be seen in the town too before we head the short distance to Mt. Nebo, said to be where God showed Moses the Promised Land. Here we’ll enjoy the view and visit the nearby Byzantine basilica before travelling back the short distance to Madaba.

We make the short drive to the Desert Highway and head south to Petra. Whilst there are many impressive archaeological sites in Jordan, Petra is the country’s jewel in the crown, the 2000 year-old legacy of the Nabataeans. We enter through the fabulous canyon called the siq, to exit at the famous Treasury, thought to in fact be a tomb. From here the site opens up and our long, afternoon visit reveals all the main attractions to be found in the valley.

As we drive south the rolling hills and mountains of the Petra area give way to wider, desert landscapes. Wadi Rum is deservedly Jordan’s best known and most impressive desert landscape, home for many years to hospitable and proud Bedouin. Here towering sandstone mountains rise to 1,600m above sea level dominating the valley, itself 3km wide. We explore the desert by 4WD vehicle learning something of the traditions of these hardy desert people before setting off for Aqaba on the Red Sea coast.

Later we drive to Aqaba where we can relax by the pool or take an optional snorkelling trip to explore the stunning underwater water world of the Red Sea’s coral gardens. For those that prefer a little more adrenalin wind and kite surfing is available locally, as well as more sedate glass-bottomed boat rides.

Flights from Aqaba to Amman leave in the early morning and connect with international flights to the UK and beyond, or a transfer by road can be arranged to connect with flights from Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport.