Trips & Tours: A Week In Jordan

Today we arrive in Amman and check in. Jordan's modern capital, Amman 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.

After breakfast we head out along the Jordan Valley to Pella. Most visible structures here date from the Roman, Byzantine and Islamic periods – the 2nd to 14th centuries AD and have remains of human occupation during earlier periods. Byzantine discoveries include ruins of churches and houses from early Islamic period. North at Umm Qais, Gadara in antiquity, we find a site that commands a magnificent view over the north Jordan Valley, the Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberias), the Yarmouk River gorge and Golan Heights. This Decapolis city was inhabited by non-Jewish inhabitants and is associated with the parable of story of Jesus and the Gadarene swine (Matthew 8:28-34. After our visits we head back to Amman for dinner and an overnight at our hotel.

Today is a highlight of our stay in the north of the country. First we head north to Jerash, called the ‘jewel of the north in Jordan. Jerash is one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities in the world, a fine example of Roman construction and their civilization. Jerash was called Gerasa in the bible it is told that it was built by the soldiers of Alexander the Great. The city features theatres, churches, temples, a Nymphaeum, mosaics and colonnaded streets. After our visit and lunch we travel southwest to the lowest point on earth, 400 meters (1300 feet) below sea level. Here at the Dead Sea it is 4-times saltier than any other sea in the world. Dead Sea mud and the salt and minerals contained within its briny waters are said to be good for the skin. We’ll have a chance to swim and relax before heading back to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning we start with a visit to Madaba and Mt Nebo. The mosaic city of Madaba is where the oldest map of the Holy Land can be found created from mosaic tiles on today’s St George’s Church. Madaba is home to many famous mosaics both in public and private buildings.

Near Madaba stands Mt. Nebo where God showed Moses the land of Gilead as far as Dan. From here we’ll see Jericho on the West Bank as well as the village of Rameh at the foot of the mountain between the Dead Sea and the destroyed cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Next we follow the ancient King’s Highway to Kerak where a massive Crusader castle built on a craggy plateau 1300m above sea level dominates the surrounding countryside. It was built in 1136 as part of a long line of Crusader castles that defended the route from Aqaba in the south to Turkey in the north. Finally we reach Petra and look forward to our visit tomorrow.

Today a highlight of our tour as we explore Petra. The Rose City is Jordan’s pride and joy and now one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Petra is the legacy of the Nabataeans, Arab settlers from 2000 years who massive architecture, ingenious complex of dams and water channels and stunning carved ‘buildings’ form the city we see today.

Petra’s most famous monument is the Treasury which appears dramatically at the end of the kilometre-long Siq along which we ride on horseback. This is one of the most elegant remains from antiquity, carved out of the solid rock; nearly 42 metres high and 27 metres wide it is astounding.

Beyond the Treasury the visitor is surrounded on both sides by hundreds of Petra’s structures from soaring temples to elaborate royal tombs, a carved Roman theatre, houses, burial chambers and much more. Our day here is one never to forget.

The Nabataeans constructed more monuments than those we have seen thus far. After breakfast we drive from Petra to visit el Barid or Little Petra. Here the ruins consist of various interesting buildings most famous amongst which is the Painted House, home to several fine plasterwork scenes.

Later we continue to Wadi Rum for a 2-hour jeep ride into the depths of this amazing valley. Lawrence of Arabia described it " Vast, echoing and God-like and it surely must be the most magnificent landscape in Jordan, with countless valleys of stunning beauty, where massive mountains rise vertically out of the pink desert sand. After our exciting jeep ride we head back to Amman for dinner and a last overnight stay in the desert kingdom.

Today our tour ends after breakfast as we transfer to Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport.