Trips & Tours: Discover 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.

Today we head to Jerash, prize of the north. Jerash is one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities in the world, a fine example of Roman civil engineering. In biblical times Jerash was known as Gerasa and would have been known to Jesus.

This great city features theatres, churches, temples to Zeus & Artemis, a Nymphaeum and colonnaded streets – complete with chariot-ruts! Our visit brings the city to life before we head on to Bethany Beyond the Jordan, said to be the site where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.

We descend next to the Dead Sea and the lowest point on earth, 400 meters (1300 feet) below sea level. 4 times saltier than any other sea in the world the high salinity allows us to float almost on top of the water, rather than in it – a weird and not-to-be-missed sensation.

Madaba is 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 south to the great crack in the earth that is the Wadi Mujib. As with Nebo there are more dramatic views as the canyon walls plunge some 1300m; we wind our way down and then up the other side. Arriving in Kerak we pause to view the famous Crusader castle then continue to Dana Nature Reserve, a hidden gem and one that quickly becomes a favourite of those lucky enough to visit.

Dana Nature Reserve plunges down steep mountains into deep wadis, a product of shifting tectonics of the great Rift Valley. The entire Reserve is part of the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature’s attempts to help preserve both the way of life of the Dana region’s villages and the amazing wildlife that can be found here. Several trails wait to be explored as we head off on foot. Most people who stay a night or two rate their experience in this magical landscape as one of the highlights of their journey through Jordan.

Jordan abounds in rich archaeological sites however most struggle to beat the magnificence of Petra, 2000 year-old legacy of the Nabataeans. Their masons carved wonderful tombs and other magnificent buildings from the multi-coloured sandstone, and perhaps the most famous is the Treasury, reached after emerging from the brightly coloured Siq - a natural wonder in its own right. This initial view is the classic one of Petra most people have in their minds eye when they think of the site, and yet it’s just the start of the city. Beyond we realise we are surrounded on all sides by hundreds of carved and constructed structures, soaring temples, elaborate royal tombs, a carved Roman theatre, large and small houses, burial chambers and much more.

We explore the site fully during our time here, climbing the 1 hour to the Monastery - a wonderful example of what the Nabataeans’ masons were capable of - as well as Little Petra, a much smaller version of the main site.

A second day to explore the site, perhaps take an optional trip to Little Petra or relax by the pool.

Wadi Rum is known as the Mountains of the Moon locally, an apt description perhaps but just one of many that attempts to describe this unique and beautiful landscape. Inhabited by the hardy Howeitat Bedouin tribe the region also has associations with TE Lawrence of Arabia. We explore the desert by 4WD vehicle and camel learning something of the traditions of these hardy desert people before settling down by the campfire as the canyon walls change colour from orange to purple.

Up early we set off from our camp for Aqaba on Jordan’s Red Sea coast. On arrival we are free to enjoy relaxing by the hotel pool or to take an optional snorkelling trip to explore the stunning underwater 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.