Trips & Tours: Handicrafts of Jordan

On arrival we are met and transferred to our hotel for our first night in the desert kingdom.

Drive west of Amman through fertile Wadi Seer to the restored Bedouin village which houses the Iraq al-Amir Women’s Co-operative Society. The women of the society practice three types of craft – handmade paper, ceramics and weaving. All are traditional skills and are interpreted with a special local flavour in the designs. Touring the facilities will give us the opportunity to have a look at all three craft areas before making our decision of which path to follow. Alternatively we can elect to have a day’s tuition in each. We’ll also have lunch at the project with the women we will be working with over the next few days. In the afternoon we take a city tour of Amman, including visits to the Citadel, Jordan's National Archaeological Museum and the Roman theatre.

We return this morning to the Wadi Seer Project to begin our first day in the workshop selected. After this creative morning we visit Jerash, the world’s best-preserved Roman provincial city. Our tour will include the Forum, South Theatre, Cardo Maximus, Temple of Artemis and the souk. For a true Roman experience, visit to the Jerash Hippodrome to attend the RACE (Roman Army and Chariot Experience) performance, including demonstrations of Roman Army weapons and tactics, gladiatorial competition and an exciting 7-lap chariot race. Return to Amman for overnight.

Today we continue with our project in Wadi Seer, building upon the skills learnt yesterday. We spend the afternoon visiting Madaba, home to the world’s largest collection of ancient mosaics and visit the St. George Church with its famous 6th century map of the Holy Land, as well as the many restored Byzantine and Herodian mosaics in the Madaba Archaeological Park, Apostles' Church and Madaba Museum. From Madaba we drive to Mt. Nebo, from which Moses viewed the Promised Land. Take in the view of the Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, Jericho and (if it's clear) the distant spires and domes of the Mount of Olives. Lastly we visit the contemporary church with its display of mosaics from the succession of pilgrimage churches on this venerated spot.

Enjoy our final morning in the workshops, putting finishing touches to your project. Afternoon at leisure before a special gala dinner in Amman with the women from the project.

Today we travel south to Jordan’s best-known site, Petra. A visit to the Rose Red City is a wonderful experience, entering as we do down the long Siq to be rewarded with the famous view of the Treasury. Other highlights include the Street of Facades, Theatre, Byzantine Church and Museum. We exit the site and overnight in the nearby town of Wadi Musa.

Our tour ends after breakfast with a transfer to Queen Alia Amman Airport