8 days · 7 nights
The Grand Jordan Tour
The whole country in eight days: the Roman north, Amman and the Desert Castles, the King’s Highway, Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea.
From USD 1,315 per person
Day-by-day itinerary
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Day 1
Arrival in Amman
Overnight Amman
You’re met at Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) and taken to your hotel in Amman.
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Day 2
Jerash, Ajloun and Umm Qais
Overnight Amman
After breakfast, begin with Jerash, the “city of a thousand columns” and one of the largest and best-preserved sites of Roman architecture outside Italy. As the best-preserved of the Decapolis, the league of ten cities, its prosperity still shows in the colonnaded main street and the Oval Plaza. Next is Ajloun and its fortress, one of the best-preserved examples of medieval Arab military architecture in the Middle East, dating from the time of Saladin, with wide views over the Jordan Valley. Then visit Umm Qais, ancient Gadara and another Decapolis city: black basalt ruins on a hilltop in Jordan’s north-west corner, looking out over the Golan Heights and the Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberias). Return to Amman.
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Day 3
Amman and the Desert Castles
Overnight Amman
After breakfast, tour the Roman Theatre, the Citadel and the Umayyad Palace, with visits to the Archaeological and Folklore Museums, with free time to walk and shop in the old downtown. Then drive east to the Desert Castles to visit Qusayr Amra, Qasr Al-Azraq and Qasr Kharana, and return to Amman.
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Day 4
The King’s Highway to Petra
Overnight Petra
After breakfast, leave Amman for a full day on the King’s Highway, once part of the famed Silk Road. In Madaba, the “City of Mosaics”, see St George’s Church and its Byzantine mosaic map of the Holy Land, and the Archaeological Park, which holds the remains of several Byzantine churches, including the mosaics of the Church of the Virgin, and a school that restores and conserves ancient mosaics. Then take a detour to the monastery on Mount Nebo. Head south through Wadi Al-Mujib, a deep valley with one of Jordan’s most breathtaking views, and visit the hilltop castle of Shobak, with its long and varied history. Continue south to your hotel in Petra.
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Day 5
Petra
Overnight Petra
After breakfast, spend the morning in Petra, the rose-red city of the Nabataeans and the highlight of the journey. Your guided tour starts with a horse ride to the Siq, then continues on foot to explore this World Heritage site. Visit the higher parts of the city before returning to your hotel.
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Day 6
Little Petra and Wadi Rum
Overnight Bedouin camp, Wadi Rum
After breakfast, take a late-morning transfer to Al-Beida, known as Little Petra, where the Nabataeans received their guests. Continue south to the desert of Wadi Rum for a 4×4 tour that lasts until sunset, with a cup of traditional Bedouin tea. Then it’s on to a Bedouin camp deep in the desert for a traditional barbecue dinner.
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Day 7
Wadi Rum to the Dead Sea
Overnight Dead Sea hotel
After breakfast, transfer to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth, for a swim in its warm, salty water. The rest of the day is at leisure.
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Day 8
Departure
After breakfast, transfer to Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA), with help through the departure formalities.