Jordan's Petra

Arrive Amman, Jordan

Welcome to Jordan. You are met upon arrival at Amman airport, and taken to your luxury hotel in the city. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax or for your own exploration.

Amman & Jerash & Petra

This morning enjoy a sightseeing tour of Amman, a bustling city of two million people and known as the “White City” because all of its buildings are finished in the local white limestone. Amman is the modern, as well as the ancient, capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan – though much of the city was built during the last 50 years, significant archaeological ruins remain. Visit the Jordan Archaeological Museum, containing antiquities from prehistoric times through the 15th century, including Umayyad artwork and Iron Age coffins. Explore Citadel Hill, which offers views across the Old City and is the site of the ruins of the Temple of Hercules, the Umayyad Palace (an Arab castle dating from the 7th century), a Byzantine church, and the remains of Roman walls. At the foot of the Citadel, carved into the hill, lies a 6,000-seat Roman amphitheatre resembling a deep-sided bowl.

Next, drive north to Jerash, one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman provincial cities in the Middle East. The city boasts of an unbroken chain of human occupation dating back more than 6,500 years. Witness a chariot race in the Hippodrome. Tour through the colonnaded streets, spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains and city walls pierced by towers and gates, and crowned with soaring hilltop temples. See the enormous oval-shaped Forum, the Temples of Zeus and Artemis and the Street of Columns. Later this afternoon, travel south along the modern Desert Highway to Petra, passing through the major city of Ma'an.

Late this afternoon, arrive in the ancient rose-red city of Petra. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Petra was the center of the ancient world’s spice and incense routes. It is a city securely hidden in encircling mountains, and one of the most unique travel destinations and experiences in the world. ​(B)

Petra Sightseeing

Located on the edges of the mountainous desert of the Wadi Araba, Petra is surrounded by towering hills of rust-colored sandstone, which gave it natural protection against invaders. A compelling sight of achievement, the ancient Nabateans carved Petra from sandstone cliffs in the 3rd century BC. Unbelievably, it was forgotten for 1,000 years, and only rediscovered in 1812. Petra captivates the imagination of any adventurer, explorer, historian and archaeologist. Explore this fascinating hidden city, set in a canyon where the only entrance is a half-mile-long, narrow siq (chasm), the walls of which soar up over 650 feet. Begin your excursion traveling by horseback through the entry chasm, and then continue on foot to the Corinthian Tombs and the exquisite towering facade of the Treasury, which appears dramatically at the end of the chasm.

Petra's most famous monument, you may recognize the Treasury from the movie "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade." Venture on walks and mild climbs through the myriad of archaeological wonders at Petra – there are literally hundreds of buildings, tombs, temples, a 3,000-seat open-air amphitheatre, as well as an archeological museum. For the adventurous types, you can climb to the top of the Monastery. ​(B)

Petra to Amman and Depart

This morning, drive north back to Amman. You are taken directly to the Amman airport for your departing flight home or on to your next destination. (B)