iExplore Jordan Experience

Tour Description

Desert adventurer T. E. Lawrence's wartime trek across Jordan, from Wadi Rum to Aqaba, was one of the most arduous journeys of modern times. These days, however, you can explore Jordan's challenging terrain with considerably less effort. You'll probably forgo camels for, say, an air-conditioned four-wheel-drive. But you might well echo Lawrence of Arabia's awestruck description of Jordan's dramatic desertscapes as "vast, echoing, and God-like."

Set on the ancient crossroads between Arabia and the Mediterranean Sea, Jordan is full of historic sites. Crusaders' forts along old trade routes and ancient cities carved from stone will captivate anyone in search of the past. And while the land might be ancient, Jordan's cities offer the modern conveniences that help make your trip to the past a little less demanding. When you tire of desert ardors, you can relax at a Dead Sea spa or go scuba diving in the Red Sea.

Although it's mostly covered by desert, Jordan also has mountains, forests, marshes, beaches, plains, rolling hills and fertile river valleys. The Jordan Valley is actually an extension of the Great Rift Valley, which runs through Kenya and Tanzania in Africa

Itinerary

Jordan Experience 9 days 2012

 

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Amman, Jordan
Welcome to Amman. Today when you arrive at Queen Alia International Airport, our professional, local representative, who will assist you with visas, luggage, and customs, will welcome you. You will then be driven to the Marriott Hotel.
Marriott Hotel

 

Day 2: Amman
Breakfast. Enjoy a full day city tour of Amman. Start the day by visiting the Citadel, the Archaeological Museum, the Roman Theatre, the Folklore Museum, walk down town through the bazaars and the Gold market and then on to visit Darat al Funun. Darat al Funun is a home for the Arts and the artists of Jordan and the Arab World. Overlooking the heart of Amman, Darat al Funun is housed in three historical residences built in the 1920’s alongside the remains of a 6th century Byzantine church. It speaks of an enduring ancient legacy of urbanism, architecture and cultural identity that is now being enriched by a modern flowering of the visual arts.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Afterwards, visit the Nature Center of the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature and walk through the oldest part of Amman located in “Jabal Amman” the 1st circle, where most of the houses of the well known families of Amman were living or are still living there today. Most of the houses were built in the 1920’s or 1930’s. Also visit the Jordan River Design Shop, featuring local handicrafts, during the walking tour.

End the tour at the “Pacha” Turkish Bath for bath with a massage.

Breakfast, Lunch.

Marriott Hotel

 

Day 3: Amman- Jerash- Ajlun- Amman
Today you have a full day excursion to Jerash and Ajloun. In Jerash the Roman excavations are of about the same size as the modern part of the town. Sometimes called the Pompeii of the East, Jerash flourished in the first century AD and thrived by trade due to the benefits of the “Pax Romana”.

Located north of Amman in the biblical land of Gilead lies this city sheltered in a fertile and well-watered valley. At its height, Jerash was home to over 25,000 people. Theatres and temples were continuously added as the city thrived under the Roman Empire. In 330 AD Emperor Constantine announced that Christianity would be the new religion of the Roman Empire’s eastern half and Jerash fell into the newly formed Byzantine segment. A spate of building ensued, some temples were transformed to churches and many new churches were erected, with mosaic floors similar to those found at Madaba. The massive ruins are spread over a large area divided and crisscrossed by colonnaded streets whose pavements still show the grooves of chariot wheels.

Continue on to Ajloun. Visit the castle of Ajloun “Al Rabad Castle”. Qalat er-Rabad, the name in Arabic, is located on a high peak overlooking the city of Ajloun. According to Salah-Eddin biographer, this castle was built between 1184 and 1185 by one of the Salah-Eddin nephews to oppose the Crusaders castles of Kerak and Shobak.

Return to Amman for dinner and evening at leisure
Breakfast, Dinner
Marriott Hotel

 

Day 4: Amman- Madaba- Mt. Nebo- Kerak- Petra
After breakfast and hotel checkout, depart Amman for a full day excursion along the Kings’ Highway and on to Petra for overnight.

Drive to Mount Nebo, the mountain where Moses was allowed to see the Holy and… and not allowed to enter it. Nowadays the mountain is a memorial site. Here is the “Church of Moses”, built by the first Christians. Ever since the first days of Christianity this mountain has been a holy place and a destination for pilgrimage. Like Moses, you can have a great view over Jordan, the Dead Sea and Israel. When the weather is clear, you should even be able to see Jerusalem, which is about 60 kilometers away.

Continue to Madaba. South of Amman proudly stands the “City of Mosaics” Madaba, perched on an archaeological site with more than 4,000 years of history buried beneath it. The quality and quantity of mosaic flooring has made Madaba one of the most prominent cities in the world for mosaics. St. George’s Church houses the world famous mosaic floor depicting a large mosaic map of Palestine. Centrally located on this mosaic floor is a detailed map of Jerusalem as it was during the sixth century AD. At the Church of the Apostles, at the southern entrance of the city, is a mosaic floor attributed to the craftsman Salamanios, depicting the sea, with the central figure of a woman encircled with a selection of creatures, vegetation and an inscription.

Enjoy lunch ( at own expense) at Kings Castle Restaurant at Kerak, after a visit to the Crusaders Castle of Kerak.

Kerak lays 120 kilometers south of Amman and was the last stop on the Kings’ Way to Petra. Already capital of the Moab reign, Kerak was chosen by the Crusaders to build their stronghold because it was built over a promontory overlooking 360° the valley, it was mid-way between Jerusalem and Shobak, another Crusader castle.
Built by Payen le Bouteiller starting from 1142, it could compete with Syria’s Crac des Chevalier.

After Salah-Eddin conquered it, it was amply rebuilt and enlarged. A steep drop of the terrain naturally protects the south and north sides and a ditch surrounded the castle. Today’s access is in the north wall. Living rooms, storage rooms, courts, stairs and turrets are still largely visible and give an idea of how mighty this fortification was in its heydays. Never inhabited by a court, but mainly a defensive stronghold, the different utilities are still clearly identifiable.

Proceed to Petra for hotel check-in and dinner this evening.
Breakfast, Dinner

Marriott Hotel

 

Day 5: Petra
After breakfast begin your full day tour of Petra.
Start the visit with a horse ride from the main gate of Petra to the entrance of the old city and then walk on foot along to visit the rose-red city of Petra.

Nabetean Arabs built the ancient city of Petra from 800 BC to 100 AD. In this era Petra was a fortress carved out of craggy rocks in an area, which was virtually inaccessible. In the first and second century, after the Romans took over, the city reached the peak of its fame.
Petra covers an area of about 100 square kilometers, where over 800 monuments can be found. When shipping slowly displaced caravan routes, the city’s importance gradually dwindled; it fell into disuse and was lost to the world until 1812, when it was re-discovered by the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. Nowadays Petra is Jordan’s number one tourist attraction, known as the “rose-red city half as old as time”. The Khazneh (the Treasury,) starred in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

Enjoy a buffet lunch ( at own expense) inside Petra at the Basin Restaurant.
Breakfast, Dinner
Marriott Hotel

Day 6: Petra- Wadi Rum- Petra
This morning, enjoy a return visit to the site of Petra. After lunch, drive to Wadi Rum; pick up your 4x4 vehicle and driver for a three-hour drive inside the beautiful desert of Wadi Rum and sunset.

Wadi Rum, otherwise known as Valley of the Moon, with landscape of immensity, color and awe-inspiring shapes creates an almost supernatural atmosphere. The setting for the film Lawrence of Arabia and the actual location where T.E. Lawrence set his camp, whose book “The Seven Pillars of Wisdom” was named after the seven natural columns varying in height located in route to Wadi Rum.
Bedouin camps are evident in the Wadi, which is still home to a number of Bedouin families, who welcome visitors with the hospitality and generosity that Bedouins are so famous for.

Bedouin camps are evident in the Wadi, which is still home to a number of Bedouin families, who welcome visitors with the hospitality and generosity that Bedouins are so famous for. Enjoy a special dinner under Bedouin tents with local music entertainment.
Breakfast, Dinner
Marriott Hotel

 

Day 7: Petra- Dead Sea
Transfer to Little Petra for a half-day visit. Return to your vehicle and drive to the Dead Sea via the Desert Highway. Arrive the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea and check in, enjoy the balance of the day at leisure.

Dead Sea, at 400-meter’s below sea level, the Dead Sea is infinite in what it has to offer. Ever since the days of Herod the Great, people have flocked to the Dead Sea in search of its curative secrets. Due to high annual temperatures, low humidity and high atmospheric pressure, the air is extremely oxygenous, and the high content of oxygen and magnesium in the air make breathing a lot easier. With the highest content of minerals and salts in the world, the Dead Sea water possesses anti-inflammatory properties, and the dark mud found on the shores have been used for over 2000 years for therapeutic purposes.
Breakfast
Marriott Hotel

 

Day 8: Dead Sea
Enjoy the day at leisure
Breakfast
Marriott Hotel

Day 9: Dead Sea- Amman- Depart
Transfer to Queen Alia International Airport (note: the drive from the Dead Sea to the airport is around 45-minutes.) Our representative will assist you with check-in and immigration procedures for your departure.
Breakfast

 

End of Services

Bon Voyage!

 

*** THIS IS A PROPOSAL ONLY AND IS SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY AT THE TIME OF CONFIRMATION.

WE ARE NOT HOLDING ANY SPACES FOR THIS ITINERARY AT THIS TIME. ***

Departures

Depart any day! Contact iExplore for details.

Pricing Information

Jordan Experience 9 days 2012

 

GROUP SIZE                   RATE

Minimum 01 pax            : $ 5679.00       (including Single Supplement)

Minimum 02 pax            : $ 3299.00

Minimum 03 pax            : $ 2,969.00    triple share

Minimum 04 pax            : $ 2,800.00

 

INCLUDED IN THE ABOVE PRICES

 

·         Meet & greet service inside the airport with assistance with visa, customs & immigration

·         Transfers and excursions by private air-conditioned vehicle with driver as follows: 2 pax- car; 3-6 pax- minivan

·         Professional English-speaking tour guide starting from the morning of da2 2 until the evening of day 7. (If available at time of booking).

·         Hotel accommodations as listed in the itinerary

·         Mineral water in the vehicle at all times

·         Compulsory horse ride fees in Petra for 800 meters. The ride is not insured, guests own responsibility

·         All entrance fees to the sites mentioned in the itinerary. (2 entrances to Petra).

·         Departure assistance at Queen Alia International Airport.

·         Portages at airports & hotels

·         Turkish bath on day 02.

·         Excursion in Wadi Rum for 2 hours by a 4X4 vehicle. (Note: the vehicles are provided by a charity foundation that aims to help the local Bedouin people, the vehicle conditions are poor and there are no other suppliers for the 4X4 excursion

 

NOT INCLUDED IN THE ABOVE PRICES

·         International airfare and tax

·         Airport departure tax if not included in your flight ticket

·         Visa to Jordan upon arrival at airport, US $15 per person. Note: full passport details are required in advance

·         Tips for guide, driver, hotel staff and horse boy in Petra

·         Any/all meals not mentioned in the itinerary

·         Drinks during meals

·         Personal, travel and health insurance

·         All items of a personal nature, such as telephone calls, laundry, room service, etc

·         Horse carriage in Petra

 

USD Prices are based on the following hotels

   IN         OUT

Day 01      04     : 03 Nights in Amman                - Marriott Amman Hotel

Day 04      07     : 03 Nights in Petra                    - Petra Marriott Hotel

Day 07      09     : 02 Nights in the Dead Sea       - Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa Dead Sea

 

All prices are in US dollars and do not include international airfare, unless otherwise noted.

Prices displayed are based on the lowest season base price and assume double occupancy. Prices are shown in U.S. dollars and may or may not include administrative fees, taxes, meals, airfare (where applicable) and Single Supplements. Cancellation penalties, blackout dates and other restrictions may apply.

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