Tour Overview
Welcome to Jordan! Explore the fascinating country of Jordan in a unique way; hiking, cycling, scrambling, camping, snorkeling and a desert jeep tour on this active 9-day adventure program. Cycle on the King’s Road, float in the Dead Sea and camp at the Dana Nature Reserve. Explore the ancient city of Petra. Enjoy a complete Bedouin experience in the Wadi Rum Desert and take a full day to snorkel or scuba dive in the Red Sea at Aqaba.Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Amman- Madaba, JordanToday when you arrive in Amman, you will be met by an iExplore Representative and driven to your hotel. The Mariam Hotel is a friendly, family run hotel, located in a quiet residential neighborhood. The 57 comfortable rooms are all equipped with private bathroom, hot water and central heating. All rooms have TV + Satellite, fans, hair dryers, direct dial phone and free wireless internet connection throughout the hotel
The rest of the day is at leisure. Perhaps enjoy a swim in the large outdoor swimming pool or soak up the sun on the pool deck.
Mariam Hotel Day 2: Madaba- Mukawer- Dead Sea- Dana Biosphere Reserve
Today we cycle on the King’s Road, Float in the Dead Sea and camp at the Dana Nature Reserve.
This morning, we’ll mount our bikes and head south on the King’s Road to Libb (16km) then west on a local village route towards Mukawer (25km), where John the Baptist was beheaded after Salome’s fateful dance. The area offers a beautiful panorama overlooking the Dead Sea and Ma’in ancient hot springs. Mukawer or Machaerus is Herod the Great’s ancient fortress, located in the village of Mukawer. There, it is said, the beautiful Salome danced for Herod Antipas, who presented her with the head of Yahya or John the Baptist to honor her wishes. According to Matthew 14: 9-12, “the king was sad, but because of the promise he had made in front of all of his guests, he gave orders that her wish be granted. So, he had John beheaded in prison. The head was brought in on a plate to the girl, who gave it to her mother”. Then we head to the village of Mukawer for an opportunity for some local interaction by having lunch at the home of a local family. After lunch, we’ll drive down to the Dead Sea for a unique floating experience. The Dead Sea is famous as the “lowest point on earth”, lying some 1,200 feet below sea level. It is 75 km long and from 6 to 10 km wide. It is fed by the Jordan River but has no outlet. As its name suggests, the Dead Sea is completely devoid of plant and animal life. This is due to an extremely high content of salt and other minerals- there is 350 grams of salt per kilogram of water, compared to about 40 grams in the world’s oceans. After, a 2.5-hour drive takes us from 1200 feet below sea level to 5100 feet above sea level to the stunning Dana Nature Reserve. We’ll find our dinner waiting with a variety of Dana’s organic local food recipes. The Rummana Eco Campsite is situated on a small plateau overlooking the dramatic escarpment of the Jordan Rift Valley. The campsite has 20 large tents, 2 Bedouin tents, an outdoor dining area, a kitchen and showers/toilets. Each tent comes fully equipped with mattresses, pillows, and blankets. The campsite is open from March 1st to October 31st.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Rummana Eco Campsite Day 3: Dana Biosphere Reserve- Dana Village- Petra
Today you will have the opportunity to enjoy the serenity of nature at the Dana Nature Reserve. We will go for a guided hike that takes about 4 hours from the campsite to Dana Village where you can visit the old village of Dana, and enjoy lunch. The Dana Biosphere Reserve is a system of wadis and mountains, which extends from the top of the Rift Valley down to the desert lowlands of Wadi Araba. Dana is truly a world of natural treasures. Visitors to Dana will experience the beauty of the Rummana Mountains, the timeless tranquility of Dana Village, and the grandeur of the red and white sandstone cliffs of Wadi Dana. Check into the Amra Palace Hotel for dinner and overnight. Amra Palace Hotel is wonderfully located at the heart of the city; the hotel is minutes away from the main shopping areas and the entrance to the ancient city of Petra. The hotel is owned and managed by a family whose roots in Petra go back for several generations. Enjoy contemporary decor with all the finishing touches and one king or two twin beds featuring plush pillows, the softest sheets and duvets. The rooms, most of which have spectacular views of the Petra Mountains, feature: air-conditioning, color satellite TV, mini-bar, hair dryer, telephone and self-controlled heating.
Breakfast
Amra Palace Hotel Winter Detour: Between November 1st and March 31st, Rummana Eco Camp will be closed for environmental conservation purposes. Therefore, our itinerary will be amended as follows: On Day 2 we will spend the night at Feynan Eco Lodge, which is located in the western part of the Dana Nature Reserve in warmer Wadi Araba. The Feynan Eco Lodge is set amid the arid mountains of the Dana Biosphere Reserve, and provides a special experience in desert accommodations. The lodge has a unique arabesque desert design and uses environment friendly technologies, including solar power. At night, most of the lodge will be lit by candles, making it a very romantic destination. On day 3 we will have the option of taking a guided trail that takes about 3 hours to explore the surrounding area, which is famous for having the oldest copper mines, or rent a bike and explore the surrounding desert and sand dunes. Before lunch we will head to Dana Village on our way to Petra. Dinner and overnight would be at the Amra Palace Hotel. Day 4: Petra
Today we will have a full day tour of ancient Petra. Petra is one of the world’s heritage sites and one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. An ancient rock city, which was the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom. Built around 2,300 years ago, the imposing rose stone palaces are an impressive testament to the power and influence of the Nabateans, who controlled trade around the area in the 3rd century BC. You will find yourself walking in a narrow, winding pass between towering walls leading to an open plain upon which stood the ancient city. The plain is surrounded by hills in which tombs have been carved in the pink sandstone. The site includes some 800 structures.
Breakfast
Amra Palace Hotel Day 5: Petra- Wadi Rum
After breakfast we take a short drive to Beida, where we set off on foot to reach the Dark Siq of Little Petra, the latter which appears to have been an important suburb of Petra. This narrow area is crammed with more sites, including tombs, temples, and cisterns. We then take a back trail that takes about 4 hours, which leads us to the magnificent Monastery Monument and then back inside ancient Petra for a second visit to serve our curiosity, which takes about 3 hours. An hour’s drive in the afternoon takes us out into the marvelous Wadi Rum Desert for a complete Bedouin experience. We’ll be introduced to our local Bedouin host who will take us to the camp for a feast on ‘Zarb’- a traditional Bedouin dish of meat and vegetables cooked underneath the desert sand, and a night under the stars.
Breakfast, Dinner
Bedouin Camp Day 6: Wadi Rum
This morning after breakfast we will start off with trekking accompanied with a little scrambling over pale yellow sandstone slabs, which become pinker the higher we climb. Just before the arch (rock bridge), there is a short climb where you will be secured by rope as an extra safety precaution. After the climb we can go over the bridge and enjoy an awe-inspiring view across the whole region. The scrambling trail takes about 4 hours. Spend the rest of the day wandering around the desert and visit the big sand dune for an opportunity to take off your shoes and run up and down its soft sand. Sounds childish, but lots of fun! Overnight camping in Wadi Rum.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Bedouin Camp Day 7: Wadi Rum- Aqaba
Enjoy a one hour camel ride before we depart Wadi Rum. A 45-minute drive from Rum takes us down to Aqaba. We will enjoy a nice seafood lunch. The rest of the day is free. Coral Bay is a luxury hotel in a superb location that excites the imagination, a place where natural beauty meets modern vitality. The finest locations demand the highest standards of design. Coral Bay responds to its unrivalled position with an elegant essay in a mixture of historic and contemporary design, a modern interpretation of history, reviving that wonderful sense of luxury that is totally lacking in the anonymous hotels of many large cities. It is easy to forget when strolling here, that the essential pleasures of the city lie close by. Within short distance of all major attractions and effortlessly positioned in the heart of the Red Sea, live life to the full in style. For fine dining, guests can enjoy Coral Restaurant overlooking the hotel main pools and the sea. Experienced divers can rent state-of-the-art diving equipment and participate in diving excursions featuring some of the most beautiful diving sites in the Red Sea, well preserved coral reefs and underwater wrecks, both during the day and at night.
Learn to Dive or take a Snorkeling trip and enjoy the spectacular coral, right in front of the RDC, supervised by professional divers.
Breakfast, Lunch
Coral Bay Hotel & Resort Day 8: Aqaba- Madaba
Take the day to relax at the south beach of Aqaba, Jordan’s only port and a popular tourist destination for many Europeans. You can sunbathe with a cold drink in hand, swim and snorkel in the Red Sea. The choice is yours! In the afternoon we transfer back to Madaba for dinner and
Mariam Hotel Day 9: Depart
Check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home. Please note check out time from the hotel is noon.
Breakfast
