Excellent
Totally Jordan
Travel to the vast red desert landscape with rolling dunes and dramatic rock formations and camp under a blanket of stars in Wadi Rum, discover the lost city of Petra and explore a Crusader Castle, the ancient Roman city of Jerash and Jordan's finest Byzantine mosaics in Madaba.
For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more download our Trip Notes
Travelling with children or prefer being on your own, see our private version of this tour.
Tour Overview
Duration
8 daysStarts
AmmanEnds
Dead SeaRange
SignatureTour Guide
Yes - escorted by a tour guideGroup Size
Min 2 / Max 24Minimum age
15 yrs, accompanied by an adultDeparts
SaturdaysHotel Rating
4 star hotels & 1 night deluxe desert camp in Wadi RumCountries
JordanArrival Transfer
YesDeparture Transfer
At set times - see trip notes final day for detailsMeals included
Breakfast: 7, Dinner: 2Excellent
4.4 out of 5 based on
275 reviews
Tour Highlights
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
Day 1 - Amman
Day 1 - Amman
Saturday. Welcome to Jordan and the start of an amazing adventure. Arrive in Amman and enjoy an included transfer to our hotel where you spend the night. The rest of today is at your leisure to independently explore.
Day 2 - Ancient cities & Roman ruins
Day 2 - Ancient cities & Roman ruins
Amman - Jerash - Umm Qais - Amman. Heading north, we visit Jerash, the Graeco-Roman city known as the ‘Pompeii of the East’. Built over 2,000 years ago, Jerash is widely regarded as the best-preserved city of the Decapolis, a confederation of 10 Roman cities dating from the 1st century! We explore the site taking in the colonnaded street, amphitheatre, nymphaeum, forum and more before continuing to Umm Qais (Gadara), a dramatic black-basalt Roman city of the Decapolis with panoramic views over the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights. Later this evening, we head out for a meal and a stroll along Rainbow Street to experience modern Amman with its hip bars, rooftop restaurants, art studios and bookshops.
Day 3 - Mt Nebo & Umm ar Rasas
Day 3 - Mt Nebo & Umm ar Rasas
Amman - Madaba - Mount Nebo - Umm ar Rasas - Petra. Today we tour the citadel and Archaeological Museum of Amman, before we take a walk through the bustling local souk to enjoy typical Jordanian street treats of falafel and hummus at the country’s most popular local street stand. As the pictures on the wall will prove, the unglamorous food stand was a great favourite of the late King Hussein.
Leaving Amman, we stop first at Mt. Nebo, the site from which Moses saw the Promised Land. Having led the Israelites for 40 years through the wilderness, Moses finally saw them from this breathtaking vantage point. This amazing panorama includes the Jordan River Valley, the Dead Sea, Jericho and the spires and domes of the Mt. of Olives and Bethlehem on the Judean hills just across the wide valley. Later, we visit Madaba en route to Petra where we see the Church of St George, the Madaba Archaeological Park, Apostles Church and Madaba Museum.
Our next port of call is Umm ar-Rasas, one of Jordan’s World Heritage sites and once an important stop on the once busy caravan routes. The impressive mosaic floor of the St. Stephen Church features medallions commemorating all the early Christian pilgrimage sites of the region, and the extensive ruins also include one of the area’s earliest Stylite towers, where a Byzantine hermit lived atop the tower and preached to the pilgrimage visitors. Our final stop of the day is Petra. Consider doing a Petra by Night excursion (approx. USD$25 payable locally) for a tantalizing candlelight stroll through Petra’s Siq….a romantic preview of things to come.
Day 4 - The Rose City of Petra
Day 4 - The Rose City of Petra
Chief among Jordan’s many archaeological riches is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Rose City of Petra. The city was first settled around 6th century BC by the Nabataean tribe from Western Arabia. Rediscovered in 1812, it remains on the list for many travellers to visit. We access the hidden archaeological treasures of the Rose City on our walk through a narrow, deep siq, where the rocks finally give way to reveal the famous facade of Al-Khazneh (The Treasury). It's also possible to ride a horse through the Siq. Continuing our walk, we’ll go on to explore sections of this fantastic once-lost city which is full of tombs, temples, an impressive amphitheatre and a Roman colonnaded street. The intrepid can ascend the hundreds of rock-cut steps to Ad-Deir, better known as the Monastery. Ad-Deir has a similar facade to that of the Treasury, but is far bigger and the views from the nearby cliff-tops are splendid. Want to learn how to cook Middle Eastern food? Consider our Petra Kitchen Add-on tonight!
Day 5 - Wadi Rum Desert
Day 5 - Wadi Rum Desert
Petra - Wadi Rum. There is a chance to revisit Petra this morning before our afternoon drive to Wadi Rum. A vast, silent landscape of ancient riverbeds, pastel coloured stretches of sandy desert and amazing rock formations known as jebels that rise from the desert floor, awaits. Boarding our 4x4 jeeps, we take an exhilarating desert safari across the sand dunes, taking in the breathtaking scenery of Wadi Rum and tonight, we enjoy a Jordanian dinner at our camp.
Day 6 - Shobak Castle, Wadi Mujib canyoning & the Dead Sea
Day 6 - Shobak Castle, Wadi Mujib canyoning & the Dead Sea
Wadi Rum - Shobak – Wadi Mujib - Dead Sea. After breakfast at our campsite, we head north along the Desert Highway to visit Shobak Castle, which is perched dramatically on a hill top and was built by the Crusader king Baldwin I in 1115. After exploring the castle we descend some 1300 meters to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the earth’s surface. More than 400 meters below sea level, the mineral-rich Dead Sea is the world’s original health and beauty spa. Drift out and bob in the waters and slap on some of the famous black Dead Sea mud to give your skin an invigorating boost.
For departures between April and October we head up the King’s Highway to Wadi Mujib and embark on a moderate–paced two hour trek along the Siq Trail. Measuring 500 metres in depth and spanning 4kms across, the impressive Wadi Mujib is one of Jordan’s most remarkable natural landscapes. This dramatic canyon features sheer rocky walls and sparkling waterways that range from puddle height to depths that are perfect for swimming (chest height or deeper) depending on the rainfall. When the water level is high you should be prepared for having to climb up ladders, clamber across boulders and be happy to wade through water. The canyon is just one feature of the Mujib Biosphere Reserve, the lowest nature reserve in the world, home to a surprising diversity of wildlife and plant species. For those not interested in taking the full hike, you can walk part of it or wait by the Visitor Centre until the group returns. After our trek we make our way to the Dead Sea.
Day 7 - Dead Sea relaxation
Day 7 - Dead Sea relaxation
The lowest point on the earth's surface at more than 400m below sea level, the Dead Sea is a natural phenomenon and high on most travellers' bucket lists. Lucky for us, we have the whole day to spend here, whiling away the time bobbing in its mineral-rich buoyant waters and lathering up with a detoxifying mud bath. Later today, there is an optional visit to the Ma'in hot springs (a series of waterfalls and hot springs) and a sacred baptism site where Jesus Christ is thought to have been baptised (payable locally).
Day 8 - Dead Sea
Day 8 - Dead Sea
Saturday. Dead Sea - Amman Airport. Hotel check out and included onward transfer to the airport in Amman. Departure transfers are offered on day 8 at 23:00 (evening of day 7), 04:00, 07:00, 09:00, 12:00 and 16:00. If you would like a departure transfer at any other time or a transfer with post tour accommodation this can be arranged at an additional cost, please enquire.
Keen to tick Israel off your bucket list? Why not combine this tour with the must see sights in Israel and travel on our Road to Jerusalem - 11 day tour?
Or if you wish to head back to Amman, why not book our 2 day end in Amman add on? Perfect for those who wish to spend more time in Jordan's ancient capital, Amman.
Tour Reviews
Extras and add-ons
If you'd like to add extras or add-ons to your booking, you can do this easily during checkout. Just review the available options and select any additional services or upgrades you'd like before completing your purchase.
Pre and Post Tour Accommodation
Extend your tour with us by booking pre and post-accommodation, available at a per-person, per-night rate.
Pre Tour Accommodation - Amman
Double
Twin
Single
Post Tour Accommodation - Dead Sea
Double
Twin
Single
Additional Excursions
Enhance your tour with these optional extras, helping you to get the most from your adventure.
This add-on is an evening Jordanian cooking session that can be booked in conjunction with any of our Jordan group tours. Alternatively, this course can feature as part of a Tailor-made holiday.
$75
per passengerAdd-on: Dead Sea
A departure transfer from any Dead Sea Hotel to Amman Airport at the time of your choosing. This transfer works well for those extending their stay or where our included transfer times are not a great fit with your flights. Cost is per vehicle with a maximum of 2 passengers.
$95
per passengerTour Extensions
Extend your trip with our multi-day tour extensions, including accommodation, sightseeing and free time.
Prefer to end your tour in Amman?
Double
Twin
Single
Hotels
If you are interested in booking pre or post-tour accommodation, here are some of the hotels we typically use.
Prices & Dates
All dates are guaranteed to operate when there are 2 persons booked on the tour. 'Twin/Double' prices are per person when there are 2 people on the same booking sharing a room. 'Single' prices are applicable to solo travellers and anyone wanting the privacy of their own room. Room sharing is not available on this tour.
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4.4 out of 5 based on 275 reviews