Self-drive tour between sea and sand: discover Jordan in 8 days.

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Welcome to Amman, the capital of Jordan.

  

  Welcome at the airport and assistance for obtaining your visa, then transfer to your hotel. One of the agency's representatives will meet you at the hotel to explain the program in detail and provide you with a rental car as well as a mobile phone to use GOOGLE MAP. Overnight in Amman.

• day 2

  Amman – Jerash - Dead Sea

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for the visit of Jerash or Gerasa, today without a doubt one of the most beautiful preserved Roman cities in the Near East, the city of 1000 pillars. After Petra, Jerash is the second major tourist destination in Jordan. Then, a relaxing day trip to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth, 400 meters below sea level. Free time for activities on a well-equipped private beach at the Dead Sea (pools, cabins, showers, and restaurants/cafés). Today, its coast, partially inhabited, is very peaceful. Its landscapes, having changed very little since Antiquity, represent a privileged place for car rides. You can also sunbathe, swim and dine, or relax in the water, lulled by the gentle waves, and marvel at the fact that you do not sink! Enjoy the strange but delightful experience of "floating" on the surface of this exceptionally buoyant water, nine times saltier than ordinary seawater. Take a mud bath or enjoy a therapeutic experience. Dinner and overnight at the Dead Sea.

• day 3

  Discovery of Madaba - Mount Nebo – Kerak - Petra

  

  After breakfast, set out to discover Madaba, a village mentioned in the Bible and well known for its Byzantine mosaics. Visit the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George, where the enormous Madaba mosaic map is located. The city is also home to the famous 6th-century mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Continue to Mount Nebo, the ideal place to admire the panoramic view of the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. North of Madaba rises Mount Nebo. It is from this natural promontory that Moses gazed upon the Promised Land before drawing his last breath. It is one of the most visited archaeological and biblical sites in Jordan. Possibility to visit Kerak. Dinner and overnight in Petra.

• day 4

  Discovery of Petra, the 2^nd wonder of the world

  

  A full day devoted to visiting the site of Petra. Located three hours south of Amman, Petra was left to us by the Nabataeans, a hardworking Arab nation that settled in the southern tip of Jordan more than 2000 years ago. Renowned for its refined culture, massive architecture, and ingenious system of water retention and supply channels, Petra is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and recognized as a place that enchants visitors from all over the world. You will start with a guided tour with your local French-speaking guide. Then, you can stroll freely through the ancient city. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

• day 5

  Little Petra - Wadi Rum (Jeep tour)

  

  After breakfast, set out to visit the "Little Petra." It is also known as Siq al-Barid. An ancient caravanserai of the Nabataeans, it is thought to have been an important suburb of Petra. It is accessed through a narrow opening, similar to that of the Siq but much smaller in scale. The site includes tombs, temples, water channels and cisterns carved into the rock, as well as remains of frescoes on plaster. Next, departure for Wadi Rum, this desert of many colors, the largest and most majestic of the Jordanian deserts. You will immerse yourself in this breathtaking, timeless place, left almost untouched by humans and their destructive activities. Here, it is water and wind that have sculpted these gigantic and imposing towers, elegantly described by T.E. Lawrence as "vast, echoing, god-like." A labyrinth of rock. You board a 4×4 and explore the perfect desert of Jordan during a two-hour excursion, where you will admire the sunset. Typical Bedouin dinner in the evening and overnight in a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum.

• day 6

  The jewels of the Red Sea

  

  After breakfast at the Bedouin camp, you take the road to Aqaba (1h - 60 km). This beautiful Jordanian coastal city is characterized by its views of the deep blue waters of the Red Sea, rich in picturesque coral reefs, and the diversity of marine life found there. You can have lunch in a typical restaurant. Freshly caught fish are a key ingredient in the local cuisine. The afternoon is for relaxing and enjoying the sun, the sea, and its myriad of colorful fish. Aqaba is the second most modern city after the capital, but remains a very pleasant small seaside town. Feel free to stroll through the small streets of its historic center and the heart of the market. Optional activities: • Snorkeling or diving: to explore the underwater wonders among the corals and colorful fish of the Red Sea. • Boat trips: Treat yourself to a sunset cruise or enjoy a delicious barbecue at sea. For those who prefer to keep their feet dry, glass-bottom boats allow you to discover all the wonders of the Red Sea. On boats designed for observing marine life, travelers can see fish, turtles, and dolphins swimming beneath their feet. • Nightlife: In the evening, Aqaba comes alive. In the alleys of the old town, locals and visitors especially enjoy strolling and tasting some local specialties. The pleasant temperatures at the end of the day invite encounters and discovery. It is the ideal time to fully enjoy the kindness and hospitality of Jordanians. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

• day 7

  Return to Amman

  

  After breakfast, free morning in Aqaba. In the late afternoon, return to Amman. Night in Amman.

• day 8

  Departure from Jordan.

  After breakfast, transfer to the airport for departure.