Jordan Trekking - 9 days

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Arrival in Amman

  

  Arrival at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman. Meet and greet after customs by our local English-speaking assistant for the issuance of the Jordanian visa upon arrival. Completion of police formalities and baggage claim. Transfer to your hotel and check-in to your room for the night. OPTIONAL: Depending on your arrival time, it is possible to book a dinner at the hotel or a cold snack served in the room if arriving late (such as a club sandwich or a cold plate with 1 small bottle of mineral water 50 cl per person). Overnight at the hotel - BB.

• day 2

  Visit of Amman - Desert Castles - Night in Amman

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Meeting with your French-speaking guide-escort. Departure for an excursion to the desert castles. You will visit Qasr Al-Kharaneh, located 55 km from the capital. It is probably the only castle with a military function, as suggested by its architecture. However, for some researchers, the importance of the stables rather suggests a caravanserai. Visit of Qasr Amra, a small blonde stone castle listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built at the beginning of the 8th century, this particularly well-preserved desert castle was both a fortress housing a garrison and a residence of the Umayyad caliphs. Equipped in particular with an audience hall and a hammam with rich figurative wall paintings, this small pleasure castle reflects the secular art of the time. Visit of the magnificent Qasr Al Azraq, a small black basalt fortress. Built by the Romans, the castle was later occupied by the Umayyad caliphs, around the 8th century, before becoming the headquarters of Lawrence of Arabia at the end of the First World War. Lunch at a restaurant during the excursion. Return to Amman and visit of the capital of the Hashemite kingdom. Between the eastern desert and the Jordan Valley, Amman is home to about a million inhabitants. Entirely built in beige-white limestone, the city is an aggregate of cream-colored cubes, gilded by the sun. You will first explore the heart of ancient Philadelphia, protected within its ramparts. On the hill where the citadel is located, visit the Archaeological Museum which reveals a collection of ancient objects from all over the country, the majestic ruins of the Temple of Hercules erected in the 2nd century under Marcus Aurelius, and the remains of the Umayyad Palace, the most impressive monument of the upper city. The palatial complex served as a residence and command center for the emirs of the Umayyad dynasty. You will then go down to the lower city, which has preserved a beautiful Roman theater, the main ancient monument in downtown Amman. Built on the northern flank of Jebel al-Taj, it was completed at the end of the 2nd century and could accommodate 6,000 spectators. Return to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel - HB.

• day 3

  Amman - Jerash - Ajloun - Amman

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to discover the ancient city of Jerash, a true "Rome outside Rome," listed on the UNESCO tentative list. It was one of the ten main cities of the empire, within the Decapolis Confederation. The city reached its golden age under Roman rule, a period during which it was known as Gerasa. Today, this site is considered one of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities in the world. Hidden under the sand for several centuries before being discovered and restored over 70 years, Jerash is adorned with paved streets, colonnades, immense temples on the crest of the hills, charming theaters, spacious public squares, baths, fountains, and walls pierced by towers and gates. Beneath its Greco-Roman appearance, Jerash retains a delightful blend of West and East. Its architecture, religion, and languages are the result of the mixture and coexistence of two powerful cultures: that of the Greco-Romans in the Mediterranean basin on one hand, and that of the Arabs of the East on the other. Lunch at the restaurant. Continue through pine forests and olive groves to Ajlun for a visit to its impressive Ayyubid fortress. Ajlun Castle (Qal'at Ar-Rabad) was built by one of Saladin's generals in the year 1184 to control the local iron mines and prevent the Franks from invading the city. It dominated the three main routes to the Jordan Valley, which allowed for monitoring the trade routes between Jordan and Syria. It became an important link in the chain of defense against the Crusaders who, for decades, tried in vain to seize the castle and the nearby village. Return to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel - HB.

• day 4

  Amman - Wadi Mujeb - Hiking - Dead Sea - Amman

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Early departure for Wadi Mujeb, for an easy hike that depends on weather conditions and the RSCN. The "Siq" trail is the most popular. Allow 1 to 2 hours of walking (the trail is accessible from April 30 to October 30, unless closure is decided by the RSCN) - hike without a local guide. This hike has the advantage of being accessible without a guide and especially without reservation. It is a fairly easy hike, but still requires good physical condition. You will venture into the heart of the gorge, walk along the cliffside, and will have to swim in some places. A true aquatic hike! You will finally arrive at a large waterfall where it is pleasant to swim. Drive to the Dead Sea, a true miracle of nature. The Jordan Rift, undoubtedly the most spectacular place on earth, offers a landscape of great beauty, with some points, notably the Dead Sea, located more than 400 meters below sea level. Several rivers, including the Jordan, flow into this vast strip of water located at the lowest point on the globe. When these waters reach the Dead Sea, they become trapped and evaporate, leaving behind a rich cocktail of salts and minerals used by industry, agriculture, and medicine to create high-quality products. The Dead Sea is overlooked by mountains to the east and the rolling hills of Jerusalem to the west, giving it an almost unreal beauty. It is believed that this region, so sparsely populated and peaceful today, once housed five biblical cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar. Lunch at a 4-star Ramada hotel or similar. Free time for swimming (towel and locker rental not included, to be paid on site). The main attraction of the Dead Sea is its very salty water, both warm and relaxing. It is ten times saltier than seawater and is particularly rich in magnesium chloride, sodium, potassium, and bromide. Since ancient times, its warm, mineral-laden waters, on which one floats effortlessly, have attracted visitors from all over the world. It has had illustrious admirers such as King Herod and the beautiful Egyptian queen Cleopatra. All have succumbed to the delights of bathing in the rich, stimulating black mud of the Dead Sea. All have enjoyed the pleasure of floating on their backs, while benefiting from the minerals and the gentle warmth of the Jordanian sun. Return to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Amman - HB.

• day 5

  Amman - Dana (hiking - Shobak - Petra)

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Departure along the historic King's Highway for a hike in the Dana Reserve, Shaq al Reesh hiking trail (all year round, except during Ramadan), guided only. Grade: Moderate to difficult Distance to cover: 3 km Time: 4-5 hours Departure time: 8:00 am Group size: 4-20 people Requirements: Transport to and from the al-Barra area; no fear of heights. Description: This circular trail goes from al-Barrah, through a breathtaking siq, and up to Shaq al Reesh. Lunch at Dana Guest House. Continue to Shobak Castle. This is a very strategic place during the Crusades. Its location allowed the protection of the road from Damascus to Egypt. Spanning 189 km² and benefiting from arable land, its economy is mainly based on agriculture. Tourism comes second, focused largely on visits to the Krak de Montréal, a fortress built in 1115 by Baldwin I, King of Jerusalem. Arrival in Petra at the end of the day and check-in at the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel – HB.

• day 6

  Petra visit - Wadi Rum

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Day dedicated to visiting the wonderful Petra, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The gigantic red cliffs and vast sanctuaries of the lost city have nothing in common with modern civilization as we know it. Petra is a true gem, one of the greatest wonders ever created by Man and Nature. Often described as the eighth wonder of the world, it is undoubtedly the most precious jewel of Jordan. Located between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, and inhabited since prehistoric times, the capital of the Nabataeans carved into the rock became, during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, a major caravan center for the trade of Arabian incense, Chinese silks, and Indian spices, a crossroads between Arabia, Egypt, Syria-Phoenicia, Greece, and Rome. Petra is half built, half carved into the rock face, surrounded by mountains riddled with passes and gorges. It is one of the richest and largest archaeological sites in the world, in a landscape dominated by red sandstone. The fusion of Hellenistic architectural facades with traditional Nabataean temples/tombs carved into the rock represents a unique artistic achievement and a remarkable architectural ensemble from the first centuries BC to our era. The diversity of archaeological remains and architectural monuments, from prehistory to the medieval period, provides exceptional testimony to civilizations that have now disappeared, which succeeded one another on the site. You will walk through the Siq, a narrow gorge over a kilometer long, at the end of which suddenly appears Petra's most majestic monument: Al-Khazneh, or literally "the Treasury," entirely carved into the rock. Tomb of a Nabataean king, it was carved at the beginning of the 1st century and testifies to the genius of this ancient people for construction. Beyond, you will discover hundreds of carved buildings and temples, high religious places, royal tombs and ornate funerary chambers, all empty today, houses, baths, banquet halls, monumental staircases, arched gates, obelisks, sacrificial altars, colonnaded streets, paved streets... as well as the Nabataean theater in Roman style with 3,000 seats. You will walk along the main street, the Cardo Maximus, and visit the sanctuary of Qasr Al-Bint, one of the main temples of the city of Petra and one of the few built structures still relatively intact. Lunch at a restaurant during the excursion. In the afternoon, free time for your personal discovery of the site or for an (optional) climb to the majestic El-Deir Monastery, which is reached by a staircase of 822 steps carved into the cliff. The views of the surroundings from this incredible building are breathtaking! Drive to the Wadi Rum desert (about 2 hours by road). This site was one of the key locations of the Great Arab Revolt against the Ottomans during the First World War, magnified by director David Lean in one of the most impressive scenes of his film Lawrence of Arabia. At the end of the day, check-in at the camp, in the heart of the desert. You will be accommodated in Bedouin-style tents and enjoy an unobstructed view of the Wadi Rum desert landscape. The camp offers an authentic desert experience, with traditional meals, reflecting true Bedouin generosity and local hospitality. A dinner of typical specialties will be served buffet-style, under the stars, around a campfire (weather permitting). Night in a Bedouin tent with private bathroom in HB.

• day 7

  Wadi Rum: visit with easy hike - Aqaba

  

  Breakfast at the camp. In the company of local Bedouins, you will take an open 4x4 pickup tour in the desert (duration: about 4 hours). There you will discover breathtaking landscapes shaped by rain and wind over the centuries. Easy hike during the excursion. Listed as a mixed natural and cultural site on the UNESCO World Heritage list, the Wadi Rum protected area covers 74,000 hectares, in the far south of Jordan, near the border with Saudi Arabia. It is a very spectacular desert landscape, with canyons, natural arches, cliffs, ramps, and caves. The presence of petroglyphs, engraved inscriptions, and archaeological remains testifies to 12,000 years of human occupation. The combination of 25,000 petroglyphs and 20,000 inscriptions traces the evolution of human thought and the beginnings of alphabetic writing, and illustrates the development of pastoral, agricultural, and urban activities in the region. Lunch in a Bedouin camp. Drive to Aqaba, a seaside town, dinner and overnight in Aqaba.

• day 8

  Aqaba - Amman

  

  Breakfast at the hotel. Free morning in Aqaba at the hotel, lunch not included. ** Optional cruise in Aqaba for 3 hours, including a BBQ lunch and snorkeling: USD 55 PP Return to Amman (driving time: 4 hours), free time in Amman city - farewell dinner at Reem Al Bawadi - overnight at your hotel - BB.

• day 9

  Amman Hotel - Amman Airport

  Breakfast, transfer to Amman International Airport and final departure.

• Conditions:

  This price includes:  Entry visa to Jordan through La Beduina Tours (upon arrival)  Minimum 4 people  Welcome and assistance by our English-speaking representative  Transportation according to the program with an English-speaking or French-speaking driver depending on availability  Accommodation for 8 nights in the mentioned hotels or similar on a half-board basis  2 nights in Amman in BB (1st night due to late arrival, & farewell dinner outside the hotel)  Program on full board basis  Entrance fees to all sites mentioned in the program  Entrance to Petra including an optional horse ride for 800 m (included in the ticket)  6 lunches in restaurants or with local families & 1 farewell dinner at Reem Al Bawadi  Private French-speaking accompanying guide during visits for 6 days starting from 7 people  Local Bedouin jeep tour in Wadi Rum Desert for about 4 hours  Collective local guides for FITS of 2-6 PAX in Jerash & Petra  From 20 people, one person will be taken care of free of charge in ½ Twin This price does not include:  Petra By Night: 40 USD P.P (every Monday, Wednesday & Thursday)  Lunch in Aqaba city or hotel on Day 8  Optional tours or extension  Carriages in Petra  Drinks except where mentioned  Medical insurance  Personal expenses