ROOTS OF JORDAN

Arrival in Amman, the capital of Jordan. Visa processing and transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Panoramic tour of both the new and old parts of Amman, formerly known as Philadelphia. The tour includes the modern areas, the city center with a view from the Citadel, and the Roman Theater. Continue to the traditional markets (souqs), churches, and mosques, including the King Abdullah I Mosque near the Parliament, Abdali Boulevard, and the new residential neighborhoods. 

Proceed to Jerash, one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities in the Roman Empire, known as the "Pompeii of the East." Explore the Roman urban layout through its streets, theaters, temples, and plazas, including the colonnaded street, the triumphal arch, the Oval Plaza, and the temples of Zeus and Artemis. 

Continue to Ajloun Castle, perched on a mountain with beautiful views. The fortress, built by one of Saladin's generals in 1185 A.D. during the Ayyubid period to control the local iron mines, is an excellent example of Islamic architecture. It was later rebuilt in the 13th century by the Mamluks. The castle controlled the three main routes leading to the Jordan Valley and protected the trade routes between Jordan and Syria, making it a strategic defensive point during the Ayyubid era. Return to Amman. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure east to visit the Islamic castles, built between the 7th and 8th centuries during the Umayyad dynasty. Visit Qasr Amra, an ancient hunting lodge with unique frescoes from the Islamic world; Qasr al-Kharanah, an ancient caravanserai; and Qasr al-Azraq, a Roman-Umayyad fortress built from black volcanic stone. 

Descend to the lowest point on Earth, the Dead Sea, and the Moab Desert, the world's first natural spa. Enjoy free time to swim in its therapeutic saline waters, an unforgettable experience, and make use of the private facilities: beach and pool. Return to Amman. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Madaba, the "City of Mosaics," to visit St. George’s Church, which houses the map of the Holy Land created in 571 A.D. Continue to Mount Nebo, known as the burial site of Moses, offering a magnificent view of the Jordan Valley from its summit. Visit the church and then proceed along the ancient trade route, known as the Silk Road, to the fortress of Karak or Shobak, built between 1110 and 1213 A.D. by the Templars during the Crusades and later taken by Saladin. Continue to Petra. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Full-day classic tour of the Nabatean city of Petra, one of the settings for "Indiana Jones" and one of the Seven Wonders of the World, carved into pink rock over 2,000 years ago. Access the entrance to the Siq (canyon), then continue to the impressive monumental complex of the Treasury (Al-Khazneh). Visit the theater, the Royal Tombs, the Byzantine Church, and the Colonnaded Street. (Climbing to the Monastery or the Altar of Sacrifice is at the clients' own expense and not guided). Visit the Petra Museum if time permits. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Little Petra to visit the Nabatean caravan stop before entering the main city, a trading center for silk and spices. Continue to the Wadi Rum Desert, one of the settings for "Lawrence of Arabia," "The Martian" with Matt Damon, and "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker." It is one of the most spectacular landscapes in the Middle East, featuring red sand desert, granite mountains, and peaks in golden and reddish hues, along with various petroglyphs. Enjoy a classic 2-hour 4x4 tour through these impressive landscapes. 

Proceed to Aqaba for a panoramic visit with free time in the city and/or at the beach (beach access not included; direct payment by clients. Aqaba’s beaches are private, with few public beaches offering basic services). Return to Amman by road. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel in Amman. Transfer to the airport.