Half as Old as Time...

Day 1

Travel to London Heathrow by complimentary private car (within 65 miles) in time for the departure of your scheduled flight to Amman, the Jordanian capital. A private minibus and driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel for the first of three nights.

The Classical Glory of North Jordan (Days 2-4)

Day 2

After breakfast you will be driven to the ruins of Qasr el-Abed (Castle of the Slave) which lie on a grassy plain near the village of Iraq el-Amir, and are considered to be one of the Kingdom’s finest examples of Hellenistic architecture. The castle was once surrounded by a wall that included a lake and a park full of trees and shrubs.

In Iraq el-Amir you will also visit Noor al-Hussein’s Papermaking Workshop at the handicraft village to see the production of handmade paper from indigenous palm leaves, banana and okra stems. The Workshop incorporates the paper to make items such as greeting cards, paintings and scripts.

Return to Amman.

Amman is a bustling, ever-growing modern capital of superb hotels, shops and cafés but, at its heart, is the ancient Roman city of Philadelphia. The most conspicuous remnant of its former glory is the Roman Theatre, demonstrating beautifully the art of architectural acoustics, and classical history comes to life at Amman’s Archaeological Museum. In the Citadel one can also see the ancient ruins of the Temple of Hercules that date back to A.D.161, the Byzantine Church, and the Omayyad Palace.

You will continue to Jebel Amman which was once the preserve of the elite royalty, wealthy families and British commanders of the army when Amman was just a small town occupying the Downtown valley-floors. Explore by foot the streets around the first circle (roundabout) which are lined with many fine old villas dating from 1920 and some fascinating craft shops. (B)

Luxury : Grand Hyatt

First Class : Century Park Hotel

Day 3

An hour north of Amman is Jerash, the best preserved of the Biblical Decapolis (ten cities) and one of the most important Roman sites outside Italy. Explore the fine paved and colonnaded streets, the hilltop temples, the elegant theatres and public squares, the plazas, baths and market-places, and watch thrilling re-enactments of chariot racing and gladiatorial combat.

25km away, through verdant valleys and olive groves, is the busy market town of Ajlun, home to an impressive Crusader–era castle, Qala’at el-Rabbad, built by the Arabs of the Ayubbid dynasty around A.D. 1185 as a defense against the Crusaders.

Return to Amman for the night. (B)

Day 4

After breakfast drive north to the Decapolis city of Umm Qais (Gadara) where Jordan’s best view may be appreciated at its northern-most point, overlooking the Sea of Galilee, the Golan Heights and the Jordan Valley. It was in Gadara that Jesus performed the miracle of the Gadarene swine.

A picturesque return route follows the dramatic gorge of the Yermouk river to Pella, another Decapolis city, and one of the richest in archaeological sites, having been inhabited for the past 6,000 years. Pella has yielded archaeological treasures from the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Arab periods, and makes a fascinating stop on any tour of Jordan. The journey continues on to the Dead Sea arriving late afternoon. (B)

Luxury: Kempinski Hotel Ishtar

First Class: Dead Sea Spa Hotel

Day 5

The bizarre and wonderful Dead Sea is the world’s lowest point, presenting the opportunity to relax, as you float in its buoyant waters, or indulge with a number of spa treatments derived from its therapeutic mud. (B)

The King’s Highway and Petra (Days 6-8)

Byzantine history dominates the journey south, with stops at St George’s Church in Madaba, home to the most famous and unique 6th Century mosaic map of the Holy Land; and Mount Nebo, an atmospheric Biblical site, where Moses beheld the Promised Land and where he is supposedly buried.

Day 6

Byzantine history dominates the journey south, with stops at St George’s Church in Madaba, home to the most famous and unique 6th Century mosaic map of the Holy Land; and Mount Nebo, an atmospheric Biblical site, where Moses beheld the Promised Land and where he is supposedly buried.

The most scenic route to Petra follows the age-old trading route known as the King’s Highway. Highlights along the way include the spectacular Wadi Mujib (Jordan’s ‘Grand Canyon’) and the monumental Crusader castle at Kerak. A late afternoon arrival in Petra allows some time to unwind at your hotel, your base for the next three nights. (B)

Luxury: Movenpick Resort Petra

First Class: Crowne Plaza Resort

Day 7

After breakfast, a morning excursion will take you to one of the region’s most important archaeological sites, the 9,000 year old Neolithic settlement of Beidha and to the nearby Siq el-Barid, a miniature Petra with its own small Siq (gorge), carved tombs and monuments. Afternoon at leisure in the hotel before an optional evening excursion to see Petra by night – a magical introduction to the ‘rose-red’ city by the light of a thousand candles accompanied by the gaze of the moon and stars, Bedouin stories and oriental music. (B)

Day 8

Today is devoted to Petra, recently voted one of the ‘New Wonders of the World’, though it is hardly ‘new’ – in fact, it was once memorably described as a ‘rose red city, half as old as time’. This is the stand-out highlight even in a land packed with natural and historical wonders, a necropolis cut into the very mountains thousands of years ago by the Nabateans, a people who venerated rock as the dwelling place of the gods. The first sight of this extraordinary place is unforgettable as visitors round the last turn of the Siq, a narrow, kilometre-long canyon, to emerge at the breathtaking Treasury, one of the greatest architectural and artistic achievements of the ancient world. Its majestic façade changes in colour with the passing of the sun across the sky, from pastel pink to warm gold.

Elsewhere, the multi-hued Royal Tombs, temples, streets and theatres make for enthralling hours of wandering, and a tiring climb (optional) up the mountain-side to the north is richly rewarded with awesome views of the Monastery, another rock-cut masterpiece, and the boundless horizon of Wadi Araba. (B)

Day 9

South of Petra is another majestic sight – Wadi Rum. This is Lawrence of Arabia country…much of the epic movie was filmed here, and Lawrence himself was entranced by its beauty and scale, describing this magnificent desert landscape as ‘vast, echoing and godlike’. Embark on a two hour excursion by Bedouin  four-wheel drive vehicles through the desert to enjoy the different rock formations, inscriptions, canyons, sand dunes and sunset. Savour a traditional dinner in a Bedouin tent to the accompaniment of local music, before proceeding to the Red Sea resort city of Aqaba. (B,D)

Luxury: Movenpick Resort

First Class: Radisson SAS Tala Bay Resort

The Red Sea (Days 10-11)

Our journey from north to south concludes in sleepy Aqaba, Jordan’s gateway to the Red Sea.

The sun shines here most days of the year, and you may be tempted to settle back for a day of doing nothing. But, for those who can muster the energy, some of the world’s best snorkelling and scuba diving may be experienced amongst the vibrant coral reefs, just metres offshore, teeming with kaleidoscopically coloured, charmingly inquisitive tropical fish. (B)

Day 12

Privately transfer to Aqaba Airport for your return flight to London Heathrow via Amman (and a private car transfer home), or why not extend your stay in Aqaba for more sunbathing or diving? (B)

B,L,D – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.