Jordan Programs

JOR 1: Classical Jordan

8 Days/7 Nights

1. Day : Europe - Amman

Arrival at Queen Alia International Airport. Meet and assist by our staff through customs and transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight at Amman.

2. Day : Amman – Jerash – Ajloun - Amman

You will start the day by a tour in the city of Amman. 1200 B.C capital of the Ammonite, Rabbath Ammon, a city of the Decapolis during the Greco-Roman period. the city was named Philadelphia. Originally spread over seven hills like Rome, now covers 19 hills here. We will visit the most important ruins of the Greco-Roman Empire, the Citadel and the Roman Amphitheater. We will visit the Jordan Archaeological Museum at the Citadel and both the Jordan Museum of Popular Traditions and the Jordan Folklore Museum at the Roman Amphitheatre. Then drive north of Amman to the Greco-Roman Decapolis City of Jerash, 2000 years old, founded by Alexander the Great 322 B.C. There, we will visit the ruins of the Triumphal Arch, the Amphitheater, Churches, the Forum, the Hippodrome, and walk down the “Street of Columns” the Roman Cardo, passing through many sites of interest and pass by the Oval Market. Proceed to Ajloun Castle located above the city of Ajloun to enjoy the breathtaking view over the Jordan Valley. Dinner and overnight at Amman.

3. Day : Amman – Desert Castles – Amman

Breakfast and visit the Desert Castles built by early Islamic Umayyad Caliphs in the seventh and eight centuries AD Qasr Amra, Qasr Kharaneh and Qasr Azraq are some of the best preserved samples of Umayyad art and architecture, including fortifications, baths, mosques, water and agricultural systems, mosaic floors and painted wall frescoes. Return to hotel in Amman for dinner and overnight.

4. Day : Amman – Madaba – Mt Nebo – Kerak - Petra

Heading towards the south of Amman, we drive to the city of Madaba. An ancient Moabite town, it was the center of mosaics during the Byzantine period. See a selection of the world famous Byzantine Mosaics, visit the well known Saint George's Church with the 6^th century mosaic map of the Holy Land. 10 minutes from Madaba is Mount Nebo, Moses last camp after the exodus. From the summit of the mountain he surveyed the Holy Land before he died. Visit the 4^th century memorial church for Moses, one of the reputed sites of Moses' burial. Here we can visit the simple Franciscan chapel, which covers the remains of the original 4th century church and 6th century basilica. Continue south through Wadi Mujib to Kerak. The 12^th century crusaders’ castle was controlling the ancient caravan roads from Egypt to Syria. In 1187 A.D., Saladin defeated the crusaders at Hittin near Tiberius, then in 1188 Kerak passed into the Moslems hands. Proceed to Petra, for dinner & overnight.

5. Day : Petra

We start our day touring the most spectacular site in the south of Jordan, the rose-red city of Petra, the name being derived from the Greek word for “Rock” Entrance to Petra is after 1200 m walk through a winding snake-like Siq (canyon) for 20 minutes. The Siq is from 80-100 in height; on either side of the canyon are rock-cut channels of water. 560 B.C. the Nabateans moved into Petra, 332 B.C. with the Greek arrival, the Nabatean assimilated the Hellenistic culture, curving their temples and tombs with a Greek design. The Nabatean kingdom controlled the caravan trade of frankincense from southern Arabia to Petra, Damascus, Gaza and Egypt. While walking through the “siq”, one is dazzled by the spectacular view of the “Treasury”, the most famous monument of Petra. Several hours will be spent walking through the canyon viewing the temples, tombs, and other places of interest. Dinner & overnight at hotel in Petra.

6. Day : Petra – Wadi Rum - Amman

The road south from Petra leads to Wadi Rum, another of nature’s wonderlands that has attracted human beings for thousand of years. Wadi Rum is an unusual desert terrain that resembles a pastel pink lunar landscape, with towering limestone and granite cliffs shooting out of the sandy desert floor. In Wadi Rum which was known as “Lawrence of Arabia Land” you have time to ride a camel or join a four-wheel safari. Afternoon departure to Amman. Dinner and overnight.

7. Day : Amman – Dead Sea - Amman

Early in the morning drive through Araba Road to the Dead Sea shores, the lowest spot on earth 1306 feet below sea level for lunch. Enjoy the bizarre but delightful experience of “floating” on the surface of buoyant waters, four times saltier than regular seawater. Overnight at Amman.

8. Day: Amman-Europe

Transfer to airport and final departure.

JOR 4: Culture & Camel Trekking

15 Days – Walking and Camel Tour

1. Day Arrival in ‘Amman.

Arrival at Queen Alia International Airport. Meet and assist by our staff through customs and transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight at Amman (-/-/D)

2. Day : Amman – Jerash – Ajloun - Amman

(B/-/D).

3. Day : Amman – Madaba – Mt Nebo – Kerak

Along the King’s Highway we reach the charming mountain village of Dana, situated on a mountain terrace amidst the national park of Dana. During our walks in the company of experienced local guides we will have the opportunity to discover the flora and fauna of the park. On day 7 we reach the rose red city of Petra. After passing the ca. 1200 m long Siq the visitor is impressed by the ornate facade of the „Treasury“. During a trek up to Al Madres we can have a bird’s view of this and other parts of the city. During our days in Petra we will have sufficient time for guided tours as well as individual exploring of the tombs and monasteries, the amphitheater and other interesting buildings. Camp overnight / in Petra hotel overnight in the new part of Petra. (5x B/L/D, 1x B/L/-)

10.-13. Day Camel trekking in Wadi Rum (Strecken zw. 15-20 km).

After breakfast we meet our camels, the guide and the bedouin who will accompany us. Everyone gets his or her own camel that will serve as mount and pack animal. We pass natural springs and mountains and reach the desert of Wadi Rum, which is an impressive landscape of ancient wadis dotted with ruins and famous for its red and rose dunes and sand stone. Morning etappes take 3-4 hours, the afternoon tours app. 2 hours. In between there is sufficient time for rests to explore the surroundings, to take photos etc. The night camps are carefully choosen spots. After dinner we can rest around the fire before we go to sleep under the stars. (4 X B/L/D).

14. Day End of camel trekking and drive to Aqaba.

Crossing Wadi Rum we are transferred to the Red Sea port of Aqaba. Hotel overnight. (B/-/D).

15. Day Departure.

Transfer to Aqaba airport and flight back via Amman. (B-/-)

SYRLIBJOR 1: Syria – Lebanon – Jordan I

15 Days/14 Nights

Day 01: Arrival
Arrival at Damascus airport, meeting & assistance and transfer to the hotel. Dinner & overnight.
Day 02: Full Day Damascus,
After breakfast start exploring the oldest inhabited capital in the world, visiting: the National Museum, the Takiyah Sulaimaniyah, the Umayyad Mosque, the tomb of Saladin, Azem Palace and Straight Street, then proceed to the Christian quarter where we are going to see St. Anannias chapel, St. Paul’s window & Bab Sharki. Then through the old famous bazaars of Damascus “Hamidiyah”. Before sunset drive to Qassion mountain 350 meters above the city level for a panoramic view. Dinner for this evening will be special either on the top of Qasion Mountain or in one of the deluxe restaurants in the old city. Back to the hotel & overnight.
Day 03 : Free at leisure – Optional: Overday tour to Baalbeck – Anjar
The day is free at leisure to explore the markets of Damascus. Or you might wish to take part in an optional excursion: After breakfast, drive towards the Syrian/ Lebanese border, smooth and fast visa procedures then move to Baalbeck in the Al-Biq'a valley visiting: the propylaea, hexagonal forecourt, great court with two altars, the temple of Jupiter, the temple of Bacchus & the Temple of Venus. Drive back to Damascus visiting en route the famous Umayyad ruins of “Anjar”. Dinner at the hotel and overnight.
Day 04: Damascus – Maaloula – Krak des Chevaliers – Amrit – Tartous – Lattakia,
After breakfast, to the Anti-Lebanon Mountains to Maaloula, the virgin village whose native tongue is Aramaic, the very language of Jesus Christ. Colorful houses are built on the cliff face like nests. Visit to the churches of St. Tekla and St. Serkis. Then we drive to Krak des Chevaliers. Continue to Amrit Kingdom, the Phoenician ruins, then to Tartus to visit its museum which is the church of Notre Dame de Syrie and we’ll have a panoramic view to the single Phoenician island on the eastern cost of the Mediterranean sea “Arwad”. Arrive Lattakia, the main port in Syria, check-in the hotel, dinner at hotel and overnight.
Day 05: Lattakia – Ugarit – St. Simeon – Aleppo,
After breakfast, leave Lattakia to the Kingdom of Ugarit where the first alphabet was created, then we drive through the green coastal mountains to one of the most charming dead cities, the monastery of St. Simeon the stylite who spent 40 years of outdoors prayers and meditation on top of a pillar. Continue to Aleppo, the second largest city in Syria, dinner at the hotel and overnight.
Day 06: Aleppo,
Full day sightseeing in Aleppo: Visit to the Archeological Museum, the Citadel of Aleppo, the Grand Mosque, the Caravansaries known as Khans, in the afternoon visit the old covered souks of Aleppo which are the longest covered souks in the world (12 Km.), dinner and overnight.
Day 07: Aleppo– Euphrates Dam– Rassafa– via Raqqa– Halabia– Deir Ez Zor,
After breakfast, leave Aleppo towards Deir Ez Zor along with the Euphrates River, short stop at Assad Artificial lake & Euphrates Dam. Continue to Rasafa (Sergeopolis), a 5th century Christian holy town. Then via Raqqa to Halabia, a fort built by the Palmyreans to look after their affairs in the east. Arrival Deir Ezzor the capital of Petrol in Syria. Dinner at the hotel and overnight.
Day 08: Deir Ez Zor – Dura Europos – Mari – Palmyra,
After breakfast drive along with the Euphrates river to the ruins of Dura Europos, a historical town built by Seleukos Nikator. We continue the visit to the archeological site of Mari, a great kingdom flourished in the third millennium B.C, then via Deir Ez Zor to the highest archaeological point of Syria, Palmyra. Dinner at the hotel & overnight.
Day 09. Palmyra – Damascus,
After breakfast, we start exploring the ancient city visiting: the museum, the temple of god Bel, the monumental arch, the via-recta, and the agora, the theater and the bath of Queen Zenobia & the tower tombs. Then we visit Ibn Maan castle and enjoy the sunset over the ruins, later drive through the Syrian semi-desert road back to Damascus, dinner at the hotel & overnight.
Day 10: Damascus – Shahba – Qanawat – Suweida – Bosra – Jerash - Amman
After breakfast, drive to the south of Syria visiting the Roman site of Shahba & the Byzantine ruins of Qanwat. Then to Suwieda the city of Druz visiting its famous mosaic museum. Then to Bosra whose enormous edifices built of hard basaltic stones reveal a glorious past, it was one of the ten prominent Roman cities. Start the visit at the Roman gate of the wind & walk to the underground market, the Lantern gate, the Islamic castle, the Great Roman Theater, the water reservoir, the Nabatean gate, the Byzantine cathedral & the church of the nostorian monk Bahira who met prophet Mohammed & predicated his mission. Cross the Syrian border to the Jordanian border and proceed to Amman via Jerash.
Day 11: Amman city tour - Madaba – Nebo – Petra
You will start the day by a tour in the city of Amman. 1200 B.C capital of the Ammonite, Rabbath Ammon, a city of the Decapolis during the Greco-Roman period. The city was named Philadelphia. Originally spread over seven hills like Rome, now covers 19 hills here. We will visit the most important ruins of the Greco-Roman Empire, the Citadel and the Roman Amphitheater. We will visit the Jordan Archaeological Museum at the Citadel and both the Jordan Museum of Popular Traditions and the Jordan Folklore Museum at the Roman Amphitheatre. Afterwards visit to the city of Madaba south of Amman. An ancient Moabite town, it was the center of mosaics during the Byzantine period. See a selection of the world famous Byzantine mosaics; visit the well-known Saint George's Church with the 6th century mosaic map of the Holy Land. 10 minutes from Madaba is Mount Nebo. Moses last camp after the exodus. From the mountain he surveyed the Holy Land before he died. Visit the 4th century memorial church for Moses, one of the reputed sites of Moses' burial. Here we can visit the simple Franciscan chapel, which covers the remains of the original 4th century church and the 6th century basilica. Continue through desert highway to Petra, for dinner & overnight.
Day 12: Petra
We start our day touring the most spectacular site in the south of Jordan, the rose-red city of Petra, the name being derived from the Greek word for “Rock” Entrance to Petra is after 1200 m walk through a winding snake-like Siq (canyon) for 20 minutes. The Siq is from 80-100 in height; on either side of the canyon are rock-cut channels of water. 560 B.C. the Nabateans moved into Petra, 332 B.C. with the Greek arrival, the Nabatean assimilated the Hellenistic culture, curving their temples and tombs with a Greek design. The Nabatean kingdom controlled the caravan trade of frankincense from southern Arabia to Petra, Damascus, Gaza and Egypt. While walking through the “siq”, one is dazzled by the spectacular view of the “Treasury”, the most famous monument of Petra. Several hours will be spent walking through the canyon viewing the temples, tombs, and other places of interest. Dinner & overnight at hotel in Petra.
Day 13: Petra-Wadi Rum
The road south from Petra leads to Wadi Rum, another of nature’s wonderlands that has attracted human beings for thousand of years. Wadi Rum is an unusual desert terrain that resembles a pastel pink lunar landscape, with towering limestone and granite cliffs shooting out of the sandy desert floor. In Wadi Rum which was known as “Lawrence of Arabia Land” you have time to ride a four-wheel safari for two hours in the evening a Bedouin party over night camping.
Day 14: Araba Road – Dead Sea – Amman
Early in the morning drive through Araba Road to the Dead Sea shores, the lowest spot on earth 1306 feet below sea level for lunch. Enjoy the bizarre but delightful experience of “floating” on the surface of buoyant waters, four times saltier than regular seawater. Overnight at Amman.
Day 15: Departure
Transfer to airport and final departure.