Desert Ruins and Reefs Group Tour

Day 1: Amman

Welcome to Jordan and the start of an amazing adventure. On arrival into Amman, transfer to the hotel and overnight.

Day 2: Amman - Jerash - Umm Qais - Amman

Heading north, you will visit Jerash, the Graeco-Roman city known as the ‘Pompeii of the East’. Built over 2,000 years ago, Jerash is widely regarded as the best-preserved city of the Decapolis, a confederation of 10 Roman cities dating from the 1st century! You’ll explore the site taking in the colonnaded street, amphitheatre, nymphaeum, forum and more before continuing to Umm Qais (Gadara), a dramatic black-basalt Roman city of the Decapolis with panoramic views over the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights. Overnight in Amman (BB).

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Day 3: Amman - Dead Sea - Petra

Today, you will visit the citadel, Archaeological Museum and enjoy free time in the local souq before descending from the elevation of Amman to the Dead Sea for a chance to take a dip in the mineral-rich waters. Next you will head to Shobak castle to walk round the fantastic crusader castle and admire the brilliant views (with Al Karak as an alternative) before continuing south to Petra. Overnight in Petra (BB)

Day 4: Petra

Chief among Jordan’s many archaeological riches is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Rose City of Petra. You will access the hidden archaeological treasures of the Rose City on a walk through a narrow, deep siq, where the rocks finally give way to reveal the famous facade of Al-Khazneh (the Treasury). It's also possible to ride a horse through the Siq. Continuing your walk, you will then go on to explore chunks of this fantastic once-lost city which is full of tombs, temples, an impressive amphitheatre and a Roman colonnaded street. Want to learn how to cook Middle Eastern food? Consider opting for our Petra Kitchen bolt-on tonight! Overnight in Petra (BB)

Day 5: Petra – Wadi Rum

This morning return to Petra for further exploration before you depart for Wadi Rum. A vast, silent landscape of ancient riverbeds, pastel coloured stretches of sandy desert and amazing rock formations known as jebels that rise from the desert floor, the desert landscape of Wadi Rum is an unspoiled natural beauty, forged by millions of years of geological formation, erosion and evolution. Boarding 4x4 jeeps, you will take a safari through the sand dunes, getting up close and personal to the surrounding scenery. Tonight, you will enjoy a Jordanian dinner with the opportunity to camp out under the stars (it you wish) or in permanent tents. Overnight in Wadi Rum (HB)

Days 6 - 8: Aqaba

Leaving Wadi Rum you will be driven to Aqaba located on the Red Sea coast, for a 3 night stay. The following days are free for you to independently explore, swim, snorkel, dive or simply relax. Azure blue waters brimming with kaleidoscopic marine life are a real attraction here at Aqaba. Why not undertake some scuba diving? Overnight in Aqaba (BB)

Day 9: Aqaba - Umm ar Rasas - Mt Nebo - Madaba

En route to Madaba you drive via Umm ar-Rasas. Roam the ruined city and the impressive church of St Stephen with its huge and beautifully preserved mosaic, and then admire the panoramic views of the Promised Land from Mt Nebo. Overnight in Madaba (BB).

Day 10: Madaba

Mentioned in the Old Testament, the prime attractions of the venerable town of Madaba are its many 6th-century Byzantine mosaics. Perhaps the most impressive of these is an enormous 6th-century map of Palestine and Egypt that is located in St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church. Overnight in Madaba (BB).