Ancient Wonders & Desert Adventures of Jordan

On arrival at Queen Alia International Airport, you will be welcomed by your local representative and transferred to your hotel in Amman. After checking in, take time to relax after your journey and prepare for the experiences ahead. In the evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel.

Ancient Amman and the Desert of Wadi Rum

After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, begin the day with a guided tour of Amman, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Although Jordan’s capital is now a lively modern city, its hills preserve fascinating evidence of the many civilisations that have shaped the region.

Your first stop is the Amman Citadel, dramatically positioned on Jabal Al-Qal’a and offering panoramic views across the capital. Explore the archaeological remains found here, including the Roman Temple of Hercules, the Byzantine church and the impressive Umayyad Palace complex. Together, these sites illustrate how Amman developed under Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic rule.

Continue to the magnificent Roman Theatre, built during the second century when the city was known as Philadelphia. Carved into the hillside and designed to accommodate approximately 6,000 spectators, the theatre provides an excellent insight into Roman architecture, entertainment and public life.

Following the city tour, board your coach and travel south towards Wadi Rum. Watch as Amman’s urban landscape gradually gives way to open countryside and vast desert scenery. On arrival, settle into your desert camp and experience the remarkable atmosphere of the “Valley of the Moon,” surrounded by towering sandstone mountains and sweeping red-sand valleys. In the evening, enjoy a traditional dinner and experience the peaceful desert beneath a canopy of stars.

Exploring Wadi Rum and Journeying to Petra

Wake to the silence and extraordinary beauty of Wadi Rum before enjoying breakfast at your desert camp. This protected landscape has been shaped over millions of years by wind, water and geological movement, creating immense sandstone formations, narrow canyons, natural arches and colourful desert valleys.

Set out on an exciting 4x4 tour accompanied by a local Bedouin guide. Travel across the desert to discover some of Wadi Rum’s most impressive natural landmarks and learn how people have survived in this challenging environment for generations. Along the way, look for ancient inscriptions and rock carvings left by travellers, traders and communities who crossed the desert many centuries ago.

Wadi Rum also played a role in the Arab Revolt of 1916–1918 and is closely associated with T. E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia. Your guide will introduce the historical importance of the region while also sharing an insight into Bedouin traditions, desert navigation and contemporary life in Wadi Rum.

After the desert adventure, continue north towards Petra, travelling through another striking section of Jordan’s mountainous landscape. On arrival in Wadi Musa, the gateway to Petra, check in to your hotel and enjoy some time to relax. Dinner will be served at a local restaurant or your hotel as anticipation builds for the following day’s exploration of Jordan’s most celebrated archaeological site.

Petra, Capital of the Nabataeans

After breakfast at your hotel, prepare for a full day exploring Petra, one of the world’s most spectacular archaeological destinations. Established as the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom, Petra became an important centre of trade connecting Arabia, Egypt and the Mediterranean world. The wealth generated through these trading routes helped the Nabataeans create an extraordinary city of temples, tombs and monuments carved directly into the surrounding rose-coloured sandstone.

Begin by walking through the Siq, a narrow and dramatic gorge bordered by cliffs that rise high above the pathway. As you proceed, your guide will point out the remains of water channels, carvings and religious symbols that provide an insight into Nabataean engineering and beliefs. At the end of the gorge, the magnificent façade of the Treasury suddenly comes into view—one of the most memorable sights in the ancient world.

Continue deeper into Petra to see its elaborate Royal Tombs, burial chambers, temples and Roman-style theatre. Learn how the Nabataeans designed an advanced system of dams, cisterns and channels to collect and manage water, allowing a thriving community to develop in an otherwise arid environment.

The visit provides an opportunity to examine the influence of different cultures on Petra’s architecture and understand how the city changed following its incorporation into the Roman Empire. There will also be time to appreciate the enormous scale and natural beauty of the site before returning to your hotel. In the evening, enjoy dinner and reflect on the remarkable achievements of the civilisation that created the Rose-Red City.

Madaba, Mount Nebo and the Dead Sea

Following breakfast, check out of your hotel and begin the journey north towards Madaba, a historic town renowned for its exceptional collection of Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics. The journey provides another opportunity to observe Jordan’s diverse landscapes, from Petra’s rugged mountains to the elevated plains and valleys of the north.

In Madaba, visit St George’s Church to see the celebrated sixth-century mosaic map of the Holy Land. Created from thousands of coloured stone pieces, the map contains detailed representations of Jerusalem and other important locations throughout the ancient Middle East. It is not only an impressive work of art but also an invaluable historical and geographical record, offering students a fascinating insight into how people understood and represented the region more than 1,400 years ago.

Continue to Mount Nebo, a site of considerable religious and historical importance. According to biblical tradition, this is where Moses viewed the Promised Land before his death. Explore the remains of the early Christian complex and view its beautiful mosaics before taking in the panoramic scenery across the Jordan Valley. On a clear day, it may be possible to see towards the Dead Sea and the hills beyond.

Your final destination is the Dead Sea, one of the planet’s most extraordinary natural environments and the lowest point on Earth. Its exceptionally high salt concentration creates the unusual sensation of floating effortlessly on the water. Enjoy time at a resort to experience the mineral-rich waters and learn about the geological forces that formed the Jordan Rift Valley.

After this memorable experience, check in to your hotel and enjoy dinner. The evening offers time to relax and reflect upon a journey that has combined ancient civilisations, religious history, archaeology, desert traditions and remarkable natural landscapes.

Farewell after an interesting trip

Enjoy your final breakfast at the hotel before checking out and meeting your driver for the transfer to Queen Alia International Airport. Depending on the flight schedule, there may be time to enjoy the facilities of the hotel or make a final stop to purchase traditional Jordanian gifts and souvenirs.

As you travel to the airport, reflect on an unforgettable journey through several thousand years of human history. From Amman’s Roman and Islamic remains to the ancient inscriptions of Wadi Rum, the Nabataean monuments of Petra and the Byzantine mosaics of Madaba, the tour provides a fascinating introduction to the civilisations, cultures and communities that have shaped Jordan.

Arrive at the airport with assistance for check-in before boarding your flight home, taking with you lasting memories of Jordan’s welcoming people, magnificent archaeological sites and dramatic desert landscapes.