Explore JordanSHJR7

After breakfast, start a City Tour of Amman; visit the Citadel, Archeological Museum OR Jordan Museum, Roman Amphitheatre, and Folklore Museum. Due to the city’s modern-day prosperity and temperate climate, almost half of Jordan’s population is concentrated in the Amman area. The residential suburbs consist of mainly tree-lined street and avenues flanked by elegant, almost uniformly white houses, in accordance with a municipal law, which states that all buildings must be faced with local stone. The downtown area is much older and more traditional with smaller businesses producing and selling everything from fabulous jewelry to everyday household items. The people of Amman are multi-cultural, multi-denominational, well-educated and extremely hospitable. They welcome visitors and take pride in showing them around their fascinating and vibrant city. Depart to visit Jerash; a close second to Petra on the list of favorite destinations in Jordan, the ancient city of Jerash boasts an unbroken chain of human occupation dating back more than 6,500 years. Jerash lies on a plain surrounded by hilly wooded areas and fertile basins. Conquered by General Pompey in 63 BC, it came under Roman rule and was one of the ten great Roman cities, the Decapolis League. The city's golden age came under Roman rule, during which time it was known as Gerasa, and the site is now generally acknowledged to be one of the best preserved Roman provincial towns in the world. Hidden for centuries in sand before being excavated and restored over the past 70 years, Jerash reveals a fine example of the grand, formal provincial Roman urbanism that is found throughout the Middle East, comprising paved and colonnaded streets, soaring hilltop temples, handsome theatres, spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains and city walls pierced by towers and gates. Overnight at Amman.

After breakfast, proceed to visit Saint George Church; The Madaba Mosaic Map covers the floor of the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, which is located northwest of the city Centre. The church was built in 1896 AD, over the remains of a much earlier 6th century Byzantine church. The mosaic panel enclosing the Map was originally around 15.6 X 6m, 94 square meters, only about a quarter of which is preserved. Continue to visit Mount Nebo, one of the most revered holy sites of Jordan and the place where Moses was buried. A small Byzantine church was built there by early Christians, which has been expanded into a vast complex. During his visit to Jordan in 2001, the Late Pope John Paul II held a sermon here that was attended by some 20,000 faithful. Lunch at Food Basket Restaurant / Madaba. Proceed to visit A lonely reminder of former Crusader glory is Shobak Castle, less than an hour north of Petra. Once called "Mont Real", Shobak dates from the same turbulent period as Kerak. It is perched on the side of a mountain, with a grand sweep of fruit trees below. The castle's exterior is impressive, with a forbidding gate and encircling triple wall. Despite the precautions of its builder, the fortress fell to Saladin only 75 years after it was raised. Inscriptions by his proud successors appear on the castle wall. Continue to Petra. Overnight at Petra.

After breakfast, proceed for visit of Petra; Perhaps the words of Dean Burgon’s famous poem: ‘Match me such a marvel save in Eastern clime / A rose-red city half as old as time…’ reflect some truth about Petra. Yet words can hardly do justice to the true magnificence that is Petra. Some archaeologists have ranked ancient Petra as the eighth wonder of the ancient world – a truly justifiable claim. Petra is unique in every respect, having something to offer to the historian, anthropologist, archaeologist, geologist, architect and the naturalist, all of whom regularly come to Petra to conduct their studies and be in touch with the ancient past. You do not have to be a specialist in any field though to appreciate Petra because, once inside of it, you will be quickly awe-struck and you will want to know the how, why and where about it. This remote dead city is one of the great archaeological treasures in the world, undoubtedly; it is the most important famous attraction of Jordan. Much of Petra’s appeal comes from its awesome, multi-coloured sandstone high mountains; it is a secluded site of steep rocky slopes, towering craggy mountain tops and high cliffs, into which most of the celebrated tombs, facades, theatres and stairways are carved… Nature and architecture concur into conferring a mythical aura to the site. Lunch at Basin Restaurant. Overnight at Petra.

After breakfast depart to Wadi Rum; this is a stupendous, timeless place, virtually untouched by humanity and its destructive forces. Here, it is the weather and winds that have carved the imposing, towering skyscrapers, so elegantly described by T.E. Lawrence as “vast, echoing and god-like”. A maze of monolithic rock-scapes rises up from the desert floor to heights of 1,750 metres creating a natural challenge for serious mountaineers. Hikers can enjoy the tranquillity of the boundless empty spaces; explore the canyons and water holes to discover 4000-year-old rock drawings and the many other spectacular treasures this vast wilderness holds in store. Enjoy 1.5-hour jeep touring by the local Bedouin jeep. Drive to Dead Sea; at 410 meters below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth. Jordan’s Dead Sea coast is one of the most spectacular natural and spiritual landscapes in the world and it remains as enticing to international visitors today as it was to kings, emperors, traders, and prophets in antiquity. The main attraction of the Dead Sea is of course the soothing, abnormally salty water itself. The salt content of the water is 31.5% making the water so buoyant that it is impossible for the visitor to sink. The water also contains 21 minerals including high levels of magnesium, sodium, potassium, and bromine and 12 of these minerals are found in no other body of water in the world. Leisurely stay. Overnight at Dead Sea.

After breakfast, entire day is at leisure. You can explore the city on own. Overnight at Dead Sea.