Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Middle East is a grand epic, a cradle of civilisations and a beautiful, complicated land that's home to some of the planet's most hospitable people.

Welcome to incredible Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan - the charming yet confounding kingdom that casts a spell on visitors with its World Heritage Sites, friendly towns with tradition of hospitality & inspiring desert landscapes.

Arrive in Amman, the gateway to an ancient world as well as the country's economic, political & cultural centre.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Amman Queen Alia International Airport, subsequent to Immigration & Customs, you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel, help you settle in & provide you with some useful tips for exploring the area as well as discuss the program for the next day.

If, for any reason you are unable to make contact with our representative within 30 minutes of waiting, please call the local Emergency telephone # listed on your Contact List. Please follow the advice given by our 24 / 7 Duty Officer.  Please do not exit the Airport & make your own way to the hotel.

Reach the hotel & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

Balance of the day is at leisure to relax or independent exploration or optional activities (We shall be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements). 

Amman, the modern capital of Jordan, is one of the oldest inhabited places in the world. A fascinating city of contrasts - a unique blend of old and new, situated on a hilly area between the desert & the fertile Jordan Valley

Recent excavations have uncovered homes & towers believed to have been built during the Stone Age. With many references to it in the Bible, Amman was known as Rabbath-Ammon, the capital of the Ammonites, it was also referred to as the “city of waters’. In the 3^rd century BC, the city was renamed Philadelphia after the Ptolemaic ruler Philadelphus. The city later came under Seleucid as well as Nabtean rule, until the Roman General Pompey annexed Syria & made Philadelphia part of the Decapolis League - a loose alliance of initially ten free city-states under overall allegiance to Rome. Under the influence of the Roman culture, Philadelphia was reconstructed in typically grand Roman style with colonnaded streets, baths, a theatre & impressive public buildings.

During the Byzantine period, Philadelphia was the seat of a Bishop & therefore several Churches were built. The city declined somewhat until the year 635AD. As Islam spread northwards from the Arabian Peninsula, the land became part of its domain. It reverted to its original Semitic name Ammon or Amman.

The ancient capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan city spread over 19 hills, or "jebels"., is a fascinating city of contrasts - a unique blend of old & new, ideally situated on a hilly area between the desert & the fertile Jordan Valley. Often referred to as the white city due to its low size canvas of stone houses, the city offers a variety of historical sites. Towering above Amman, the site of the earliest fortifications is now subject to numerous excavations which have revealed remains from the Neolithic period as well as from the Hellenestic & late Roman to Arab Islamic Ages. 

Though it lacks the storied history & thrilling architectural tapestry of other regional capitals, there is plenty here to encourage you to linger awhile before making for Petra, the Dead Sea or Wadi Rum. In fact, Amman is one of the easiest cities in which to enjoy the Middle East experience.

Amman’s modern history began in the late 19^th century, when the Ottomans resettled a colony of Circassian emigrants in 1878. As the Great Arab revolt progressed & the State of Transjordan was established, King Abdullah I, the founder of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, made Amman his capital in 1921. Since then, Amman has grown rapidly into a modern, thriving metropolis of well over a million people.

Downtown Amman is a must-see. At the bottom of the city’s many hills & overlooked by the magisterial Citadel, it features spectacular Roman ruins & the hubbub of mosques, souqs & coffee-houses that are central to Jordanian life.

In the commercial heart of the city, ultra-modern buildings, hotels, smart restaurants, art galleries & boutiques rub shoulders comfortably with traditional coffee shops & tiny artisans' workshops. Amman’s neighborhoods are diverse and range in cultural & historical context from hustle & bustle of the downtown markets to the art galleries of Jabal Lweibdeh & the modern shopping district of Abdali.

Elsewhere, urbane western Amman has leafy residential districts, cafes, bars, modern malls & art galleries; and in earthy eastern Amman, it is easy to sense the more traditional & conservative pulse of the capital.

The 3 Museums located here, that offer a glimpse of history & culture, are the Jordan Archaeological Museum, the Folklore Museum & the Museum of Popular Tradition. Due to the city’s modern-day prosperity & temperate climate, almost half of Jordan’s population is concentrated in the Amman area. The people of Amman are multi-cultural, multi - denominational, well-educated & extremely hospitable.

Overnight.  

Morning, meet the Tour-guide at 08:00 am, proceed for a full day 10 hour excursion to see the surrounding area.

But before leaving, spend a couple of hours exploring some of the highlights of Amman (though not much to see  in Amman proper).

Amman, often referred to as the white city due to its low size canvas of stone houses, offers a variety of historical sites. There are a number of renovations & excavations taking place that have revealed remains from the Neolithic period, as well as from the Hellenestic & late Roman to Arab Islamic Ages.

The site which is known as the Citadel includes many structures such as the Temple of Hercules, the Umayyad Palace & the Byzantine Church. At the foot of the Citadel lies the 6,000 seat Roman Theatre, which is a deep-sided bowl carved into the hill & is still being used for cultural events. Another newly restored theatre is the 500 seat Odeon that is used for concerts.

The Amman Citadel should be at the top of every Amman itinerary. Towering above the capital city of Amman on top of Jebel Al Qala’a hill, the historic Citadel comprises a 1700 meter wall that dates back to the Bronze Age encompassing the iconic Temple of Hercules & the Umayyad Palace.

The city of Amman was originally known as Rabbath Ammon (which translates to ‘royal ancient city of the Ammonites’). The Ammonites lived in the kingdom during the Iron Age. It was during this period that it was fortified (around 1800 BCE). Since then the site has undergone so many rebuilds & additional constructions during the Iron Age, Roman, Byzantine & Umayyad eras that as a consequence, very little remains of the original Citadel.

Towering over Amman’s modern skyline, the Temple of Hercules built by the Romans & located at the peak of a hillside in one of the ancient city’s oldest quadrants, is the most famous site within the Citadel. An inscription close to the temple dates it to around 160 CE.

Constructed between 162-166 CE during Marcus Aurelius’ Roman occupation of Amman’s Citadel, the great temple is larger than any in Rome itself. Its portico faces east & is surrounded by six, 33 foot tall columns. Measuring 100 feet long by 85 feet wide, with an outer sanctum of 400 by 236 feet, the fact that the rest of the Temple remained unadorned by columns suggests to scholars that the structure was never completed, for reasons history has yet to reveal. During the excavation process, few clues were left to help scholars unlock the mysteries of this massive half-finished, abandoned temple. But the ones that did exist were huge - albeit ambiguous.

Visitors flock to the citadel to see the most gigantic, swoony, intimidating trio of fingers in all of antiquity – the glorious Hand that is believed to be the hand of a large statue of Hercules. From just 3 gigantic fingers, one elbow & a scattering of coins, archaeologists have agreed these marble body parts likely belonged to a massive statue of Hercules himself. Therefore, the theory goes, the Temple also must have been dedicated to the half-god known for his feats of strength & far-ranging adventures.   

This hand is all that remains of the statue & is a symbol of the Roman hero’s strength.  Other intact remains include a couple of 30 feet high Pillars signifying that the Temple had a height of around 13 meters.

Experts’ best guess is that, in its original state, the Statue would have measured upwards of 40 feet high, which would have placed it among the largest known marble statues to have ever existed. Likely toppled during one of the area’s periodic catastrophic earthquakes, the statue fell to bits, but unlike the temple, all except the hand and elbow disappeared. As one guide put it, “The rest of Hercules became Amman’s countertops.”

Back in the here and now, it makes for a pretty enjoyable time to walk up to a cluster of fat fingers, stare at their well-trimmed nails & cuticles, and walk away giggling that scholars have agreed: Hercules enjoyed a good manicure, just like modern-day demigods.

The buildings that formed part of the Umayyad Palace believed to have been built between 7^th - 8^th century, are the best-preserved structure in the Citadel.

The Palace originally covered a very large complex but most of it was destroyed by an earthquake. The domed audience hall is still in a good condition & its grand design was used to impress visitors to the Palace. There is a courtyard containing the ruins of residential buildings & the Cistern which was used to transport water to the palace.

There are the ruins of a 6^th century Byzantine church but all that remains today are pillars, the floor plan & some mosaics.

The Jordan Archaeological Museum is also located at the Amman Citadel & has a collection of artifacts dating back to the Bronze Age. It is also home to the Ain Ghazal Statues, some of the oldest known statues in Jordan made from lime plaster & reed and dating back to around 600 – 8000 BCE.

And now you embark on an adventure driving on the iconic King’s Highway to visit some of the ancient sites Jordan offers.

The King’s Highway was a principal ancient Near East trade route of vital importance for traders traveling between Arabia & the Levant, connecting Africa with Mesopotamia, running from Egypt across the Sinai Peninsula to Aqaba, then turning northward across Transjordan, to Damascus & the Euphrates River.

First mentioned by name in the Bible, the Kings' Highway was the route that Moses wished to follow as he led his people north through the land of Edom, which today is in southern Jordan. The name may, however, derive from an even earlier episode recounted in Genesis 14, when an alliance of "4 kings from the north" marched their troops along this route to do battle against the 5 kings of the Cities of the Plain, including the wicked cities of Sodom & Gomorrah.

The Highway crosses countless river beds & the availability of water made this a key trade route. It hugs the edge of the Great Rift Valley, with the Dead Sea filling the bottom of this huge split in the earth. It winds its way through the different ecological zones including forested highlands, open farmland plateaus, deep ravines, the edge of the Eastern Desert & the warm tropical Gulf of Aqaba.

Lining both sides of this 335 km thoroughfare is a rich chain of archaeological sites that reads like an index of ancient history & a biblical gazetteer - prehistoric villages from the Stone Age, biblical towns from the kingdoms of Ammon, Moab & Edom, Crusader Castles, some of the finest early Christian Byzantine Mosaics in the Middle East, a Roman-Herodian fortress, several Nabataean temples, 2 major Roman fortresses, early Islamic towns & of course, the rock-cut Nabataean capital of Petra.

These days, most heavy traffic takes the Desert Highway, leaving the winding switchbacks, dramatic vistas, castles & churches to the intrepid visitors.

First stop will be Jerash to see the better preserved Roman ruins.

Arriving in the modern town of Jerash, with its provincial streets & small market gardens, you see little to suggest its illustrious past. But the moment you cross from the new town into the ancient city, its boundary marked by the imposing Hadrian’s Arch, it becomes apparent that this was once no ordinary backwater but a city of great wealth & importance.

An urban Greek center in the 3^rd century BC, Jerash later flourished under Roman rule for about 200 years. While the Middle East contains other surviving Roman cities that boast similar architectural treasures, the ancient ruins at Jerash are famous for their remarkable state of preservation, probably the best preserved Roman ruins in the world. Enough structures remain intact for archaeologists & historians, and even casual visitors, to piece together ancient life under the rule of an emperor.

Most of the ancient city of Gerasa was destroyed in an earthquake in 749 AD, leading to comparisons to another great Roman city: Pompeii.

Hidden for centuries in under the shifting sands before being re-discovered in 1806 by German explorer Ulrich Jasper Seetzen & restored over the past 70 years, The picturesque ruins are all that remains of a once-great ancient city that saw the likes of Alexander the Great, the emperors Trajan & Hadrian and the mathematician Nichomachas.

Jerash is one of the best examples of a Roman provincial city in the entire Middle East located on a plain surrounded by hilly wooded areas & fertile basins. This ancient Greco-Roman city is a close 2^nd to Petra as the favourite destination in Jordan & boasts an unbroken chain of human occupation dating back more than 6,500 years, making it one of Jordan’s most impressive archaeological sites. The site is so well preserved it is easy to imagine the grandeur of this city that once was & the history of the site really comes alive.

Beneath its external Graeco-Roman veneer, Jerash also preserves a subtle blend of east & west. Its architecture, religion & languages reflect a process by which two powerful cultures meshed & coexisted - The Graeco-Roman world of the Mediterranean basin & the ancient traditions of the Arab Orient.

Conquered by General Pompey in 63 BC, it came under Roman rule & was one of the 10 great Roman cities, the Decapolis League. Jerash reveals a fine example of the grand, formal provincial Roman urbanism that is found throughout the Middle East, comprising paved & colonnaded streets, soaring hilltop temples, handsome theatres, spacious public squares & plazas, baths, fountains & city walls pierced by towers & gates.

Today it is one of the best preserved Roman cities in the Middle East & is a popular destination for those who would like to witness the majesty of Roman architecture, marvel at extraordinarily well preserved mosaics & carvings, and to see full-speed horse-drawn chariot races. The city is nestled in a valley carpeted with yellow mustard flowers in springtime. The Jerash Festival of Culture & Arts is held in July - August annually.

Spending the day here is like going back to ancient times. Proceed on an unforgettable experience of exploring the ruins & stroll down the long colonnaded Roman street Cardio Maximus, once the main thoroughfare through the city to see the huge spectacular oval Forum & Hippodrome which once hosted chariot races watched by up to 15,000 spectators, the lush Nymphaeum that was consecrated to the nymphs, Corinthian Column, Hadrian’s Arch built to commemorate a visit by Emperor Adrian & the Temple of Artemis.

There are a few places in the world where one has the opportunity to see history re-enacted, but only in the ancient Hippodrome of Jerash can you witness Chariots race or Gladiators in full regalia clash on the site where Roman athletes & warriors one walked & fought.

The Jerash Heritage Company puts on daily spectacles known as the “Roman Army & Chariot Experience”, with 45 “legionaries” in showing off battle tactics in armor, gladiators battling & a 7 lap race of Roman chariots. You can take photos with the legionaries.

After spending time here, drive northwest through a beautiful pine-forest & olive groves, to reach the magnificent hill town of Ajloun.

Ajloun (or Ajlun) is a town in the fertile highlands of north Jordan, where Emperor Hadrian stayed over the winter of 129-30 AD & built himself an Arch well outside the town, leaving unbonded its sides for future city walls to come out to meet it. It may look a bit rough around the edges, but Ajloun is founded on an ancient market town & boasts a 600 year old Mosque with a fine stone-dressed minaret.

Most visitors, however, don’t come to experience this chaotic little hub & its very limited attractions: they come for the impressive castle perched atop a nearby hill, where it has commanded the high ground for nearly 1000 years.

Ajloun Castle, more formally known as Qal'at Ar-Rabad, towers above the green hills of Ajloun & can be seen from many miles away, betraying its strategic purpose as a military watch post that protected the trade routes in the 12^th - 15^th centuries. The massive Fortress which once upon a time occupied a large stretch of the Jordan Valley, is one of the very few that were built to protect the country against the Crusaders.

It was first built in 1184-1185 AD by the famous Islamic leader Salah al-Din or one of his generals, Izzeddin Usama Mungidh as a buffer to protect the region & to repel the Crusader threats to north Jordan by dominating the 3 main routes leading to the Jordan Valley & protecting the communication routes between Jordan & Syria (the Crusaders had already occupied south Jordan, from their massive castles at Showbak & Karak before they were driven out of TransJordan). 

2 years after it was completed the Fortress's original purpose had already been outlived, for Salahuddin defeated the Crusaders at the battle of the Horns of Hattin in 1189, which marked the beginning of the end of their occupation of the Holy Land.

This superb example of Arab & Islamic architecture was built as a rectangle with 4 square towers & an entrance on the south side dominating a wide stretch of the north Jordan Valley & passages to it.

From its hilltop position, the Castle of Ajloun protected the communication routes between south Jordan & Syria and was one of a chain of Forts, which lit beacons at night to pass signals from the Euphrates as far as Cairo.

The Ajlun castle was expanded into its current configuration in In 1214-15 when it was enlarged by Aybak bin Abdullah, majordomo of the Caliph Al-Muazham Isa. In 1260, it fell to the Mongols, but was later rebuilt by the Egyptian Mamluks. No longer needed for military purposes, it was used as an administrative center responsible to Damascus.

Some of the stones with which the Castle was built have Crosses carved into them, giving credence to a tradition, recounted by a 13^th century Arab historian that: "an ancient Monastery once stood on the site, inhabited by a Christian named Ajloun; when the Monastery fell into ruin, the Castle took its place & the name of the Monk".

Today, Ajlun Castle is a splendid sight with a fascinating warren of towers, chambers, galleries & staircases to explore, while its hilltop position offers stunning views of the Jordan Valley.

Inside, the Ajloun Archaeological Museum’s displays include ancient Neolithic artifacts. The Castle today is beautifully preserved & is a popular attraction for foreigners & Jordanians alike. The structures, towers, chambers, galleries & staircases that form part of the town as well as the beautiful scenery that surrounds the hills nearby will captivate you for sure.

Today it provides superb panoramas from Auf Mountain. Take in the views & explore the ruins, partly caused by Mongol invaders & partly from natural occurrences, such as the earthquakes of 1837 & 1927.

With the biblical site of Mar Elias & one of Jordan’s best nature reserves in the vicinity, the Ajloun Castle Trail winds north to the ruined hilltop church of Mar Elias associated with Prophet Elijah. The Prophet’s Trail continues through orchards & oak trees to the Ajloun Forest Reserve.

Tall (hilltop) Mar Elias is very close to the ruins of a village known as Listib which is believed to be formerly Tishbi, the home of Prophet Elijah, a native of Gilias in Tranjordan. The fact that this is a religious site, is substantiated by the 2 churches that were built on the Tall at the end of the Byzantine period.

Close to Ajlun is Anjara, a Christian pilgrimage site where Jesus Christ, his mother Mary & his disciples passed through and rested in a nearby cave now commemorated with the Church of Our Lady of the Mountain.

There is also the Ajlun Nature Reserve established in 1988 to initiate a captive-breeding program for the Roe Deer. The woodland consists of Mediterranean like hill country, dominated by Oak, Pine, Carob, Pistachio & wild strawberry trees.  These trees have been important to local people for their wood, scenic beauty and, quite often, for medicine & food. The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature has set up two hiking trails & provided a special area for camping. 

Time for lunch & one more culinary experience before leaving back for Amman.

Proceed to a house in the nearby village of Rasoun to meet a friendly lady & to participate in another cooking class & then enjoy the fruits of your labour. This village is filled with a variety of greens & vegetables, so of course you will prepare vegetarian dishes.

In the small house, you would find a table set up in the middle of the living room, ready to roll. You will learn how to make some of the wonderful Jordanian dishes. You will make cha’acheel, mojadara, sabanekh, freekeh soup & motabbal. But you must roll up your sleeves, because you get to help!

After enjoying the home made lunch, drive on.

Reach the vibrant Amman city but before calling it a day, you will stop at the Tasting Room of The Winemakers, the city outlet of a famous old Jordanian Zumot Winery.

Wine tourism, Enotourism & Vinitourism are all words that describe the same thing - the tasting, consumption or purchase of wine, often at or near the source.

However, when we talk about Vineyards, probably the first image in your mind is a lush green field somewhere in France & not a water-scarce desert like Jordan. But did you know that the Hashemite Kingdom does indeed have their own Wineries that produce a couple local wines? Whether you are a guest or a local, you definitely need to add sampling a glass or two of Jordan’s own red & white wine varieties to your list (don’t worry, we have not forgotten).

First of all, let us talk about vitis vinifera (that is Latin for grapes). Due to the local grape varieties of Jordan being lost over time, the seeds planted aren’t exactly Jordanian by origin. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz & Pinot Noir are used for the Jordanian reds & Chardonnay, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer & Chenin Blanc for the whites.

Now that you have a brief background, let us get down to the best part - Where can I taste the local wine in Jordan? To summarize, there are 2 famous local brands in Jordan: JR Wines & Saint George.

Saint George belongs to Zumot Winery. 

Wine makers in the Middle East since 1996, the Zumot family has established the reputation & quality of its wine both locally & internationally by focusing on sustainable production techniques. While Jordan isn’t renowned for its wines, winemaking has a long history here. This land can produce some of the finest wines in the world & Jordan was one of the few to claim biblical origins for wine.

Omar Zumot, practiced winemaking in France & has been managing the vineyards, winemaking & exportation lines since the company’s inception.

Unlike Europe’s southern exposure orientation, the rows in the Vineyard were oriented East-West. This orientation keeps the grape bunches aerated during growth & maturation, and reduces diseases resulting from humidity

On this visit to The Winemaker’s specialty showroom & Tasting rooms, in the downtown area, you get to sample locally produced organic certified wines - both white & red, bottled under the Saint George label - explore the cellars & learn about the region’s winemaking history from the Sommelier. You can readily buy Zumot’s Saint George brand of red & white wines to enjoy at home.

The Wine Experience allows you to discover more than 40 international handpicked grape varieties that are especially crafted for you into more than 80 types of wine & produced from one of the most distinctive terroir in the world, the basalt desert of Jordan.

Once you reach, you are welcomed by the courteous staff & taken through a brief tour to tell you more about the history of wine making in Jordan & what makes it special. Subsequently, you are ushered to your table where you can select 3 wines of your choice to taste & review. You can also order nibbles from the food menu, to pair with your wines.

The 2 hour Tasting session concludes & you are transferred back to the hotel.

Balance of the day is at leisure to relax or independent exploration or optional activities (We shall be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements). 

Overnight.  B L 

Morning, at 07:00 am, meet the Tour-guide & embark on another ‘tasty’ day, within the city.

With an abundance of family-friendly restaurants & cafes all around the city, you are much more likely to find yourself stuffed to the brim & may be, even invited into a local family home for a meal.

Head to downtown for a breakfast treat at the famous Hashem Restaurant. Acclaimed by many cookbooks for the best falafel & humus in all of Amman, this simple casual street-side restaurant holds its charm as an Eatery frequented by locals scooping creamy hummus up with fresh Arabic bread & snacking on fresh falafel. It made front-page news when King Abdullah II & his family came to dine one evening during Ramadan 2006.

And now, you are ready to do your part for “humanity”. After all, we are the ones who created refugees in the first instance.

You will visit a female-empowering social Non-profit enterprise Syrian Jasmine House to participate in a Craft Workshop that you do not find in many countries.

You will try your hand in making fragrant Soap of different varieties, guided of course by the Artisans who will make you feel at home.

Syrian & Palestinian & Iraqi refugee women in Jordan are finding economic independence & the comfort of community as they keep alive the traditional craft of soap making. Many women that came from Syria are widowed or had to leave their husbands behind. They arrived in Jordan as the sole breadwinners for their families. Only 7% of Syrian women in Jordan are employed. Syrian Jasmine House seeks to address that by providing jobs & income. Making Soap gives refugee women a fresh start in Jordan.

Most historians believe that soap originated in the Levant, eventually traveling to Europe either via the Romans or during the Crusades. 2 cities in the region are famed above all others, for the production of soap: Aleppo in Syria & Nablus in Palestine. With the 2 countries in the midst of occupation & war, their soap-making tradition is near extinct. The fate of Aleppo’s soap factories is unclear & only 2 factories remain in Nablus.

But in Jordan, home to many Syrians & Palestinians fleeing crisis, refugee women are reclaiming the art of soap making.

Lara Shaheen, a Syrian refugee, started the Syrian Jasmine House in 2014 with 5 women as a way to create jobs for other refuge women while introducing Jordan to traditional Syrian products. As a refugee, work permits are unattainable, but Lara’s family needed money to survive & consequently, she took some of their savings, rented a small space in Amman, to house the raw materials. Lara ensured that the women could work from home to reduce transportation fees & also to give them the space & time to care for their families. Once she put her ideas & propose behind the business on Facebook, the ladies received a lot of attention.

The Company was named in honor of her hometown Damascus, which is often referred to as, “the capital of Jasmine.”  Skilled refugee women who knew the traditional crafts started coming to them in the hope of empowerment & employment. That led to a bigger space to showcase & sell the products.

Now, there are 10 full time employees in the office & 70 others working from home, who brought their centuries-old tradition of soap-craft with them from Syria. These 80 women are supporting their families & bringing in a profit by showing Jordanians & foreigners a taste of Syria in Amman and they have since trained more than 1000 women on the art of handicrafts. The Center provides the ingredients & gives the soap-maker 50 percent of the retail price of the soap upfront, with the remaining profits going to the running of the center.

“We changed the narrative,  we were no longer waiting for funds & help from others, we took control of our own fate” as Lara is fond of saying in her interviews & is on track to help 200 women by end of 2020 (post COVID, of course).  The Company received a donation to fund the trainings however they do not depend on donations; they are a business at the end of the day.

Overall, the Syrian Jasmine House offers much more than only soap making. The women make a range of Syrian products including handicrafts, soap, food & candles.

Join the women of the Syrian Jasmine House & learn this unique centuries old process of how to make the famous Aleppo Soap! Made out of shea, coconut & olive oil as well as bay leaves, it is a purely organic soap which moisturizes the skin, helps to rejuvenate a more youthful look & can be used on a daily basis. All products are anti-bacterial organic & so, suitable for all skin types, even sensitive. The Rose soap offers more therapeutic features.

Mix the Ghar leaves with carbonates, boil the Shea, Coconut & Olive Oil. Mix all & stir. Pour in a mold, enjoy the aromas & textures of all the ingredients and for your soap to dry meanwhile, sipping hot tea or coffee & interacting with the ladies.

They also use the traditional Nablusi recipe, mixing together locally sourced olive oil, water & a sodium compound. Though the soap is traditionally unscented, the women add various ingredients that they say boast health benefits. Sage & turmeric to help remove dead skin, nigella seeds to battle against blackheads & cinnamon to tighten the skin around the eyes & tackle excess oil in the skin.

When you are done with your experience, take a moment to see the Syrian products for sale. Nicely displayed wonderful Soaps in a large variety of fragrances. Great souvenir for your loved ones or to pamper yourself at the end of a holiday.  The friendly ladies will even gift wrap / pack the items.

The 2 hour experience comes to an end.

The ladies are also experts at Crochet, a centuries-old process of creating fabric by interlocking loops of yarn, thread, or strands of other materials using a crochet hook. Watch them create beautiful things.

And now, it is almost time for a sumptuous lunch. Yes, but, not so quick. You have to prepare the food before you are able to eat.

Move on to the next culinary experience – an interactive Cooking Workshop.

The path to understanding foreign cultures always runs through food. globetrotting foodie Anthony Bourdain (RIP) knows best: “Find out how other people live & eat & cook. Learn from them - wherever you go.”

In Amman, the education begins with Chef Maria Haddad Hanania of Beit Sitti, a Cooking School in one of the capital city’s oldest districts that is a must visit for anyone interested in Jordanian culture.

Nestled in one of Amman’s oldest neighborhoods - Jabal Al Weibdeh - sits an old 1940’s style gorgeous house that overlooks Amman’s downtown rooftops, set among the pine trees. Within, lots of family photos cover the wall & tantalizing aromas fill the air. where Beit Sitti is located.

Established in 2010 Beit Sitti Cooking School, came about when 3 sisters Maria, Dina & Tania collaborated to keep their grandmothers’ heritage alive by passing on the recipes she taught them to the locals, expats & tourists. 

Beit Sitti offers a cook & dine experience where you can learn how to prepare a traditional Arabic meal with the help of a Hajjeh, and then get to eat the food that you prepared, in their grandmothers house.

During the class, Haddad Hanania (who is a firecracker of a chef) will have you chopping vegetables, tasting spices & learning cooking technique as you prepare a four-course Arabic feast (that, naturally, you get to eat once you are done). The idea is to expose you to Jordanian culture through traditional recipes that are easy to duplicate once you get home, where you can then share them with your family & friends - maybe even your own grandmother. It is an incredible experience & one of the best ways to sample Arabic home cooking in Amman.

Depending on the arrival time, you will also be taken to the vegetable market & will learn how to bargain as well as pick the right produce,  then return to the house to cook a 4-course Arabic meal for your lunch. They say you should partake breakfast like a king, lunch, like a prince & dinner like a pauper.  But at Beit Sitti, it is amended ’to a Kings Breakfast, King’s Lunch & King’s Dinner.

Return to the hotel to relax.

At sunset, accompanied by the Journeys Rep / Diver, head for the Sufra Restaurant which is famous for its tasty dishes inspired from the Bedouin Kitchens, coupled with its warm hospitality.  The menu at Sufra is traditional Jordanian dishes that “capture the spirit of the Jordanian palette”.

Many restaurants in Jordan offer traditional Middle Eastern food but they are usually not solely based on Jordanian cuisine as this one is. Try the mutabbal, eggplant with tahini sauce, mansaf, freekeh with chicken, fatit jaj (chicken with bread, rice and yoghurt sauce), and for dessert try the Arabic Ice-cream with cotton candy.

Come back to the hotel.

Overnight.  B L D

Early morning, Check-out & depart for Petra, enroute visiting Bethany, Mt Nebo & Madaba.

First stop will be at one of the most important places associated with lives of Jesus & John the Baptist – the pristine natural settlement at ‘Bethany beyond the Jordan’, where John lived & Jesus of Nazareth was baptized.

Whatever one’s religious persuasion, it is hard not to be moved by this minimal pile of ruins lying at the end of the Jordan Valley near the Dead Sea.

This is the site, between the Jordan River & Tal Al-Kharrar (St. Elijah’s Hill), Archaeologists assure us, where John the Baptist preached, where the first 5 Apostles met & where, thereby, the foundations of the early Christian faith were laid. Thus, making it one of the focal Christian pilgrimage sites.

Situated on the eastern bank of the River Jordan, close to the Dead Sea, the archaeological site consists of 2 distinct areas: Tell Al-Kharrar, also known as Jabal Mar-Elias (Elijah’s Hill) & the area of the Churches of Saint John the Baptist near the river. A cave was discovered where John was living when he baptized Jesus & it is from this hill that he ascended to heaven in a whirlwind on a chariot of fire, having parted the waters of the Jordan River & walked across it with his anointed successor, the Prophet Elisha Joshua.

Known from the Bible & from the Byzantine & medieval texts, St. Elijah’s Hill, another one of the designated pilgrimage sites, is now the focal point of the Baptism Site & is covered with the remains of a Byzantine monastery with churches, large baptism pools & a water storage system.

Bethany's ancient remains include structures from the 1^st century settlement of John the Baptist, including large plastered pools with steps for full immersion, and the 5^th  century remains of the Byzantine period settlement called Ainon or Saphsaphas & depicted on the 6^th century Madaba Mosaic Map of the Holy Land. 

One of the earliest Christian prayer facilities discovered in the world, can be found in a 3^rd century building with a white mosaic pavement. You can also find 5 plots of Church including: the Anglican Church, Catholic Church, Armenian Church, Coptic Church & the Russian Pilgrims’ House.

Bethany area sites formed part of the early Christian pilgrimage route between Jerusalem, the Jordan River & Mount Nebo. It features Roman and Byzantine remains including churches and chapels, a monastery, caves that have been used by hermits and pools in which baptisms were celebrated, testifying to the religious character of the place.  

“Bethany beyond the Jordan” is of immense religious significance to the majority of denominations of Christian faith. This reference encouraged generations of monks, hermits, pilgrims & priests to reside in and visit the site, and to leave behind testimonies of their devotion & religious activities, dating to between the 4^th & 15^th  century CE.

John 1:28 refer to it as "Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing". In John 10:40 it is mentioned as the place to which Jesus fled for safety after being threatened with stoning in Jerusalem: "Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days".

When Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness after his baptism (Mark 1:12), he had been in the stark, desolate marl area immediately east of Jordan River and north of Bethany. He spread his message throughout Transjordan on several different occasions, including during his last journey from Galilee to Jerusalem (Matthew 19).

At present, the site has regained a popular status as pilgrimage destination for Christians, who continue to engage in baptism rituals on site.

Next stop is the commanding peak of Mount Nebo, an elevated ridge of the Abarim in Jordan, approximately 710 metres above sea level, which offers stunning views over the Dead Sea, the Jordan Valley & the Holy Land towards Jerusalem.

Mount Nebo is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as the place where Moses was granted a view of the Promised Land, a land he was himself forbidden to enter. It is believed that he died aged 120 & was later buried in the area, although the exact location of the burial site is the subject of conjecture.

By the 4^th century AD, Mount Nebo had already become a pilgrimage site and a church & sanctuary were built on Siyagha to honor Moses. The site is frequently visited by travelers of religious faith who, just like Moses, want to have a breathtaking view over Israel. On a clear day, visitors may be able to spot Jericho & even Jerusalem.

The Mt Nebo region features several rocky outcrops & there are 2 peaks on Mt. Nebo.

On the highest point of the mountain is Siyagha (the local name of the site, meaning ‘Monastery’). The remains of a Church & Monastery believed to be constructed in the second half of the 4^th century the place of Moses’ death, have been uncovered in 1933. The Moses Memorial Church with its magnificent mosaics, is perched on the summit, is the centrepiece of a small hilltop commanding sweeping views of the Dead Sea & Israel & the Palestinian Territories beyond.

In the 6^th century AD, Monks constructed a Byzantine Monastery on Siyagha, which lasted for almost 6 centuries. The site was abandoned by the 16^th century. In 1993, Mount Nebo was purchased by the Franciscans who restored the site. It is an active Franciscan monastery today that is open to visitors.

While the original building is no longer there, the mosaics from this time period are still visible. Visitors are able to see preserved mosaics uncovered from archaeological digs dating back to the 6^th century. The main Mosaic illustrates the process of Winemaking, as well as images of hunters & animals. Outside, there is a sculpture of the Serpentine Cross, a symbolic combination of the bronze serpent created by Moses & Jesus’ cross.

Drive further along the 5,000 year old Kings´ Highway passing through a string of ancient sites, to one of the most memorable places in the Holy Land to one of the most memorable places in the Holy Land.   

Stop at Madaba, known as the “City of Mosaics" is an ancient town on the Jordanian Plateau that was resettled   by Christian Arab tribes from the Karak region. Much of the Middle East is filled with mosaic art dating back to the 3^rd millennium BCE.    

Best known for its spectacular Byzantine & Umayyad mosaics, Madaba is home to the famous 6^th century Mosaic Map of Palestine & the Holy Land discovered inside the contemporary St. George's Greek Orthodox Church.

6 Tombs, from different periods, have been found hollowed out of the rock beneath the mosaic-covered floor of the Church.

The world's oldest map of the Holy Land gives us a fragmented glimpse into the cartography of the Middle East & layout of biblical nations, measuring 25 x 5m in its original state. This tile map is the oldest known geographic floor mosaic in existence, depicting the Middle East during the height of the Byzantine period.

It is astonishing to remember that the Madaba Map was lost & only rediscovered in 1896.

Installed sometime during the late 6^th century CE, with 2 million pieces of vividly colored local stone, it depicts hills & valleys, villages & towns as far as the Nile Delta. From Egypt to Lebanon, including sites such as Bethlehem & Gethsemane, but the gem of the Mosaic is the detailed representation of the city of Jerusalem which shows a number of specific structures & street in the city such as the Damascus Gate, the Church of The Holy Sephulchre & the Tower of David. Segments are missing yet the fundamentals remain: artists depicted the way they saw the world in a way that speaks to us 1500 years later.

Much of the enormous Map’s tiles have been chipped away or been destroyed but a large contiguous piece of the Map still exists illustrating both locations & names ranging from geographic features to cities.

A few blocks from the Church is the Madaba Archaeological Museum, which contains the remains of several Byzantine churches, including some wonderful Mosaics found there & in other parts of the region, as well as other ancient artifacts. Highlights include the Eden-like Mosaic of Paradise, where trees burst with fruit & hares leap amid lions.

Other mosaic masterpieces found in the Church of the Virgin & the Apostles, the Hippolytus Mansion,  Church of the Prophet Elijah, Church of the Holy Martyrs & the Archaeological Museum, depict a rampant profusion of flowers & plants, birds & fish, animals & exotic beasts, as well as scenes from mythology & everyday pursuits of hunting, fishing & farming. Literally, hundreds of other Mosaics from the 5^th - 7^th centuries are scattered throughout Madaba's churches & homes.

There are a number of recreations of the Madaba Mosaic across the world, most of which are fittingly placed in the floor of a foyer, much like the original. There is one in a school in Bonn, as well as a copy in the floor of the YMCA in Jerusalem. The Madaba Map may not be complete, but it is still our most comprehensive overview of the biblical landscape.     

The small town smells of cardamom, rosewater & ancient sighs. It earns its place on the map of the world today with a map of the world from yesterday: one of the oldest maps of the Holy Land embedded on the floor of the Church.

But, of course, that is not the only Mosaic in Madaba. Hundreds exist & some form part of ancient history. And it is not only about the olden times. At Mt. Nebo which you just passed through, artisans are currently working on a Mosaic which depicts the King’s Highway, the route that runs from Aqaba & the Red Sea north to Bosra Sham.

It will feature all the notable installations along the King’s Highway including the Dead Sea, Baptism Site of Jesus & of course, Madaba itself. When complete, it will run for more than 30 metres involving more than 3.5 million pieces & expects to earn the record of being the largest mosaic in the world.

The city of Madaba, you see, invites visitors to contribute a signed piece each to that Mosaic under production. Young & old, men & women, creative & inept and there is no barrier to race or religion here. Surely, a brilliant marketing strategy & a heartwarming gesture for the visitors.

Residents here are reclaiming their once endangered heritage thanks to efforts, aided by USAID. The Madaba Institute for Mosaic Art & Restoration was established to teach the restoration of these rare artworks. The Institute trains Artisans in the art of making, repairing & restoring Mosaics.

Originally set up as a school in 1992 by the Jordanian government, this Institute trains Jordanian artists in the production & restoration of Mosaics, spreads awareness & actively preserves Mosaics throughout the country. The restoration work of the school’s artisans is evident in the Archaeological Park, the Church of the Apostles & at Khirbet Mukhayyat.

Walk into the institute & see how children learn to make Mosaics. Have a look at different churches & may be, buy replicas of Mosaics & souvenirs from one of the many handicraft & souvenir shops. Cafes & restaurants also proliferate.

Another interesting experience lined up for you here.

Try your hand at the art form that made Madaba famous - participate in a 2 hour Mosaic making class.

You will sit down with the Artisans - men & women - at a large table scattered with long thin blocks of blue, green, red, white & yellow rock atop a white mesh covering the muted colors of a Painting.

Following the same techniques followed for centuries, you will see the Artists using red clippers & bottles of orange glue to delicately & meticulously stick the bits of multi-colored stones, glass, ceramic to complex patterns, creating incredibly intricate images.

You will be set up on a table to try your hand to on less complex patterns or may be, they will allow you to assist on the more advanced patterns on their table.  

The Mosaic class concludes & you proceed for lunch at Haret Jdoudna Restaurant, which is quite popular with the locals & discerning diners from Amman.

The restaurant is set in one of Madaba’s restored old houses. Sit indoors by a roaring fire in winter or in the shaded courtyard in summer and sample the traditional Jordanian dishes such as mutaffi bethanjan (fried eggplant with sesame).  Other popular dishes include fatteh (fried bread with garlic-laced yoghurt and hummus, sometimes with chicken) and sawani (meat or vegetables cooked on trays in wood burning ovens).

After lunch, depart for the Pink City of Petra, the jewel of Jordan & the Middle East.

On arrival, Check-in at the hotel.

Balance of the afternoon is at leisure.

A famous archaeological site - Petra, the great ancient city that lies half-hidden in the wind-blown landscape in Jordan's southwestern desert, is one of the world's most treasured UNESCO World Heritage Sites & undoubtedly the most famous attraction of Jordan

Petra is located in Biblical Edom, and the Scriptures state that the land of Edom “will be delivered from his [Antichrist's] hand” (Daniel 11:41).

Dating to around 300 B.C., it was the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom. Hidden behind an almost impenetrable barrier of rugged mountains & shifting sand, Petra tells of a lost civilization. Little is known about the Nabateans - a nomadic desert people whose Kingdom rose up from these cliffs & peaks, and whose incredible wealth grew from the lucrative incense trade.

Petra was only rediscovered by Swiss explorer Johann Burckhardt in 1812 & it continues to spill its secrets. Even now, Archaeologists have explored less than half of the sprawling site & in 2016, with the help of satellite imagery, a monumental structure was found still buried in the sand. It is no wonder that Petra remains Jordan’s top tourist attraction.

Some archaeologists have ranked ancient Petra as the 8^th 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 & the naturalist, all of whom regularly come to Petra to conduct their studies & 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 & you will want to know the how, why & where about it.

Much of Petra’s legendary appeal comes from its awesome, multicolored sandstone high mountains; it is a secluded site of steep rocky slopes, towering craggy mountain tops & blushing pink sandstone cliffs, into which most of the celebrated honeycomb of caves, tombs, facades, theatres & stairways carved by the Nabateans, an industrious Arab people who settled in the South more than 2,000 years ago, turning it into an important junction for the silk, spice & other trade routes that linked China, India & southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece & Rome.

Raqmu, or Petra (as the Greeks knew it), grew into the Nabateans’ most prominent city, linking camel caravans between the Mediterranean & Arabian Seas, from Egypt to Syria & beyond to Greece. Control of water sources & an almost magic ability to vanish into the cleft rocks ensured the Nabateans remained unconquered for centuries.

The Romans arrived in 63 B.C., signaling a new era of massive expansion & grandiose construction, like the theater that sat more than 8,000 spectators, as well as some of the city’s most impressive facades.

Christianity came to Petra in the 3^rd & 4^th centuries & flourished, but the city waned after an A.D. 336 earthquake & under the early Islamic dynasties of the 7^th century.

Petra’s engineering phenomena are legion, including the sophisticated water system that supported some 30,000 inhabitants. Carved into the twisted passageway of the Siq, the irrigation channel drops only 12 feet over the course of a mile, while underground cisterns stored runoff to be used in drier times of the year.

The entire city of ruins is a work of art, painted on a natural stone backdrop that changes color every hour. The elegant Silk Tomb swirls with streaks of red, blue & ocher, while vivid mosaics still pave the floors of a Byzantine-era church. No wonder, it’s the raw beauty draws in so many millions of visitors.

There are more Nabataean attractions nearby at so-called Little Petra (only for those who have more time to explore).

A visit to Petra when it was rediscovered for the wider world by Johann in the 19^th century meant going in disguise, speaking in local dialect & engaging the trust of surrounding tribespeople. Today visitors are warmly welcomed both by the Bedouins who still relate to the ancient city as their ancestral home & the townspeople of neighbouring Wadi Musa whose facilities make visiting a pleasure.

Evening around 05.30 pm, meet the Journeys Rep / Driver & proceed to experience the another highlight for this day - Cooking lessons & dinner at the internationally famous Petra Kitchen mentioned by Conde Nast, CNN, Forbes, the Telegraph & Le Monde, among many more publications. 

Participate in the cooking of a full Jordanian dinner including a soup, a number of both hot & cold mezze dishes (appetizers) & a main course.

The Petra Kitchen is the perfect place to relax & unwind after a busy day of sightseeing, in a uniquely Jordanian way. The Terrace is a great place to enjoy from a menu of drinks & snacks, enjoy the free WiFi connection & perhaps try the sheesha / water-pipe.

The Kitchen enriches visitors' experience by offering nightly cooking classes & dinners, sharing authentic local cuisine in a casual, family atmosphere. Each evening, participants cook a full Jordanian dinner including a soup, a number of both hot & cold mezza dishes (appetizers), & the main course. Guests work alongside local chefs to prepare dishes found on a typical family’s menu using fresh ingredients.

There are no freezers in the kitchen so all ingredients are purchased fresh daily from local marketplaces, as it was done for thousands of years & therefore the flavors & preparations reach deep.

By sharing recipes & flavors, the Chefs present Jordan’s history & culture and encourage the guests to return home to share the tastes of Jordan with friends & family. For people staying longer in Petra, the Kitchen offers a more comprehensive program commencing with sourcing the food at the local markets, cooking with the Chef to learn how dishes are assembled, from the earth to the plate.

We can imagine that you already know how to chop vegetables, but you may appreciate that in most households, food preparation time is an anticipated & a joyous social event as family members, especially the women, come together to share the day’s stories and gossip while they cook. You will enjoy that same chance to chat & laugh with the fellow cooks & the staff at Petra Kitchen while you prepare our evening meal - from the most basic chopping & grating to the elegant presentation of each mezze dish - a hallmark of Levantine cuisine.

Walk back to the hotel, after a sumptuous dinner.

Overnight.  B L D 

Morning, meet the Tour-guide at 08:00 am & proceed for a 4 hour tour.

A historical site like none other, Petra is also known as Sela in the Bible. It was lost to the world for 5 centuries until it was rediscovered in 1812.  Enter the ancient Nabatean Capital Petra on horse cart through a narrow gorge carved in the sandstone followed by a walk through the 1.2km Siq, a long narrow fissure between 2 narrow, 200m high walls & overhanging cliffs until you reach the Treasury.

Undeniably one of the highlights, the walk through this magical corridor, as it snakes its way towards the hidden city, is one full of anticipation for the wonders ahead - a point not wasted on the Nabataeans, who made the passage into a sacred way, punctuated with sites of spiritual significance. Many people charge through the Siq impatient to get to Petra. That is a pity because the corridor of stone is worth enjoying for its own sake & the longer you take to travel through it, the more you can savour the final moment of arrival.

The Siq starts at an obvious bridge, beside a modern dam. The Dam was built in 1963, on top of a Nabataean dam dated AD 50, to stop floodwater from Wadi Musa flowing through the Siq. To the right, Wadi Muthlim heads through a Nabataean tunnel – the start (or finish) of an exciting hike.

Technically, the Siq, is not a canyon (a gorge carved out by water), but a single block that has been rent apart by tectonic forces. At various points you can see where the grain of the rock on one side matches the other – it is easiest to spot when the Siq narrows to 2m. The original channels cut into the walls to bring water into Petra are visible & in some places the 2000 year-old terracotta pipes are still in place. A section of Roman paving was revealed after excavations in 1997 removed 2m of soil accumulation.

Some historians speculate that the primary function of the Siq was akin to the ancient Graeco-Roman Sacred Way. Some of the most important rituals of Petra’s spiritual life began as a procession through the narrow canyon, and it also represented the end point for Nabataean pilgrims. Many of the wall niches that are still visible today along the Siq’s walls were designed to hold figures or representations (called baetyls) of the main Nabataean god, Dushara. These small sacred sites served as touchstones of the sacred for pilgrims & priests, offering them a link to the more ornate temples, tombs & sanctuaries in the city’s heart, reminding them that they were leaving the outside world & on the threshold of what was for many a holy city.

Along the way, small tombs will start appearing. These were tombs of the middle class. Those with a sharp eye however, will be able to spot an unfinished tomb, one of several in Petra.

At one point the Siq opens out to reveal a 2 storey square Tomb next to a lone fig tree. This is the Obelisk tomb, named after the 4 Indian obelisks that decorate the top of the tomb. The top storey houses the tomb proper, while the bottom storey decorated in a more classical style, contains a traditional dining hall for Nabataean funnery rites.

A little further on, look for a weathered carving of a camel & caravan man on the left wall. The water channel passes behind the carving. Hereafter, the walls almost appear to meet overhead, shutting out the sound & light and helping to build the anticipation of a first glimpse of the Treasury. It’s a sublime introduction to the Ancient City.

Coming out at the other end, you will be rewarded with the most stunning view of the Treasury, made famous in the movie “Indiana Jones & the Temple Doom”. The Treasury sits between the gorges & the Nabateans had to come up with a way to control flash floods & sudden water surges that may potentially ruin the carved structure. They did this by constructing a series of dams made from stone blocks mortared together & anchored to carved out canyon groves.

The tour then proceeds to gradually unfold the mysteries of the red Rose City with its spectacular treasury, Royal Tombs (burial chambers) & high places of sacrifice.

You will see huge square cut rocks that mark out the boundaries of the sacred area of the city. There are over 20 of these massive stone monuments around Petra, marking the entrance to the sacred area of the city.

Explore Qasr Al Bint (Pharaoh's Castle) - a Mausoleum & a Temple actually.

One of the few free-standing structures in Petra, Qasr Al Bint was built in around 30 BCE by the Nabataeans. It was later adapted to the cult of Roman emperors & then destroyed around the 3^rd century CE. Despite the name given to it by the local Bedouin – Castle of the Pharaoh’s Daughter – the Temple originally dedicated to Nabataean gods was one of the most important in Petra.

It was 23m high & its features included marble staircases, imposing columns, a raised platform for worship, ornate plaster & stone reliefs - examples of which are housed in the display at the Petra Visitor Centre. The central ‘holy of holies’, known as an Adyton, would have housed an image of the deities. The sacrificial altar in front, once overlaid with marble, indicates that it was probably the main place of worship in the Nabataean city & its location at street level suggests that the whole precinct (& not just the temple interior) was considered sacred.

Pass through the Triumphal Arch, an archway-shaped construction credited to the Romans. In 106 CE, Petra was ruled by Emperor Trajan, who named the arch after himself to celebrate his victory. The entrance to the Siq was once marked by a Nabataean monumental arch. It survived until the end of the 19^th century & some remains can be seen at twin niches on either side of the entrance.

See the Amphitheatre, a giant semi-circular Nabataean theatre originally Hellenistic in design, that had the capacity to accommodate approximately 8,000 people (even more than the great theatre at Amman). Substantial part of the theater was carved out of solid rock into the side of the mountain at the foot of the High Place of Sacrifice, during the reign of King Aretas IV (4BC-AD27), while the scaena & exterior wall were constructed. 7 stairways ascend the Auditorium.

It was refurbished by the Romans after they annexed Nabatea in 106AD. The Theatre consists of 3 rows of seats separated by passageways. The Seating extended to the Orchestra's floor level, a typical Hellenistic design & the entire seating, except for the extreme ends was carved out of the mountain.

One whole street of facades was wiped out to form the Stage back wall. The holes seen in the back wall are the interiors of the Tombs destroyed when this was done. The Stage backdrop was built up in stone but this was destroyed in the earthquake of 363. Much work has been done to reconstruct the Stage area & the high back wall which would have sealed the Theatre from the street outside.

The last place you will visit in Petra's largest monument dating from the 1^st century BC - El-Deir. During the Christian era, this structure served as a Monastery dedicated to Obodas I. In reality, it was built before the Christian era & the Nabataean steps here are an evidence of its origin.

During clearing excavation work around the Petra Deir monuments in 1990-91, an inscription was discovered nearby. It referred to “the symposium of Obodas the God”. From this inscription, some Archeologists believe that the Deir was created as a meeting place for members of the cult of Obodas. Others feel that the Deir may have been a Tomb used by the family & descendants of Obodas.

The Deir carved deep into the side of the mountain is 40.2 meters wide. The entrance itself is 8 meters high. The huge main inside chamber is 11.5 meters by 10 meters & is lit only by light coming through the  doorway. On the far side there is a wide niche with steps leading up to it on either side & an arch over it. Apparently there was plaster on the walls here. The stairs seem to indicate that there was once an altar here, similar to Al Uzza & Dushares Temples. Later, Christian crosses were carved into the walls.

The huge area in front of the monument was leveled & this seems to have been used for great congregations of people. The surrounding hills form a great natural amphitheater. Not far from the Deir, along the left wall full of caves & cisterns is a carving showing 2 camels & men. Across from the Deir is a plastered niche in a cave, with a man standing beside an altar.

Later, enjoy a buffet lunch at the Basin Restaurant, located inside the site of Petra. It is a spread of international dishes including a healthy selection of salads, fresh falafel & barbecued spicy sausage. Lots of desserts are also on offer, including fruit & Umm Ali (a bread-pudding-like dessert).

Post lunch, depart on a short drive to Wadi Rum Desert with its magnificent moon-like desert landscape which is a renowned eco-tourism spot.

All visitors & vehicles, including private ones, have to stop at the stylish Wadi Rum Visitor Centre located opposite the Seven Pillars of Wisdom, the mountain named after Lawrence of Arabia’s book, that provides the main gateway to the protected area & features all the facilities, information & services visitors will need, including reception areas, interpretation halls, restaurants & craft shops.

All vehicle tours operate out of this Centre after Entrance Fees are collected at the gates, so all visitors are required to call in & register before proceeding with their itinerary. Visitors can drive in a 4x4 vehicle for 2 - 3 hours to explore some of the best known sites. Or, they can do the same with a camel & guide.  

Reach the Camp. Check-in & relax.

There are private Tents with proper beds so that you can have a comfortable sleep. Bathrooms with showers & toilets are shared. Meals will be served in a large communal tent where you can also relax during the evening before going to sleep. Traditional ‘buffet’ dinner is made with local ingredients & there are vegetarian options, too

There is also an option (not included – supplement cost) to sleep in the open air under the stars. The ‘sleeping’ area is slightly at a distance from the Camp. A mattress, pillow & blankets are provided. Dinner is prepared in a cave & you eat around a campfire.

Balance of the day is at leisure.

You can roam in & around the Camp on your own, taking in the sandstone mountains & rocky caverns.

When we think of the desert, we normally imagine endless expanses of sand & dust. But the UNESCO World Heritage listed Wadi Rum desert valley in Jordan, offers so much more.

Textured with soft sand dunes & cascading rocks, painted with a palette of endless red, the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan is a piece of Mars on Earth.

Known as the "Valley of the Moon," this Jordanian wadi is one of the most amazing desert-scape on Earth. A journey to this ancient landscape is a journey to a stupendous, timeless place of legends, virtually untouched by humanity & its destructive forces.

In this arid valley, dug in a superb fashion by the water & the wind over the millennia, there are fabulous & unspoiled landscapes made of high sand dunes, rocky sandstone mountains with incredible shapes, narrow canyons with a thousand shades of color, water sources intertwined between the heights & impressive rock arches.

Inhabited for over 2,500 years, it lies on an ancient camel trading route to the Arabian Peninsula & is home to several Bedouin tribes who live in scattered camps throughout the area. Many live in traditional goats’ hair tents & still maintain their semi-nomadic lifestyle. They are hospitable & offer a friendly welcome to visitors, often inviting them to sit & enjoy a coffee or even a meal.

Wadi Rum is probably best known because of its connection with the enigmatic British officer T.E. Lawrence aka “Lawrence of Arabia” & Sharif Faisal Bin Huessin, who were based here during the Great Arab Revolt of 1917-18 against the Ottomans in the First World War. One of the area’s main attractions is the ruins of the house where, according to legend, T.E. Lawrence lived.

Another historical treasure are the 4,000 year old inscriptions of Anfaishiyya: Etchings depicting camels, warriors & animals cover a stretch of the huge rock face, reminding us that these areas have been inhabited for millennia.

Among the many natural wonders, a highlight is the Al-Hasany Dunes, the most spectacular sand dunes of Wadi Rum. Though they occupy a relatively small area, they rise for many feet accumulating against the slopes of the Jebel Umm Ulaydiyya mountain.

Another is the Ain Ash-Shallalah (or “Lawrence’s Spring”), a cave in which water gushes from the lush vegetation above, while the inside is adorned with ancient carvings in Arabic & filled with the scent of mint. Also look out for the Burdah rock bridge, a spectacular 260 foot high natural bridge that is truly breathtaking. For the bravest travelers, it is also possible to reach the summit.

Wadi Rum is an ideal location for adventurers & off-roaders, with plenty of places to hike, climb & trek. Serious mountaineers can enjoy a natural challenge because of its sheer granite & sandstone cliffs that rise up from the desert floor to height of 1,750m and hikers like the tranquility of the boundless empty spaces to explore the canyons & water holes. They can test their skills by ascending Jordan’s highest mountain, Jabal Rum & discovering many other spectacular treasures this vast wilderness holds in store. For those looking for more adventure, there are various aero sports activities, such as experiencing the breathtaking natural rock formations from a hot air balloon, or on one of the many different aircrafts

The arid landscape has been used to portray the Red Planet in such Hollywood films as “The Martian” & much of David Lean's “Lawrence of Arabia.” The latter showcases the vast expanses of the desert in its dramatization of the Great Arab Revolt. It is this historical aspect of Wadi Rum that you will see on display at Hejaz Railway desert stop in Wadi Rum.

The refurbished locomotive sitting at this desert station invokes the memory of the century old conflict that helped shape the modern Middle East. In 1916, the world was at war & much of the Arabic-speaking world was controlled by the Ottoman Turkish Empire. The Allied leadership - Britain, France & Russia - sought to force the Turks out of the region; they urged Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca, to join the Allies & take up arms against the Ottomans in return for Arab independence.

Hussein agreed & over the course of the next 2 years, the Arabs assisted in a major war effort to defeat the Turks. Under the leadership of Hussein’s son, Prince Faisal & with assistance from the illustrious T.E. Lawrence “of Arabia”, the Arabs fought a guerilla-style war by interrupting train passages on the Hejaz Railway.

In the first 3 weeks of May, 1918 alone, the Arabs destroyed railway tracks on 25 separate occasions. These attacks on transportation systems wreaked havoc on Turkish lines of communication & were instrumental in defeating the Turks & ending the Great War. In the years that followed, the new nations of Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon & Syria were formed north of the Arabian Peninsula.

The origins of the modern Middle East thus trace their way back to the attacks on the trains of the Hejaz Railway. The refurbished steamer at the Hejaz Wadi Rum stop puts that history on display for today’s audiences. Because finding unique, historical gems within famous destinations is often one of the most rewarding parts of travel, a stop at the desert’s Hejaz Railway station is worth the time.  

Visitors can walk the perimeter of the train & take pictures, or step inside to observe the compartments. On certain occasions, visitors can even pay to board the train & partake in a mock battle during a show put on by the Jordan Heritage Revival Company.     

If you have time, check out the souvenir tents located in tourist sites such as Petra & Wadi Rum. They often have handmade goods such as rugs & ceramics for lower prices than you will find in some places in the city.

Evening, you are treated to a traditional Bedouin meal. 

The meat & vegetables are cooked in earthen ovens, generically known as "zarb", buried under the desert sand. You will want to be close at hand when they unearth the food as the aroma released is mouth-watering! The cooked foods have a barbecue flavor to them & the meats are moist & fall off the bone.

End the day on an exciting note as you experience a spectacular night gazing at a clear sky illuminated by a million stars.

Sleep inside or under the stars (extra supplement cost for sleeping outside).

Overnight.  B L D 

Very early in the morning, enjoy a rather unique 3 hour experience near the Camp & get a feel for how Lawrence of Arabia actually lived here in Wadi Rum.

You may have done some amazing things during your travels but this has to be one of the most memorable - riding a camel through the middle of the Wadi Rum Desert as the sun rises is not something you do every day!

The Journeys Rep & the local herders who know their stuff & clearly care for their animals, will first make sure that you are comfortable on your camel as for most people, it will be their first time riding a camel. Camels are chosen based on the guests’ weight & height & also the camels’ temperament (you may see a couple of the muzzled animals). To mount the camel, you simply climb on its back & wait for the herder to give it a nudge to stand up. Riding a camel is really gentle & quite soothing (you could fall asleep easily). The herders may also have their dogs with them that will run alongside the camels who in turn would not be perturbed by their presence at all.

Clamber up into the saddle on the waiting camels tethered together & set off at a steady pace in a convoy on the 1 hour ride through the orange hued valley as the sun starts to rise.

Take in the cool morning & watch the rising sun light up the desert on a peaceful camel ride through the stunning Wadi Rum landscape - flat plains of golden sand, rocky outcrops rising into the sun, random telegraph lines cutting through the desert, small villages hiding in the distance. This is an opportunity to feel & experience life as a Nomad amidst the rustic villages you will pass by.

Reach the vantage Viewing Point on a hillock & take in the stunning scenery & snap your photos while you enjoy traditional Bedouin tea & snacks.

Riding back, you will stop at the Wadi Rum village, passing by the red sand dunes with desert-adapted plants, piled up against the mountains & couple of the other landmarks like Lawrence Spring where Lawrence of Arabia reputedly washed during the Arab Revolt & the deep, narrow fissure in the mountain side - Khazali Canyon that contains many rock inscriptions. At each site, you will have a chance to get off your camel & briefly explore the site on foot.

Come back to the Camp after the 3 hour excursion & get ready to depart for Dead Sea.

Reach the hotel by afternoon & Check-in. 

Balance of the day is at leisure to relax or for independent activities (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

There is no cooking experience included today as you have deserved a day of complete relaxation after all the Cooking you have done!

The Dead Sea Panoramic Complex managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), sits on a steep cliff overlooking the Dead Sea & features a Museum, viewing terraces, a restaurant, conference facilities & other wayside amenities.

Dead Sea, actually a gigantic lake that spreads over miles, is worth experiencing, but can sting!

The Dead Sea is referred to in the Bible as the “Salt Sea” & has also been called the Sea of Sodom, the Sea of Lot & the Stinking Sea because of the rotten egg odor created by the sulphur in the water. The sea does not play a major role in the Bible but is referred to in Chronicles II 20 & in Ezekiel.

Without doubt, one of the world’s most amazing place, the Jordan Rift Valley is a dramatic, beautiful landscape & encompasses the lowest point on the face of the earth, the vast stretch of water called the Dead Sea at over 400 metres below sea level - that receives a number of incoming rivers, including the River Jordan.

The Dead Sea flanked by mountains to the east & the rolling hills of Jerusalem to the west, giving it an almost other-worldly beauty, is called "dead" because its high salinity prevents macroscopic aquatic organisms, such as fish & aquatic plants, from living in it, though minuscule quantities of bacteria & microbial fungi are present.

Once the waters reach the Dead Sea they are land-locked & have nowhere to go, so they evaporate, leaving behind a dense, rich, cocktail of salts & minerals that supply industry, agriculture & medicine with some of its finest products. Bursting with 21 earth-given minerals, natural Dead Sea Mud is unequalled in its ability to enrich, enhance & hydrate.  In times of flood, the salt content of the Dead Sea can drop from its usual 35% to 30% or lower.

Although sparsely populated & serenely quiet now, the area is believed to have been home to 5 Biblical cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Adman, Zebouin & Zoar.

However, most of all it is famous for being the area that the Dead Sea Scrolls are from. Specifically a cave in Qumran is the site where a number of ancient manuscripts were found. They were written just after the time of Christ. These scrolls provide contemporary & philosophical information about Jesus & his followers. . A fragment of the 2,000 year-old Dead Sea Scrolls is laid out at a laboratory in Jerusalem. More than 60 years after their discovery, an ancient & largely inaccessible treasure of 5,000 images of the ancient Scrolls are now available online.

Lot’s Sanctuary, one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in Jordan, is located near modern Ghor Al Safi.  A dried pillar of salt nearby is said to be the remains of Lot’s wife, who disobeyed God’s warning not to look back as she fled Sodom.  For a more enriched memory of this ancient story, guests can visit the “Museum at The Lowest Point on Earth” that showcases the series of cultures & activities that has surrounded this area for the past 10,000 years.

Relax in the gently lapping waters & be amazed that you can’t sink! You can enjoy the day sunbathing, swimming, or dining.

In the largest natural Spa on earth, you can treat yourself to a soothing massage, or try the well-known healing powers of minerals from the sea’s muddy floor to treat many skin diseases or simply rejuvenate your skin.

Overnight.  B D

Morning, Check-out & depart for Amman.

But, we have another interesting culinary experience lined up today, enroute. 

Are you looking for more social experiences? Or do you want to lend a hand in rural communities in Jordan?

Every household in Jordan has private chefs: mothers & sisters are great cooks. And to support these women, we would like to invite you to come to one of their houses & let them cook for you. This way you get to know the local culture, the cuisine & also empower the ladies to make some extra money. Think about delicious dishes such as Maglouba, Saniya or Jordan’s national dish Mansaf.

Head out on an excursion to the farming community of Ghor Al-Mazra’a where you will get an opportunity to learn from the local residents, the rich cultural heritage & simple lifestyle of the Dead Sea region.

You learn from a community living with values of “waste not, want not”, where everything is recycled. A community that is by urban standards impoverished & yet their lack of want for anything makes them richer than urban dwellers.

As the world increasingly chooses to turn to mechanised means to solve its problems, one family in Ghor Al Mazra’a is sticking to traditional measures in running their flourishing farm.

Meet Maslam Ayyad, a mother of 9 children, running a 7 acer sustainable farm, with variety of crops & a small fish farm aided by her children (can be substituted with a different Farm). 

For Ayyad, better known in the area as Um Bakr, the farm is not only a means of income, but also a way of life, as farming has been part & parcel of her ancestry for as long as she can remember

When asked by a journalist, what would you do as a minister of agriculture, she responds “I would encourage everyone to plant something & make some of their needed fruits, vegetables or herbs at home.”  Her farming operation enabled her to put 5 of her daughters through university education. Um Baker lives with her family in two rooms that have a television, rugs & a ceiling fan. While she can afford to live lavishly, she doesn’t see the need for anything more!

Experiencing sustainable living among Ghor villagers is a humbling experience. The family might show you some arts & crafts. As a common hobby among children in the community, various wires & other seemingly “useless” materials are used to make toy cars. You might meet someone like Khaled Nawasreh - 16 year old, illiterate genius, who can create intricate airplane, car, bike & other sculptures out of metal clothes hangers. 

If you want to add to your experience, you can join Um Bakr’s family in grinding, sifting & mixing the thyme.

Your farm experience would be incomplete without cooking & sharing a meal with the family. But, you must roll up your sleeves, because you get to help!

Friendly Maslam will teach you how to make a wonderful Jordanian meal. Learn how to prepare some not so common dishes that even some Jordanians don’t know about - cha’acheel, for example. Alongside this strangely wonderful dish, she will teach you how to make mojadara, sabanekh, freekeh soup & motabbal.

It is time to eat delicious meal made from her vegetable garden. Delicious “Shrak” bread & a local dish called Gallayet Bandorah (tomato based stew) with zaatar, olive oil & tea with fresh mint.

No Jordanian meal is complete without a cup of Turkish coffee or Arabic coffee with hints of cardamom that will help you digest the large variety of food that was made especially for you. It is customary in Jordan to be presented with numerous cups of coffee or tea when you are visiting a family, or even if you are visiting a shop!

And now, it is time to say good bye to the family & the village & continue on the short drive to Amman.

Reach the hotel by afternoon & Check-in.

Okay, but your experience in the Hashemite Kingdom continues.

A little later, you will meet the Journeys Rep / Driver again & proceed on a particularly iconic “Islamic” experience that is still is still followed & copied, even in most ‘Western’ cities.

An afternoon at the Turkish Hammam - a traditional communal bath house, which you may very well remember all your life as the highlight of your Jordan experience.

For the uninitiated a Hammam is a traditional middle-eastern bathing & cleansing ritual going from hot to cold: it can vary across Hammams but typically involves a hot steam room, a scrub & finally cold water immersion.

After a steam bath, enjoy an invigorating body scrub & gentle massage: a time-honored procedure dating back to the Ottoman Empire that was central to Middle Eastern culture. You will come away feeling totally relaxed & renewed.

Many hotels have their own Hammams in-house, as do many Spas; some accommodate couples. Others offer separate areas. Public Hammams are a greener option than private ones, since less water & fuel is required per person to get squeaky clean. World over, the Hammam, is still known as the Turkish hammam or Turkish bath - the Middle Eastern variant of a steam bath, which can be categorized as a wet relative of the sauna.

Head inside & be shown to a locker room to don your nahn (wooden clogs) & pestemal (traditional, towel-like robe).

You may also bring your community Hammam kit - a full change of clothing, your own regular soap & shampoo, water bucket & a small cup or bucket for scooping water, a small foldable plastic mat for the floor, towel, flip-flops, facewash & any other toiletries you use when bathing.

Men must wear bottoms. Ladies can wear underwear or a bathing suit, or sometimes you will be given a disposable pair of underwear to put on. Once you are suitably dressed, put on your robe & go meet your Hammam attendant.

Then, enter the Steam room; a tiled, dimly lit room filled with hot, moist air. Take a seat & relax into the steam, waiting as you build up a light sweat and the humidity teases the toxins & impurities out of your skin.

After a maximum of 15 minutes here, relax on a warmed stone or in the rest areas & pour soothing warm water over your body from the copper bowls.

Then, stretch out & enjoy an invigorating body scrub performed by one of the skilled bathhouse attendants using a kese (exfoliating mitt) till you are squeaky clean. Bask in the long, sweeping movements designed to cleanse your pores. Thanks to the vigorous scrubbing & rubbing, the age old traditional full-body cleansing ritual will whiten & soften the skin, remove any dead skin &  improve blood circulation which helps the body to reduce water retention, detoxify, relax tired nerves & muscles, aid in healing & much more - guaranteed to come out feeling like a new born baby!

Next, relax into a soapy scrub as the attendant smothers you in clouds of soft suds & enjoy a wonderful 15 minute deep muscle massage of your entire body, perhaps with rose water & traditional Argan oils that protect & nourish your skin.  This intense experience was / is meant to increase blood circulation after hours of walking in this area of very hot summers & very cold winters.

The bathing rituals finish & you a ‘cleaner’ you retire to a relaxation lounge to sip a refreshing mint tea & enjoy the feeling of total rejuvenation. Seating is arranged in pockets, allowing for separate group spaces. Be sure to drink plenty of water to compensate for the loss of fluids.

The duration of your Turkish bath can vary, but in total, most experiences last between an hour & 1.5 hours.

Hop on to the waiting air-conditioned vehicle & finish your Hammam experience as you are transferred back to the hotel.

Balance of the evening is at leisure (we will be happy to offer suggestions)

The day is still young (& Amman is completely safe, our local office will guide you further).

If you are looking for a traditional & authentic shopping experience, then meandering through Downtown Amman’s markets & alleys is an excellent option. You will find a large selection of souvenir shops here, many located along Hashemi Street near the Roman Theatre. Don’t be afraid to haggle & take a look around the different stores until you find exactly what you want.

Try Souk Jara, an outdoor market with vendors selling local products. Chat with the vendors & artisans and shop for souvenirs, such as ceramics, spices, scarves & jewelry.

Or while in Rome, do as the Romans do. Turn local & explore the places, locals go to in the evenings or on the weekends.

Nightlife in Amman has expanded a great deal over the last few years! With a growing number of new bars & clubs in the capital city of Jordan, you can enjoy a great night out with your friends!

We recommend taking a look at The Duke's Diwan, Amman's oldest home with a tony history, which has become an iconic time capsule with its doors permanently open to artists & guests, located just a stones-throw from the bustling souks of downtown.    

Informal concerts & events take place in the 5 adjoining rooms & airy balcony, where easels are erected to signal the Diwan’s greater purpose. Throughout the residence, much of the original decor from the 1920’s has been restored, including a vintage radio, the original freestanding stove & period specific chairs. The walls are decorated with framed memorabilia of Haifa Hotel’s glory days when Amman was among the world’s most ancient newly-modern cities.

Check out Amman’s local music scene. Don’t be fooled by the fact that Amman music venues are few & far between – Jordan is home to some truly talented musicians. Tuesday nights at Rustic Bar & Eatery have fast become a favourite among local music lovers. Rustic’s sleek retrofit was executed thoughtfully to preserve the heritage & warmth of the historic building, making it a wholly modern & yet still uniquely Jordanian spot to catch some great local bands. Other popular spots for live music include Corner’s Pub, Maestro and Pit Stop.

Fans of all things Latin can often be found dancing the night away at Trader Vic’s. The Cuban house band sets the mood for tango night on Mondays and salsa night on Thursdays and Fridays. If you need a little help to boost your footwork, contact the staff & they will arrange lessons before the party gets rolling. It may seem random, but it is a fun & friendly crowd – and kind of a great story: ‘Oh, yeah, I picked up some salsa moves in Jordan.’

Dinner is on your own tonight to enable you to explore the extensive range of restaurants serving all popular international cuisines; just about everything from Italian to Mongolian. You may try the local food & there are a lot of good traditional restaurants to choose from, many of which also provide live entertainment.

Coffee shops, both traditional & modern, are popular meeting places, and seem to appear on almost every street. Also, because the Jordanian people are particularly fond of sweet things, there are many excellent Patisseries. Several international fast food chains are also represented in Amman.    

Overnight.  B L

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Alas, like all good things, the wonderful experience comes to an end. Time to say good-bye to the enchanting Kingdom of Jordan & go home. But, we sure hope that you may want to discover a bit more of this mystical country on your next visit.

Check-out of the hotel by 12:00 noon (if the departure time is later in the evening, we will request the hotel to allow the usage of the facilities & to leave the luggage at the Bell Desk). 

In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to Terminal? - Amman Queen Alia International Airport for your onward journey.  B

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