Tour 1
Ancient Kingdom
7 days/ 6 Nights
Day 1 Amman Airport – Amman
Meet & assist at Amman Airport. Transfer to Amman (43 km)
Overnight at Amman hotel
Day 2 Amman –Jerash – Ajloun – Pella – Umm Qays - Amman
Breakfast at hotel
Transfer to Jerash (48 km) - 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.
Continue to Ajloun (22 km) - Ajloun Castle (Qal'at ar-Rabad) was built in 1184 by 'Izz ad-Din Usama bin Munqidh, a general of Saladin, who defeated the Crusaders in 1187. From its hilltop position, Ajloun Castle protected the communication routes between south Jordan and Syria, and was one of a chain of forts, which lit beacons at night to pass signals from the Euphrates as far as Cairo.
Proceed to Pella (53 km) - Pella is exceptionally rich in antiquities, some of which are exceedingly old. Besides the excavated ruins from the Greco-Roman period, including an Odeon (theatre), Pella offers visitors the opportunity to see the remains of a Chalcolithic settlement from the 4th
millennium BC, the remains of Bronze and Iron Age walled cities, Byzantine churches and houses, an Early Islamic residential quarter, and a small medieval mosque.
Transfer to Umm Qays (23 km) - Gadara (now Umm Qays) perched on a splendid hilltop overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Sea of Galilee, city boasts impressive ancient remains, such as the stunning black basalt theatre, the basilica and adjacent courtyard strewn with nicely carved black sarcophagi, the colonnaded main street and a side street lined with shops, an underground mausoleum, two baths, a nymph ion, a city gate and the faint outlines of what was amassive hippodrome.
Back to Amman (100 km ) - Overnight at Amman hotel
Day 3 Amman Tour – Madaba – Mt. Nebo - Dead Sea – Amman
Breakfast at hotel
Start Visit in Amman – City Tour – A sprawling city spread over 19 hills, or "jebels," Amman is the modern - as well as the ancient - capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Known as Rabbath-Ammon during the Iron Age and later as Philadelphia, the ancient city that was once a part of the Decapolis league, now boasts a population of around 2.3 million people.
Transfer to Madaba (32 km) – Between the 4th and 7th centuries AD, the prosperous ecclesiastical centre of Madaba produced one of the world’s finest collections of Byzantine mosaics, many fine examples of which are well preserved. Madaba is home to the famous 6th century Mosaic Map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. With two million pieces of vividly colored local stone, it depicts hills and valleys, villages and towns as far as the Nile Delta.
Continue to Mt. Nebo (15 km) - From Mount Nebo’s windswept promontory, overlooking the Dead Sea, the Jordan River Valley, Jericho and the distant hills of Jerusalem, Moses viewed the Holy Land of Canaan that he would never enter. Mount Nebo became a place of pilgrimage for early Christians from Jerusalem and a small church was built there in the 4th century to commemorate the end of Moses' life. The church was subsequently expanded in the 5th and 6th centuries into the present-day large basilica with its stunning collection of Byzantine mosaics.
Transfer to Dead Sea (56 km) – 2 hours of leisure on the sea shore of Dead Sea Spa hotel - the lowest point on the face of the earth, over 400 meters (1,312 ft.) below sea level. The leading attraction at the Dead Sea is the warm, soothing, super salty water itself – some ten times saltier than sea water, and rich in chloride salts of magnesium, sodium, potassium, bromine and several others. The unusually warm, incredibly buoyant and mineral-rich waters have attracted visitors since ancient times, including King Herod the Great and the beautiful Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra. Back to Amman (72 km ) Overnight at Amman hotel
Day 4 Amman – Kerak – Dana - Shobak– Petra
Breakfast at hotel
Transfer to Kerak (118 km) - The castle in itself is all the more impressive as an example of the Crusaders' architectural military genius. Castle. Karak's most famous occupant was Reynald de Chatillon, whose reputation for treachery, betrayal and brutality is unsurpassed. Reynald was taken prisoner and beheaded by Saladin himself, marking the beginning of the decline in Crusader fortunes. The castle was enlarged with a new west wing added by the Ayyubids and Mameluks.
Continue to Dana (58 km) - Dana Nature Reserve covers 308 square kilometers and is a world of natural treasures. It is composed of a chain of valleys and mountains which extend from the top of the Jordan Rift Valley down to the desert lowlands of Wadi Araba. The Reserve contains a
remarkable diversity of landscapes that range from wooded highlands to rocky slopes and from gravel plains to dunes of sand. Moreover, Dana supports diverse wildlife which includes a variety of rare species of plants and animals.
Proceed to Shobak (32 km) - A lonely reminder of former Crusader glory is Shobak Castle. Once called "Mont Real". 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. Arrival to Petra (35 km)
Overnight at Petra hotel
Day 5 Petra
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Petra site for full day visit - The giant red mountains and vast mausoleums of a departed race have nothing in common with modern civilization, and ask nothing of it except to be appreciated at their true value - as one of the greatest wonders ever wrought by Nature and Man although much has been written about Petra, nothing really prepares you for this amazing place.
It has to be seen to be believed. Petra the world wonder is without doubt Jordan’s most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction. It is a vast, unique city, carved into the sheer rock face by the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled here more than 2000 years ago, turning it into an important junction for the silk, spice and other trade routes that linked China, India and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome. Overnight at Petra hotel
Day 6 Petra – Beidha (Little Petra) – Wadi Rum - Amman
Breakfast at hotel
Transfer to Beidha (18 km) - Little Petra was inhabited by the Nabataeans and has lots of tombs, water containers and channels, it has a small path that leads to some of the inside area, Siq al Bared, the scale of this area and the fact that it is a continuation of Petra gave it the name of Little Petra. It is literally hidden away in the center of a mountain.
Proceed to Wadi Rum (113 km) - 4x4 Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum for 2 hours - 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”. Back to Amman (324 km )
Overnight at Amman hotel
Day 7 Amman – Amman Airport
Breakfast at hotel
Transfer to Amman Airport for departure (43 km)
Rate per person in double room USD 799
Rate includes
Meet and assist upon arrival and departure
Accommodation at the above mentioned hotels on BB basis (bed & breakfast)
Transportation and transfers in A/C and modern Car
Local Guides in Jerash and Petra (1 – 4 Pax)
Qualified Guide from Day 1 till Day 7 (5 Pax & over)
Entrance fees to sites mentioned in the program only
Horse ride in Petra (500 meters from entrance till beginning of Siq)
4x4 Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum for 2 hours
Excluded
Visa to Jordan 30.00 USD /per person
Departure tax (as mostly it’s included in the flight tickets)
Extras & personal expenses
Personal insurance (to be obtained from your home country for illness, theft, cancellation, damage to
personal items, accidents, repatriation, etc. – Please do not forget to bring the copy of your contract
with the insurance company)
Qualified Guide
All tips
All Lunches & Dinners
All drinks
Best of Jordan Tour
3 Days/ 2 Nights'
ITINERARY
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Day 1
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Wadi Araba Border – Petra visit– Petra
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Meet & assist at Wadi Araba Border
Transfer to Petra (145 km) site for visit - The giant red mountains and vast mausoleums of a departed race have nothing in common with modern civilization, and ask nothing of it except to be appreciated at their true value - as one of the greatest wonders ever wrought by Nature and Man although much has been written about Petra, nothing really prepares you for this amazing place. It has to be seen to be believed. Petra the world wonder is without doubt Jordan’s most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction. It is a vast, unique city, carved into the sheer rock face by the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled here more than 2000 years ago, turning it into an important junction for the silk, spice and other trade routes that linked China, India and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome.
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Day 2
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Petra – Kerak– Mt. Nebo– Madaba – Amman
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Breakfast at hotel
Proceed to Kerak (140 km) - the castle in itself is more imposing than beautiful. Karak's most famous occupant was Reynald de Chatillon. When Baldwin II died, his son sued for peace with Saladin. The Leper King, however, died without an heir, and in stepped Reynald. Reynald and King Guy of Jerusalem led the Crusader forces and suffered a massive defeat. Reynald was taken prisoner and beheaded by Saladin himself, marking the beginning of the decline in Crusader fortunes. The castle was enlarged with a new west wing added by the Ayyubids and Mameluks.
Continue to Mt. Nebo (90 km) - from Mount Nebo’s windswept promontory, Moses viewed the Holy Land of Canaan that he would never enter. He died and was buried in Moab, "in the valley opposite Beth-peor". His tomb remains unknown. Mount Nebo became a place of pilgrimage for early Christians from Jerusalem and a small church was built there in the 4th century to commemorate the end of Moses' life. Some of the stones from that church remain in their original place in the wall around the apse area. The church was subsequently expanded in the 5th and 6th centuries into the present-day large basilica with its stunning collection of Byzantine mosaics.
Transfer to Madaba (15 km) – it was mentioned in the Old Testament. Between the 4th and 7th centuries AD, the prosperous ecclesiastical centre of Madaba produced one of the world’s finest collections of Byzantine mosaics, many fine examples of which are well preserved. Several church floor mosaics can be seen in their original locations Madaba’s real masterpiece, in the Orthodox Church of Saint George, is the 6th century AD mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land – the earliest religious map of the Holy Land in any form to survive from antiquity.
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Day 3
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Amman – Amman City Tour – Jerash – Sheikh Hussein Bridge
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Breakfast at hotel
Amman City Tour – a sprawling city spread over 19 hills, or "jebels," Amman is the modern - as well as the ancient - capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Known as Rabbath-Ammon during the Iron Age and later as Philadelphia, the ancient city that was once part of the Decapolis league, now boasts a population of around 2.3 million people. Amman and its surrounding regions is referred to in the Bible as Ammon, or the Ammonite Kingdom, and was famous for its springs and citadel.
Drive to Jerash (95 km) - 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.
Proceed to Sheikh Hussein Bridge, crossing the Border (115 km)
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Prices per person in double start from USD 452
Kindly check the OBLIGATORY New Year Eve (31.12.11 – 01.01.12)
ITINERARY
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Day 1
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Meet & assist at Amman Airport
Transfer to Amman (43 km)
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Day 2
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Amman –Desert Castles– Amman City Tour – Amman
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Breakfast at hotel
Transfer to Desert Castles (210 km) - beautiful examples of both early Islamic art and architecture, stand testament to a fascinating era in the country's rich history. Their fine mosaics, frescoes, stone and stucco carvings and illustrations, inspired by the best in Persian and Greco - Roman traditions, tell countless stories of the life as it was during the eighth century. Called castles because of their imposing stature, the desert complexes actually served various purposes as caravan stations, agriculture and trade centers, resort pavilions and outposts that helped distant rulers forge ties with local Bedouins
Back to Amman (105 km) – City Tour – a sprawling city spread over 19 hills, or "jebels," Amman is the modern - as well as the ancient - capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Known as Rabbath-Ammon during the Iron Age and later as Philadelphia, the ancient city that was once part of the Decapolis league, now boasts a population of around 2.3 million people. Amman and its surrounding regions is referred to in the Bible as Ammon, or the Ammonite Kingdom, and was famous for its springs and citadel.
Overnight at Amman hotel
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Day 3
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Amman – Umm Qays– Ajloun– Jerash– Amman
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Breakfast at hotel
Transfer to Umm Qays (143 km) - Gadara (now Umm Qays) was once one of the Decapolis cities. Perched on a splendid hilltop overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Sea of Galilee, Umm Qays boasts impressive ancient remains, such as the stunning black basalt theatre, the basilica and adjacent courtyard strewn with nicely carved black sarcophagi, the colonnaded main street and a side street lined with shops, an underground mausoleum, two baths , a Nymphaeum, a city gate and the faint outlines of what was a massive hippodrome
Continue to Ajloun (60 km) - Ajloun Castle (also known as Qal'at [Castle] ar-Rabad) was built in 1184 by 'Izz ad-Din Usama bin Munqidh, a general of Saladin, who defeated the Crusaders in 1187. From its hilltop position, Ajloun Castle protected the communication routes between south Jordan and Syria, and was one of a chain of forts, which lit be acons at night to pass signals from the Euphrates as far as Cairo.
Proceed to Jerash (22 km) - 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.
Back to Amman (85 km )
Overnight at Amman hotel
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Day 4
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Amman – Madaba– Mt. Nebo– Kerak – Petra
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Breakfast at hotel
Transfer to Madaba (32 km) – it was mentioned in the Old Testament. Between the 4th and 7th centuries AD, the prosperous ecclesiastical centre of Madaba produced one of the world’s finest collections of Byzantine mosaics, many fine examples of which are well preserved. Several church floor mosaics can be seen in their original locations Madaba’s real masterpiece, in the Orthodox Church of Saint George, is the 6th century AD mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land – the earliest religious map of the Holy Land in any form to survive from antiquity.
Continue to Mt. Nebo (15 km) - from Mount Nebo’s windswept promontory, Moses viewed the Holy Land of Canaan that he would never enter. He died and was buried in Moab, "in the valley opposite Beth-peor". His tomb remains unknown. Mount Nebo became a place of pilgrimage for early Christians from Jerusalem and a small church was built there in the 4th century to commemorate the end of Moses' life. Some of the stones from that church remain in their original place in the wall around the apse area. The church was subsequently expanded in the 5th and 6th centuries into the present-day large basilica with its stunning collection of Byzantine mosaics.
Proceed to Kerak (86 km) - the castle in itself is more imposing than beautiful, though it is all the more impressive as an example of the Crusaders' architectural military genius. Karak's most famous occupant was Reynald de Chatillon. When Baldwin II died, his son sued for peace with Saladin. The Leper King, however, died without an heir, and in stepped Reynald, who succeeded in winning the hand of Stephanie, the wealthy widow of Karak's assassinated regent... Reynald and King Guy of Jerusalem led the Crusader forces and suffered a massive defeat. Reynald was taken prisoner and beheaded by Saladin himself, marking the beginning of the decline in Crusader fortunes. The castle was enlarged with a new west wing added by the Ayyubids and Mameluks.uares and plazas, baths, fountains and city walls pierced by towers and gates.
Arrival to Petra (137 km)
Overnight at Petra hotel
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Day 5
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Petra visit – Wadi Rum
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Breakfast at hotel
Transfer to Petra site for full day visit - The giant red mountains and vast mausoleums of a departed race have nothing in common with modern civilization, and ask nothing of it except to be appreciated at their true value - as one of the greatest wonders ever wrought by Nature and Man although much has been written about Petra, nothing really prepares you for this amazing place. It has to be seen to be believed. Petra the world wonder is without doubt Jordan’s most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction. It is a vast, unique city, carved into the sheer rock face by the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled here more than 2000 years ago, turning it into an important junction for the silk, spice and other trade routes that linked China, India and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome.
Proceed to Wadi Rum ( 113 km)
Dinner & Overnight at Wadi Rum Camp
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Day 6
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Wadi Rum – Aqaba
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Breakfast in a Camp
4x4 Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum for 2 hours - 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”...
Transfer to Aqaba (70 km) - the seaside resort provides the perfect location for rest and relaxation on the shores of the Red Sea. In addition, it offers first-class scuba diving and snorkeling with some of the most beautiful and best preserved coral reef in the world. The visitor can also participate in swimming, sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing, or enjoy views of the active marine life on a ride in a glass-bottomed boat.
Overnight at Aqaba hotel
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Day 7
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Aqaba – Dead Sea
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Breakfast at hotel
12:00 Transfer to Dead Sea (291 km) - the lowest point on the face of the earth, over 400 meters (1,312 ft.) below sea level, this vast, stretch of water receives a number of incoming rivers, including the River Jordan. The leading attraction at the Dead Sea is the warm, soothing, super salty water itself – some ten times saltier than sea water, and rich in chloride salts of magnesium, sodium, potassium, bromine and several others. The unusually warm, incredibly buoyant and mineral-rich waters have attracted visitors since ancient times, including King Herod the Great and the beautiful Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra.
Overnight at Dead Sea hotel
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Day 8
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Dead Sea – Amman Airport
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Breakfast at hotel
Transfer to Amman Airport for departure (80 km)
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Prices per person in double start from USD 768
Kindly check the OBLIGATORY New Year Eve (31.12.11 – 01.01.12)
Wet Vacation
8 days/ 7 nights
ITINERARY
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Day 1
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Meet & assist at Amman Airport
Transfer to Aqaba (367 km) - in the south, the seaside resort of Aqaba provides the perfect location for rest and relaxation on the shores of the Red Sea. In addition, it offers first-class scuba diving and snorkeling with some of the most beautiful and best preserved coral reef in the world. The visitor can also participate in swimming, sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing, or enjoy views of the active marine life on a ride in a glass-bottomed boat. Aqaba is renowned for its warm water and sunny weather and is a delightful destination that can be enjoyed all year round.
Overnight at Aqaba hotel
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Day 2 - 3
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Aqaba / FREE TIME
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Breakfast at hotel
FREE TIME
Overnight at Aqaba hotel
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Day 4
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Breakfast at hotel
12:00 Transfer to Main (273 km) - popular with both locals and tourists alike, the springs are located 264 meters below sea level in one of the most breath-taking desert oases in the world. Thousands of visiting bathers come each year to enjoy the mineral rich waters of these hyper-thermal waterfalls. These falls originate from winter rainfalls in the highland plains of Jordan and eventually feed the 109 hot and cold springs in the valley. This water is heated to temperatures up to 63 degrees Celsius by underground lava fissures as it makes its way through the valley before emptying into the Zarqa River.
Overnight at Main hotel
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Day 5
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Main / FREE TIME
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Breakfast at hotel
FREE TIME
Overnight at Main hotel
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Day 6
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Breakfast at hotel
12:00 Transfer to Dead Sea (15 km) – it is over 400 meters (1,312 ft) below sea level. The lowest point on the face of the earth, this vast, stretch of water receives a number of incoming rivers, including the River Jordan. Once the waters reach the Dead Sea they are land-locked and have nowhere to go, so they evaporate, leaving behind a dense, rich, cocktail of salts and minerals that supply industry, agriculture and medicine with some of its finest products. The leading attraction at the Dead Sea is the warm, soothing, super salty water itself – some ten times saltier than sea water, and rich in chloride salts of magnesium, sodium, potassium, bromine and several others. The unusually warm, incredibly buoyant and mineral-rich waters have attracted visitors since ancient times, including King Herod the Great and the beautiful Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra.
Overnight at Dead Sea hotel
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Day 7
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Dead Sea / FREE TIME
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Breakfast at the hotel
FREE TIME
Overnight at Dead Sea hotel
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Day 8
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Dead Sea - Airport
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Breakfast at hotel
Transport to Amman Airport for departure (80 km )
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Prices per person in double start from USD 1264
Kindly check the OBLIGATORY New Year Eve (31.12.11 – 01.01.12)
Roman Ages Tour
4 days / 3 nights
ITINERARY
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Day 1
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Meet & assist at Amman Airport
Transfer to Amman (43 km)
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Day 2
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Amman – Jerash – Amman City Tour– Amman
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Breakfast at hotel
Proceed to Jerash (95 km)- 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.
Back to Amman (95 km) – City Tour - the Jordanian capital, Amman, and its surrounding regions is referred to in the Bible as Ammon, or the Ammonite Kingdom, and was famous for its springs and citadel. This is the place where the Biblical story of David and Goliath (Uriah the Hittite) took place. The massive fortifications, where David, an ancestor of Jesus, brought about Uriah’s death so that he could marry his widow Bathsheba, are still standing.
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Day 3
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Breakfast at hotel
Transfer to Petra (235 km) site for full day visit - The giant red mountains and vast mausoleums of a departed race have nothing in common with modern civilization, and ask nothing of it except to be appreciated at their true value - as one of the greatest wonders ever wrought by Nature and Man although much has been written about Petra, nothing really prepares you for this amazing place. It has to be seen to be believed. Petra the world wonder is without doubt Jordan’s most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction. It is a vast, unique city, carved into the sheer rock face by the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled here more than 2000 years ago, turning it into an important junction for the silk, spice and other trade routes that linked China, India and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome.
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Day 4
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Breakfast at hotel
Transfer to Amman Airport for departure (43 km)
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Prices per person in double start from USD 390
Kindly check the OBLIGATORY New Year Eve (31.12.11 – 01.01.12
Spiritual Tour (Christian Program)
5days/ 4 nights
ITINERARY
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Meet & assist at Amman Airport
Transfer to Amman (43 km)
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Amman – Umm Qays–Pella – Amman City Tour – Amman
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Breakfast at hotel
Transfer to Umm Qays (143 km) - the old Decapolis city of Gadara (modern-day Umm Qays), is the site of Jesus’ miracle of the Gadarene swine. It is here that He encountered a demented man who lived in the tombs near the entrance to the city, Jesus cast the bad spirits out of the man and into a herd of pigs, which then ran down the hill into the waters of the Sea of Galilee and drowned. A rare five-aisled basilica from the 4th century was recently discovered and excavated at Umm Qays. It has been built directly over a Roman-Byzantine tomb and has a view into the tomb from the interior of the church. It is also located alongside the old Roman city gate on the road from the Sea of Galilee. Everything about this distinctive arrangement of a church above a tomb at this particular place strongly indicates that it was designed and built to commemorate the very spot where the Byzantine faithful believed that Jesus performed his miracle.
Continue to Pella (25 km) - modern day Pella (ancient ‘Penuel’, meaning ‘the face of God’) was so named by Jacob after he wrestled there all night with God in the form of a man or angel (Genesis 32:24-30). A massive Bronze and Iron Age temple recently discovered at Pella, in the northern Jordan Valley, is thought to be the best preserved temple from Old Testament times anywhere in the Holy Land.
Back to Amman (78 km) – City Tour - the Jordanian capital, Amman, and its surrounding regions is referred to in the Bible as Ammon, or the Ammonite Kingdom, and was famous for its springs and citadel. This is the place where the Biblical story of David and Goliath (Uriah the Hittite) took place. The massive fortifications, where David, an ancestor of Jesus, brought about Uriah’s death so that he could marry his widow Bathsheba, are still standing.
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Amman –Bethany – Mt. Nebo –Mukawir – Madaba – Petra
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Breakfast at hotel
Proceed to Bethany (84 km) - the site of John the Baptist's settlement at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where Jesus was baptized, has long been known from the Bible (John 1:28 and 10:40) and from the Byzantine and medieval texts. The site has now been identified on the east bank of the Jordan River, and is being systematically surveyed, excavated, restored, and prepared to receive pilgrims and visitors.
Continue to Mt. Nebo (32 km) - from Mount Nebo’s windswept promontory, Moses viewed the Holy Land of Canaan that he would never enter. He died and was buried in Moab, "in the valley opposite Beth-peor". His tomb remains unknown. Mount Nebo became a place of pilgrimage for early Christians from Jerusalem and a small church was built there in the 4th century to commemorate the end of Moses' life. Some of the stones from that church remain in their original place in the wall around the apse area. The church was subsequently expanded in the 5th and 6th centuries into the present-day large basilica with its stunning collection of Byzantine mosaics.
Drive to Mukawir (43 km) - the 1st Century AD Roman-Jewish historian, Josephus, identifies the awe-inspiring site of Mukawir (Machareus) as the palace/fort of Herod, who was the Roman-appointed ruler over the region during the life of Jesus Christ. It was here, at this hilltop fortified palace, the son of Herod, imprisoned and beheaded John the Baptist after Salome’s fateful dance.
Transfer to Madaba (30 km) – it was mentioned in the Old Testament. Between the 4th and 7th centuries AD, the prosperous ecclesiastical centre of Madaba produced one of the world’s finest collections of Byzantine mosaics, many fine examples of which are well preserved. Several church floor mosaics can be seen in their original locations Madaba’s real masterpiece, in the Orthodox Church of Saint George, is the 6th century AD mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land – the earliest religious map of the Holy Land in any form to survive from antiquity.
Arrival to Petra (213 km)
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Breakfast at hotel
Transfer to Petra (235 km) site for full day visit - it seems to be mentioned in the Bible’s Old Testament under several possible names, including Sela and Joktheel (2 Kings 14:7), During the Exodus, Moses and the Israelites passed through the Petra area in Edom. Local tradition says that the spring at Wadi Musa (Valley of Moses), just outside Petra, is the place where Moses struck the rock and brought forth water (Numbers 20:10-11). Aaron, the brother of Moses and Miriam, died in Jordan and was buried in Petra at Mount Hor, now called Jabal Harun in Arabic (Mount Aaron).Petra was almost certainly the last staging post of the three kings, who took frankincense, gold and myrrh to honor the baby Jesus in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-12).
Proceed to Amman (235 km)
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Breakfast at hotel
Transfer to Amman Airport for departure (43 km)
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Prices per person in double start from USD 494
Kindly check the OBLIGATORY New Year Eve (31.12.11 – 01.01.12
