Jordan: Petra Nights Tours

Amman at Night photo courtesy of Jordan Tourist BoardJordan is in the heart of the Middle East, Northwest of Saudi Arabia, South of Syria, Southwest of Iraq, and East of Israel and the Occupied West Bank. With a combination of Mediterranean and arid desert climates, Jordan has has warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. This is the country of Petra, 2,000-year-old pink and salmon colored rock-carved city capital of the Nabataean Arabs, the Dead Sea and the Wadi Rum desert, where you can trace the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia. Here you can visit 10,000 years old villages where humankind first began experimenting with village life as well as drive down to the Dead Sea and the Jordan Valley, and bask in the sun at the lowest spot on earth, or visit several of the mysterious 8th Century AD Islamic desert castles, some of which were so large they were never completed, or even go back further in time, to the Greco-Roman world of Jerash and the Cities of the Decapolis with their theaters, colonnaded streets, baths and temples.

Amman, the capital of Jordan, is a fascinating city of contrasts - a unique blend of old and new, ideally situated on a hilly area between the desert and the fertile Jordan Valley. In the commercial heart of the city, ultra-modern buildings, hotels, restaurants, art galleries, and boutiques rub shoulders comfortably with traditional coffee shops and artisans’ workshops. Everywhere is the evidence of the city’s much older past. Almost half of Jordan’s population is concentrated in the Amman area. The downtown area is older and more traditional with smaller businesses producing and selling. The people are multi-cultural, multi-denominational, well educated and extremely hospitible. They welcome visitors and take pride in showing them around their fascinating city.

Petra Al-Khazneh photo courtesy of Jordan Tourist BoardMadaba is known as the “City of Mosaics” because of its spectacular display of Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics. It 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, valleys, villages and towns as far as the Nile Delta. The map covers the floor of the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, in the city’s northwest city center. The Archaeological Museum depicts other mosaic masterpieces. The archaeological Park and Museum complex encompasses the remains of several Byzantine churches, including the outstanding mosaics part of a 6th century mansion.

Petra - Often described as the eighth wonder of the ancient world, it is without doubt that Jordan’s most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction is a vast, unique city, carved into the sheer rock 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. Entrance to the city is through the Siq, a narrow gorge, which is flanked on either side by soaring 80 meter-high cliffs. The Al-Khazneh (Treasury) is a massive facade, 30m wide and 43m high, carved out of the sheer, dusty pink, rock-face and dwarfs everything around it. It was carved in the early 1st century as the tomb of an important Nabataean king and reprisents the engineering genius of these ancient people. The treasury is just the first of the many wonders that make up Petra. As you enter the vally, you will be overwhelmed by the natural beauty of this place and its outstanding architectural achievements.

Jerash photo courtesy of Jordan Tourist Board
Included - Meet and assist services. Accomodations in 4* or 5* hotels on BB basis. Traveling in a/c, new vehicle with English speaking driver. All transfers and excursions mentioned in the itinerary. Entrance fees for sites mentioned in itinerary. Horse ride in Petra. Local, English speaking guides in Petra and Jerash (ca. 2 hours each). 2 hours 4×4 Jeep tour in Wadi Rum where mentioned. Group visa Jordan (more than 5 passengers, mutual arrival and depature, passport details requrired).

Not Included - Airfare. Travel insurance. Entry visa Jordan (for less than 5 passengers, 10 Dinar = 15 USD per person at Ammran Airport. Departure tax if any. Tips and private expenses.

Accommodations
4* Hotels - Amman: Belle Vue Hotel. Petra: Golden Tulip King’s Way. Aqaba: Days Inn Hotel.
5* Hotels - Amman: The Regency Palace. Petra: Crowne Plaza Resort. Aqaba: Movenpick Resort.

A Short Jordan Visit - 4D/3N

Itinerary

  • Day 1: QAI Airport – Amman overnight - Upon arrival to Queen Alia Airport our representative will meet and assist you through the customs and immigration procedures. Transfer to the hotel in Amman for overnight.
  • Day 2: Amman – Madaba – Mt. Nebo –Dead Sea – Amman overnight - Breakfast, then drive to the town Madaba, where you find the famous mosaic 6th century map of Palestine in St. George’s church. After that continue to Mt. Nebo, the place where Prophet Moses gazed at the promised land before he died and alleged to be his burial place. You visit an old monastery, overlook the Jordan Valley, Dead Sea and parts of Israel. Afterward we drive to the lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea, where you have leisure time and the chance to float on water. Overnight Amman hotel.
  • Day 3: Amman - Petra full day visit – Amman overnight - After breakfast drive 2.5 hours to the red rose city Petra, the biggest attraction of Jordan. Petra was first established around the 6th century B.C. by the Nabataean Arabs, a nomadic tribe who settled in the area and founded a commercial empire. On horse back or by footreach the canyon, the so called Siq, and then walk to the most beautiful monument: the Treasury. Among other monuments you will see are Street of Facades, the Royal Tombs and Pharaoh’s Castle. Afterwards we drive back to Amman for overnight.
  • Day 4: Amman – QAI Airport - After breakfast assisted transfer to QAI Airport for departure (end of service).

photo courtesy of Jordan Tourist Board

A Jordan Experience - 5D/4N

Itinerary

  • Day 1: QAI Airport - Amman overnight - same as 4 day tour
  • Day 2: Amman - Umm Qais - Jerash - Ajloun - Amman overnight - In the morning we drive two hours from Amman to Gadara (Umm Qais), which belonged to the famous decapolis, a union of 10 cities, founded by Alexander the Great. Here you have an overwhelming view of the north Jordan Valley, the Golan Heights and the SEa of Galilee. We have Jerash, the best example of a Roman provincial city in the whole Middle East. Visit the spectacular forum, Roman colonnaded street, the Nymphaeum and the Temple of Artemis. Next stop is Ajloun the great 12th century Islamic castle built around 1184/1185 by the famous Islamic leader Salah al-Din. Back ot Amman for overnight.
  • Day 3: Amman – Madaba – Mt. Nebo –Dead Sea – Amman overnight - same as 4 day tour
  • Day 4: Amman - Petra full day visit – Amman overnight - same as 4 day tour
  • Day 5: Amman – QAI Airport - same as 4 day tour

City of Aquaba photo courtesy of Jordan Tourist Board

A Jordan Journey - 8D/7N

Itinerary

  • Day 1: QAI Airport – Amman overnight - Upon arrival to Queen Alia Airport our representative will meet and assist you through the customs and immigration procedures. Transfer to the hotel in Amman for overnight.
  • Day 2: Amman City Tour – Jerash – Dead Sea – Amman overnight - Breakfast, then start the day with a city tour in Amman. Visit the Amphitheater and the Jordan Folklore Museum and the Citadel. After we drive in the north of Jordan to Jerash, the best example of a Roman provincial city in the whole Middle East. We visit the spectacular Forum, Roman colonnaded street, the Nymphaeum and Artemis temple. The Dead Sea is our next destination. The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth (417 m below sea level) and the largest “Natural Spa” in the world. You have the opportunity to float in the Dead Sea and experience the feeling not to sink in water. Back to hotel in Amman for overnight.
  • Day 3: Amman – Desert Castles – Amman overnight - Today starts our tour to the Desert Castles in eastern Jordan. The Amra Castle adorns with its zodiac dome and the early examples of Omayyad fresco paintings, and there are still the fortress-like mysterious Qasr Kharanah and the black basalt Roman/Medieval Islamic fort at Azraq. Back to hotel in Amman.
  • Day 4: Amman – Madaba – Mt. Nebo – King’s Way – Kerak – Petra overnight - After breakfast drive to Mt. Nebo, the place where Moses gazed at the promised land before he died. You visit the old monastery and overlook the Jordan Valley, Dead Sea and parts of Israel. After we proceed to Madaba, to the famous mosaic 6th century map of Palestine in St. George’s church. Afterwards we drive to Kerak along the famous ancient biblical caravan route the King’s Way. We have a short stop in Wadi Al-Mujib, a great wide valley with magnificent geological formation. In Kerak visit the famous Crusaders castle built in 1132/34 by king Baldwin the first of Jerusalem. Continue to Petra for overnight.

    • Wadi Rum Desert Landscape photo courtesy of Jordan Tourist Board

  • Day 5: Petra full day - After breakfast departure for a full day tour to the red rose city Petra, the biggest attraction of Jordan. Petra was first established around the 6th century B.C. by the Nabataean Arabs, a nomadic tribe who settled in the area and founded of a commercial empire. You will begin the trip on horse back or by foot to the canyon, the so called Siq, and then walk to the most beautiful monument: the Treasury. Among other monuments you will see are the Street of Facades, the Royal Tombs and Pharaoh’s Castle. Back to hotel for overnight.
  • Day 6: Petra – Wadi Rum – Aqaba overnight - After breakfast we drive to Wadi Rum, the wild desert landscape, which already fascinated the British liaison officer Lawrence of Arabia. You start a two hour Bedouin Jeep tour which leads you to canyons, sand dunes and Nabatean rock inscriptions. Then onto Aqaba at the Red Sea, where the rest of the day is free. Overnight in Aqaba.
  • Day 7: Aqaba at leisure and overnight - Jordan’s only city at the sea is Aqaba. The splendid weather during more than eight months of the year allows you here to enjoy sailing, water skiing and swimming. Diving and snorkeling is a great adventure, as you spot the colorful and varied marine life in the Red Sea. Overnight in Aqaba.
  • Day 8: Aqaba – QAI Airport - After breakfast transfer to QAI Airport in Amman for departure (end of service).

    • Vantage World Strongly Recommends Insurance for all your Travel Programs

    Insure My TripWe provide, through TravelSafe Insurance, one of the nation’s largest and most respected providers of travel insurance, a TravelSafe Custom Plan, where you decide the benefits YOU want and the levels of protection YOU desire including access to their 24-hour emergency assistance service from anywhere in the world. Click the link below the Plan Benefits table for plan details.

    Adobe PDF format
    US Residents - Download Full Plan Details Here

    Adobe PDF format
    Canadian Residents - Download Full Plan Details Here

    Also tagged with: Middle East, Jordan, Join-In Tour, Bible Lands, Religion, Module, Private Tour, Private Escorted Journey


    Vantage World Strongly Recommends Insurance for all your Travel Programs

    Insure My Trip We provide, through TravelSafe Insurance, one of the nation's largest and most respected providers of travel insurance, a TravelSafe Custom Plan, where you decide the benefits YOU want and the levels of protection YOU desire including access to their 24-hour emergency assistance service from anywhere in the world. Click the link below the Plan Benefits table for plan details.