Jordan: Ancient Cities, Biblical Sites and Desert Castles

Mid-afternoon flight at with British Airways from London Heathrow to Amman. Transfer by private coach to your five-star hotel. First of three nights in Amman.

A morning devoted to exploring the centre of Amman and the ancient citadel, with remains from the Bronze Age to early Islamic periods including the Roman Temple of Heracles and palace of the Islamic Umayyad governors. There is also a small archaeological museum. Continue to Jerash, one of the most beautiful and best-preserved Roman cities in the region, situated in the hills of ancient Gilead. After lunch we explore the extensive ruins: temples, theatres, Byzantine churches, elegant plazas and colonnaded streets. Return to our Amman for our evening meal.

Today we drive south and east of Amman to explore forts of the eastern Roman frontier and a desert complex of the early Umayyad rulers. Our first stop is Umm ar-Rasas, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The fortified settlement was once an important Roman frontier station. In the Byzantine period several churches with splendid mosaics were built within the impressive walls and in the settlement, which grew up outside. We continue into the eastern desert and stop for lunch at the RSCN Eco-Lodge, a converted 1940s British field hospital, before visiting the black basalt Roman fort at Azraq where Lawrence of Arabia stayed in 1917. At Qasr Amra, another UNESCO World Heritage site, there is a unique early 8th-century Umayyad baths complex, richly decorated with striking wall paintings representing a formative stage in the development of Islamic art. Return to Amman for dinner and the last of three nights in the city.

After breakfast we bid farewell to Amman and travel by coach to Madaba. Here we visit the Archaeological Park, which houses a collection of Byzantine mosaics, and the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George with the famous mosaic map of the Holy Land. North-west of Madaba is Mount Nebo, from where Moses is said to have glimpsed the Promised Land. The Moses Memorial church has more fine mosaics. We continue along the King's Highway, crossing the spectacular gorge of the Wadi Mujib, to the Crusader castle of Karak. We arrive in Petra in the early evening, checking in to our five-star hotel for the first of three nights. Dinner in the hotel.

Today we begin our exploration of one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites, the fabulous Nabatean city of Petra, half-built, half-carved into the warm sandstone rock, a wonderful blend of ancient Near Eastern and Hellenistic traditions. We walk through the Siq, a narrow gorge, to the famous ‘Treasury’ and beyond, past tomb facades, the rock-cut theatre and an early Byzantine church to the city centre. After lunch we climb past other monuments to the great ‘High Place’ from where there are magnificent views over the ancient site and surrounding landscape. Return to our hotel for dinner.

This morning we continue our discovery of Petra. We walk the ancient processional route up to the Deir, the largest monument in Petra, high above the city centre, and see more of the surrounding plateau before descending for lunch. The afternoon is free for further exploration of this wonderful site. Dinner in our hotel, last of three nights in Petra.

By coach to Siq al-Barid or ‘Little Petra’, with rock-cut chambers and the famous ‘Painted House’, decorated with bird and ‘cupids’ among vines, flowers and foliage in typical Hellenistic Alexandrian style. A scenic drive takes us down to the Wadi Araba and the Museum at the Lowest Place on Earth, below the Sanctuary of St. Lot with the remains of a 6th-7th-century Byzantine church. We continue along the eastern shore of the Dead Sea to our five-star hotel for the final night of this tour, and to enjoy a farewell dinner together.

Transfer to Amman airport for an early morning flight, scheduled to arrive in London Heathrow late morning.