Highlights Of Jordan And Israel

Arrive in Amman, the capital of Jordan, which is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Now home to almost half of the country's population, it is a fascinating city of contrasts, where the very ancient and the brand new collide. Due to a majority of flights arriving in the late evening, your leader will meet you for the welcome meeting on the morning of day two. There are no other activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Amman at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), which is around 30 minutes' drive . If you arrive early today you can spend some time exploring the capital of Jordan. Amman is a fascinating city of contrasts - a unique blend of old and new. The Temple of Hercules is in the commercial heart of the city along with ultra-modern buildings, hotels, smart restaurants, art galleries and boutiques. These comfortably rub shoulders with traditional coffee shops and tiny artisans' workshops. Due to the city's modern-day prosperity and temperate climate, almost half of Jordan's population is concentrated in the Amman area. The residential suburbs consist of mainly tree-lined streets and avenues flanked by elegant white houses in accordance with a municipal law, which states that all buildings must be faced with local stone. The downtown area is much older and more traditional with smaller businesses producing and selling everything from fabulous jewellery to everyday household items.

This morning we visit the cultural heart of the Hashemite kingdom with a tour of its vibrant capital. The origins of this remarkable city have been traced back some 9,000 years but it was the arrival of the Ammonites in 1200BC that saw the city begin its rise to prominence as the great city of Rabbath Ammon. The intervening centuries saw it fall under the influences of the Israelites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Ptolomids, Seleucids and the Romans, under whose auspices it thrived as one of the 10 cities of the Decapolis. Our tour this morning will take in some of the highlights of ancient Amman (Philadelphia), including the Citadel and the Temple of Hercules, the 8th century Ummayad Palace and the Roman Theatre and Nymphaeum. This afternoon we depart the city and head north, towards ancient Jerash, located in the Gilead Hills. One of Jordan's major attractions, this beautifully preserved Roman city is considered to be the best preserved of the Decapolis, a confederation of ten Middle Eastern cities under the Emperor Pompey. One of the highlights of the Middle East, a triple arch gateway gives way to colonnaded streets, theatres, temples and baths and it is estimated that this represents only about 10% of the entire city, the rest is still to be uncovered. We will tour this magnificent site with a local guide before returning to Amman.

Today we venture south to the Dead Sea. We will take some time to enjoy and float in the remarkable saline waters. At 418m below sea level this salty expanse of mineral rich water has been revered for centuries for its beneficial properties. We then head back to the main road to drive to Petra, the most famous of Jordan's treasures. Abandoned centuries ago Petra was the rock cut stronghold of the Nabateans, a fortress city built to protect the lucrative levies its citizens imposed on the rich caravans heading north. Surrounded by imposing mountains and approached through a deep, narrow cleft in the rocks, known as the Siq, it is a unique and unforgettable place and, enhanced by the play of light and shadow, an altogether overwhelming experience. Entering the Siq on foot we follow its towering sandstone walls towards the site of the captivating and iconic splendour of the beautiful Khazneh (The famous Treasury). A guided orientation tour will take us to some of the key parts of this remarkable site. We'll take in the Colonnaded Street and the Royal Tombs and marvel at the amazing theatre, with its 8,000 seats carved from solid rock. After our guided tour there will be free time to explore independently. This evening we enjoy a Bedouin cookery demonstration and meal at a nearby restaurant, learning how to make a traditional Makloubah (upside down) dish, with meat, rice and fried vegetables, followed by Um Ali, a creamy Arabic dessert with croissant pieces, raisins and nuts.