Pilgrimage to Jordan

Arrival at Amman International Queen Alia Airport – Meet and transfer to hotel in Amman for check-in and overnight.

Breakfast at hotel then leave to north from Amman. First stop is at the Jabbok River where we recall the story of Jacob wrestling with the angel. Then drive to Jerash – A close second to Petra on the list of favorite destinations in Jordan, the ancient city of Jerash boasts an unbroken chain of human occupation dating back more than 6,500 years. Jerash lies on a plain surrounded by hilly wooded areas and fertile basins. Conquered by General Pompey in 63 BC, it came under Roman rule and was one of the ten great Roman cities, the Decapolis League. Continue north to the ancient Byzantine city Umm Qais, an important city of the Decapolis where poets and artists were inspired and where Christ performed the Miracle of the Gadarine Swine. Wandering through the unique black basalt structures, you can’t help but seek your own inspiration in the city anciently known as Gadara with a breathtaking mountain-top location overlooking Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee). Gadara was the home for the famous Roman poet Theodorus, founder of the School of Rhetorics in Rome, who called Umm Qais the “New Athens.” Back to hotel in Amman for overnight.

After breakfast at hotel – The day begins with a visit to the Anglican School for the Deaf in the city of Salt. Some time to visit some of the classrooms, meet with the staff and pupils and learn about the work of this remarkable institution. Driving into the valley we visit The site of John the Baptist’s settlement at Bethany beyond the Jordan. For almost two millennia, this area which extends along the east bank of the Jordan River, opposite Jericho, has been known to be the place where Jesus Christ was baptized by John. But, in 1996, stunning archaeological discoveries identified the exact site where John had been living and carrying out his baptisms, as Bethany Beyond the Jordan. The Bible (John 10:40) refers to this place when, after being threatened with stoning in Jerusalem “Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days”. Continue to the Dead Sea hotel where there will be the opportunity to float in the therapeutic waters. Dead Sea 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. Then drive back to Amman (Biblical Philadelphia), a Decapolis city, a brief visit to the citadel and archaeological museum and view the theatre and the Tour in the capital city will also include walking tour downtown with testing of felyafel snack followed by panoramic tour of the new modern parts of Amman. Back to hotel in Amman for overnight.

After breakfast, check-out from hotel and drive to Madaba Best known for its spectacular Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics, Madaba is home to the famous 6th century Mosaic Map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Continue to visit Mount Nebo, the mountaintop memorial of Moses with captivating views of the Jordan Valley, Dead Sea and The River Jordan. Then drive to Karak to see the famous crusaders’ fort – The fort itself is a dark maze of stone-vaulted halls and endless passageways. Proceed to hotel in Petra for check-in and overnight.

Breakfast at Hotel. Start the visit of Petra – 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 Nabateans 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. Entrance to the city is through the Siq, a narrow gorge, over 1 kilometer in length, which is flanked on either side by soaring, 80 meters high cliffs. The colors and formations of the rocks are dazzling. As you reach the end of the Siq you will catch your first glimpse of Al-Khazneh (Treasury). A massive façade, 30m wide and 43m high, carved out of the sheer, dusky pink, rock-face and dwarfing everything around it. It was carved in the early 1st century as the tomb of an important Nabatean king and represents the engineering genius of these ancient people. Upon completion of the tour, back to your hotel for overnight.

Breakfast in the hotel. Check-out and transfer to Wadi Rum – This is a stupendous, timeless place, virtually untouched by humanity and its destructive forces, so elegantly described by T.E. Lawrence as “vast, echoing and god-like”. Also known as ‘The Valley of the Moon’, this is the place where Prince Faisal Bin Hussein and T.E. Lawrence based their headquarters during the Arab Revolt against the Ottomans in World War 1, and their exploits are intrinsically woven into the history of this amazing area. We will arrange Jeep Tour by Bedouin jeeps (about 2 hrs) inside Wadi Rum – then continue to Aqaba – Check in at Hotel – overnight.

Breakfast at hotel enjoy a day of relaxation beside the Red Sea with an opportunity to swim in the sea, take a glass-bottom boat to the coral reefs or simply sunbathe. With its wealth of other attractions, Jordan’s splendid Red Sea resort is often overlooked by modern-day visitors. But apart from being a delightful place for discerning holidaymakers, this is actually a great base from which to explore various places of interest in southern Jordan. Aqaba is a fun place. It is a microcosm of all the good things Jordan has to offer, including a fascinating history with some outstanding sites, excellent hotels and activities, superb visitor facilities, good shopping, and welcoming, friendly people, who enjoy nothing more than making sure their visitors have a good time.

Breakfast at hotel – drive from Aqaba to Amman International Airport for departure.