Jordan

Jordan is a country packed with history, culture and unmissable natural sites. Stable politically and with good infrastructure it is a great introduction to the Middle East. Its size means that many of its highlights can easily be combined into one private, group or self drive tour. Highlights include:

• Iconic Petra, a Nabatean city accessed through a narrow winding gorge and beautifully lit by candles at night.
• The Roman town of Jerash, famous for its well preserved colonnaded plaza.
• Wadi Rum, a spectacular desert landscape where you can overnight in a Bedouin camp.
• The Dana Biosphere Reserve, the largest nature reserve in Jordan where you can stay in the Candlelit Feynan Eco Lodge.
• Snorkelling in Aqaba on the Red Sea.
• The famous Madaba mosaic map of the Middle East dating from 527-65 AD.
• Mount Nebo where Moses is said to have first seen the promised land.
• Crusader castles.
• Floating in the mineral rich waters of the Dead Sea.
  

Walking

If you want to get a real sense of the history and biblical heritage of Jordan then take a walk through its spectacular landscape. This will give you an opportunity to meet the nomadic bedouin, walk the sands made famous by Lawrence of Arabia and see close up some of the spectacular natural rock formations and man made crusader castles – in short the best Jordan has to offer. If you have time and energy there is a 650 km trail connecting Um Qais in the north with Aqaba in the south and taking you to many of Jordan’s important sites. But it is also possible to do smaller sections of the trail (the section from Dana to Petra is popular) as well as half day hikes. Areas where walking is at its best include the Aljoun Forest north of Amman, the wadis near the Dead Sea, around Petra and Dana and of course through the spectacular Martian landscape of Wadi Rum. Walking guidebooks are available so it is possible to self guide some of the walks but for some of the more spectacular, and certainly for Wadi Rum, a local guide is advisable and we can arrange this for you. There is some lovely boutique and characterful accommodation in some areas but in others you will need to stay in one of the luxury international hotels which Jordan does so well.