Recommended Touring Programs from Egypt & Beyond 

In these on-line days, individuals can easily go directly to the end suppliers to put together a holiday, booking the hotels, transportation and other services themselves. At Egypt & Beyond, we understand that your clients would rather rely on you to suggest itineraries and travel experiences they can’t easily organize themselves, and perhaps don’t even know about. 

We will work with you to hand-craft touring programs which dig deep into the Jordan cultural adventure, in a way that best suits your clients. 

The following touring programs are a sample of what we can offer. They’re not set in stone… but perhaps they’ll provide a framework for your ideal Jordan product.

Classical with a Twist: 

A Bedouin Encounter 
A classical touring program featuring a special Petra visit with Marguerite van Geldermalsen, author of Married to a Bedouin, the story of how a young New Zealander fell in love with a Bedouin man and made the caves of Petra her home. 
Itinerary 

Cultural Heritage of Jordan 
A 14 day/13 night group program featuring moderate walks and an intensive exploration of Petra. 
Itinerary 

Jordan Family Holiday 
A program with highlights for every member of the family, and enough free time to include those all-important afternoon visits to the hotel swimming pool! 
Itinerary 

Jordan Grand Tour 
A leisurely and luxurious group tour blending antiquities, cuisine, deluxe accommodations and enough special access events to satisfy the most jaded travelers. 
Itinerary

A Journey Through Time 
An in-depth exploration of the richness of Jordan’s archaeological heritage, ideal for FITs and small groups of archaeological enthusiasts. 
Itinerary 

Adventure and Ecotourism: 

Culture and Nature in Jordan 
An invigorating blend of nature and culture, well suited to FITs and small groups. 
Itinerary 

Bird Watching Tour 
Organized in cooperation with Jordan’s RSCN (Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature), this program offers the greatest possibilities for small-group birding in early spring and fall (late February-early April, October). 
Itinerary 

Jordan Nature Eco Tour 
Featuring the reserves and lodges operated by Jordan’s RSCN, this program is suitable for FITs and small groups. 
Itinerary 

Trekking Program, moderate difficulty 
A 9-day/8 night trekking program including 3 overnights camping in Wadi Rum. Small groups; moderately strenuous. 
Itinerary 

Trekking Program, moderately challenging 
A 15-day/14-night program with moderate to difficult segments, including 6 overnights of wilderness camping. Small groups in good physical condition. 
Itinerary 

Wadi Rum Camel Safari 
With a brief taste of the memorable sights at Dhana and Petra, and four overnights in Wadi Rum. Suitable for FITs or small groups. Moderate difficulty. 
Itinerary 

Special Interest Programs: 

Cuisine of the Levant 
An 8-day/7-night program featuring a five-night cooking course at the Petra Kitchen. Perfect for FITs and small groups interested in learning the secrets of the Levantine kitchen. 
Itinerary 

Handicraft Workshop 
Presented in cooperation with the Iraq al Amir Women’s Cooperative Society, this program is suitable for beginners and accomplished artisans interested in hand-made paper, ceramics or weaving. 
Itinerary 

Mosaic Workshop 
Learn the ancient art of mosaic-making in Madaba, a center for this craft since Byzantine days. Beginners and experiences mosaic artisans should enjoy the chance to work alongside students in the Madaba School for Mosaic Art. 
Itinerary 

Baidha Scramble Voluntourism Week 
Get to know the Amareen Bedouin tribe as your spend 5 days assisting with vitally needed local projects - and reward yourself with a week-long stay in Petra. 
Itinerary

Touring Program Itineraries:

A Bedouin Encounter 

A classical touring program featuring a special Petra visit with Marguerite van Geldermalsen, author of Married to a Bedouin, the story of how a young New Zealander fell in love with a Bedouin man and made the caves of Petra her home. 

• Day 1 Queen Alia airport-Amman 
  Meet/assist, dinner and overnight Amman. 
• Day 2 Jerash, Um Qais 
  Drive to Jerash to tour the world’s best-preserved Roman provincial city, and attend the exciting RACE (Roman Army and Chariot Experience) re-enactment in the Jerash Hippodrome. In Jordan’s far northwest corner visit Um Qais (Biblical Gadara), with its panoramic views over the Golan Heights and Sea of Galilee. Return to Amman for overnight. 
• Day 3 Amman-Dead Sea-Petra 
  Visit Museum of Popular Traditions for a look at the displays including Bedouin costumes, tribal weaving styles, jewelry and weapons. Tour Amman’s Citadel and Archaeological Museum. Descend to the Dead Sea, lowest point on the Earth’s surface, for lunch and day use facilities at a beach along the mineral-rich inland sea. In the late afternoon drive on to Petra. After dinner, meet Marguerite van Geldermalsen, and enjoy a slide-show reminiscence of her early days in Petra. 
• Day 4 The Classical View of Petra 
  Visit Petra, with entry through the mysterious Siq and visits to the Treasury, Theater, Royal Tombs and an afternoon climb to ad-Deir, Petra’s largest carved façade. Return to hotel. In the evening drive to Um Sehun, the modern Bedouin village above Petra, as Marguerite’s guests for a typical Bedouin meal in her home. 
• Day 5 A Different View of Petra 
  Return to Petra with Marguerite, and spend the day exploring the caves and valleys where she lived, worked and adapted to the simple Bedouin life. It’s a truly unique view of the world-famous site. In the evening, visit the Petra Kitchen for a cuisine course and dinner. 
• Day 6 Petra-Wadi Rum 
  Your final visit to Petra uses the “secret road” of al-Madras. Visit the High Place of Sacrifice and Wadi Farasa. In the afternoon drive to Wadi Rum for a jeep tour, with dinner and overnight camping in the desert. 
• Day 7 Wadi Rum-Aqaba 
  After breakfast at the campsite, set off on a morning’s camel safari through the moonscape terrain. From the Rum village, a short transfer will bring you to the Red Sea port of Aqaba. Afternoon at leisure, overnight Aqaba. 
• Days 8 Departure 
  Transfer to airport for departure.

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Cultural Heritage Of Jordan 

A 14 day/13 night group program featuring moderate walks and an intensive exploration of Petra. 

• Day 1 Queen Alia Airport-Dead Sea 
  Meet/assist at Queen Alia Airport with gratis group visa on arrival (see note.) Transfer to Dead Sea resort hotel for overnight. 
• Day 2 Amman-Jerash-Ajlun-Jordan Valley-Dead Sea (BL) 
  Transfer to Jerash, the world’s best-preserved Roman provincial city, to watch the exciting Roman Army and Chariot Experience re-enactment. Sitting in the Roman Hippodrome, you’ll see what the Romans saw including a display of Roman army weapons and tactics, gladiatorial combat and an exciting 7-lap chariot race, all performed with careful attention to historical accuracy. Afterwards, tour the Roman Decapolis city of Jerash including the Theater, Temple of Artemis, Cardo, souks and Forum. Lunch in Jerash. Drive to nearby Ajlun for a hike through the Ajlun Woodlands Nature Reserve, with its bounty of birds and arboreal flora. Visit the Qallat ar-Rabadh, a Crusader-era Saracen Castle, with its panoramic views of the Jordan Valley and the distant Galilee. Drive down into the lush Jordan Valley and return to the Dead Sea, lowest point on the earth’s surface, for overnight. 
• Day 3 Dead Sea-Bethany-Madaba-Mt. Nebo-Dead Sea (BL) 
  Transfer to Bethany Baptismal Site for 1.5-hour hike to the banks of the Jordan River. Drive up to Madaba, home to the world’s largest collection of ancient mosaics, to visit the St. George Church with its famous 6th Century map of the Holy Land and the Madaba Archaeological Park, with its fine collection of Herodian and Byzantine mosaics. Enjoy a traditional Jordanian lunch at Haret Jdoudna Restaurant. In the late afternoon, see the fine panoramic view of the Jordan River Valley, Dead Sea, Jericho and the hills of Judea from Mt. Nebo. Return to the Dead Sea for overnight. 
• Day 4 Dead Sea-Karak-Dhana old village (BLD) 
  Drive along the Dead Sea’s eastern shoreline, and then up to tour the imposing remains of the Karak Crusader Castle. Lunch in Karak, and then a drive along the scenic King’s Highway through Wadi Hasa. Arrive to the Dhana Guest House for check-in, and explore the old Bedouin village of Dhana. Dinner/overnight at Dhana. 
• Day 5 Dhana-Wadi Finan (BLD) 
  Hike through colorful Wadi Dhana to Wadi Finan, site of one of the ancient world’s largest copper mines. Have lunch at the Wadi Finan Eco-lodge, and then spend the afternoon exploring the extensive Nabatean/Roman/Byzantine ruins in Wadi Finan. Dinner/overnight at the Eco-lodge. 
• Day 6 Wadi Finan-Wadi Araba-Taybet (BLD) 
  Visit the pre-pottery Neolithic ruins in Wadi Ghweir. After lunch at the lodge, depart by jeep for a journey through Wadi Araba, the Rift Valley route of the ancient spice caravans. Climb Nekeb Nimla and drive on to Taybet Zamaan, a beautifully restored Bedouin village, for dinner and overnight. 
• Day 7 Taybet-Petra (BLD) 
  Hike from Taybet into Petra by the southern entrance, stopping at mid-day for a picnic lunch at Ras Numair. Visit the High Place of Sacrifice, and descend by the al-Madras path to reach the Petra Movenpick Hotel, located at the gate of Petra. During a pre-dinner gathering you’ll hear about recent archaeological work in the extensive Petra ruins from a local archaeologist. Dinner at al-Liwan Restaurant, overnight. 
• Day 8 Petra (BLD) 
  Return to Petra by the traditional entry through the mile-long winding Siq, and explore the ancient city center. Lunch at the Basin Restaurant inside the ruins, and free afternoon for independent exploration. In the evening, visit the Petra Kitchen for a cuisine lesson and dinner of traditional Jordanian specialties. 
• Day 9 Petra-Baidha-Petra (BL) 
  Enter Petra by the al-Mudhlim route and visit the Royal Tombs. Climb through Wadi Maesrah (stopping for a picnic lunch), and then hike cross-country to visit the Baidha Neolithic site and Siq al Barid (“Little Petra”). Return to the hotel by local bus and take the evening off to explore the local ambiance. 
• Day 10 Petra (BLD) 
  Return to Petra for a visit to ad-Deir, Petra’s largest carved façade. Lunch at the Basin Restaurant, and time in the afternoon to visit some of the site’s nooks and crannies. In the evening, assemble on the Movenpick’s Roof Garden for dinner. 
• Day 11 Petra-Wadi Rum (BLD) 
  Depart by jeep for a trip into the moonscape terrain of Wadi Rum, which T E Lawrence rightly described as “vast, echoing and God-like.” Stop for a picnic lunch, and then continue your journey by camel to the evening’s campsite in the heart of the desert. Traditional Bedouin mensaf dinner, and a chance to enjoy the dazzling night skies of the desert. 
• Day 12 Wadi Rum-Aqaba (BL) 
  Breakfast at campsite. Depart by camel into the southern part of Wadi Rum, arriving to the Um Frudh natural rock bridge for a picnic lunch at mid-day. Continue by jeep through the desert route to Aqaba, on the shores of the Red Sea. Free afternoon, overnight Aqaba. 
• Day 13 Aqaba (BL) 
  Morning visit to Aqaba’s Omayyad fortress and museum. BBQ lunch on the beach, with free time in the afternoon. Overnight Aqaba. 
• Day 14 Aqaba-Queen Alia Airport (B) 
  Transfer to Aqaba’s King Hussein International Airport for shuttle flight to Queen Alia Airport in Amman, connecting to your departure flight.

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Jordan Family Holiday 

A program with highlights for every member of the family, with enough free time to include those all important afternoon visits to the hotel swimming pool! 

• Day 1 Queen Alia airport-Amman 
  Meet/assist, dinner and overnight Amman. 
• Day 2 Jerash 
  Visit the marvelous Roman Decapolis city of Jerash. Today’s special highlight will be attending the RACE show (Roman Army and Chariot Experience) with its demonstration of Roman Army weapons and tactics, gladiator show and and exciting 7-lap chariot race in the Jerash Hippodrome. There’s a better-than-average chance that you can get your picture taken brandishing a Roman sword and shield or riding in a chariot! Return to Amman for free afternoon. 
• Day 3 Dead Sea-Karak-Petra 
  Drive to Dead Sea for a chance to try “swimming” in the mineral-rich waters of the lowest point on the Earth’s surface. In the afternoon, explore the Karak Crusader Castle high atop the Dead Sea’s southern reaches, before continuing to Petra in the late afternoon. Visit the Petra Kitchen for a fun cooking lesson and dinner. Overnight Petra. 
• Day 4 Petra 
  Visit Petra, entering through Siq on foot to tour the central part of the ancient city, plus a climb to either the High Place of Sacrifice or the Monastery (donkeys are available for hire). Overnight Petra. 
• Day 5 Jabal Harun horseback excursion-Petra 
  Enter the Siq again on horseback (special permit required), for an excursion to Jabal Harun and picnic lunch at the pilgrimage church excavation site. Overnight Petra. 
• Day 6 Wadi Rum-Aqaba 
  Depart by jeep for a trip through the moonscape terrain of Wadi Rum, with a short camel ride and picnic lunch in the desert. Arrive to Aqaba in the early afternoon, for leisure time in Jordan’s Red Sea resort city. 
• Day 7 Aqaba-Queen Alia Airport 
  Day at leisure on the Red Sea shores. Overnight Aqaba. 
• Day 8 Departure 
  Transfer to Queen Alia for departure.

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Jordan Grand Tour 

A leisurely and luxurious group tour blending antiquities, cuisine, deluxe accommodations and enough special-access events to satisfy the most jaded travelers. 

• Day 1 Queen Alia Airport-Amman (D) 
  Arrival to Queen Alia airport, with meet/assist service and Jordanian visas on arrival (see note). Transfer to the Amman hotel for check-in. Gather in the evening for a get-acquainted cocktail reception followed by dinner at Fakhr ad-Din, located in the beautifully restored building which was once the residence of the Spanish ambassador to Jordan. Sample a dazzling array of cold and hot mezza and grilled meats which have made the cuisine of the Levant famous throughout the world. 
• Day 2 Amman (BL) 
  Make an early morning visit to Amman’s Citadel, crowded with partially excavated remains of the Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad civilizations which once held sway over the site of the Decapolis city of Philadelphia. The lofty peak provides an excellent vantage point to watch the bustling old market area of the modern city come to life. You’ll visit the Temple of Hercules, Omayyad palace, Byzantine church and other monuments crowding this small hilltop. Jordan’s National Archaeological Museum showcases the march of time through this strategically important country which lies at the heart of all the ancient world’s trade routes. Some of the highlights of the museum include the 11,000-year-old humaniform plaster statues unearthed in Amman (restored by the Smithsonian Museum in the early 1990’s), the Roman head of Tyche, symbol of the city of Philadelphia during the Decapolis era, the stylized “Dushara block” and many fine examples of the paper-thin Nabatean pottery from Petra, and fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls found at Qumran. During the visit to the museum, we’ll be joined by the archaeological consultant for the Jordan National Museum Project, Dr. Kheria Amro, who has participated in and directed excavations throughout the Kingdom and is now engaged in helping to plan the new National Museum scheduled to open in 2010. Our city tour of Amman will include a visit to the King Abdullah Mosque (the blue-domed mosque often used as a backdrop by news broadcasters), the parliament building and courts of justice, and a special permit to visit the grave of Jordan’s late King Hussein in the Royal Palace Compound. Return to hotel, with a free evening to try one of Amman’s fine restaurants. 
• Day 3 Amman-Jerash-Um Qais-Amman (BLD) 
  Drive to Jerash to tour the world’s best-preserved Roman provincial city. From the acoustically perfect South Theater to the Cardo, where marks of chariot wheels can still be seen on the paving stones, to the gemlike Temple of Artemis, to the market area with its well-preserved stalls and shops to the towering forest of columns in the forum, this site will give you a vivid impression of how life was lived in this important trading city 2,000 years ago. In the late morning, join other visitors in a unique re-enactment experience in the Jerash Hippodrome. You’ll sit where the Romans sat to see what the Romans saw, as the Jerash Heritage Company puts on a masterful performance including a demonstration of Roman army tactics, gladiatorial contests and an exciting 7-lap chariot race around the hippodrome. Following the performance, you’ll be joined at a local restaurant by members of the Company in their authentic Roman costumes, and they’ll describe the perils and pleasures of staging this very special show. In the afternoon, we’ll drive through the lush Jordan River Valley to the northwest corner of Jordan to visit Um Qais, Biblical Gadara. Gadara was another of the Roman Decapolis cities probably best-remembered for the New Testament story of the Gadarene swine. In its own day it was famous as a center for art, performance and higher learning. The dramatic black-basalt construction stands out impressively against the gentle palette of red earth, green fields and silver-grey olive trees in this pastoral area. The view from Um Qais takes in the glittering Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights. This panorama is best enjoyed from the terrace of the Um Qais Rest House, where you’ll enjoy a fine dinner complemented by local wines of the region. Return to Amman for overnight. 
• Day 4 Amman-Madaba-Mt. Nebo-Dead Sea (BL) 
  After breakfast and check-out, you’ll drive 30 km to Madaba, home to the world’s largest collection of ancient mosaics. The thriving modern city of Madaba is ½ Christian and ½ Muslim, which gives it a special atmosphere of friendly tolerance and co-operation. You’ll visit the St. George Church, with its famous 6th Century mosaic map of the Holy Land (the earliest known map of the region), and then stroll a few blocks to the Madaba Archaeological Park, which houses a multitude of restored Herodian and Byzantine mosaics, including two complete church floors and a secular banqueting hall floor. You’ll visit the Madaba School for Mosaic Art, to watch ongoing restoration work. Haret Jdoudna, your venue for lunch, is one of Jordan’s finest traditional restaurants. It is built on the framework of several restored historical houses, and features local building materials and the odd antiquity (Roman column capitals) to be found in many Jordanian homes. In the pleasant courtyard of the restaurant you’ll sample the typical Jordanian dish of sawani, a pan-roasted concoction of vegetables, meat and chicken named for the cooking dish. After lunch, spend some time wandering through the souk to bargain for carpets, a Madaba specialty, browse through the mosaics shops or just sip Bedouin tea and chat with the friendly local shopkeepers. In the late afternoon, you’ll visit Mt. Nebo, the site from which it is believed that Moses viewed the Promised Land and then surrendered his leadership to Joshua. From this point you can enjoy the view including the Jordan River, Dead Sea, Jericho and the hazy hills of Judea including the Mount of Olives and Bethlehem. The modern Mt. Nebo church houses the restored mosaics and other remains of a succession of pilgrimage churches which have occupied this venerated spot since the late 3rd Century. Our guide to Mt. Nebo will be the Franciscan father who has excavated many of Jordan’s most impressive mosaics himself, Fr. Michele Piccarillo. Drive down through the rolling hills from Mt. Nebo, passing the occasional family of nomadic herders, to reach the Dead Sea, lowest point on the earth’s surface. The Dead Sea, with its 30% mineral composition (the earth’s oceans have 3% mineral content), is famed for its buoyancy and healing properties. You will spend three nights at the luxurious Movenpick Dead Sea Resort on the shores of the Dead Sea. Perhaps you can’t sink in the waters of the sea (and you can’t), but you’ll certainly sink into the gentle indulgence of this charming resort, built in a traditional “Jordanian village” style featuring local materials and the riotous beauty of its gardens and waterfalls. The resort’s amenities include a variety of restaurants and snack bars, live entertainment in the lobby lounge or at the Village Square most evenings, tennis courts, a private beach and several freshwater pools—one of which even has a proper sandy beach and bottom! After check-in and a chance to freshen up, you’ll rendezvous at the Main Building Terrace for a glass of wine while watching the setting sun backlight the domes and spires of Jerusalem, and the lights twinkling from the Jerusalem-Beit Jalla-Bethlehem hilltops just a few kilometers away. In the evening, the hotel staff will whisk you away by golf cart to give you a private tour of the property so you’ll be properly oriented to the pleasures the resort can offer. 
• Day 5 Dead Sea (BL) 
  Check your private schedule for a list of the pampering Spa wellness treatments which have been booked for you at the world-famous Zara Spa on the hotel grounds. Besides your special treatment package, you’ll have full run of the Spa’s facilities including the Hydropool, heated Dead Sea pools, Kneippe foot bath, the men’s and women’s Thermariums including Caldarium, Laconium, Tropical Rain Showers and indoor/outdoor rest areas, the Gymnasium, Tranquility Lounge and Zara Spa Infinity Pool and Beach. A buffet-style selection of healthy salads is available in the Spa for lunch at your leisure. In fact, leisure is what the Zara Spa Experience is all about! 
• Day 6 Dead Sea (BL) 
  Again, check your private schedule for the treatments scheduled for you today. Enjoy…
• Day 7 Dead Sea-Karak-Petra (BL) 
  Drive along the Dead Sea’s eastern shoreline, with its dazzling-white salt formations (an unfortunate reminder that the Dead Sea is shrinking at an alarming rate) and the mountain gorges which deliver water into the sea from the Rift Valley Plateau. Ascend to that plateau, climbing over 1,400 meters in less than an hour, to tour the imposing remains of the Karak Crusader Castle which overlooks the south end of the Dead Sea. Feel the spirit of the lusty medieval courts come to life as you enjoy a private Crusader Banquet in the spacious dining hall of the castle. Besides tasting the exotic dishes of a bygone age, enjoy the sort of medieval-style entertainment which was likely offered those knights of old - oriental dancers, jugglers, troubadours and magicians. Drive south along the King’s Highway, a winding local road which passes through fertile farmland and rocky gorges, and affords the occasional glimpse out over Wadi Araba, route of the ancient spice caravans, arriving in the evening to the Petra Movenpick Hotel. Gather in the hotel’s library in the evening for a cocktail reception and the chance to meet any archaeologists who are working in the area at the time of your visit (there are always a few on hand). You’ll have a tantalizing slide-show introduction to the legendary rose-red city of Petra, capital of the vast Nabatean trading empire. 
• Day 8 Petra (BLD) 
  Rise early for a break-of-day walk through the mysterious mile-long winding Siq for your first visit to Petra. The morning’s program of visits includes the Khazneh (of Indiana Jones fame), the Street of Facades, the Theater and the Royal Tombs, and Petra’s imposing Colonnaded Street, which terminates at the Petra Museum. A buffet lunch is served at the restaurant located in the Museum’s modern building. After lunch, the intrepid can climb the 900 rock-cut steps (for the less intrepid or perhaps the wiser, donkeys can be hired on the spot) to visit ad-Deir, Petra’s magnificent largest carved façade. Return to the hotel, and gather on the Roof Garden (the top-floor Tea Room in winter months) for a private dinner at the hotel. 
• Day 9 Petra (BLD) 
  Another early start… this time with a moderately rigorous climbing entry to Petra by the “secret road” of al-Madras. (NB: optional second entry by horse-drawn carriage through the Siq). Visit the High Place of Sacrifice, from which you’ll have a marvelous panoramic view of Petra’s ancient city center spread out below you. Descend through the colorful façade-rich route of Wadi Farasa, and enjoy a picnic lunch in one of the triclinia where Nabateans once held annual funerary feasts. Free time in the afternoon to explore the Petra city center or to return to the hotel for a relaxing visit to the pool and steam room. Spend the evening at the Petra Kitchen, where you’ll work alongside local women to prepare a typical Jordanian meal including soup, hot and cold mezza and a main course, all under the supervision of a local chef. The preparation and dinner give you a chance to learn some of the secrets of Jordanian cuisine, and also afford the opportunity to meet some local people. 
• Day 10 Petra (BLD) 
  For your final visit to Petra, you’ll have a special permit to return through the Siq on horseback for an excursion to Jabal Harun, Petra’s tallest peak. This mountain is believed to be the Biblical Mt. Hor, burial site of Aaron, the brother of Moses. You’ll leave the horses at the mountain’s “saddle,” where archaeologists are now excavating the remains of a Byzantine pilgrimage hostelry and chapel. A short climb up rock-carved steps brings you to the medieval shrine which is supposed to memorialize the tomb of Aaron - and which also gives you a wonderful view over Wadi Araba, the Negev and the Shara’a Mountains to the north and south. Return to the saddle to enjoy a BBQ lunch prepared by your horse escort boys before riding back through Petra to the hotel. In the evening you’ll visit the restored 18th Century Bedouin village of Taybet Zamaan for a folkloric show and zarb (pit-roasted meat and chicken) dinner in the Taybet Garden Square. Return to hotel for final night in Petra. 
• Day 11 Petra-Wadi Rum (BLD) 
  Depart by jeep for a tour of the moonscape terrain of Wadi Rum, which T.E. Lawrence rightly described as “vast, echoing and God-like.” The sculptured rock formations, towering bright-red sand dunes and the many rock inscriptions from prehistoric, Thamudic, Nabatean and Islamic eras compose a kaleidoscope of colors and impressions. Spend some contemplative moments (perhaps perched atop one of the natural rock bridges) to let the vast and tranquil peace of the desert soak in… it’s a good place to discover why three of the world’s great religions, the “zero” and other wonders were created in the desert! In the evening, arrive to our private deluxe campsite deep in the heart of the desert. Carpeted tents with real beds, hot water for washing, etc., make this “canvas hotel” a not-to-be-missed experience……especially when the sun sets and you realize you’re in a zillion-star venue with no lights, no traffic, no outside noise to distract you. You’ll eat a traditional Bedouin mensaf dinner under a Bedouin tent, and be entertained by performers on the oud and tabla, the musical instruments of Arabia. And just to make sure you don’t miss anything important, you’ll have an astronomer-in-residence to point out the constellations and explain the wonders of the desert night sky. 
• Day 12 Wadi Rum-Aqaba (BL) 
  Breakfast at campsite. Depart by camel for an early morning safari through the desert and back to the modern Rum village. Depart by coach to the busy Red Sea port city of Aqaba. Check in to the luxurious new Aqaba Intercontinental Hotel, where every room has a spacious balcony commanding a sea view. Take a brief orientation tour around Aqaba, and enjoy a fresh seafood lunch at the Royal Yacht Club before returning to the hotel for an afternoon at leisure. 
• Day 13 Aqaba (BD) 
  Day at leisure to enjoy the hotel’s beach and pool facilities. In the evening, gather at the jetty to embark on a 3-hour dinner cruise of the Aqaba harbor, with entertainment provided by an on-board string quartet. 
• Day 14 Aqaba-Amman (BD) 
  Day at leisure. Take a late afternoon flight from Aqaba to Amman, with a chance to get a bird’s eye view of the places you’ve visited along the journey through Jordan. Arrive to Amman for a farewell dinner and overnight. 
• Day 15 Departure transfer (B) 
  Transfer to Queen Alia airport for departure.

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A Journey Through Time 

An in-depth exploration of the richness of Jordan’s archaeological heritage. Ideal for FITs and small groups of archaeological enthusiasts. 

• Day 1 Queen Alia airport-Amman 
  Meet/assist at Queen Alia airport. Transfer to Amman hotel for overnight. 
• Day 2 “Modern Jordan” Amman 
  “Modern Jordan” full-day city tour in Amman, including visits to the Citadel, Archaeological Museum, Roman Theater and Folklore Museum, and bustling modern souk, the elegant residential areas of Jabal Amman and the diplomatic ‘new quarter’ of Abdoun, the National Gallery and King Abdullah mosque with its famous blue dome. Enjoy a sumptuous Oriental dinner at the elegant Fakhr al-Din Restaurant, a beautifully restored former ambassadorial residence on Jabal Amman, where your fellow diners will include the elite of Jordanian and expatriate political, business and social circles. Overnight Amman. 
• Day 3 “Islamic Jordan”-Omayyad lodges-Azraq Fortress (BL) 
  Head east for a tour including the so-called “Desert Castles” of Jordan’s eastern Badia - actually 8th Century Omayyad hunting lodges. Begin with Qasr Hallabat, and drive on to the Azraq Oasis to tour the Roman fortress at the Azraq Oasis later re-used by T. E. Lawrence as a winter headquarters during the Arab Revolt. In the afternoon, visit the World Heritage site of Qasr Amra and then the stark beauty of Qasr Kharanah. Return to Amman for overnight. 
• Day 4 “Byzantine Jordan”-Um ar Risas-Madaba-Mt Nebo (BL) 
  Begin the day at Um ar-Risas, Jordan’s newest World Heritage site. The late Byzantine mosaic in the St. Stephen church is one of the finest in Jordan, with its vignettes of all the outstanding pilgrimage sites of the early 8th Century. The Um ar-Risas site also contains one of the region’s earliest Stylite towers, as well as ruins of the large Roman/Byzantine barracks and caravansary. Madaba, a Byzantine archbishopric, is home to the world’s largest collection of ancient mosaics. Here you will visit the St. George Church with its famous 6th Century map of the Holy Land, as well as the many restored Byzantine and Herodian mosaics in the Madaba Archaeological Park and Apostles' Church. On nearby Mt. Nebo, from which Moses viewed the Promised Land, take in the view of the Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, Jericho and (if it's clear) the distant spires and domes of the Mount of Olives The contemporary church houses a display of mosaics from the succession of pilgrimage churches on this venerated spot. Return to Amman for overnight. 
• Day 5 “Roman Jordan” -Um Qais-Ajlun-Jerash 
  Visit Um Qais (Biblical Gadara), the dramatic black-basalt Roman Decapolis city overlooking the Golan Heights and Sea of Galilee. Drive through the Jordan Valley and up into the Dibeen National Forest to tour Qallat ar-Rabadh, Ajlun's Crusader-era Saracen Castle. In nearby Jerash, tour the world's best-preserved Roman provincial city before returning to Amman for overnight. 
• Day 6 “New Testament Jordan”-Mukawir-Bethany-Dead Sea (BL) 
  Drive south of Madaba for a visit to Mukawir, a Herodian fortress high above the Dead Sea where King Herod journeyed to take restorative hot springs baths. Here John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded. Descend to the Dead Sea, lowest point on the earth’s surface, to tour the newly-excavated Baptismal site at Bethany. Biblical archaeologists, working from clues supplied by the Madaba mosaic map, believe this to be the spot where John the Baptist lived and worked, and where Jesus was baptized in the waters of the Jordan River. The extensive water channels, cisterns and baptismal fonts, as well as the impressive size of the very early (3rd-4th Century) pilgrimage churches on this site, certainly suggest that this is where the earliest Christian pilgrims believed the Baptism took place. The walk past "Elijah's well" to the St. John church on the banks of the Jordan is a pleasure in itself, as you follow the winding trail through marshes of high reeds and tamarisk trees. Proceed to your Dead Sea resort for overnight. 
• Day 7 Relaxation day at Dead Sea (B) 
  Day at leisure to enjoy the facilities of the Resort, with its private beach, freshwater pools and delightful wellness Spa. Overnight Dead Sea. 
• Day 8 “Rift Valley - focus of change” - Dead Sea-Wadi Mujib-Lot’s Sanctuary-Wadi Finan (BLD) 
  Drive south along the eastern shoreline of the Dead Sea, with a stop at the mouth of Wadi Mujib, Jordan’s ‘Grand Canyon’ with its spectacular Mujib River flowing into the southern end of the Dead Sea. The RSCN supervises this protected and fragile ecosystem, and has a Visitors’ Center to explain their work managing the historically and environmentally sensitive area. Further south, visit the Byzantine pilgrimage hostelry at Lot’s Sanctuary. Continue south into the arid southern desert of Wadi Araba to visit Wadi Finan, the ancient world’s largest copper mine. Dinner and overnight at the RSCN lodge in Wadi Finan, with an evening discussion of the positive and negative impact of increasing tourism on the life of the local Bedouin population. 
• Day 9 “Jordan as outpost”-Wadi Araba-Karak-Dhana-Shobak-Petra (BLD) 
  Drive up the road from bottom of Wadi Araba, ascending 1,350 m to tour the magnificent ruins of the Karak Crusader Castle. Continue south along the scenic King’s Highway to visit the Dhana old village, overlooking Wadi Finan and the Dhana Nature Reserve. Visit the smaller and more cohesive remains of the Crusader Castle at Shobak (Mont Real), before continuing to Petra. Cooking lesson and dinner at the Petra Kitchen. 
• Day 10 “Nabatean Jordan”- Petra 
  First full-day visit to Petra, with entry through the mile-long Siq and visits to the Treasury, Street of Facades, Theater, Colonnaded Street, Museum, Qasr al Bint and Byzantine Church. Overnight Petra. 
• Day 11 Petra 
  Second visit to Petra, with entry via al-Madras and visits to High Place of Sacrifice, Wadi Farasa and Great Temple. Overnight Petra. 
• Day 12 Petra 
  Morning visit to Siq al Barid (“Little Petra”). Hike cross country via Wadi Merwan to ad-Deir, Petra’s largest carved façade. Descend into the ancient city center for a last look, and visit the Royal Tombs and al Kubtha on the way back to the hotel for overnight. 
• Day 13 “Earliest Jordan”-Baidha-Basta 
  A unique day’s look at some of the earliest settled villages in the world. Depart the hotel by Bedouin pickups to visit the Neolithic sites of Shakart Mseiat, Baja, Baidha and Basta, all within a few kilometers of Petra. Return to hotel for overnight. 
• Day 14 “Unchanging Jordan”-Wadi Rum 
  Depart the hotel by jeep for a full-day journey into the moonscape terrain of Wadi Rum, which T. E. Lawrence rightfully described as “vast, echoing and God-like.” Along the way you’ll visit nomadic Bedouin encampments where the herding lifestyle has little changed for millennia. Dinner and overnight camping under the dazzling desert night sky in Wadi Rum. 
• Day 15 “Ever-changing Jordan”-Wadi Rum-Amman 
  Breakfast at campsite. Camel caravan to the Wadi Rum Visitor’s Center for coach return to Amman. Visit “Wild Jordan,” the new RSCN Center (built with the assistance of US Aid) for a tasty nouvelle proche-orient cuisine lunch in the Wild Jordan café overlooking the heart of Amman’s souk and the Citadel. Free afternoon, overnight Amman. 
• Day 16 Amman-Queen Alia airport 
  Transfer to Queen Alia airport for departure.

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Culture and Nature in Jordan 

An invigorating blend of nature and culture, well suited to FITs and small groups. 

• Day 1 Queen Alia Airport-Amman 
  Meet/assist at Queen Alia airport; transfer to Amman hotel for overnight. 
• Day 2 Amman-Desert Castles-Azraq 
  Tour the desert castles Qasr Kharanah and Qasr Amra, and the Roman fortress at the Azraq Oasis. Visit the Azraq Wetlands Reserve, with dinner and overnight at the RSCN (Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature) eco-lodge at Azraq. 
• Day 3 Jerash-Ajlun 
  Drive to Jerash where you’ll tour the extensive remains of this Roman provincial city, and attend the exciting chariot race in the Jerash Hippodrome. Continue to Ajlun for hike in the Ajlun Woodland Reserve Dinner and overnight at RSCN’s Ajlun Nature Reserve Lodge. 
• Day 4 Madaba-Mt. Nebo-Bethany-Dead Sea 
  Visit Madaba’s St. George Church, Archaeological Park and Apostles’ Church. Continue to Mt. Nebo for visit, and then tour the Bethany Baptismal site. Continue to Dead Sea hotel for overnight. 
• Day 5 Dead Sea 
  Day at leisure, overnight Dead Sea. 
• Day 6 Dead Sea-Wadi Mujib-Karak-Dhana old village 
  Drive down the Dead Sea’s eastern shoreline, with a stop to visit the beginnings of the Wadi Mujib canyon and visitors’ center. Drive up to Karak for a tour of this remarkable Crusader Castle, and then continue down the King’s Highway to the RSCN’s Dhana Guest House for overnight. 
• Day 7 Dhana Nature Reserve 
  Full day hiking in the reserve, transferring to the Rumman camp by shuttle and returning by a hike through the reserve and the terraced organic gardens. Overnight Dhana. 
• Day 8 Dhana-Shobak-Baidha-Petra 
  Free morning to explore the old village. Depart to tour the Shobak Crusader Castle, and then visit Siq al Barid and the Baidha Neolithic site. Continue to Petra hotel for overnight. 
• Day 9 Petra 
  First visit to Petra, with entry by Siq and visits to the Khazneh, Theater, Colonnaded Street, Qasr al Bint and ad-Deir. Overnight Petra. 
• Day 10 Petra 
  Second visit to Petra, with entry by al-Madras the visits to High Place of Sacrifice, Wadi Farasa, Great Temple, Byzantine Church and Royal Tombs. Overnight Petra. 
• Day 11 Petra-Wadi Rum 
  Transfer to Wadi Rum for full day’s hiking beginning from the Visitors’ Center. Dinner/overnight camping at Um Rashid. 
• Day 12 Wadi Rum-Aqaba 
  Hike from campsite via al-Khazali and Lawrence’s Spring to the Rum village. Transfer to Aqaba for free afternoon, overnight. 
• Day 13 Aqaba 
  Day at leisure, overnight. 
• Day 14 Aqaba-Wadi Araba-Amman 
  Drive through the ancient caravan route of Wadi Araba back to Amman. City tour including the Citadel, Archaeological Museum, souks and modern city. Overnight Amman. 
• Day 15 Amman-Queen Alia airport 
  Transfer to Queen Alia airport for departure.

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Bird Watching Tour 

Organized in cooperation with Jordan’s RSCN ( Royal Society of the Conservation of Nature), this program offers the greatest possibilities for small-group birding in early spring and fall (late February, early April, October). 

Jordan’s location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, means that it is an excellent place for spotting birds from these three continents. Also the enormous variety of habitats makes Jordan a place where a dazzling variety of bird species can be seen. So is the Rift Valley a high traffic crossroad on the main migration routes for the birds that are moving between Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Russia, towards Africa and back. 

For the real fan, we organize a 14 days bird watching trip through this beautiful country, with the help and guidance from RSCN experts. You will travel the eastern desert habitat, the green high lands in the north west part of Jordan, the barren mountains of the Rift Valley, Petra, Wadi Rum in the south and the Red Sea port at Aqaba, one of Jordan’s premier bird watching sites. 

• Day 1 Queen Alia Airport - Madaba 
  Meet and assist at the Queen Alia Airport. Transfer to the Amman hotel for overnight. 
• Day 2 Amman (BL) 
  After breakfast, drive to Wild Jordan, the headquarters of the RSCN. A morning meeting will introduce you to the RSCN and its work in restoring and preserving the birding habitats of Jordan. A slide presentation will introduce many of the species you’ll be watching for throughout the program, and you will be given a list of the species of birds which have been sighted at various locations around the country. Lunch at Wild Jordan café in the RSCN center. In the afternoon, enjoy a city tour of Amman including a visit to the Citadel and Archaeological Museum. Overnight Amman. 
• Day 3 Madaba – Dead Sea – Wadi Mujib – Dhana Nature Reserve (BLD) 
  After breakfast take a stroll through the lovely town of Madaba, home to the world’s largest collection of mosaics. Visit St. George Church and the Madaba Archeological Park. Drive to Mt. Nebo and enjoy the panoramic view over the Jordan Valley. Then down to the Dead Sea and along the shores to the Wadi Mujib Visitors Centre for a hike into the mouth of this beautiful canyon. Here the House Bunting, the Sinai Rosefinch and the Little Green Bee-eater can be seen, as the Kingfisher and other waterbirds that come to the fresh water. The Grey Heron has an easy pick at the freshwater fish that find themselves entering the deadly Dead Sea. Continue to Safi and drive from there through the mountains to Dhana Nature Reserve. In the evening you will have an introduction to Dhana, the reserve and the way in which RSCN tries to involve local people in the preservation of nature. Dinner and overnight at the Rummana Campsite (summer tours) or at the Dhana Guest House. 
• Day 4 Dhana (BLD) 
  In the morning you will explore Dhana with one of the expert RSCN guides. The Dhana Nature Reserve is a system of mountains and wadis, extending from the top of the eastern Rift Valley to desert lowlands of Wadi Araba, an elevation drop of over 1600 meters. It embraces two major biogeographical zones and four distinct vegetation zones. This condensed variety of landforms and habitats, combined with dramatic changes in elevation, results in a vast biological diversity. Many of the species are now very rare and some threatened to extinction: animals like the Sand Cat, the Syrian wolf, the Lesser Kestrel and the Spiny Tailed Lizard. So far, 25 endangered or vulnerable animals have been found in the reserve, making it an area of global importance. More than 200 bird species have been recorded in the reserve, of which 33 species are of global and regional importance. It is impossible to mention all the birds that can be spotted. There are many local birds that breed in spring, there are resident birds of prey, among one the Griffon Vulture and different species of owls. And then there are the migrants. Thousands of birds pass over Wadi Dhana in springtime. You will have a box lunch and a free afternoon to explore Dhana yourself. Dinner and overnight. 
• Day 5 Dana – Wadi Finan (BLD) 
  Hike with the RSCN guide through scenic Wadi Dhana, a 14 km downhill walk to the RSCN lodge in Wadi Finan. Take your time in spotting all the beautiful birds in this green valley. The Wilderness Lodge in Finan uses environmentally friendly technologies, including solar and candle power. At night, most of the lodge will be lit by candles. Lunch on the way, dinner and overnight at the Lodge. 
• Day 6 Wadi Finan – Aqaba (B) 
  Early morning hike from the Lodge to Gregra. In the rocky area around Gregra you can find partridges, the Desert Lark and the Blackstart. On the farms it is possible to spot all kind of migrants, and the acacia trees are the habitat of the Little Green Bee-eater, the Arabian Warbler, the Arabian Babbler and the Orange tufted Sunbird. In the flat desert part, before arriving to main road to Aqaba, you can spot a Desert Wheatear, or a Scrub Warbler, a Bar-tailed Desert Lark and the Hoopoe. From the main road the coach will take you to Aqaba through Wadi Araba, the southern continuation of the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea rift. Because of its former importance as a military zone it is a relatively unspoiled and very beautiful desert, which you will be crossing. The Red Sea port of Aqaba has several bays where many gulls, terns and waders can be spotted, especially early in the morning. If you are lucky, you can see a White-eyed and/or Slender-billed Gull. After check in you are free to explore these surroundings by yourself, or just enjoy the beach and some snorkeling. Overnight in Aqaba. 
• Day 7 Aqaba – Wadi Rum (BD) 
  In the early morning you will visit the wastewater plant in Aqaba. This site is a favorite destination for many migrant birds traveling along the Gulf of Aqaba each spring and fall. Any tree, bush, dripping irrigation pipe or pool of water is a welcome sight for a tired migrating bird, just arrived from a flight over the sea or desert. With the economical growth of Aqaba there are many more places now for birds to rest, like palm trees, gardens and irrigated fields. And with the people came also a large wastewater treatment plant that is now one of the region’s premier bird watching sites! Return to the hotel for free time and lunch. In the early afternoon, you’ll depart by jeep into the moonscape terrain of Wadi Rum. In this legendary desert and her cliffs and bushes you can spot species like the Long-legged Buzzard, Sand Partridge , Desert Lark, the Trumpeter Finch, the Sinai Rosefinch and many others, some rather rare. The two specialty birds of prey that can be seen in the Rum desert are Verraux’s Eagle and Sooty Falcon (the latter only present between May and October). On the way to the campsite where you will spend a glorious million stars night, you will visit one of the large farms that use underground water reserves to irrigate the mudflats. These little-explored farmfields, the potato and alfalfa fields can be full of pipits and larks. But also wetland birds can be found in this otherwise desert habitat. Dinner and overnight at a private campsite in the desert. 
• Day 8 Wadi Rum – Petra (BL) 
  Early morning transfer to the astonishing rose-red city of Petra. Enter through the mile-long Siq to explore some of the facades carved directly into the sandstone mountains which formed the ancient city’s defensive walls. Overnight Petra. 
• Day 9 Petra (BD) 
  Early morning guided bird watching in and around Petra. Maybe you will spot a Tawny Owl and different falcons. Sure you will meet the Sinai Rosefinch and the Palestine Sunbird. In the vegetated wadis and near traces of water like Wadi Siyyagh you will find many migrants in the right season. Typical birds of the Petra area are the Bonelli’s Eagle, Sooty and Barbary Falcon, Rock Martin, Black Wheatear, Arabian Babbler and many others. Migrants pass over in large numbers. They can land everywhere, sometimes all together in one tree. In the evening visit the THE PETRA KITCHEN for a cuisine course and dinner. You’ll help prepare the dinner under the supervision of our chef and alongside local women. Overnight Petra. 
• Day 10 Petra –Azraq (BLD) 
  You will cross the extensive eastern desert of Jordan, a remote part country that is hardly visited. You drive through the semi arid dessert to the wetlands of Azraq, a unique wetland oasis with built pools, seasonally flooded marshland and a large mudflat. Azraq Wetland Reserve is the only oasis in this whole region and one of the major stop-overs for birds moving between Eurasia and Africa. It also attracts the local wildlife such as hyenas, jackals, foxes etc. In the evening there will be a short lecture on the reserves and the birdlife in particular. Dinner and overnight at the RSCN lodge in Azraq. 
• Day 11 Azraq (BLD) 
  Whole day bird watching in the Azraq wetlands and surrounding area. The word Azraq means ‘blue’ in Arabic and before water pumping for the growing population of Amman and Zarqa began in the eighties, the oasis provided a sparkling blue jewel in the desert, attracting up to half a million migrating birds at any one time. By 1993, however, the extraction of water was so great that no surface water remained and its ecological value was virtually destroyed. With international support, a rescue effort started in 1994 and a significant portion of the wetland has been restored. Many of the birds for which the oasis was renowned are coming back and special boardwalks and bird hides have been constructed to enable visitors to see and enjoy them. Dinner and overnight at the RSCN Lodge. 
• Day 12 Azraq – Burqu – Azraq (BLD) 
  Day trip bird watching at the remote Burqu Lake. Far in the east of Jordan on the way to the Iraqi border lies the Qasr (Castle) Burqu. The castle is connected to a large lake that is 2 km long and 500 m wide, which is an amazing sight in the middle of this dry basalt desert. The Romans dammed the wadi to create a water reservoir, which now is an important site for migrating birds, as are the adjoining mud flats. It is an impressive thought that this castle can be one of the last ”Roman” structures in the eastern desert marking the end of one region and the beginning of another. The importance of the area for migrant birds can hardly be overestimated. Large numbers of ducks, waders and raptors can be seen. In the evening return to Azraq for dinner and overnight in the RSCN Lodge 
• Day 13 Azraq – Jerash – Ajlun (BLD) 
  In the morning you will leave for Jerash, one of the world’s best-preserved Roman provincial cities. You walk from the acoustically perfect South Theater to the Cardo, where marks of chariot wheels can still be seen on the paving stones, to the Temple of Artemis, to the market area with its well-preserved stalls and shops to the towering forest of columns in the forum. This site will give you a vivid impression of how life was lived in this important trading city 2,000 years ago. After Jerash you visit the Dibbin National Forest. It is a Mediterranean pine and oak forest and the breeding population includes woodpeckers, blackbirds, warblers, blue tits, sparrow hawks, robins, finches and many more species. In the evening you will be given some information on the reserve and its birdlife. Dinner and overnight at the RSCN Woodland Lodge in the Ajlun Nature Reserve 
• Day 13 Day at the Ajlun Nature Reserve (BLD) 
  Whole day hiking and bird watching in the Ajlun Reserve. The reserve is located in the Ajlun Highlands in northern Jordan, around the village of Umm al-Lanai' north of Ajlun. It is an area of rolling hills covered by dense woodlands of evergreen oak, interspersed with pistachio, carob, and wild strawberry trees. The trees have been important to local people for their wood, scenic beauty, and quite often for medicine and food. Birdlife International declared the area an Important Bird Area. Dinner and overnight at lodge. 
• Day 14 Departure (B) 
  Transfer to Queen Alia Airport for departure.

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Jordan Nature Eco Tour 

Featuring the reserves and lodges operated by Jordan’s RSCN ( Royal Society of the Conservation of Nature), this program is suitable for FITs and small groups. 

• Day 1 Queen Alia Airport - Amman 
  Meet and assist at the Queen Alia Airport. Transfer to Amman hotel for check in. 
• Day 2 Amman – Jerash –Ajlun 
  Morning city tour in Amman, the modern capital of Jordan. Amman is the former Decapolis city of Philadelphia, but its history stretches back into settlements of early prehistory. Visit the Citadel high above the city as well as the Roman Theatre in the heart of the bustling modern souk. After you have got some idea of the town, visit to Wild Jordan, the RSCN centre devoted to the promotion of Jordan natural heritage and an amazing building and work of art. The centre is located on Jebel Amman, with a stunning view over old Amman and the Citadel. One of the members of the RSCN staff will familiarize you with the work of the society, and the history of the organization. You’ll also have lunch at the Wild Jordan Café. The menus are all fresh and varied, with lots of organic herbs and vegetables grown in the various nature reserves. In the late afternoon visit Jerash, one of the world’s best-preserved Roman provincial city. Drive on into the Dibbin National Forest, a Mediterranean pine and oak forest home to birds such as woodpeckers, blackbirds, warblers, blue tits, sparrow hawks, robins, blackbirds, finches and many more. Dinner and overnight at the RSCN’s Ajlun National Reserve woodlands lodge in the heart of this forest. 
• Day 3 Day at the Ajlun Reserve 
  The Ajlun Reserve is located in the Ajlun Highlands in northern Jordan, around the village of Umm al-Lanai' north of Ajlun. It is an area of rolling hills covered by dense woodlands of evergreen oak, interspersed with pistachio, carob, and wild strawberry trees. The trees have been important to local people for their wood, scenic beauty, and quite often for medicine and food. Birdlife International declared the area an Important Bird Area. The area has a long history of human settlements, due to its Mediterranean climate, dense forests, and fertile soil. This rich history is reflected in the many archaeological ruins scattered in the woodlands and surrounding villages. In the village of Tubna, you will find a Zeidanian mosque and meeting hall dating back to 1750 A.D. In Zubia Village you will find an area known as "the monastery", which contains the remains of an old Byzantine church. You will also find houses and stables dating back several hundred years. Today, there are more than ten villages surrounding the Ajlun Reserve. Approximately 75% of the young people in the villages work for the army. Other villagers are involved in farming crops such as grapes, figs, and olives. The villages surrounding Ajlun are famous for their olives, and some of the olive trees are several millennia old. A guide from the RSCN will take you on a hike through the reserve including visits to some of the area villages. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge. 
• Day 4 Ajlun – Qasr Al Hallabat – Azraq Nature Reserve 
  From Ajlun you will travel through the remote Eastern Badia (black basalt desert) of Jordan to Azraq Oases. On the way you will visit Qasr al Hallabat, originally a Roman fort, built around 200 BC as a defence against raiding desert tribes. During the seventh century it became a Monastery and after that it was renovated and redecorated by the Umayyads. Azraq is a crossroad for international traffic, as it has been since antiquity. It was on the main caravan route from Arabia to Syria, and is now on the main highway to Iraq. It has Roman fortress that was in 1917 chosen by Lawrence of Arabia as his winter headquarters during the Arab Revolt. We will visit the Azraq Wetland Reserve, a unique wetland located in the heart of the arid Jordanian desert. It contains several pools, a seasonally flooded marshland, and a large mudflat. A wide variety of birds visit the reserve each year, either stopping for a short rest on their long migration between Africa and Europe, or they stay for the winter while some breed in the wetland. The word Azraq means `blue` in Arabic and before water pumping for the growing population of Amman and Zarqa began in the eighties, the oasis provided a sparkling blue jewel in the desert, attracting up to half  a million migrating birds at any one time. By 1993, however, the extraction of water was so great that no surface water remained and its ecological value was virtually destroyed. With international support, a rescue effort started in 1994 and a significant portion of the wetland has been restored. Many of the birds for which the oasis was renowned are coming back and special boardwalks and bird hides have been constructed to enable visitors to see and enjoy them. Dinner and o/n at the RSCN’s Azraq Ecolodge, constructed from the ruins of an old British military hospital. 
• Day 5 Azraq Nature Reserve 
  An RSCN guide will take you on an early morning birdwatching expedition in the wetlands reserve area. Free afternoon to relax at the lodge, with the option to arrange a jeep safari through the nearby Shumari Wildlife Reserve, where Arabian oryx and ostriches can be seen. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge. 
• Day 6 Azraq – Wadi Rum 
  Cross the extensive eastern desert of Jordan, a remote part of the country that is hardly visited. You’ll drive through this desert to the modern city of Ma’an, an important administrative and trade center for the Bedouins of the southern part of Jordan. From Ma’an, strike out into the haunting moonscape terrain of Wadi Rum, a desert with sculptured rock formations and towering bright-red sand dunes. En route to your campsite in the heart of the desert, visit one of the large farms that use underground water reserves to irrigate the mudflats. The potato and alfalfa fields can be full of pipits and larks. Wetland birds can occasionally be found in this otherwise desert habitat. Dinner and overnight at desert camp. 
• Day 7 Wadi Rum - Petra 
  Early morning hike in the desert to see the sun rise and watch the desert come to life. Transfer to the astonishing rose-red city of Petra for an afternoon visit. Petra was once the imposing capital city of the Nabateans, an early Arab people who settled in Jordan more than 2000 years ago. From here they dominated the trade routes of ancient Arabia. Petra became widely admired for its refined culture, massive architecture and ingenious waterchannels. By the 16th century Petra was completely lost to the west and so it remained for almost 300 years until in 1812 it was rediscovered by a Swiss adventurer, Johann Burckhardt. Much of the appeal of Petra comes from its spectacular setting deep inside the mountains after a narrow desert gorge, the Siq. Traverse the mile-long Siq and at the end find yourself suddenly in front of the wonder of the TREASURY, to many of us known from the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. From there you visit the main tombs, the Roman Theatre, the Royal Tombs, the Byzantine Church and the Great Temple. Dinner and overnight in Petra. 
• Day 8 Petra 
  Hiking day in and around Petra. Make a short drive north to visit the Siq al Barid (“Little Petra”) and the Baidha Neolithic village. From there, hike cross-country to a little-known “back door” trail leading to ad Deir (the Monastery), Petra’s largest carved façade. On the way you may be able to spot many birds, little ones, but maybe also a Tawny Owl and different falcons. Almost certainly you will see the Sinai Rosefinch and the Palestine Sunbird. In the vegetated wadis and near traces of water like Wadi Siyyagh you will find many migrants in the right season. Typical birds of the Petra area are the Bonelli’s Eagle, Sooty and Barbary Falcon, Rock Martin, Black Wheatear, Arabian Babbler and many others. Migrants pass over in large numbers. They can land everywhere, sometimes all together in one tree. Overnight Petra. 
• Day 9 Petra – Dhana Nature Reserve 
  From Petra make a short drive to the Dhana Nature Reserve, a system of mountains and wadis extending from the top of the eastern Rift Valley to the desert lowlands of Wadi Araba. The difference in height is over 1600 meters. Dhana has an enormous variety of landforms and habitats, which results in a vast biological diversity. Many of the species are now very rare and some endangered, including animals like the Sand Cat, the Syrian wolf, the Lesser Kestrel and the Spiny Tailed Lizard. So far, 25 endangered or vulnerable animal species have been identified in the reserve, making it an area of global importance. More than 200 bird species have been recorded in the reserve, of which 33 species are of global and regional importance. It is impossible to mention all the birds that can be spotted. There are many local birds that breed in spring, there are resident birds of prey including the Griffon Vulture and different species of owls. And then there are the migrants. Thousands of birds pass over Wadi Dhana in springtime. The Dhana Village area, overlooking the scenic Wadi Dhana, has been occupied since 4000 BC. Archaeological evidence indicates that Palaeolithic, Egyptian, Nabatean, and Roman civilizations were drawn to the area by the fertile soil, water springs, and strategic location. Dhana Village is inhabited mostly by tribes that settled in the area during the Ottoman period about four hundred years ago. The villagers abandoned it several decades ago in search for better livelihood, but today this charming village is coming back to life. The people have rebuilt many of their traditional stone houses and restored their beautiful terraced gardens, taking advantage of the economic benefits realized from the proximity of the Dhana Nature Reserve. In the Visitors’ Centre one of the guides will explain the history of this reserve and the project to introduce local benefits from the conservation of nature. Dinner and overnight at the Dhana Guesthouse. 
• Day 10 Dhana-Wadi Finan 
  Hike through colorful Wadi Dhana, a 14 km downhill walk to the RSCN lodge in Wadi Finan. Take your time in spotting all the beautiful birds in this green valley. The EcoLodge in Wadi Finan uses environmentally friendly technologies, including solar and candle power. At night, most of the lodge will be lit by candles. Dinner and overnight at the Finan EcoLodge. 
• Day 11 Finan – Madaba 
  Early morning guided hike in Wadi Finan, which was home to the ancient world’s largest copper mines. Amidst the extensive ancient ruins, you can find partridges, the Desert Lark and the Blackstart. On the farms it is possible to spot all kind of migrants and the acacia trees are the habitat of the Little Green Bee Eater, the Arabian Warbler and the Orange Tufted Sunbird. Depart Finan and proceed to the RSCN Visitors Centre at the mouth of the Wadi Mujib gorge, 410 meters below sea level on the shoreline of the Dead Sea. Enjoy a short hike into the mouth of this cool and startlingly beautiful canyon before driving northward along the Dead Sea. Drive up a scenic road to the Dead Sea Panorama, where the RSCN offers a natural history museum devoted to the unique ecosystem of the Dead Sea region. Continue to Madaba, home to the world’s largest collection of ancient mosaics. The thriving modern city of Madaba is ½ Christian and ½ Muslim, which gives it a special atmosphere of friendly tolerance and cooperation. You’ll have free time to stroll through the market place and visit some of the mosaic sites including the St. George Church, Archaeological Park, Burnt Palace, Apostles’ Church and Museum. In the evening, gather at Haret Jdoudna for a farewell feast in one of Jordan’s finest traditional restaurants. It is built on the framework of several restored historical houses, and features local building materials and the odd antiquity (Roman column capitals) to be found in many Jordanian homes. In the pleasant courtyard of the restaurant you’ll sample the typical Jordanian dish of sawani, a pan-roasted concoction of vegetables, meat and chicken named for the cooking dish. 
• Day 12 Queen Alia 
  Transfer to Queen Alia Airport for departure.

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Trekking Program, Moderate Difficulty 

A 9-day, 8 night trekking program including 3 overnights camping in Wadi Rum. Suitable for small groups; moderately strenuous. 

• Day 1 Queen Alia Airport-Amman 
  Meet/assist at Queen Alia airport. Transfer to Amman hotel for overnight. 
• Day 2 Amman-Dead Sea-Karak-Dhana-Petra (B) 
  Drive to Dead Sea for a chance to swim; continue to Karak Crusader Castle for tour, and then proceed along the King’s Highway. Stop to enjoy the view at the Dhana old village, before continuing to the Petra for overnight. 
• Day 3 Petra (B) 
  Enter Petra by Siq for full day touring including visit to ad-Deir and the city center. Overnight. 
• Day 4 Petra (BL) 
  Return to Petra for climb to Jabal Harun with picnic lunch. Overnight. 
• Day 5 Petra-Wadi Rum (BD) 
  Final visit to Petra, with entry via al-Madras. Mid-day transfer to Wadi Rum for hike to overnight campsite in Wadi Um Ashrin. 
• Day 6 Wadi Rum (BLD) 
  Full day hiking in Wadi Rum, visiting Bara Canyon and Jabal Burdah. Overnight camping. 
• Day 7 Wadi Rum (BLD) 
  Final day’s hike in Wadi Rum, visiting Um Frudh and small rock bridge. Overnight camping Um Rashid. 
• Day 8 Wadi Rum-Mt. Nebo-Madaba (BD) 
  Hike to Rum village to meet bus. Transfer to Mt. Nebo for visit, and then to Madaba hotel. Visit the St. George Church, with free time to explore the souk. Dinner at Haret Jdoudna, overnight Madaba. 
• Day 9 Madaba-Queen Alia Airport 
  Transfer to airport for departure.

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Extended Trekking Program 

A 15-day, 14-night program with moderate to difficult segments, including 6 overnights of wilderness camping. Suitable for small groups. 

• Day 1 Queen Alia Airport-Madaba 
  Meet/assist at airport. Transfer to Madaba for overnight. 
• Day 2 Amman-Jerash-Madaba (BD) 
  Visit Jerash. Drive to Mt. Nebo, and then into Madaba for afternoon to explore the many mosaics of this city. Dinner at Haret Jdoudna, overnight Madaba. 
• Day 3 Madaba-Karak-Wadi Ibn Hamad-Wadi Finan (BLD) 
  Drive from Madaba to Karak to tour the Crusader Castle. Continue to Wadi Ibn Hamad for a picnic lunch, possibility of a swim and hiking through the Wadi to the Dead Sea (weather permitting). Drive on to the Wadi Finan Eco-Lodge for overnight. 
• Day 4 Wadi Finan-Dhana old village (BLD) 
  Hike from Wadi Finan through scenic Wadi Dhana, up to the Dhana Bedouin village. Free time to explore the village. Overnight Dhana Guest House. 
• Day 5 Dhana-Manusra (BLD) 
  Hike from Dhana into the hills, past the reforestation project. Continue beyond Mansura to overnight campsite. 
• Day 6 Mansura-Shobak-Bega’a (BLD) 
  Hike from campsite to Shobak area. Continue to overnight campsite. 
• Day 7 Bega’a-Baidha (BLD) 
  Hike into Baidha wilderness for overnight camping. 
• Day 8 Baidha-Siq al Barid-ad-Deir-Wadi Turkomanieh-Petra (BL) 
  Hike cross country via Siq al Barid and Baidha Neolithic site to ad-Deir. Exit Petra via Wadi Turkomanieh for transfer to Petra hotel, overnight. 
• Day 9 Petra (B) 
  Enter Petra through the Siq for full day visit, overnight. 
• Day 10 Petra (B) 
  Enter Petra by al-Madras to visit High Place of Sacrifice, Wadi Farasa. Overnight Petra. 
• Day 11 Petra-Wadi Rum (BLD) 
  Transfer to Wadi Rum Visitors’ Center; begin hiking from old village to Khazali, with overnight camping beyond Um Frudh. 
• Day 12 Wadi Rum (BLD) 
  Hike through Siq Noghra for overnight camping under Jabal Um ad-Dhami. 
• Day 13 Wadi Rum (BLD) 
  Climb Um ad-Dhami, returning to campsite for overnight. 
• Day 14 Wadi Rum-Aqaba (B) 
  Depart by jeep through the desert route to Aqaba, on the shore of the Red Sea. Free afternoon and overnight in Aqaba. 
• Day 15 Aqaba-King Hussein International Airport 
  Transfer to Aqaba’s King Hussein airport (AQJ) for departure connection via Queen Alia airport (AMM).

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Wadi Rum Camel Safari 

A short program including some of Jordan’s most memorable landscapes. Suitable for FITs or small groups. 

• Day 1 Queen Alia Airport-Dhana 
  Meet/assist at Queen Alia airport. Transfer Dhana Guest House for overnight. 
• Day 2 Dhana Nature Reserve (BLD) 
  Spend the day hiking in the Dhana nature reserve. Dinner and overnight at Dhana Guest House.
• Day 2 Dhana-Petra (BD) 
  Transfer to Petra for full day’s touring, with entry by Siq and visits including the ancient city center and ad- Deir. Overnight Petra.
• Day 3 Petra-Wadi Rum (BD) 
  Return to Petra with hike to Um al Biyara, the commanding massif where the ancient Nabatean water storage cisterns share space with magnificent unexcavated monuments. In the afternoon, transfer to Wadi Rum for a jeep ride to the campsite in Wadi Um Ashrin. 
• Day 4 Wadi Rum camel trek (BLD) 
  Begin camel safari through Bara Canyon and to overnight campsite at Um Rashid. 
• Day 5 Wadi Rum camel trek (BLD) 
  Continue camel safari, visiting Jabal Burdah and camping overnight at Um Nagur. 
• Day 6 Wadi Rum camel trek (BLD) 
  Continue camel safari, overnight camping at Smera. 
• Day 7 Wadi Rum-Dead Sea (B) 
  Trek to Khazali and back to Rum Village to end the camel safari. Transfer to Movenpick Dead Sea Resort for overnight. 
• Day 8 Dead Sea (B) 
  Day at leisure at the lowest point on Earth. Overnight Dead Sea. 
• Day 9 Dead Sea-Queen Alia airport 
  Transfer to Queen Alia airport for departure flight.

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Cuisine of the Levant 

An 8 day/7 night program featuring a five-night cooking course at the Petra Kitchen. Perfect for FITs and small groups interested in learning the secrets of the Levantine kitchen. 

• Day 1 Queen Alia Airport-Amman 
  Meet/assist at Queen Alia airport; transfer to Amman hotel for overnight. 
• Day 2 Amman-Mt. Nebo-Madaba-Petra-dinner 
  Visit Mt. Nebo, from which Moses viewed the Promised Land, with its panoramic view over the Jordan River Valley, Dead Sea, Jericho and the hills of Judea. In Madaba, visit the St. George Church with its famous 6th Century map of the Holy Land as well as the Madaba Archaeological Park. Enjoy a special set menu lunch at Haret Jdoudna, where you’ll be able to savor many of the special mezza dishes you’ll be learning to prepare during your course. Transfer from Madaba to Petra’s unique Taybet Zamaan Resort, an 18th Century stone Bedouin village which has been refurbished as a very special resort hotel. Your accommodations in the old village houses are comfortably furnished with a special selection of Jordanian antiques and handicrafts; the rooms offer gracious stone archways separating the sleeping area from the sitting area, and spacious Arabic-style “mastaba” benches for relaxing, reading or catching the nightly news on the satellite TV system. The resort’s facilities include a Turkish Bath (Hammam), swimming pool and health club, restaurant, bar and handicrafts souk. In the evening, meet the chef and the local women at the Petra Kitchen to prepare a traditional Jordanian menu including soup, cold and hot mezza and main course. Return to Taybet for overnight. 
• Day 3 Petra-dinner 
  Enter Petra as many of the earliest explorers did, by hiking from your hotel through Wadi Numair to the High Place of Sacrifice, with its panoramic views over the ancient city center. Exit the site via al-Madras for time to relax and explore the shops around the Visitors’ Center, or have a drink and perhaps a “hubbly bubbly” pipe at the Cave Bar. Join a second course at the Petra Kitchen, returning to Taybet for overnight. 
• Day 4 Petra-market-dinner 
  Return to Petra in the morning by the traditional and captivating mile-long Siq, with a chance to study the ancient Nabatean water channels which nourished this legendary “city of fountains and gardens” and drew caravans from throughout the ancient world. In the afternoon, accompany our chef on a visit to the local souk al hodar (produce market) to select the ingredients for your evening meal - a terrific way to combine a language lesson with the delectable sights and smells of the fruit and vegetable stalls. In the evening, join your third cooking lesson at the Petra Kitchen. Overnight Taybet. 
• Day 5 Shobak-Taybet-dinner 
  Drive to the Shobak Crusader Castle (Mont Real) for a tour of the extensive remains, commanding a panoramic view over Wadi Araba. Visit one or two of the many orchards and farms tucked away in the fertile hillsides between Shobak and Petra, with the chance to gather fresh produce yourself to be used in the evening’s dishes. Spend another afternoon in the Wadi Musa souk with the chef to do the marketing before completing your fourth cooking lesson at the Petra Kitchen. Overnight Taybet. 
• Day 6 Taybet 
  Free morning to relax at Taybet. At mid-afternoon, return to the souk for another shopping trip and chance to hone your bargaining skills. Final cooking course and dinner at Petra Kitchen, with overnight at Taybet. 
• Day 7 Petra-Dead Sea 
  Check out and mid-morning departure from Taybet, with a brief stop to enjoy the view from the Dhana old village before descending into Wadi Araba, route of the ancient spice caravans. Drive north to the Dead Sea, lowest point on the earth’s surface, where you’ll follow the sea’s eastern shoreline to a well-earned afternoon of relaxation at the Movenpick Dead Sea Resort. Overnight Dead Sea. 
• Day 8 Dead Sea-Queen Alia Airport 
  Transfer to Queen Alia airport for departure.

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Handicraft Workshop 

Presented in cooperation with the Iraq al-Amir Women’s Cooperative Society (originally established by the Noor al-Hussein Foundation), this program offers the chance for beginners and accomplished artisans to build and share skills with the local women of Wadi Seer. 

• Day 1 Amman 
  Meet/assist at Queen Alia Airport, with Jordanian visas on arrival. Transfer to Amman for overnight. 
• Day 2 Wadi Seer Project 
  Drive west of Amman through the fertile Wadi Seer to the restored Bedouin Village which houses the Iraq al-Amir Women’s Co-operative Society. The women of the society do three types of craft - Handmade paper, ceramics and weaving, all traditional skills interpreted with a special local flavor in the designs. Touring the facilities will give you the chance to have a look into all three craft areas before making your decision of which path to follow, or if you like you can spend one day in each. Today you will have lunch at the project with the women you will be working with over the next few days. In the afternoon take a city tour of Amman, including visits to the Citadel, Jordan's National Archaeological Museum, the Roman theater and Folklore Museum, souks and modern city. Overnight Amman. 
• Day 3 Wadi Seer Project 
  Return this morning to the Wadi Seer Project to begin your first day in the workshop you have selected. After this creative morning visit Jerash, the world’s best-preserved Roman provincial city. Your tour will include the Forum, South Theater, Cardo, Temple of Artemis and souk. For a true Roman experience, finish the tour with a visit to the Jerash Hippodrome to attend the RACE (Roman Army and Chariot Experience) performance, including demonstrations of Roman Army weapons and tactics, gladiatorial competition and an exciting 7-lap chariot race. Return to Amman for overnight. 
• Day 4 Wadi Seer Project 
  Continue with your project in Wadi Seer this morning, building upon your skills learnt the day before. Spend the afternoon visiting Madaba, home to the world’s largest collection of ancient mosaics. Visit the St. George Church with its famous 6th Century map of the Holy Land, as well as the many restored Byzantine and Herodian mosaics in the Madaba Archaeological Park, Apostles' Church and Madaba Museum. From Madaba drive to Mt. Nebo, from which Moses viewed the Promised Land. Take in the view of the Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, Jericho and (if it's clear) the distant spires and domes of the Mount of Olives, and visit the contemporary church with its display of mosaics from the succession of pilgrimage churches on this venerated spot. Overnight Amman. 
• Day 5 Wadi Seer Project 
  Enjoy your final morning in the workshops, putting finishing touches to your project. Afternoon at leisure before a special gala dinner in Amman with the women from the project. Overnight Amman. 
• Day 6 Petra 
  Transfer to Petra for a full day’s tour with entry by the Siq and visits to the Treasury, Street of Facades, Theater, Byzantine Church and Museum. Overnight Petra. 
• Day 7 Departure 
  Transfer to Queen Alia Airport for departure.

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Mosaic Workshop 

The chance to learn the ancient art of mosaic-making in the city which has been a center for this craft since Byzantine times. Suitable for FITs and small groups. 

• Day 1 Madaba 
  Meet/assist at Queen Alia Airport, with Jordanian visas on arrival. Transfer to Madaba, home to the world’s largest collection of ancient mosaics, for overnight. 
• Day 2 Madaba-Mt. Nebo-Wadi Mukhayit 
  Begin your lessons in the ancient craft of mosaics. In the afternoon visit Mt. Nebo, from which Moses viewed the Promised Land. Take in the view of the Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, Jericho and (if it's clear) the distant spires and domes of the Mount of Olives, and visit the contemporary church with its display of mosaics from the succession of pilgrimage churches on this venerated spot, perfect for creative inspiration. Continue to Wadi Mukhayit to visit the Church of SS Lot and Procopius, and view the wonderful mosaic inside. Overnight Madaba. 
• Day 3 Madaba 
  Morning in the mosaic workshop. In the afternoon explore Madaba’s fine mosaics on view at the Madaba Archaeological Park, Apostle’s Church, Museum and St George Church. Overnight Madaba. 
• Day 4 Madaba-Um ar Risas 
  Continue your creative work in the mosaic workshop in the morning. In the afternoon visit Um ar-Risas, one of Jordan’s World Heritage sites, to see the dramatic mosaic floor in the St. Stephen Church, with its medallions commemorating all the pilgrimage stops between Constantinople and the Sinai, as well as one of the region’s earliest Stylite towers. Overnight Madaba 
• Day 5 Madaba-Bethany-Dead Sea 
  This morning is the final morning in the mosaic workshop. In the afternoon descend to the Dead Sea, lowest point on the earth's surface. Tour the Bethany Baptismal Site. Biblical archaeologists, working from clues supplied by the Madaba mosaic map, believe this to be the spot where John the Baptist lived and worked, and where Jesus was baptized in the waters of the Jordan River. The extensive water channels, cisterns and baptismal fonts, as well as the impressive size of the very early (3rd-4th Century) pilgrimage churches on this site, certainly suggest that this is where the earliest Christian pilgrims believed the Baptism took place. The walk past "Elijah's well" to the St. John church on the banks of the Jordan is a pleasure in itself, as you follow the winding trail through marshes of high reeds and tamarisk trees. Take the opportunity to “swim” in the mineral-rich waters of the nearby Dead Sea. Return to Madaba in the late afternoon. In the evening, enjoy a gala dinner and farewell party with your mosaic workshop colleagues at the renowned Haret Jdoudna restaurant before saying goodbye to Madaba. 
• Day 6 Petra 
  Transfer to Petra for a full day’s guided tour. In the evening enjoy a unique evening at Petra Kitchen, where you will learn how to cook traditional local cuisine, and of course taste your creation after. Overnight Petra. 
• Day 7 Petra 
  Second day’s guided visit to Petra with entry by al Madras and visits to the High Place of Sacrifice, Wadi Farasa, Great Temple and Royal Tombs. Overnight Petra. 
• Day 8 Departure 
  Transfer to Queen Alia airport for departure.

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Baidha Scramble Voluntourism Program (8 days/7 nights) 

Note: About 600 members of the Amareen Bedouin tribe live in a small government-built village called Baidha Housing, which sits about 12 km north of Wadi Musa on the edge of the Petra National Park. Because this tribe traditionally herded in areas outside the bounds of Petra, relatively few members of the tribe have become involved in the financially rewarding benefits of tourism in the way that other local residents of Um Sehun village and Wadi Musa have done. Members of the Amareen tribe, many of whom lived in the black hand-woven Bedouin tents until little more than a decade ago, lack the resources and the expertise to make some of the basic repairs and improvements that would greatly enhance the quality of their lives. 

• Day 01 Queen Alia Airport - Petra 
  Meet/ assist at the airport. Transfer to Petra for overnight. 
• Day 02 First Volunteering Day 
  After having the breakfast at the hotel, drive 15 minutes to the north-west of Petra, to a near village called Baidha. Baidha is a small village and its residents are Bedouins who were formerly nomadic herders. They have since settled into government-built housing, although some of the villagers move into their traditional Bedouin tents seasonally to follow the pastures. The first thing you are going to do this day is to meet the local Bedouins you will work with; your orientation will include the culture, religion, customs and traditions that the Bedouins have. We want you to feel comfortable in working in this new environment, with all respect to the people and their culture. You will divide yourselves into small groups (about 4-7 persons each), based on which of the designated volunteering projects sounds most interesting and suitable to you. We will send you a list of the current available projects about 6 weeks prior to arrival, indicating a 1-10 degree of physical challenge and any special skills that are required for the project, and then ask you to rank your preferences for the project you will spend five days with. (See selection of the volunteering projects below). You will have some time with the locals you are to be working with. They will probably kick things off by offering you the first of hundreds of glasses of the special tea which is a staple of life in the village, and you will have the chance to start getting acquainted. You’ll look over the work site, rough out the plan for the week and each day you will share lunch with your local co-workers. After you finish your first volunteering day on the project you selected, you will go back to the hotel for free evening and overnight. 
• Day 03 Second Volunteering Day 
  Breakfast at the hotel, drive to Baidha for continue working on your project . Overnight Petra. 
• Day 04 Third Volunteering Day 
  Breakfast at hotel, transfer to Baidha for the third day of volunteering. Back to your hotel in Petra for a rest before spending the evening at The Petra Kitchen. Here, under the direction of a local chef and assisted by local women who are expert in the traditional dishes you'll prepare an evening meal. The dinner will include soup, cold and hot mezza and salads, and a main course - all typical local cuisine Jordanian dishes. After dinner you’ll received printed recipes for everything prepared, so you can go home and invite your friends and family to a tasty Jordan dinner. Overnight Petra. 
• Day 05 Fourth Volunteering Day 
  Breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Baidha to continue working on your project. Return to the hotel. In the evening, join the Petra by Night tour, a candlelit stroll through the mile-long mysterious Siq (gorge) which forms the entry to the Rose-Red City of Petra. The special aura of the ancient Nabatean trading empire comes to life as you descend along the winding canyon. At al Khazneh (The Treasury), music and stories will help you experience Petra as the travel-weary traders of old must have known it. It’s a very romantic introduction to this most romantic of ancient cities. Overnight Petra.
• Day 06 Fifth Volunteering Day 
  After breakfast, drive to Baidha for the last day of working on your project. In the afternoon you’ll be able to show off your finished task, and check out what your fellow travelers have been up to. Stay in the village for a grand feast to celebrate the completion of a job well done and make your good-byes to your Bedouin co-workers. Overnight Petra. 
• Day 07 Petra 
  Today - at last - you’ll have a full day to spend exploring the remarkable Petra site. Voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, it's a dazzling and extensive array of carved facades, partially excavated civic building, roadways and water channels. The Petra National Park covers a bit more than 40 square miles, with antiquities reaching far beyond the designated park preserves. You will have a full day touring the highlights of the site including a daylight trip through the Siq and visits to the Khazneh, Street of Facades, Theater, Colonnaded Street, Great Temple, Byzantine Cathedral and an afternoon climb to ad- Deir, Petra’s largest carved facade. Overnight Petra. 
• Day 08 Petra - Queen Alia Airport 
  Transfer to the airport for departure.

Current projects available in the village are: 

1. Build a graywater irrigation system for the vegetable gardens and orchards that each family has. All the needed equipment will be donated, but laying the lines requires some elbow grease. Too much water is wasted in this desert climate, and a rudimentary recycling system will save money and help with the local crops. 
2. Go back to school and help the children of Baidha to have a nice school. The simple cement-block schoolhouse badly needs painting, repairing plumbing, wiring and foundation cracks, replacing broken doors and windows and making the school a more inviting place for the village children. 
3. Calling Mr. and Ms. Fix-it to help villagers make many repairs and simple improvements in their cement block houses. Many houses have cracked walls, and in most there are needed plumbing and electrical repairs required. 
4. Show your green thumb and plant trees in several places around the village including the schoolyard and roadsides. Baidha was largely de-forested during the early 20th century, and climate-suitable trees would provide welcome relief from the summer sun and the brisk winds of the winter months. 
5. Go back to school Phase II. Invest your week with the local school children. English is taught in Jordanian schools from the first grade, but too many rural teachers lack the necessary fluency to go beyond the textbooks. Members of the tribe could more easily find employment in local tourist facilities with a chance to hear and speak English. At the same time, they could better understand the many visitors who come to the Petra area from hearing about lifestyles, geography, history and habits in far-away places. 
6. Create a local playground. The village has plenty of space, but no proper playground for the children. A Jordanian designer is ready to help with plans for playground equipment which will fire the imagination and provide a safe, kid-friendly environment. Now we need the muscle…
7. Build a wall or two. The village’s gardens and houses are open to the destructive attentions of wild animals, and sometimes of nature in her more dramatic moments. Walls and fences could help protect the villagers and their gardens. 

Specific projects change over time; about 6 weeks prior to your group’s arrival, your tour planner will be supplied with an up-to-date list of local needs and priorities.

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The magnificent, ancient city of Petra

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