Day 1, Amman: Arrive Amman, Jordan. Stay at Amman Cham Palace hotel. Evening at leisure. Day 2, Amman: This morning, visit sites of ancient Amman. At the Citadel, towering over the city, visit the Temple of Hercules, Umayyad Palace and a Byzantine church. Also visit the Jordan Archeological Museum, with pre-historic antiquities and an exhibit of the Dead Sea scrolls. Afternoon, visit a Roman theater, carved into a hill, and the interesting Jordan Folklore Museum. Finally, explore the souks to see a dazzling display of gold and silver ornaments, and an array of handicrafts. B Day 3, Amman: Today, we’ll visit sites north and west of Amman. Drive north to visit sites at Jerash and Ajloun in the hills of Gilead. Jerash is one of the best preserved Decapolis cities of the Roman Empire. Explore the oval plaza, colonnaded streets, hippodrome, Hadrian’s Arch, baths, churches and a cathedral. At Ajloun, explore a majestic 12th century Crusaders’ castle overlooking the Jordan Valley. Nearby, at Anjara, it is believed that Jesus, his disciples, and Mary passed through the town and rested here in a cave, which is now commemorated as a church to Our Lady of the Mountain. Drive south to Salt to visit the tomb/shrine of Job. Lunch en route. Continuing south, we pass an area where the tombs of Jethro and some sons of Jacob are laid. We see Elijah’s Hill, where he ascended to heaven, and visit Bethany beyond the Jordan, where Mary and Martha lived. This is also where John baptized Jesus. Return to Amman. B, L Day 4, Amman – Petra: Depart Amman, heading south on King’s Highway. En route, visit Madaba, the city of mosaics; and Mount Nebo, to see a memorial church dedicated to Moses, which overlooks the Dead Sea valley and Jerusalem. Lunch at a restaurant en route. Continue south on King’s Highway to Petra. At Karak, visit a Crusader’s castle and tomb/shrine of Noah. At Shobak, see another Crusader castle. Arrive Petra by evening, and stay at the Movenpick Petra hotel, renowned for its intricate Arabesque interior design and collection of antiques and artwork. B, L Day 5, Petra: Today, we explore Petra, a legacy of the Nabataeans that once dominated trade routes of ancient Arabia, set in a spectacular desert gorge. A walk through a narrow chasm between soaring cliffs brings you to a dramatic view of the Treasury. Move on though funerary halls, temples, arched gateways, haunting rock drawings, a street of facades, theater, royal tombs, and a colonnaded street that leads to the main temple and a museum. Finally, a climb brings you to an impressive monastery. B, L Day 6, Petra – Wadi Rum – Amman: Drive to Wadi Rum to explore the surreal beauty of red sand dunes, eroded pillars of sandstone rock, and the Hanging Arch. Wadi Rum inspired Lawrence of Arabia to write his book, ‘The Seven Pillars of Wisdom', and still remains intact with its breathtaking scenery. Lunch at site. Continue to Amman on the Desert Highway, arriving by late afternoon. Stay at Amman Cham Palace hotel. Evening at leisure for independent activities. B, L Day 7, Amman: Morning transfer to airport/next destination. B
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