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This circuit called
Jordan essential
It takes you, as its name suggests, to those places that no traveler can overlook on a tour of this country, at least if you only have about a week to do so. This route will take you mainly through the interior and through the desert, where iconic destinations such as Petra, Wadi Rum or the Dead Sea are located. Take note of this circuit and choose it if you want to squeeze the most out of every minute of your trip.
When we talk about the essential Jordan, we think of those places that serve as a magnet for tourists from all over the world, those that come to mind when we think of this country. Above all is, perhaps, Petra: this Nabataean city hidden among rocky canyons is not only a UNESCO World Heritage Site but also one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. And if that were not enough, it is also a very cinematic place, especially for being one of the scenarios of
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
.
The desert of Wadi Rum is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in this case popularized in the West by another character and another film: T.E. Lawrence, by
Lawrence of Arabia
. Its mountains and rock formations, of whimsical shapes, leave travelers speechless, as well as the colors and silence that form in the environment: the sunset, the closed night and the sunrise are really special here.
And another of those places that are unparalleled in other corners of the world and that are part of the essential Jordan it’s the Dead Sea. This extremely salty lake is highly prized for the therapeutic properties of its waters, which allow the bather to float effortlessly. In addition, it is the lowest point on the planet (-400 meters above sea level, approximately), which adds even more charm to the destination.
In addition to showing in Jordan the essentials, this circuit offers many other surprises to the traveler. Without going any further, the capital, Amman: is the largest city and, therefore, the most vibrant, but also a good guardian of local traditions and historical monuments. Although for history, that of Jerash and that of Ajloun, places of great importance in times of the Romans and the Crusades, respectively. And for those more interested in religion, there are two meaningful visits: Madaba for its rich Christian mosaics and Mount Nebo for being the place where Moses spent his last and momentous days.
It can be said that the only thing that is left out of the program is the Red Sea (Aqaba), a special destination for those interested in diving and holiday tourism of sun and beach. And our agency offers numerous circuits with that destination. But if your idea is to come to Jordan to squeeze every minute with cultural visits and unique experiences, without a doubt Jordan essential is one of the best proposals, with which you will not miss anything else.
This circuit lasts 8 days and 7 nights, starting and finishing in Amman. Being a relatively short circuit by Jordan, the essential It monopolizes all the prominence in this road route. This is the program.
The first day of the circuit means the arrival in the country. Specifically, to the Amman Queen Alia International Airport. There our staff will be waiting to welcome you and make a first assistance in the terminal. From there we will go to the private vehicle with which our driver will transfer you to the hotel in Amman, where dinner is also included.
If the schedules of the first day are tight and do not allow a free contact with Amman, it will not be a problem: this second day begins precisely with a guided tour of the capital, after having breakfast at the hotel. The most significant places of the tour are the Citadel, the Archaeological Museum and the Roman Theater, where the visitor will realize the rich past of this city.
After the visit to the capital, we will leave on an excursion to Jerash, which is in the essential Jordan program
on its own merits: it is one of the best preserved Roman cities in the Middle East and in the entire territory that made up that ancient empire. Monuments of great beauty remain standing, such as Hadrian’s Arch, the Temple of Zeus and Oval Square, as well as structures and archaeological remains of the first order.
The next excursion of the day is the castle of Ajloun, in the city and nature reserve of the same name. Built on Byzantine buildings, this fortress of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries is a magnificent vestige of its turbulent time: the Christian Crusades and the Mongol invasion, as well as the Muslim reconquests by the troops of Saladin and the Mamluks. In addition, the panoramic views towards its green surroundings are a beautiful contrast to the arid landscape of the desert, which is predominant in this circuit of
Jordan essential
.
After visiting Ajloun Castle and enjoying the views, we will return to the hotel in Amman, where dinner will be served tonight.
If the previous day we entered the north of Jordan, on this third day of route we head south, where some of the great attractions of the country are located. But on the way we will stop at some destinations that also surprise with their beauty and uniqueness. After breakfast, our vehicle will pick you up to discover them step by step.
The first is Madaba, a key city in the early centuries of Christianity. And that has bequeathed us one of the most beautiful and particular mosaics in the world: the mosaic map of the Holy Land, located inside the church of St. George. It shows a schematic but very beautiful representation of this sacred territory for Jews, Christians and Muslims: Jerusalem, Mount Sinai, Jericho, etc.
The second stop on this route is Mount Nebo, a mountain that rises above the Dead Sea and has a very important history: it was the point from which Moses saw the Promised Land and, after being denied access, it was also his place of death. At present, the viewpoint allows the traveler to imagine what the eyes of the prophet saw, while the rest of the monuments (memorial church, sculptures, etc.) help to better understand that episode. Therefore, this corner of Jordan is a must for travelers more interested in religion.
After that, the odometer of our vehicle will continue to advance, now at a higher speed, until we reach Shobak: this small town is known for its castle, which we will see outside. It is a fortress originally built by the Christian crusaders of King Baldwin I of Jerusalem (twelfth century), but taken decades later by Saladin’s troops. Undoubtedly, an evocative place, both for its history and for its views towards the Carretera del Rey, once a caravan route.
The castle of Shobak will be the last stop of the tour, because shortly after we will arrive at Wadi Musa, the town located next to Petra and where all the hotels aimed at visitors to this destination are located. There will also be ours, which also includes dinner on this third night.
If we think of the essential Jordan, the destination that most deserves this distinction is Petra. Therefore, to properly discover all its corners we dedicate the fourth day to the full, after having breakfast at the hotel.
As soon as we arrive at the Visitor Center, we will make use of a horse service that will help us speed up the displacements. The first thing we will visit will be the Siq or rocky canyon that serves as the entrance to this enclave, which the Nabataeans turned into their capital with the name of Raqmu and that the Romans helped to enlarge. The Treasury, its most famous monument, will soon appear before our eyes, with its imposing multi-storey façade, with columns and pediment.
But the visit does not end there, far from it. It will also take us through everything that is hidden behind it: the Street of the Façades, the Nabataean theater, the religious temples and the great site of the city itself, with its Columned Street as the main axis. In addition, a fascinating epilogue can be the Al Deir Monastery, for which you will have to climb more than 800 steps. Its views and its façade, similar to that of the Treasury, will make the effort worthwhile.
After such an intense tour, we will leave the enclosure and return to the hotel, where the dinner of this day will also be ready, which, for many, is the most important of the Jordan circuit
essential
.
On the morning of the fifth day, after having breakfast at the hotel, we will leave for a surprising visit: Little Petra which, as its name suggests, can be considered a Petra on a reduced scale.
Like its older sister, Little Petra, it has most of its spaces carved into the rock: some had religious purposes, others commercial, others residential … In fact, it is believed that it could have been a settlement that gave some kind of service to the Nabataean capital, as an agricultural or logistics center. The Siq Al Bared canyon is its great communication artery, and the enclosure can be visited quietly on foot, with less effort than in Petra.
After this visit, we will travel to another of those places that can not be missed in a circuit for the essential of Jordan: Wadi Rum, a desert of 72,000 hectares that hides unexpected and fascinating corners. For example, its mountains, canyons and rock formations in the form of a bridge or arch. Or the petroglyphs carved in those canyons, which show us that it already had human presence millennia ago. Another attraction is the means that we will use to move: a 4×4 SUV capable of entering dunes and crossing stony tracks, adding a point of adventure to the experience.
After this 4×4 route, which will last two hours, our accommodation will be waiting for us: a Bedouin camp with comfortable and charming tents. Here we will have dinner in the nomadic style, which is a cultural experience. And if you look around, another spectacle will make this moment more special: a warm sunset light that will give way to the closed night and its imposing starry sky above our heads at the time of going to sleep.
On the sixth day of the circuit, after breakfast, we will leave the Bedouin camp of Wadi Rum, but whoever wishes can live a unique and unrepeatable experience: watching the sunrise in the desert. The play of colors and lights that bathe the mountains, the stony terrain and the clear sky is something that can hardly be experienced anywhere else in the world.
Shortly after, we will board our vehicle to move to another incomparable destination: the Dead Sea. Our road will make us descend sharply, since Wadi Rum is about 1,600 meters above sea level but the Dead Sea is -400 meters above sea level. It’s the lowest point on the planet!
Upon arrival, you will have free time to use it as you want, for example for a swim in the waters of this lake named after the sea: its mineral composition has such a high level of salt that the body floats effortlessly. In addition, its properties provide benefits for the skin and help treat certain health conditions, so another possible plan is to undergo a wellness session with this ingredient as the protagonist.
Whatever the plan, you will spend the night in a hotel on the Dead Sea located next to the shore, where dinner is also included.
The seventh day is also one of the quietest of this circuit because of the essentials of Jordan, since all the time of the day will be freely available for travelers, with the only commitment of travel to Amman by road at noon.
The morning, after breakfast, can be a good time to make visits or experiences that did not give time in the previous day. For example, visit on your own the Dead Sea Museum, archaeological sites on the Jordanian shore such as Macheron or reach the place of baptism of Jesus (Bethany Beyond the Jordan), located not too far from the north shore.
In the central hours of the day, at the agreed time, we will travel by road to Amman. Upon arrival, the afternoon will also be free in the Jordanian capital, so it can be the perfect occasion to do the last shopping or some activity that has been pending during the circuit: gastronomic tastings, museum visits, leisure plans, etc. And at the end of the day, you will rest in the hotel, where dinner is also included.
Jordan essential It comes to an end on this eighth day. After having breakfast at the hotel and check-out, our staff will pick you up to make the transfer at the agreed time, in a private vehicle. Upon arrival at the terminal, the last assistance will be made before taking the flight and we will say goodbye full of gratitude for trusting our agency to make this 8-day route.
In the
Jordan circuit essential
, the services are not precisely essential, but very varied and of the highest quality so that the route can be carried out with maximum comfort and safety. They are as follows.
The following services are excluded in the package and the traveler must decide on them:
Fill out the form below to receive a free non-binding quote tailor-made by a specialized agency in Jordan.
Travel agency and DMC specialists in private and tailor-made travel to Jordan
Mandala Tours, S.L, NIF: B51037471
License: C.I.AN-187782-2
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