Hidden Treasures of Jordan

12 days
From $250/day
$3,000
From: 
$4,050
4.7/5 Excellent
44 reviews  
Trip last updated: 1/1/2020
Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule
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Overview

Highlights

    • Visit desert castles, steeped in centuries of history
    • Explore the ancient city of Jerash and Bethany
    • Float in the Dead Sea
    • Visit Mount Nebo, claimed to be Moses' burial site
    • Enjoy two days in Petra, the Red Rose City
    • Citizen Science departures available on this trip

What's this trip about?

    This 12-day trip to Jordan is ideal to truly appreciate all the country has to offer. It will give you enough time to take in its world-famous monuments, such as Petra and Jerash, and explore the less well-known historic and archaeological treasures. This itinerary includes visits to several of these sites, and the chance to experience the beautiful Wadi Rum desert and snorkel in the Red Sea, ensuring enough time to relax and unwind too. Looking to travel after 31 May 2024? Please see our new itinerary - Jordan: Culture & Nature In Depth This trip includes a few of our Citizen Science Departures. These special departures offer you the opportunity to be involved in the collection of freshwater samples during the trip. The environmental DNA information derived from this sample will contribute directly to the eBioAtlas; the world’s largest repository of flora and fauna species data, contributing to the conservation and restoration of biodiversity both locally and globally. To book onto one of these special departures, see the Dates & Prices tab. For more information on these departures and the eBioAtlas, click here.Explore archaeological highlights with a knowledgeable local leader
Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - 24 max
Age rangeOperator does not provide
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityAmman
End CityAmman

Travel Themes

Activities

Trip includes

    • All breakfasts and three dinners
    • All accommodation (see accommodation section)
    • All transport and listed activities
    • Tour leader throughout
    • Arrival and departure transfers

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Start Amman

Welcome to Amman, the capital of Jordan, where our adventure begins. There are free transfers to the hotel from Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) for all customers today. Please note, transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts. Accommodation: Hotel Khan Khediwe (or similar)

Day 2 Visit the Desert Castles Loop, east of Amman

After breakfast, we depart for a visit to Iraq El Amir. Set in the desert to the east of Amman is the Desert Castle Loop, consisting of numerous palaces and minor forts dating back to the Omayyad period (661-750 CE). Our first stop is Qasr al- Hallabat. Originally Rom...

Day 3 Head North to Irbid archaeological museum, Umm Qais and Pella

We begin early as we have a long day heading north. We visit Irbid, which hosts an interesting museum. The most remarkable artefacts are the Ain Ghazal statues dated to the pre-pottery Neolithic period; between 7500 BCE and 5500 BCE. The museum also contains artefacts...

Day 4 Visit the ancient city of Jerash and Ajloun Castle

After breakfast we visit Jerash, known to the ancient Romans as Gerasa. During that period, this was one of the 10 wealthy, self-governing cities of the Decapolis, and was famous throughout the Roman empire for the luxury of its lifestyle. Buried for centuries under b...

Day 5 Bethany, Madaba and Mount Nebo

We start the day by visiting Bethany Beyond the Jordan, the site where Jesus Christ was said to have been baptised by John the Baptist, marking the beginning of the new era of Christianity. We then head to Madaba, the City of Mosaics. Best known for its spectacular By...

Day 6 To Petra via Wadi al Mujib, Al Karak and Al Shawbak castles

Leaving the Dead Sea behind, we drive through the deep gorge of Wadi al Mujib. This massive canyon is now a huge nature reserve. We arrive at Al Karak and Al Shawbak, two castles that played an important role in the Crusades. Built in medieval times, Al Karak is the l...

Day 7 - 8 Two days exploring Petra

Enjoy two days exploring Petra. The so-called Red Rose City was hidden for centuries until the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt rediscovered it in 1812. It was founded by the Nabateans, an Arab tribe that arrived here in the sixth century BCE. Building at Petra...

Day 9 Little Petra and Wadi Rum

This morning we visit Little Petra before joining the modern Desert Highway to make our way south to Wadi Rum. The purpose of Little Petra is not clear; however, archaeologists believe it was probably a suburb of Petra where visiting traders on the Silk Road may have ...

Day 10 Wadi Rum to Aqaba on the Red Sea

We wake in the dramatic desert scenery and then make our way on to Aqaba, Jordan's port and holiday resort, best known for having beautiful coral reefs. There is time to relax on a beach with transport and entrance included. You can add to the experience with optional...

Day 11 Morning drive to Amman; city tour

After breakfast, drive from Aqaba to Amman to explore the ancient city. Amman has served as the modern and ancient capital of Jordan. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with a 1994 excavation uncovering homes and towers believed to hav...

Day 12 End Amman

Breakfast marks our final meal, an excellent chance to reminisce about an adventure packed with excitement. To make your return journey home easier, there’s a free shared transfer back to the airport.

Dates & Availability

Price from
$3,000
Price per day
$250

Hidden Treasures of Jordan Reviews & Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
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Anonymous

Aug 2016

HIDDEN TREASURES OF JORDAN

A great holiday! Great archaeological sites, stunning views, good company, and an excellent tour guide (Zuhair). And GREAT FUN! Visiting Petra, floating in the Dead ...

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Anonymous

Oct 2018

A fantastic trip

A great tour. It covers so many places and sites; we felt we’d seen as much of the country as we possibly could in the time. 1. The desert trip to Wadi Rum was simp...

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Anonymous

Jan 2018

Hidden treasure of Jordan

I saw the things that I hoped to see and they more than lived up to my expectations. However there were numerous aspects of the trip that left me frustrated, annoy...

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Anonymous

Aug 2016

Hidden Treasures of Jordan (AXE) June 2015

Travelled in May/June 2015. This longer than the usual trip covers a huge area, taking in most of the main historic and ancient sites, the Dead Sea, the Red Sea, Wad...

A

Anonymous

Aug 2016

HIDDEN TREASURES OF JORDAN

Great trip seeing well known & cool lesser known sights. Amazing scenery & history! Floating on the Dead Sea - so relaxing! Making it up all the stairs to Mo...

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Tour Operator

Exodus Travels

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Details

Accommodation:

10 nights hotels plus 1 night private camping
Travel by air-conditioned minibus and 4WD in Wadi Rum
Reasonable fitness required Just like the trip itself, the accommodation is delightfully varied. Typically, we use a three-star hotel in Amman, a basic hillside hotel in Jerash, a five-star retreat by the Dead Sea, a well-located yet simple hotel near Petra, and a four-star hotel in Aqaba, plus we spend a night in our private Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum. Exodus Private Camp in Wadi Rum  Reserved exclusively for our groups, the permanent Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum is a highlight for many travellers. We sleep in simple, traditional tents sheltered by rugged stone cliffs and enjoy the warm hospitality of our Bedouin hosts. In the evening, they serve us a zarb dinner, cooked underground in the traditional manner, while the rest of the night is typically spent around the campfire, chatting and sharing an unforgettable experience.   Holiday Inn Dead Sea  Another standout stay for many is the Holiday Inn at the Dead Sea. Checking into this five-star retreat allows us to kick back and relax, perhaps in one of the many pools or with a float in the salty Dead Sea waters from the private beach. There’s also a free-to-use gym, a selection of excellent restaurants and bars, and the bliss of five-star service.  Petra We spend three nights in Wadi Musa, the town adjacent to Petra. Demand for rooms near Petra is extremely high; over the years, we have built relationships with several accommodations, which allows us to secure spots even during peak season. The limited amount of accommodation and high demand can result in varying quality in both the accommodation and service. However, we stay at these hotels as they are well-located for our trip to Petra: some are within walking distance of the main entrance to the Red Rose City, others are no more than a 10-minute transfer away. Places we stay include Edom Hotel, Petra Plaza, Petra Palace, Amra Palace and La Maison among others. Worth knowing  The hillside hotel in Jerash is basic, without air conditioning, but does have beautiful views over the countryside, while sunset can be enjoyed from the pool terrace.   Demand for accommodation in Wadi Musa is high; this can create problems with hot water and plumbing. In general, the accommodation is more basic compared to the rest of Jordan.  Single supplements are available for this trip but cannot be guaranteed at Wadi Rum. Please enquire at the time of booking for details and up-to-date prices. 

Group size:

Small Group - 24 max

Maximum number of people in group:

16

Trip Excludes:

  • Travel insurance
  • Single accommodation (available on request)
  • Visas or vaccinations

Meals included:

All breakfasts and three evening meals are included on this trip. When not half board, we usually eat in local restaurants and the leader arranges bookings for those in the group who would like to join. We suggest you budget around 20 Jordanian dinars (US$28) for non-included meals. If you are vegetarian, please note that main meals are limited in choice; however, meze is almost always available in restaurants and is a good, filling vegetarian choice. There is a good selection of seafood available by the Red Sea. At the Wadi Rum camp, we enjoy a traditional dinner called zarb, which is cooked underground. This consists of rice with a selection including chicken, lamb and vegetables. Vegetables are cooked separately from the meat. Alcohol is available in Jordan, but not widely. Many hotels do not sell alcohol but will often allow it to be brought in from elsewhere. It is best to plan ahead if you’ll want a drink, your tour leader will be able to tell you what’s possible and may be able to arrange a stop at a supermarket or liquor store (depending on location). In Petra, the unique Cave Bar in Petra Guesthouse is open to the public. A less expensive option is the bar in the Petra Palace Hotel which is also open to all.

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