History and Culture in the Kingdom of the Bedouins

About fifty kilometers north of Amman, Jerash, known in antiquity as Gerasa, is one of the most extraordinary Roman cities and one of the best preserved in the Middle East. Founded over 6500 years ago, the Romans took control of it in 63 BC and it became one of the ten cities of the Roman Decapolis. With its numerous remains testifying to a splendid past, it is rivaled only by Petra as a major attraction in Jordanie.

You explore the city in the company of a local English-speaking guide (private tour of approximately 2 hours).

Road to Ajlun, through a magnificent landscape planted with olive trees. Perched at the top of a hill offering spectacular views over the Sea of Galilee and Judea, the main attraction of the town is its fortress, also called Qala'at ar-Rabad castle. Due to its strategic location, it allowed protection of the trade routes connecting Jordan and Syria as well as defense against the Crusaders, whose attempts to conquer the town failed.

Return to Amman for the night.

The first part of the day is devoted to discovering spectacular monuments scattered in the black basalt desert east of Amman, which mark the beginnings of Islamic art: the Desert Castles, a name given to these ancient residences of Umayyad caliphs (late 7th - early 8th century). These isolated buildings served as caravanserais, secondary residences, hunting pavilions, … and made it possible to transform patches of desert into carefully irrigated colonies.

The three castles you will visit are the Qasr al-Kharana (fortified castle, probably a defensive caravanserai), the Qasr Amra (superbly preserved, listed by UNESCO for its frescoes) and the Azraq castle (initially built by the Romans then transformed by the Umayyads, it is renowned for having hosted Lawrence of Arabia who stayed there with Emir Faisal).

Return to the capital for a visit to old Amman, the ancient Philadelphia of the Roman Decapolis. Roman Theatre, Temple of Hercules, colonnades, and museums bear witness to the city's rich past. The contrast is striking with modern Amman, which also deserves a little of your time.

You leave Amman this morning heading south. Your first stop is Madaba, which is home to many churches adorned with beautiful mosaics. The most famous of these is found in the Church of Saint George: it is the oldest known representation of the Holy Land, notably of Jerusalem and the Decapolis, aptly named the Map of the Holy Land.

A short distance away stands Mount Nebo, where it is believed that Moses died and where his tomb is located. It is the most important holy site in Jordan, and from the 4th century a church was built there.

You continue south on the King's Highway. The views over the Jordan Valley are magnificent. You are following here the presumed traces of Moses leading the Hebrews during their Exodus. In the Mujib valley, a visit is a must to Al-Karak Castle, which overlooks the city and is said to be impregnable.

Arrival at your destination for the day, the mythical Petra. Visit of Little Petra and the Siq el-Barid site, a caravanserai and commercial hub from the time of the Nabataeans, as well as the Neolithic remains of Beidah.

Transfer to the hotel for the night.

Departure for the desert of Wadi Rum, also called the Valley of the Moon. This enchanting and majestic desert made of dunes and rock formations in ochre tones had already captivated Lawrence of Arabia in its time.

You get the full measure of this landscape of sand, needles and ridges during a 2-hour 4x4 excursion, until the magical blaze of the sunset.

Installation at the camp and free time to stroll around the surroundings. Typical dinner at the camp, Bedouin evening and night under Bedouin tents.

Route to Aqaba situated on the shores of the Gulf of Aqaba, an extension of the Red Sea. Free end of day to rest, stroll around, enjoy the beach and the sea populated with multicolored fish.

Night in Aqaba.

You continue your journey towards the mythical Dead Sea. At the borders of Jordan, Israel and the West Bank, welcome to the lowest point on Earth! The place is ideal for relaxing at the end of your stay, since in addition to its exceptional altitude of -417m, its salinity is such (27.5%) that you float there! A unique experience in this vast expanse of water where no fish or even algae can survive. It is said that Cleopatra already came here for treatments to preserve her complexion and that on its shores prosperous certain biblical cities such as Sodom and Gomorrah.

Free time on a private beach, then dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Departure in the direction of the city of As-Salt, which is located just outside Amman heading north. This charming city is proud of its history and features yellow sandstone architecture. During this visit, visitors will experience rural life by learning how to make seasonal jams and jameed.

Umm Omar, a resident of As-Salt, has been making homemade jams as well as other locally sourced products since she was a little girl. Growing up, she worked alongside her grandmother who took seasonal fruits and vegetables to create different types of jams.

Visitors will have the opportunity to visit Umm Omar's farm to see the fruit she uses to create jams, as well as the animals such as goats that provide her with milk which she uses to make Jameed. This is a dried yogurt made from sheep's or goat's milk. It is the basic ingredient of Mansaf, the famous Jordanian national dish. Later, they will sing together local songs that reflect the daily life and culture of Jordanians.

Traditional lunch at Umm Omar's.

Time to head back to Amman.

Night at the hotel