Family Self-Drive Tour - Enchanted Break in Jordan

Start your day with breakfast at the hotel before heading to Jerash, formerly known as Gerasa. It is one of the most remarkable cities of the Roman Decapolis and among the best preserved in the Near East. Jerash is the second most important site in Jordanie after Petra.

Founded over 6,500 years ago, Jerash was captured by the Romans in 63 BC. The city is filled with remains testifying to a prestigious past, rivaled in fame only by Petra as a major attraction in Jordanie. Today, Jerash is considered one of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities in the region, having been buried under sand for centuries before being rediscovered and restored over a 70-year period.

Built entirely in orange-pink limestone, the city illuminates beautifully under the rising and setting sun. Gerasa's heyday dates back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Jerash is a perfect example of Roman urban planning in the Middle East, with its paved streets lined with columns, its immense temples, its charming theaters, its vast public squares, its bathhouses, its fountains and its ramparts pierced with towers and gates.

Explore this fascinating city with an English-speaking local guide during a private tour of approximately two hours. Then, enjoy lunch in nature at a local family's home, with a stunning view of the Dibbeen forests.

Next, you will head to Ajloun to explore the majestic Ajloun Citadel. Situated at the top of a hill, it offers breathtaking panoramas of Tiberias and Judea. The city's flagship attraction is its fortress, also known as Qala'at ar-Rabad castle.

Thanks to its strategic position, it served to protect commercial routes between Jordanie and Syria, while defending the region against the Crusaders, whose attempts at conquest failed.

At the end of the day, you will spend the night in a cabin in the heart of the Ajloun nature reserve.

After breakfast, dive into an unforgettable culinary and craft experience in Jordania. Learn the art of preparing traditional Kishk Laban pastries and making olive oil soap infused with natural herbs.

Activities:

• Kishk Laban Pastries: Discover how to prepare Kishk Laban, a dried yogurt mixed with bulgur and sun-dried. Participants will learn to cook these delights in a traditional clay oven heated with wood. Savor these fresh pastries accompanied by delicious mint tea and Arabic coffee.

• Olive Oil Soap Making: Initiate yourself into the art of creating olive oil soap bars. Learn to infuse your soap with natural herbs grown locally. Duration: 1h30.

On-site option: Enjoy a day in Ajloun by opting for an aerial tramway ride. This experience offers a spectacular panoramic view of the surrounding landscapes, including the majestic Ajloun fortress and lush forests.

Then, take the road towards the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the planet, located 1306 feet below sea level. Bordered by mountains to the east and the rolling hills of Jerusalem to the west, the Dead Sea offers a landscape of almost surreal beauty. This region, today serene and sparsely populated, is believed to have once hosted five biblical cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar.

For more than two millennia, the Dead Sea has been renowned for its therapeutic properties. The unique climate and natural elements (sun, water, mud, air) constitute an exceptional combination conducive to relieving many chronic conditions. Among these are dermatological problems such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and vitiligo, as well as respiratory disorders like asthma. Furthermore, it offers benefits for arthritis, circulatory disorders, hypertension, Parkinson's disease, and certain ophthalmological problems.

Experience a singular and delightful sensation by floating on the surface of the Dead Sea waters. This exceptional buoyancy is made possible thanks to a salt concentration that is nine times higher than that of ordinary oceans.

Enjoy a delicious dinner and a restful night in a beach resort on the shores of the Dead Sea, equipped with a water park.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Start your day with an essential visit to Madaba, a city renowned for its many churches decorated with beautiful mosaics. Don't miss the Church of Saint George, where you will discover the famous Map of the Holy Land, the oldest mosaic depicting the Holy Land, including Jerusalem and the Decapolis.

Nearby stands the Mont Nebo, a major site in Jordanie reputed as the place of death and burial of Moses. This holy place, of paramount historical importance, saw the construction of a church as early as the 4th century. Continuing your journey southward, you follow the legendary traces of Moses leading the Hebrews during their exodus.

Then, heading towards Karak via the famous Kings Highway, you will stop to experience an unforgettable local experience. For an hour and a half, you will participate in the daily tasks of a local farming family: cooking Arbood bread, collecting eggs from free-range chickens, milking sheep, and tasting a typical organic meal from Karak while enjoying the stunning view of the Mujib valley.

You will also be able to explore the neighboring village and discover Byzantine and Roman ruins. Dressed in the Madraqa, the traditional costume of Karak, capture your visit with stunning photos of the Mujib valley.

The visit will continue towards the famous Karak fortress, one of Jordan's emblematic monuments.

If time permits: A visit to Karak Castle is a must, a fortress renowned as impregnable that overlooks the city of Karak. Located 124 km south of Amman, this fortress was built in 1142 by Payen the Butler, lord of Montreal and the province of Transjordan, on the ruins of older citadels dating from the Nabataean era.

Payen made Karak the new capital of the province thanks to its strategic location on the Kings Highway, thus allowing control of all traffic between north and south.

A former Crusader stronghold in Transjordan, Karak Castle in Jordan was the site of numerous sieges and battles.

Finally, arrival at Petra for the night.

After breakfast, you have the opportunity to begin your exploration from Petra Beidha, located 8 km north of Petra. Visit the archaeological park of Siq al-Barid, known as Little Petra rich in Nabataean ruins. This captivating stopover on the way to the famous city of Petra, inscribed in Unesco's World Heritage, is accessible via a narrow canyon of 400 m, the Siq, which opens between the red sandstone rocks.

On the site, you will discover two monuments framing abandoned troglodytic dwellings: a temple-tomb and four tricliniums. The name "Siq al-Barid" means "cold canyon" in Arabic, due to the light that never penetrates this narrow gorge. Little Petra, created in the 1st century BC, was part of the prosperous settlement of Petra. Unlike temples and royal necropolises, the buildings of Little Petra served as dwellings for residential or commercial use, with tricliniums typical of local architecture, serving as dining rooms for caravans of Bedouin merchants.

Next, head to the Wadi Rum desert, a breathtaking natural landscape where cliffs and valleys offer majestic beauty. Immortalized by T. E. Lawrence and the film "Lawrence of Arabia", Wadi Rum is a place steeped in serenity and grandeur. A Bedouin guide will accompany you to explore this fascinating desert, between pink sand dunes and stratified sandstone mountains.

You will participate in a 3-hour 4x4 jeep excursion to discover desert sites such as Um-Ishrin, Wadi Um Ishrin, Mushroom Rock, and the Little Siq (Siq Um Al-Tawaqi – Umm-Fruth rock bridge). An optional camel ride will allow you to fully experience the desert. You can also enjoy a spectacular sunset before enjoying an authentic Bedouin evening.

For those seeking thrills, an optional one-hour quad adventure in the magnificent Wadi Rum desert is offered.

The day will conclude with a night in a Bedouin camp, with traditional dinner included.

The desert of Wadi Rum, a true natural wonder, awaits you for a 2-hour hike. During this adventure, take part in the preparation of "Gallayet Banadora", a traditional Jordanian dish made with tomatoes often cooked outdoors during picnics. This culinary experience will give you the opportunity to appreciate local cuisine while admiring the spectacular desert landscape.

After this authentic immersion, set off for an hour's drive to Aqaba, Jordanie's gateway to the Red Sea. This Jordanian coastal city stands out for its breathtaking views of deep blue waters, rich in coral reefs and diverse marine life. Aqaba is renowned for its beaches and protected corals, ideal for swimming, diving, snorkeling, or a glass-bottom boat tour.

Back at the hotel, relax on the private beach and enjoy the sun. For dinner, choose a typical restaurant recommended by our driver. As an option, taste a fresh fish dish carefully prepared at the Suzana restaurant, where freshly caught fish take pride of place in local cuisine.

Finally, return to the hotel for a restful night.