Cultural tour of Jordan

Today you are driven two hours north to the historical site of Pella, which was once a Bronze and Iron Age settlement. There, you meet your expert female guides, some of the first women to study archaeology at university in Jordan, and who continue to excavate Pella. They give you a detailed tour of the site, before you continue to Umm Qais and have lunch with a local family.

You learn more about the well-preserved Roman ruins of Umm Qais and head out on a foraging tour with a knowledgeable, local guide. Your guide will tailor the tour to your interests and point out edible plants and herbs such as fennel, almond trees, and za’atar. After, spend the afternoon basket weaving and tasselling traditional headscarves with local women.

This morning, visit the Soap House at the Royal Academy for Nature Conservation. Here, local women produce a variety of handmade soaps using fresh herbs from the area. After, continue on to visit the impressive Roman site of Jerash, where a local guide will show you around. You drive on to Amman where you spend the next two nights.

The best way to understand the most significant sites in Amman is by having a private walking tour. You’ll see traditional downtown Amman, the citadel and its epic views, and enjoy Jordanian street food at Hashem’s, the famous restaurant. This evening, head to Beit Sitti, or ‘Grandmother’s House,’ for a traditional cooking class in the heart of the old city.

Depart Amman and head to Madaba, home to several churches and the awe-inspiring 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land. To help you understand the intricacies of mosaic making, you will visit the Madaba Institute for Mosaic Art and Restoration for a short tour. Whilst in Madaba, you have a delicious, home-cooked lunch with a local family. After, continue to Dana Nature Reserve.

Today you will hike from Dana Guesthouse to Feynan Ecolodge, a beautiful 15 km trail downhill. En route, you have a high chance of spotting many of the 200 different bird species which inhabit the area, and plenty of wildflowers too. On arrival at Feynan, relax and enjoy some well-earned rest.

In the morning, you depart Feynan and are driven to Petra. On arrival, you have a privately guided tour of the incredible site, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. After, you have some time to explore by yourself. Prepare for an inspiring but energetic day as it’s a big site to explore! In the evening, you have a private cooking class to continue your culinary exploration of Jordanian food.

Another active day today as you hike from Little Petra to the main site of Petra via the monastery. From the top of the canyon overlooking the Petra valley, you get a completely different perspective on this well-known site. In the evening, you return to Petra for a light show. This is a magical experience when you’ll see the treasury lit up and wander through the Siq canyon by candlelight.

You are driven from Petra to Wadi Rum today. On arrival, you have a 4x4 tour of the desert wilderness to take in the main sights, deep in the wadi. You continue to your desert camp, Memories Aicha, where you have a camel ride at sunset to feel like a real Bedouin.

Depart the desert this morning. You reach Wadi Mujib after around four hours of driving and head out on a guided hike to explore this epic canyon. The canyon stretches around 70 km and looks out across the Dead Sea. The hike can be tailored to your activity level. After, you are driven to your hotel at the Dead Sea.

Your final full day in Jordan. Spend the day relaxing at the Dead Sea, floating weightlessly in the salty waters. After, have a spa treatment or take a mud bath and take full advantage of the health benefits of the Dead Sea minerals.

Your private driver collects you and drives you to Queen Alia International Airport. You meet your local representative on arrival who whisks you through the queues at customs, giving you a stress-free departure from the country. Your return flight will arrive the same day.