The Legacy of the Nabataeans and Beyond

Departure for Amman on a scheduled flight. Meet and assist at the airport - transfer to your hotel for the night - BB

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit Amman, capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. It is nicknamed the "White City" because of the limestone used in the construction of its buildings. It is a fascinating city full of contrasts, with its unique blend of modernity and ancient remains. Visit the Roman Theater; the Folklore Museum, whose collection includes objects reflecting Jordan's diverse cultures; the Citadel; and the Archaeological Museum, which houses artifacts from all the country's archaeological sites.

Continue along the Desert Castles Route: Visit the three best-preserved castles: Qasr Al-Kharaneh, Qasr Amra, and Qasr Al Azraq. The latter castle is made of black basalt and dates back to the early 13th century. It was largely destroyed by the 1927 earthquake and nevertheless served as T.E. Lawrence's headquarters during the winter of 1917. Return to Amman. Dinner and overnight at the hotel - HB.

Breakfast

Departure for a visit to Jerash, one of the best-preserved cities of Roman civilization, the "Pearl of the Orient." Its oval plaza makes it unique in the entire Mediterranean basin. Hidden beneath the sand for several centuries before being discovered and restored over a period of 70 years, Jerash is the epitome of vast and formal Roman municipal planning in the entire Middle East. It is adorned with cobbled, colonnaded streets, immense temples on the crests of hills, delightful theaters, spacious public squares, thermal baths, fountains, and walls pierced by towers and gates. Beneath its Greco-Roman exterior, Jerash preserves a delightful blend of West and East.

Drive to Ajloun, famous for its 12th-century castle built by Saladin. This fortress boasts a magnificent panorama over an entire region renowned for its olive trees.

This castle was built to control the local iron mines and prevent the Franks from invading the city. It dominated the three main routes to the Jordan Valley, thus providing a means of monitoring the trade routes between Jordan and Syria. It became an important link in the chain of defense against the Crusaders, who, for decades, tried in vain to capture the castle and the nearby village.

Drive to Amman through the magnificent Jordan Valley, where the vegetation is lush. The route passes banana plantations, fields, and numerous greenhouses where various vegetables and fruits are grown. Return to Amman. Dinner and overnight at the hotel - HB.

Highlights of the day:

Saint George's Church in Madaba and its map of Palestine

Mount Nebo, the tomb of Moses

Kerak Castle, built by the Crusaders

Departure for Petra via the Kings' Road. In Madaba, home to a thriving Byzantine school of mosaic artists, visit Saint George's Church, which houses the famous 6th-century map of Palestine. Discover Mount Nebo, from where Moses traditionally saw the Promised Land, and where his tomb is said to be located. Continue via Kerak Castle, built by the Crusaders and the stronghold of Renaud de Châtillon: a strategic site for controlling the trade routes from Damascus to Mecca. Dinner and overnight stay in Petra - HB

Total driving time for the day: approximately 5 hours 15 minutes

Highlights of the day:

The ancient city of Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Excursion to Deir to admire the panorama

Discover Petra, which became the capital of the Nabataeans 2,500 years ago. This exceptional site boasts pink sandstone decorations and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After passing through the Siq, a narrow corridor carved by the wind between high cliffs, you'll discover the Khazneh, "the Treasury," the jewel of the ancient city. The lower city from the Roman period features the theater, the palace, the baths, the temples, and the Cardo Maximus, a sacred place of sacrifice, along with the royal tombs of the Nabataeans, enriched by the trade in incense and spices.

Then enjoy free time on site, which you can take advantage of by climbing to Deir, the Hermitage... an optional climb. Dinner and overnight stay in Petra - HB.

Highlights of the day:

Visit to Little Petra and Beidha

3-hour 4x4 excursion to the heart of the Wadi Rum desert

Zareb dinner according to Bedouin custom

Departure for a visit to Little Petra, which contains Nabataean banquet halls, then Beidha, where excavations have revealed the site of a Neolithic village, representing the first agricultural community in the Near East. Drive to the Wadi Rum desert, a true geological marvel with its steep escarpments of extraordinary shapes and flamboyant colors. 4x4 pickup excursion to the heart of these majestic landscapes shaped by erosion, where the memory of Lawrence of Arabia lingers... Zareb dinner, a typical dish cooked in an oven under the sand. Overnight in the desert at the Bedouin camp - HB.

Cumulative driving time for the day: approximately 6.5 hours (including a 3-hour Bedouin jeep safari in the desert)

Highlights of the day:

• The Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth

Ascent to the lowest point on Earth: the Dead Sea, whose waters are the most saline in the world, preventing any living organism from surviving; it also confers therapeutic properties. Free time at a hotel on the shores of the Dead Sea, where you can relax and swim, admiring the surreal panorama of the sea shimmering like a mirage. Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel - HB.

Free day with half-board, transfer to Amman airport and final departure depending on your flight.