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Jordan: Ancient Cities, Iconic Petra & Red Sea Swimming

9 Days Amman to Madaba
Jordan: Ancient Cities, Iconic Petra & Red Sea Swimming
Jordan: Ancient Cities, Iconic Petra & Red Sea Swimming
Jordan: Ancient Cities, Iconic Petra & Red Sea Swimming

Overview

Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on G Adventures 9 Day Jordan: Ancient Cities, Iconic Petra & Red Sea Swimming. Get ready to explore Jordan your way with this budget-friendly adventure. Kick things off in the vibrant city of Amman, home to ancient ruins and the birthplace of great civilizations. Dive into history with visits to iconic sites and discover Jordanian hospitality on a foodie adventure in As-Salt. Wander the ruins of Jerash, then amp up the excitement with a trip to the legendary Petra and an unforgettable camping experience under the stars in Wadi Rum. Wrap up your nine-day journey read more with swims in both the Red and Dead Seas. It’s an epic mix of adventure, culture, and free time to make it your own.
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US$922 per person
Price shown based on twin share
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Trip Length
Trip Length

9 Days

Trip Starts
Trip Starts

Amman

Trip Ends
Trip Ends

Madaba

Countries Visited
Countries Visited:
Operator
Operator
G Adventures
Trip Style
Trip Style

18-to-Thirtysomethings

Budget
Budget

Affordable

Age Range
Age Range

18-39 Years

Max. Group Size
Max. Group Size

16

Pace
Pace

Leisurely

Guide Style
Guide Style

Fully Guided

Tour Code
Tour Code

DJAM

Itinerary

Arrive at any time. After a brief welcome meeting at the hotel connect with new friends on an optional group dinner in Amman, or explore on your own before the adventure begins.
Accommodation: Nomads Hotel Amman
Included Experiences
  • Connect With New Friends: Connect with new friends on your first night out in a new destination. Only available on 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours.
  • Meet Your CEO and Group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

It’s all about Amman’s culture and food today in an immersive experience of the must-see sites and best food in the city. After breakfast, visit the King Abdullah Mosque, then follow that up with visits to the Citadel and Roman Amphitheater before travelling to the local favorite hillside town of As Salt. Here, embark on a 2-hour food tour where you will experience first-hand typical Jordanian hospitality while sampling, and learning about a smattering of regional dishes earning you a memorable taste of As Salt’s rich culinary traditions. The remainder of the afternoon and evening will be free in Amman to do as you please.
Accommodation: Nomads Hotel Amman
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Included Experiences
  • Visit King Abdullah Mosque, Amman Citadel, & the outside of the Roman Amphitheater: The first stop on today's journey is the Visit King Abdullah Mosque, capped by a blue mosaic dome. Then, head to the Citadel, an archaeological site best known for the Roman Temple of Hercules and used by numerous civilizations since the Bronze Age. Then jump in a private vehicle for a ten minute drive to the Roman Amphitheatre to view the grounds from the outside. The theatre could once seat up to 6,000 people in its steep stairs.
  • As-Salt Food Tour: Enjoy a 2-hour food tour in As-Salt, Jordan for an immersive culinary experience. Begin at a local eatery and sample some traditional Jordanian appetizers like hummus, falafel, and labneh. Then, head somewhere else for the country's national dish, Mansaf. There will also be an exploration of the local markets and spice shops. Finish the tour up with dessert before a refreshing cup of Arabic coffee or mint tea. The experience provides the perfect overview of As-Salt's rich culinary traditions.
  • Free Time: Travel back to Amman for free time in the city.

Leave Amman in the morning and travel to the remarkably well-preserved Roman archaeological site of Jerash. Enjoy a 3-hour guided tour of the site and learn more about the history of this architectural marvel as you walk through the various public squares and plazas. Continue onwards to Petra where you will have free time to get settled in before dinner on your own.
Accommodation: Nomads Petra hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast
Included Experiences
  • Jerash Guided Visit: Take a step back in time visiting Jerash, one of the most well-preserved Roman sites outside of Italy. Wander amid its paved and colonnaded streets, soaring hilltop temples, handsome theatres, spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains, and city walls pierced by towers and gates – all in exceptional condition.
  • Free Time: Wadi Musa is the closest town to Petra. Enjoy free time here on your own to get settled and explore a bit.

Today the group will hike from Little Petra along the ancient backdoor trail to the iconic masterpiece of Petra. The trail comes out near the Monastery where you can enjoy a boxed lunch overlooking the image most people come to Jordan searching for. Drive back to the hotel and have a free rest of the day to explore on your own or relax on the rooftop as the sun goes down past the horizon.
Accommodation: Nomads Petra hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Included Experiences
  • Little Petra Hike & Guided Visit to Petra: Start today's hike along the back door trail to Petra. You'll visit the often overlooked, but unique and charming Little Petra and then embark along the ancient trail that leads to the back entry into Petra via the Monastery. Sit down for a picnic lunch overlooking the splendor before exploring this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wind through the Siq, a narrow, 1km-long gorge flanked by these soaring sandstone walls standing 80m-high and catch a glimpse of this magnificent creation, the famed treasury of Petra. Explore in depth with your CEO and get a brief history of the city, one of the greatest attractions in the Middle East. The Nabateans carved this capital from the living rock of the surrounding mountains in Petra. Visit monuments that include the Pharaoh's Castle, the triumphal arch, the amphitheatre, and the monastery.
  • Free Time: After a full day of exploring Petra and the surroundings, you will have free time back in Wadi Musa at the hotel. Choose to grab a few drinks at a nearby rooftop and find a local spot for dinner.
  • Siq al-Barid (Little Petra) Visit: Explore the narrow alleyway with tall cliff walls and carved rock of Little Petra, which is similar to its larger namesake. Just 9km (5.6 mi) from Wadi Musa, it's worth the visit.

You’re in for an unforgettable experience on a sunrise visit to Petra to witness this famous archaeological site as the morning light crests over the sandstone cliffs. Travel back to the hotel for breakfast and then depart for the ‘Valley of the Moon’ or more commonly known as Wadi Rum. Upon arrival hop on a 4x4 and ride deep into the natural beauty and unique landscape of red sand dunes to reach your private camp amid the dunes. Take some time to get settled here and have a group dinner at camp before a walking tour for some stargazing in a sky with very little light pollution. An epic day for sure!
Accommodation: Harb Eco Camp
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Included Experiences
  • Petra Sunrise: Visit Petra one last time for an impressive sight of sunrise above The Treasury. Truly the best time to see Petra in all its glory, you will experience far fewer visitors at this early hour. Sit down, take it all in, and feel how the string of time pulls thinner while the sun lights up the sandstone cliffs in an ethereal glow.
  • 4x4 Desert Trip: Head deep into the desert by 4x4 and enjoy the amazing natural beauty and unique landscape on this unforgettable drive. Along the way drive up red sand dunes, view stunning rock formations, and visit ancient sites to view rock art and inscriptions.
  • Night Walk - Wadi Rum: Walk out into the desert from Wadi Rum and search for stars as the sun goes down and full darkness reveals just how many were there all along.

After breakfast leave the solitude of the desert for a more lively time in Aqaba on the Red Sea. Upon arrival, the day is yours to do as you please. Choose to book a boat ride with lunch and snorkelling in the marine-rich waters of the Dead Sea, or stay on land and peruse the Marina Village, or the Aqaba Local Market. Dinner this evening is on your own.
Accommodation: My Luxury Hotel Aqaba
Included Meals: Breakfast
Included Experiences
  • Free Time: Upon arrival to Aqaba there will be free time to enjoy all that the Red Sea has to offer. Choose to book a 4-hour boat ride including lunch and snorkelling gear. Or you could visit the local market for some local specialty snacks, and the Marina Village with all of its boutique shops. No matter what, the choice is yours.
Optional Experiences
  • Aqaba Boat Trip with Snorkelling: Looking for a perfect day trip to make the most of your time in this seaside town? Board a boat and enjoy a relaxing day on the waters of the Red Sea. Enjoy a BBQ lunch and join a snorkelling guide to spot marine life beneath the surface. If snorkelling isn't your thing, sit back and enjoy the views from the water of Aqaba.
  • Beit Al Ward - Saayadia Cooking Class: Located in the coastal city of Aqaba, The House of Roses Women's Association (Beit Al Ward) is a G Adventures-supported, non-profit initiative dedicated to empowering local women, youth, and individuals with special needs by preserving and sharing Jordanian cultural heritage through authentic culinary and handicraft experiences. Choose to pre-book the Sayyadieh cooking class at Beit Al Ward and be led by the inspiring women of the project as you explore Aqaba’s culinary traditions and learn how to prepare an iconic dish of seasoned rice and fish. Sayyadieh, is a beloved specialty of Aqaba, combining spiced fish with fragrant rice and caramelized onions, reflecting the city’s deep connection to the Red Sea. More than just a recipe, it is a story of culture, heritage, and community. Share stories with your hosts as your prepare the meal and sit down for a delicious local lunch together creating a lasting connection with the remarkable women here, thus leaving travellers with a deeper appreciation of the strength and resilience shown in this community.

Get out there and fully immerse yourself in the fun experiences Aqaba has to offer its visitors. Choose to purchase a full-day beach club pass which includes lunch and will let you be as relaxed as can be on the sand, the whole day belongs to you. You can also visit the sites in town that you didn’t get a chance to check out yesterday. Dinner is wherever you please, but a nearby restaurant with some live music and a fun local crowd sounds like a good idea!
Accommodation: My Luxury Hotel Aqaba
Included Meals: Breakfast
Included Experiences
  • Free Time: The full day is free to do as you choose in the gorgeous seaside town of Aqaba. Options include hanging out by the hotel pool, visiting the market or Marina Village, or you can book the full--day Beach Club Pass with inclusive lunch and really go all out for your final free day in Aqaba.
  • Big Night Out: Whether it’s a a local place with live music or a bonfire on the beach, celebrate late into the night with your new best friends.
Optional Experiences
  • Aqaba Beach Club Pass with Lunch: Escape to the beach with a day pass to the local beach club where you can enjoy a luxurious beachfront experience. It's the perfect blend of relaxation and recreation. You'll have private beach access and an included lunch at the club's restaurant. Plus the option to choose from a variety of adventurous water activities (some additional charges may apply).

Leave Aqaba and the Red Sea behind today and travel to Madaba and the salty waters of the Dead Sea. Along the way make a stop for a traditional Jordanian meal at the G Adventures-supported Al Safi Kitchen working to create a sustainable future for community members near the Dead Sea. Then, it’s the moment many have been waiting for, a soak and float in the healing waters of the sea. Search for salt chunks bobbing nearby and rub the medicinal mud on your skin. Visit St George Church next, where you will see some of the finest Byzantine mosaics in the world. Spend a free evening in Madaba before an optional dinner with the group
Accommodation: Rumman Hotel Madaba
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Included Experiences
  • Al Safi Community Lunch: Stop for lunch at Al Safi Kitchen to enjoy a traditional Jordanian meal. Take a tour of the grounds, taste a delicious meal with the freshest ingredients from Safi’s farms, and learn about how this nonprofit is working to create a sustainable future for community members near the Dead Sea. The mission of the company is to raise awareness about the importance of cultural heritage and natural resources of the area. They also offer equal job opportunities for all members of the local community.
  • Dead Sea Visit: Discover the legendary healing qualities of the Dead Sea, famous for its unique mineral makeup and salinity. Spot salt chunks drifting by like icebergs on the water’s surface. Take a dip yourself and float like a buoy or cover yourself in the mud along the shore, believed to have medicinal and therapeutic benefits. There are showers nearby to wash off after.
  • Madaba Mosaics Guided Tour: Explore Madaba’s long history on this guided tour, including its role as the centre of early Christianity. See some of the finest Byzantine mosaics in the world, including the famous sixth-century mosaic map of the Middle East. Tour churches, the Archaeological Park, and the local museum that's housed in several old Madaba residences.

Depart at any time. Please note that while this itinerary ends at the finishing point hotel in Madaba, there are taxis/shuttle services available to book back to Amman. Please contact one of our GCOs for more details.
Included Meals: Breakfast

Trip Inclusions

  • Experience a taste of As-Salt’s rich culinary traditions on a food tour throughout the city and sit down for tea in a local home.
  • Visit the remarkably well-preserved Roman archaeological site of Jerash.
  • See the unique and charming Little Petra before hiking along the back door trail to its famous big neighbour.
  • Enjoy a day of optional activities in the wildlife-rich waters of the Red Sea.
  • Sit down for a delicious traditional Jordanian lunch at the G Adventures-supported Al Safi Kitchen working to create a sustainable future for its local community.

  • Your G for Good Moment: Al Safi Community Lunch, Jordan Valley
  • Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends
  • Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group
  • Your Foodie Moment: As-Salt Food Tour, As Salţ
  • Your Big Night Out Moment: Aqaba
  • Amman Citadel, Mosque and Amphitheatre Visit
  • Jerash Guided Visit
  • Little Petra and hike to Petra with guided visit
  • Sunrise visit to Petra
  • 4x4 Wadi Rum Desert Trip
  • Night Walk in Wadi Rum
  • Dead Sea Visit
  • Madaba Mosaics
  • Free time in Madaba, Aqaba, and Amman
  • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
  • Private vehicle, walking, 4x4
  • CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout

  • Hotels (7 Nights), Desert Tented Camp (1 Night)
  • On this trip you can expect to stay in small local hotels or pensions (with the exception of the start and finish hotels, which are often larger city hotels), which will vary a little in standard and facilities: some may not have elevators, air-conditioning or English-speaking staff, but most importantly all are locally-run and in excellent central locations to give you maximum time for exploring the sights.

  • 8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 dinner

  • Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
  • Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included.

Operator

G Adventures
G Adventures came from a desire to deliver authentic and responsible small group travel adventures that were equally life-changing for travellers and the communities they visit. And we’re been doing just that for almost 30 years. Our award-winning trips span seven continents and over 100 countries, giving you meaningful more experiences with people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife, as well as offering you the freedom and flexibility to explore on your own.

On all of our tours, you get to know locals every step of the way, from the places you visit and stay to where you eat and drink. You’ll also get to experience our ‘G for Good’ social impact initiatives on-trip, including our industry-leading ‘Ripple Score’. This score measures, as a percentage, the amount of money that stays in the local community through on-trip services like accommodation, restaurants and transport.
Trip Style: 18-to-Thirtysomethings
Trip Style: 18-to-Thirtysomethings

Built for young travelers ready to break free from the everyday grind, these trips bring together a safe and supportive group of like-minded people in their twenties and early thirties.

Connect on the First Night Out, explore with a Chief Experience Officer (CEO), enjoy free time, and celebrate unforgettable moments with new friends - without breaking the bank. Travel confidently, respectfully, and affordably.

Dates & Pricing USD USD

Saturday 18 Apr 2026 18 Apr 26 Amman
Sunday 26 Apr 2026 26 Apr 26 Madaba
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$1,379
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Friday 24 Apr 2026 24 Apr 26 Amman
Saturday 02 May 2026 02 May 26 Madaba
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$1,379
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Saturday 25 Apr 2026 25 Apr 26 Amman
Sunday 03 May 2026 03 May 26 Madaba
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$1,379
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Note
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Inquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by G Adventures. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.

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