Explore Jordan & Saudi Arabia: Ancient Trade Routes

Arrive at any time. There are no planned activities until an evening welcome meeting followed by an optional group dinner. Amman is a very big city and there is not one central area to stay - hotels are spread out across various neighbourhoods within the city. For this reason, to move around the city in your free time, you will have to take a taxi, please feel free to ask your CEO for recommendations and assistance.

Included Experiences

• 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.

Guided visit to the ancient Roman town of Jerash followed by a visit to the Dead Sea. Set off on a half-day trip to Jerash, a fascinating site and one of the largest and most well-preserved Roman ruins outside Italy. Continue on to the Dead Sea. Known for its high salinity, opt to bob like a cork in the healing water or cover yourself in therapeutic mud. There is also the option to visit the site of Jesus' baptism.

Included Experiences

• 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.
• 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.

Optional Experiences

• Site of Jesus' Baptism: Visit the site of Jesus' baptism with a local guide. Round-trip transportation included.
• Mud Baths: Black mud at the dead sea is rich mineral content, and known to have purifying and healing effects when applied to the skin. Take some time to cleanse your body and mind in this tranquil setting.

Start the day with a guided visit to the intricate Madaba mosaics, enjoying the panoramic views from Mt Nebo and a visit to the crusader castle at Karak. Stop at a G Adventures- supported community cafe for lunch, then continue to Wadi Musa for the evening. Depart early for the first stop, Mt Nebo. Learn the ancient history of this spot and check out the views. Enjoy lunch at Safi Kitchen. The kitchen is a nonprofit organization working in the South Ghour region, south of the Dead Sea, to create opportunities for members of the local community. The mission of the company is to raise awareness about the importance of cultural heritage and natural resources of the area. Their tourism program is key to the expansion of their environmental and social mission. Continue on to Madaba to see the famous Byzantine mosaics, dating back to the sixth century. After, visit Karak Castle, built during the Crusades. Arrive in the early evening to Wadi Musa, the town just outside Petra.

Included Experiences

• 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.
• Mt Nebo Visit: Visit Mount Nebo, a historic site believed by many to be the location of Moses' death and has thus been a centre for pilgrimage since the earliest Christian times. Reach to the summit (817m or 2,680 ft), and be rewarded with views of the stunning surrounding countryside and Israel in the distance.
• 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.
• Karak Castle Guided Visit: Take a walk through history on this guided tour of Karak Castle, the largest late-Islamic castle in Jordan. Explore its unique construction – initially built in the Crusader period, it was expanded and refortified during the Ayyubid and Mamluk eras.

Start early to visit iconic Petra. Enjoy a guided walking tour with your CEO, then opt to hike up to the top of the treasury or explore on your own. This evening, opt to visit a Turkish bath or visit Petra by night. The site is large so please be prepared for a lot of walking over sand and rocks for the entire day. Pace yourself, stay hydrated and be sure to have proper walking/hiking shoes.

Included Experiences

• Petra Guided Tour: Journey to Petra to explore this UNESCO World Heritage site. Wind your way through the Siq, a narrow, 1km-long (.6 mi) gorge flanked by soaring 80m-high (262 ft) sandstone walls. Take in the astounding colours and patterns of the rock, and, at the end of this passage, catch your first glimpse of Al-Khazneh, the famed treasury of Petra. Explore in depth with your Expedition Leader 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 Column, the triumphal arch, the amphitheatre, and the monastery.

Optional Experiences

• Turkish Bath: You've done some walking this tour, so take this opportunity to give your muscles some much needed attention. Enjoy this true hammam experience.
• Petra by Night: Enjoy a magical night at Petra. Sit back in the candle lit Siq and treasury, and enjoy bedouin live music show. This activity is only available to book Sunday-Thursday

Explore Experiences

Opt to visit Little Petra in the morning before continuing to Wadi Rum. Head out for a 4x4 excursion during the day before a traditional dinner and overnight at a Bedouin desert camp. Drive to Wadi Rum, a vast, silent landscape of ancient riverbeds and the largest and most magnificent of Jordan's desert landscapes. Head deep into the desert by 4x4 stopping at famous landmarks along the way. Arrive to the camp in time for a traditional meal and learn more about this ancient culture. Our dinner is prepared in traditional fashion, with the meat and vegetables cooked in an underground oven. Soft drinks and water are available for purchase. Lanterns light the way but we do suggest you bring a flashlight.

Accommodation in the desert is in individual cabins that are all attached. Each room contains a bathroom and basic linens are provided, but many travellers prefer to bring a sleep sheet for extra comfort. For religious reasons, no alcohol is permitted at the camp.

Included Experiences

• Bedouin Camp Overnight: Stay overnight in the desert, enjoying a traditional meal and learning more about the ancient Bedouin culture. Spend the evening sitting under the stars, around a fire, listening to stories from the Bedouin hosts. If really lucky, they may bring the drums out for some music! Your accommodation in the desert is in individual cabins that are all attached. Each room contains a bathroom and basic linens are provided, but many travellers prefer to bring a sleep sheet for extra comfort.
• Wadi Rum 4x4 Excursion: Journey into the stunning, colourful desert on this 4x4 excursion. Make stops along the way to get out and explore, learn about the region or scramble up rocks or sand dunes. Reach the Bedouin camp for nightfall to learn about a new culture and eat traditional food beneath the starry skies.

Optional Experiences

• 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.
• Wadi Rum 4x4 Excursion Extension: Extend the 4x4 ride by two extra hours to see more of the fascinating Wadi Rum desert. The listed price is the price per jeep.

Today we leave our camp early to transfer to the Durra Border crossing south of Aqaba. Once we clear border formalities we will drive and meet our 4x4 vehicle so that we can deeply explore this rural part of Saudi Arabia. The group will explore the ancient site of Al Bad' also know as Madyan. This land is said to be the area where Moses found refuge after being exiled from Egypt, a region that has for millenniums been at the heart of the Arabian trade routes. We enjoy our picnic lunch as we visit Al Bad’, site of the ancient city of Madyan until the Middle-Ages. The archaeological site dates from the 2nd Century BCE. The city was active during the Nabatean, Roman, and Islamic periods. See The Well of Moses and watch the sunset over the surrounding valley before ending the day in Tabuk.

Included Experiences

• Al Bad' & Jethro’s tombs Visit: Madian or Al-Bad' is a small province located 2.5 hours away from Tabuk region. There we will have a closer historical look at the collection of Nabatean tombs there. These tombs are carved into the rocks and decorated in an artistic way similar to the Nabatean tombs found in Petra in Jordan. Our next stop will be in Maqna City where we will visit The Well Of Moses.The final stop for today's tour will be at Tayyeb. This is believed to be where Moses brought the people out of Egypt after traveling through the Red Sea.

Travel to Jibal Hisma, a spectacular range of red sand dunes, giant sandstone mountain, and an impressive landscape that will feel like it’s all yours. Here we will travel by 4x4 and stop for a hike/walk, and to explore the landscape with interesting rock shapes. Jibal Hisma (Jimal Hisma) is the Saudi version of Wadi Rum but left undisturbed for the last millennium. The red sand dunes and giant sandstone mountain protect rock art dating back to the Nabateans. The site is only accessible by 4x4. Small farm families and herdsmen call the region home, with luck we may encounter their herds as we explore.

Included Experiences

• Jibal Hisma Visit: Jibal Hisma is home of ancient rock art and thousands of Kufic Arabic inscriptions dating back to the first decades of Islam. Located amid spectacular red sand dunes and giant sandstone mountains rising in the distance, this impressive landscape contains links to the past. Jimal Hisma is the Saudi version of Wadi Rum, but undeveloped and still undiscovered by tourists. You might encounter a Berber herdsmen caring for his hear of camels or goats, or even a small family farms. It may be one of the most impressive places to visit.

After breakfast we continue our journey south towards Al Ula. En route we stop to explore the natural beauty in Wadi Dissa (Disah), sometimes referred to as Wadi Qaraqir. Here our 4x4 allows us to drive deep into the valley that makes this Wadi so unique and green. We'll have a picnic lunch with spectacular views again today. In the late afternoon we head out and arrive into Al Ula just as the sun starts setting. Explore a very unique area in the desert on the way to Al Ula. We'll leave the main road for the Qaraqir mountains. The area starts off dry and arid but below the rock is a spring that comes out further down the valley where it feeds the green valley known as Wadi Dissa (Sometime spelled Disah). The valley is home to small farms and herds of goats and sheep.

Our camp is a private farm camp run by a local family and is only for our use. Tents have comfortable cots and power. Bathrooms and showers are shared.

Included Experiences

• Wadi Dissah Canyon Visit: Wadi Dissah is a 15 kilometer long canyon running through Jebel Qaraqir, a sandstone massif lying between Tabuk and Al Ula. This natural wonder, once a well-kept secret among explorers, has become popular as more people travel to Al Ula. However, it is so vast that there is still this feeling of being alone. Admire the massive rocky peaks standing on both sides of the canyon walls that rise 500 meters up. Considered some of the most dramatic scenery in the entire country, you’ll have plenty of time to take it all in.

Today our focus is entirely on Al Ula. Start off with a walk along the Heritage Oasis Trail. You'll see the beauty of this little old town, tall palms in a historic archway of a mud brick house, or the lush green farms. We spend a few hours exploring Hegra, the main site of Al Ula on a structured visit, before meeting a local farm owner and exploring their farm. We end the day at Elephant rock to enjoy the sunset and the desert night sky. Walk along the Oasis trail. Stop at a stall selling freshly squeezed juice, hang out on a palm swing and enjoy the beautiful setting. Later, visit the iconic UNESCO World Heritage site of Hegra, also known as Madain Saleh. Hegra was a principal Frankincense route town built by the Nabataeans, a spectacular site that can't be missed. After a farm lunch, walk around the farm with the owner and learn about local life and agriculture, gaining insight into the life of a local Saudi Farmer. This evening, head over to elephant rock for sunset. Enjoy the transition from sunset colours to night sky and see the illuminated stone formations. We end the day with dinner featuring local Yemeni specialties.

Included Experiences

• Hegra Tour (Madain Saleh): Today we are starting with the most popular historical site in Saudi Arabia, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Madain Saleh means the "cities of Saleh" after the name of the Prophet Saleh who tried to convert the ancient people of Thamud to Islam.The importance of Madain Saleh is displayed by its 111 monumental tombs, among which 94 were decorated with majestic facades on the sandstone massifs of the area, especially the Jibal Ithlib. Madain Saleh was the second largest city of the Nabatean kingdom whose capital was Petra (in today's Jordan). Spend time with the local experts know as “story tellers” as they lead you, exploring all of Hegra, the principal town along the Frankincense trade route.
• Lunch in a Local Farm: Enjoy a home cooked meal and a taste of local flavours. Besides a delicious lunch you will be supporting the local community and helping the sustainability of this farm. After finishing lunch go on a tour through the farm to learn more about the local life of Al Ula.
• Elephant Rock for Sunset: Visit Elephant Rock, also known as Jabal AlFil, one of AlUla’s many geological marvels. Unlike the ornate, hand-carved facades of nearby Hegra’s Nabatean tombs, the "trunk" and "body" of this monolithic red sandstone beast were hewn by natural forces —millions of years of wind and water erosion. Grab a spot in the underground seating where we enjoy tea and snacks as the sun sets and the night lights turn on and shine on the beautiful site.
• Yemeni Food Experience: Sit down and enjoy a Yemeni food experience for dinner, featuring flavourful dishes of local cuisine. Soak in the family atmosphere as you dig in to a delicious meal while learning about the traditional history of the cuisine.

From Al Ula to Medina we drive along the desert used by pilgrims for centuries as they made their way to Medina. In Medina we'll learn about the founding of Islam and the Holy Cities. The group will have an opportunity to see the first two mosques built by the Prophet and learn about the pilgrimages. Its unique insight into local culture. Set out on an early morning drive from Al Ula to Medina. Upon arrival visit the International Fair and the Museum of the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization. This is near the Holy Mosque which you will be able to take photos of from the outside. Then, visit Qiba Street which connects the two oldest mosques, the Holy and the Qiba You will only be seeing these mosques from the outside. Spend the later afternoon and evening at your own leisure.

Included Experiences

• Medina City Tour: Medina is one of Islam's two holiest cities. It's a key destination for millions of pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia. The city is centered around the Prophet's Mosque, which was built by the Prophet himself and is also where he is buried. The first stop is to the International Fair and the Museum of the Prophet's Biography and Islamic Civilization which is located right in the area of the Holy Mosque. The group will see the outside as non-Muslims are not allowed in the mosque. Next we walk along Qiba Street which connects the two mosques, the Holy Mosque and the Qiba Mosque which both have significant importance in Islamic history. That same street can be used as a jumping off point to find food and souvenirs later after the tour.

Today, go a bit more local. Start by taking the high speed train from Medina to Jeddah. In Jeddah we explore the corniche where locals go to cool off and share favourite foods. Then head into the old city and experience what the Jeddah looked like only 50 years ago. End the visit of the old town by tasting some truly local Jeddah specialties. Hop on a train this morning from Medina to Jeddah. After lunch on the corniche, where you might want to try the Saudi version of KFC known as Al Baik, the group will go on a city tour of Jeddah. Stop at the most famous monuments, like the world’s tallest flag pole, fountain, and open air museum. Then, go towards the beach to see the floating mosque and the waterfront. End the day exploring Jedda’s Historical Old City, Al Balad. Which was founded in the 7th century and historically served as the center of Jeddah, another UNESCO World Heritage site. End the visit of the old town by tasting some local specialties. Then, take advantage of free time in the evening to walk along the waterfront and grab a bite to eat for you final night in Saudi Arabia.

Included Experiences

• Al Balad Tour: Today we explore Al Balad as locals call it which means “ the town” a reference to the oldest part of Jeddah. Founded in the 7th century and historically the center of Jeddah. Al-Balad's defensive walls were torn down in the 1940s. In the 1970s and 1980s, when Jeddah began to become wealthier due to the oil boom, many Jeddawis moved north, away from Al-Balad. Today because it was preserved, it is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The old buildings have a unique architectural style, and window and door designs. As we wanders around the narrow streets your guide will explain how merchants used to sell their goods and how pilgrims used to get their supplies of cloth and food before they headed to Makkah through the Makkah Gate. See the first school built in Saudi Arabia and visit one of the art houses and museum, offering its unique local art collection and antiques. Stop and try some very local delicacies and sample a local drink made of bread “Sobia”. Then, stop for rest in one of the local coffee open air places and try famous local tea mixed with milk and herbs.
• Jeddah City Tour: After some free time to grab lunch at one of the local spots on the Corniche, get to know the city of Jeddah more. Make some short stops at famous monuments like the world's tallest flag pole, or the world's tallest fountain and the open air museum. See the floating mosque down near the water and close to the beach. Walk along the sand before finishing the tour
• Train: Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.

Depart at any time.