New Year's in Wadi Rum

Once you arrive in Amman you are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to spend at your leisure.

Today we tour Jerash, arguably the world's best-preserved Roman provincial city with whisper-perfect acoustics in the South Theatre, chariot-wheel marks in the paving stones of the Cardo and an exciting chariot race in the 2,000-year-old Hippodrome. Drive to Umm Qais (Biblical Gadara) to visit a dramatic black-basalt Roman Decapolis city, featuring great views over the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights.

Later this evening, we head out for a meal and a stroll along Rainbow Street to experience modern Amman with its hip bars, rooftop restaurants, art studios, bookshops and curious. (B/D)

Today we tour the citadel and Archaeological Museum of Amman before we take a walk through the bustling local souk to enjoy typical Jordanian street treats of falafel and hummus at the country's most popular local street stand. As the pictures on the wall will prove, the unglamorous food stand was a great favourite of the late King Hussein.

Leaving Amman we'll stop first at Mt. Nebo, the site from which Moses saw the Promised Land. Having led the Israelites for 40 years through the wilderness, Moses finally saw them from this impressive vantage point. This amazing panorama includes the Jordan River Valley, the Dead Sea, Jericho and the spires and domes of the Mt. of Olives and Bethlehem on the Judean Hills just across the wide valley. Later, we visit Madaba en route to Petra where we see the Church of St George, the Madaba Archaeological Park, Apostles Church and Madaba Museum.

Our next port of call is Um ar-Rasas, one of Jordan's World Heritage sites and once an important stop on the busy caravan routes. The impressive mosaic floor of the St. Stephen Church features medallions commemorating all the early Christian pilgrimage sites of the region, and the extensive ruins also include one of the area's earliest Stylite towers, where a Byzantine hermit lived atop the tower and preached to the pilgrimage visitors. (B)

Begin the day with a walk through the mysterious mile-long Siq, the narrow gorge with towering sandstone walls which leads into the ancient capital city of the Nabatean trading empire. Explore the Khazneh (the temple of Indiana Jones fame), Theatre, colonnaded street and museum. After lunch, climb to ad-Deir (the Monastery), Petra's largest carved façade. Consider the Petra by Night excursion available to book locally (approx. USD$45), for a tantalizing candlelight stroll through Petra's Siq. Please note, this optional tour is only available Sunday - Thursday. (B)

This morning we have the opportunity to join our guide for a return visit to Petra, along the “secret way” of al-Madras, with visits to the High Place of Sacrifice and Wadi Farasa. At mid-day we'll make a stop in the Wadi Musa souk to pick up shawarma sandwiches and fruit and veggie snacks from the local produce souk before making the scenic drive to Wadi Rum. We board our after 4x4 jeeps and tour the moonscape desert terrain, arriving to our remote camp site, deep in the heart of the Wadi Rum Protected Area.

See out the old year at a Bedouin NY party featuring folkloric dancing, Bedouin musicians, hands-on demonstrations of traditional Bedouin coffee and bread making, fireworks and more….along with a lavish buffet dinner and champagne toast at midnight. (B/D)

Happy New Year! After breakfast at our campsite on day 6, we head north along the Desert Highway to visit Shobak Castle, which is perched dramatically on a hill top and was built by the Crusader King Baldwin I in 1115. After exploring the castle we descend some 1300 meters to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the earth's surface. More than 400 meters below sea level, the mineral-rich Dead Sea is the world's original health and beauty spa. Bob in the waters and slap on some of the famous black Dead Sea mud to give your skin an invigorating boost.

Day 7 is free to further relax and pamper yourself at the Dead Sea. Enjoy this natural phenomena, whiling away the time bobbing in the mineral rich buoyant waters and lathering up with a detoxifying mud bath. (Bx2)

Hotel check out and included onward transfer to the airport in Amman. Departure transfers are offered on day 8 at 23:00 (evening of day 7), 04:00, 07:00, 09:00, 12:00 and 16:00. If you would like a departure transfer at any other time or a transfer with post tour accommodation this can be arranged, please enquire.

If you have extra time and wish to head back to Amman, why not book our 2 day end in Amman add on? Perfect for those who wish to spend more time in Jordan's ancient capital, Amman. (B)