No visit to Jordan is complete without including its greatest legacy, Petra, which has been declared one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. This ancient rock-hewn city never fails to inspire and there are various walks around the site that reveal hundreds of buildings and tombs. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience Petra by Candlelight, when the Siq, the narrow entrance gorge and the Treasury are lit with thousands of candles.
North of Amman lie the ruins of the Roman city of Jerash, with its wide colonnaded streets and amphitheatre. In the huge hippodrome there are displays of Roman army drills and battle tactics featuring legionaries in full armour and a re-enactment of a classical chariot race.
Travel along the King’s Way, stopping at Madaba, from where you can see the famous Byzantine mosaic map of the region, and Mount Nebo, from where Moses is said to have stood and looked to the Promised Land.
East of Amman are Jordan’s desert castles, beautiful examples of early Islamic art and architecture. With their fine mosaics, frescoes and isolated locations, they can be visited as a day trip from the capital. Qasr Amra, one of the best preserved, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its interior walls and ceilings are covered with colourful frescoes. Qasr Kharaneh, Qasr Al-Tuba and Qasr Al-Hallabat have also been restored and are all in excellent condition. The black basalt fort of Qasr Al-Azraq has stood since Roman times and was the headquarters of Lawrence of Arabia during the Arab Revolt.