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Travel with expert lecturer and archaeologist Dr Konstantine Politis, who discovered and excavated the biblical sites of Lot’s Cave and Zoara. He also initiated and set up the Museum at the Lowest Place on Earth. Jordan is one of history’s crossroads and battlegrounds, and this tour encompasses the entire range of its heritage and culture.
Fly from London (regional connections available) to Amman with Royal Jordanian Airways. Transfer to the Boulevard Arjaan Hotel (or similar) for 3 nights. (N)
Day 2: Amman - Desert castlesExplore the ancient citadel of Amman, visit the early Islamic Umayyad Palace, the Graeco-Roman Temple of Hercules, Byzantine churches and see sweeping views across the city. Visit the Archaeological Museum, housing important finds spanning over 100,000 years. Then drive to the eastern desert, passing Umayyad Qasr Kharana and seeing the hunting lodge of Qasr Amra with recently-restored wall paintings. Continue to Azraq oasis, seeing a Roman fort rebuilt in the 13th century and later used by TE Lawrence during the Arab Revolt, and the impressive Wetlands Reserve. Return to Amman via the new highway and Qasr Al-Hallabat. (B, D)
Day 3: JerashDrive north through the hills of biblical Gilead to Jerash, one of the best-preserved provincial Graeco-Roman cities in the Near East. Walk through magnificent monumental arches, sprawling oval piazza, colonnaded streets, temples, theatres and Byzantine churches. Then on to visit Umm Qais, ancient Gadara where Jesus performed the swine miracle, then drive down to the Jordan valley with stunning view of Golan Heights overlooking the Sea of Galilee, finally returning to Amman. (B, L)
Day 4: Mount Nebo - Madaba - ShobakDrive to Mount Nebo, from where Moses viewed the Promised Land and see where early Christians built the Memorial Church of Moses adorned with beautiful floor mosaics. Drive to Madaba on the biblical Kingfs Highway, a city with many Byzantine mosaics. Visit the Greek Orthodox Church of St George which contains the famous sixth-century mosaic map of the Holy Land, then the Church of the Virgin complex. On to biblical Mefafat at Umm ar-Rasas, a town at the edge of the desert with a dozen churches and important mosaics. Continue to the crusader castle of Monreal at Shobak, built in 12th century by King Baldwin I of Jerusalem but later conquered by Saladin, then rebuilt. Drive to Petra and stay 3 nights at the Mövenpick Resort Petra (or similar). (B, D)
Day 5: PetraA full-day’s exploration of Petra, the remote desert stronghold of the Nabataean Arabs who created a city in their sandstone valleys, unique in the ancient world. Walk through the Siq, the narrow gorge leading to the Treasury, a magnificent Hellenistic-style rock-cut tomb facade. Continue past the theatre, carved out of solid sandstone, to see other sepulchres, temples and churches. After lunch, take an optional visit to Ad Deir, the largest tomb in Petra overlooking Wadi Araba, the deepest part of the Great Rift Valley. Evening stroll down the Siq illuminated by atmospheric candlelight. (B, L, D)
Day 6: Wadi RumMorning drive to Wadi Rum, the spectacular desert made up of vast valleys and towering sandstone peaks, which was the original base of the Great Arab Revolt (1917-1918) and where Lawrence of Arabia, Red Planet and The Martian films were shot. Visit Lawrence’s spring and see ancient graffiti with animal depictions. Picnic lunch at a Bedouin camp. Return to Petra to see a new museum there.* (B, L)
Day 7: Little Petra - Sanctuary of Lot - The Dead SeaMorning visit to the lesser-known Little Petra at Beidah, passing the crusader castle at Wu’eira and a prehistoric settlement. Continue through spectacular mountain scenery down to Wadi Araba and the shores of the Dead Sea. Stop at Safi to see the first medieval sugar factory and the Ottoman fort attacked by the Arab Legion with Lawrence in 1918. Then climb up to the Sanctuary of Lot, venerating the cave where Lot and his daughters took refuge from the destruction of Sodom. Below, visit the Museum at the Lowest Place on Earth, which explains the unique human and environmental history of the Dead Sea. Drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to the Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea (or similar) for 2 nights. (B, D)
Day 8: The Dead SeaAt leisure to swim in the Dead Sea with use the resort’s spa and facilities. Optional excursion to the site where Jesus is believed to have been baptised in the Jordan river and/or the Dead Sea Panorama Complex, which describes the geology of the region. (B, D)
Day 9: Fly to LondonMorning transfer to Amman airport and fly direct to London Heathrow with Royal Jordanian Airways. (B)
Meal basis: As per itinerary . B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.
TOUR EXTENSIONS
Tour + the Dead Sea 3 days & 2 nights from £245
Extension starts on day 8 of tour Extend your stay at the Movenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea for 2 nights and take advantage of a range of spa treatments and peaceful surroundings. Includes airport transfer.
Alternative pre- or post-tour extensions are also available to Amman, Aqaba and Jerusalem. Please speak to a Cox & Kings travel consultant for further details.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Arts & Culture tours: A collection of expert-accompanied tours focusing on creativity in its many forms. All tours are open to everyone and can be viewed at CoxandKings.co.uk/art
Expert-led tour: This tour is fully escorted throughout by the lecturer, as well as an experienced local tour manager.
Superior tour: This tour is based in 4- and 5-star accommodation.
Accessibility: This tour involves walking over rough terrain and bumpy drives in the desert. At Petra, visiting the Monastery requires a steep climb of 800 rock-cut steps.
Private visits: Please note that the exclusive and individual nature of private visits means that they are subject to confirmation nearer the time of departure. Mosques, private houses and other buildings often have fluid opening times. If any visits have to be rearranged, please be assured that we will seek alternatives of equal interest.
* Note: There are limited facilities on day 6, when most of the day will be spent in the desert.
The Boulevard Arjaan by Rotana is conveniently located in the new downtown area of Amman, with the Temple of Hercules and the Roman Corinthian columns just a few kilometres away. The property offers a range of luxurious accommodation from studio apartments to four-bedroom penthouses. The hotel has a contemporary Italian restaurant with an outdoor terrace.Features: 391 apartments, 2 restaurants, 2 rooftop pools, gym, Wi-Fi.<br>Room amenities: Television, safe, bathrobes, hairdryer, kitchenette, tea & coffee facilities.
JCC2022
Vaccination Travel Policy
All clients must be fully vaccinated before travelling with us on a Cox & Kings (C&K)
group tour. This means that a customer must have received their full two doses of the
COVID‑19 vaccination at least 14 days before travelling with us. This does not apply
to our private tours or tailor-made travel. If you have any questions please call us
or visit our FAQs page on our website here
Flexible Prices & Itineraries
For a quote based on alternative accommodation standards or flight options, or to tailor this
itinerary, please call 020 7873 5000
or
send an email enquiry
Guaranteed Departures Where a tour date has ‘yes’ listed, this tour is guaranteed to run.
For all other departure dates, once the minimum number of people booked has been reached, this tour is also guaranteed to run. Our sales consultants will be able to advise how many people are booked for your chosen date at the time of enquiry, giving you the confidence to book safe in the knowledge your tour will go ahead.
Terms & Conditions Guaranteed departures will run except in the circumstances where travel to the destination is advised against by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or entry restrictions relating to COVID-19 preclude travel.
Additional InformationPlease call 020 7873 5000 for more information or to make a booking.
Prices above are per person in pounds sterling (£), based on two people sharing a twin-room. The prices which were valid at the time of publication, may be subject to change, particularly as a result of variable flight costs. You will be informed of any such changes prior to booking.
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