Jordan
TOURIST GUIDE
Company Profile As a leading Destination Management Company (DMC) in the region, no one knows the secrets of Arabia better than Desert Adventures. We offer you the best insight view of the most traditional, charming and modern places of the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Jordan, Qatar and the Kingdom of Bahrain. Desert Adventures is part of The Kuoni Group, which was named World’s Leading Tour Operator at the Annual World Travel Awards for eleven years in a row. The company employs over 170 dedicated and multilingual staff from
28 different nationalities servicing thousands of happy travelers daily. We, at Desert Adventures, strongly believe in importance of sustainable tourism, and thus we act responsibly towards the environment and society in our destination. We are determined to continue our mission to deliver personalized, reliable and highquality professional services to all our guests, and to follow our vision to showcase Arabia, as one of the most exciting destinations in the world.
Jordan at a Glance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–21 Daily Excursions and Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 BABLICAL TOURS Madaba-City of Mosaics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Mount Nebo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Bethany beyond the Jordan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 HISTORICAL TOURS Petra, a Rose-Red City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Little Petra-Beidha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Petra by Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Jerash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Ajloun Castle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Amman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Pella . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Shobak-Crusader castle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Umm Qays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 The Desert Castles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 The Fortress of Kerak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
NATURE TOURS Azraq Wetland Reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Wadi Feynan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Wadi Rum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Mujib Nature Reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Dana Biosphere Reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 LEISURE & WELLNESS TOURS Jordan Valley & Dead Sea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Hammamat Ma’een . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Aqaba, Jordan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
GENERAL INFORMATION
Jordan at a glance
Capital Official language Area Population Time zone
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Amman Arabic & English as a second language 89342 km2 6,4 millions GMT +2
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which once captivated ancient travelers, continues to enthrall a whole new generation as a modern, vibrant nation. From the haunting, primeval starkness of Wadi Rum, to the teeming center of urban Amman; from the majestic ruins of bygone civilizations to the timeless splendor of the Dead Sea and to the world wonder of Petra , Jordan is unveiled, as a unique destination offering breathtaking and mysterious sights, high standard accommodations, exquisite cuisine and countless activities, that can provide visitors with inspiration, motivation, and rejuvenation. Marveling at herds of gazelles and Oryx and migrating birds, camping amidst the grandeur of Wadi Rum or Dana Reserve,
trekking the ancient caravan trails from the highlands of Moab and Edom, hiking the wooded hills of biblical Gilead, or experiencing the unique, cleansing mud baths of the Dead Sea are just a few examples of the treasures awaiting visitors to this unique kingdom. The new stream of luxury hotels emerging in Amman, Petra, Aqaba and the Dead Sea is just adding quality to a refined product that is distinct, accessible and friendly. A product that is home to a new display of modern meeting facilities and unique venues for incentive travel.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Airports & Borders In Jordan
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Airports: Jordan has three airports: • most visitors arrive via Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA), 30 minutes distant from Amman city. • Marka Airport mainly serves as a regional airport. • King Hussein International Airport (KHIA) is located, in Aqaba approximately a 45 minutes flight from Amman. Border Crossings: Jordan shares borders with Israel and the Palestine Territories in the west, Syria in the north, Iraq and Saudi Arabia in the north and south. Between Syria - Jordan, you can cross two borders Jaber or Ramtha. Jaber is 80 kms away from Amman and more popular for visitors. Both borders are open 24/7 throughout the year.
Three border existing between Israel/ Palestine – Jordan: • The Allenby/King Hussein Bridge, 57 kms away from Amman, is open Sun - Thu 08:00 – 20:00 for arrivals and 8:00 to 14:00 for departures and Fri - Sat 08:00 – 13:00. It is not possible to obtain here a visa to Jordan. The border is closed on Yom Kippur and the Feast of Sacrifice (Eid al Adha). Buildings, shopping malls, hotels, office towers, banks, hospitals, schools, apartments and villas. • The Sheikh Hussein Crossing/Jordan River Terminal in the north, 90 kms away from Amman, is open Sun - Thu: 06:30 – 21:00, FriSat: 08:00 – 20:00. It is closed on Yom Kippur and the Islamic New Year.
• The Wadi Araba Crossing/South Border, 7 kms away from Aqaba, operates Sun – Thu 06:30 – 20:00 and Fri – Sat 08:00 – 20:00. Wadi Araba Crossing closes on Islamic New Year and Yom Kippur. No land border connects Egypt - Jordan, but between the two countries daily ferries are operating. There is the boat service from Nuweibah to Aqaba Port, and another from Taba to Aqaba. The border between Iraq - Jordan is called Al Karamah Border Crossing, 331 kms away from Amman. There are three border crossings Saudi Arabia - Jordan, open 24/7 throughout the year: Umari and Mudawara Border as well as the Durra Crossing, close to Aqaba.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Reliîˆ˝on & Language
Islam is the official religion of Jordan. The Quran is the Holy Book containing revealed to the Prophet Mohammed by the Angel Gabriel. Other religions such as Christianity is widely practiced and respected in Jordan. The official language of Jordan is Arabic, but English is widely spoken and understood, with both languages being commonly used in business and commerce.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
A brief list of Do’s and Don’ts to help visitors fit in with the local culture. Do’s •Do shake hands when meeting people, conservative veiled women may not reach out. •Do stand up when greeting others. •When finished with your cup of Arabic coffee, do shake your cup from side to side in order to let your host know that you do not wish to drink more. If more coffee is desired, then simply hold your cup out to the person carrying the coffeepot. •Do accept when Arabic coffee is offered to you by your host, as coffee is an important cultural symbol of hospitality, simultaneously extended and accepted as an act of reciprocated goodwill. •Do carry plenty of loose change with you, as many Jordanians usually do not carry adequate change. •Do tip waiters approximately 10% gratuity in addition to the bill (unless service charge is included within the total bill). •Do round your taxi fare up to the nearest tenth when paying your driver. •Do haggle with merchants when shopping. •Do dress conservatively when exploring public areas of Jordan. •Do be aware that Arabs tend to stand a fraction of the distance closer when conversing than people do in the West. •Do feel free to consume alcoholic beverages, but not in outside public areas.
Local customs
Don’ts •Don’t interrupt, or pass in front of, a Muslim who may be praying in a public place. •Don’t openly consume food, beverages, or cigarettes in public places during the holy month of Ramadan. •Don’t dress provocatively when walking outdoors. •Don’t panic if an acquaintance “pecks” you on the cheeks when greeting you, as Arabs have traditionally kissed each other on both cheeks, as a warm gesture of welcome and affection. •Don’t feel uncomfortable, if your host insists on “over feeding” you during a meal, as Arabs traditionally view food as an important symbol of hospitality, generosity, and goodwill – the more the better! •Don’t feel that you are required to tip your taxi 10 driver, as tipping in such a scenario is not necessary.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Useful numbers
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• Dial 199 to call Paramedics if you need urgent medical care. • Dial 199 to call Firefighters in case of a fire. • Dial 191 if you are getting pick-pocketed, robbed or harassed in any way. • Dial 191 if you have any complaints about the personnel of touristic sites and hotels. • Dial 190 in case of road accident or any problems related to traffic. • Dial 194 in case of any problems that happen to you while on the highways. HOW CAN I KEEP IN TOUCH? The country has an excellent telecommunications infrastructure including three mobile networks, you can even buy prepaid GSM cards. You will also find Internet facilities in major hotels and in the form of Internet cafés in virtually all cities. Besides Arabic newspapers,
there is an excellent daily English-language newspaper, the Jordan Times. Major hotels also offer a wide variety of foreign newspapers and magazines. Telephone. To call Jordan, you have to dial: + 962 + City Area Code + Number you wish to call. The area code for Amman is 06, though if you are calling from outside Jordan you just dial 6 The following is a list of area codes in Jordan • Ajloun, Irbid, Jerash, Mafraq, Ramtha 02 • Balqa, Madaba, Salt, Zarqa 05 • Aqaba, Kerak, Ma’an, Tafila, Petra, Wadi Rum 03 • Amman, Abu Allanda 06 • Mobile Phones – Zain 79 • Mobile Phones – Orange 77 • Mobile Phones 78
GENERAL INFORMATION
Taxi
Taxis are inexpensive and often the most convenient form of transportation in Jordan, even over substantial distances, such as the trip between Amman and Aqaba.
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The white-painted “service taxis” ride fixed routes and are shared. Private taxis are painted yellow; they can be taken from ranks outside larger hotels, or hailed in the street. Taxis have meters, but these are not always used at night, so it is advisable to agree the cost beforehand. The same applies on long journeys. Taxi drivers are friendly, know the city well, and usually speak English. It is considered appropriate for a woman to sit
in the back of the taxi. Tipping isn’t compulsory, but it is customary to add about 200 fils to the price on the meter
GENERAL INFORMATION
Getting around
Amman and other cities are relatively small, and most places of interest, hotels and restaurants are well known. Street addresses are rarely used (mail is delivered only to post office boxes located at neighborhood post office centers and only the larger street names are well known. When giving directions, therefore, people will usually tell you the area, or a nearby landmark (a large hotel, ministry building or supermarket, for example) and will start instructions from there. This works more efficiently than it sounds. Amman itself is built on seven hills, or jabals, each of which more or less defines a neighborhood.
Many jabals once had a traffic circle (roundabout) at their peak, and although most of the circles have now been replaced by traffic lights, the junctions are still known as 1st Circle, 2nd Circle.. 8th Circle. Other Amman neighborhoods were once separate villages, now taken over by the expanding city. One final word.. if you’re having trouble finding your way, don’t hesitate to ask a passerby, most people will be delighted to help, and in some cases, they’ll even jump in your car and direct 14 you to your destination! 15
GENERAL INFORMATION
Embassies/consulates in Jordan
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Australian Austria Azerbaijan Belgium Bosnia Canada Chinese Croatia Czech Republic Finland France Georgia Germany Greece India Indonesia Ireland Israel
+962 6 5807000 +962 6 460 11 01 +962 6 593 55 25 +962 79 552 7638 +962 6 585 6 921 +962 6 520 3300 +962 6 551 6136 +962 7 9559 9393 +962 6 592 7051 +962 6 582 4607 +962 6 460 4630 +962 6 560 3793 +962 6 593 03 +962 6 592 27245 +962 6 462 2098 +962 6 592 6908 +962 6 551 6807 +962 6 550 3500
Italy Kazakhstan Malaysia Netherlands Spain Philippines Russia Ukraine USA UK
+962 6 463 8185 +962 6 592 79 53 +962 6 590 2400 +962 6 590 2200 +962 6 461 4166 +962 6 592 3748 +962 6 464 11 58 +962 6 592 2402 +962 6 590 6000 +962 6 590 9200
GENERAL INFORMATION
Airlines in Jordan
Austrian +962 6 5660449/5692700 Aeroflot +962 6 5663150 Arabian airlines +962 6 5603666 Alitalia +962 6 4625200 Air France +962 6 5100771/4451940 British Airways +962 6 5828801 Cyprus Airways +962 6 5696719 Canadian +962 6 4630879 Delta airlines +962 6 4643661 Emirates +962 6 4615597/4615571/4615222 Etihad airlines +962 6 4680100 Egypt airlines +962 6 4639119 Gulf airline +962 6 4653613/4653621/4653618 Iberia airline +962 6 4625197/4641392/4641391 KLM +962 6 4655267 Lufthansa +962 6 5200180 MEA +962 6 4603500
Olympic Air (creek) +962 6 5664871 Oman air +962 6 5004450 Qatar airlines +962 6 5679444 P.M.I +962 6 5548951 Royal Jordanian +962 6 5678168/5202000 Romanian +962 6 5620760/4615597/4615571/4615222 Turkish +962 6 4641710/4659112/4659102 United +962 6 5518158 Ukrainian +962 6 5512952/5541892
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Frequently asked questions about Jordan and its local traditions
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WHEN ARE THE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS? All tourist sites and many businesses are open on most holidays, but government offices and banks close. Friday and Saturday are the official weekend days, although all tourist sites and many businesses are open on Saturday as well. Most Jordanian holidays are based on the Islamic religious calendar, and so they vary by about two weeks every year depending on the lunar calendar. During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, so it would be prudent if you try to be respectful and not consume drinks, food and cigarettes outside of restaurants and tourist sites. WHAT TIME IS IT IN JORDAN? Standard time zone GMT +2 WHAT’S THE VOLTAGE? The electricity is 220 volts, so bring along a transformer if you need one DO I HAVE TO TIP? Tipping is not compulsory, but is expected. WHAT ABOUT THE FOOD AND DRINK?
Eating is the most popular national pastime hence the Jordanian cuisine is quite refined. Most hotels offer continental breakfast and buffet dinner with a choice of western and Arabic foods. Restaurants at sites usually offer traditional Arabic food or buffet lunches. In the major cities you’ll also find international restaurants, including McDonald’s, Burger King and other healthy restaurants! You are allowed to consume alcoholic drinks freely. DO TOURISTS HAVE TO PAY TAXES ON HOTEL BILLS? Yes, they do. 22% consisting of service charge and municipality tax are always added to either hotel and restaurant bills. VISITING JORDAN WITH KIDS? There are plenty of activities for kids, especially if you are going during the summer. From visiting Petra, to floating in the Dead Sea or camping in Wadi RUM, these activities are family-friendly and will not bore the children.
If you are staying in Amman, you can find horse riding, children’s museums and parks to keep the young ones entertained. WHAT’S THE OFFICIAL CURRENCY? The Jordanian Dinar (JD) is divided into 1,000 fils, although many people refer to piasters. One piaster equals 10 fils, so there are 100 piasters in a dinar. Notes: 5, 10 and 20 and 50 dinars. Coins: 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250 fils, 1/2 and 1 dinar. US$1 = JD 0.708 (JD IS PEGGED TO THE US$) You will get the best exchange rate at exchange shops and banks, although the banks at the borders and in the airports charge a small commission. If you carry Travellers checks, you will be charged a commission ranging from JD 3 to JD 8 even at a bank, sometimes for each check, so carry larger denominations. Hotels will charge a premium for changing money, so try to avoid this. All Banks are closed on Fridays and Saturdays, though some exchange shops remain open. WHAT’S THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE? Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken throughout the Kingdom. Most road signs are in English. WHAT’S THE WEATHER LIKE? Jordan has a long and pleasant spring and fall, from March through May and from September through November. Rain occasionally falls from December to April. The summer months are hot, but with little humidity. In the Jordan Valley, around the Dead Sea and in Aqaba on the Red 18 Sea the winters are pleasant.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Frequently asked questions about Jordan and its local traditions
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IS IT SAFE? The first thing you will notice when you arrive to Jordan is that the people are very warm and welcoming to tourists. You will be pleasantly surprised by the sense of security you will find in Jordan- it is one of the safest places to travel in the world. Jordan maintains good relations with ALL of its neighbors, and is truly an oasis of peace in this region. The country is fairly liberal, westernized, and alcohol is freely available IS ALCOHOL ALLOWED? Most hotels and restaurants offer a wide range of alcoholic beverages, with excellent selection of local wine and beer. HOW SHOULD I DRESS? When planning your clothing needs (particularly women), remember that you will be travelling to the Muslim county. Clothes should not be revealing. For example: women and men can
wear shorts, though it’s preferable for women to avoid wearing them while walking in Amman’s city center. By following above guidelines, you will feel more relaxed. Make sure you bring with you comfortable walking shoes, a hat and sun block. The weather is usually warm in summer, but winters can be very cold, evenings are cool year round, so bring adequate warm clothing with you. If you were sleeping in the desert then you would need a warm sweater and Jacket even in summer POSTAL SERVICE As well as post offices, most 4 and 5-star hotels offer postal services. Post office opening hours are: Summer: Sat-Thurs 0700-1900, Fri 0700-1300 Winter: Sat-Thurs 0700-1700, Fri 0700-1300 There are also a number of international courier services, including DHL, FedEx, TNT International, UPS, etc.
CREDIT CARDS Credit cards are accepted at hotels, restaurants and larger shops, including American Express, Visa, Diners Club, and MasterCard. Please note that many smaller shops still prefer cash payment in the Jordanian currency, and it’s essential for shopping in the local souks.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Daily Excursions & Activities
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Experience unmatched tourism services featuring magnificent world heritage sites such as : • Petra by Night • The Desert of Wadi Rum • Jerash • Ajloun • Um Qays • The Fortress of Kerak • Madaba • Bethany (Baptism Site) beyond the Jordan • Jordan valley & the Dead Sea • Petra - the new 7th World Wonder • Mount Nebo • Amman • The Desert Castles • Shobak - Crusader castle • Ajloun Castle • Hammamat (Hot Springs) Ma’een, and many more
Desert adventures offers some of the most out-of-the-ordinary Jordan tours and vacations. Many of the Jordan tour packages feature unique opportunities pertaining to Jordan tourism, that you are not likely to find anywhere else.
• 3days & 2Nights • 4days & 3Nights • 5days & 4Nights • 6days & 5Nights • 7days & 6Nights • 8days & 7Nights • 9days & 9Nights • 10days & 9Nights Jordan has a lot to offer to its visitors. Our itineraries are carefully planned to maximize your clients’ available time while incorporating more than the obvious points of interest, adding elements of surprise and hidden treasures found well off the beaten path.
We also ensure that your clients have time to relax and enjoy the beauty and diversity of our country. We believe that Jordan is the ultimate unique destination, and we strive to show it in its true colors. We only use fluent, knowledgeable, handpicked certified guides and choose the safest, most reliable drivers and transport companies.
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BIBLICAL TOURS
Madaba - Fragment of the past are revealed in and around this famous City of Mosaics
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Just 30 kilometers from Amman, along the 5,000-year-old Kings´ Highway, is one of the most memorable places in the Holy Land. After passing through a string of ancient sites, the first city you reach is Madaba, known as the “City of Mosaics”. Best known for its spectacular Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics, Madaba is home to the famous 6th century Mosaic Map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. With two million pieces of vividly colored local stone, it depicts hills and valleys, villages and towns as far as the Nile Delta. The Madaba Mosaic Map covers the floor of the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, which is located northwest of the city Centre. The church was built in 1896 AD, over the remains of a much earlier 6th century Byzantine church. The mosaic panel enclosing the Map was originally around
15.6 X 6m, 94 square meters, only about a quarter of which is preserved. Other mosaic masterpieces found in the church of the Virgin and the Apostles and in the Archaeological Museum, depict a rampant profusion of flowers and plants, birds and fish, animals and exotic beasts, as well as scenes from mythology and the everyday pursuits of hunting, fishing and farming. Literally, hundreds of other mosaics from the 5th through the 7th centuries are scattered throughout Madaba’s churches and homes. In line with Jordan’s commitment to restoring and preserving its mosaic masterpieces, Madaba’s extensive archaeological Park and Museum complex encompasses the remains of several Byzantine churches, including the outstanding mosaics of the Church of the Virgin and the Hyppolytus Hall, part of a 6th century mansion.
BIBLICAL TOURS
From Mount Nebo’s windswept promontory, overlooking the Dead Sea, the Jordan River Valley, Jericho and the distant hills of Jerusalem, Moses viewed the Holy Land of Canaan that he would never enter. He died and was buried in Moab, “in the valley opposite Beth-peor”. His tomb remains unknown. After consulting the Oracle, Jeremiah reportedly hid the Ark of the Covenant, the Tent and the Altar of Incense at Mount Nebo. Mount Nebo became a place of pilgrimage for early Christians from Jerusalem and a small church was built there in the 4th century to commemorate the end of Moses’ life. Some of the stones from that church remain in their original place in the wall around the apse area. The church was subsequently expanded in the 5th and 6th centuries into the present-day large basilica with its stunning collection of Byzantine mosaics.The serpentine Cross, which stands just outside the sanctuary, is symbolic of the bronze (or brazen) serpent taken by Moses into the desert and the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.
Mount Nebo
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BIBLICAL TOURS
Bethany beyond the Jordan
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Less than two kilometers east of the Jordan River is an important place associated with the lives of Jesus and John the Baptist (pbut) - the settlement of Bethany, where John lived and baptized. John 1:28 refer to it as “Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing”. In John 10:40 it is mentioned as the place to which Jesus fled for safety after being threatened with stoning in Jerusalem: “Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days”. This settlement beyond the Bethany has recently been identified on the south bank of the small perennials stream named Wadi Kharrar, just east of the Jordan River and opposite Jericho. It is being excavated, protected, and made accessible for visitors. The small natural hill forming the core of Bethany is called Elijah’s Hill, or Tell Mar Elias in Arabic. Local tradition for
thousands of years has identified it as the place from where Elijah ascended to heaven. Bethany’s ancient remains include structures from the first century settlement of John the Baptist, including large plastered pools with steps for full immersion, and the 5th - 6th century remains of the Byzantine period settlement called Ainon or Saphsaphas and depicted on the 6th century Madabaa mosaic map of the holy land. When Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness after his baptism (Mark 1:12), he had been in the stark, desolate marl area immediately east of Jordan River and north of Bethany. He spread his message throughout Transjordan on several different occasions, including during his last journey from Galilee to Jerusalem (Matthew 19
HITORICAL TOURS
Petra A Rose–Red City, Half as Old as The Time
The giant red mountains and vast mausoleums of a departed race have nothing in common with modern civilization, and ask nothing of it except to be appreciated at their true value - as one of the greatest wonders ever wrought by Nature and Man. Although much has been written about Petra, nothing really prepares you for this amazing place. It has to be seen to be believed. Often described as the eighth wonder of the ancient world, it is without doubt Jordan’s most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction. It is a vast, unique city, carved into the sheer rock face by the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled here more than 2000 years ago, turning it into an important junction for the silk, spice and other trade routes that linked China, India and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and entrance
to the city is through the Siq, a narrow gorge, over 1 kilometer in length, which is flanked on either side by soaring, 80 meters high cliffs. Just walking through the Siq is an experience in itself. The colors and formations of the rocks are dazzling. As you reach the end of the Siq you will catch your first glimpse of Al-Khazneh. This is an awe-inspiring experience. A massive façade, 30m wide and 43m high, carved out of the sheer, dusky pink, rock-face and dwarfing everything around it. It was carved in the early 1st century,as the tomb of an important Nabataean King and represents the engineering genius of these ancient people. 29
HITORICAL TOURS
Little Petra, Al Beidha
After Petra, Al Beidha or Little Petra is the next most important site in Wadi Musa. This site is only a few kilometers from Petra. Little Petra is literally hidden away in the center of a mountain with a classical temple standing guard outside the mini-siq. Little Petra appears to have been an important suburb of the city of Petra and is at the point where several ancient caravan routes met.
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The routes linked Wadi Araba with Gaza, Egypt and the Mediterranean coast. The Neolithic village of Beidha is located south of ‘Little Petra’ (and about 10 kilometres north of the Petra Archaeological Park) It is thought to have
been occupied from 7200BC to 6500BC, which makes it one of the first settled tvillages in human history. Around that time the settlement burned down, and was rebuild. After its reconstruction, it was only inhabited for a short while, before being totally abandonned. Remains of the houses and a retaining wall are still visible today. They are remnants of one of the first transitions from semi-settled nomads to settled villagers and the start of an agrarian economy. At the Beidha Neolithic site, you can view scientific reconstructions of what the Neolithic dwellings may have looked like.
HITORICAL TOURS
Petra by Night To visit Petra during daylight is an aweinspiring experience, to experience it at night by the light of 1,800 candles is truly an out-of-thisworld experience! Walk through the Siq to the Khazneh following a candle-lit path and enjoy the haunting music of the Bedouin at the Treasury.
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HITORICAL TOURS
Jerash, a Rome away from Rome
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The ancient city of Jerash boasts an unbroken chain of human occupation dating back more than 6,500 years. Jerash lies on a plain surrounded by hilly wooded areas and fertile basins. Conquered by General Pompey in 63 BC, it came under Roman rule and was one of the ten great Roman cities, the Decapolis League. The city’s golden age came under Roman rule, during which time it was known as Gerasa, and the site is now generally acknowledged to be one of the best preserved Roman provincial towns in the world. Hidden for centuries in sand before being excavated and restored over the past 70 years, Jerash reveals a fine example of the grand, formal provincial Roman urbanism that is found throughout the Middle East, comprising paved and colonnaded streets, soaring hilltop
temples, handsome theatres, spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains and city walls pierced by towers and gates Beneath its external Graeco - Roman veneer, Jerash also preserves a subtle blend of east and west. Its architecture, religion and languages reflect a process by which two powerful cultures meshed and coexisted, The Graeco - Roman world of the Mediterranean basin and the traditions of the Arab Orient. The modern city of Jerash can be found to the east of the ruins. While the old and new share a city wall, careful preservation and planning has seen the city itself develop well away from the ruins so there is no encroachment on the sites of old.
HITORICAL TOURS
Ajloun Castle (Qala,a El-Rabath)
Through a beautiful pine-forest and olive groves, brings you to the town of Ajloun, where Hadrian stayed over the winter of 129-30 AD, and built himself an arch well outside the town, leaving unbonded its sides for future city walls to come out to meet it. Here you will find the Castle of Ajloun or Qalaat Errabadh (Arabic for “Hilltop Castle�) from which there is a splendid view westwards into the Jordan Valley. It looks like a Crusader fortress, but it was built by Muslims in 1184-85 as a military fort and buffer to protect the region from invading Crusader forces.
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It was built on the orders of the local governor, Ezz Eddin Osama bin Munqethe, a nephew of the Ayyubid leader Salahuddin Al-Ayyoubi (Saladin), as a direct retort to the new Latin
castle of Belvoir (Kawkab El-Hawa) on the opposite side of the valley between the Tiberias and Besan, and as a base to develop and control the iron mines of Ajloun.
HITORICAL TOURS
Amman A modern city Built on the sands of time Amman, the modern and ancient capital of Jordan, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the World. The city’s modern buildings blend with the remnants of ancient civilizations. The profusion of gleaming white houses kebab stalls with roasting meat, and tiny cafes where rich Arabian coffee is sipped in the afternoon sunshine, conjure a mood straight from a thousand and one nights. Amman was known in the old testament as Rabbath-Ammon, the capital of the Ammonites around 1200 BC; it was also referred to as “The city of waters”. In Greco-Roman times in the 3rd century BC, the city was renamed Philadelphia (Greek for “The Brotherhood Love”) after the Ptolemaic ruler Philadelphus (283-246 BC).
The city later came under Seleucid as well as Nabataean rule until the Roman General Pompey annexed Syria and made Philadelphia part of the Decapolis League – a loose alliance of ten free city-states ,bound by powerful commercial, political, and cultural interests under overall allegiance to Rome.
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HITORICAL TOURS
Pella, Jordan
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Magnificently set in a fold of the hills that rise from the Jordan Valley 78 km north of Amman, Pella; known in Arabic as Tabaqat Fahl; is one of the most ancient sites in Jordan and a favorite of archaeologists being exceptionally rich in antiquities. It is perfectly situated, for there is a spring here which issues into a small river and never runs dry. The tell itself seems
to have been continuously occupied since Neolithic times for some flints from this period have been found there; and some recent finds 2 km north of the tell even date t Paleolithic times, around 100,000 years ago.
HITORICAL TOURS
Shobak-Crusader castle
The castle is perched on top of a small hill northeast of the town of Shobak. Inside the fortress there are two churches, the first of which is to the left of the entrance and up the stairs. There are ruins of baths, cisterns and rainwater pipes, in addition to millstones for pressing olives, a few archways and other works which have stood test of time. The caretaker can point out a shaft from which a set of stairs cut into the rock leads down to a spring below the castle. The shaft has 375 steps
and is one of the deepest wells ever cut by Crusader forces. A side road leads to the castle from the King’s Highway about two kilometers north of Shobak village. From there it is another four kilometers to the castle.
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HITORICAL TOURS
Umm Qays
Situated 110 km north of Amman on a broad promontory 378 meters above sea level with a magnificent view over the Yarmouk River, the Golan Heights, and Lake Tiberias, this town was known as Gadara, one of the most brilliant ancient Greco-Roman cities of the Decapolis; and according to the Bible, the spot where Jesus (pbuh) cast out the Devil from two demoniacs (mad men) into a herd of pigs (Mathew 8:28-34).
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Archaeological surveys indicate that Gadara was occupied as early as the 7th century BC. The Greek historian, Polybius, described the region as being under Ptolemaic control at the time. The Seleucid ruler Antiochus III conquered it in 218 BC, naming the city Antiochia and Seleucia. In 63 BC, Pompey liberated Gadara and joined it to the Roman league of ten cities, the Decapolis
HITORICAL TOURS
The Desert Castles
The Desert Castles, which were built mostly under the Umayyad’s (661-750 AD), stand as an evidence to the beginnings of Arab architectural civilization. They are located east of Amman, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Different assumptions were made about the main function of these original monuments of early Islamic art; residences, weekend cottages, caravanserais, or hunting lodges for the Omayyad rulers, they were also used as the domain of Omayyad princes in the 8th Century. One of the other possibilities of their use is that they used them to control the path from Damascus to Mecca. The areas where they were built are for the most part flat and the castles are made of a mixture of lava, sandstone, limestone and basalt stones. The closest is al Kharranah, which is about an hour’s drive from Amman.
The next one is Amra Castle, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the last castle in the northeast is Al Azraq castle which is located in the town of Azraq, 20 minutes away from the previous castle. Other castles are scattered throughout the country and almost all have interesting elements of architecture and mystique.
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HITORICAL TOURS
The Fortress of Kerak
The magnificent Crusader fortress of Kerak soars above its valleys and hills like a great ship riding waves of rock. Kerak’s origins go back long before the Crusaders; the earliest remains are Iron Age. The fortress, located 124 km south of Amman, was built in 1142 by Payen le Bouteiller, lord of Montreal and of the province of Oultre Jourdain, on the remains of earlier citadels, which date back to Nabataean times. He made Kerak the new capital of the province, for it was superbly situated on the King’s Highway ,where it could control all traffic from north and south and grow rich by the imposi-
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tion of road-tolls . There were -as there are today- two parts of Kerak, both contained within stout walls, but the citadel and its fortress are separated from the town by a deep dry moat. The fortress is typically Crusader, with dimly lit stone-vaulted rooms and corridors leading into each other through heavy arches and doorways. The best preserved are underground, and to be reached through a massive door .
NATURE TOURS
Azraq Wetland Reserve
Established to conserve the uniquely precious oasis located in the heart of Jordan’s eastern desert, between a limestone desert in the west and a basalt desert in the east. It is distinguished by lush marshland and natural water collections that form glittering pools and streams, giving Azraq its name, which is the Arabic word for ‘blue’. In 1977, the Ramsar Convention declared Azraq Wetland and the adjacent mudflat (Qa) as a major station for migratory birds on the African-Eurasian flyway. A variety of birds flock to the reserve each year, stopping for a short rest along their migration routes, staying for the winter, or breeding within the wetland. 41
NATURE TOURS
Wadi Feynan
Escape the beaten path. A sensory experience awaits. Deep in the heart of the mountainous Dana Biosphere Reserve, at the end of a rugged track, an idyllic candle-lit lodge rests in the magnificent Wadi Feynan. Hailed as one of the top fifty ecolodges in the world ,the solar powered Feynan Ecolodge offers the most developed eco-experience in Jordan; an experience made possible by a unique partnership between EcoHotels and the Royal
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Society for the Conservation of Nature, a Jordanian NGO devoted to the protection of the Kingdom’s finest natural landscapes.
NATURE TOURS
Wadi Rum A journey to Wadi Rum is a journey to another world. A vast, silent place, timeless and starkly beautiful.. Wadi Rum is one of Jordan’s main tourist attractions being the most stunning desert scape in the World, lying 320 km southwest of Amman,120 km south of Petra, and only 68 km north of Aqabaa. Uniquely shaped massive mountains rise vertically out of the pink desert sand, which separate one dark mass from another in a magnificent desert scenery of strange breathtaking beauty, with towering cliffs of weathered stone.. The faces of the sheer rock cliffs have been eroded by the wind into faces of men, animals and monsters. Wadi Rum is probably best known because of its connection with the enigmatic British officer T.E. Lawrence, who was based here during the Great Arab Revolt of
1917-18, and as the setting for the film that carried his name “Lawrence of Arabia”. everywhere in this moonscape place are indications of man’s presence since the earliest known times. Scattered around are flint hand axes, while on the rocks at the feet of the mountains the names of ancient travelers a there is emptiness and silence.
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NATURE TOURS
Mujib Nature Reserve
Covers an area of 212 km2 , Bordering the Dead Sea at 416 meters below sea level, the Mujib Nature Reserve surrounds Wadi Mujib, a deep and majestic canyon that cuts through the rugged highlands and drains into the Dead Sea.
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Seasonal and permanent streams flow through many of the Wadis, supporting luxurious aquatic plants in the river These rivers also enable this otherwise arid area to support a remarkable diversity of wildlife. It is also one of the major sources that compensate the high evaporation rate of the Dead Sea
NATURE TOURS
Dana Biosphere Reserve
Is the only reserve in Jordan that includes the four different bio-geographical zones of the country; Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian, Saharo Arabian and Sudanian penetration. As such, it is the most diverse nature reserve in the country in terms of habitats and species, hosting several vegetation types, including the Phoenician Juniper, evergreen oak, sand dunes, acacia, and rocky sudanian, among others. It is also home to the southernmost remaining forest community of Cypress Cupressus simpervirens. More than 800 plant species can
be found within the reserve, three of which have only ever been recorded in Dana and nowhere else in the world. Their Latin names include the word ‘Dana’ in them.
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LEISURE & WELLNESS TOURS
Jordan Valley & The Dead Sea Nature’s living miracle, A place to rejuvenate and restore both body and soul .. Without a doubt, the world’s most amazing place, the Jordan Rift Valley is a dramatic, beautiful landscape, which at the Dead Sea, is over 400 meters (1,312 ft.) below sea level. The lowest point on the face of the earth, this vast, stretch of water receives a number of incoming rivers, including the River Jordan. Once the waters reach the Dead Sea they are land-locked and have nowhere to go, so they evaporate, leaving behind a dense, rich, cocktail of salts and minerals that supply industry, agriculture and medicine with some of its finest products The Dead Sea is flanked 48
by mountains to the east and the rolling hills of Jerusalem to the west, giving it an almost other-worldly beauty. Although sparsely populated and serenely quiet now, the area is believed to have been home to five Biblical cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Adman, Zebouin and Zoar.
LEISURE & WELLNESS TOURS
Hammamat (Hot Springs) Ma’een
The hot springs and baths of Hammamat Ma’een have been enjoyed for therapeutic and leisure pursuits for thousands of years. The public springs and commercial resort area are located 35 kilometers southwest of Madaba, along a winding road which crosses some of the most spectacular territory around the Dead Sea. Hammamat Ma’een should not be confused with the actual town of Ma’een, which is 15 kilometers before the sprin.
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LEISURE & WELLNESS TOURS
Aqaba, Jordan
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The Red Sea resort of Aqaba, which was in ancient times, the main port for shipments from the Red Sea to the Far East, known by the names of Aila, Ailana, Elana, Ailath, Elath, Ayla and Wayla. Aqaba is warm, sunny and inviting, fringed with palm tree lapped by the crystal clear waters of the Gulf of Aqaba, cooled by a steady northerly breeze, and ringed mountains that change in color with the change of the hours. Snorkeling, water skiing, wind surfing, para-sailing fishing and a variety of other water sports, including unsurpassed scuba diving are just some of the popular activities to partake in.
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MUSCAT, OMAN P. O. Box 809, Muscat Al Khawair, Shatti Al Qurum, Al Sarooj St. Way 3054, Villa 4321 T +968 24 601800 F +968 24 60 1300 oman@desertadventures.co.om
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AMMAN, JORDAN P. O. Box 3688, Amman Hussain Al Husseini Building #145 Office #115, Mecca St. T +962 6 5511755 F +962 6 5511781 info.jordan@desertadventures.com
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