Detailled Program of our Trip "Ali Baba":
Wednesday: ... from wherever you come -"Welcome to Jordan"
Your fairy tale
of Arabian Nights begins the moment you arrive at Amman's Queen Alia International
Airport. We are at your service ensuring baggage claim and customs procedures
are swift and easy.
Transfer to your chosen hotel where you will spend the next 3 nights.
Thursday:
Amman - Desert Castles - Amman
Amman still
sits majestically on its famous seven hills. We visit the Roman theatre which
dates back to the second century AD, the Roman Ruins of the Citadel Hill,
and the archaeological museum. Then our adventure continues with a visit to
the Ashrafia Mosque and the King Hussein Sport City. We end our tour in Amman
driving through the modern City and continue to visit the Desert Castles built
by early Islamic Ummayyad Caliphs in the seventh and eight Centuries AD. We
take you to Qasr Amra, Qasr Kharaneh and Qasr Azraq which are some of the
best preserved examples of Ummayyad Art and architecture, including castles,
baths, mosques, water and agricultural systems, mosaic floors and painted
wall frescoes.
Friday:
Amman - Jordan Valley - Umm Qeis Jerash - Amman
We take you to visit the north. You are driven through the Jordan Valley and
pass by the Roman city of Pella. Then we take you to Umm Qeis, the Bible´s
"Gadara," where Jesus is known to have visited and preached. The
city is renowned for its commanding view over the Northern Jordan Valley spanning
across the "Sea of Galilee" (Lake Tiberias), the Golan Heights and
Mount Hermon.
The best preserved Roman city is Gerasa, which is called Jerash today.
It was known as the Pompeii of the East, and also known as the city of a 1.000
pillars. We also visit the triple arched gate, the huge hippodrome, the theatre,
and the only Roman forum surrounded by 63 ionic columns.
Saturday:
Amman - Madaba - Nebo - Bethany - Dead Sea - Karak - Petra
After breakfast,
you are taken southward along the King's Highway one of the oldest trade routes
in the world runs 200 miles along Jordan's hilly backbone: We stop at the
Byzantine Church of Mt. Nebo. Then we proceed to Madaba where we see the unique
map of Palestine. We continue to Bethany where John the Baptist baptised Jesus
in the River of Jordan and then we will reach the Dead Sea the lowest spot
on earth, 1306 feet below sea level. Enjoy the bizarre but delightful experience
of "floating" on the surface of buoyant waters, four times saltier
than regular sea water.
Then we take you
southward along the Kings´ Highway one of the oldest trade routes in
the world. It runs 200 miles along Jordan's hilly backbone. We stop at Karak
and we visit the great crusader castle of Kerak and continue to Petra for
overnight.
Sunday:
Petra, the Rose-Red City
After breakfast
we visit Petra, the "Rose Red City". The city comprises a complete
urban infrastructure which includes temples, baths, private houses, high places,
paved streets, public buildings, markets, a Roman theatre, reservoirs and
cisterns. Its entrance, a one-kilometre-long fissure through the towering
cliffs, the "Siq", provides a dramatic approach and induction to
the city. The narrow winding path through the canyon dramatically opens up
to expose the awesome facade of the "el Khazneh", the "Treasury".
After this exciting sightseeing tour we will trek from Qasr El Bint to the
Snake Monument where we will spent the night in a romantic cave. For the following
days we will be accompanied by Bedouins who will be our host in their mystic
land.
Monday:
Petra - Jabal Harun - Beida
After breakfast
we will trek to Jebal Harun where we visit the Tomb of Harun, the brother
of Moses. After this 4 hours tour we climb via Wadi Farasa to the centre of
Petra and then continue to the famous Ad-Deir. The largest of Petra´s
monuments is reached after a strenuous but well rewarding trek. A flight of
800 steps cut into the rocks takes us up to the 45 x 50 metre structure. This
temple, or tomb was clearly an important pilgrimage site, with worshippers
and priests using a processional route to congregate in the open area in front
of the monument. We visit Wadi Farasa and Jabal Harun about 5 hours hiking
distance to Al Baida - known as "Little Petra" - where we will stay
the night at a Bedouin camp in a fascinating landscape.
(optional: possibility to spend the night in a hotel at Wadi Musa or use their
shower facilities the next morning)
Tuesday:
Beida - Wadi Rum
After breakfast
we will be taken by jeeps to Wadi Rum. Our journey to Wadi Rum is a journey
to another world. A vast, silent place, timeless and starkly beautiful, Wadi
Rum lies a little over an hour´s drive south-east of Petra and some
70 kilometres north-east of Aqaba.
Wadi Rum was the headquarters of Prince Feisal bin Hussein and T.W. Lawrence
during World War I, to fight the Arab Revolt against the Turkish Ottoman empire.
We reach an impressing mountain aptly known as the Seven Pillars of Wisdom,
named by T.E. Lawrence, who was the inspiration for the title of his book
with the same name.
From here we hike via Jabal Um Ishrin to Barrah canyon where we will build
our camp for overnight. Thamudic inscriptions on rocks can be found scattered
throughout.
Wednesday: Wadi Rum, like a Moon Valley
After breakfast
we will continue exploring the magnificent landscape. Our route offers excitement
and an unforgettable experience. On the way are sand dunes and the natural
bridge at Burdah, which is the highest and most striking place at Wadi Rum.
Here we enjoy the night under the starry sky.
Thursday:
Fascinating Wadi Rum
We enjoy our breakfast
in a fascinating surroundings and continue our trekking tour to the Rock Bridge
Um Fruth. The uniquely shaped massive mountains rise out of the rose-red desert
sand in this magnificent desert scenery of strange beauty, with towering cliffs
of weathered stone. Today we will build our camp at Mount Khazali.
Friday:
Wadi Rum - Aqaba
The walls of
Mount Khazli are decorated with ancient Thamudic inscriptions and drawings.
We will enjoy our breakfast at this breathtaking place where in former times
caravanes already rested. We continue to Ain ash-Shallaleh, also known as
Lawrence´s Spring. After a short stop at the Resthouse we continue to
Aqaba, Jordan´s year round Red Sea resort. Here we end our day following
the footsteps of "Lawrence of Arabia" and we visit the Aqaba fort
which was successfully attacked by T.E. Lawrence.
The night we will spend in a nice hotel in Aqaba.
Saturday:
today we have to say good-bye - "Ma Salameh"
After breakfast
we will take you to the airport. We are at your service ensuring departure
procedures are swift and easy.
Or you can extend your stay in Aqaba.