Getaway to the Heart of Jordan

Welcome to Jordan! Departure on a flight to Amman.

Upon arrival in the Jordanian capital, you'll be met and assisted with formalities at the airport. You'll then be transferred by your private driver to your hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel – HB

Heading to Iraq Al Amir, where you will admire the impressive Hellenistic castle and visit a women’s cooperative workshop for ceramics and paper-making. Visiting Iraq Al Amir is a privilege for antiquities lovers passing through Jordan. “Caves of the Prince” – this is the village’s name in French. It comes from the nearby rock caves, which the ancestors of the Abaddi tribe settled in prehistoric times.

As you hike, you'll explore a series of dwellings carved into the rock. You’ll stroll among olive and fruit trees.

But the highlight for visitors to Iraq Al-Amir is Qasr Al-Abd.

The Qasr Al-Abd, or “Castle of the Slaves,” which stands proudly at the center of the village, is considered the finest masterpiece of Hellenistic art in Jordan. Iraq Al Amir was affectionately called Tyros by the Greeks.

Journey to the Old Town of Al Salt, which established its historical importance long ago, dating back to the Roman era. For many years, under the rule of various empires, it served as a link between the eastern desert and the west.

Today, Al Salt is a city known for its unique architecture and rich heritage. It was a well-established trade center during the Byzantine, Mamluk, and Ottoman empires. Under Ottoman rule, Al Salt experienced great prosperity due to its strategic location. It became the administrative base for the region, attracting more people and encouraging the empire’s expansion in the area.

At the entrance to the city, you'll see Roman tombs, and you will visit the 13th-century citadel from the Ayyubid period, built by Saladin Al Ayyubi’s nephew, Al-Mu’azzam Isa.

Also included are visits to:

The School of Handicrafts and Museum, which teaches traditional weaving and ceramic arts.

The Archaeological and Folklore Museum, featuring beautiful examples of traditional clothing and handicrafts.

Return to Amman, dinner and overnight at your hotel – HB (Half Board).

Breakfast and return of your rental car at your hotel.

Then, departure toward Jerash, one of the Greco-Roman cities of the Decapolis, said to have been founded by Alexander the Great himself. In spring, the site bursts with color: nature takes over, and thousands of flowers grow between the ancient stones! Continue your day with a visit to the famous Ajloun Castle, one of the finest examples of 12th-century Islamic architecture. Enjoy the stunning panoramic views the fortress offers over the Jordan Valley.

Return to Amman at the end of the day.

Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel – HB (Half Board).

Breakfast

Drive to Pella, where the scattered remains—theatre, temple, and basilica—set in a biblical landscape, recall the city's golden age as a center of Greek culture, and later as a refuge for the Christian community from Jerusalem.

Continue on to Um Qais, the modern name for the town built on the ancient site of Gadara, one of the cities of the Decapolis. This remarkable archaeological site is beautifully situated: it overlooks the Jordan Valley, the Sea of Galilee, towers above the Yarmouk River, and faces the Golan Heights.

Within the site, you’ll discover the ruins of two theatres, a basilica, a temple, and many other significant structures—evidence of a once-great city. A paved street flanked by a double colonnade crosses the city from east to west. An aqueduct, once one of the longest in the Roman Empire, brought water from Mount Hermon through Abila to the city.

Visit of the UM QAIS site: the Ancient Necropolis, the North and West Theatres, the Basilica, and the Colonnaded Street.

Return to Amman.

Dinner and overnight at your hotel – HB (Half Board).

First stop of the day: head to Mount Nebo, located at an altitude of 840 meters. According to tradition, it is here that Moses struck the ground with his staff to bring forth water, and where he later took his final breath. It is believed that he is buried somewhere on the mountain. From the summit, enjoy a stunning panoramic view over the Dead Sea, the Jordan River, the oasis of Jericho, and the Judean Hills.

Continue your journey south along the famous King’s Highway.

The day is dedicated to exploring the city of Madaba, often called the "City of Mosaics." The town is renowned for its spectacular Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics. Make a stop at one of the many mosaic workshops lining the road, where you can admire the meticulous craftsmanship and perhaps purchase a beautiful souvenir.

Madaba is also the most important Christian city in Jordan. You’ll visit St. George’s Church, where you can see the remains of a mosaic map of Palestine—the oldest known geographical floor mosaic, though partially damaged today.

Next, continue your adventure with a visit to the Dana Biosphere Reserve, the second-largest nature reserve in Jordan. Stretching from the Dead Sea to the highlands of the Rift Valley, and into the desert plains of Wadi Araba, this 300 km² protected area is best discovered on foot. Its diverse and dramatic landscapes invite peaceful contemplation.

The biosphere includes four distinct ecosystems: savannah, sandy and dune deserts, semi-arid Mediterranean scrubland, and the Iranian desert. It is home to around 40 species of mammals, 800 plant species, and 49 species of butterflies.

An optional hike can be arranged during the visit.

Afterward, drive to Petra.

Dinner and overnight at your hotel – HB (Half Board).

This day will be dedicated to discovering the Petra site. You don’t need to face the challenges Harrison Ford went through in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade to appreciate the majesty of this famous site carved into sandstone cliffs. Access is through the Siq, a narrow, reddish-brown gorge leading to the Khazneh (“Treasury”), Petra’s iconic monument.

You’ll have several hiking options, varying in length and difficulty. Petra, the ancient Nabataean city, is very large! Here is a non-exhaustive list of “must-see” sites:

The High Place of Sacrifice

The Treasury (Al Khazneh)

The Theatre

The Royal Tombs

The Nymphaeum

The Byzantine Church

The Colonnaded Street

The Great Temples

The Lion Triclinium

The Monastery (Ad Deir)

A detailed map will be provided at the entrance, showing the various trails and routes available.

Enjoy the stunning pink sandstone scenery of Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the Siq passage, the Treasury, and the lower Roman-era city with its theatre, palace, baths, temples, Cardo Maximus, and the Nabataean royal tombs.

The afternoon is free for independent exploration.

Dinner and overnight at your hotel – HB (Half Board).

This morning, discover the site of Siq al-Barid, nicknamed "Little Petra," as well as the nearby Neolithic village of Beidha.

You will then head to the extreme southwest of the country to the Wadi Rum desert. Known for films like Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars, Wadi Rum served as the natural backdrop for about a dozen movies. Its canyons, cliffs, and giant dunes create a unique and stunning landscape, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Unlike other deserts known for their vast horizons, Wadi Rum impresses primarily with the verticality of its rocks, called djebels.

Upon arrival, enjoy a 4-hour desert excursion exploring some of the highlights:

Lawrence’s Spring

Khazali Canyon

Sand dunes

Anfishiyeh rock inscriptions

Lawrence’s House

The Small Arch

Umm Fruth rock bridge

A passage through the Geber Amra Canyon

All these sites can be explored on foot, from climbing dunes to ascending rock bridges.

In the late afternoon, return to your camp set in the heart of the desert.

Dinner and overnight – HB (Half Board).

Early departure, with a stop at Bethany Beyond the Jordan. Visit the riverbanks and the main excavated ruins, and learn how the site was sanctified as the place where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist—recognized by the Vatican and visited by Pope John Paul II in 2000.

Immerse yourself in the powerful spirituality of the place and explore the remains of churches, caves, wells, and Roman and Byzantine baptismal pools. Archaeologists believe this is where John the Baptist lived, preached, and performed baptisms.

Discover more about this famous Christian pilgrimage site and how it is revered by the three major religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—as the presumed location of the prophet Elijah’s ascension to heaven.

Continue to the Dead Sea, whose waters have the highest salinity in the world but are known for their therapeutic properties. The Dead Sea is not a sea but a saltwater lake, fed by the Jordan River, which forms the border between Palestine and Jordan.

Three features distinguish the Dead Sea: its warm temperature, its exceptionally high mineral salt content, and its location at the lowest point on Earth. Its waters contain bromine, potash, sodium chloride, and magnesium. While no animals or plants can survive here, the mineral-rich waters are widely recognized for their healing benefits.

Check in to your hotel, ideally located on the shores of the Dead Sea. Enjoy relaxation and swimming on a private beach.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel – HB (Half Board).

At midday, transfer to Amman for a visit to the Citadel, the ancient Acropolis; the Roman Theatre; the King Abdullah Mosque; the Folklore Museum; and the Archaeological Museum.

Enjoy a walk through the city nestled among the surrounding hills.

Optionally, taste some Jordanian wines.

Free time to explore the city on your own.

Farewell dinner at a restaurant in town.

Transfer to the airport and flight to France.