Ola Travel bugs,
If you are a fan of history and your movie nights are mostly binge watching the series of Indiana Jones, Jordan is your star location! The lost city of Petra is the crowning glory of this tour. Follow the traces of Indiana Jones and the Last crusade, The Martian, Red Planet, Passion in the Desert, Krissh 3, Prometheus and Transformers.
Come travel with me to Jordan; an Arab nation on the east bank of Jordan River, defined by ancient monuments, nature reserves and seaside resorts.
Day 1: Amman
Day 2: Jerash
Day 3: Madaba-Mount Nebo-Dead sea-Ma’in.
Day 4: Wadi-al-Mujib- Karak castle- Shobak castle
Day 5: Petra
Day 6: Wadi Rum
Day-1: Amman
Amman, the capital of Jordan, is a modern city with numerous ancient ruins. Put the below on your itinerary along with trying their cuisine:
- King Abdulla Mosque
- Nymphaeum- Roman ornamental fountain made up of stone
- Odeon Theatre-500 seat theatre
- Jordan Folklore Museum-Region’s cultural heritage.
- Roman Theatre-restored Roman amphi theatre
- Amman Citadel- Historical site
- Temple of Hercules- Historical site.
Day-2: Jerash-Pompeii of the East!
Jerash lies on a plain surrounded by hilly wooded areas and fertile basins and was one of the ten great Roman cities of the Decapolis League.
- Hadrian’s Arch: built in 129AD, this marks the ancient city’s boundaries.
- Hippodrome: a restored Roman-era stadium. This was the smallest of the two arenas in the Roman Empire.
- Forum (Oval Plaza): this is the main attraction. Bordered by 160 Ionic columns, it literally cannot be missed!
- The Cardo:a 600m (1,968ft) colonnaded street running the length of the city.
- Temple of Zeus:impressive temple ruins dedicated to the Ancient Greek deity.
- Agora:once the city’s main food market positioned around a central fountain.
- Nymphaeum: an ornate public fountain decorated with lion heads and dedicated to nymphs.
Day-3
Madaba: 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 coloured local stone, it depicts hills and valleys, villages and towns as far as the Nile Delta.
Greek Orthodox Basilica of saint George
This beautiful church is one of the main places of worship and pilgrimage across Jordan. Decorated with sumptuous interiors, elegant colonnades and various mosaics, the Greek Orthodox Basilica of Saint George hosts the mosaic map of the holy land. With two million pieces of vividly coloured local stone, it depicts hills and valleys, villages and towns as far as the Nile Delta.
Mount Nebo
One of the most revered holy sites of Jordan and the place where Moses was buried. Rising over 700m above the Jordan Valley, it offers spectacular views of the Promised Land as seen by Moses. It houses important mosaics, which rank as some of the best in Jordan.
Ma’in
The thermal mineral springs for centuries have attracted people to come and immerse themselves in the sites’ warm therapeutic waters.There is an excellent 5-star hotel here, which offers indoor and natural outdoor hot pools, a swimming pool and spa facilities.
Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is a 4000-mile fault line in the earth’s crust and also the lowest point of dry land on earth at 1300 feet below sea level. At any point of time you can buy tickets and enjoy floating on the water for as many hours as you wish. This place should definitely be on your bucket list! You can stay here for about 4-5 hours especially during sunset.
You don’t have to carry sunscreen because this place is guarded well from any sort of UV due to its depth.
Day-4
This was one of the most scenic journeys so far. I had booked a cab to take a drive to Karak castle via the Kings Highway. On the way to the castle, you can stop by for a bit to take pictures at the Wadi-al mujib Viewpoint.
Karak is the biggest castle in Jordan, many civilizations have passed it, it is 1000-meter high and has the greatest views along with a museum. You can have authentic buffet lunch near the castle or anywhere around as there are several hotels.
On the way from Karak to Petra you will stop at a few picturesque spots like The Wadi Hissa and the Dana Mountains Viewpoint. Then comes the spectacular Shobak Castle, which is totally worth the visit. I reached there around 5 p.m. and the sun rays played a vibrant game in the surroundings.
Day-5: Petra-The Pink City!
The Pink city, half as old as time is a UNESCO World Heritage site and there is lot of walking to do. It is advisable to wear sport shoes and DO carry a hat.
I started early in the morning around 6 a.m. as it gets quite sunny during noon. You need to buy tickets at the counter, which is around 50 JD, and if you are looking forward to staying there for the light festival at night, it would be 65 JD.
SIQ-The 1.2km siq, or canyon, with its narrow, vertical walls, is undeniably one of the highlights of Petra. It has 200m-high walls, is not a canyon but a single block that has been rent apart by tectonic forces.
THE TREASURY– Treasury, is the tomb where most visitors fall in love with Petra. The Hellenistic facade is an astonishing piece of craftsmanship. The Treasury derives its name from the story that an Egyptian pharaoh hid his treasure here (in the facade urn) while pursuing the Israelites. The Treasury is at its most photogenic in full sunlight between about 9am and 11am. Diagonally opposite the Treasury is a Sacred Hall, which may have had ritual connections with the Treasury.
ROYAL TOMBS– If you turn left from the treasury, you will see the street of facades and then when you turn right the amphitheater welcomes you with all the rich historical importance. Downhill from the Theatre, the wadi widens to create a larger thoroughfare. To the right, the great massif of Jebel al-Khubtha looms over the valley.
MONASTERY-AL DIER -Walking to your left with Royal tombs to the right you are on the colonnaded street further away is the temple. After the temple is the famous arch which is the entrance to the city gates. Walking through the city gate, hidden high in the hills, the Monastery is one of the legendary monuments of Petra. Similar in design to the Treasury but far bigger (50m wide and 45m high), it was built in the 3rd century BC as a Nabataean tomb. The ancient rock-cut path of more than 800 steps starts from the Nabataean Museum and follows the old processional route.
The cave tea shop opposite is a good vantage point for admiring the Monastery’s facade. The courtyard in front of the Monastery was once surrounded by columns and was used for sacred ceremonies. You can also go beyond the monastery and enjoy the view point.
Day-6: Wadi Rum
This place looks so magical and out of the world, they nicknamed it ‘Valley of the Moon’. The sand is brick-red here, which is the sole reason why most Mars-related movies are shot here. It is a UNESCO Protected area and you can hire a jeep to reach the place or book a Bedouin camp if you would like to stay and enjoy the sunset as well as the sun rise (ranges from 150-200 AED). The maze of monolithic rocks capes rise up from the desert floor to heights of 1750 m creating a natural challenge for serious mountaineers. Hikers can enjoy the tranquility of the boundless empty spaces and explore the canyons and water holes. You can also opt for camel ride/ balloon ride or other aerosports. Contact the visitor center at the entrance. Do not miss the seven pillars of wisdom and the rock bridge.
You can also customize your day trips to the following UNESCO heritage sites in Jordan.
Click on the link to customize your trip. ( Number 1 & 4 have been included in the itinerary)
- Petra
- Quseir Amra
- Um er-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa’a)
- Wadi Rum Protected Area
- Baptism Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” (Al-Maghtas)
Tips:
- It is not advisable to visit from June to September as it going to be very hot and sunny.
- Carry your sports shoes, hats, shades and sunscreen especially on the day you visit Petra.
- The authentic Arabic food (cost: 2JD) is a must!
- You are better off on your own in Petra, don’t bother hiring a guide.
- Carry some money along so that you can sip on some fruit juice after the long, tiring walk to The Monastery.
“Traveling tends to magnify all human emotions.” — Peter Hoeg
Trekking the World 