The archaeological wonders of Jordan

October 2024 - Register now at tours@newscientist.com and we will contact you soon with full tour details.

Explore archaeological remains and the living history of Jordanian sites inhabited from Neolithic and Bronze ages thru to the Roman and Byzantine periods. Enjoy varied archaeology sites influenced by many intersecting pilgrims, traders, cultures and societies. From the historic capital of Amman to castles, caves, mosaics and excavations. 

Examine three UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the stunning Petra Archaeological Park where the 5th century BC Nabataean civilisation formed tombs and stunning temples out of the pink sandstone rockface. Including an early morning walk along the Siq canyon to the famous Petra Treasury.

Then survey the geologically fascinating Wadi Rum by desert jeep. Millions of years of wind and sand erosion has created an evocative landscape where you will spend the night in a luxury Bedouin tented resort. Then bathe in and explore around the world’s most famous salt lake, the Dead Sea.

Limited to just 15 guests for an in-depth immersive experience.

In partnership with Intrepid Travel

DAY 1: ARRIVE INTO AMMAN AND MEET THE GROUP

After arriving into Amman Airport, you will be met and transferred to the five-star House Boutique Suites. In the evening, you will meet your fellow guests and the tour leader Nader, who will brief you on the tour, then take you for a welcome dinner.

DAY 2: EXPLORING AMMAN’S CITADEL AND ROMAN THEATRE, THEN ONTO JERASH AND AJLOUN

You will start your visit to Jordan with a tour of the old city of Amman exploring the Citadel and the Roman Theatre, two of the most popular archaeological sites in the city. 

There is evidence that the citadel was used by many civilisations, reaching back to Neolithic times and then fortified during the Bronze Age. It continued to be occupied by the Romans and during the Byzantine period, from which periods most of the structures are still visible. The nearby evocative Roman Theatre was built in the 2nd Century and seated 6000 in relative shade.

You will have free time to walk through the Old Market in the downtown area, visiting the shops and the fruit market. You can stop at local restaurants to sample falafel, hummus and other Arab delicacies.

After lunch in the city, you will drive north to walk through history in Jerash. Regarded as one of the most important and best-preserved Roman cities in the Middle East with pristine columns, temples and plazas. These include a hippodrome for 15,000 people, the forum with 56 imposing columns and the Temple of Artemis.

Then onto Ajloun castle, dominating the skyline and built to ward off the Crusader armies at the key trade and pilgrimage intersection between Jerusalem, Cairo, Damascus and Mecca. It was built in the 12th century and includes a museum with artifacts from several periods.

DAY 3: MOUNT NEBO, THE MADABA MOSAICS AND BEIDHA

After breakfast, you will drive to Mount Nebo, an elevated ridge with views, on a good day, of Jericho and Jerusalem. As well as biblical significance there are remains of a Byzantine monastery at its highest point. 

Moving south but staying in the hills, you will explore Iraq Al Amir, an area with many springs and famous for its olive trees. Here you will find the archaeological site of Al-Iraq, dominated by a partially restored palace known locally as Qasr Al-Abd, literally ‘Palace of the Servant’, perhaps in connection to the name etched in the nearby caves, believed to be the name of the owner of the ancient estate. There are many caves in the hills which were inhabited during the Copper Age.

Then on to the town of Madaba and discover the amazing Byzantine mosaics excavated throughout the town. Some of the mosaics go back to the 5th century and include the Map of Madaba mosaic which is the earliest extant representation of Byzantine Jerusalem and contains over 2 million pieces.

After lunch, you will drive to Beidha, a few kilometres north of Petra, with evidence of early Neolithic villages and then later settlement by the Nabataean civilisations between 4th and 2nd century BC. It is also believed by archaeologists to be a ‘suburb’ of Petra and was probably meant to house traders traveling along the Silk Road.

Arriving into Wadi Musa, you will check into the superbly located Petra Moon Hotel for two nights.

DAY 4: A FULL DAY EXPLORING PETRA  

After an early breakfast, you will take the 150 metre walk to the entrance of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Petra Archaeological Park for its opening at 6:30am, so you can be amongst the first to enter. From here, it’s a 2 kilometre walk down the Siq narrow canyon to the iconic Treasury, hewn out of the rock face and guarding the ancient Nabataean city.

Having beaten the crowds to the Treasury, you will spend the day exploring the ‘Lost City’ at a leisurely pace. This will include the Amphitheatre, Colonnaded Street, Qasr al-Bint and Royal Tombs. Plus, a 45 minute hike up 800 steps to the Monastery and the Ad Deir. It is one of the largest monuments in Petra. There is a Bedouin café for refreshments and you will also be taking lunch on site. If you would prefer to make your own way around the site, at your own pace, you are very welcome to. The hotel is only ten minutes from the site, so you can return at any time.

DAY 5: WADI RUM JEEP TOUR AND BEDOUIN CAMP 

In the morning, you will head south to Wadi Rum, where you will enjoy a full-day jeep tour with lunch. The area was formed over millions of years of geological evolution with massive rock mountains, mesas, arches, canyons and gorges, shaped by centuries of harsh wind and sand erosion. You will also explore the many inscriptions and petroglyphs that represent the dawning of culture and communication during Neolithic and Nabataean times. At each stop, you have the opportunity to hike and explore in your own time. 

You will finish the safari at the Sun City Camp, where you will check into your deluxe tent surrounded by sandstone mountains. Here you will experience a delicious Bedouin dinner, taken at night in the desert under the stars.

DAY 6: CASTLE KARAK AND THE DEAD SEA

After breakfast, you will leave Wadi Rum and drive to the ancient Crusader castle in Karak, exploring the maze of stone-vaulted halls and passageways. The city of Karak was the capital of Moab and the castle dominates the skyline. The castle provides an impressive insight into the architectural skills of the Crusaders. 

After enjoying lunch and sampling the Jordanian National dish Mansaf, you will drive for a few hours to the Dead Sea and check into the Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea for two nights. 

The rest of the afternoon is at leisure but for a small fee, a visit can be arranged to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Um Ar-Rassas, a rectangular walled city that is mostly ruins, but boasts several buildings, four churches, including the church of St Stephen with a large perfectly preserved mosaic floor.

In the evening, your group will enjoy dinner together.

 DAY 7: ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE AROUND THE DEAD SEA

Today, you will visit the archaeological remains at Al-Maghtas, otherwise known as the Baptism Site, said to be the site of Jesus’s baptism. Regardless of belief, this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where many interesting remains have been excavated including a monastery, baptism ponds and dwellings.

After returning to your hotel, there will be a farewell dinner.

DAY 8: DEPART THE DEAD SEA

After a final breakfast together, there will be a group transfer back to Amman airport which will take around an hour.

Whilst we endeavour to run the trip with the tour leader and hotels stated, these may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances or situations beyond our control.