Jordan, Petra & Jerusalem

WADI RUM

We set off early to make the most of the day, travelling south along the Desert Highway through the sandy heart of Jordan to Wadi Rum – the ‘Valley of the Moon’. Nothing prepares you for the awe-inspiring sight that greets us: the sandstone massif that TE Lawrence described as ‘vast, echoing and god-like’. The magnificent cliffs and stone buttresses rise sheer from the sea of red sand, together forming a timeless panorama of monolithic rocks. The twisted huge bulk of this network of canyons, rock bridges and ravines is one of the world’s most stunning desert environments. Quite apart from the visual experience – the silence is almost unnerving; bizarrely you cannot hear anything at all. After transferring to 4x4 vehicles, we tour the canyons and valleys before arriving at the Wadi Rum Space Village, a Bedouin-style tented camp. 

This afternoon, you have the opportunity to experience an optional camel ride in the desert before enjoying a traditional ‘zarb’ dinner – a delicious barbecue cooked for hours under the hot desert sand. All tents have twin or double beds with private shower and WC.

LITTLE PETRA

First, we see where vast caravans, some with over a thousand camels, gathered for their epic journeys, exploring the mysterious rock-carved rooms of ancient ‘hotels’ in the area, known as Little Petra. We stay two nights, with breakfast and dinner, at the four-star Old Village Hotel & Resort.

PETRA

Along with the Taj Mahal and the Pyramids, Petra is one of the world’s ‘must-see’ sights, firmly deserving of its accolade as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Famous throughout history, its huge wealth was amassed from its time as the centre of the ancient caravan routes, which traded as far as China and rivalled that of the Romans. A city to match was created, with sophisticated public buildings and libraries, lavish houses, colonnaded streets, and astonishing villas carved from solid rock. 

We walk down the increasingly narrow gorge and, just as you think the vertiginous sides could not get any narrower, the incredible vista of the Treasury appears like a mirage through a slit in the rock. The perfection of its proportions and the sheer vastness of this edifice are astounding. Beyond, there’s an entire city waiting to be discovered: the amazing Royal Tombs, the theatre, the Street of the Facades, the Great Temple, early-Christian churches, and the main colonnaded road that ran through the centre of this ancient but tremendously cultured city.

The afternoon is at leisure, so you may wish to return to your hotel and enjoy its facilities or remain at the site to continue exploring.

KING’S HIGHWAY & MOUNT NEBO

Heading north towards the Dead Sea we travel on the scenic King’s Highway, following an ancient caravan route. It passes through some of Jordan’s most spectacular scenery with views across arid, rocky peaks. We visit the Crusader castle at Shobak, one of the region’s best-preserved forts, before continuing to Mount Nebo, where Moses first saw the Promised Land. According to Jewish and Christian tradition, the climb was so arduous that this remains his final resting place, leaving Joshua to lead his people over the River Jordan. We also visit nearby Madaba, where St George’s Church houses a superbly intricate, 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land. 

We stay for two nights at the four-star Holiday Inn Dead Sea, with breakfast and dinner, 400 metres below sea level. It has several swimming pools, spacious air-conditioned rooms, as well as a small beach. You must take a dip in the Dead Sea, it’s one of life’s ‘must-do’ experiences. Due to the salt content being 30 per cent, compared with normal seawater at 3 per cent, you float so easily. You cannot actually swim, but bob around like a cork and even while wading, you physically have to push your feet to the bottom to stand up!

JERASH & AJLOUN CASTLE

Ancient Jerash is the largest and best-preserved Roman city in the region, known as the Pompeii of the east. Its beautifully colonnaded main street and forum, the hippodrome, baths and theatre are a superb example of Roman town planning on a truly grand scale. The 12th-century Saracen Ajloun Castle was originally built on the site of a Christian monastery and commands panoramic views over the surrounding hills.

DRIVE TO JERUSALEM

Our tour continues to Israel for a three-night stay in Jerusalem. We drive from the Dead Sea to the famous Allenby Bridge (King Hussein) crossing. After the border formalities, it’s a short drive to Jerusalem, where we visit the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane. After some time for lunch we continue to the Israel Museum. Our hotel for three nights is the four-star Grand Court or Leonardo Hotel, with breakfast and dinner.

JERUSALEM

This morning we visit Yad Vashem, the world’s largest memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. We then enter the remarkable warren of streets that make up the Old City of Jerusalem. Within its one square kilometre area are some of the holiest places for more than half the world’s population. We visit the Western Wall, known as the Wailing Wall and the holiest spot in Judaism, as well as the Dome of the Rock above. Walking along the Via Dolorosa we finally come to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre built over Golgotha, the place where Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead. Containing the final five Stations of the Cross, the church is shared between the Catholic, Orthodox and Armenian churches.

JERUSALEM

You have an entire day at leisure to enjoy a more detailed personal exploration of the numerous sights in and around the Old City. The Tower of David Museum at the Jaffa Gate provides a particularly impressive history of the city. Built on the remains of one of Herod the Great’s palaces, there are spectacular views from the top, and it was in front of its entrance where General Allenby accepted the surrender of the Ottoman Turks in 1917.

RETURN FLIGHT

Transfer to Tel Aviv airport for your return flight to London Heathrow.