Jordan Tour | Highlights of Jordan | 7 Days Jordan vacation

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which was once a crossroad for ancient people journeying East and West, enthralls a whole new generation of travelers. Jordan's oldest relics still captivate, like the stunning city of Petra and its rose-colored Al-Khazneh, a tomb exquisitely carved into the red mountains by craftsman from a bygone civilization. Feel the presence of the Roman Empire in the ruins of Jerash, a once thriving Roman provincial settlement that was part of the Decapolis League. Not all of Jordan could be tamed, though-the primeval starkness of Wadi Rum is a desert wilderness where nature has trumped most all human settlements. In the modern capital city of Amman, street life bustles and bazaars overflow with colorful textiles, foods, and other exciting goods. Meanwhile, the therapeutic and cosmetic benefits of the ultra-saline Dead Sea have appealed to travelers throughout the centuries. Jordan has so much to offer and unveils itself as a unique vacation destination for inspiration, motivation, and rejuvenation.

Float in the Dead Sea before you go and explore Herod's great palaces at the lowest place on earth. Shop multiple outdoor bazaars for treasures and trinkets in addition to visiting religious museums, churches and tombs with scrolls from ancient history. Ascend the Golan Heights and look over Syria and explore the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Ride the Desert Highway to take in the rose-red city of Petra and you can even ride horseback past ancient tombs, temples and more. Jordan's other treasures include olden mosaic maps and sites where Moses viewed the Promised Land.

Day 1 - AMMAN

Transfer from the Amman Airport to your hotel.

Day 2 - AMMAN/JERASH/AJLOUN/AMMAN

Journey north to Jerash, a town that is considered one of the finest preserved examples of a Roman provincial settlement. Then, overlooking the West Bank, tour Ajloun Castle, an enormous fortress built by a general of Saladin from 1184- 1185 to control local iron mines. Enjoy an optional authentic cooking and dining experience at Beit Sitti, a culinary school whose name translates to ''my grandmother's house.'' (B)

Day 3 - AMMAN/MADABA/MT. NEBO/KARAK/PETRA

Depart from Amman for Petra via Kings Highway. On this history-laced route, visit Madaba and the Church of St. George. Stand on Mt. Nebo, the site where Moses was to have seen the Promised Land and his believed burial place. Soak in the expansive views over Jordan Valley, on a clear day you can see as far as Jericho and Jerusalem. Continue on to Karak to visit a mighty castle that served as a fortress for crusaders in the 12th century before arriving in Petra. (B)

Day 4 - PETRA

Once an important intersection for trade routes that linked East and West, Petra was founded in 200 B.C. by the Nabataean, an ancient people responsible for the valley's most arresting monument-- Al- Khazneh (Treasury). Chose to enter Petra by horseback and being your full day tour at Al-Khazneh, the massive facade carved out of rose-hued rocks that face Siq, a narrow gorge at the entrance to the city. Then try your hand preparing a regional meal during an optional cooking and dining experience at Petra Kitchen. Today you can also choose to partake in an optional Turkish bath. (B)

Day 5 - PETRA/WADI RUM

Travel south from Petra to Wadi Rum for a jeep tour of the savage desert. In this isolation region, the land is mostly void of human settlements though the pounding winds have etched away the cliffs to form natural skyscrapers as tall as 5,742 feet. This terrain served as the background of the famous 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia. Spend a night in the desert inside Bedouin tents. Today you can also choose to participant in an optional camel ride or authentic Bedouin tea experience. (B)

Day 6 - WADI RUM/DANA/DEAD SEA

Depart Wadi Rum for Dana, one of the rarest natural reserves in the world with more than four distinct climate belts. View the arid, hilly Feynan Valley from the Dana Guesthouse on the plateau and see if you can spy a lone burst of color from the flowering oleander. Continue to your hotel near the Dead Sea for leisure time - perhaps take a swim at the lowest point on Earth and enjoy the nutrientrich benefits that are bottled by the beauty industry. (B)