Day-by-day programme of this 9-day itinerary across From Petra to Wadi Rum and the Red Sea.
Day 1 â Arrival in Amman
Landing in Amman, capital of Jordan, a white city spread over seven hills between modern and ancient. A first tour of the Citadel and the Roman Theatre.
- âïļ Amman â Aeroporto di Amman-Queen Alia (AMM)
- ð Amman Citadel â The Amman Citadel crowns the city's highest hill: among its ruins are the Temple of Hercules with its Roman columns, the Umayyad palace and a museum, with a 360-degree view over the sea of white houses covering the hills. You then go down to the Roman Theatre, carved into the rock, and to the lively souks of the centre, among spices, fruit and the scent of cardamom coffee. You dine on Jordanian mezze. Tomorrow the Roman ruins of Jerash.
- ðĻ Toledo Hotel â Centro, Amman
Day 2 â Jerash and the north
A day in northern Jordan: the extraordinary Roman ruins of Jerash, among the best preserved in the world, and the Arab castle of Ajloun.
- ð Jerash â Jerash (ancient Gerasa) is one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world, nicknamed the 'Pompeii of the East': you enter through Hadrian's Arch and walk along the colonnaded cardo, to the majestic Oval Plaza surrounded by columns, the temples of Zeus and Artemis and the two theatres, where the Bedouins' bagpipes sometimes still sound. Walking these streets paved with cart ruts is a plunge into the past. In the afternoon, Ajloun castle.
- ð Ajloun Castle â Ajloun castle, perched on a hill among woods and olive groves, was built by a general of Saladin in the 12th century to control the caravan routes and face the Crusaders. From its towers and ramparts the view sweeps over the Jordan valley as far, on clear days, as the Holy Land. It is a fine example of Arab military architecture. You return to Amman for the evening. Tomorrow you head down towards the biblical sites and the Dead Sea.
Day 3 â Madaba, Nebo and the Dead Sea
The mosaics of Madaba, Mount Nebo from which Moses saw the Promised Land and the site of Jesus' baptism, then a swim in the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth.
- ð Madaba â Madaba is the 'city of mosaics': the Orthodox church of St George holds the famous Madaba Map, the oldest cartographic mosaic of the Holy Land (6th century), depicting Jerusalem and the sacred sites. The town preserves other splendid Byzantine mosaic floors. Nearby you climb Mount Nebo, from which, according to the Bible, Moses saw the Promised Land before dying: from its summit the view sweeps over the Jordan valley and the Dead Sea.
- ð Baptism Site (Bethany) â On the banks of the Jordan river lies Al-Maghtas (Bethany beyond the Jordan), a UNESCO site recognised as the place of Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist. You visit the remains of the Byzantine churches and go down to the river, where pilgrims from all over the world renew their baptism, with the other bank (Israel) a few metres away. It is a place charged with spirituality. In the afternoon you reach the Dead Sea for the most surreal experience.
- ðĻ Dead Sea Spa Hotel â Resort sul Mar Morto
Day 4 â Dead Sea and the King's Highway
The floating bath in the Dead Sea in the morning, then the scenic King's Highway south, between the Wadi Mujib canyon and the Crusader castle of Kerak, to Petra.
- ðŊ Dead Sea â The Dead Sea is 430 metres BELOW sea level, the lowest point on dry land: its water, ten times saltier than the ocean, lets you float effortlessly, lying back to read a newspaper. You smear on the mineral-rich black mud, excellent for the skin, and relax with a view of the Holy Land hills opposite. It is a unique experience in the world (be careful not to get water in your eyes). Then you set off south along the King's Highway.
- ð Kerak Castle â The scenic King's Highway descends south overlooking the Wadi Mujib, a spectacular canyon called the 'Grand Canyon of Jordan'. You then reach Kerak, an imposing 12th-century Crusader castle perched on a spur, with a labyrinth of halls, galleries and dungeons that tell of the wars between Crusaders and Muslims for control of these lands. From the walls the view is immense. You continue to Wadi Musa, the town at the foot of Petra.
- ðĻ Petra Moon Hotel â Wadi Musa, Petra
Day 5 â Petra, the rose city
The most awaited day: Petra, the ancient Nabataean capital carved into the rose rock, from the Siq to the majestic Treasury and the royal tombs, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
- ðŊ The Siq and the Treasury â You enter Petra early in the morning, walking the Siq: a narrow, deep gorge over a kilometre long between rock walls 100 metres high, carved by water. At the end, suddenly, through a cleft appears Al-Khazneh, the Treasury: a monumental facade 40 metres high carved into the rose rock, the most thrilling and photographed moment of the trip. Petra was the capital of the Nabataeans, caravan traders who controlled the incense routes. You continue among the royal tombs and the theatre.
- ð Royal Tombs of Petra â Beyond the Treasury, Petra reveals itself as an entire city carved into the rock: the Street of Facades, the great Roman theatre, and above all the majestic Royal Tombs, lined up on the wall with their colours streaked in red, purple and gold. You walk along the colonnaded cardo among temples and markets. The afternoon light sets the rock ablaze with a thousand shades. Those who wish climb to the tombs for the view from above. You dine in Wadi Musa, still dazed by the beauty. Tomorrow the Monastery and Little Petra.
Day 6 â The Monastery and towards Wadi Rum
The climb to the Petra Monastery, the most imposing monument, and Little Petra, then the journey to the Wadi Rum desert, realm of the Bedouins.
- ðŊ Petra Monastery (Ad-Deir) â You return to Petra to climb the roughly 800 steps carved into the rock to Ad-Deir, the Monastery: a colossal facade, even larger than the Treasury (50 metres), standing alone atop the mountain, before a viewpoint over the desert. The climb is tiring but repaid by one of the most evocative places in Petra, away from the crowds. Just outside the site, Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) shows more Nabataean facades. Then you set off for Wadi Rum.
- âïļ Petra â Wadi Rum â Wadi Rum Village, Giordania
- ðĻ Wadi Rum Bedouin Camp â Campo beduino, Wadi Rum
Day 7 â The Wadi Rum desert
A day exploring Wadi Rum by 4x4: red dunes, rock arches, canyons with petroglyphs, the places of Lawrence of Arabia and sunset from the desert.
- ðŊ Wadi Rum â A full day aboard the Bedouin pick-up among the wonders of Wadi Rum: you climb red sand dunes, cross canyons with ancient Nabataean and Thamudic petroglyphs, pass under the Umm Fruth rock arch, visit Lawrence's spring and the formations where 'Lawrence of Arabia' was filmed. You drink Bedouin tea in the shade of a rock and savour the absolute silence. At sunset, from the top of a dune, the desert turns to fire. Tomorrow you head down to the Red Sea, to Aqaba.
Day 8 â Aqaba and the Red Sea
Transfer to Aqaba, Jordan's only seaside city, on the Red Sea: snorkelling among the corals, relaxation and a last swim before the return.
- âïļ Wadi Rum â Aqaba â Aqaba, Mar Rosso, Giordania
- ðŊ Aqaba Corals â The Red Sea of Aqaba gives a relaxing end to the trip: with mask and fins, or aboard a glass-bottom boat, you explore the reef teeming with life, among parrotfish, turtles and colourful corals. Those who prefer simply enjoy the beach and the warm sea. At sunset, a last fish dinner on the gulf, with the lights of the four countries' cities coming on around you. Tomorrow the flight home. A journey among history, desert and sea draws to a close.
- ðĻ Captain's Hotel Aqaba â Aqaba, Giordania
Day 9 â Departure from Aqaba
Return flight from Aqaba. The end of a journey among Roman ruins, biblical sites, rose-red Petra, the Wadi Rum desert and the Red Sea.
- âïļ Aqaba â Aeroporto di Milano Malpensa (MXP)
