Aqaba diving holiday in Jordan, with Petra

Description of Aqaba diving holiday in Jordan, with Petra

All our itineraries are tailor-made and the below is just a suggestion. We can tailor-make your diving holiday to include as much or as little as you would like – maybe add a visit on to the Dead Sea, Wadi Rum or Jerash? Jordan is full of “hidden gems” so whether it is just a week's diving in Aqaba you are after or a complete Jordan adventure, our specialist team can guide you to your ultimate Jordan diving holiday experience.

This is a fantastic 12 day tour which starts off with a visit to Amman, the capital of Jordan, a fascinating city of contrasts. Visit the Citadel, which is situated on one of the highest hills in Amman that offers a splendid view of the old city. Near the citadel pay a visit to the Archaeological Museum that houses an excellent collection of Jordan’s antiquities. Proceed downhill to the downtown of the old city to visit the Roman Theatre, which dates back to the 2nd century AD. It is also the home of Jordan’s Folklore Museum, which displays various artifacts of the traditional Jordanian life including, costumes, home furnishings, musical instruments and handicrafts dating back to the 19th century.

On to Jerash, which remains today as one of the most beautiful and best-preserved Greco-Roman cities outside Italy. Excavations made it possible to update two theatres, several temples, churches, a market, thermal baths, and the famous Cardo Maximus alley of 600 meters bordered columns.

Drive 30 Km south of Amman to visit Madaba “the City of Mosaics”. Visit the Greek Orthodox church of St. George where the famous 6th Century Byzantine mosaic map of the holy sites in the biblical world is found. Proceed to Mount Nebo, the place where it is believed that Moses was buried.

Drive via the Kings Way, the ancient road mentioned in the bible, which links prehistoric villages from the Stone Age, and biblical towns from the kingdoms of Ammon, Moab and Edom, to arrive at Karak. Visit Karak’s Crusaders Castle built in the 12th century AD, which is situated on a hilltop about 1000 meters above sea level and surrounded by a valley on three sides.

On to the jaw dropping Petra, a World Heritage site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This ancient city is a unique example of an astonishing ancient civilisation and is known as the Rose City due to the colour of the Sharah Mountain stone out of which it was carved by the Nabateans. The city was lost to civilisation until it was rediscovered in 1812 by the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. Walk through the Siq, a narrow and winding fissure between the cliffs, to reach the Treasury, the Roman Theatre, the Courts, Qasr Bint Pharaoun,Temple of the Winged Lion and other monuments. This is an experience never to be forgotten.

Your holiday then continues on to Aqaba for the ultimate in a Red Sea diving experience. There are over 30 dive sites to visit along the Aqaba coastline most of which are in the Aqaba Marine Park. With each dive being different from the next, from shallow coral gardens and pinnacles to deep canyons and shipwrecks there is something here for every diver. One of the most famous dive sites is the Cedar Pride Wreck. It was deliberately sunk nearly 30 years ago and has been described as one of the most photogenic wrecks of the Red Sea. It lies on her port side between Rainbow Reef and the Japanese Gardens. With a maximum depth of 25 metres and the top mast reaching 7 metres she makes a great dive for all levels of experience. You are able to enter the wreck but that is only possible for those divers with the appropriate training.

With warm waters year round and great visibility the diving here is suitable for all levels of diving, from the complete beginner to the more experienced technical diver.

Departure information