Jordan archaeology holiday, Beyond Petra
Optional single supplement from £370 - £380.
Minimum age 16.
Late availability on these dates: 12 May, 02 Jun
Description of Jordan archaeology holiday, Beyond Petra
This twelve day Jordan archaeology holiday takes a one week cultural visit to Jordan, visiting its extraordinary heritage wonders such as Petra and Jerash but also then digs deeper. Because for people who are passionate about ancient archaeology, fleeting visits to see these great sites is rarely enough.
This small group tour, with an expert guide throughout, begins in the Desert Loop where a panoply of castles and forts such as Qasr al- Hallabat, Qasr El Kharraneh and Qusayr 'Amra are the best preserved of the desert castles, dating back as far as 661 AD. Here your guide will walk and talk you through the restorations made to these extraordinary desert constructions, from Roman times to current day.
We also take quality time to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Petra, with two full days taking it all in on foot and on horseback. We also spend a good amount exploring the ancient Decapolis cities of Jerash and Umm Qais as well as the extraordinary City of Mosaics at Madaba. The journey to Madaba is one of the most superb of the trip, following the ancient Kings Highway, an artery stretching from Irbid in the north to Aqaba in the south, winding its way through farmland, desert, mountains and canyons.
This holiday itinerary also includes visits to two archaeological museums, one in Irbid, which is home to the famous Ain Ghazal statues dating back to Neolithic times. And then, of course, the National Archaeology Museum in Amman, the ancient and modern capital and one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world.
Its not all ruins and restorations on this holiday, however, with journeys through Jordans natural heritage too. Such as the Dead Sea, the Red Sea at Aqaba and Wadi Rum where the red mountains, sculptured rocks and giant plains merit the Bedouin name "The Valley of the Moon". We take a night camping with the Bedouin here too. From digs to diving to deserts, this Jordan trip is both dramatic and in depth.
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Price information
Optional single supplement from £370 - £380.
Minimum age 16.
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Holiday information
Reviews
2 Reviews of Jordan archaeology holiday, Beyond Petra
Reviewed on 21 Oct 2022 by Lis Barlow Jones
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Petra and Gerash. Amazing. Plus a host of other things.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take really good strong and comfortable walking shoes (walking boots not necessary) to wear every day. The ground is stony and rough in parts around the historical sites. I saw people in open toed summer sandals not really suitable for walking the steps etc in Petra.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Water was provided on our trip from a large container so no plastic bottles used by us. Our guide was mindful of conservation. The only way to benefit local people was really by spending some money, preferably on local goods not imported.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent. Brilliant guide. Great organisation, everything worked a treat. Had a marvellous time with the rest of the group. It's a busy trip but well worth it. the guide was considerate and consulted us on plans. I will go again with this tour operator.
Reviewed on 13 Nov 2014 by Elaine Leigh
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
So many to choose from but Petra by candlelight, swimming in the dead sea and snorkling in the red sea are the ones that come to mind first.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Make sure to take advantage of snorkling in the dead sea, do the hike to the high sacrifice place in Petra where you will be rewarded with an amazing view of the treasury and maybe add an extra day or so to your holiday to do some of your own exploring in downtown Amman (and have dinner at hashem's - a remarkably down-to-earth falafel restaurant but worth the visit)
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We attended local restaurants and went to a few shops that we were told were community based businesses.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Unbelievable - we had an amazing time - it lived up to expectations (despite a few niggles wih regard to accomodation in a couple of locations). The guide (Sami) was extremely knowledgeable and the other travellers we met on the tour were a delight to spend time with in a truely remarkable country.
Responsible Travel
Planet
Activity:We try to minimise litter as much as possible and are careful to emphasise that clients should not damage or remove pieces from any historical sites we visit. As we hire local guides as well as Bedouin guides, we can ensure that our activity has a positive effect on the economy and that our clients take away some of their passion and knowledge of Jordan. Our guides are trained in responsible travel issues and will be able to convey these in briefings.
UK Office
It all starts at home so we have first worked at reducing our carbon footprint in our UK offices. Through energy conservation measures and recycling policies, we are proud to be actively reducing the waste produced and our impact on the environment. We support various projects all over the world to try and give something back to the places we visit.
Group size
We operate small group tours that have a low impact on the communities we visit and we always ensure our operations do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. This allows us to stay in unique and characterful accommodation that would not have benefitted from tourism due to their limited size.
People
Accommodation and Meals:You will spend 11 nights in 3-star hotels with en suite rooms and 1 night in a Wadi Rum desert camp. Bedouin people are employed to run the camp, so we know we are directly benefiting local communities with our business. The hotels are also locally staffed as per law in Jordan, so our stay here is also in support of local employment. Where meals are provided, ingredients will be sourced from a local market wherever possible. Clients may eat a zarb (where food is slow cooked underground) at the Bedouin camp and there will also be plenty of chance to eat in restaurants selling mezze style specialties like kebabs, fresh salads, and bread with hummus.
Local Craft and Culture:
Usually guides take clients to the market on the day going from Petra to Wadi Rum or Aqaba. This is a great cultural experience where clients can buy their own vegetables and fruit and even see how some meals are prepared- like falafel. We also visit the ancient city of Jerash, Madaba, the Dead Sea, and the fortified town of Kerak, but the cultural highlight of the trip for many is the visit to UNESCO World Heritage city, Petra. There is a full day here to explore the ancient, rose-coloured rock-cut architecture including El Khazneh (the treasury) and El Deir (the Monastery). There are some local handicrafts and souvenirs available here like hand painted ceramics, jewellery and vases filled with coloured sand. Clients can also support the community by purchasing donkey or horse rides from local people.
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