JordanTOURIST GUIDE

Company Profile

As a leading Destination Management Com-pany (DMC) in the region, no one knows the secrets of Arabia better than Desert Adventures. We offer you the best insight view of the most traditional, charming and modern places of the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Jordan, Qatar and the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Desert Adventures is part of The Kuoni Group,which was named «World’s Leading TourOperator» at the Annual World Travel Awards for eleven years in a row. The company employsover 170 dedicated and multilingual staff from

28 different nationalities servicing thousandsof happy travelers daily. We, at DesertAdventures, strongly believe in importanceof sustainable tourism, and thus we actresponsibly towards the environment andsociety in our destination.

We are determined to continue our missionto deliver personalized, reliable and highqual-ity professional services to all our guests,and to follow our vision to showcase Arabia,as one of the most exciting destinationsin the world.

Jordan at a Glance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–21Daily Excursions and Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

BABLICAL TOURSMadaba-City of Mosaics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Mount Nebo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27Bethany beyond the Jordan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

HISTORICAL TOURSPetra, a Rose-Red City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Little Petra-Beidha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Petra by Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Jerash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Ajloun Castle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Amman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35Pella . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36Shobak-Crusader castle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37Umm Qays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38The Desert Castles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39The Fortress of Kerak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

NATURE TOURSAzraq Wetland Reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41Wadi Feynan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Wadi Rum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43Mujib Nature Reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44Dana Biosphere Reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

LEISURE & WELLNESS TOURSJordan Valley & Dead Sea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48Hammamat Ma’een . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49Aqaba, Jordan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Jordan at a glance

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which oncecaptivated ancient travelers, continues toenthrall a whole new generation as a modern,vibrant nation. From the haunting, primevalstarkness of Wadi Rum, to the teeming center of urban Amman; from the majestic ruins of bygone civilizations to the timeless splendor of the Dead Sea and to the world wonder of Petra , Jordan is unveiled, as a unique destination offering breathtaking and mysterious sights, high standard accommodations, exquisite cuisine and countless activities, that can pro-vide visitors with inspiration, motivation, and rejuvenation. Marveling at herds of gazelles and Oryx and migrating birds, camping amidst the grandeur of Wadi Rum or Dana Reserve,

trekking the ancient caravan trails fromthe highlands of Moab and Edom, hiking thewooded hills of biblical Gilead, or experiencingthe unique, cleansing mud baths of the DeadSea are just a few examples of the treasuresawaiting visitors to this unique kingdom.The new stream of luxury hotels emerging inAmman, Petra, Aqaba and the Dead Sea is justadding quality to a refined product that isdistinct, accessible and friendly. A product thatis home to a new display of modern meeting facilities and unique venues for incentive travel.

GENERAL INFORMATION

6

Capital AmmanOfficial language Arabic & English as a second languageArea 89342 km2Population 6,4 millionsTime zone GMT +2

Airports & BordersIn Jordan

GENERAL INFORMATION

Airports: Jordan has three airports:• most visitors arrive via Queen Alia Interna-tional Airport (QAIA), 30 minutes distant fromAmman city.• Marka Airport mainly serves as a regional airport.• King Hussein International Airport (KHIA) islocated, in Aqaba approximately a 45 minutes flight from Amman. Border Crossings:Jordan shares borders with Israel and the Palestine Territories in the west, Syria in the north, Iraq and Saudi Arabia in the north and south. Between Syria - Jordan, you can cross two borders Jaber or Ramtha. Jaber is 80 kms away from Amman and more popular for visitors.Both borders are open 24/7 throughout the year.

Three border existing between Israel/Palestine – Jordan:• The Allenby/King Hussein Bridge, 57 kms away from Amman, is open Sun - Thu 08:00 – 20:00 for arrivals and 8:00 to 14:00 for departures and Fri - Sat 08:00 – 13:00. It is not possible to obtain here a visa to Jordan.The border is closed on Yom Kippur and the Feast of Sacrifice (Eid al Adha). Buildings, shopping malls, hotels, office towers, banks, hospitals, schools, apartments and villas.• The Sheikh Hussein Crossing/Jordan RiverTerminal in the north, 90 kms away from Amman, is open Sun - Thu: 06:30 – 21:00, Fri-Sat: 08:00 – 20:00. It is closed on Yom Kippur and the Islamic New Year.

8

• The Wadi Araba Crossing/South Border, 7 kmsaway from Aqaba, operates Sun – Thu 06:30 –20:00 and Fri – Sat 08:00 – 20:00. Wadi ArabaCrossing closes on Islamic New Year and YomKippur. No land border connects Egypt - Jordan,but between the two countries daily ferries areoperating. There is the boat service fromNuweibah to Aqaba Port, and another from Tabato Aqaba. The border between Iraq - Jordan iscalled Al Karamah Border Crossing, 331 kmsaway from Amman.

There are three border crossings Saudi Arabia- Jordan, open 24/7 throughout the year: Umari and Mudawara Border as well as the DurraCrossing, close to Aqaba.

Relion & Language

GENERAL INFORMATION

Islam is the official religion of Jordan. The Quran is the Holy Book containingrevealed to the Prophet Mohammed by theAngel Gabriel.

Other religions such as Christianity is widely practiced and respected in Jordan.The official language of Jordan is Arabic, butEnglish is widely spoken and understood, with both languages being commonly used in business and commerce.

10

Local customs

GENERAL INFORMATION

A brief list of Do’s and Don’ts to help visitors fit in with the local culture.Do’s•Do shake hands when meeting people, con-servative veiled women may not reach out.•Do stand up when greeting others.•When finished with your cup of Arabic coffee, do shake your cup from side to side in order to let your host know that you do not wish to drink more. If more coffee is desired, then sim-ply hold your cup out to the person carrying the coffeepot.•Do accept when Arabic coffee is offered to you by your host, as coffee is an important cultural symbol of hospitality, simultaneously extended and accepted as an act of reciprocated goodwill.•Do carry plenty of loose change with you, as many Jordanians usually do not carry adequate change.•Do tip waiters approximately 10% gratuity in addition to the bill (unless service charge is included within the total bill).•Do round your taxi fare up to the nearest tenth when paying your driver.•Do haggle with merchants when shopping.•Do dress conservatively when exploring pub-lic areas of Jordan.•Do be aware that Arabs tend to stand a fraction of the distance closer when conversing than people do in the West.•Do feel free to consume alcoholic beverages, but not in outside public areas.

Don’ts•Don’t interrupt, or pass in front of, a Muslim whomay be praying in a public place.•Don’t openly consume food, beverages, or cigarettesin public places during the holy month of Ramadan.•Don’t dress provocatively when walking outdoors.•Don’t panic if an acquaintance “pecks” you on thecheeks when greeting you, as Arabs have traditionallykissed each other on both cheeks, as a warmgesture of welcome and affection.•Don’t feel uncomfortable, if your host insists on“over feeding” you during a meal, as Arabs tradition-ally view food as an important symbol of hospitality,generosity, and goodwill – the more the better!•Don’t feel that you are required to tip your taxi10 driver, as tipping in such a scenario is not necessary.

11

Useful numbers

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Dial 199 to call Paramedics if you need urgentmedical care.• Dial 199 to call Firefighters in case of a fire.• Dial 191 if you are getting pick-pocketed, robbed or harassed in any way.• Dial 191 if you have any complaints about thepersonnel of touristic sites and hotels.• Dial 190 in case of road accident or any prob-lems related to traffic.• Dial 194 in case of any problems that happen to you while on the highways.HOW CAN I KEEP IN TOUCH?The country has an excellent telecommunica-tions infrastructure including three mobile networks, you can even buy prepaid GSM cards. You will also find Internet facilities in major hotels and in the form of Internet cafés in vir-tually all cities. Besides Arabic newspapers,

there is an excellent daily English-language newspaper, the Jordan Times. Major hotels also offer a wide variety of foreign newspapers and magazines.

Telephone.To call Jordan, you have to dial: + 962 + City Area Code + Number you wish to call.The area code for Amman is 06, though if you are calling from outside Jordan you just dial 6

The following is a list of area codes in Jordan• Ajloun, Irbid, Jerash, Mafraq, Ramtha 02• Balqa, Madaba, Salt, Zarqa 05• Aqaba, Kerak, Ma’an, Tafila, Petra, Wadi Rum 03• Amman, Abu Allanda 06• Mobile Phones – Zain 79• Mobile Phones – Orange 77• Mobile Phones 7812

Taxi

GENERAL INFORMATION

Taxis are inexpensive and often the mostconvenient form of transportation in Jordan,even over substantial distances, such as the tripbetween Amman and Aqaba.

The white-painted “service taxis” ride fixedroutes and are shared. Private taxis are paintedyellow; they can be taken from ranks outsidelarger hotels, or hailed in the street. Taxis havemeters, but these are not always used at night,so it is advisable to agree the cost beforehand.The same applies on long journeys. Taxi drivers are friendly, know the city well, and usually speak English.It is considered appropriate for a woman to sit

in the back of the taxi. Tipping isn’t compul-sory, but it is customary to add about 200 fils to the price on the meter

14

Amman and other cities are relatively small, and most places of interest, hotels and restau-rants are well known. Street addresses are rarely used (mail is delivered only to post office boxes located at neighborhood post office centers and only the larger street names are well known. When giving directions, therefore, people will usually tell you the area, or a nearby landmark (a large hotel, ministry building or supermar-ket, for example) and will start instructions from there. This works more efficiently than it sounds. Amman itself is built on seven hills, or jabals, each of which more or less defines a neighborhood.

Many jabals once had a traffic circle (rounda-bout) at their peak, and although most of thecircles have now been replaced by traffic lights,the junctions are still known as 1st Circle, 2ndCircle.. 8th Circle. Other Amman neighbor-hoods were once separate villages, now takenover by the expanding city.One final word.. if you’re having trouble finding your way, don’t hesitate to ask a passer-by, most people will be delighted to help, and in some cases, they’ll even jump in your car and direct 14 you to your destination!

Getting around

GENERAL INFORMATION

15

Embassies/consulatesin Jordan

GENERAL INFORMATION

Australian +962 6 5807000Austria +962 6 460 11 01Azerbaijan +962 6 593 55 25Belgium +962 79 552 7638Bosnia +962 6 585 6 921Canada +962 6 520 3300Chinese +962 6 551 6136Croatia +962 7 9559 9393Czech Republic +962 6 592 7051Finland +962 6 582 4607France +962 6 460 4630Georgia +962 6 560 3793Germany +962 6 593 03Greece +962 6 592 27245India +962 6 462 2098Indonesia +962 6 592 6908Ireland +962 6 551 6807Israel +962 6 550 3500

Italy +962 6 463 8185Kazakhstan +962 6 592 79 53Malaysia +962 6 590 2400Netherlands +962 6 590 2200Spain +962 6 461 4166Philippines +962 6 592 3748Russia +962 6 464 11 58Ukraine +962 6 592 2402USA +962 6 590 6000UK +962 6 590 9200

16

Austrian +962 6 5660449/5692700Aeroflot +962 6 5663150Arabian airlines +962 6 5603666Alitalia +962 6 4625200Air France +962 6 5100771/4451940British Airways +962 6 5828801Cyprus Airways +962 6 5696719Canadian +962 6 4630879Delta airlines +962 6 4643661Emirates +962 6 4615597/4615571/4615222Etihad airlines +962 6 4680100Egypt airlines +962 6 4639119Gulf airline +962 6 4653613/4653621/4653618Iberia airline +962 6 4625197/4641392/4641391KLM +962 6 4655267Lufthansa +962 6 5200180MEA +962 6 4603500

Olympic Air (creek) +962 6 5664871Oman air +962 6 5004450Qatar airlines +962 6 5679444P.M.I +962 6 5548951Royal Jordanian +962 6 5678168/5202000Romanian +962 6 5620760/4615597/4615571/4615222Turkish +962 6 4641710/4659112/4659102United +962 6 5518158Ukrainian +962 6 5512952/5541892

Airlines in Jordan

GENERAL INFORMATION

17

Frequently asked questionsabout Jordan and itslocal traditions

GENERAL INFORMATION

WHEN ARE THE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS?All tourist sites and many businesses are openon most holidays, but government offices andbanks close. Friday and Saturday are the officialweekend days, although all tourist sites andmany businesses are open on Saturday as well.Most Jordanian holidays are based on theIslamic religious calendar, and so they vary byabout two weeks every year depending on thelunar calendar. During the holy month ofRamadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset,so it would be prudent if you try to be respect-ful and not consume drinks, food and cigarettes outside of restaurants and tourist sites.WHAT TIME IS IT IN JORDAN?Standard time zone GMT +2WHAT’S THE VOLTAGE? The electricity is 220 volts, so bring along a transformer if you need oneDO I HAVE TO TIP?Tipping is not compulsory, but is expected.WHAT ABOUT THE FOOD AND DRINK?

Eating is the most popular national pastimehence the Jordanian cuisine is quite refined.Most hotels offer continental breakfast andbuffet dinner with a choice of western andArabic foods. Restaurants at sites usually offertraditional Arabic food or buffet lunches. In themajor cities you’ll also find internationalrestaurants, including McDonald’s, Burger King and other healthy restaurants! You are allowed to consume alcoholic drinks freely.DO TOURISTS HAVE TO PAY TAXES ONHOTEL BILLS?Yes, they do. 22% consisting of service chargeand municipality tax are always added to eitherhotel and restaurant bills.VISITING JORDAN WITH KIDS?There are plenty of activities for kids, especiallyif you are going during the summer. Fromvisiting Petra, to floating in the Dead Sea orcamping in Wadi RUM, these activities arefamily-friendly and will not bore the children.18

If you are staying in Amman, you can find horseriding, children’s museums and parks to keepthe young ones entertained.WHAT’S THE OFFICIAL CURRENCY?The Jordanian Dinar (JD) is divided into 1,000 fils,although many people refer to piasters. One piasterequals 10 fils, so there are 100 piasters in a dinar.Notes: 5, 10 and 20 and 50 dinars.Coins: 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250 fils, 1/2 and 1 dinar.US$1 = JD 0.708 (JD IS PEGGED TO THE US$)You will get the best exchange rate at exchangeshops and banks, although the banks at theborders and in the airports charge a smallcommission. If you carry Travellers checks, youwill be charged a commission ranging from JD 3to JD 8 even at a bank, sometimes for eachcheck, so carry larger denominations. Hotelswill charge a premium for changing money, sotry to avoid this. All Banks are closed on Fridaysand Saturdays, though some exchange shopsremain open.WHAT’S THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE?Arabic is the official language. English is widelyspoken throughout the Kingdom. Most roadsigns are in English.WHAT’S THE WEATHER LIKE?Jordan has a long and pleasant spring and fall,from March through May and from Septemberthrough November. Rain occasionally falls fromDecember to April. The summer months are hot,but with little humidity. In the Jordan Valley,around the Dead Sea and in Aqaba on the Red18 Sea the winters are pleasant.

Frequently asked questionsabout Jordan and itslocal traditions

GENERAL INFORMATION

IS IT SAFE?The first thing you will notice when you arriveto Jordan is that the people are very warm andwelcoming to tourists. You will be pleasantlysurprised by the sense of security you will findin Jordan- it is one of the safest places to travelin the world. Jordan maintains good relationswith ALL of its neighbors, and is truly an oasisof peace in this region. The country is fairlyliberal, westernized, and alcohol is freelyavailableIS ALCOHOL ALLOWED?Most hotels and restaurants offer a wide rangeof alcoholic beverages, with excellent selectionof local wine and beer.HOW SHOULD I DRESS?When planning your clothing needs (particularlywomen), remember that you will be travellingto the Muslim county. Clothes should not berevealing. For example: women and men can

wear shorts, though it’s preferable for women toavoid wearing them while walking in Amman’scity center. By following above guidelines, youwill feel more relaxed. Make sure you bring withyou comfortable walking shoes, a hat and sunblock. The weather is usually warm in summer,but winters can be very cold, evenings are coolyear round, so bring adequate warm clothingwith you. If you were sleeping in the desert thenyou would need a warm sweater and Jacket evenin summerPOSTAL SERVICEAs well as post offices, most 4 and 5-star hotelsoffer postal services. Post office opening hoursare:Summer: Sat-Thurs 0700-1900, Fri 0700-1300Winter: Sat-Thurs 0700-1700, Fri 0700-1300There are also a number of internationalcourier services, including DHL, FedEx, TNTInternational, UPS, etc.20

CREDIT CARDSCredit cards are accepted at hotels, restaurantsand larger shops, including American Express,Visa, Diners Club, and MasterCard. Please notethat many smaller shops still prefer cashpayment in the Jordanian currency, and it’sessential for shopping in the local souks.

Daily Excursions &Activities

GENERAL INFORMATION

Experience unmatched tourism servicesfeaturing magnificent world heritage sitessuch as :• Petra by Night• The Desert of Wadi Rum• Jerash• Ajloun• Um Qays• The Fortress of Kerak• Madaba• Bethany (Baptism Site) beyond the Jordan• Jordan valley & the Dead Sea• Petra - the new 7th World Wonder• Mount Nebo• Amman• The Desert Castles• Shobak - Crusader castle• Ajloun Castle• Hammamat (Hot Springs) Ma’een, and many more

24

Desert adventures offers some of the mostout-of-the-ordinary Jordan tours and vaca-tions. Many of the Jordan tour packages feature unique opportunities pertaining to Jordan tourism, that you are not likely to find anywhere else.

• 3days & 2Nights• 4days & 3Nights• 5days & 4Nights• 6days & 5Nights• 7days & 6Nights• 8days & 7Nights• 9days & 9Nights• 10days & 9Nights

Jordan has a lot to offer to its visitors.Our itineraries are carefully planned tomaximize your clients’ available time whileincorporating more than the obviouspoints of interest, adding elements of sur-prise and hidden treasures found well off the beaten path.

We also ensure that your clients have time torelax and enjoy the beauty and diversity of our country.We believe that Jordan is the ultimate uniquedestination, and we strive to show it in its true colors.

We only use fluent, knowledgeable, hand-picked certified guides and choose the safest, most reliable drivers and transport companies.

25

Madaba - Fragment ofthe past are revealed inand around this famousCity of Mosaics

BIBLICAL TOURS

Just 30 kilometers from Amman, along the5,000-year-old Kings´ Highway, is one of themost memorable places in the Holy Land. Afterpassing through a string of ancient sites, thefirst city you reach is Madaba, known as the“City of Mosaics”.Best known for its spectacular Byzantine andUmayyad mosaics, Madaba is home to thefamous 6th century Mosaic Map of Jerusalemand the Holy Land. With two million pieces ofvividly colored local stone, it depicts hills andvalleys, villages and towns as far as the NileDelta. The Madaba Mosaic Map covers the floor of the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, which is located northwest of the city Centre. The church was built in 1896 AD, over the remains of a much earlier 6th century Byzantine church. The mosaic panel enclosing the Map was originally around

15.6 X 6m, 94 square meters, only about a quarter of which is preserved. Other mosaic masterpieces found in the church of the Virgin and the Apostles and in the Archaeological Museum, depict a ram-pant profusion of flowers and plants, birds and fish, animals and exotic beasts, as well as scenes from mythology and the everyday pursuits ofhunting, fishing and farming. Literally,hundreds of other mosaics from the 5th through the 7th centuries are scattered throughout Mada-ba’s churches and homes. In line with Jordan’s commitment to restoring and preserving its mo-saic masterpieces, Madaba’s extensive archaeologi-cal Park and Museum complex encompasses the remains of several Byzantine churches, including the outstanding mosaics of the Church of the Vir-gin and the Hyppolytus Hall, part of a 6th century mansion.26

Mount Nebo

BIBLICAL TOURS

From Mount Nebo’s windswept promontory,overlooking the Dead Sea, the Jordan RiverValley, Jericho and the distant hills of Jerusa-lem, Moses viewed the Holy Land of Canaan that he would never enter.He died and was buried in Moab, “in the val-ley opposite Beth-peor”. His tomb remains unknown. After consulting the Oracle, Jeremiah reportedly hid the Ark of the Covenant, the Tent and the Altar of Incense at Mount Nebo. Mount Nebo became a place of pilgrimage for early Christians from Jerusalem and a small church was built there in the 4th century to commemorate the end of Moses’ life. Some of the stones from that church remain in their original place in the wall around the apse area. The church was subsequently expanded in the 5th and 6th centuries into the present-day largebasilica with its stunning collection of Byz-antine mosaics.The serpentine Cross, which stands just outside the sanctuary, is symbolic of the bronze (or brazen) serpent taken by Moses into the desert and the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.

27

Bethany beyond theJordan

BIBLICAL TOURS

Less than two kilometers east of the Jordan Riveris an important place associated with the lives ofJesus and John the Baptist (pbut) - the settlementof Bethany, where John lived and baptized. John1:28 refer to it as “Bethany beyond the Jordan,where John was baptizing”. In John 10:40 it ismentioned as the place to which Jesus fled forsafety after being threatened with stoning inJerusalem: “Then Jesus went back across theJordan to the place where John had been baptizingin the early days”. This settlement beyond theBethany has recently been identified on the southbank of the small perennials stream named WadiKharrar, just east of the Jordan River and oppositeJericho. It is being excavated, protected, and madeaccessible for visitors. The small natural hillforming the core of Bethany is called Elijah’s Hill,or Tell Mar Elias in Arabic. Local tradition for

thousands of years has identified it as the placefrom where Elijah ascended to heaven. Bethany’sancient remains include structures from the firstcentury settlement of John the Baptist, includinglarge plastered pools with steps for full immer-sion, and the 5th - 6th century remains of theByzantine period settlement called Ainon orSaphsaphas and depicted on the 6th centuryMadabaa mosaic map of the holy land. WhenJesus spent 40 days in the wilderness after hisbaptism (Mark 1:12), he had been in the stark,desolate marl area immediately east of JordanRiver and north of Bethany. He spread hismessage throughout Transjordan on severaldifferent occasions, including during his lastjourney from Galilee to Jerusalem (Matthew 19

28

PetraA Rose–Red City,Half as Old as The Time

The giant red mountains and vast mausoleumsof a departed race have nothing in commonwith modern civilization, and ask nothing of itexcept to be appreciated at their true value - asone of the greatest wonders ever wrought byNature and Man. Although much has beenwritten about Petra, nothing really prepares you for this amazing place. It has to be seen to be believed. Often described as the eighth wonder of the ancient world, it is without doubt Jordan’s most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction. It is a vast, unique city, carved into the sheer rock face by the Nabataeans, anindustrious Arab people who settled here morethan 2000 years ago, turning it into an impor-tant junction for the silk, spice and other traderoutes that linked China, India and southernArabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and entrance

to the city is through the Siq, a narrow gorge, over 1 kilometer in length, which is flanked on either side by soaring, 80 meters high cliffs. Just walking through the Siq is an experience initself. The colors and formations of the rocks are dazzling. As you reach the end of the Siq you will catch your first glimpse of Al-Khazneh. This is an awe-inspiring experience. A massive façade, 30m wide and 43m high, carved out of the sheer, dusky pink, rock-face and dwarfing everything around it.

It was carved in the early 1st century,as the tomb of an important Nabataean King and represents the engineering genius of these ancient people.

HITORICAL TOURS

29

Little Petra,Al Beidha

HITORICAL TOURS

After Petra, Al Beidha or Little Petra is the nextmost important site in Wadi Musa. This site isonly a few kilometers from Petra. Little Petra isliterally hidden away in the center of a moun-tain with a classical temple standing guard outside the mini-siq. Little Petra appears to have been an important suburb of the city of Petra and is at the point where several ancient caravan routes met.

The routes linked Wadi Araba with Gaza, Egyptand the Mediterranean coast. The Neolithicvillage of Beidha is located south of ‘Little Petra’ (and about 10 kilometres north of the Petra Archaeological Park) It is thought to have

been occupied from 7200BC to 6500BC, which makes it one of the first settled tvillages in hu-man history.Around that time the settlement burned down,and was rebuild. After its reconstruction, it wasonly inhabited for a short while, before beingtotally abandonned. Remains of the housesand a retaining wall are still visible today. Theyare remnants of one of the first transitions from semi-settled nomads to settled villagers and the start of an agrarian economy.At the Beidha Neolithic site, you can viewscientific reconstructions of what the Neolithicdwellings may have looked like.

30

Petra by Night

HITORICAL TOURS

To visit Petra during daylight is an awe-inspiring experience, to experience it at night by the light of 1,800 candles is truly an out-of-thisworld experience!

Walk through the Siq to the Khazneh follow-ing a candle-lit path and enjoy the haunting music of the Bedouin at the Treasury.

31

Jerash, a Rome awayfrom Rome

HITORICAL TOURS

The ancient city of Jerash boasts an unbro-ken chain of human occupation dating back more than 6,500 years. Jerash lies on a plain surrounded by hilly wooded areas and fertile basins. Conquered by GeneralPompey in 63 BC, it came under Roman rule and was one of the ten great Roman cities, the Decapolis League. The city’s golden age came under Roman rule, during which time it was known as Gerasa, and the site is now generally acknowledged to be one of the best preserved Roman provincial towns in the world.Hidden for centuries in sand before being excavated and restored over the past 70 years, Jerash reveals a fine example of the grand, formal provincial Roman urbanism that is found throughout the Middle East, comprising paved and colonnaded streets, soaring hilltop

temples, handsome theatres, spacious publicsquares and plazas, baths, fountains and city walls pierced by towers and gates Beneath its external Graeco - Roman veneer, Jerash also preserves a subtle blend of east and west. Its architecture, religion and languages reflect a process by which two powerful cultures meshed and coexisted, The Graeco - Roman world of the Mediterranean basin and the traditionsof the Arab Orient. The modern city of Jerash can be found to the east of the ruins. While the old and new share a city wall, careful preser-vation and planning has seen the city itself develop well away from the ruins so there is no encroachment on the sites of old.

32

Ajloun Castle(Qala,a El-Rabath)

HITORICAL TOURS

Through a beautiful pine-forest and olivegroves, brings you to the town of Ajloun, whereHadrian stayed over the winter of 129-30 AD,and built himself an arch well outside the town,leaving unbonded its sides for future citywalls to come out to meet it. Here you will findthe Castle of Ajloun or Qalaat Errabadh (Arabicfor “Hilltop Castle”) from which there is asplendid view westwards into the Jordan Valley.It looks like a Crusader fortress, but it was builtby Muslims in 1184-85 as a military fort andbuffer to protect the region from invadingCrusader forces.

It was built on the orders of the local governor, Ezz Eddin Osama bin Munqethe, a nephew of the Ayyubid leader Salahuddin Al-Ayyoubi (Saladin), as a direct retort to the new Latin

castle of Belvoir (Kawkab El-Hawa) on the op-posite side of the valley between the Tiberias and Besan, and as a base to develop and control the iron mines of Ajloun.

34

Amman

HITORICAL TOURS

A modern city Built on the sands of time Am-man, the modern and ancient capital of Jordan, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the World. The city’s modern buildings blend with the remnants of ancient civiliza-tions. The profusion of gleaming white houses kebab stalls with roasting meat, and tiny cafes where rich Arabian coffee is sipped in the after-noon sunshine, conjure a mood straight from a thousand and one nights. Amman was known in the old testament as Rabbath-Ammon,the capital of the Ammonites around 1200 BC;it was also referred to as “The city of waters”.In Greco-Roman times in the 3rd century BC, the city was renamed Philadelphia (Greek for “The Brotherhood Love”) after the Ptolemaic ruler Philadelphus (283-246 BC).

The city later came under Seleucid as well as Nabataean rule until the Roman General Pom-pey annexed Syria and made Philadelphia part of the Decapolis League – a loose alliance of ten free city-states ,bound by powerful commercial, political, and cultural interests under overall allegiance to Rome.

35

Pella, Jordan

HITORICAL TOURS

Magnificently set in a fold of the hills that risefrom the Jordan Valley 78 km north of Amman,Pella; known in Arabic as Tabaqat Fahl; is one of the most ancient sites in Jordan and a favorite of archaeologists being exceptionally rich in antiquities. It is perfectly situated, for there is a spring here which issues into a small river and never runs dry. The tell itself seems

to have been continuously occupied since Neo-lithic times for some flints from this period have been found there; and some recent finds 2 km north of the tell even date t Paleolithic times, around 100,000 years ago.

36

Shobak-Crusader castle

HITORICAL TOURS

The castle is perched on top of a small hillnortheast of the town of Shobak. Inside thefortress there are two churches, the first ofwhich is to the left of the entrance and up thestairs. There are ruins of baths, cisterns andrainwater pipes, in addition to millstones forpressing olives, a few archways and other workswhich have stood test of time.The caretaker can point out a shaft from whicha set of stairs cut into the rock leads down to aspring below the castle. The shaft has 375 steps

and is one of the deepest wells ever cut byCrusader forces. A side road leads to thecastle from the King’s Highway about twokilometers north of Shobak village. From thereit is another four kilometers to the castle.

37

Umm Qays

HITORICAL TOURS

Situated 110 km north of Amman on a broadpromontory 378 meters above sea level with amagnificent view over the Yarmouk River, theGolan Heights, and Lake Tiberias, this town wasknown as Gadara, one of the most brilliantancient Greco-Roman cities of the Decapolis;and according to the Bible, the spot where Jesus(pbuh) cast out the Devil from two demoniacs(mad men) into a herd of pigs (Mathew 8:28-34).

Archaeological surveys indicate that Gadara was occupied as early as the 7th century BC.The Greek historian, Polybius, described theregion as being under Ptolemaic control at thetime. The Seleucid ruler Antiochus III con-quered it in 218 BC, naming the city Antiochiaand Seleucia. In 63 BC, Pompey liberated Ga-dara and joined it to the Roman league of ten cities, the Decapolis

38

The Desert Castles

HITORICAL TOURS

The Desert Castles, which were built mostlyunder the Umayyad’s (661-750 AD), stand as anevidence to the beginnings of Arab architectur-al civilization. They are located east of Amman, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Different as-sumptions were made about the main function of these original monuments of early Islamic art; residences, weekend cottages, caravanserais, or hunting lodges for the Omayyad rulers, theywere also used as the domain of Omayyadprinces in the 8th Century. One of the otherpossibilities of their use is that they usedthem to control the path from Damascus toMecca. The areas where they were built are forthe most part flat and the castles are made of amixture of lava, sandstone, limestone and basalt stones. The closest is al Kharranah, which is about an hour’s drive from Amman.

The next one is Amra Castle, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the last cas-tle in the northeast is Al Azraq castle which is located in the town of Azraq, 20 minutes away from the previous castle. Other castles are scat-tered throughout the country and almost all have interesting elements of architecture and mystique.

39

The Fortressof Kerak

HITORICAL TOURS

The magnificent Crusader fortress of Keraksoars above its valleys and hills like a great shipriding waves of rock. Kerak’s origins go backlong before the Crusaders; the earliest remainsare Iron Age. The fortress, located 124 kmsouth of Amman, was built in 1142 by Payen leBouteiller, lord of Montreal and of the provinceof Oultre Jourdain, on the remains of earliercitadels, which date back to Nabataean times.He made Kerak the new capital of the province,for it was superbly situated on the King’sHighway ,where it could control all traffic fromnorth and south and grow rich by the imposi-

tion of road-tolls . There were -as there aretoday- two parts of Kerak, both contained with-in stout walls, but the citadel and its fortressare separated from the town by a deep dry moat. The fortress is typically Crusader, with dimly lit stone-vaulted rooms and corridors leading into each other through heavy arches and doorways. The best preserved are under-ground, and to be reached through a massive door .

40

Azraq Wetland Reserve

NATURE TOURS

Established to conserve the uniquely preciousoasis located in the heart of Jordan’s easterndesert, between a limestone desert in thewest and a basalt desert in the east. It isdistinguished by lush marshland and naturalwater collections that form glittering pools andstreams, giving Azraq its name, which is theArabic word for ‘blue’.

In 1977, the Ramsar Convention declared AzraqWetland and the adjacent mudflat (Qa) as amajor station for migratory birds on theAfrican-Eurasian flyway. A variety of birds flock to the reserve each year, stopping for a short rest along their migration routes,staying for the winter, or breeding within thewetland.

41

Wadi Feynan

NATURE TOURS

Escape the beaten path. A sensory experienceawaits. Deep in the heart of the mountainousDana Biosphere Reserve, at the end of a ruggedtrack, an idyllic candle-lit lodge rests in themagnificent Wadi Feynan.

Hailed as one of the top fifty ecolodges in theworld ,the solar powered Feynan Ecolodge of-fers the most developed eco-experience in Jor-dan; an experience made possible by a uniquepartnership between EcoHotels and the Royal

Society for the Conservation of Nature, aJordanian NGO devoted to the protection of the Kingdom’s finest natural landscapes.

42

Wadi Rum

NATURE TOURS

A journey to Wadi Rum is a journey to anotherworld. A vast, silent place, timeless and starklybeautiful.. Wadi Rum is one of Jordan’s maintourist attractions being the most stunningdesert scape in the World, lying 320 kmsouthwest of Amman,120 km south of Petra, and only 68 km north of Aqabaa.Uniquely shaped massive mountains risevertically out of the pink desert sand, whichseparate one dark mass from another in amagnificent desert scenery of strange breath-taking beauty, with towering cliffs of weatheredstone.. The faces of the sheer rock cliffs havebeen eroded by the wind into faces of men,animals and monsters. Wadi Rum is probablybest known because of its connection with theenigmatic British officer T.E. Lawrence, who was based here during the Great Arab Revolt of

1917-18, and as the setting for the film thatcarried his name “Lawrence of Arabia”.everywhere in this moonscape place areindications of man’s presence since the earliestknown times.

Scattered around are flint hand axes, while onthe rocks at the feet of the mountains the names of ancient travelers a there is emptiness and silence.

43

Mujib Nature Reserve

NATURE TOURS

Covers an area of 212 km2 , Bordering the DeadSea at 416 meters below sea level, the MujibNature Reserve surrounds Wadi Mujib,a deep and majestic canyon that cuts through the rugged highlands and drains into the Dead Sea.

Seasonal and permanent streams flow throughmany of the Wadis, supporting luxurious aquatic plants in the river These rivers also enable this otherwise arid area to support a remarkable diversity of wildlife. It is also one of the major sources that compensate the high evaporation rate of the Dead Sea44

Dana Biosphere Reserve

NATURE TOURS

Is the only reserve in Jordan that includes thefour different bio-geographical zones of thecountry; Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian, Saharo Arabian and Sudanian penetration. As such, it is the most diverse nature reserve in the country in terms of habitats and species, hosting several vegetation types, including the Phoenician Juniper, evergreen oak, sand dunes, acacia, and rocky sudanian, among others.It is also home to the southernmost remainingforest community of Cypress Cupressussimpervirens. More than 800 plant species can

be found within the reserve, three of which have only ever been recorded in Dana and nowhere else in the world. Their Latin names include the word ‘Dana’ in them.

45

Jordan Valley &The Dead Sea

LEISURE & WELLNESS TOURS

Nature’s living miracle, A place to rejuvenateand restore both body and soul ..Without a doubt, the world’s most amazingplace, the Jordan Rift Valley is a dramatic,beautiful landscape, which at the Dead Sea,is over 400 meters (1,312 ft.) below sea level. The lowest point on the face of the earth, this vast, stretch of water receives a number of incoming rivers, including the River Jordan.

Once the waters reach the Dead Sea they areland-locked and have nowhere to go, so theyevaporate, leaving behind a dense, rich,cocktail of salts and minerals that supplyindustry, agriculture and medicine with some of its finest products The Dead Sea is flanked

by mountains to the east and the rolling hills ofJerusalem to the west, giving it an almostother-worldly beauty. Although sparselypopulated and serenely quiet now, the area isbelieved to have been home to five Biblicalcities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Adman,Zebouin and Zoar.

48

Hammamat(Hot Springs) Ma’een

LEISURE & WELLNESS TOURS

The hot springs and baths of Hammamat Ma’een have been enjoyed for therapeutic and leisure pursuits for thousands of years.The public springs and commercial resort areaare located 35 kilometers southwest of Madaba,along a winding road which crosses some of the most spectacular territory around the Dead Sea.Hammamat Ma’een should not be confusedwith the actual town of Ma’een, which is 15kilometers before the sprin.

49

Aqaba, Jordan

LEISURE & WELLNESS TOURS

The Red Sea resort of Aqaba, which was inancient times, the main port for shipments from the Red Sea to the Far East, known by the names of Aila, Ailana, Elana, Ailath, Elath, Ayla and Wayla. Aqaba is warm, sunny and inviting,fringed with palm tree lapped by the crystal clear waters of the Gulf of Aqaba, cooled by a steady northerly breeze, and ringed mountains that change in color with the change of the hours. Snorkeling, water skiing, wind surfing, para-sailing fishing and a variety of other water sports, including unsurpassed scuba diving are just some of the popular activities to partake in.50

DUBAI, UAE (HEAD OFFICE)Al Barsha Boutique BuildingAl Barsha 1, P. O. Box 25488, DubaiT +971 4 45 04 450F +971 4 45 04 451info@desertadventures.ae

ABU DHABI, UAEP.O. Box 45377 Abu DhabiAl Raha Beach Hotel, 1st floorT +971 2 55 66 155F +971 2 55 66 955abudhabi@desertadventures.ae

QATAR & BAHRAINT +971 4 45 04 450F +971 4 45 04 451qatar@desertadventures.ae bahrain@desertadventures.ae

For online booking please log on toonline.desertadventures.com

WWW.DESERTADVENTURES.COM

MUSCAT, OMANP. O. Box 809, MuscatAl Khawair, Shatti Al Qurum, Al Sarooj St.Way 3054, Villa 4321T +968 24 601800F +968 24 60 1300oman@desertadventures.co.om

AMMAN, JORDANP. O. Box 3688, AmmanHussain Al Husseini Building #145Office #115, Mecca St.T +962 6 5511755F +962 6 5511781info.jordan@desertadventures.com