Book Your Bucket List - Visit Jordan - Part 2

Q: BONUS: What does the ideal Jordan trip look like for first-time Jordan visitors?

There are limitless itinerary options available for travel in Jordan, but for a first timer, here is an itinerary I would recommend:

Day One – Amman Arrive in Amman and transfer to your hotel. If you arrive early enough in the day, consider an Amman City Tour where you will explore the old city of Amman, the Citadel, and the Roman Theatre.

Day Two – Desert Castles Fine mosaics, frescoes, stone and stucco carvings, and illustrations, inspired by the best in Persian and Greco-Roman tradition, tell countless stories of life as it was during the eighth century. Several of these preserved Castles, all of which are clustered to the east and south of Amman, can be visited on one-day or two-day loops from Amman. Don’t miss out on visiting Quseir Amra, one of Jordan’s five UNESCO World Heritage Sites!

Head back to your hotel to freshen up for an evening of wine-tasting at The Winemaker or JR The Wine Experience where you will sample and learn how some of Jordan’s finest wines are made.

Day Three – As-Salt and Iraq Al-Amir Just thirty minutes outside of Amman, visit As-Salt, an ancient town that was once the most important settlement in the area between the Jordan Valley and the Eastern Desert. Because of its history as an important trading link, it was a significant place for the region’s many rulers.

Then, as you head back to Amman, visit Iraq Al-Amir located within the hills. The area has many springs and is famous for its olive trees, in addition to other forest trees. It was built by a Persian prince in the third century BC. There are many caves in the hills that date back to the Copper Age. Precious artifacts, pottery, glass and weapons date back to the Bronze Age and the Nabataean and Roman periods, and gold Islamic coins and the silver Ptolemaic hoard recently discovered at Iraq Al-Amir are displayed at the Exhibition of Arab Heritage and Recent Discoveries, which was opened in 1992.

Day Four – Jerash Your day will begin traveling north to the ancient city of Jerash, “The Crossroads of Civilizations,'' remarkable for its unbroken chain of human occupation. Here, in the hills of Gilead, you will find remains from Neolithic times, as well as Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Umayyad civilizations.

Day Five – Bethany Beyond the Jordan, Mount Nebo, and Madaba The Baptism site is located just east of the Jordan River – “Bethany Beyond the Jordan, Where John Baptized Jesus Christ.” Bethany Beyond the Jordan has emerged as a major new destination not only for religious pilgrims but for tourists from around the world.

Following your visit to Bethany Beyond the Jordan, head to “Mount Nebo, Where Moses Saw the Holy Land”. Sixty years of excavation on the hilltop of Mount Nebo, where Moses viewed the Holy Land and is said to be buried, reveals a basilica church with one of the most magnificent mosaic floors in the world. From the platform in front of the church, you will have an inspiring, breath-taking view across the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea to the rooftops of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. You will see what Moses saw.

After Mount Nebo, head to Madaba, “The City of Mosaics,” which was once a Byzantine community and one of the most important Christian communities east of the Jordan River. Today, it harbors a collection of extraordinary mosaics. First, enjoy a delectable lunch at Haret Jdoudna in the heart of the city. Following lunch, visit the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George which features a vivid sixth-century Byzantine mosaic map showing Jerusalem and other holy sites.

Day Six – Karak, Shobak Castle, and Petra By Night On the way to Petra, make a quick stop at the ancient crusader city of Karak, dominated by the castle built by Baldwin I of Jerusalem in 1142 AD, which greatly impressed Lawrence of Arabia on his study tour in 1909. He spent many days exploring tunnels and dungeons and sketching the castle. Enjoy exploring this maze of stone-vaulted halls and endless passageways, and make sure to bring a flashlight with you. If time permits, check out Shobak Castle, another reminder of former Crusader glory, less than an hour north of Petra. Once called "Mont Real,” Shobak dates from the same turbulent period as Karak, perched on the side of a mountain, with a grand sweep of fruit trees below.

Visit Petra by candlelight on the night of your arrival. The Petra Night Show is a magical way to see part of the rock city and explore the old city, which has become a world wonder. This incomparable experience starts by walking the entire Siq to the Treasury, lit with over 1,500 candles. This is a major attraction due to the spectacular view it has.

Petra by Night runs every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday of each week.

Day Seven – Wadi Rum No trip to Jordan is complete without a visit to the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wadi Rum. This extraordinary desert landscape is where Lawrence of Arabia operated throughout 1917 and launched the strike on Aqaba. Venture off the beaten path in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Explore the desert and see the “Seven Pillars of Wisdom” up close. Wadi Rum is indeed a foreign world, so make sure to take in the stars at night as you lay by a campfire outside your Bedouin tent, but only after tasting the best cuisine of Wadi Rum, Zarb, which is cooked in the ground! Lastly, tea at sunset in the middle of the desert is really a MUST!

Day Eight – Aqaba The Red Sea and its surrounding pink mountains are truly one of nature’s most breathtaking sites. Enjoy a lunch cruise on the Red Sea, and make sure to enjoy one of the many water sport options offered. One of the most beautiful attractions in Aqaba is the untouched coral reefs. Scuba dive through the shipwreck or snorkel in one of the reserves. Sunbathe at your leisure and spend the evening walking and exploring downtown Aqaba. Go shopping in the souq, then stop for tea/coffee and chat with locals at a local coffee shop. Make sure to try Jordan’s famous fish dish, Sayadeyeh.

Day Nine & Ten – Dead Sea The Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth at 1,312 ft. (400 meters) below sea level. The curative properties of the Dead Sea have been recognized since the days of Queen Cleopatra. A series of good roads, excellent hotels with spa and fitness facilities, as well as archaeological and spiritual discoveries make this region as enticing to today’s international visitors as it was to kings, emperors, traders, prophets, and pilgrims in antiquity.

Enjoy a relaxing day and treat yourselves to a soothing massage, or try the renowned healing powers of the minerals right from the sea’s muddy floor. Book a beautiful sunset dinner at the Dead Sea Panorama Complex that sports an indoor dining area and an outdoor dining terrace where you will enjoy the dazzling views of the Dead Sea and the surrounding mountains at every turn.

Lastly, make sure to check out the exhibition at the Dead Sea Museum, located within the Dead Sea Panoramic Complex, which covers all aspects of the Dead Sea including its geological, ecological, archaeological, and historical origins, as well as the future conservation of the Dead Sea.

Day Eleven – Transfer back to Amman to the Airport for Departure

Image Credit: Jordan Tourism Board