Highlights of Jordan including Istanbul extension

Let's begin our adventure to Jordan! Today we travel to Jordan's capital, Amman, via Istanbul. 

Depending on flight times we will arrive into Amman in the late evening on Day 1 or the early morning of Day 2 on an overnight flight with early check-in guaranteed.

After arriving into Amman either the day before or early in the morning on Day 2, this afternoon we will enjoy a panoramic tour of Amman, the capital of Jordan. Here, we will visit the Citadel, the home of the Temple of Hercules. It dates back to Roman and Byzantine times but some of the ruins go as far back as the Bronze Age. We will also explore the Roman Theatre, the largest theatre in Jordan, the Folklore and Archeological Museum and King Hussein's Mosque and see why this city built on rolling hills is one of the most interesting in the Middle East.

Today you will enjoy a full-day excursion to the Roman city of Jerash, accompanied by your local guide. In the ruins of this ancient city you will see stunning Roman architecture that is in remarkable condition considering it is nearly 2000 years old. Walk down the Maximus Cardo and gaze up at the Doric columns, before checking out Ajlun Castle, a fortress built in AD1184 that has survived two earthquakes. 

Today, Let's explore 3 of the most preserved Castles in the Eastern Desert starting with Qasr Kharana, then Qasr Amra ending with Qasr Al-Azraq. Castles are built between 7th and 8th Century and give impressive examples of Islamic Art and Architecture.  

Then you will visit the Iraq El-Amir in Amman which is a Women Cooperative Society founded with the aim of creating jobs opportunities for women in the Iraq El-Amir village, located outside of Amman. The women at Iraq Al Amir are renowned for their fresh and delicious produce, often catering for visitors and clients!  

Today, Let's discover Mukawir, known as Machaerus and it is the location of the imprisonment and beheading of John the Baptist, following by the visit of Umm Ar-Rasas, an archeological site which contains ruins from the Roman, Byzantine, and early Muslim civilizations. Among the portions excavated so far include a military camp and several churches. For its unique blend of civilizations, Um Ar-Rasas was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004. The most important discovery on the site was the mosaic floor of the Church of St Stephen.   

Let's continue our journey to the ancient city of Petra with a visit en-route to Kerak Castle, a large crusader castle perched on a hilltop overlooking a vast valley, it is one of the three largest castles in the Levant Area. 

Enjoy a full-day excursion to the magical 'Red City' of Petra, an ancient city famous for its rock cut architecture, water conduits and pink stone structures. Walking through the Siq (a narrow corridor in the mountain) to enter the city makes the experience even more jaw dropping, as do the buildings. The Greek temple of Al Khazneh, the Hadrian Gate, the courthouse and the Amphitheatre are many of the notable structures that you should not miss when visiting this hidden gem. The actual place where Lawrence of Arabia led his revolt, and featured in the films Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade and Arabian Nights, Petra is no ordinary Middle Eastern city.

After a morning visiting the wonderful Little Petra, followed by lunch at Hyatt Zaman, get ready for an exciting afternoon excursion to the desert of Wadi Rum, also known as 'The Valley of the Moon'. Your excursion will include a jeep tour of the desert, where you can see prehistoric carvings in the rock walls. This desert was also used as the setting for Peter O'Toole's film Lawrence of Arabia. Enjoy a memorable time watching the sunset in the middle of the desert. 

Then you will be back on the road for an hour drive to Aqaba, located at the edge of the Red Sea and well known for its seabed. Enjoy relaxing evening at your hotel in Aqaba. 

This morning a nice city tour of Aqaba is waiting for you! Your guide will escort you through the Aqaba Fort, the oldest church in the world and the Aqaba Aquarium before walking in the old souq where you can do some shopping.

You will have your afternoon at leisure so you can enjoy some relaxing time at the beach.  

Today you will visit the town of Bethany was where Jesus performed his biggest miracle: raising Lazarus from the dead. It is also believed to be the place of his baptism. Wander around the baptismal site’s archaeological findings dating back to the 1st Century AD, confirming the site was inhabited during the lives of Jesus and John the Baptist with a Byzantine monastery and churches. At the end of the day, you will arrive at the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. 

This morning you will be taken to explore more significant holy sites. At Mount Nebo, gaze over the Promised Land of Moses, and see one of the oldest maps in the world at the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George.  

On your free afternoon, Enjoy the experience of a swim in the mineral rich water of the Dead Sea, which is renowned for curing all and any skin ailments. 

This Morning Let’s drive North to visit the ancient city in Northern Jordan is Byzantine Umm Qais, an important city of the Decapolis where poets and artists were inspired. you can enjoy the panoramic views from ancient Byzantine city of Umm Qais, where Christ a place where Jesus Christ is said to have performed an exorcism. 

You will have a free afternoon for shopping, sightseeing or relaxing. Why not go for a dip in the hotel's pool or relax at the spa. 

Depending on flight times you will either stay an additional night at your hotel and fly to Istanbul early in the morning on Day 12 or have late check out included this evening and fly to Istanbul in the late evening. 

Upon arrival in Istanbul you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel (early check-in is guaranteed, may vary according to flight times). The afternoon will be at leisure, to relax and recharge the batteries.

*Please note that your extension in Istanbul is based on an individual rather than a group format.

Enjoy a morning city tour of Istanbul, which will include visits to the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Mosque (view from the outside), the Egyptian Obelisks and the Roman Hippodrome. This wonderful city is a perfect combination of modern and ancient, displaying a dazzling range of architecture from majestic skyscrapers to historic mosques, temples and churches. The afternoon will be at leisure, to relax and get to know your surroundings.

*In order to preserve the beauty and integrity of the iconic Blue Mosque, restoration work is ongoing at this site. Some phases of the restoration involve scaffolding; thus a clear view of the entire Mosque may not be possible. 

You will have today free to take in some sightseeing and shopping at your own pace. You might like to visit the Underground Cistern, a fascinating network of water channels and ornamental pillars, dating back to Roman times. Another Istanbul highlight is the Grand Bazaar, a sprawling, lively covered market where you can haggle with vendors while drinking apple tea and enjoying the unique atmosphere.

Let's depart Turkey today filled with great memories of our holiday.