Highlights of Jordan - 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Amman

Welcome to Jordan! After arriving at the Queen Alia International Airport, meet your transfer to the capital city of Amman. If you get in early enough and are feeling energetic, consider a cooking workshop in Beit Sitti or a city tour.

Day 2: Jerash & Ajloun

Head north to the Roman city of Jerash this morning, where you can walk along the colonnaded way, visit the temples of Artemis and Zeus, and take a seat in the enormous Hippodrome where chariot races were once held. Stop for a barbecue lunch before you get on the road to Ajloun, home of a 12th-century castle, or to Zubia forest for an afternoon hike.

Day 3: Amman to Petra

Start your day driving south along the Kings Highway, an ancient trade route. Your first stop will be in Madaba to visit the famous Byzantine mosaics and churches and take a climb up the bell tower of St. John's Church to take in the view over the city.

Your next stop is Mount Nebo, where Moses is believed to have first glimpsed the Promise Land. From there, continue to the crusader castle in Karak, one of the largest remaining in the Middle East, and onto the Dana Nature Reserve. Explore the old Ottoman village within the Reserve and enjoy the views of the Great Rift Valley before you get back on the road to Petra, where you'll stop for the night.

Day 4: Explore Petra

You have the full day today to explore this dramatic UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk through the carvings and temples of the mystic Siq, the narrow gorge that marks the main entrance to the city. The Treasury sits at the end of the canyon, where the walls open up to reveal the enormous city. Visit the Royal Tombs, explore the Roman theater and colonnaded street, or climb up to the High Place of Sacrifice.

Day 5: Petra to Wadi Rum

Linger in Petra in the morning on a hike with a local guide. You'll follow a trail through "Petra's back door" to the Monastery, the largest monument at the site. Spend as much time there exploring as you like.

In the afternoon, continue south to the Wadi Rum desert. You'll take a three-hour jeep tour to desert highlights, passing red sand dunes, rock bridges, canyons, and distinctive rock formations, then spend the night under the stars in a Bedouin camp.

Day 6: Wadi Rum to Aqaba

Leave the desert to head to the seaside town of Aqaba today. After you arrive in Aqaba, the rest of your day is up to you to spend lounging on the beach, snorkeling, diving, or exploring the city center and its markets. Be sure to try one of the seafood restaurants in the evening.

Day 7: Free Day in Aqaba

Enjoy a full free day to relax in Aqaba and the Red Sea. Whether you take a stroll downtown, visit the public beach and its giant flag, or venture into the underwater seascapes of the Red Sea on a snorkel or dive trip, options abound.

Day 8: Aqaba to the Dead Sea

Drive to the lowest point on Earth on today's visit to the Dead Sea via the scenic Dead Sea Highway. Float in the famously salty waters, enjoy a spa treatment, or simply soak up the sunshine. In the evening, you can enjoy the sunset over the mountains.

Day 9: Dead Sea to Amman

Take a leisurely route back to Amman with a trip into the eastern desert. You'll visit the desert castles of Kharana, Amra, and Azraq, once used as weekend retreats and hunting lodges by the Ummayad kings. Follow the boardwalk into the wetlands near Azraq to stretch your legs with a short walk before you keep going back to Amman.

Day 10: Depart Amman

Enjoy one final Jordanian breakfast before you head to the airport to catch your flight home.

If you have time in the morning, you can visit the village of Salt or Bethany beyond the Jordan, where some believe that Jesus was baptized.