Cultural & Culinary Tour of Jordan - 16 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Amman, Turkish Bath Experience

Welcome to Jordan! Your private driver will be waiting at the airport to take you to your accommodation in Amman, the capital of this desert country. Once an Iron Age stronghold turned Roman Decapolis, Amman is a perfect mix of old meets new. The city is studded with ancient ruins tucked between modern buildings and mosques. Leave your bags back at the hotel and lace up your comfy walking shoes to get started exploring the "City of Stairs." 

Later on, you can unwind after your flight with an excursion to Amman's Turkish baths at Alf Layla Wa Layla. This opulent experience dates back to the Ottoman period and starts with a steam bath to help you relax and wash away the jet lag. Afterward, you'll partake in an invigorating body scrub to help purify both body and mind, followed by a gentle massage. 

Day 2: Half-Day Heritage Tour, Evening Heart of Amman Tour 

Spend the day exploring more of Amman, this time with a private guide. Start at the Jordan Museum, home to a vast collection of artifacts from prehistoric to ancient civilizations, such as the Nabataeans and Romans. Browse the engaging exhibits, showcasing items like intricately carved sarcophagi, detailed mosaics, and the famous Dead Sea Scrolls. Then, continue to the nearby Grand Husseini Mosque and admire the striking white and blue domes. Step inside to see the colorful mosaic tiles, traditional Islamic art, and intricate calligraphy lining the walls before walking to Souq el-Bukharia and Souq al-Sukar.

Shop for souvenirs, fresh produce, and local delights like nuts and spices, then move on to the Roman Theatre of Amman, which dates back to the second century. After a lunch break at Hashem Restaurant, known for its delicious hummus and falafel, you'll transfer to King Abdullah I Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the country. Look up at the blue mosaic dome and minarets, then enter to see the marble flooring, ornate chandeliers, and intricate paintings. End the tour at the on-site Islamic Museum, which houses artifacts, personal artifacts, and photos of the late king.

In the evening, set off on another tour, this time to some of the city's historic areas. Start in the downtown core, where you can walk through different souks in search of souvenirs. Next, wander down Rainbow Street, a charming cobblestone lane lined with colorful storefronts, art galleries, and cozy cafés. Admire the striking murals and graffiti adorning the walls, showcasing the city's dynamic street art scene as you pop in and out of the shops. Proceed to Jabal al-Weibdeh, one of the oldest residential areas in Amman, to discover the restored traditional houses before making your way back to your hotel.

Day 3: Archaeological Tour of Pella, Transfer to Umm Qais, Foraging Tour

Today starts with a 1.5-hour transfer from Amman to Pella, an ancient archaeological site estimated at over 6,000 years old. With the help of your private guide, you'll uncover well-preserved Roman ruins and Byzantine temples tucked in rolling green hills. Afterward, get back on the road for the 40-minute transfer from Pella to Umm Qais, where you'll be spending the night. This city was once known as Gadara and is home to impressive ruins, including ancient theaters and Ottoman villages.

After settling in at your hotel, spend this afternoon on a foraging excursion with a local guide. The surrounding hills are full of edible plants, veggies, and fruit-bearing trees, all ripe for the picking, and you'll set off in search of these delicious, natural ingredients, including chamomile, almonds, and mushrooms. You'll be supplied with walking sticks, foraging bags, water, and tea with snacks to help fuel your culinary adventure. 

Day 4: Tour Roman & Byzantine Ruins in Jerash, Transfer to Ajloun, Soap House Hike

Grab a delicious breakfast at your hotel this morning to help nourish your body for another day of exploring dense forests and crumbling ruins. First, you'll transfer just over an hour south to see some of the world's best-preserved Roman and Byzantine ruins at Jerash with a private tour. Spend four hours discovering this Greco-Roman city with highlights like the second-century Hadrian's Arch, the Temple of Artemis, a coliseum, fountains, and colonnaded avenues. It's not difficult to imagine what life was like around 63 BCE, Jerash's heyday, although this city was inhabited for thousands of years.

This afternoon, your driver will continue 30 minutes west to the Ajloun Forest Reserve, where you'll spend the night among a landscape of wooded hills and small valleys. Once you've settled in, meet your local guide and set off on a three-hour hike. You'll be following the Soap House Trail, a 4-mile (6.5 km) trek that winds through meadows of colorful wildflowers and forests of strawberry and pistachio trees. The grand finale is the Ajloun Soap House, where local women create Orjan pure olive oil soap. Purchase your very own herb-infused soaps to take home as souvenirs before making your way back to the start.

Day 5: Arabic Calligraphy Class, Countryside Farm Visit, Transfer to Amman

Continue your immersion into Jordanian culture today with a private class at the Calligraphy House in the Ajloun Forest Reserve. Learn about the principle methods of Arabic calligraphy from local women as you practice writing your name with a dried reed instrument in the peaceful setting of the surrounding forest. You'll get to take this and your calligraphy home as a beautiful souvenir. 

Later in the day, your driver will take you on an hour's drive back toward Amman, stopping en route at a farm in the As-Salt countryside. Here, you'll follow along with a local woman as she teaches you to make homemade jam with flavors like hibiscus and oregano, depending on the season, and jameed, traditional dried yogurt. You'll get the chance to sample these delicacies and purchase a jar or two to bring home before heading back into the city for the evening. 

Day 6: Visit Iraq al-Amir Women's Cooperative, Carakale Brewery Tour

Day six begins with a visit to the Iraq al-Amir Women's Cooperative. You'll meet local Ammani women and watch as they practice their skilled crafts, from paper making to pottery and handloom weaving. Join the ladies for lunch afterward, sharing in a traditional meal. This co-op aims to support women in their artistic endeavors, aiming for them to become financially independent while also preserving local heritage through traditional crafts. Don't miss the chance to grab a one-of-a-kind souvenir or two to take home with you.

You'll head for the Carakale Brewery this afternoon. Tour the facility as you learn more about Jordan's first craft brewery, all bottled and brewed here in Amman. Sample some of their refreshing beers that are cold-fermented and brewed in the German tradition, like the Blue Valley Kölsch, Blonde Ale, or Pale Ale. Although the topic of drinking can be a bit contentious, ideas around alcohol are more relaxed in Jordan than in neighboring countries, and the brewery aims to continue paving the way for craft beer in the Middle East.

Day 7: Full-Day Wine Tasting Excursion

Explore more of Jordan's burgeoning beverage scene today on a private wine-tasting excursion. You'll be picked up at your hotel and transferred to the Mafraq Plateau, a region of northern Jordan with intensely fertile soil. An ancient volcano created the area's basalt terroir, which lends itself to the distinctive tasting notes at Haddad Family Wines, the first winery in all of Jordan. Taste wines, learn about their vineyards and viticulture, and enjoy a buffet brunch. Everything from sparkling wines to chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon are produced here.

Continue your wine escapades this afternoon by visiting a winery in Azraq. You'll drive for an hour to reach the winery, where you'll head down into the cellars to taste five different wines paired with artisanal cheeses. But the fun doesn't stop there! Head back to Amman in the evening for one final wine tasting at the JR Wine Experience in the Abdalai Neighborhood. You'll have the opportunity to discover 20 different types of wine handcrafted from grapes grown on the Mafraq Plateau.

Day 8: Transfer to Karak via Madaba Tour & Lunch

Day eight begins with a short, 45-minute transfer from Amman to Maldaba. Called the "City of Mosaics," you'll have plenty of time to see the sights after a delicious lunch at Hikayet Sitti, also known as Food Basket. Traditional dishes like magdous, stuffed eggplants, and manageesh, Jordanian flatbread topped with cheese and za'atar seasoning, are just some of the mouthwatering offerings on the menu. Don't forget to fuel up with a cup of coffee before continuing on your adventure. 

Walk off lunch exploring Madaba with your local guide. You'll explore famous sites, like the Church of St. George, which holds the sixth-century Madaba Map. Continue to the Madaba Archaeological Park, where you'll uncover more Byzantine mosaics depicting what life was like in Biblical times. End it all with a grand finale at the highest peak in Madaba, where the Martyr's Memorial provides striking views over the city. Afterward, you'll make the two-hour drive to the city of Karak. You'll discover more of this Crusader stronghold and its impressive castle in the morning.

Day 9: Visit Kerak Castle, Transfer to Dana, Hike in the Dana Biosphere Reserve

Start your morning with a private tour of Kerak Castle, an imposing Crusader fortress built in the 12th century. Wander through the well-preserved halls, chambers, and corridors, then head up to the ramparts for panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Stop at the on-site Kerak Archaeological Museum to peruse the array of artifacts ranging from Crusader weapons and armor to everyday items used by the castle's residents. 

After exploring the castle, your journey south continues with a two-hour transfer to the charming village of Dana, nestled within the lush Dana Biosphere Reserve. Check in and change into your hiking gear, then join your guide for a 1.2-mile (2 km) trek down the Nawatef Trail through Jordan's largest nature reserve. As you navigate the trail, you'll pass towering cliffs, ancient sandstone formations, and traditional Bedouin camps. At the end of the trail, ancient ruins of a Nabataean civilization await, offering you a glimpse into the region's cultural heritage before you transfer back to your hotel to relax.

Day 10: Full-Day Hike from Dana to Feynan Ecolodge

Lace up your hiking shoes, join your private guide, and kick off an epic, 8.7-mile (14 km) trek in the Dana Biosphere Reserve with a visit to the Feynan Copper Mines. The trail winds its way through arid terrain and towering rock formations and leads you down an easy path to reach the impressive underground system of mine shafts and tunnels. Feynan was once an important copper supplier for the Roman Empire and although these mines were once lost to time, you'll have the rare chance to explore them today.

Continue along the trail to reach the Feynan Ecolodge, an off-grid yet luxurious property that embraces its rugged mountain home in distinctive ways. This oasis in the desert has won countless awards and has been featured in famous publications like National Geographic. After settling in for the evening, take part in fun activities like stargazing through a Mead telescope, helping the staff set the corridors aglow by candlelight come evening, or enjoying board games and tea by the fireplace. 

Day 11: Sunrise Hike, Bedouin Excursion, Transfer to Petra, Cooking Class

Before saying your goodbyes to the Dana Biosphere Reserve, spend the morning hiking through its beautiful landscapes for a sunrise to remember. Follow your Bedouin guide along shepherd trails and ridgelines, watching as the sun paints the desert hues of ocher and vermilion. Back at the lodge, one last cultural experience awaits. You'll join one of the Bedouin families that live near Feynan Ecolodge in their homes to learn about weaving goat-hair tents, brewing Arabic coffee, and baking arboud bread, firsthand. 

Say your goodbyes, then get back on the road this afternoon as you transfer three hours south to one of Jordan's most important—and famous—sites: the ancient city of Petra. While you won't get any glimpses this evening, you'll dive into Jordanian culture taste buds first. Roll up your sleeves and start practicing your culinary skills at a cooking class where you'll learn from professional chefs how to prepare traditional dishes like mansaf, made from lamb and fermented yogurt, and other mezze dishes.

Day 12: Full-Day Exploration of Petra

Today, you'll venture into Petra, Jordan's incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site and ancient Nabataean city. This metropolis was once an important trade city to both the Nabataeans and Romans, producing important minerals like frankincense, exotic spices, and myrrh. Walk through the Siq to reach the site's core, a passageway flanked by towering cliffs that ends in striking views of the Treasury, Petra's most iconic monument. 

You'll see all the famous sites of this fascinating New Wonder of the World, including the Royal Tombs, the Monastery, and colonnade-flanked streets alongside your guide, who knows this area like the back of their hand. You might recognize certain locations from famous movies filmed here, from "Lawrence of Arabia" to "Aladdin" and "Dune." After a two-hour tour, you can stick around and continue exploring on your own for the rest of the day. A driver will be waiting for you after, making the transfer back to your hotel for the evening a breeze. 

Day 13: Transfer to Wadi Rum, Cookout at a Bedouin Camp, Sunset Camel Ride

You'll have a free morning in Petra today. Use your time to watch the sunrise over the desert or to explore nooks and crannies of the archaeological site that you didn't get to yesterday. Next, you'll make the 1.5-hour transfer to Wadi Rum, where you'll spend the rest of the day immersed in Bedouin culture. Drive through the vast desert landscapes to reach the Bedouin camp and your home for the night. You'll learn how to tend the fire, brew coffee, and learn about other facets of their semi-nomadic life. 

After your morning of hiking and cultural experiences, take part in another Bedouin pastime—camel riding. You'll stroll off into the desert with your trusty steed as the sun begins to set into the dunes. Make a pit stop at a perfect perch with views over Wadi Rum's arid landscapes to enjoy Bedouin tea and snacks, then return to camp for a peaceful night under the stars.

Day 14: Explore Wadi Rum: Hiking, Jeep Tour & Camel Ride

Continue exploring by Jeep this morning. The vast desert landscapes of Wadi Rum are steeped in thousands of years of history, with the petroglyphs and inscriptions to prove it. Kick off your desert adventure with a morning Jeep excursion to see the area's impressive rock formations and lunar landscapes up close. Along the way, seek out the Seven Pillars of Wisdom, Thamudic inscriptions (in a now-extinct language), a Nabataean temple, and Lawrence's House (named for T.E. Lawrence or Lawrence of Arabia). 

Grab a delicious lunch back at camp before heading out on a three-hour hike through the desert with a Bedouin guide. You'll get an insider's look at the terrain, learning about this unforgiving landscape from an expert who has lived here all their life. In the evening, hop back on a camel and stroll off into the sunset with your trusty steed as the sun begins to set into the dunes. After a traditional dinner around the campfire, look to the skies to see a bright blanket of stars illuminating the clear desert sky from camp.

Day 15: Transfer to the Dead Sea, Free Afternoon

Rise and shine this morning for the five-hour transfer to the Dead Sea. You'll make your way through the desert and its arid landscapes to reach this natural phenomenon, which straddles the border between Jordan and Israel and earned its name because of its lack of life. Almost no animals or plants grow in these high-saline conditions, aside from a few microorganisms.

Upon arrival, get settled at your hotel and then enjoy a peaceful afternoon of floating and relaxation along the Dead Sea's shores. You'll stay afloat on the surface of turquoise waters full of therapeutic minerals like magnesium and potassium, which are said to aid in relaxation and improved circulation. Many visitors cover their bodies in mud from the shores of the Dead Sea for an additional curative boost. You'll also have access to a swimming pool that's perfect for a dip after you've had your fill of the briny water.

Day 16: Visit Ma'in Hot Springs, Transfer to Amman, Depart

Your last morning in Jordan begins with a short drive from the Dead Sea to the Ma'in Hot Springs, also known as Hammamat Ma'in, a naturally occurring mineral waterfall and warm bathing pools where the water collects. It's rumored that Herod the Great made the pilgrimage to these hot springs for their reputed therapeutic benefits. Enjoy a soak in the soothing waters and a refreshing dip in the waterfalls, then dry off and join your driver for the 1.5-hour transfer back to Amman for your departing flight. Safe travels!

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