UNITED NATIONS WOMEN’S GUILD - Vienna

JORDAN – Roundtrip Culture and Nature in Harmony with the Hospitality of

03. – 10.October 2010

Date: 03.-10. October 2010 Deadline: 30.06.2010 Min: 15 participants Costs: (You can pay monthly until the deadline) 15 – 19 Pax EUR 1.845,- 20 – 24 Pax EUR 1.795,- 25 – 29 Pax EUR 1.760,-

1.Day/ 03.10 Arrival in Amman Meeting at the gate by our friendly Airport staff, who shall provide full assistance through immigration & customs. Transfer to INTERCONTINENTAL Hotel in Amman . Check In. Invitation to a private house in Amman. Dinner & Overnight

2.Day/ 04.10 Sightseeing Tour of AMMAN A sprawling city spread over 19 hills, or "jebels". Amman is the modern, as well as the ancient capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Known as Rabbath-Ammon during the Iron Age and later as Philadelphia, the ancient city that was once part of the Decapolis league, now boasts a population of around 1.5 million. Often referred to as the white city due to its low size canvas of stone houses, Amman offers a variety of historical sites. Towering above Amman, the site of the earliest fortifications is now subject to numerous excavations which have revealed remains from the Neolithic period as well as from the Hellenestic and late Roman to Arab Islamic Ages. The site which is known as the Citadel includes many structures such as the Temple of Hercules, the Omayyad Palace and the Byzantine Church. At the foot of the Citadel lies the 6000 seat Roman Theatre which is a deep-sided bowl carved into the hill and still used for cultural events. Another newly restored theatre is the 500-seat Odeon which is used for concerts. The three museums found in the area offer a glimpse of history and culture, they are the Jordan Archaeological Museum, The Folklore Museum and the Museum of Popular Tradition. During the tour you will visit the King Abdullah Mosque. In the afternoon you may have time for a shopping tour in downtown . Dinner / Overnight Hotel INTERCONTINENTAL

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3.Day/ 05.10

Full Day excursion to JERASH – – SALT The ancient city of Jerash boasts an unbroken chain of human occupation dating back more than 6,500 years. The city's golden age came under Roman rule 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 public squares 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 ancient traditions of the Arab Orient.

Ajloun Castle (also known as Qal'at [Castle] Ar-Rabad) was built in 1184 by 'Izz ad-Din Usama bin Munqidh, a general of , who defeated the Crusaders in 1187. A fine example of Islamic architecture, the fortress dominated a wide stretch of the northern and passages to it. From its hilltop position, Ajloun Castle protected the communication routes between south Jordan and , and was one of a chain of forts, which lit beacons at night to pass signals from the Euphrates as far as Cairo. Today, Ajloun Castle is a splendid sight with a fascinating warren of towers, chambers, galleries and staircases to explore, while its hilltop position offers stunning views of the Jordan Valley. On the way back we will stop in SALT Dinner / Overnight Hotel INTERCONTINENTAL

4.Day / 06.10

MADABA & NEBO & KINGS HIGHWAY & WADI MUJJIB & KARAK & PETRA After breakfast drive to Madaba, Madaba is home to the famous 6th century Mosaic Map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. With two million pieces of vividly colored local stone, it depicts hills and valleys, villages and towns as far as the Nile Delta. 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.

Mount Nebo’s windswept promontory, overlooking the Dead Sea, the Jordan River Valley, Jericho and the distant hills of Jerusalem, Moses viewed the Holy Land of Canaan that he would never enter. He died and was buried in Moab, "in the valley 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 large basilica with its stunning collection of Byzantine 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. Lunch at Haret Jdoudna Restaurant in Madaba.

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Than we continue our drive through the Wadi Mujib Canyon to Kerak. The castle in itself is more imposing than beautiful, though it is all the more impressive as an example of the Crusaders' architectural military genius. Karak's most famous occupant was Reynald de Chatillon, whose reputation for treachery, betrayal and brutality is unsurpassed. When Baldwin II died, his son, a 13-year-old leper, sued for peace with Saladin. The Leper King, however, died without an heir, and in stepped Reynald, who succeeded in winning the hand of Stephanie, the wealthy widow of Karak's assassinated regent. He promptly broke the truce with Saladin, who returned with a huge army, ready for war. Reynald and King Guy of Jerusalem led the Crusader forces and suffered a massive defeat. Reynald was taken prisoner and beheaded by Saladin himself, marking the beginning of the decline in Crusader fortunes. The castle was enlarged with a new west wing added by the Ayyubids and Mameluk. After the stop in Kerak we will take the highways direct to Aqaba.

Check in at the MÖVENPICK Hotel TALA BAY.

Dinner at the ROYAL YACHT CLUB. Enjoy your Dinner in a nice atmosphere. Overnight Hotel MÖVENPICK TALA BAY

5.Day / 07.10

Breakfast at the Hotel Mövenpick Tala Bay. In the morning you may enjoy a 3 hrs ride with a Glass Bottom Boat which included snorkelling kit, towels and one free drink.

Around Lunch Time we will take our bus to WADI RUM. . This is a stupendous, timeless place, virtually untouched by humanity and its destructive forces. Here, it is the weather and winds that have carved the imposing, towering skyscrapers, so elegantly described by T.E. Lawrence as “vast, echoing and god-like”. A maze of monolithic rocks capes rise up from the desert floor to heights of 1,750 meters creating a natural challenge for serious mountaineers. Hikers can enjoy the tranquility of the boundless empty spaces, explore the canyons and water holes to discover 4000 year old rock drawings and the many other spectacular treasures this vast wilderness holds in store. Also known as ‘The Valley of the Moon’, this is the place where Prince Faisal Bin Hussein and T.E. Lawrence based their headquarters during the Arab Revolt against the Ottomans in World War 1, and their exploits are intrinsically woven into the history of this amazing area. Transfer to Petra. Dinner / Overnight at Petra Panorama Hotel.

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6.Day / 08.10

Full Day Visit of PETRA Petra is the legacy of the Nabateans, an industrious Arab people who settled in southern Jordan more than 2000 years ago. Admired then for its refined culture, massive architecture and ingenious complex of dams and water channels, Petra is now a UNESCO world heritage site that enchants visitors from all corners of the globe. Much of Petra's appeal comes from its spectacular setting deep inside a narrow desert gorge. The site is accessed by walking through a kilometer long chasm (or siq), the walls of which soar 200 meters upwards. Petra's most famous monument, the Treasury, appears dramatically at the end of the siq. Used in the final sequence of the film "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", the towering facade of the Treasury is only one of myriad archaeological wonders to be explored at Petra. Various walks and climbs reveal literally hundreds of buildings, tombs, baths, funerary halls, temples, arched gateways, colonnaded streets and haunting rock drawings - as well as a 3000 seat open air theatre , a gigantic first century Monastery and a modern archeological museum, all of which can be explored at leisure. A modest shrine commemorating the death of Aaron, brother of Moses, was built in the 13th century by the Mamluke Sultan, high atop mount Aaron in the Sharah range.

Transfer direct to the Dead Sea. Check in at the MÖVENPICK Hotel (Village Rooms) Dinner & Overnight 7.Day / 09.10

Breakfast. Earlier Morning you have the opportunity to visit Bethany, which is close to the Dead Sea. The site of John the Baptist's settlement at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where Jesus was baptized, has long been known from the Bible (John 1:28 and 10:40) and from the Byzantine and medieval texts. The site has now been identified on the east bank of the Jordan River, in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and is being systematically surveyed, excavated, restored, and prepared to receive pilgrims and visitors. Bethany Beyond the Jordan is located half an hour by car from the Jordanian capital Amman. The Bethany area sites formed part of the early Christian pilgrimage route between Jerusalem, the Jordan River, and Mount Nebo. The area is also associated with the biblical account of how the Prophet Elijah (Mar Elias in ) ascended to heaven in a whirlwind on a chariot of fire.

At 410 meters below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth. Jordan’s Dead Sea coast is one of the most spectacular natural and spiritual landscapes in the world and it remains as enticing to international visitors today as it was to kings, emperors, traders, and prophets in antiquity. A large amount of investment in the area has provided the Dead Sea with new roads making the new and luxurious 5 and 4 Star Hotels. The main attraction of the Dead Sea is of course the soothing, abnormally salty water itself. The salt content of the water is 31.5% making the water so buoyant that it is impossible for the visitor to sink. The water also contains 21 Jordan trip - Oct 2010 Page 4 of 5

minerals including high levels of magnesium, sodium, potassium, and bromine and 12 of these minerals are found in no other body of water in the world. Studies have shown the combination of the Dead Sea water and the rich black mud found along the shoreline to have significant health benefits including increasing circulation, easing discomfort from arthritis, healing allergies, and revitalizing skin. A trip to the Dead Sea would not be complete without a visit to one of the first class health spa facilities of the luxury hotels. Here the visitor can enjoy year-round a massage, Dead Sea mud bath, use the excellent fitness facilities, or just spend the day relaxing on their beautiful private beaches.

Enjoy your day at the beach or at the SPA. Dinner / Overnight MÖVENPICK DEAD SEA

8.Day / 10.10 Departure Breakfast. Transfer to the Airport and Departure Flight from Amman to Vienna.

Hotels: INTERCONTINENTAL Amman 5 * 03.10 – 06.10 / 3 nights MÖVENPICK TALA BAY 5 * 06.10 – 07.10 / 1 night PETRA PANORAMA 4 * 07.10 – 08.10 / 1 night MÖVENPICK DEAD SEA 5 * 08.10 – 10.10 / 2 nights

15 – 19 Pax EUR 1.845,- 20 – 24 Pax EUR 1.795,- 25 – 29 Pax EUR 1.760,-

The above price will include the following service:

9 7 nights in the above mentioned hotels 9 Airfare Ticket with AUSTRIAN AIRLINES Vienna – Amman – Vienna 9 Taxes / Service 9 Halfbord (except Mövenpick Tala Bay) 9 Roundtrip as mentioned above from /to Amman 9 All Transfers 9 Qualified Tour guide in English 9 Comfortable, modern busses 9 Meet & Greet Assistance at the airport 9 Entrance Fees 9 Horse ride in Petra 9 3 hrs private Glass Bottom Boat Trip in Aqaba 9 1 x Lunch in Madaba at Haret Jdoudna Restaurant incl. Water / 1 Soft Drink 9 1 x Dinner at Royal Yacht Club / Romero incl. Water / 1 Soft Drink 9 Group Visa 9 Insurance

Not included: Any personal expenses such as Tel, Mini bar, Tips for guide/Driver , horse boy in Petra, jeep driver, any extra meal not mentioned above.

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