Jordan Real Food Adventure Trip Notes | Intrepid Travel Page 1 of 16 Jordan Real Food Adventure Overview & Itinerary Start Amman, Jordan Finish Amman, Jordan Destination Jordan Style Original Theme Food Code EEZF Trip rating 4.88 Validity 01 Jan 2019 to 31 Dec 2019 Is this trip right for you? • There is quite a bit of walking involved in visiting Jordan's historic sites, especially in Petra and Wadi Rum, so a reasonable level of fitness is required. Most of the time there is no shade so remember to bring a hat, sun protection, and sturdy, comfortable walking shoes. • The desert camp in Wadi Rum is basic but incredibly memorable. There are tents and shared western bathroom facilities. Please be aware that while the desert may be very hot during the day, it will still be cool at night and warm clothes and a sleeping bag is highly recommended when travelling outside of the summer months. Physical rating ○␣○␣○␣○␣○␣○○ We recommend that you undertake regular aerobic exercise in the weeks before you travel, particularly if you are not in the habit of regular exercise. Walking, jogging, swimming or riding a bike are all good ways to increase your aerobic fitness, which will allow you to enjoy the trip to its fullest. Joining point https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/jordan/jordan-real-food-adventure-115567/tripnotes 1/05/2019 Jordan Real Food Adventure Trip Notes | Intrepid Travel Page 2 of 16 The Art Hotel 32 King Faisal street, Down town, Amman, Jordan 11118 Amman JORDAN Phone: 962 64638900 Joining point description The Art Hotel is a new hotel located just a 5 minute cab ride from the nightlife of Rainbow street as well as a 10 minute stroll from landmarks such as the Roman amphitheater, the Jordan Museum and the Citadel. Hotel facilities include .The hotel has WiFi and all rooms come equipped with private bathroom, TV, and Air-conditioning. Joining point instructions The Art Hotel Downtown is roughly 40kms from Amman's Queen Alia Airport - around a one hour drive (traffic permitting). A private arrival transfer is available for pre-booking through Intrepid. Please speak to your booking agent for more information. If you have pre-booked an arrival transfer, please ensure you have provided Intrepid with your arrival flight details at least 15 days before the departure of your trip. On arrival, please look out for our representative holding a board with your name at the arrival terminal. If for any reason you don't make contact with the transfer officer by the time you have cleared customs (as can occasionally occur as many flights tend to arrive at the same time). Please call Suleiman on the following number: (+962) 7 9554 4854. If you are making your own way to the hotel, a taxi journey will set you back around USD$30-$40. Alternatively the Express Bus is available as a public transport option. This has two stops: first stop is 7th Circle and the second one is North Complex. It costs $6.00 Per Person. Get off at the North Complex (Tabarbour bus station) and from the bus station, take a taxi to the city centre as it's the most affordable way to get around the city. As a guide, it doesn't normally cost more than a few Jordanian Dinars from the bus station to locations in town. Problems and emergency contact information While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or our local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip. We recognise that there may be times when your group leader/local partner may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the leader to speak to their direct manager. You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. But we do ask you to be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is complete. In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local operator on the number below: Intrepid's Local Operator: +962 79 55 44 854 OR +962 77 55 10 678 https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/jordan/jordan-real-food-adventure-115567/tripnotes 1/05/2019 Jordan Real Food Adventure Trip Notes | Intrepid Travel Page 3 of 16 Itinerary + Expand All Day 1: Amman Ahlan wa sahlan! Welcome to Amman, capital of Jordan. Amman is known for sharing a mix of both young and old culture. The western side of the city is home to cafes, bars, malls and art galleries while the eastern side is generally less about affluence and more about tradition. This trip puts a focus on the delicious cuisine of Jordan, a gastronomy shaped by centuries of social and political change. As these shifts came and went, multitudes of spices, cooking techniques and ingredients remained in their culture – the most popular of these techniques proving that Jordanians’ love for roasted foods and special sauces is one for the ages. Jordan also has bragging rights as one of the largest producers of olives in the world, so it’s no surprise that olive oil is commonly used in their dishes. Garlic, onions, tomato sauce, lemon and za’atar (a spice blend with sumac, sesame seeds, salt and other spices) are all big-ticket items, and should pop up often on this adventure. Begin at the hotel with a 6pm welcome meeting. Following that, tonight’s taste of Jordanian cuisine starts at the Hashem Restaurant – a place with a bragging rights for being a favourite of royals, diplomats and celebrities travelling through Amman. Dinner will consist of their famous Jordanian stuffed falafel, which is fresh and crunchy on the outside while fluffy on the inside. There’s also the chance to dip bread through smooth creamy hummus and moutabel; similar to hummus but with yoghurt, lemon juice and Arabic salad. After a filling meal, head on to the decades old Habibah Sweets shop for a slice of warm knafeh – delicious buttery cheese pastry soaked in sweet, sugar syrup. Included Activities • Habibah Sweets Shop Meals Included • Dinner Day 2: Madaba - Petra Keep an eye out this morning for people stuffing their faces with hot sesame bread sandwiches – most of these will be pouring out of the Salaheddin bakery, today’s breakfast joint and a favourite among locals. Walk in, choose a hot, fresh loaf and fill it with baked eggs, cheese, spices or anything else you want from the counter. After filling up on arguably the best bread in town, board a bus and head through Madaba before reaching the Dead Sea (approximately 45 minutes drive). This body of water is famously salty – 9.6 times saltier than the ocean as a matter of fact. As a result, it’s believed to have healing properties that can be tested first hand during an optional swim. After drying off, prepare for a traditional picnic lunch, mezze style. Mezze consists of setting up a series of small appetisers with a group of friends, then scooping them up with bread. Think of it like a much better version of sharing dips and bread/crackers with friends. Kibbeh (fried meat with wheat), manakish (flatbread with za’tar and olive oil), spinach bread and cheeses are all served, followed by a cup of shaneeneh (an aged goat milk yoghurt drink) and a serving of hareeseh (a sweet, syrupy pudding) for desert. Once everyone’s filled up from lunch, the adventure continues to Petra for dinner (approximately 3 hours drive). Learn from a local family how to prepare mansaf, delicious lamb with fermented, dried yoghurt sauce. After a hearty meal and a few shared stories from the family, arrive at La Maison Hotel sitting near the ancient ruins of Petra. Accommodation https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/jordan/jordan-real-food-adventure-115567/tripnotes 1/05/2019 Jordan Real Food Adventure Trip Notes | Intrepid Travel Page 4 of 16 •Hotel (1 night) Included Activities • Picnic Lunch by the Dead Sea • Home Cooked Mansaf Meal Meals Included •Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner Day 3: Petra Today we explore ancient Petra, known as one of the new ‘seven wonders of the world’. This archaeological city sits within 80 m high cliff walls – the iconic treasury, carved into the face of one of these cliffs is definitely the highlight of this visit. The site is expansive and to explore it all requires quite a bit of walking and a basic level of fitness will enhance your experience. With a free afternoon to proceed at your own pace there’s ample time to see the museum, the roman amphitheatre, the palace and other places – just head to the visitor centre for a map and a few suggestions as to where to go. Once the day is done, head back to your hotel for a free evening. Accommodation •Hotel (1 night) Included Activities • Petra - Guided tour of Petra Meals Included •Breakfast Day 4: Wadi Rum We rise early as today’s breakfast will be shared with a local shepherd as you bask in awe of the beautiful dry countryside. By this stage of the adventure, it should be apparent that a Jordanian breakfast is fairly varied but sticks to a few staples; breads and garnishes being two of the favourites.