THE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR ASIAN AFFAIRS TOUR OF 18 – 30 April 2017

Surrounded by countries with ongoing political issues, Jordan itself is relatively peaceful and it deserves to be crowded with visitors.

From the sprawling city of , gateway and ancient capital, we visit spectacular desert castles and before taking the 5,000-year-old King’s Highway to Jerash and Ajloun to see local treasures and visit Syrian refugees. We will make a short stop at the architecturally interesting former trading town of Salt. We overnight in Madaba, the city of mosaics; and visit Mount Nebo, burial place of Moses, whose archaeological treasures are but a prelude to Petra, the fabled ‘rose red’ city hewn out of rock 2,000 years ago. Spirit yourself back to the time of Lawrence of Arabia in evocative — a spectacular collection of rock formations known as jebels; enjoy the traditional hospitality of the Bedouin people as you camp out in the stark desert landscape and soak up the atmosphere in this largely undiscovered destination. We have included a number of ‘present day’ meetings with local experts in their fields and some short hiking opportunities in some of the many nature reserves before we end our tour at the mineral rich Dead Sea. Here we will float in the salty waters, a relaxing end to a busy and fascinating itinerary.

DAY TO DAY ITINERARY Day 1 Fly London to Amman Day 2 Explore Amman - City Tour and afternoon meeting and dinner with local experts Day 3 Visit Desert Castles and Azraq Wetland Reserve Day 4 Visit Jerash, Pella, Ajloun and overnight at Ajloun Day 5 Optional hikes at Ajloun, visit refugee camp and drive via Salt to Madaba, dinner with local expert Day 6 Baptism site, Madaba, Nebo, Dana Village Tour and drive to Petra Day 7 Petra and free afternoon Day 8 Visit Little Petra and drive to Wadi Rum Day 9 Wadi Rum Day 10 Wadi Rum to Dana Biosphere/ Feynan Eco Lodge Day 11 Optional hikes at Feynan Day 12 Mukawer - Lot's Cave – Dead Sea Day 13 Fly Amman to London

DETAILED ITINERARY

18 April London – Amman Economy Class flights Depart London on our flight to Amman.

On arrival at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman we will be met by our local English speaking Jordanian tour guide and transferred by an air conditioned coach to our hotel.

Overnight at our hotel in Amman.

Meals included today: None on tour.

19 April Amman – City tour We will start the day with a tour in the city of Amman, 1200 B.C capital of the Ammonites, (known in the Old Testament as Rabbath-Ammon), and a Decapolis city during the Greco- Roman period. Originally spread over Seven Hills like Rome, the city now covers 19 hills. We will visit the most important ruins of the Greco-Roman Empire, the Citadel and the Roman Amphitheater. We will visit the Jordan Archaeological Museum at the Citadel and both the Jordan Museum of Popular Traditions and the Jordan Folklore Museum at the Roman Amphitheatre.

This afternoon we will visit the Jordanian Tour Guide Association (for a discussion about present day tourism issues). Our aim is to meet with the head of the Association & Management and get to know about guides’ problems and difficulties and what projects they work on along with the Tourism & Antiquities Ministry. We plan to invite a contact from the Tourism & Antiquities Ministry to join our meeting.

This evening we will have dinner with local experts in the political field – more details to follow. Dinner will be at Kan Zaman Restaurant (in a hundred-year old village – located 20 minutes from Amman).

Meals included today: all meals.

20 April Amman – desert castles Today we will head outside the city to see some of Jordan’s iconic desert castles.

Scattered throughout the black basalt desert, east of Amman, the Desert Castles: (Amra Castle, Kharaneh Castle, Al Qastal Castle & Al Hallabat Castle) stand as a testament to the flourishing beginnings of Islamic-Arab civilization. These seemingly isolated pavilions, caravan stations, secluded baths, and hunting lodges, were at one time integrated agricultural or trading complexes, built mostly under the Umayyads (661-750 AD), when Muslim Arabs had succeeded in transforming the fringes of the desert into well-watered settlements.

Aside from being widely considered as the most spectacular and original monuments of early Islamic art, these complexes also served practical purposes: namely, as residences, caravanserais, and baths.

Enjoy a traditional lunch with a family from one of these communities to learn more about their unique culture and life (Druze family).

This afternoon we visit the Azraq Wetland Reserve to discuss the present day issue of water shortages in Jordan

We will then drive back to Amman for dinner.

We plan to approach the office of H.R.H. Prince Hassan bin Talal. His Royal Highness might be able to come or send a representative to discuss the latest politics issues with our group.

Meals included today: all meals.

21 April Amman – Jerash – Pella – Um Qais After breakfast we head directly to the second on the list of favorite destinations in Jordan, and one of the best preserved Roman provincial towns in the world. The ancient city of Jerash boasts an unbroken chain of human occupation dating back more than 6,500 years. Visiting the paved and colonnaded streets, soaring hilltop temples, handsome theatres,

spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains and city walls pierced by towers and gates will be extremely memorable for us.

A short drive to the north is Ajloun, with its fortress and magnificent view into the Jordan Valley. Formally known as Qala'at al Rabadh, Ajloun Castle, is the major ancient site within the Ajloun forests region. The castle is one of the best preserved and most complete examples of medieval Arab-Islamic military architecture.

Head afterwards to another Decapolis city, Pella, now known as Tabqat Fahel which is exceptionally rich in antiquities, some of which are exceedingly old. Besides the excavated ruins from the Greco - Roman period, Pella offers visitors the opportunity to see the remains of Chalcolithic settlement from the 4th millennium BC, evidence of Bronze and Iron age walled cities, Byzantine churches, early Islamic residences and a small medieval mosque.

The last destination of the day is to Gadara, now known Um Qais, which was, in addition to Amman, Jerash & Pella, also once a Decapolis city. It is perched on a splendid hilltop overlooking the Jordan Valley and the . Um Qais boasts impressive ancient remains. These include the stunning black basalt theatre, the basilica and adjacent courtyard strewn with nicely carved black sarcophagi, the colonnaded main street and a side street lined with shops, an underground mausoleum, two baths, a Nymphaeum, a city gate and the faint outlines of what was a massive hippodrome. Please note this visit will be reviewed shortly before departure. If it is contrary to the FCO travel advice it will be omitted. Um Qais is approximately 6km from Syrian border and the FCO currently (May 2016) advises against all travel to within 3kms of Syrian border.

Lunch with a local family has been included, and will be in Um Qais or Jerash.

Overnight in Ajloun Cabins. This is basic accommodation for this one night but it saves us having to return to Amman for the night. The reserve has five standard cabins with private facilities for each cabin and each taking three people.

Dinner and overnight at Ajloun Reserve.

Meals included today: all meals.

22 April Optional hikes around Ajloun – drive via Salt to Madaba Established in 1987, covers an area of 13 km2 located in the Ajloun highlands north of Amman. It consists of Mediterranean-like hill country, ranging from 600 - 1100 m above sea level, with a series of small and medium winding valleys. Ajloun forest was first proposed as a protected area in the 1978 survey. Its ecological importance is represented by the Evergreen Oak vegetation type, which is typical of the northern highlands of Jordan.

We have selected and recommend one of these two hikes for those who would like a nice local walk in the area. The hike starts at 0800 – 0830hrs.

Soap House Trail : Time: 2-3 hours / Distance: 6-7 km (Grade Moderate ) This trail begins at the Reserve's Visitor Center and takes you to the Soap House in the neighboring village of Orjan. On the way, you will hike through thick, healthy woodlands filled with oak, pistachio, and oriental strawberry trees. Take a short detour to view a ruined wine press before you pass one of the oldest strawberry trees in the Reserve on your way down into the valley. The trail climbs to 1100m above sea level at Eagle's View Point, and then descends to the Soap House where local women follow the traditional process of making Orjan pure olive soap

Rockrose Trail : Time: 2-3 hours / Distance: 8 km (Grade Moderate ) Named for the flowers that can be seen around the trail every spring, this hiking loop passes through thick woodlands, orchards, farms and villages in and around the reserve. It offers beautiful views of the West Bank, , and the Jordanian countryside.

About halfway through the hike, observe the wine and olive press from the Byzantine and Roman eras, and just before reaching the end of the trail, rest in the shade of a large Maloul tree.

Each season has different vegetation to enjoy. The first half of the trail is uphill and the second half is downhill; there are steep scrambles en-route that demand a reasonable level of fitness.

Ajloun is full of Syrian Refugees. We aim to gain permission to have lunch with one of these families where you will be able to listen to their stories and hear more details about their life.

En route from Ajloun to Madaba, we will make a short visit to Salt (pronounced Es-Sult or Es-Salt), an ancient agricultural town and administrative centre in west-central Jordan. The town is built in the crook of three hills, close to the Jordan Valley. It is not known when the city was first inhabited, but it is believed that it was built by the Macedonian army during the reign of Alexander the Great. Salt's heyday was in the late 19th century when traders arrived to expand their trading network eastwards beyond the Jordan River.

As the town’s status increased, many merchants arrived and, with their newly acquired wealth, built the fine houses that can still be admired in Salt today. These splendid yellow sandstone buildings incorporate a variety of local and European styles. Typically, they have domed roofs, interior courtyards and characteristic tall, arched windows. Perhaps the most beautiful is the Abu Jaber mansion, built between 1892 and 1906, which has frescoed ceilings, painted by Italian artists, and is reputed to be the finest example of a 19th-century merchant house in the region.

Continue the drive to Madaba for dinner with a local expert (in the cultural field). We plan to have a dinner with Dr. Rasem Badran who is a very famous architect & lecturer, specializing in Islamic Architecture, with many projects in the Middle East. http://rasembadran.com/

Meals included today: all meals.

23 April Baptism, Madaba, Nebo – Petra with Kerak OR Dana Village Tour If time permits we will also visit Shobak Castle After breakfast, we head towards the Red Rose city of Petra via the King's Way and Desert Highway, an ancient route that still has marks left from traders, armies and pilgrims who crossed it centuries ago. The first city to encounter is Madaba, "the City of Mosaics ". The city, best known for its spectacular Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics, is home to the famous 6th century mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. With two million pieces of colored stone, the map depicts hills and valleys, villages and towns as far as the Nile Delta.

Only 7 km from Madaba lies Mount Nebo, the site of the endearing monastery. Built by some Franciscan Priests as a sanctuary and a prayer place in memory of Prophet Moses who took the last look at the Promised Land, they gave themselves to serve the pilgrims who came to pay tribute to Prophet Moses’ place of death and burial. We will take a look at the Holy land from Mt. Nebo and if the weather is clear – we might see Jerusalem.

Afterwards we will drive to the Baptism site (Bethany) to experience Bethany Beyond-the- Jordan, the wilderness home of John the Baptist, where Jesus was immersed in the baptismal springs and where Elijah ascended to heaven in a chariot of fire.

Lunch with a local family in Madaba has been included.

From here we may visit either Kerak and Shobak Castles or Dana Village as time will not allow us to see all.

Head further north through , a deep valley featuring one of Jordan's most breathtaking views. Here we will reach Kerak and Kerak Castle. The authentic hill top fortress of Kerak is a fascinating example of the architectural and military traditions of the time. Its galleries, towers, chapels and ramparts still echo with the resolve of the Crusaders who built them almost a thousand years ago.

If time permits we will visit Shobak Castle en route.

Alternatively we head to Dana Village on the way to Petra. The Village Tour is a two hour walk visiting some spectacular viewpoints above Dana Village, the terraced gardens and local community craft workshops.

Finally drive to the city of Petra for dinner and overnight.

Meals included today: all meals.

24 April Petra We start early in the morning with a visit to the most spectacular site in the south of Jordan, the rose-red City of Petra. A Greek word, it means a Rock Rose Red City of the Nabateans. Entrance to Petra is after a 400 m walk through a winding snake-like Siq (canyon) for 20 minutes. The Siq is 80-100m in height and on either side of the canyon are Rock-Cut Channels of water. In 560 B.C. the Nabateans moved into Petra and controlled the Caravan Trade of Frankincense, from southern Arabia to Petra, Damascus, Gaza and Egypt. While walking through the “siq”, one is dazzled by the spectacular view of the Treasury, the most famous site of Petra. Several hours will be spent walking through the canyon viewing the temples, tombs, and other places of interest.

Lunch at a local Restaurant has been included.

This afternoon is free time to relax after a busy few days.

Back to your hotel in Petra for dinner and overnight.

Meals included today: all meals.

25 April Petra – Wadi Rum The first part of the morning is free. We then have a late morning visit (at 1200 noon) to Little Petra for a couple of hours with lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon we will drive to the timeless location of Wadi Rum - a colorful desert surrounded by sheer cliff mountains 1000 feet high and topped with domes worn smooth by desert winds. Dinner and overnight in Rum in a private tented camp.

The Camp we recommend is an Eco Camp - the whole camp is private.

It is around 30 minutes’ drive from the road an isolated camp with no one around and far from any noise or lights. The camp offers basic accommodation with no electricity but it has an excellent location with scenic views around it.

Meals included today: all meals.

26 April Wadi Rum A full day to hike in the Wadi Rum Area or for those who prefer not, to stay in the camp.

After breakfast in camp, we hike to Al Qattar Mountain (1hr walk), and about five minutes of scrambling up will take us to a place where we see caves that are full of water.

Then we take a jeep to Khazali Canyon (10 minutes’ drive) walk through the Canyon and visit the inscriptions there (15 minutes’ walk).

We will drive to the sand dunes for an easy climb (30 minutes’ drive), then we head to Abu Kashabeh Canyon (20 minutes’ drive), walk via the canyon and cross to other side where we again join the jeeps (1/2 hour walk).

Then we will have lunch and free time to relax and enjoy traditional Bedouin Tea (lunch duration around 2hrs).

After lunch, we will take the jeeps and drive 20 minutes to Rock Bridge where we have the chance to climb the bridge. The climb is ranked easy to moderate level and takes around 20- 30 minutes up and down. We drive back to our camp.

Dinner and a second night in Rum in our private tented camp.

Meals included today: all meals.

27 April Wadi Rum to Wadi Feynan in Dana Biosphere After breakfast we will take a two hour tour in 4x4 Bedouin vehicles to a place where History was made. This is the birth place of the Great Arab Revolt that was led by Sharif Hussein Bin Ali & T.E. Lawrence – also known as Lawrence of Arabia.

We will meet up with a Bedouin family in their original and authentic Bedouin tent or visit a local village. See how they milk their Sheep, Goats & Camels and learn how to cook Chicken or Lamb. We will enjoy lunch with the Bedouins and enjoy traditional Arabic Bedouin Coffee.

This afternoon we leave Wadi Rum and drive to .

Established in 1989, Dana Biosphere Reserve is Jordan’s largest nature reserve, covering some 320 km2 of rugged and beautiful landscape along the face of the Great Rift Valley. It sweeps down in a series of mountain ridges, from the 1500m high plateau near Quadesiyya to the desert plains of Wadi Araba. The mountains are cut by many steep-sided wadis, often lined with a lush growth of trees and shrubs. Its geology is as varied as its landscape, switching from limestone to sandstone to .

Deep in the heart of the mountainous Dana Biosphere Reserve, at the end of a rugged track, an idyllic candle-lit lodge rests in the magnificent Wadi Feynan.

Here, set against the glorious desert landscape, guests staying at the 26-room lodge can be found adventuring through the untouched outdoors, sipping mint tea with the native Bedouin,

exploring local archaeological sites or simply unwinding in the serene courtyards and terraces of the candle-lit complex.

This evening we are invited to join the lodge’s guides on a hike to the top of a gentle outcrop to watch to a sunset like no other. With the call for prayer providing a beautiful soundtrack, watch the rugged mountains change colours while vivid ambers, violets and reds wash across the evening sky. Take this rare opportunity to witness the end of the day in the Bedouin camps below; with children wandering home from play, women tending the evening fires, and men rounding up their herds in a peaceful dance as the sun falls. Feel the gentle breeze ushering in nightfall as stars dot the sky and guides brew fresh tea over the warm fire.

The hike is around 2 hours and starts from the Eco Lodge 90 minutes before sunset.

For those of us who prefer to relax at the lodge, once dusk has fallen we are invited to join the staff in lighting the many candles that keep the lodge aglow by night. Or simply find a spot in the courtyard and enjoy the sensation of the lodge flickering into night as the candles around you get lit one by one.

Meals included today: all meals.

28 April Dana Biosphere Reserve – Feynan Hiking This morning either free time to relax at the lodge or go for a morning or full day of hiking.

Feynan Eco Lodge offers a daily schedule of activities for which our group can sign up on the spot with no additional charges. The schedule will be set by the lodge and includes at least 5 activities on any given day (sample trips): i. Short hikes (2 hours): • Sunrise hike • Sunset hike ii. Half day hikes (up to 4 hours) • Copper mines • Archaeological treasures • Wadi Dana sampler (part of the wadi) • Wadi Ghwayr sampler (part of the wadi) iii. Full day hikes** (up to 8 hours) • Wadi Ghwayr • Wadi Dana • Wadi Dana to Wadi Ghwayr **Some hikes require transfer costs which are not included in the price. iv. Cooking demonstration (30 minutes) v. Cooking class (2 hours) vi. Stargazing (1 hour)

Note: Our Guide will be with you during your stay in Feynan, and will assist the local guides who do not speak very good English. Our guide will arrange a visit to a local family in Feynan for coffee/tea during our stay.

Sample trails

Easy Trails: Feynan Copper Mine Tour (3 – 4 hours) Learn how vast deposits of copper were discovered, mined and processed at Feynan by ancient civilizations thousands of years ago and what an important supply centreFeynan was for the Roman Empire. Come explore deep, long-forgotten mine shafts and visit nearby sites to see how the copper was transported and refined, leaving vast slag formations from the smelting process that are still visible today. This will be a guided hike. The trail is open 1 Sept – 30 June. Return to Eco Lodge by Bedouin cars

Moderate to Hard Trails: Wadi Ghwair Trail (6 - 8 hours) Take a canyoning adventure and explore one of the most bountiful wadis in Jordan. Here a stream winds through the gorge, lined with flowering pink oleanders, palm trees and acacias. At the bottom of the narrow canyon carved into the mountains by water over millennia, the siq floor passes under massive boulders and breathtaking rock formations. Plan to get your feet and ankles wet depending on the time of year. Guests can either set off on foot from the lodge and end up at the village of Mansoura, where they take the 2 hours return journey by car to the lodge, or can be driven to the village of Mansoura in the morning from where they can journey back through the canyon to Feynan on foot. The Wadi Ghwayr hike takes 6-8 hours and requires a guide. (picnic lunch included).This hike is closed in the winter.

Meals included today: all meals.

29 April Mukawer - Lot's Cave – Dead Sea Today we head back north to another unique place. The Dead Sea is located at the lowest point on earth below sea level. At 370 meters below sea level, it is also the saltiest body of water on earth.

Leaving early morning (around 0700hrs) we will have a two hour drive to Lot’s Cave.

The infamous Sodom and Gomorrah and other cities of the Dead Sea plain, or (Cities of the Valley) were the subjects of some of the most dramatic and enduring Old Testament stories, including that of Lot, whose wife was turned into a pillar of salt for disobeying God’s will. Lot and his two daughters survived and fled to a cave near the small town of Zoar (modern-day Safi).

On a hillside above the town of Zoar, Byzantine Christians built a church and monastery dedicated to Saint Lot. The complex was built around the cave where Lot and his daughters found refuge

We will spend around 1 ½ hrs here and then drive on another 2 hours to Makawer. The 1st century AD Roman-Jewish historian, Josephus, identifies the awe-inspiring site of Mukawer (Machaerus) as the palace/fort of Herod, who was the Roman-appointed ruler over the region during the life of Jesus Christ. It was here, at this hilltop fortified palace, overlooking the Dead Sea region and the distant hills of Palestine and Israel that Herod Antipas, the son of Herod, imprisoned and beheaded John the Baptist after Salome’s fateful dance.

After an hour’s tour we’ll have a late lunch and then drive to our final destination.

We end our day at an extraordinary location – the Dead Sea for dinner and overnight.

Spend the rest of the day swimming and floating in the salty waters.

Meals included today: all meals.

30 April Dead Sea – Amman – London Economy Class flights Today we depart in the morning for Amman to catch our flight back home.

Meals included today: breakfast.

PRICE GUIDE £2995 per person based on 10 - 15 people travelling.

£460 per person single supplement please note for the one night at Ajloun – you may need to share.

Prices are quoted on exchange rates and tariffs currently in operation and are subject to alteration without notice

PRICE INCLUDES All arrangements and transport as per the itinerary; accommodation in 3 and 4 star hotels, cabins in Ajloun and private camp in Wadi Rum, meals as specified, economy seats on international flights as per the itinerary, transport and transfers in private air-conditioned vehicle (27 seater medium bus), tour accompanied by professional private English speaking local tour guide (except for last day airport departure transfer), all entrance fees, Ajloun hike fees, Dana Village tour, hikes in Wadi Rum with jeeps and lunch, jeep tour in Wadi Rum including lunch. Feynan activities according to local arrangements offered and all meals, free group visa. Porterage at Airport and hotels, tips to restaurants, local families, local guides, jeeps in Rum. Lunches where mentioned will be with local families where ever possible or at local restaurants. Dinners in local restaurants, hotels or as mentioned.

PRICE EXCLUDES Additional meals not included in the itinerary, airport taxes; insurance; personal gratuities to tour guide/driver; items of a personal nature such as drinks and laundry, soft or alcoholic drinks.

Prices are based on the below hotels Amman : Grand Palace 4* Hotel Ajloun : Ajloun Reserve Standard Cabins Madaba : Madaba Mosaic City 3* Hotel Petra : Petra Guest House 4* Hotel Wadi Rum : Private Camp in Rum Feynan Eco Lodge Standard rooms Dead Sea : Dead Sea Spa 4* Hotel (sea view rooms)

NOTES ON DAY WALKS The walking options at Ajloun and Wadi Feynan must be prebooked before departure. We will make a decision on walks based on the age/ability of the participants.

TRAVEL INSURANCE Comprehensive Travel Insurance (including medical evacuation/repatriation) is mandatory for this trip and you should be in good physical health.

Please do take time to consider your condition before booking.

Far Frontiers Travel clients are required to have adequate insurance protection against medical, cancellation and other expenses. If you do not have travel insurance in place, we recommend Campbell Irvine Insurance Brokers who offer a very comprehensive travel insurance policy. If you would like further details please contact them direct on 020 7938 1734 or visit their website at www.campbellirvine.com.

DOCTOR’S CERTIFICATE All those coming on this tour will need to be fully insured against medical and other contingencies, for the consequences of which the Society cannot accept any responsibility.

In addition, the RSAA requires those over 70yrs to have a doctor's certificate stating that they are fit to undertake this particular tour. Your Doctor’s certificate should be sent to the Society's office at the time your booking form is sent to us. Please also send us a copy of your Doctor’s Certificate so that we can be sure you are fit to join our tour. This is an essential condition of your participation in the tour.

VACCINATIONS Seek professional advice from your GP or Travel Clinic British Airways before travelling. We recommend you visit the MASTA website at www.masta.org. This offers a service which asks several questions about your travel arrangements then issues a report. This is very useful to show your local GP.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TRAVEL ADVICE Please note that the RSAA runs all its tours strictly within the limits of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice. As well as wanting to ensure your safety, it should be noted that Travel insurance is automatically invalidated if a journey enters an area which has an FCO Travel Advisory against it. Should a travel advisory be issued against any region included in our itinerary, we will heed such advice and where possible make alternative arrangements to avoid the area as necessary.

Members who are joining our tours may wish to seek appropriate travel insurance which may cover them for any expenses incurred in the event of a change or cancellation of an itinerary due to a change in FCO Travel Advice

PASSPORT AND VISA REQUIREMENTS Passports must be valid for at least six months from date of return. Your passport should have a minimum of at least 3-5 blank pages.

British passport holders in a group of five people or more with the same arrival and departure details and staying two nights or more will get a free visa

Latest itinerary update 10 May 2016/FB FURTHER INFORMATION Fiona Brijnath Far Frontiers Travel Ltd Ninestone South Zeal Devon EX20 2PZ Tel/fax: 01837 840640 Website: www.farfrontiers.com Email: [email protected]

10 May 2016