TOURIST GUIDE Company Profile

As a leading Destination Management Com- 28 different nationalities servicing thousands pany (DMC) in the region, no one knows the of happy travelers daily. We, at Desert secrets of Arabia better than Desert Adventures. Adventures, strongly believe in importance We offer you the best insight view of the most of sustainable tourism, and thus we act traditional, charming and modern places of the responsibly towards the environment and United Arab Emirates, Oman, Jordan, Qatar and society in our destination. the Kingdom of Bahrain. We are determined to continue our mission Desert Adventures is part of The Kuoni Group, to deliver personalized, reliable and highqual- which was named «World’s Leading Tour ity professional services to all our guests, Operator» at the Annual World Travel Awards and to follow our vision to showcase Arabia, for eleven years in a row. The company employs as one of the most exciting destinations over 170 dedicated and multilingual staff from in the world. Jordan at a Glance...... 6 NATURE TOURS General Information ...... 10–21 Azraq Wetland Reserve ...... 41 Daily Excursions and Activities ...... 24 Wadi Feynan ...... 42 Wadi Rum ...... 43 BABLICAL TOURS Mujib Nature Reserve ...... 44 Madaba-City of Mosaics ...... 26 Dana Biosphere Reserve ...... 45 Mount Nebo ...... 27 Bethany beyond the Jordan ...... 28 LEISURE & WELLNESS TOURS Jordan Valley & Dead Sea ...... 48 HISTORICAL TOURS Hammamat Ma’een ...... 49 , a Rose-Red City ...... 29 , Jordan ...... 50 Little Petra-Beidha ...... 30 Petra by Night ...... 31 ...... 32 Ajloun Castle...... 34 ...... 35 Pella ...... 36 Shobak-Crusader castle ...... 37 Umm Qays ...... 38 The Desert Castles ...... 39 The Fortress of Kerak ...... 40

GENERAL INFORMATION

Jordan at a glance

Capital Amman The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which once trekking the ancient caravan trails from Official language & English as a second language captivated ancient travelers, continues to the highlands of Moab and Edom, hiking the Area 89342 km2 enthrall a whole new generation as a modern, wooded hills of biblical Gilead, or experiencing Population 6,4 millions vibrant nation. From the haunting, primeval the unique, cleansing mud baths of the Dead Time zone GMT +2 starkness of Wadi Rum, to the teeming center Sea are just a few examples of the treasures of urban Amman; from the majestic ruins of awaiting visitors to this unique kingdom. bygone civilizations to the timeless splendor of The new stream of luxury hotels emerging in the Dead Sea and to the world wonder of Petra Amman, Petra, Aqaba and the Dead Sea is just , Jordan is unveiled, as a unique destination adding quality to a refined product that is offering breathtaking and mysterious sights, distinct, accessible and friendly. A product that high standard accommodations, exquisite is home to a new display of modern meeting and countless activities, that can pro- facilities and unique venues for incentive vide visitors with inspiration, motivation, and travel. rejuvenation. Marveling at herds of gazelles and Oryx and migrating birds, camping amidst the grandeur of Wadi Rum or Dana Reserve,

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GENERAL INFORMATION

Airports & Borders In Jordan

Airports: Three border existing between / Jordan has three airports: Palestine – Jordan: • most visitors arrive via Queen Alia Interna- • The Allenby/King Hussein Bridge, 57 kms tional Airport (QAIA), 30 minutes distant from away from Amman, is open Sun - Thu 08:00 – Amman city. 20:00 for arrivals and 8:00 to 14:00 • Marka Airport mainly serves as a regional for departures and Fri - Sat 08:00 – 13:00. airport. It is not possible to obtain here a visa to Jordan. • King Hussein International Airport (KHIA) is The border is closed on Yom Kippur and the located, in Aqaba approximately a 45 minutes Feast of Sacrifice (Eid al Adha). Buildings, flight from Amman. shopping malls, hotels, office towers, banks, Border Crossings: hospitals, schools, apartments and villas. Jordan shares borders with Israel and the • The Sheikh Hussein Crossing/Jordan River Palestine Territories in the west, in the Terminal in the north, 90 kms away from north, Iraq and Saudi Arabia in the north and Amman, is open Sun - Thu: 06:30 – 21:00, Fri- south. Between Syria - Jordan, you can cross two Sat: 08:00 – 20:00. It is closed on Yom Kippur borders Jaber or Ramtha. Jaber is 80 kms away and the Islamic New Year. from Amman and more popular for visitors. 8 Both borders are open 24/7 throughout the year. • The Wadi Araba Crossing/South Border, 7 kms away from Aqaba, operates Sun – Thu 06:30 – 20:00 and Fri – Sat 08:00 – 20:00. Wadi Araba Crossing closes on Islamic New Year and Yom Kippur. No land border connects - Jordan, but between the two countries daily ferries are operating. There is the boat service from Nuweibah to Aqaba Port, and another from Taba to Aqaba. The border between Iraq - Jordan is called Al Karamah Border Crossing, 331 kms away from Amman.

There are three border crossings Saudi Arabia - Jordan, open 24/7 throughout the year: Umari and Mudawara Border as well as the Durra Crossing, close to Aqaba. GENERAL INFORMATION

Relion & Language

Islam is the official religion of Jordan. The Quran is the Holy Book containing revealed to the Prophet Mohammed by the Angel Gabriel.

Other religions such as Christianity is widely practiced and respected in Jordan. The official language of Jordan is Arabic, but English is widely spoken and understood, with both languages being commonly used in business and commerce.

10 GENERAL INFORMATION

A brief list of Do’s and Don’ts to help visitors fit in with the local culture. Do’s •Do shake hands when meeting people, con- servative veiled women may not reach out. •Do stand up when greeting others. •When finished with your cup of , do shake your cup from side to side in order to let your host know that you do not wish to Local customs drink more. If more coffee is desired, then sim- ply hold your cup out to the person carrying the coffeepot. •Do accept when Arabic coffee is offered to you by your host, as coffee is an important cultural symbol of hospitality, simultaneously extended Don’ts and accepted as an act of reciprocated goodwill. •Don’t interrupt, or pass in front of, a Muslim who •Do carry plenty of loose change with you, as may be praying in a public place. many Jordanians usually do not carry adequate •Don’t openly consume , beverages, or cigarettes change. in public places during the holy month of Ramadan. •Do tip waiters approximately 10% gratuity in •Don’t dress provocatively when walking outdoors. addition to the bill (unless service charge is •Don’t panic if an acquaintance “pecks” you on the included within the total bill). cheeks when greeting you, as Arabs have traditionally •Do round your taxi fare up to the nearest tenth kissed each other on both cheeks, as a warm when paying your driver. gesture of welcome and affection. •Do haggle with merchants when shopping. •Don’t feel uncomfortable, if your host insists on •Do dress conservatively when exploring pub- “over feeding” you during a , as Arabs tradition- lic areas of Jordan. ally view food as an important symbol of hospitality, •Do be aware that Arabs tend to stand a fraction generosity, and goodwill – the more the better! of the distance closer when conversing than •Don’t feel that you are required to tip your taxi people do in the West. 10 driver, as tipping in such a scenario is not •Do feel free to consume alcoholic beverages, necessary. but not in outside public areas. 11 GENERAL INFORMATION

Useful numbers

• Dial 199 to call Paramedics if you need urgent there is an excellent daily English-language medical care. newspaper, the Jordan Times. Major hotels also • Dial 199 to call Firefighters in case of a fire. offer a wide variety of foreign newspapers and • Dial 191 if you are getting pick-pocketed, magazines. robbed or harassed in any way. Telephone. • Dial 191 if you have any complaints about the To call Jordan, you have to dial: + 962 + City personnel of touristic sites and hotels. Area Code + Number you wish to call. • Dial 190 in case of road accident or any prob- The area code for Amman is 06, though if you lems related to traffic. are calling from outside Jordan you just dial 6 • Dial 194 in case of any problems that happen to you while on the highways. The following is a list of area codes in Jordan HOW CAN I KEEP IN TOUCH? • Ajloun, Irbid, Jerash, Mafraq, Ramtha 02 The country has an excellent telecommunica- • Balqa, Madaba, Salt, Zarqa 05 tions infrastructure including three mobile • Aqaba, Kerak, Ma’an, Tafila, Petra, Wadi Rum 03 networks, you can even buy prepaid GSM cards. • Amman, Abu Allanda 06 You will also find Internet facilities in major • Mobile Phones – Zain 79 hotels and in the form of Internet cafés in vir- • Mobile Phones – Orange 77 12 tually all cities. Besides Arabic newspapers, • Mobile Phones 78

GENERAL INFORMATION

Taxi

Taxis are inexpensive and often the most in the back of the taxi. Tipping isn’t compul- convenient form of transportation in Jordan, sory, but it is customary to add about 200 fils to even over substantial distances, such as the trip the price on the meter between Amman and Aqaba.

The white-painted “service taxis” ride fixed routes and are shared. Private taxis are painted yellow; they can be taken from ranks outside larger hotels, or hailed in the street. Taxis have meters, but these are not always used at night, so it is advisable to agree the cost beforehand. The same applies on long journeys. Taxi drivers are friendly, know the city well, and usually speak English. 14 It is considered appropriate for a woman to sit GENERAL INFORMATION

Getting around

Amman and other cities are relatively small, Many jabals once had a traffic circle (rounda- and most places of interest, hotels and restau- bout) at their peak, and although most of the rants are well known. Street addresses are rarely circles have now been replaced by traffic lights, used (mail is delivered only to post office boxes the junctions are still known as 1st Circle, 2nd located at neighborhood post office centers and Circle.. 8th Circle. Other Amman neighbor- only the larger street names are well known. hoods were once separate villages, now taken When giving directions, therefore, people will over by the expanding city. usually tell you the area, or a nearby landmark One final word.. if you’re having trouble (a large hotel, ministry building or supermar- finding your way, don’t hesitate to ask a passer- ket, for example) and will start instructions by, most people will be delighted to help, and in from there. This works more efficiently than it some cases, they’ll even jump in your car and sounds. Amman itself is built on seven hills, or direct 14 you to your destination! jabals, each of which more or less defines a neighborhood. 15 GENERAL INFORMATION

Embassies/consulates in Jordan

Australian +962 6 5807000 Italy +962 6 463 8185 Austria +962 6 460 11 01 Kazakhstan +962 6 592 79 53 Azerbaijan +962 6 593 55 25 Malaysia +962 6 590 2400 Belgium +962 79 552 7638 Netherlands +962 6 590 2200 Bosnia +962 6 585 6 921 Spain +962 6 461 4166 Canada +962 6 520 3300 Philippines +962 6 592 3748 Chinese +962 6 551 6136 Russia +962 6 464 11 58 Croatia +962 7 9559 9393 Ukraine +962 6 592 2402 Czech Republic +962 6 592 7051 USA +962 6 590 6000 Finland +962 6 582 4607 UK +962 6 590 9200 France +962 6 460 4630 Georgia +962 6 560 3793 Germany +962 6 593 03 Greece +962 6 592 27245 India +962 6 462 2098 Indonesia +962 6 592 6908 Ireland +962 6 551 6807 16 Israel +962 6 550 3500 GENERAL INFORMATION

Airlines in Jordan

Austrian +962 6 5660449/5692700 Olympic Air (creek) +962 6 5664871 Aeroflot +962 6 5663150 Oman air +962 6 5004450 Arabian airlines +962 6 5603666 Qatar airlines +962 6 5679444 Alitalia +962 6 4625200 P.M.I +962 6 5548951 Air France +962 6 5100771/4451940 Royal Jordanian +962 6 5678168/5202000 British Airways +962 6 5828801 Romanian +962 6 5620760/4615597/4615571/4615222 Cyprus Airways +962 6 5696719 Turkish +962 6 4641710/4659112/4659102 Canadian +962 6 4630879 United +962 6 5518158 Delta airlines +962 6 4643661 Ukrainian +962 6 5512952/5541892 Emirates +962 6 4615597/4615571/4615222 Etihad airlines +962 6 4680100 Egypt airlines +962 6 4639119 Gulf airline +962 6 4653613/4653621/4653618 Iberia airline +962 6 4625197/4641392/4641391 KLM +962 6 4655267 Lufthansa +962 6 5200180 MEA +962 6 4603500 17 GENERAL INFORMATION

Frequently asked questions about Jordan and its local traditions

WHEN ARE THE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS? Eating is the most popular national pastime All tourist sites and many businesses are open hence the is quite refined. on most holidays, but government offices and Most hotels offer continental and banks close. Friday and Saturday are the official buffet dinner with a choice of western and weekend days, although all tourist sites and Arabic . Restaurants at sites usually offer many businesses are open on Saturday as well. traditional Arabic food or buffet . In the Most Jordanian holidays are based on the major cities you’ll also find international Islamic religious calendar, and so they vary by restaurants, including McDonald’s, Burger King about two weeks every year depending on the and other healthy restaurants! You are lunar calendar. During the holy month of allowed to consume alcoholic drinks freely. Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, DO TOURISTS HAVE TO PAY TAXES ON so it would be prudent if you try to be respect- HOTEL BILLS? ful and not consume drinks, food and cigarettes Yes, they do. 22% consisting of service charge outside of restaurants and tourist sites. and municipality tax are always added to either WHAT TIME IS IT IN JORDAN? hotel and restaurant bills. Standard time zone GMT +2 VISITING JORDAN WITH KIDS? WHAT’S THE VOLTAGE? The electricity is 220 There are plenty of activities for kids, especially volts, so bring along a transformer if you need one if you are going during the summer. From DO I HAVE TO TIP? visiting Petra, to floating in the Dead Sea or Tipping is not compulsory, but is expected. camping in Wadi RUM, these activities are 18 WHAT ABOUT THE FOOD AND DRINK? family-friendly and will not bore the children. If you are staying in Amman, you can find horse riding, children’s museums and parks to keep the young ones entertained. WHAT’S THE OFFICIAL CURRENCY? The Jordanian Dinar (JD) is divided into 1,000 fils, although many people refer to piasters. One piaster equals 10 fils, so there are 100 piasters in a dinar. Notes: 5, 10 and 20 and 50 dinars. Coins: 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250 fils, 1/2 and 1 dinar. US$1 = JD 0.708 (JD IS PEGGED TO THE US$) You will get the best exchange rate at exchange shops and banks, although the banks at the borders and in the airports charge a small commission. If you carry Travellers checks, you will be charged a commission ranging from JD 3 to JD 8 even at a bank, sometimes for each check, so carry larger denominations. Hotels will charge a premium for changing money, so try to avoid this. All Banks are closed on Fridays and Saturdays, though some exchange shops remain open. WHAT’S THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE? Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken throughout the Kingdom. Most road signs are in English. WHAT’S THE WEATHER LIKE? Jordan has a long and pleasant spring and fall, from March through May and from September through November. Rain occasionally falls from December to April. The summer months are hot, but with little humidity. In the Jordan Valley, around the Dead Sea and in Aqaba on the Red 18 Sea the winters are pleasant. GENERAL INFORMATION

Frequently asked questions about Jordan and its local traditions

IS IT SAFE? wear shorts, though it’s preferable for women to The first thing you will notice when you arrive avoid wearing them while walking in Amman’s to Jordan is that the people are very warm and city center. By following above guidelines, you welcoming to tourists. You will be pleasantly will feel more relaxed. Make sure you bring with surprised by the sense of security you will find you comfortable walking shoes, a hat and sun in Jordan- it is one of the safest places to travel block. The weather is usually warm in summer, in the world. Jordan maintains good relations but winters can be very cold, evenings are cool with ALL of its neighbors, and is truly an oasis year round, so bring adequate warm clothing of peace in this region. The country is fairly with you. If you were sleeping in the desert then liberal, westernized, and alcohol is freely you would need a warm sweater and Jacket even available in summer IS ALCOHOL ALLOWED? POSTAL SERVICE Most hotels and restaurants offer a wide range As well as post offices, most 4 and 5-star hotels of alcoholic beverages, with excellent selection offer postal services. Post office opening hours of local and beer. are: HOW SHOULD I DRESS? Summer: Sat-Thurs 0700-1900, Fri 0700-1300 When planning your clothing needs (particularly Winter: Sat-Thurs 0700-1700, Fri 0700-1300 women), remember that you will be travelling There are also a number of international to the Muslim county. Clothes should not be courier services, including DHL, FedEx, TNT 20 revealing. For example: women and men can International, UPS, etc. CREDIT CARDS Credit cards are accepted at hotels, restaurants and larger shops, including American Express, Visa, Diners Club, and MasterCard. Please note that many smaller shops still prefer cash payment in the Jordanian currency, and it’s essential for shopping in the local souks.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Daily Excursions & Experience unmatched tourism services featuring magnificent world heritage sites Activities such as : • Petra by Night • The Desert of Wadi Rum • Jerash • Ajloun • Um Qays • The Fortress of Kerak • Madaba • Bethany (Baptism Site) beyond the Jordan • Jordan valley & the Dead Sea • Petra - the new 7th World Wonder • Mount Nebo • Amman • The Desert Castles • Shobak - Crusader castle • Ajloun Castle • Hammamat (Hot Springs) Ma’een, and many more

24 Desert adventures offers some of the most out-of-the-ordinary Jordan tours and vaca- tions. Many of the Jordan tour packages feature unique opportunities pertaining to Jordan tourism, that you are not likely to find anywhere else.

• 3days & 2Nights • 4days & 3Nights • 5days & 4Nights We also ensure that your clients have time to • 6days & 5Nights relax and enjoy the beauty and diversity of • 7days & 6Nights our country. • 8days & 7Nights We believe that Jordan is the ultimate unique • 9days & 9Nights destination, and we strive to show it in its • 10days & 9Nights true colors.

Jordan has a lot to offer to its visitors. We only use fluent, knowledgeable, hand- Our itineraries are carefully planned to picked certified guides and choose the maximize your clients’ available time while safest, most reliable drivers and transport incorporating more than the obvious companies. points of interest, adding elements of sur- prise and hidden treasures found well off the beaten path. 25 BIBLICAL TOURS

Madaba - Fragment of the past are revealed in and around this famous City of Mosaics

Just 30 kilometers from Amman, along the 15.6 X 6m, 94 square meters, only about a quarter 5,000-year-old Kings´ Highway, is one of the of which is preserved. Other mosaic masterpieces most memorable places in the Holy Land. After found in the church of the Virgin and the Apostles passing through a string of ancient sites, the and in the Archaeological Museum, depict a ram- first city you reach is Madaba, known as the pant profusion of flowers and plants, birds and “City of Mosaics”. fish, animals and exotic beasts, as well as scenes Best known for its spectacular Byzantine and from mythology and the everyday pursuits of Umayyad mosaics, Madaba is home to the hunting, fishing and farming. Literally, famous 6th century Mosaic Map of Jerusalem hundreds of other mosaics from the 5th through and the Holy Land. With two million pieces of the 7th centuries are scattered throughout Mada- vividly colored local stone, it depicts hills and ba’s churches and homes. In line with Jordan’s valleys, villages and towns as far as the Nile commitment to restoring and preserving its mo- Delta. The Madaba Mosaic Map covers the floor of saic masterpieces, Madaba’s extensive archaeologi- the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, which cal Park and Museum complex encompasses the is located northwest of the city Centre. The church remains of several Byzantine churches, including was built in 1896 AD, over the remains of a much the outstanding mosaics of the Church of the Vir- earlier 6th century Byzantine church. The mosaic gin and the Hyppolytus Hall, part of a 6th century 26 panel enclosing the Map was originally around mansion. BIBLICAL TOURS

From Mount Nebo’s windswept promontory, overlooking the Dead Sea, the Jordan River Mount Nebo Valley, Jericho and the distant hills of Jerusa- lem, Moses viewed the Holy Land of Canaan that he would never enter. He died and was buried in Moab, “in the val- ley 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 Byz- antine 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 27 which Jesus was crucified. BIBLICAL TOURS

Bethany beyond the Jordan

Less than two kilometers east of the Jordan River thousands of years has identified it as the place is an important place associated with the lives of from where Elijah ascended to heaven. Bethany’s Jesus and John the Baptist (pbut) - the settlement ancient remains include structures from the first of Bethany, where John lived and baptized. John century settlement of John the Baptist, including 1:28 refer to it as “Bethany beyond the Jordan, large plastered pools with steps for full immer- where John was baptizing”. In John 10:40 it is sion, and the 5th - 6th century remains of the mentioned as the place to which Jesus fled for Byzantine period settlement called Ainon or safety after being threatened with stoning in Saphsaphas and depicted on the 6th century Jerusalem: “Then Jesus went back across the Madabaa mosaic map of the holy land. When Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness after his in the early days”. This settlement beyond the baptism (Mark 1:12), he had been in the stark, Bethany has recently been identified on the south desolate marl area immediately east of Jordan bank of the small perennials stream named Wadi River and north of Bethany. He spread his Kharrar, just east of the Jordan River and opposite message throughout Transjordan on several Jericho. It is being excavated, protected, and made different occasions, including during his last accessible for visitors. The small natural hill journey from Galilee to Jerusalem (Matthew 19 forming the core of Bethany is called Elijah’s Hill, 28 or Tell Mar Elias in Arabic. Local tradition for HITORICAL TOURS

Petra A Rose–Red City, Half as Old as The Time

The giant red mountains and vast mausoleums to the city is through the Siq, a narrow gorge, of a departed race have nothing in common over 1 kilometer in length, which is flanked on with modern civilization, and ask nothing of it either side by soaring, 80 meters high cliffs. except to be appreciated at their true value - as Just walking through the Siq is an experience in one of the greatest wonders ever wrought by itself. The colors and formations of the rocks Nature and Man. Although much has been are dazzling. As you reach the end of the Siq written about Petra, nothing really prepares you will catch your first glimpse of Al-Khazneh. you for this amazing place. It has to be seen This is an awe-inspiring experience. A massive to be believed. Often described as the eighth façade, 30m wide and 43m high, carved out of wonder of the ancient world, it is without doubt the sheer, dusky pink, rock-face and dwarfing Jordan’s most valuable treasure and greatest everything around it. tourist attraction. It is a vast, unique city, carved into the sheer rock face by the Nabataeans, an It was carved in the early 1st century,as the industrious Arab people who settled here more tomb of an important Nabataean King and than 2000 years ago, turning it into an impor- represents the engineering genius of these tant junction for the silk, and other trade ancient people. routes that linked China, India and southern 29 Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and entrance HITORICAL TOURS

Little Petra, Al Beidha

After Petra, Al Beidha or Little Petra is the next been occupied from 7200BC to 6500BC, which most important site in Wadi Musa. This site is makes it one of the first settled tvillages in hu- only a few kilometers from Petra. Little Petra is man history. literally hidden away in the center of a moun- Around that time the settlement burned down, tain with a classical temple standing guard and was rebuild. After its reconstruction, it was outside the mini-siq. Little Petra appears to only inhabited for a short while, before being have been an important suburb of the city of totally abandonned. Remains of the houses Petra and is at the point where several ancient and a retaining wall are still visible today. They caravan routes met. are remnants of one of the first transitions from semi-settled nomads to settled villagers The routes linked Wadi Araba with Gaza, Egypt and the start of an agrarian economy. and the Mediterranean coast. The Neolithic At the Beidha Neolithic site, you can view village of Beidha is located south of ‘Little scientific reconstructions of what the Neolithic Petra’ (and about 10 kilometres north of the dwellings may have looked like. 30 Petra Archaeological Park) It is thought to have HITORICAL TOURS

Petra by Night

To visit Petra during daylight is an awe- inspiring experience, to experience it at night by the light of 1,800 candles is truly an out-of-thisworld experience!

Walk through the Siq to the Khazneh follow- ing a candle-lit path and enjoy the haunting music of the at the Treasury.

31 HITORICAL TOURS

Jerash, a Rome away from Rome

The ancient city of Jerash boasts an unbro- temples, handsome theatres, spacious public ken chain of human occupation dating back squares and plazas, baths, fountains and city more than 6,500 years. Jerash lies on a plain walls pierced by towers and gates Beneath its surrounded by hilly wooded areas and fertile external Graeco - Roman veneer, Jerash also basins. Conquered by General preserves a subtle blend of east and west. Its Pompey in 63 BC, it came under Roman rule architecture, religion and languages reflect a and was one of the ten great Roman cities, the process by which two powerful cultures meshed Decapolis League. The city’s golden age came and coexisted, The Graeco - Roman world of under Roman rule, during which time it was the Mediterranean basin and the traditions known as Gerasa, and the site is now generally of the Arab Orient. The modern city of Jerash acknowledged to be one of the best preserved can be found to the east of the ruins. While the Roman provincial towns in the world. old and new share a city wall, careful preser- Hidden for centuries in sand before being vation and planning has seen the city itself excavated and restored over the past 70 years, develop well away from the ruins so there is no Jerash reveals a fine example of the grand, encroachment on the sites of old. formal provincial Roman urbanism that is found throughout the Middle East, comprising 32 paved and colonnaded streets, soaring hilltop

HITORICAL TOURS

Ajloun Castle (Qala,a El-Rabath)

Through a beautiful pine-forest and castle of Belvoir (Kawkab El-Hawa) on the op- groves, brings you to the town of Ajloun, where posite side of the valley between the Tiberias Hadrian stayed over the winter of 129-30 AD, and Besan, and as a base to develop and control and built himself an arch well outside the town, the iron mines of Ajloun. leaving unbonded its sides for future city walls to come out to meet it. Here you will find the Castle of Ajloun or Qalaat Errabadh (Arabic for “Hilltop Castle”) from which there is a splendid view westwards into the Jordan Valley. It looks like a Crusader fortress, but it was built by Muslims in 1184-85 as a military fort and buffer to protect the region from invading Crusader forces.

It was built on the orders of the local governor, Ezz Eddin Osama bin Munqethe, a nephew of the Ayyubid leader Salahuddin Al-Ayyoubi 34 (Saladin), as a direct retort to the new Latin HITORICAL TOURS

Amman

A modern city Built on the sands of time Am- The city later came under Seleucid as well as man, the modern and ancient capital of Jordan, Nabataean rule until the Roman General Pom- is one of the oldest continuously inhabited pey annexed Syria and made Philadelphia part cities in the World. The city’s modern buildings of the Decapolis League – a loose alliance of ten blend with the remnants of ancient civiliza- free city-states ,bound by powerful commercial, tions. The profusion of gleaming white houses political, and cultural interests under overall stalls with , and tiny cafes allegiance to Rome. where rich Arabian coffee is sipped in the after- noon sunshine, conjure a mood straight from a thousand and one nights. Amman was known in the old testament as Rabbath-Ammon, the capital of the Ammonites around 1200 BC; it was also referred to as “The city of waters”. In Greco-Roman times in the 3rd century BC, the city was renamed Philadelphia (Greek for “The Brotherhood Love”) after the Ptolemaic ruler Philadelphus (283-246 BC). 35 HITORICAL TOURS

Pella, Jordan

Magnificently set in a fold of the hills that rise to have been continuously occupied since Neo- from the Jordan Valley 78 km north of Amman, lithic times for some flints from this period Pella; known in Arabic as Tabaqat Fahl; is have been found there; and some recent finds one of the most ancient sites in Jordan and a 2 km north of the tell even date t Paleolithic favorite of archaeologists being exceptionally times, around 100,000 years ago. rich in antiquities. It is perfectly situated, for there is a spring here which issues into a small 36 river and never runs dry. The tell itself seems HITORICAL TOURS

Shobak-Crusader castle

The castle is perched on top of a small hill and is one of the deepest wells ever cut by northeast of the town of Shobak. Inside the Crusader forces. A side road leads to the fortress there are two churches, the first of castle from the King’s Highway about two which is to the left of the entrance and up the kilometers north of Shobak village. From there stairs. There are ruins of baths, cisterns and it is another four kilometers to the castle. rainwater pipes, in addition to millstones for pressing , a few archways and other works which have stood test of time. The caretaker can point out a shaft from which a set of stairs cut into the rock leads down to a spring below the castle. The shaft has 375 steps

37 HITORICAL TOURS

Umm Qays

Situated 110 km north of Amman on a broad Archaeological surveys indicate that Gadara promontory 378 meters above sea level with a was occupied as early as the 7th century BC. magnificent view over the Yarmouk River, the The Greek historian, Polybius, described the Golan Heights, and Lake Tiberias, this town was region as being under Ptolemaic control at the known as Gadara, one of the most brilliant time. The Seleucid ruler Antiochus III con- ancient Greco-Roman cities of the Decapolis; quered it in 218 BC, naming the city Antiochia and according to the Bible, the spot where Jesus and Seleucia. In 63 BC, Pompey liberated Ga- (pbuh) cast out the Devil from two demoniacs dara and joined it to the Roman league of ten (mad men) into a herd of pigs (Mathew 8:28-34). cities, the Decapolis

38 HITORICAL TOURS

The Desert Castles

The Desert Castles, which were built mostly The next one is Amra Castle, which is a under the Umayyad’s (661-750 AD), stand as an UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the last cas- evidence to the beginnings of Arab architectur- tle in the northeast is Al Azraq castle which is al civilization. They are located east of Amman, located in the town of Azraq, 20 minutes away between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Different as- from the previous castle. Other castles are scat- sumptions were made about the main function tered throughout the country and almost of these original monuments of early Islamic all have interesting elements of architecture art; residences, weekend cottages, caravanserais, and mystique. or hunting lodges for the Omayyad rulers, they were also used as the domain of Omayyad princes in the 8th Century. One of the other possibilities of their use is that they used them to control the path from Damascus to Mecca. The areas where they were built are for the most part flat and the castles are made of a mixture of lava, sandstone, limestone and basalt stones. The closest is al Kharranah, which is about an hour’s drive from Amman. 39 HITORICAL TOURS

The Fortress of Kerak

The magnificent Crusader fortress of Kerak tion of road-tolls . There were -as there are soars above its valleys and hills like a great ship today- two parts of Kerak, both contained with- riding waves of rock. Kerak’s origins go back in stout walls, but the citadel and its fortress long before the Crusaders; the earliest remains are separated from the town by a deep dry are Iron Age. The fortress, located 124 km moat. The fortress is typically Crusader, with south of Amman, was built in 1142 by Payen le dimly lit stone-vaulted rooms and corridors Bouteiller, lord of Montreal and of the province leading into each other through heavy arches of Oultre Jourdain, on the remains of earlier and doorways. The best preserved are under- citadels, which date back to Nabataean times. ground, and to be reached through a massive He made Kerak the new capital of the province, door . for it was superbly situated on the King’s Highway ,where it could control all traffic from north and south and grow rich by the imposi-

40 NATURE TOURS

Azraq Wetland Reserve

Established to conserve the uniquely precious oasis located in the heart of Jordan’s eastern desert, between a limestone desert in the west and a basalt desert in the east. It is distinguished by lush marshland and natural water collections that form glittering pools and streams, giving Azraq its name, which is the Arabic word for ‘blue’.

In 1977, the Ramsar Convention declared Azraq Wetland and the adjacent mudflat (Qa) as a major station for migratory birds on the African-Eurasian flyway. A variety of birds flock to the reserve each year, stopping for a short rest along their migration routes, staying for the winter, or breeding within the wetland. 41 NATURE TOURS

Wadi Feynan

Escape the beaten path. A sensory experience Society for the Conservation of Nature, a awaits. Deep in the heart of the mountainous Jordanian NGO devoted to the protection of Dana Biosphere Reserve, at the end of a rugged the Kingdom’s finest natural landscapes. track, an idyllic candle-lit lodge rests in the magnificent Wadi Feynan.

Hailed as one of the top fifty ecolodges in the world ,the solar powered Feynan Ecolodge of- fers the most developed eco-experience in Jor- dan; an experience made possible by a unique partnership between EcoHotels and the Royal

42 NATURE TOURS

Wadi Rum

A journey to Wadi Rum is a journey to another 1917-18, and as the setting for the film that world. A vast, silent place, timeless and starkly carried his name “Lawrence of Arabia”. beautiful.. Wadi Rum is one of Jordan’s main everywhere in this moonscape place are tourist attractions being the most stunning indications of man’s presence since the earliest desert scape in the World, lying 320 km known times. southwest of Amman,120 km south of Petra, and only 68 km north of Aqabaa. Scattered around are flint hand axes, while on Uniquely shaped massive mountains rise the rocks at the feet of the mountains the vertically out of the pink desert sand, which names of ancient travelers a there is emptiness separate one dark mass from another in a and silence. magnificent desert scenery of strange breath- taking beauty, with towering cliffs of weathered stone.. The faces of the sheer rock cliffs have been eroded by the wind into faces of men, animals and monsters. Wadi Rum is probably best known because of its connection with the enigmatic British officer T.E. Lawrence, who was based here during the Great Arab Revolt of 43 NATURE TOURS

Mujib Nature Reserve

Covers an area of 212 km2 , Bordering the Dead Sea at 416 meters below sea level, the Mujib Nature Reserve surrounds Wadi Mujib, a deep and majestic canyon that cuts through the rugged highlands and drains into the Dead Sea.

Seasonal and permanent streams flow through many of the Wadis, supporting luxurious aquatic plants in the river These rivers also enable this otherwise arid area to support a remarkable diversity of wildlife. It is also one of the major sources that compensate the high 44 evaporation rate of the Dead Sea NATURE TOURS

Dana Biosphere Reserve

Is the only reserve in Jordan that includes the be found within the reserve, three of which four different bio-geographical zones of the have only ever been recorded in Dana and country; Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian, nowhere else in the world. Their Latin names Saharo Arabian and Sudanian penetration. As include the word ‘Dana’ in them. such, it is the most diverse nature reserve in the country in terms of habitats and species, hosting several vegetation types, including the Phoenician Juniper, evergreen oak, sand dunes, acacia, and rocky sudanian, among others. It is also home to the southernmost remaining forest community of Cypress Cupressus simpervirens. More than 800 plant species can

45

LEISURE & WELLNESS TOURS

Jordan Valley & The Dead Sea

Nature’s living miracle, A place to rejuvenate by mountains to the east and the rolling hills of and restore both body and soul .. Jerusalem to the west, giving it an almost Without a doubt, the world’s most amazing other-worldly beauty. Although sparsely place, the Jordan Rift Valley is a dramatic, populated and serenely quiet now, the area is beautiful landscape, which at the Dead Sea, believed to have been home to five Biblical is over 400 meters (1,312 ft.) below sea level. The cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Adman, lowest point on the face of the earth, this vast, Zebouin and Zoar. stretch of water receives a number of incoming rivers, including the River Jordan.

Once the waters reach the Dead Sea they are land-locked and have nowhere to go, so they evaporate, leaving behind a dense, rich, cocktail of salts and minerals that supply industry, agriculture and medicine with some of its finest products The Dead Sea is flanked

48 LEISURE & WELLNESS TOURS

Hammamat (Hot Springs) Ma’een

The hot springs and baths of Hammamat Ma’een have been enjoyed for therapeutic and leisure pursuits for thousands of years. The public springs and commercial resort area are located 35 kilometers southwest of Madaba, along a winding road which crosses some of the most spectacular territory around the Dead Sea. Hammamat Ma’een should not be confused with the actual town of Ma’een, which is 15 kilometers before the sprin.

49 LEISURE & WELLNESS TOURS

Aqaba, Jordan

The Red Sea resort of Aqaba, which was in ancient times, the main port for shipments from the Red Sea to the Far East, known by the names of Aila, Ailana, Elana, Ailath, Elath, Ayla and Wayla. Aqaba is warm, sunny and inviting, fringed with palm tree lapped by the crystal clear waters of the Gulf of Aqaba, cooled by a steady northerly breeze, and ringed mountains that change in color with the change of the hours. Snorkeling, water skiing, wind surfing, para-sailing fishing and a variety of other water sports, including unsurpassed scuba diving are 50 just some of the popular activities to partake in.

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