Trips

You pick up your car at the airport and head to the hotel in central Amman. Depending on the time of arrival, you can decide to take a small tour of the city.

I advise you to travel as soon as possible or in any case not after 9:00 in the morning, because already at that time there is a lot of traffic in Amman. Traveling along the desert highway, you cross the capital and after about 70 km (1.5h-2h, depending on traffic) you reach the Jerash archaeological site. Often described as the "Pompeii of Asia", the vestiges of Jerash (Gerasa) are one of the country's major attractions, as well as one of the most interesting Roman sites in the entire Middle East.The second stop of the day is Ajlun Castle, which is located about 40 minutes by car from Jerash. For its dominant position over the Jordan Valley and the three wadis, the castle played a key role in the defensive apparatus against the crusaders and was the Islamic counterpart to the fort of Belvoir on the Sea of ​​Galilee (Lake Tiberias), located in today's Israel and Palestinian Territories.The third stop is the Umm Qais site about 72 km (1.5h) north of Ajlun. To reach the site, follow the signs for Irbid and then the highway number 10, but not yet finished. Umm Qais is known to be the place where, according to the biblical story, Jesus performed one of his most prodigious miracles, freeing two men possessed by demons and transferring the latter to a herd of pigs. From the site you can admire the Golan Heights which crosses Palestine, Sirya and Israel.In the evening, reach Irbid.

Without waking up early, we start again following the road N ° 10 to reach the site of Pella after about 52 Km (+ 1h). The road that crosses the Jordan Valley is inhabited mainly by Palestinians who have now integrated into the Jordanian population.The ruins of the ancient city of Pella is one of the cities of the legendary Roman Decapolis. About 86 km (+1.5 km) south of Pella, always following road 65 towards the Dead Sea, you will find the site: Benatia (Al-Maghtas). Whatever religion it belongs to, it is difficult not to be moved by this tiny pile of ruins, which lies on the shores of the Dead Sea at the northern end of the Jordan Valley. According to scholars, this is the place where John the Baptist baptized Jesus.The next stop is Mount Nebo, which is located about 36 km (30 minutes) east towards Madaba. The road is very scenic and with little traffic. Mount Nebo is the place from which, according to tradition, Moses contemplated the Promised Land for the first time, without ever reaching it. After another 20 minutes, you will reach Madaba.

The morning (after a good Jordanian breakfast with Hummus, bread and coffee) is entirely dedicated to visiting Madaba.The pleasant town is famous above all for its Byzantine mosaics. The most famous of these is the one that covers the floor of the Church of San Giorgio, which represents a geographical map, but there are many other mosaics that cover different parts of the city.After the visit of Madaba, you will travel about 47 km (1h) in a splendid panoramic road through the desert mountains of the area, until you reach the Dead Sea: the lowest place on Earth.At about 400 meters below sea level there is the fantastic Dead Sea. You cannot take a trip to Jordan without taking a dip in this salty sea. It is precisely the high percentage of mineral salts contained in the water that will make you float, but also be careful if you have cuts on the skin or if a few drops will end up in your eyes, because the perceived burning is very strong. In fact, not being able to swim, but to float, after about 20 minutes in this water jumps, you will have every hole in the body that will burn you.

Continuing south on the road n ° 65, for about 78 km (1h), the panorama that can be admired along the Dead Sea is truly fantastic.Continuing our journey to Petra, we reach Shobak Castle, which is located about 93 km from the museum. It takes about 1.5 hours to reach it and another good hour to visit it all.After about another 32 km, you reach Petra. If you have done things comfortably, you will have time to relax in your hotel, before making the tour: Petra by Night.

Today is a day of rest for the car, because you don't travel, but you walk on foot throughout the day inside the archaeological site. The car will only be used for transportation to the Petra Visitor Center!

To reach Wadi Rum from Petra consider using no more than 1.5 hours. The road is always very scenic, you cross a beautiful plateau of about 1800 meters above sea level, to go down again on the Desert Highway. Always pay attention to the bumps, which in most cases are not signposted, to the bumpy road and to the camels that cross the road.

Our advice is to leave early, that is, immediately after breakfast. To get back to Amman, consider taking about 4.5 hours on the Desert Highway, it depends on traffic, work in progress and police checkpoints. Leaving early you can also enjoy the capital!