Historical Tour of Petra and Jordan

Jordan and Petra
Jordan and Petra

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    3492
    • April 2024 & 2025
    • 14 Days
    • TBA + air
    • Single Supplement: TBA

    Embark on a Captivating Petra and Jordan Tour, Where You Will Encounter The Wonders of Madaba, Jerash, Wadi Rum, and The Majestic Umayyad Fortress Palaces

    Why tour Jordan? The Royal Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a charming land that has preserved a remarkable character unlike any other in the Near East. Ruled by King Abdullah, the people have an unparalleled reputation for hospitality, from the office worker in the city to the Bedouin in his desert camp.

    The country’s archaeological richness transports you back thousands of years. Marvel at the wonders of Petra, the ancient Roman city of Jerash, and the elegant Umayyad fortresses in the eastern desert. Beyond historical sites, ancient cities, castles, Christian churches, and mosaic masterpieces, Jordan’s landscapes present breathtaking vistas.

    Our 14-day Jordan history tour was meticulously crafted to appreciate Jordan’s compelling past. Highlights include two full days in Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site showcasing the sophisticated Nabataean culture; explorations in the eastern desert uncovering Bronze Age shrines in Wadi Rum; and a unique private tour of Petra’s Temple of the Winged Lions.

    Enhance your experience with a cooking class, dining on your creations, and an exclusive evening at ACOR (the American Center of Oriental Research), featuring cocktails with the director and a private viewing of their collections, including the intriguing Petra Scrolls.

    What Are the 'Ain Ghazal Statues?

    Gary Rollefson and his team discovered the ‘Ain Ghazal statues in 1974; the figurines date back 8500 to 9200 years, predating pottery.

    The most astonishing discovery was two caches of large plaster and reed statues, some dual-headed, buried beneath ancient homes. Among the earliest large-scale human representations, these statues stand nearly three feet tall, with oversized heads and pronounced eyes, possibly symbolizing community ancestors.

    These artifacts are celebrated as extraordinary examples of prehistoric art from the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period, adding a unique dimension to our Jordan and Petra tour package.

    Want to explore other epic historical adventures? Browse our full Calendar of International Archaeology Tours.

    Jordan and Petra Tour Led by:

    Dr Jennifer Tobin

    Associate Professor of History and Classics

    University of Illinois at Chicago
    Greek and Roman Art & Archaeology

    Why Take This Archaeology Tour of Jordan?

    • Led by acclaimed archaeologist, Professor Jennifer Tobin
    • See the legendary 'Ain Ghazal statues in Amman, excavated by retired scholar Dr. Rollefson
    • Tour four of Jordan’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Um er-Rasas, Qasr Amra, Petra, and Wadi Rum
    • Explore Wadi Rum with a traditional lunch under a Bedouin tent
    • Three full days exploring Petra and its environs
    • Enjoy a 4WD adventure into the eastern desert
    • Private tour with archaeologists at the Temple of the Winged Lions at Petra
    • Hosted by the director, enjoy cocktails at ACOR (the American Center), with a private viewing of the Petra Scrolls
    • Feast under the stars in the desert at a privately arranged zarb, an outdoor Bedouin meal of roasted lamb
    • Enjoy a cooking lesson and dine on the results!

    Itinerary of Your Jordan and Petra Trip

    (B) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner

    Day 1Depart for Jordan

    Depart on an overnight flight bound for for Amman, Jordan.

    Day 2Arrive Amman

    Arrive Amman.  Overnight for two nights at the Al Qasr Metropole Hotel. Dinner is on our own.

    Day 3Jerash, Driving tour of Amman

    Nestled in a green and fertile valley in the biblical land of Gilead, the remains of Jerash are impressive.  Stroll along the city’s colonnaded streets and through ancient marketplaces, and visit imposing theaters sitting beside Roman, Christian and Muslim houses of worship.  Return to Amman after lunch and enjoy a driving tour of the city landscape.

    In the late afternoon, go to the American Center of Oriental Research (ACOR), where the director (if available) will host us with cocktails and a private tour including seeing the Petra Scrolls. Our welcome dinner is in one of Amman’s excellent restaurants. (B/L/D) 

    Day 4Umayyad Desert Palaces

    Today travel east of Amman along ancient desert tracks to explore several dazzling Umayyad palaces.  Qasr al-Hallabat began as a Roman fort and ended as a luxurious country estate under the Umayyads.  Nearby is its bathhouse, Hammam al-Sarah, constructed of fine limestone.  Crafted of the area’s black basalt, Azraq Castle is located in an oasis and takes advantage of the important strategic position of the region’s four springs.  The fortress was probably begun in the second century AD by the Romans, and was still in use when T. E. Lawrence used it as a base in the winter of 1917-18.  The UNESCO World Heritage site of Qasr Amra is a well-preserved desert castle that was both a fortress and a residence of the Umayyad caliphs. The hamman (bath house) and audience hall of this small pleasure palace are richly decorated with charming, vividly painted frescoes.  Overnight in the Azraq Lodge in Azraq. (B/L/D) 

    Day 5The Ghura al-Qattafi mesas, Kharaneh

    Our excursion in four-wheel drive vehicles will take us further into the eastern desert to the Ghura al-Qattafi mesas. Here, Professor Rollefson has found hundreds of tombs and monumental structures dedicated to powerful personalities among the prehistoric people who exploited the region between 6,500 and 2,500 BC. While here, we will gain insights into the development of the ritual and economic aspects of a lifestyle that eventually developed into the historic cultural patterns of the desert herders of the Bedouin today. On our afternoon return to Amman, we visit the lonely desert caravansary of Qasr al-Kharaneh, the most complete of the Umayyad castles, along the way. The steep walls rising abruptly from the flat plain create a feeling of strength, and archaeological excavations show that the building was used as an elegant overnight stop by camel caravans coming from the Arabian Gulf. Overnight back at the Al Qasr Metropole Hotel. (B/L/D)  

    Day 6Madaba, Shobak Castle, Um ar-Rasas, Transfer to Petra

    Today is filled with history. Madaba was inhabited for nearly 3,500 years, and contains a most impressive work of art to survive from the mid-6th century – a mosaic map of Palestine. One of Jordan’s most significant and impressive historical sites, Shobak Castle is an early 12th-century fortification that was one in the great chain of ramparts that stretched from today’s Turkey to Israel. Um ar-Rasas, another UNESCO World Heritage site, contains ruins from the Roman, Byzantine, and early Muslim civilizations. The most important discovery is the perfectly preserved mosaic floor of the Church of St. George, the largest one in Jordan. Continue to Petra, with a stop at Mt. Nebo, where we overnight for five nights at the Petra Luxury Hotel, conveniently located at the entrance to the site. Gather for dinner together in one of Petra’s excellent restaurants. (B/L/D)

    Day 7Petra

    One of the marvels of the Classical World, Petra offers much more than stunning antiquities.  Within a 25-mile radius are an exceptional array of monuments and entire settlements that span the last 9,000 years of human civilization. We begin at Beidha, a village that was inhabited between 7,000-6,500 BC, and is included in Petra’s UNESCO World Heritage status. The community constructed round houses of stone masonry and fortified the settlement with an encircling wall. Occupants cultivated barley and emmer wheat, herded goats, hunted for wild animals, and gathered wild plants. Nearby is “Little Petra”, or Siq al-Barid, where high sandstone walls within the narrow gorge keep the multi-story houses and temples cool. After walking through a miniature siq, a splendid collection of tombs, temples, houses, and staircases will appear. The afternoon is on our own to explore the village of Wadi Musa, where Petra is located, or unwind in the hotel swimming pool.  This evening, enjoy a cooking lesson and then dine on our creations. (B/L/D)

    Day 8Wadi Rum

    Our full day takes us past the Seven Pillars of Wisdom, of T. E. Lawrence fame, to Wadi Rum, with UNESCO World status. This valley’s combination of immensity, richness of color, and awesome shapes creates an atmosphere that is other worldly. While here we will view a Nabatean temple, ancient rock art, and Bronze Age shrines discovered by Dr. Rollefson. Our lunch will be served to us under a Bedouin tent. Return to Petra. Dinner is on our won. (B/L)

    Day 9Petra

    Early this morning, walk through the siq, the fissure that is the gateway to the splendid UNESCO World Heritage site of Petra. Inhabited since prehistoric times, the prosperity of this Nabataean city was due to the trade routes that passed through the region. An important crossroads between Arabia, Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean, it is renowned for its iconic rock-cut façades, dramatic and elaborate tomb and temple architecture. The visible remains of water channelization, with tunnels and diversion dams which controlled and conserved seasonal rains, along with magnificent temples and churches, demonstrate the importance of this ancient town. 

    Our first view of the rose-red City is the dazzling Al-Khazneh Farun, or Pharaoh’s Treasury, carved out of the sandstone rock face facing the entrance to the city. Believed to have been the mausoleum of a Nabatean king. the tomb’s Hellenistic style reflects the influence of Alexandria.  Walk along the Street of the Facades and view the magnificent tombs, theatre, markets, the Petra Church with its glorious mosaics, and the still being excavated Great Temple that was probably dedicated to the main Nabataean Goddess Al-Uzza, the consort of the Chief God, Dushara.  If onsite, enjoy a private tour with ACOR archaeologists at the Temple of the Winged Lions. Dinner is on our own to enjoy one of Wadi Musa’s local restaurants. (B/L) 

    Day 10Petra

    Today is for the hardy as we ascend into the more remote areas of Petra. The hike is worthwhile for the breathtaking views over Petra along with seeing the riches of Nabatean architecture. Begin in Qasr al-Bint Temple, dating from the time of Christ and surrounded by a peribolos, or enclosure wall. The sacrificial altar in front, once covered with marble, suggests that this was the main place of worship in the Nabataean city. Walk past the Unfinished Tomb and the Columbarium, a former tomb. Further up are the Lion Triclinium guarded by two feline reliefs, and Qattar ad-Deir, the Nabataeans’ water source. Our goal is the High Place, with views overlooking the city. In the afternoon, another stairway takes us to Ed Deir, the Monastery, to view a temple with the largest façade carved at Petra before returning to our hotel. This evening we will drive into the desert to feast on zarb, a traditional Bedouin meal of delicious roasted lamb cooked in a hand-built mud oven. (B/L/D)

    Day 11Return to Amman, Bani Hamida House, Qasr al-Abd, Wadi Seer

    This morning we will return to Amman with a stop at Bani Hamida House, home to a Bedouin women’s craft project that has revived traditional Bedouin rug weaving. Using home-made ground looms and wooden spindles, the project rejuvenated the unique warp-faced flat weave in pure wool, along with the colors and particular designs representing Jordan’s unrivalled traditional rug making.

    In the afternoon, we venture west of Amman to Wadi as-Seer, one of the most attractive valleys in Jordan and containing Qasr al-Abd, the Palace of the Slave. Built over 2,000 years ago, the beautifully decorated two-story stone structure is a rare example of Hellenistic architecture in Jordan. After returning to the Al Qasr Metropole Hotel, our home for three nights, dinner is on our own. (B/L)

    Day 12Amman City Tour

    Amman’s Citadel sits on the highest hill and dominates today’s city of Amman. Occupied in the early Neolithic, and fortified during the Bronze Age, the remains visible today are from Roman and early Islamic times. The 8th century Umayyad Palace was probably used as an administrative center and governor’s residence. The great Temple of Hercules was built between 162-166 AD. Larger than any temple in Rome it was dedicated to the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius in the 2nd-century. Learn of the Roman city while viewing the amphitheater that seats 6,000 people and the restored odeon. At the National Archaeological Museum, the Dead Sea Scrolls found in 1952 are one of the most important exhibits as are the unique figures found at ‘Ain Ghazal by Dr. Rollefson. We will also visit the new National Museum. Gather this evening for our final dinner party in one of Amman’s finest restaurants. (B/L/D)

    Day 13Ajlun Castle, Umm Qais, Pella

    One of the best-preserved examples of medieval Arab military architecture in the Middle East is the 12th-century Ajlun Castle.  Built between 1184 and 1188 by one of Saladin’s generals, it was an important strategic link in the defensive chain against the Crusaders. Explore the fortress before driving to the dramatically located ancient city, Umm Qais, perched on a high plain overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Sea of Galilee. The site of the ancient Greco-Roman city of Gadara, it was a member of the Decapolis. Pella was also one of ten Decapolis cities that were founded during the Hellenistic period and became powerful under Roman jurisdiction. Excavations have revealed evidence of 6000 years of continuous settlement from the Stone Age to medieval Islamic times. We will see mud-brick houses and defense walls dating from the Bronze and Iron age, and later remains from the Roman, Byzantine, and early Islamic periods. (B/L/D) 

    Day 14Depart Jordan

    Transfer to the airport for our return flight home. (B)

    Tour Information

    Tour Cost & Inclusions

    Price is based on double occupancy and includes:

    • Internal flights during the trip (if applicable)
    • The accompaniment of your scholar throughout the entire trip
    • Local English-speaking guide
    • Hotel accommodations (3 or 4 stars; or best available based in the area)
    • Ground transportation
    • Airport transfers for arrivals and departures
    • Most meals as noted in the itinerary
    • Entry fees to all included sites and museums
    • Gratuities to guides, drivers, and restaurant and hotel staff
    • Coordination for any private presentations or tours

    Trip prices are based on a minimum number of participants. If this minimum number is not met, trip prices are subject to change. Should the prices need to change, Far Horizons will reach out to registered guests to discuss directly.

    Single Supplement

    Should a roommate be requested and one not be available, the single supplement must be charged.

    Exclusions

    • International round trip airfare
    • A separate donation check of $150.00 per person to a designated donation project
    • Passport or visa fees
    • Required vaccines or tests
    • Airport or departure taxes
    • Alcoholic drinks, beverages or food not included on set menus
    • Excess baggage charges
    • Personal tips and hotel incidental expenses
    • Laundry or other items of a personal nature

    Donation Checks

    As a tour company that benefits from the cultural and natural riches of our destinations, we have a policy of donating to the scientific and cultural sites and projects which we visit. This has created a bond between Far Horizons and the academic and local communities that has helped us establish an extensive list of lecturers and contacts in each of our destinations. We ask that each participant donate to the noteworthy project we designate. The donation amount is $150.00 per person. Note that the donation is required as part of your registration for the trip and that it is non-refundable.

    Exchange Rate Fluctuations

    Prices are based on currency exchange rates keeping below a projected level. While it is unlikely, if the exchange rates should change substantially, Far Horizons reserves the right to charge an additional amount to the trip cost.

    Registration

    A deposit of $1000 per person is required along with your registration & health forms, which will be linked in the email confirmation you receive once you pay your deposit on our booking platform. Final payment is due 120 days before departure. Prior to departure, you will be sent a reading list and a tour bulletin containing travel information.

    Cancellation

    Cancellations received in writing at least 120 days before departure will receive a refund less a $500 per person administrative fee. Cancellations received less than 120 days before the departure date will not receive a refund. If for any reason you are unable to complete the trip, Far Horizons will not reimburse any fees. Upon registering for the tour, the purchase of travel protection with both trip cancellation and emergency evacuation is strongly advised. Links to recommended insurance policies will be included in the email you receive confirming receipt of your deposit.

    Air Ticketing

    International round trip flights are not included in the cost of the trip. If Far Horizons must change the trip dates or cancel the trip for any reason, Far Horizons is not responsible for any air ticket you may have purchased. Please send your complete air schedule as soon as you have it. NOTE: Please contact Far Horizons if you would like for us to handle your air ticketing.

    Private Tours and Talks

    The private tours of archaeological sites and talks by specialists are scheduled in advance and include a donation to each. Specialists working at these sites are excited about showing their work to interested enthusiasts. However, please be aware that there may be times when the director or a member of the staff may not be on site when our groups arrive due to other commitments.

    Walking and Standing

    Far Horizons expects all participants to be physically active and able to walk and climb independently throughout the full touring days. This includes walking over uneven terrain (uphill and downhill) for 2 miles or more at each site. You should expect to be on your feet for much of each day, averaging as much as 5 miles of walking per day. As such, each participant should be able to walk unaided at a pace of 3 miles per hour for at least an hour at a time, and to stand unsupported for at least 60 minutes. Bearing this in mind, we suggest that, if you have not already done so, you begin walking several miles every day, ideally including stairs and hills. If you have questions about your ability to keep up with the group or the strenuous nature of this trip, please contact the Far Horizons staff.

    Travel in This Part of the World

    This tour is designed for flexible, energetic people who like to be active, have a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude. We have designed this trip to be as comfortable as possible, while also aiming to visit some remote or unique sites that other companies do not attempt to include in their itineraries. There may be days where we have very long drives and the conditions of the roads may vary. Hotels and transportation in some remote areas may not be up to western standards. There may be times when no bellhops are available; please pack with the understanding that you need to be able to handle your own luggage at times. At times we may be walking over uneven trails for a mile or more; hiking boots are strongly recommended. Not every meal will not be haute cuisine and several lunches may be picnics or box lunches. By maintaining a flexible attitude we will soon be captivated by the beauty of the natural scenery, the hospitality of the local people, and the fascinating sites we will see. Your flexibility and patience will be appreciated.

    Itinerary Changes

    Changes in our itinerary, accommodations, and transportation schedules may occur. While we are committed to keeping as close to the published details as possible, sometimes it is simply not possible. Weather events, government affairs, or other factors out of our control sometimes come into play. A good book to read as well as patience, flexible attitude, and a sense of humor are essential.

    Travel Insurance

    We strongly recommend that you consider purchasing travel insurance. Should illness or an unforeseen event force you to cancel your travel plans after your final payment or during your trip, it would be doubly unfortunate to incur a significant financial loss. Trip cancellation protection will enable you to be reimbursed for the loss of your payment if you are unable to travel for any of the covered reasons in the “Outline of Coverage” section, or should you have an accident or suffer from any medical conditions during the trip.  
    Far Horizons offers customized protection plans through Travel Insured International (a Crum & Forster Company) with the following benefits:
     
    • Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption for covered reasons
    • Trip Delay
    • Baggage Loss and Baggage Delay
    • Emergency Medical Expenses and Emergency Medical Evacuation
    • 24-Hour Accidental Death & Dismemberment
    • 24-Hour Travel Assistance & Concierge Services
    • Option to upgrade to ‘Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR)’
     
    We recommend reviewing the language in detail so you are aware of specific parameters; Depending on the policy, to waive the Pre-Existing Medical Condition Exclusion or to upgrade to CFAR coverage, the plan must be purchased within 14 to 21 days of the initial trip deposit, full trip cost must be insured, and traveler is medically fit at time of plan purchase. Otherwise, coverage may be purchased at any time prior to departure. 
     
    To obtain a personalized quote and/or purchase a plan through Far Horizons/Travel Insured International, simply click HERE. For specific questions regarding the Worldwide Protector Plan, please contact Travel Insured International’s Customer Care Center at 1-800-243-3174 or by email at [email protected], and refer to Far Horizons’ account number: 54070.

    Tour Map