Wonders in the Jordan Desert, 8 days

In Jordan, we continue to see the 2,000-year-old city, Petra, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Local tradition says that in Wadi Musa, “Valley of Moses”, on the outskirts of Petra, is the place where Moses hit the rock and drew water. Petra was almost certainly the last achievement of the three kings, who took incense, gold and myrrh for baby Jesus. Mount Nebo is where Moses saw the Holy Land of Canaan, the Promised Land that never stepped in.

DAY 1
Amman is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, dating back to 8500 B.C. The Jordanian capital is surrounded by seven hills known as Jabal, which offer you several places to observe the city. Upon arrival at Queen Alia Airport, Amman International Airport, you will have a transfer waiting to accompany you to your hotel in the city centre. Take the opportunity to get to know the surrounding area and, not being a Muslim, be impressed by the short moments of calm during the various moments of prayer.

DAY 2
Probably, at the first minute of the morning, you will be awakened by Fajr, the first Muslim prayer, which wakes up much of the city. Amman is a vibrant city, filled with small commercial districts where street vendors hide who cook the most different delicacies. We start by visiting the area of ​​Rainbow Street and travel, in a slow pace, the old part of this city once populated by the Romans. We peek into the markets where we can watch the elders playing backgammon and try the famous Arab coffee, tobacco through a hookah and the tasty kunafa in one of the oldest pastry shops. At the end of the afternoon, we went up to the viewpoint next to the citadel and contemplated the city spreading out at our feet to the sound of the muezzin's call, at the moment when the mosques call the faithful for the last prayer. To end the day that you have become immersed in the culture of this city, nothing better than to take a look at one of the oldest bars in the city: the Jordan Bar and try araq.

DAY 3
We left Amman to proceed to one of the wonders of the modern world: Petra.
The king's road, which plunges into the Rift Valley, was the old road that caravans of traders passed through and where the Nabataeans circulated to reach Petra. It is a road with an impressive scenery full of gorges and gorges flanked by orange colored rocks from which we deviate throughout the day to visit fortresses perched atop mountains like Shobak. Around lunchtime, we arrived at Little Petra, our gateway to this unique place in the world. In a two-day walk, we visited the most emblematic places in this city populated 2000 years ago. Among canyons, staircases, and gorges carved in the pink stone, we are discovering tombs, palaces and sacred mountains once inhabited by Nabataeans, Romans, Greeks and Byzantines. At the end of the day, within this architectural enclave, you will have the unique privilege of staying overnight in a cave, accompanied by the Bedouins with whom you can enjoy a glass of tea and a meal under a starry cloak.

DAY 4
After a night in Petra, we prepare to continue walking through this impressive city. Visiting the ancient city of the Nabataeans for two days gives us an indescribable feeling. Imagine it in its golden days, in full activity, while discovering the famous buildings, such as the Theater, the Treasury and other constructions excavated in the limestone rock. The Treasury is the most emblematic place for this entire wonder of the world. Feel the spirit of the place and transport yourself to the adventurous imagination of the explorers of the last century and, unlike most visitors, go through the Siq, a long and narrow canyon, in the opposite direction, towards the door. Then, buy a keffiyeh, as Wadi Rum's Bedouins use it and get ready to go to sleep in the desert! After a couple of hours on the road, in the late afternoon, with the sun setting on the horizon, we arrived at the reddish desert of Wadi Rum where we spent the next few days.

DAY 5
Wadi Rum is considered by many people to be the most beautiful desert in the world. It is located in a beautiful valley set in the limestone and granite of southwestern Jordan and has been inhabited by countless people since prehistoric times. It boasts impressive rock formations and has inspired many explorers and writers who have traversed it. In the company of Salem and his brothers, during the three days we spent in Wadi Rum, we lived at the slow pace of this Bedouin family. By camel and on foot, we tour the region driven by their routines, guarding camels, getting to know their family and picking up some herbs they use for their meals. You will have the privilege of cooking and tasting the famous Bedouin bread and, during the moments of rest and conviviality, learn more about these ancestral traditions. After watching the sunset, we head to the camp located right in the heart of the Wadi Rum, which hosts us for the night. A dinner awaits us according to Bedouin traditions, cooked under desert sand and framed by yet another inspiring starry sky. Sleeping a night in the immense calm of the desert is an unforgettable life experience.

DAY 6
We woke up in an authentic Bedouin camp, hosted by the hospitable Arab people of the desert. Wadi Rum, which in Arabic means valley of the moon, is considered one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world and its reddish color inspired David Lean to tell the story of TE Lawrence in the film Lawrence of Arabia. At the end of the afternoon, in the calm of the camp, with your index finger in the sand, learn to write your name in Arabic.

DAY 7
From the desert lands of southern Jordan, we set off on the road from the Dead Sea, heading north. During the morning, you will have the opportunity to visit the impressive crusader castle in Karak. Discover its impressive underground galleries and transport yourself to the 12th century, when these Christian-inspired military movements took place. In the middle of the day, you will have the possibility to dive in the lowest altitude location on the planet. The Dead Sea is 300 meters below sea level and its unique characteristics allow you to experience the enormous buoyancy that these waters have, due to their high concentration of salt. Then we went to Madaba, where we spent the last night. Before arriving, we will also visit Mount Nebo, the place where Moses saw the Promised Land. In the late afternoon, after leaving your luggage at the hotel, walk through the streets where you can see the well-preserved Ottoman architecture of the houses and the famous mosaics from the Byzantine era.

DAY 8
Depending on the time of your flight, we will take you to the Amman airport for your return flight. Madaba is close to Amman and Queen Alia Airport is situated between the two cities.