Jordan Food Adventure

Arrive in Amman, the capital of Jordan, which is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Now home to almost half of the country's population, it is a fascinating city of contrasts, where the very ancient and the brand new collide.



There are no planned activities for today, so you can arrive into Amman at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), which is around 30 minutes' drive. Due to a majority of flights arriving in the late evening, your leader will meet you for the welcome meeting on the morning of day two. This evening you will find information including meeting times on our hotel notice near reception.



If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you may wish to explore the streets and souks of downtown Amman independently or visit Shawarma Reem on Jabal Amman Second Circle for the best street snack in town. Shawarma is much like a kebab, traditionally made with spiced lamb and cooked vertically on a rotisserie, served with a salad garnish in a wrap. Shawarma Reem is arguably the best in Jordan and usually has a line out the door, it's worth queuing for.

This morning we travel north to the fertile area of Ajloun. Here we find ancient olive groves littered between quiet local villages. We will walk for around an hour about five kilometres in the olive groves before a visit to the Soap House to learn how they make olive oil soap by hand incorporating traditional herbs and oils. From here we go to the Biscuit House and see first hand how some of the sweet treats are made, it will depend on the day what they are making as to what you will see but it could be Knafeh, Halva or Baklava among others. Sweet food plays an important part of the Jordanian cuisine and used in many celebrations including Eid, the festival to celebrate ending the fast after Ramadan. We will of course try some of the delicious, sweet baked goods produced by the biscuit house washed down with a glass on mint tea.



Next stop is a traditional rest-house where local women make dishes typical to the area, such as Makmoura, which is made up of chicken or meat that is roasted in a pot and served on bread with plenty of olive oil. If it is the season (typically mid-October and mid-November), take part in the olive harvest by helping the locals pick olives. After lunch in the local rest house we meet with the local Christian community preparing wine to learn how local wine is produced. Wine production dates back to the Nabateans and recent excavations of Petra have unearthed 82 wine presses. It is also said that the wine Jesus was served at the Last Supper came from this region. After being shown the wine production process we will have the chance to sample the end product.

Next we drive back to Amman, a journey of around one and a half hours. We will be there in time to take an early evening walking tour of Amman Souk. Our Tour Leader will interact with stall holders and help explain all the different herbs, spices and preserves that make up the everyday ingredients in Jordanian cuisine.

This morning we leave the capital behind and head south on the King's Highway to Dana Nature Reserve, a journey of around two and a half hours. Here we are met by a ranger and take a walk for around two hours, approximately four kilometres in the Reserve learning about the local fauna including the native herbs and their medical uses. We have our lunch stop at the local association, a non-profit organisation set up to train locals in hospitality and encourage sustainable tourism.

After lunch we visit Shobak castle. The first of the series of Crusader Castles built in Jordan, it was constructed by Baldwin I in 1115 and only surrendered in 1189 to the Great Salahdin. After our visit to this isolated stronghold we will continue on our journey on the Kings Highway. An ancient road that once carried the treasure laden caravans of Solomon, to the fabled Nabatean city of Petra, one of the highlights of our journey and surely one of the most spectacular archaeological sites on earth. Tonight there is the opportunity to visit Petra lit by candlelight, a majestic experience.

Abandoned centuries ago Petra was the rock cut stronghold of the Nabateans, a fortress city built to protect the lucrative levies its citizens imposed on the rich caravans heading north. Surrounded by imposing mountains and approached through a deep, narrow cleft in the rocks, known as the Siq, it is a unique and unforgettable place and, enhanced by the play of light and shadow, an altogether overwhelming experience. We walk through the Siq this morning, following its towering sandstone walls towards the site of the captivating and iconic splendour of the beautiful Khazneh (The famous Treasury). A guided walking tour will take us to some of the key parts of this remarkable and ancient site, one of the most impressive and exciting anywhere in the world. We'll take in the Colonnaded Street and the Royal Tombs, enjoy the site of its amazing theatre, with its 8,000 seats carved from the solid rock. A free afternoon affords the possibly of climbing the steep track up to the magnificent sacrificial 'High Places' (altars) and the top of Jebel Harin (1396m) for a stunning view over Wadi Araba and the Negev Desert. Here we find the Monastery, the largest of Petra's monuments and certainly a highlight to any visit to the city. Towering to a height of 40m its doorway alone measures 8m in height, dwarfing anyone framed within it and it is certainly worth the steep climb up to it.

This evening you have a Bedouin cookery demonstration and meal at a nearby restaurant, learning how to make a traditional Makloubah (upside down) dish, with meat, rice and fried vegetables, followed by Um Ali, a creamy Arabic dessert with croissant pieces, raisins and nuts.

Today is all about embracing the Wadi Rum desert experience in its authenticity, as we have the once in a lifetime opportunity to live the lifestyle of the nomadic Bedouin people. This morning we will leave Petra by bus and head to Wadi Rum Visitor Centre where we will transfer into 4WD vehicles for an exhilarating two hour jeep drive through the desert. This is a great chance to see the most spectacular and untouched parts of Wadi Rum.



Wadi Rum occupies a region of 74,000 acres and as described by T.E. Lawrence, is 'vast, echoing and God-like...'. Monolithic outcrops of granite rock and sandstone rise out of the desert with a drifting blanket of sand between them. It is at its most impressive at the beginning and end of the day when the soft light and blue sky create a coppery effect on the sand. The Bedouins learnt to live with this hostile environment 3000 years ago, choosing the partnership with the camel for their survival. They understood the importance of keeping on the move and interpreting the elements, in order to find food and water. We stop for lunch with local Bedouins who cook us a traditional lunch of Gallayeh, a spicy tomato based stew served with fresh flatbread and hummus. We then continue on to our camp for the night.

After sunset, we enjoy the Bedouin hospitality around the campfire under a blanket of stars; a great setting to share stories while sipping mint and sage tea. A traditional zarb, consisting of a chicken or goat meat (vegetarian options available) cooked under the desert sand, is served as well as a delicious selection of mezze. There will be the opportunity to have a go at making ash bread in the hot coals.



We use a comfortable camp with great views over the desert. Each private tent retains the traditional Bedouin design, furnished with comfortable handmade beds, with electricity provided via solar power.

This morning starts with a Bedouin coffee demonstration. Our local guide will show us how this sweet, almost treacle in texture coffee is made. Next we leave the desert and travel for around four and a half hours to the Dead Sea. Officially the lowest point on the earth's surface, this unique water body has an amazingly high salt content (33%) which means that no animal life survives and it is almost impossible to sink. The experience of floating naturally is unique and relaxing on the calm sea. We'll spend a couple of hours this afternoon at a tourist beach, where food and drink can be purchased and we have the use of shower facilities.

Finally, we drive on to Amman and spend our last night in the bustling capital. To mark the end of your trip, we have a traditional dinner in a heritage restaurant where you can try the national dish of mansaf, made of lamb cooked in a sauce of fermented dried yogurt and served with rice or bulgur. We also have an Arak tasting experience, a traditional aniseed based liqueur.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Amman.



There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Amman at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), which a 30 minutes' drive.

Our tour of Jordan ends at our hotel in Amman.

There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer, you need to depart from Queen Alia International Airport (AMM).