AMMAN, WADI RUM, PETRA, AND THE DEAD SEA
Jordan’s sandstone temples, sprawling desert terrain, and inspiring history is nothing short of captivating. On this women-focused journey, find yourself immersed a rich culture that stems from remarkable ancient empires and influential religions. Get to know the country’s people and heritage as we meet with a local featured artist at an art gallery, learn more about women in modern Jordanian society from a local leader, visit with the Iraq Al-Amir Women Cooperative Society, and enjoy a traditional Jordanian experience with women wellness specialists at the Turkish baths. We’ll also explore Amman, and then discover the well-preserved Roman ruins of Jerash before visiting significant sites of the Holy Land like Madaba and Mt. Nebo. Following a magical overnight stay at a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum, you’ll traverse this picturesque desert by jeep. Then, spend time in Petra exploring its magnificent sights, like the intricate Al-Khazneh temple (The Treasury). Round out this incredible trip with a visit to Jesus’ baptism site and day of relaxation at the Dead Sea.
Read More on Jordan: 6 Reasons Jordan is Winning at Tourism in the Middle East
Looking for a roommate or to connect with other women before your trip? Join our smarTours Women-Only Facebook group! Visit the group here (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1145762302478350/) and click the + Join Group button!
Itinerary at a Glance
Tour Itinerary:
- 3 nights in Amman
- 1 night in Wadi Rum
- 2 nights in Petra
- 2 nights at the Dead Sea
Tour Highlights
- Amman City Tour including Jordan Museum
- Jerash “Pompeii of the East”
- Madaba & Mount Nebo
- Wadi Rum Jeep Desert Safari
- Petra Kitchen Cooking Class (optional)
- Petra
- Siq AL- Barid “Little Petra”
- Baptism Site
- Float in the Dead Sea
- Meet with a featured Jordanian woman artist at an art gallery
- Visit Iraq Al-Amir Women Cooperative Society training local women on traditional craft and product making
- Learn about women in Jordanian society today from a local leader during a special dinner
- Visit Turkish baths with a traditional Jordanian experience with women wellness specialists
Your Tour Includes
- Optional round-trip airfare from New York (JFK) including taxes, fees & fuel surcharges
- Intra-Jordan ground transportation
- Accommodations at superior first-class hotels
- 13 meals: 8 breakfasts, 5 dinners
- Comprehensive touring & entry fees
- Experienced, English-speaking Tour Director
Note: Flights may not be available on all departures.
You may have to book your own flights to the tour destination. If so, you are responsible for making your own way to the tour starting point, where you will meet your Tour Director. This is normally the first hotel in your itinerary.
You can find more details on the Before You Depart page.
Arrive in Amman today, the capital city of Jordan, and continue to our hotel for check-in.
Accommodations: Ambassador Hotel Amman
Wake up with breakfast at your hotel and then venture out for a city tour of Amman. You’ll start to immerse yourself in the culture and learn of the area’s history with a stop at the Citadel, Roman Theater, and Jordan Museum. Visit an art gallery and meet with a featured Jordanian woman artist. Then, visit the Iraq Al-Amir Women Cooperative Society, a program just outside Amman that trains local women on traditional craft and product making. This initiative helps them find jobs and contribute to the community. Later on, head back into the heart of the city for a special dinner where you'll be joined by a Jordanian local leader to hear more about women in Jordanian society today. Then, enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast, we’ll head out to explore Jerash, the "Pompeii of the East" which houses some of the best preserved Roman ruins, rivaling the ones in Rome. Spend most of the day wandering the cardo—its spectacular colonnaded street—and admiring the South Theatre, Temple of Zeus, Hadrian's Arch, the Artemis Temple, and the Nymphaeum. The city's 14 churches date back to the Byzantine era and are filled with fine mosaics. In the evening, head back to Amman for a specially arranged visit to the Turkish baths and enjoy a traditional Jordanian experience with women wellness specialists. Dinner this evening is at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Today, we’ll start making our way toward Wadi Rum, driving along the 5,000-year-old King's Highway. Along the way, stop in Madaba, "the City of Mosaics", and see St. George's Greek Orthodox Church, which houses a well-preserved sixth-century Byzantine mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Heading about ten minutes west, we’ll also visit the most revered site in Jordan—Mount Nebo, the presumed site of Moses’ death and burial place. Then, proceed onward to our Wadi Rum Bedouin camp where you’ll have a tent with a private bath for your overnight stay. The featured dinner will be zaarb, a dish of marinated meat mixed with vegetables, slowly baked in a pit of hot coals covered by sand.
Accommodations: Sun City Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, enjoy breakfast while taking in the beauty of Wadi Rum, a moonscape terrain of ancient river beds, rugged mountains, and golden desert sands. You will meet locals offering cardamom-spiced coffee at the "Beau Geste" outpost, and then take off on an exciting 2-hour jeep tour around this diverse landscape in which "Lawrence of Arabia" was filmed. After a truly “out of this world” experience, we’ll depart and head north, finally arriving in Petra this evening. There will be an optional cooking class and dinner at a culinary school in the city.
Accommodations: Petra Moon
Meals: Breakfast
Note: While the tour activity level is the explorer level, this day may be more taxing as this is a full day of walking on uneven surfaces.
Following breakfast at the hotel, you’ll head out on a city tour of Petra’s most fascinating sights—the Roman Theater, Qasr Bint Pharaoun, Temple of the Winged Lion, and more. As a new Seven Wonders of the World, steeped in history from Arab empires and Western and Eastern dynasties, Petra features an abundance of ancient discoveries. Plus, as you wander the area, you’ll surely be mesmerized by the winding sandstone terrain. We’ll also bring you to the famous Al-Khazneh (the Treasury), a beautifully elaborate structure where camels hang about, posing for photos. Finish the day with a delicious dinner at the Al Qantarah restaurant.
Accommodations: Petra Moon
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast, we’ll start our journey to the last stop on the trip, the Dead Sea. First, you’ll visit Beida (Little Petra) to discover temples, tombs, and more. Many religious festivities occurred here, and the city was nicknamed “Little Petra” because of its similarities to the main city. Following this, we’ll bring you to the site of John the Baptist's settlement at Bethany Beyond the Jordan, where Jesus was baptized along the east bank of the Jordan River. Here you’ll also be right near the Israeli border, affording you a glimpse of the country from across the river. Lastly, continue on to your hotel at the Dead Sea.
Accommodations: Crowne Plaza
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a relaxing day at the Dead Sea, the deepest hypersaline lake in the world. At your leisure, you can float in the clear blue, mineral-rich water, soak up some sun, and even try the invigorating full-body mud mask that cleanses the skin. Plus, your hotel has a tranquil spa, well-equipped fitness center, and sparkling pools to lounge by. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at the hotel.
Accommodations: Crowne Plaza
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel before our tour comes to an end. Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive program will transfer to the Queen Alia International Airport for our return flight to the U.S.
Meals: Breakfast
We are working diligently to secure future tour dates and pricing for
this itinerary. Please fill out the "Request a Future Date" form
linked below, and we will notify you once dates are available.
Featured Accommodations
55 Ash Sharif Abdul Hamid Sharaf, 11110 Amman, Jordan
Website
Enjoy accommodations in a Bedouin style tent with traditional simple comforts. You'll have a private bathroom and shower, fan, balcony and seating area, hot water, and more!
Website
Dead Sea Road
PO Box 100
Swemieh, 18186 Jordan
Website
Optional Tours
Enhance your trip with these optional tours.
Indicated optional tours are available to pre-book
when you reserve your trip and can be added to your
reservation up to final payment. This is the best option
to guarantee your spot on your preferred optional tour!
Optional tours require a minimum number of participants.
Optional tours are non-refundable unless they do not operate.
Some optional tours can be purchased in-destination and
may cost extra. The payment methods and currency
information to purchase tours in-destination will be
provided on final documentation.
On the first evening in Petra, you can join a cooking class and enjoy a meal at The Petra Kitchen. This culinary school has a relaxed, informal atmosphere where you'll prepare dinner under the supervision of a chef. You will make soup, cold and hot mezza and salads, and a main course. Plus, get some delicious take-home recipes!
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
What to Expect
Max Group Size: 20 travelers
Activity Level: Level 3
Expect most included touring to require walking and standing periods of up to 4 hours at a time (up to 2 times per day). Included touring may feature hikes, stairs, and/or climbs which may be on hilly and/or uneven terrain at potentially high altitudes. Learn More
Pacing Level: Balanced
Expect either half-day or full-day tours most days with a free day or free half-day to explore independently in most cities. There may be a few early mornings or long travel days by bus (don’t worry—there are always comfort stops!), and you may expect to stay in most accommodations for 3+ nights. Learn More
Additional Entry Requirements for U.S. Passport Holders
A valid passport is required for international tours. There are entry requirements for U.S. passport holders. Please visit our Passports & Visas page to learn more about any required actions, next steps, and additional costs.
Encounter some uneven surfaces, stairs, steps, and significant slopes. The Petra excursion is a full day of walking on uneven surfaces. Wadi Rum sightseeing is done in a safari jeep.
For more detailed information about this tour and destination, visit
our Before You Depart section.