JORDAN
THE PEARL OF THE MIDDLE EAST
8 DAYS
20 PEOPLE
2790 EURO
8 days
27.05 - 3.06.2025
Flying to Jordan for adventure is like traveling to other worlds. After all, Jordan is quite a unique country! Even the air here is 8% more oxygenated than in any other country in the world, despite the fact that less than 1% of its territory is covered with forests. But there are four times as many olive trees growing in its desert lands as there are people living in its territories. It is also interesting that, according to some assumptions, the biblical Eden, the “Garden of Eden”, was located in the territory of modern Jordan, in the lands beyond the Jordan River.
Our extravaganza tour will begin by traveling back to the time of antiquity. We will visit the magnificent ancient city of Jerash, also known as the “City of a Thousand Columns”. It is one of the best preserved provincial cities of the Roman Empire. The spirit of the ancient city will take us back in time. We will stroll along its cobbled streets among colonnades, temples, amphitheaters, baths, spacious squares and squares where Roman legionaries once rode.
After traveling back in time, a healing adventure at the Dead Sea awaits us. Despite the fact that no living organism can survive in its water, it heals cuts, helps with diseases of the musculoskeletal system and many other ailments.
After healing procedures, healthy and invigorated we will go to one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the ancient Nabatean city of Petra! It was discovered relatively recently, in 1821, by the real adventurer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, the prototype of Indiana Jones. He was on his way to Africa to discover the headwaters of the Niger River when he came across Petra. It was in Petra that the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was filmed.
Then we will go for a walk through the Moon Valley in “space” jeeps. The territory of Jordan is 90% covered with beautiful deserts and semi-deserts, the most famous of which is the Wadi Rum Desert. It is not for nothing that the movies “The Martian”, “Transformers”, “Red Planet”, “Last Days on Mars”, “Star Wars”, “Aladdin” were filmed here. After all, the landscapes here are really fantastic, and it is with them that Jordan will enchant you!
At the end of our trip we will spend a few days relaxing and snorkeling in the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea. This bay is home to about 100 species of soft corals and the same number of hard corals, near which many different species of fish swim. Some of them we will see during snorkeling on the reefs “Japanese Garden”. We will also snorkel near a magnificent location - a sunken American self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, which now serves as an artificial reef. Here we will make incredible underwater photos. And, of course, we will just lie on the beach, relax in the pools and have fun on the water slides.
Well, the main part of the program will be the Zhangjiajie National Park, which has already become a cult for lovers of natural beauty, known to the general public as the Avatar Mountains and, of course, the famous colored or “rainbow” mountains of China.
- Meeting and assistance of the representative at the airport.
- Accommodation in the specified hotels. All hotels are 5*. Breakfast-dinners are included (in most hotels buffet)!
- All transfers are specified in the program. Wi-fi in the bus.
- Water 0,5 liters per day per person.
- Two jeep tours in the Wadi Rum desert (sunset and sunrise).
- Accompanied by an English-speaking driver and a local Russian-speaking guide on transfers and all excursions.
- Group Jordanian visa for tourists.
- Entrance tickets to national parks, museums, nature reserves.
- Accompanied by a tour leader of Paganel Studio team.
- International flight to Amman and back.
- Additional excursions that are not specified in the program.
- Personal expenses, lunches, souvenirs.
- Tips to local guide, driver and jeep drivers (50$ per person for the whole trip).
IMPORTANT!
Due to the fact that our expeditions do not include international flights to the starting point of the program, we cannot be held responsible for changes in flight conditions by airlines or airport requirements. Since our travelers fly from many different countries and cities, we never participate in the purchase of air travel and limit ourselves exclusively to advisory services in the selection of flights. Air agents or airlines from which tickets were purchased are responsible for the purchase and technical support.
ITINERARY
Day 1
(27.05.2025)
Arrival in Amman. After passport control you will be met by your escort or local guide and further organized transfer to the hotel. In the evening at the hotel we will have an evening of acquaintances over a delicious dinner.
Accommodation at the hotel “Amman Rotana” 5*. Meals: dinner included.
Day 2
(28.05.2025)
In the morning, after breakfast, we load into a “time machine” and move to the times of the Roman Empire - to the ancient city of Jerash (about an hour away). This city is a real wonder of Jordan, not for nothing it is called the Pompeii of the East. Jerash is one of the largest and best preserved Greco-Roman cities outside Europe. After a series of earthquakes, the city was buried under the sands and was discovered by a German scientist only in 1806. This is how “Rome away from Rome” - “The City of a Thousand Columns” appeared.
Jerash is the perfect location for any movie about ancient Rome. The city flourished after the Romans conquered it. At that time it was called Gerasa. In the Bible, the area is mentioned as the land of Gilead, rich in olives, grapes and wheat. Until today, the colonnaded streets, baths, theaters, towers, temples, squares and fountains, the Arc de Triomphe, the Hippodrome, the Temple of Zeus and the Temple of Artemis have been surprisingly well preserved. Among the preserved city walls, archaeologists have found evidence that people lived there as early as 2500 years ago.
To get to the ancient city of Jerash, you must first pass through the “Aladdin's Caves” - a real oriental souvenir bazaar. Where outlandish, bright, variegated goods, like a treasure, glitter, shine, shimmer, fragrance and beckon, beckon you: “Take me, take me...”. Your eyes are running, and your hands are reaching out.... And then the salesman with a nice smile puts something absolutely beautiful on you. He gives you a mirror, and they have royal mirrors. You look into this magic mirror and it says to you: “You're beautiful, there's no word for it...”. And now you are already reaching for your wallet... But please be vigilant not to buy overpriced, as Arab sellers are excellent manipulators. Bargain! They say that in the old days, if a buyer refused to bargain, the seller had to challenge him to a duel. So don't risk your life and money! :)
After the ordeal of the bazaar, we will walk around the territory of Jerash to see with our own eyes the ancient grandeur of the ruins. We will visit the center of the Forum and the Oval Square of the 1st century, walk along the 800-meter long street with majestic colonnades. Around us will emerge temples and theaters, baths, hippodrome, the famous amphitheater and the remains of 18 Byzantine churches.
Further from the distant past, a comfortable bus will take us to the shores of the Dead Sea. But on the way we will stop at the biblical Jordan River! 90% probability that we will be able to show you the real place of Jesus Christ's baptism! In addition, you will be able to dip yourselves in the waters of the legendary Jordan River, stretching across the Promised Land!
Further on we are waiting for a real natural wonder - the Dead Sea. It is located more than 400 meters below the level of the World Ocean. Therefore, bathing in it can be considered as bathing in the lowest point of the planet! The salinity of the lake is 33.7%, which makes it one of the saltiest on Earth. Although the salinity of Lake Assal in Djibouti and some salty lakes in Antarctica is even higher.
Settling into the hotel and going for a swim! There are many reasons why exactly the Dead Sea has become a kind of treatment center. For example, the absence of allergens in the water, rich mineral composition, minimal ultraviolet radiation, high level of atmospheric pressure at depth. We smear ourselves with healing mud, bathe until sunset! We meet the sunset and get high!
Accommodation at Movenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea Hotel 5*. Meals: breakfast and dinner included.
Day 3
(29.05.2025)
In the morning we meet the sunrise at the Dead Sea, say goodbye to this natural wonder and continue our journey through Jordan. Today we have a transfer to the legendary Petra.
Our goal today is a 10 kilometer trek through the entire Petra area. Upon arrival we go straight off to explore one of the new Wonders of the World - the pink city of Petra! We pass through the beautiful narrow Siq Canyon between sheer cliffs overhanging 120 meters. This canyon serves as a portal to Petra, hidden from human eyes.
After passing through it, we find ourselves in front of the Treasure Shrine of El Khazneh. This is the world of Indiana Jones! This marvel of ancient architecture stands 40 meters high and 25 meters wide. In the days of the city's decline, robbers who robbed travelers in the desert hid their loot here. For the first time about the lost city and its existence was told by the Swiss scientist adventurer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, who found Petra in 1812.
Next, we will trek across the city to the farthest Nabatean rock temple, Ad-Dayr. It was built in the I century AD. The temple is 45 meters high and 50 meters wide. In the IV century, after the adoption of Christianity, the building became a monastery. At that time there appeared an altar carved in the rock and ornamentation in the form of crosses.
Perhaps our guide will take you by secret paths to the very top, right on the roof of the Temple, where you can enjoy an incredible panorama of the majestic city. El Khazneh is the furthest point of interest in Petra and the last location we will visit for today. We return from Petra, drive to settle into the hotel, have dinner, share our impressions and go to sleep.
Accommodation in the hotel “Old Village Resort” 5*. Meals: breakfast and dinner included.
Day 4
(30.05.2025)
Early in the morning, those who wish to see Petra once more go into town. Perhaps on the way we will meet a Bedouin family and have tea with them. And then, if time permits, we will go on another trek that will take us above the gorge and lead us to El Khazna.
Here we will enjoy a bird's eye view of Petra. By 11-12 hours we should be at the hotel to quickly check in and leave for the Wadi Rum desert.
Anyone who sees Wadi Rum for the first time will not leave thinking about the unreality of this place. The red and pink shades of sand and desert rocks really resemble the surface of the “red planet” - Mars. Probably, deserts, like seas and oceans, always give a feeling of eternity, strength, give calmness and bring you into an almost meditative state. The wind walks along dunes and dunes, creating at its discretion the most diverse sculptures of intricate shapes and outlines.
There is peace and quiet all around, everywhere you look there are only rocks, stones and sand that shimmers and glistens in the sun. Wadi Rum translates as “Moon Valley”. Different tribes lived here, as evidenced by the petroglyphs - amazing rock paintings that have survived to this day.
After settling in the space dome hotel we set off by jeep on an intergalactic journey to unusual rocks with unique arches, sand dunes. Driving through the desert, we will observe how the sand repeatedly changes its color. Here, while drinking delicious tea cooked on the fire, we will meet the most beautiful sunset on Mars. You will realize: Mars exists on Earth too.
Next, we board our off-road spaceplanes and drive to our Martian hotel accompanied by the stars. Here a traditional zarb - a Bedouin dinner of meat cooked over a fire - awaits us. We enjoy a delicious meal under the stars by the fire and dream. The Moon Valley is a truly magical place. Here stars fall directly into the palms of your hands. In a word, fabulous beauty!:)
Accommodation in the hotel “Mazayen Luxury Camp” 5*. Meals: breakfast and dinner included.
Day 5
(31.05.2025)
There is a popular belief that miracles happen early in the morning at dawn. And this morning, we'll follow them to the Wadi Rum desert. This light show is impossible to miss! The pink desert in the pink sunset, like a girl in a wedding dress, is beautiful.
And then we will travel to another part of the Wadi Rum Desert, where majestic cliffs form a fault in the earth's crust. We'll also see and study rock paintings and petroglyphs. And drive with the wind along the bottom of the canyon. The local beauty has impressed many directors. A lot of movies from “Lawrence of Arabia” to “Dune”, “The Martian” and “Star Wars” were shot here.
The red color of the sand and the stunning reliefs from weathering are what sets Wadi Rum apart from the many other deserts scattered around the world. Most of the desert is rocky, but in some places you can find stunning dunes of Martian red color. Bedouins say that stones are the semblance of eternity, the receptacle of the gods. In the end, everything becomes stone.
Everything on this planet will disappear, only rocks and stones will remain. It's a whole world of unknown life, the rocks here are really the fruit of the Earth's history! They're home to the remains of bacteria millions of years old. They are not only the Earth's past, but also its future!
Return to our camp, breakfast, packing, we say goodbye to the Martian landscapes and drive towards Aqaba, on the Red Sea coast. In the city we will buy alcohol and visit the local market. Further we drive to the settlement in Tala Bay, today we deserve a vacation on the Red Sea. So we will have an opportunity to relax, sunbathe on the beach and finally swim in the warm sea. We meet the sunset not in the sands of Wadi Rum, but in the gentle and salty waters of the Red Sea.
Accommodation in Movenpick Tala Bay Hotel 5*. Meals: breakfast and dinner included.
Day 6 - 7
(01 - 02.06.2025)
Two days of relaxation. Whoever wants to rest, rests. On the territory of the luxurious hotel where we stayed, there is a system of pools, slides, sun beds, beach - in general, everything you need to relax and enjoy life.
And lovers of the underwater world are invited to dive into the mysterious world of the Red Sea depths. Believe me, there is much to see and wonder! One of the days, in the morning, we will go snorkeling to the best reefs called “Japanese Garden”. These are labyrinths of fantastic corals that gave this reef its name. The rich flora and fauna of the reef will give everyone who wandered into its labyrinths an unforgettable experience. Among the colorful fish there are sometimes octopus, crabs and if you are very lucky, you can even meet a turtle.
The reef is 700 meters long. We will walk along the entire fabulous reef maze with bizarre formations. Here we will encounter clownfish, pufferfish, hunting sargans and flocks of small fish.
And next we will be snorkeling on a reef - a tank! The m/42 tank, which was in service with the Jordanian army, was sunk in 1999 at a depth of 5 meters by the Jordanian Ecological Royal Society of Divers. Now it is a beautiful coral reef, which is perfectly visible for snorkeling, snorkeling and flippers. This place is favored not only by people, but also by a variety of tropical fish that consider it their refuge and enjoy people. This place is also called Oliver's Canyon. Here, in addition to the sunken tank, there is a reef, sharply going to a depth of 12 meters, living its underwater multicolored life, and at the end of the reef is a military transport plane!
We will devote another day to snorkeling in the underwater museum of military equipment. At depth, in the depth of the sea water, military equipment is forever frozen. Covered with colorful corals, it has become a shelter for many inhabitants of the underwater world. It is a favorite place for divers.
The tanks are submerged at a depth of about 15 meters, so we will observe and photograph them from above. But the jeeps are only 4-5 meters away and those who wish can dive in and take selfies against their background. Sunken tanks, jeeps, airplanes and ships create a certain areole of mysticism and mystery, attracting fans of diving and snorkeling from all over the world. And now we have seen these incredible underwater locations with our own eyes and can boast wonderful photo memories:)
But this is not all wonders! An absolutely fantastic underwater natural picture awaits you - a garden of eels! Have you heard of this phenomenon? No? Then welcome!;)
On the loose sandy bottom off the coast of Aqaba, eels of the subfamily Heterocongrinae have found refuge. These amazing creatures live in colonies and very rarely come out of their burrows, which they dig with their tails in the soft sandy soil, covering it with a slime from destruction that resembles cement. They spend almost all their lives in their homes, occasionally popping out of their burrows to eat zooplankton and small crustaceans brought to them by the sea. So thanks to this peculiarity of theirs, we can observe this impressive underwater sea picture. However, you should be very careful, because eels are fearful and quickly hide in their holes when they feel threatened.
Day 8
03.06.2025
In the morning you and I have free time at the sea (for those who fly out in the afternoon, as the trip is 4 hours!) We check in our rooms and a group transfer to Amman airport awaits us. We say goodbye to Jordan and fly home! If you wish, you can book a hotel on the Red Sea or in Amman for a couple of days!
Accommodation in the hotel “Movenpick Tala Bay” 5*. Meals: breakfast included.
WHY WITH PAGANEL?
We are unique
For many years, we have been traveling the world to our small planet's most remote and unusual places. We do not use the services of domestic travel agencies. The trips we invent and carry out are always unique and have their unique zest, charm, and adventurous spirit.
Creation
The first thing that interests us is creativity in everything. During the expeditions, we shoot a lot of videos, take pictures, write stories, draw pictures. If you are interested in a creative approach to life and travel, then WELCOME... we are very happy to meet you!
Interest
By joining our team, you join a kind of club family, which already consists of several hundred people who are interested in discovering the world with us.
Since most of the expenses for organizing a trip – air tickets and travel documents for other modes of transportation, accommodation, excursions, services of local companies and guides, etc. – are made by us in advance, long before the trip, the prepayment or payment for the trip is non-refundable in the event of cancellation.
Since most of the expenses for the organization of the trip are air tickets and travel documents for other types of transport, accommodation, excursions, services of local companies and guides, etc. are not refundable in case of your cancellation of the trip. We simply have no way to return it.
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