Jordan - Mother & Daughter private tour
March to May is the best time to travel to Jordan, as well as September to November. The temperatures are pleasant and diving conditions at the Gulf of Aqaba are at their best. During the summer it can get unbearably hot and during the winter nights can be very cold. It is a very safe destination, however because its highlights are spread throughout the country, you’ll need to hire a driver or book a tour.
We had a week to spend in Jordan, but there is so much to see, that we couldn’t fit everything in within that time. This included Jerash unfortunately, an ancient city north of Amman. Our must-see areas included the Dead Sea, Petra and Wadi Rum. We didn’t want to rush and we knew that there would be a lot of travelling, so we ensured that we spent a reasonable amount of time at these areas, whilst stopping off at numerous points on our journey.
We spent a couple of nights at the 5 star modern Kempinski Ishtar Dead Sea, where we relaxed, sunbathed and 1 of us floated in the Dead Sea whilst the other sat on a rock with their legs floating! I am still laughing at this!! This is the lowest point on earth at 400 metres below sea level. The seas high salinity means you float effortlessly. When you get out, cover your body in Dead Sea mud for its detoxifying and therapeutic effects. It is rich in magnesium, calcium, potassium and iron. Huge tubs are provided on the shore and there are showers to wash off. You can also use Dead Sea salt as a scrub. It is quite a sight seeing people walk around covered head to toe in mud! The swimming pools at the Kempinski are amazing, especially at sunrise and sunset. You could easily cut your stay here down to just 1 night and in hindsight it may be best to leave this part to the end of your itinerary, as it is one of the best hotels that we have ever stayed in. Save the best until last!
The Dead Sea is on the border between Jordan and Israel, as is the River Jordan. We also visited the ancient town of Madaba and Mount Nebo, before arriving at the beautiful 5-star Petra Marriott Hotel, our home for the next couple of nights. This hotel is traditional in style and is in a great location. A cold towel and refreshing drink were very welcome. We had prebooked ‘Petra by Night’, which was the absolute highlight of our trip to Jordan. It is one of the most breathtaking ways to experience this UNESCO World Heritage Site. After checking-in at the visitors centre, you walk through the candlelit Siq (gorge) until you reach The Treasury, where you take your seat behind 1500 candles and listen to stories and music, with the stars glistening above.
Petra was the capital city of the Nabataeans from roughly 300 BC to 100 AD, when the Romans took charge. Several earthquakes destroyed much of the city and Petra was abandoned. For centuries Petra was left untouched, until it was discovered by a Swiss explorer in 1812. The Treasury is the most famous site, a tomb for the Nabataean King Aretas III, carved out of the sandstone mountains. But there is so much more to see!
The next day we had an early morning wake up call, to make the most of our time here, as the area is huge and involves a lot of walking. You can also take a camel or donkey ride. If you wish to visit the Monastery, you will need to hike 800 steps. Make sure you wear a hat, comfortable walking shoes and bring plenty of water. After the Treasury, you will come to a wide-open area with tombs and houses built into the mountains. You will pass the Royal Tombs of Nabataean royalty, the colonnaded street built by the Romans and The Great Temple. You will then have the option to hike to the Monastery, which I would highly recommend. There is a small restaurant to grab a coffee or juice and a bite to eat and to rest your legs with views of the Monastery, before making your way back down.
Our next stop was the Wadi Rum desert, which is like a scene out of Star Wars. Many movies were filmed in this area. It has incredible desert scenery, red martian sand, rock arches, Bedouin camps, wild camels and desert flowers. We travelled by 4WD to the camp, approx. 2 hours from Petra. We enjoyed an evening with other guests, dining on authentic Jordanian ‘Zarb, a BBQ cooked in an underground oven. We also had twin beds and an ensuite bathroom with shower in our tent. I took a sunrise camel ride the following morning and had tea with my small group of early-risers and our Bedouin guide. My travel companion slept soundly!
Our next stop was Aqaba on the Red Sea, approx. 1 hour from Wadi Rum. Aqaba is a bustling tourist resort with plenty of restaurants, shops, souks and nightlife. It is the gateway to some of the best snorkelling and diving sites in the Red Sea. Its gorgeous coral reefs are teeming with wildlife. TIP: If you want to escape the crowds, plan your diving trip around the South Red Sea. The reefs are in pristine condition and at sites like Marsa Alam, Elphinstone Reef and Abu Dadaab you’ll see sharks, turtles, and an abundance of colourful marine life. There are also dolphin boat tours, sunset cruises and glass bottom boat trips from Aqaba. Mamluk Castle, also known as Aqaba Fort dates, back to the 1500s. There are plenty of hotels to choose from in this area. Souk by the Sea is an evening street market held every Friday with local handmade crafts and goods produced by the local community. My recommendation would be the 5-star modern Kempinski Hotel Aqaba Red Sea. It is a beautiful hotel on the beach in a peaceful location, whilst still being close enough to the centre. The drive from Aqaba back to Amman takes approx. 5-6 hours. It is also possible to fly from Aqaba to Amman.
If Jordan sounds like somewhere that you may be interested in visiting, give me a call and I can help you to book the perfect trip.
