Jordan is becoming an ever more popular tourist destination, and the county boasts a wonderful mix of barren desert landscape, rich wildlife reserves, important historical sites and unique cultural heritage. From the bustling street of the capital Amman and idyllic beaches of the Red Sea to the the salty waters of the Dead Sea and historical gems of Petra, Kerak and Jerash, our 11-day Jordan Discovery tour covers essential attractions that this captivating country has to offer.
This tour of Jordan starts in the bustling cosmopolitan capital Amman. After a tour of the city we head out to the desert castles and nature reserves to the east of the city. Next, we travel south to the Red Sea port of Aqaba for some rest and relaxation on the beautiful beaches. There is plenty to do here including swimming, diving, snorkelling and many other fun water sports. Our next stop is the stunning desert scenery at Wadi Rum, where we’ll take a jeep safari through the sand dunes and rocky outcrops and stay in a bedouin camp. We then drive to Petra, the long-lost Nabataean city, recently rediscovered and now regarded as the highlight of any trip to Jordan. Continuing north we’ll take a walk through Dana Nature Reserve, visit the crusader castle at Kerak, the beautiful mosaic at Madaba, and take a dip in the Dead Sea. The tour ends with a visit to the well preserved Roman remains at Jerash.
Located on the highest hill of Amman, Four Seasons Hotel Amman boasts luxurious accommodation with panoramic views of the city. It offers indoor and outdoor pools, a gym, a spa and a squash court. At the Spa you can enjoy massages, body treatments, facials or nail traitments for male and female.
All air-conditioned accommodation at Four Seasons Amman is furnished with warm colours and carpeted floors. Each suite and room comes with a private bathroom and a flat-screen TV.
Enjoy Levant cuisine at Olea or our unique Friday Brunch; The Foyer Lounge for light meals and international favourites; our new Garden Terrace for continental sandwiches and salads; and Five Grill & Lounger offers refreshments while boasting a view of Amman in the summer.
Four Seasons’ Concierge desk can arrange local excursions and give you all the information you need during your stay in Amman.
Overlooking the Red Sea, this beach resort offers 5 different dining outlets and an outdoor pool bordering white sandy beaches. Its modern designs add to the tranquillity of the surroundings.
The bright and airy rooms at the Kempinski feature a private balcony with direct sea view. Each one has a flat-screen satellite TV mounted on the wall. The spacious bathroom offers a bathrobe and hairdryer.
The Aqaba Kempinski offers a range of water sports such as jet-skiing, banana boat riding, parasailing, and scuba diving. Alternatively, poolside loungers provide sunbathing possibilities in the shade of bamboo trees.
For relaxation, various body therapies are offered at the spa. It also features a dry and wet sauna and a hot tub. The gym with sea views allows guests to keep in shape.
The Kempinski Hotel Aqaba is a 5-minute walk from the shops and entertainment of Aqaba city.
Featuring free Wi-Fi, the 5-star Movenpick Resort Petra is located directly at the entrance to the ancient city of Petra. The hotel's rooftop garden terrace offers views of the hills.
The newly renovated rooms at Movenpick Petra each have a private outdoor balcony. They feature white linens and bright windows. Each has a work desk and is equipped with air conditioning and satellite TV.
The Al Saraya all-day-dining restaurant and Mediterranean Al Iwan restaurant offer a large selection of dishes. The Al Maqa'ad Bar features carved wooden screens, while the Al Ghadeer roof Garden boasts views over Petra's hills. Guest can also enjoy desserts in The Al Baraka Tea Room or get a takeaway from the Caravan Stop Shop.
Guests can workout in the well-equipped fitness centre or enjoy a cocktail in the hotel's stately lobby.
The centre of Wadi Musa nearby and offers many restaurants and shops.
Located in Dana, Dana Guesthouse offers free WiFi in public areas. It includes a spacious terrace and a restaurant.
All rooms at Dana Guesthouse are simply furnished and fitted with carpeted floors. Each one offers a balcony, a wardrobe and an outdoor dining area. It has a shared bathroom.
At Dana Guesthouse you will find a 24-hour front desk. Other facilities offered at the property include meeting facilities. An array of activities can be enjoyed on site or in the surroundings, including hiking.
Boasting tree-lined outdoor pools overlooking the waters of the Dead Sea, the 5-star Kempinski features a private stretch of beach and a spa offering sea mud and sea salt treatments.
Home-made pasta, Thai dishes and signature chocolate desserts and watermelon granites are served at Kempinski Ishtar’s restaurants. Try a drink at the Babylonian-inspired cocktail bar, or enjoy a whisky and cigar at the lounge bar.
Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea offers rooms set among palm trees and olive groves. All rooms and suites come with a balcony with sea views. They are carved in natural stone complemented by contemporary details.
Guests can refresh in the 9 freshwater pools, or relax in the spa with traditional Thai massages or hammam sessions. The state-of-the-art fitness centre has personal trainers available on request, and yoga and meditation classes are on offer.
Our tours are designed to include all that you need to enjoy a really special time in the destination you're visiting. However, we do also offer some extra options to complement the tour and add some additional sightseeing or activities, or some extra time at either end of the tour.
All accommodation based options (e.g. Single supplements, extra nights, cruise upgrades) should be booked and paid for in advance so that we can make the appropriate arrangements. Other options may either be booked and paid for in advance or while you are on the tour, though we recommend booking in advance to ensure there are no issues with availability.
Many options are priced the same throughout the year, but some may incur single or high season supplements - full details are given on the tour reservation form or on request.
This option books a single room in all the accommodation throughout the tour for any singole travellers in your party. It is not a solo traveller supplement (if there is only one person travelling in total, please contact us for a customised quote for your tour).
Note: The price shown is a low season price. Slightly higher prices may apply during high and peak seasons - the exact price for your dates will be shown on the online booking form and is always available on request.
This option adds an extra day to the start of your tour, staying in the same hotel as the main tour itself (subject to availability). Your airport arrival transfer is still included. Prices shown are per person and based on two people sharing.
Note: Single room and peak season supplements apply.
This option adds an extra day to the end of your tour, staying in the same hotel as the main tour itself (subject to availability). Your airport departure transfer is still included. Prices shown are per person and based on two people sharing.
Note: Single room and peak season supplements apply.
This magical experience takes you in through the narrow and winding Siq to the Treasury at the entrance to Petra. The whole route and the sand in front of the Treasury is lit up by numerous candles creating a beautiful and atmospheric sight. While at the Treasury you'll also enjoy some traditional Bedouin music and tea.
This snorkelling trip takes around 3-4 hours by boat, and gives you a chance to swim over some of the Red Sea's beautiful coral reefs. All transfers, snorkelling equipment and lunch are included.
The standard arrangements for this tour are for an English speaking escort driver to accompany you throughout your time with us in Jordan. They will be able to talk to you about Jordan, give you information about modern life in the country, advise you on food & drink and discuss timings, adjustments to your itinerary and places to stop en-route. They are not however professional guides and while they will be able to provide some basic information, they will not be able to accompany you inside many of the sites or give detailed historical facts or background.
We do include a professional guide in Jerash and in Petra on this tour. However, if you would like to be accompanied by a professional guide for the full duration of the tour then please add this option onto your booking.
Prices shown cover the guide joining you for the whole tour apart from your arrival and departure days, and also include the guide's accommodation and meals. The price shown is a total amount, and will only be added to your booking once, regardless of the number of travellers in your party.
The detailed Tour Notes below have been written to give you some more detailed information about how the tour runs, what to expect, and how to prepare for your holiday. We recommend downloading an up to date copy of these shortly before you travel in case of any changes.
We use a mix of accommodations on this tour including internationally rated 5-star, a deluxe bedouin camp and a beautiful eco-lodge. Accommodation is based on twin, triple or double en-suite rooms with air conditioning. Please visit the accommodation tab of this tour for examples of the hotels normally used on this tour. If you have any specific accommodation requests please let us know and we'll be happy to provide you with a customised quotation.
The jeeps used in Wadi Rum are provided by the local Bedouins we work with, and while suitable for your desert safari, they may fall below the normal safety and quality standards for vehicles we use during the rest of our tours.
Your airport transfers are only included on the first and last day of the set tour itinerary, plus on any additional days if you book your hotel room with us. We will provide instructions for where to meet our local representative in the airport after you've arrived, and they will then transfer you to your hotel. If you make your own arrangements for additional accommodation at either the beginning or the end of the tour then you will need to arrange your own airport transfers on these days.
We want to give you as much flexibility as possible when it comes to booking your holiday with us. So, to take account of people with varying travel plans, we don’t include your international flights in the main tour price. We are however very provide suggestions for flights to go with your tour. Please contact us with your preferred dates and departure airport and we’ll give you a selection of airlines, times and fares to choose from.
Your airport arrival & departure transfers are included on the first and last days of the tour. Nearly all our Jordan tours start and finish in Amman airport (AMM). The airport is around 40 to 60 minutes drive to central Amman, depending on the time of day and traffic levels.
As this is a private tour, we can run the itinerary for however many people you happen to be travelling with, starting from 1 upwards. The prices given for this tour are based on a minimum of 2 passengers travelling, so if you have a different number of passengers in your group please contact us for a customised quotation.
In Jordan our standard tour prices are based on an English speaking escort driver running the tour for you, plus specialist local guides in Petra and Jerash. A professional escort guide can also be arranged for the full time in Jordan for an additional supplement. We also use local Bedouin staff from your desert camp for your time there.
At Encounters Travel we aim to only use local guides and reps. as we feel this gives you the best experience of the country and the sites you are seeing.
The tour price does not include entrance fees to the sites visited on the tour. Instead, we recommend that you purchase a Jordan Pass prior to your travel to Jordan. This is a special package that has been designed by the Jordanian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities for tourists visiting Jordan. As well as including a discounted package of entrance fees covering all the sites in Jordan that you will visit on this tour (plus many others), the Jordan Pass also provides free downloadable digital brochures on each attraction, plus a free tourist visa for entering the country (40JD if obtained on arrival in Jordan).
The cost for the Jordan Wanderer Pass suitable for this tour is JD70 (approx. US$99). Passes are available by completing a simple online form before you travel, taking care to make sure your passport details are entered correctly as this doubles as your visa application. Your Jordan Pass will then be emailed to you as a pdf document, which you should print out and bring with you. You will then need to show this print out at the immigration desk on arrival in Jordan to obtain your free entry visa, and also at each attraction where it will be scanned to confirm your entry. Obtain your Jordan Pass here
Passports should be valid for at least six months after your departure from the country. Please do not bring an almost full or almost expired passport. Visa arrangements are the responsibility of the traveller, and requirements are subject to change by the local authorities.
To promote tourism to the country, the Jordanian government has designed the Jordan Pass. This provides most nationalities with a free single entry Jordan visa (for stays of 3 nights or more), a discounted package of entrance fees, and free digital brochures for the various sites in Jordan. Please check the Jordan Pass tour note for more information.
Double or multi entry visas for Jordan are no longer available and you will need to arrange two visas if you are doing a combination tour (eg. with Egypt and/or Israel) that visits Jordan more than once. Exceptions may occur if you are crossing to and from Israel via the King Hussein Bridge - please contact us for details.
If you wish to arrange your visa separately in advance, or if your stay will be shorter than four days/3 nights, then a visa fee of 40JD (approx. USD 57) will be due.
Other nationalities may require a visa prior to arrival and to obtain this in advance, please contact your local Jordanian embassy or consulate or a visa agency for details. In addition, if you plan to enter Jordan via the southern Wadi Araba crossing (Eilat-Aqaba) or the Allenby Bridge/King Hussein border with Israel in the north, you will need to obtain your Jordan visa in advance as these are not available on arrival at the border.
Tipping for services provided is part of the local culture in Jordan, is often expected, and will be very gratefully received. While the amount you tip is subject to your satisfaction with the services provided and your personal budget, we are often asked for help and guidelines and can therefore suggest that you allow approximately:
The local currency in Jordan is the Jordanian Dinar (JD). You do not need to arrange to bring any Jordanian Dinar with you to Jordan as exchange facilities are available in the international airports and in most hotels, banks and bureau de changes in major towns. You should try to obtain and keep hold of small denomination notes or coins on you during the tour as these are useful for toilets, tips and small purchases. ATMs are readily available in major towns and many local shops will accept VISA/Mastercard or Amex, but may charge fees of up to 10% - check before you pay. Travellers cheques are not recommended as they can not be changed in many places now, and can incur high fees.
While in Jordan you will need sufficient funds to cover meals not included in the itinerary, drinks, snacks, souvenirs and personal expenses such as laundry. These should generally all be paid for in Jordanian Dinar, though tips for guides and drivers may be paid in hard currency (GBP, USD, EUR).
It is difficult to recommend a level of personal spending money which will suit everyone as this can differ greatly, but as a guideline, we would suggest allowing USD 15-25 per person per day as a minimum. Allow more if you plan on doing lots of shopping, or buying many alcoholic drinks.
You should ensure you are fully insured for medical emergencies including emergency evacuation and repatriation.
Recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures vary according to the country you are visiting and where you are travelling from. We recommend you contact your GP/medical practitioner or a travel clinic for current information on vaccinations needed for your destination. You should ensure that you are up to date with vaccines and boosters recommended for your normal life at home, including for example, vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions.
In addition, additional courses or boosters normally recommended for the countries in this region are:
Egypt: Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A
Jordan: Tetanus, Hepatitis A
Israel: Hepatitis A, Poliomyelitis
Lebanon: Dipheria, Hepatitis A
Malaria is not generally present unless it has been contracted abroad; you do not need to take malaria prophylactics.
More information is available here: Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon
Note: We are aware of some places in Egypt using ‘black henna’ instead of pure brown henna. Black henna contains a chemical dye PPD (paraphenylenediamine) which can result in severe allergic reactions and resultant scarring. To be safe we recommend avoiding any henna tattoos while in Egypt unless you are certain they are using pure brown henna.
This tour is designed as a sample tailor-made tour itinerary. As such we do not offer set group departure dates that you can join. Rather, the tour is available for you to do privately starting on any date of the year. Guideline seasonal prices are given below, based on 2 people travelling. If you would like to adjust the tour itinerary, or there will be more or less people travelling, please contact us and we will customise a price for you.
If you would like to book a place on this tour, please complete the online reservation form on our website (via the Dates & Prices tab on the tour page). You can pay your deposit or full balance online, or just hold a reservation if you prefer. We will then contact you with more details about how to complete your booking. Payments may be made by debit or credit card (subject to a card processing fee), or by making a bank transfer or posting us a cheque/bank draft. Full details will be provided in your booking confirmation email. Please contact us if you would like any more information or have any questions before making a booking.
The time in Egypt, Jordan and Israel is GMT plus 2 hours. Daylight saving adjustments have historically been applied in some years but not others. At present it appears that there will be no daylight saving changes in Egypt 2016 and beyond, though this may change at short notice (with a resulting impact on flight times and schedules). In Jordan and Israel, daylight saving of one hour is generally applied between the end of March and the end of October, making it GMT plus 3 hours. Exact dates vary from year to year and sometimes the changes may be scrapped altogether.
Sockets are two round pronged and 220 volts (Type C). Universal adaptors are available in most airport shops if you don’t have one already. Standard European adapters will work fine, though sometimes they may feel a little loose in the sockets. All hotel rooms have electrical sockets where you can re-charge cameras, phones etc. Hair dryers are normally available on request from the hotel reception if not in your room already.
If you have US appliances (110 volts) you will need a voltage converter as well as a plug adapter.
Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our tours and needs to cover personal accident & liability, medical expenses and repatriation, travel delay & abandonment. We also strongly recommend that you take out cover against cancellation and lost/stolen baggage. Personal medical insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover and is generally not suitable for travel on our tours. You will not be able to join your tour if you have not provided us with details of your insurance or if you arrive without cover in place (no refunds will be due in this event). More information...
You may arrange your own insurance, or you can take advantage of a comprehensive policy that we can arrange for you through Endsleigh Insurance which has been designed to be suitable for our tours. The policy is available to travellers of all nationalities and you do not need to live in the UK to take out the policy. For full details of cover provided, prices and to apply for one of our policies, please complete travel insurance application form.
Note: Any country that borders the Mediterranean is considered as 'Europe' for the purposes of travel insurance (including Turkey, Israel, Egypt and Morocco). If you are doing a tour that visits one country in 'Europe' and one that is 'Worldwide' (for example, an Egypt and Jordan tour), then you need a 'Worldwide' policy. When completing the form you should enter your travel dates including any extra days involved in overnight flights or connecting travel between your home and the tour. Our policies are not able to cover any extra time or activities other than your tour and options booked with us and your travel to & from home.
If you plan to arrange a hot air balloon flight locally, or do some scuba diving during your tour, you should check the small print in your policy to make sure these are covered (these are covered in our policy). Please also check the maximum altitude that you will be reaching and that full cover including emergency evacuation is provided up to this altitude.
IMPORTANT: We must have your travel insurance details (policy number and type of insurance) before you depart or you may not be allowed to join the tour. If you haven't told us already, please let us know the details when you can. You should take a paper copy of your insurance policy with you as you may be asked to show this at the start of the tour.
Luggage: Suitcases, rucksacks or fabric holdalls are all fine to bring with you to Jordan. You should also bring a small daypack/bag to take out during the day. Your main luggage will normally be left in the hotel during your sightseeing trips – you will not need to carry it far, and there are nearly always hotel porters to assist.
Luggage limits: There is no luggage limit for this tour. However, most airlines restrict you to between 20kg and 25kg for your hold luggage and between 5kg and 10kg for hand luggage. Please check with your airline before travelling to the airport.
Clothing: The climate in Jordan varies widely from hot days in the summer to cool and sometimes wet days in the winter months. At night, especially in the deserts, the temperatures can drop quite dramatically. So you must pack for cool conditions. Formal dress (eg. suits & ties) is not required. Modesty rates highly in Jordan, especially for women, so to respect the local culture & people, please ensure all clothes are loose fitting and not revealing. Shorts (not hot-pants) are OK in tourist sites, as are T-shirts, but these should not show too much bare flesh (we suggest that your shoulders should remain covered). When visiting any mosques, legs and arms should be covered.
Other items: If your tour includes an overnight Bedouin camp then bedding is provided but we recommend bringing a light sleeping sheet or sleeping bag liner for comfort all year round (even with the best efforts, sand does find its way pretty much everywhere). In the winter months, or if you think you would like to sleep under the stars instead of in your tent, then we recommend you bring a sleeping bag with you as it can get very cold at night. We also recommend you bring a sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, a basic first aid kit, toiletries, money belt, small torch, camera & charger.
We are a UK registered company and an ABTA Member (Y4447) and you can be confident when booking with us that your money is safe and protected. Financial failure insurance is provided through Affirma to protect all customers for the land portion of their tour.
Please see our website or booking conditions for more information.
It is impossible not to have an impact on the local environment, cultures and eco-systems when you travel. However, it is very possible to try and ensure that these impacts are as limited, or positive as possible. We are committed to ensuring that we try to leave our host countries in a better state than we found them and encourage and assist our travellers to help us with this.
The following are a few simple tips that require very little effort on your part but which will help ensure that any effect you have on the locations you visit is positive rather than negative.
All porters are employed and equipped following guidelines set by the International Porter Protection Group (IPPG).
You can stay in touch with us online by following us on Facebook and Twitter. We post updates on relevant travel news in our destination countries, special offers and discounts and other interesting travel related news and information.
www.facebook.com/EgyptUncovered
www.twitter.com/encounterstravl (yes, without the 'e')
It is important when considering and preparing to travel anywhere in the world that you have a good understanding of the country you are visiting, its laws and customs, and the possible risks and situations that may occur. This includes specific risks related to your itinerary (eg. does it involve water & can you swim, are you fit enough for the activities included), as well as more general risks such as terrorism and natural disasters.
General details and links to more information about health risks, visa requirements, money, and travel insurance are given in these tour notes. We recommend that you re-read all these before your departure as well as the small print of your travel insurance policy so you know exactly what is covered and what is not.
You should take copies of your important travel documents with you and ideally also store them online securely as a backup. Make sure that you have given us your emergency contact details and told that person where and when you are travelling. Ensure you take enough money with you and that you have access to emergency funds.
Finally, you should read through and stay updated with the current official government travel advice for your destination. We are registered partners with the UK Foreign Office's 'Travel Aware' campaign which provides further useful and invaluable information.
Season Start Date | Season End Date | Price (P/P) | Offer Price | Note | |
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25 Nov, 2022 | 30 Nov, 2022 | A$4785 | - | - | Book now |
01 Dec, 2022 | 14 Dec, 2022 | A$4255 | - | - | Book now |
15 Dec, 2022 | 04 Jan, 2023 | A$4785 | - | - | Book now |