France – Amman

Amman - Welcome at Queen Alia International Airport and transfer to the hotel in Amman. Dinner and overnight stay.

Amman – King’s Highway – Madaba – Nebo – Kerak – Petra

Madaba Mosaic Map - Breakfast at the hotel and departure along the King’s Highway, visiting Madaba. Known as the city of mosaics, both in churches and homes, their high craftsmanship and artistic value demonstrate that this Byzantine bishopric, which had 14 churches, hosted an extraordinary school of mosaicists. Their art reached its peak in the 5th and 6th centuries. Visit the “Map of Palestine” at St. George’s Church in Madaba, uncovered in 1898 during the church’s construction. This mid-6th-century mosaic, barely altered, depicts the geography of the Byzantine Near East. Originally measuring 25 m by 5 m, it was composed of two million tesserae.

Mount Nebo - Then visit Mt. Nebo, 10 km northwest of Madaba - “And Moses went up from the plains of Moab to the top of Mount Nebo, to Pisgah, which faces Jericho… Then the Lord said to him, ‘This is the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to your descendants. I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you will not cross over into it.’ And so Moses, the servant of God, died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. (Deuteronomy, 34:1, 4-5). Presumed site of Moses’ tomb, Mount Nebo rises to 840 m. It became a universal pilgrimage site from the early Christian era.

Karak Castle - Continue to the fortress of Kerak - The Wadi Kerak, a valley below the city, was one of the major routes into Palestine. In 1115, Baldwin I founded the lordship of Montreal. Fulk the Younger of Anjou, a French baron and the third Frankish king of Jerusalem (1131-1144), entrusted this fief to his cupbearer Payen the Butler, who built the fortress of Kerak in 1142 and made it his residence. In 1176, Reynald of Châtillon, former lord of Antioch, received it following his second marriage. It took the disastrous Crusader defeat at Hattin (1187), after which Jerusalem was conquered by Muslims and Reynald executed, for Kerak to fall in 1189. But Saladin had to besiege the fortress for over a year, defended by Reynald’s widow, before it finally surrendered. Lunch in Kerak. Continue to Petra via the desert road. Dinner & overnight at the hotel.

Petra the Rose

Petra - Enjoy a delightful day in Petra starting with a hearty breakfast at the hotel, preparing for exploration. Immerse yourself in the rich history and stunning architecture of Petra, admiring its ancient wonders. For lunch, savor local flavors at a charming restaurant, indulging in traditional Jordanian cuisine. Afternoon adventures await as you continue your journey through Petra’s fascinating landscapes. At the end of the day, retreat to the comfort of your hotel for a delicious dinner, perhaps opting for a luxurious dining experience.

Petra – Little Petra – Wadi Rum

Little Petra - Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Little Petra.

Wadi Rum Protected Area - Then head to Wadi Rum - The Wadi Rum desert - If Petra is the result of human and natural work combined, the cliffs, peaks, and valleys of Wadi Rum owe their “serene beauty” and “overwhelming grandeur” solely to themselves, according to T. E. Lawrence. Wadi Rum, “vast, echoing, and God-like,” is such that “[only] landscapes in children’s dreams have this grandeur and silence.” This desolate site was indeed one of the high points of the Great Arab Revolt, glorified by director David Lean in one of the most impressive scenes of his Lawrence of Arabia. Take a local 4X4 pickup tour in the desert for about an hour and a half. Lunch in a Bedouin camp. Dinner & overnight under Bedouin tents.

Wadi Rum – Wadi Araba – Dead Sea – Amman

Wadi Araba Desert - Breakfast at the camp, via the Araba road, departure for the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, 1306 feet below sea level. Lunch.

Dead Sea Region - It is believed that this sparsely populated and peaceful region today once housed five biblical cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar. The therapeutic benefits of the Dead Sea have been known for at least two thousand years. It is proven that the climate and elements (sun, water, mud, and air) offer a unique combination of natural conditions capable of alleviating a wide range of chronic conditions such as dermatological issues (psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, psoriatic arthritis, etc.), respiratory problems (asthma, for example), and many other conditions like arthritis, circulatory problems, hypertension, Parkinson’s disease, and ophthalmological conditions. Enjoy a strange but delightful experience: “floating” on the water’s surface. The buoyancy is due to the salt content being nine times higher than that of ordinary seawater. Return to Amman for dinner and overnight stay.

Amman - Overnight in Amman.

Amman – Desert Castles – Amman

Qasr al-Kharrana - After breakfast, depart for the Desert Castles / Lunch. The first castle visited is Qasr Al-Kharaneh, located 55 km from Amman. It is probably the only one that initially had a military function, as suggested by its architecture. However, some researchers believe the importance of the stables suggests it was more of a caravanserai.

Quseir Amra - Qasr Amra is located 26 km southwest of Azraq, along the main road. Qasr Amra occupies an island formed in the bed of an almost always dry Wadi. This well-preserved small castle features clear lines and rounded contours, with blonde stone blending into the desert heat. Qasr Amra was built in the early 8th century by Caliph Walid I, a great lover of hunting, poetry, and various pleasures.

Al-Azraq Al-Shamaly - Qasr Al Azraq was severely affected by an earthquake in 1927, yet the castle remains magnificent. The inscription above the main entrance allowed dating the 13th-century renovation, likely when the mosque in the center of the courtyard was constructed.

The Citadel - After breakfast, start your day in Amman with a visit to the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom. Between the eastern desert and the Jordan Valley, Amman is home to over a million residents. Built entirely of beige-white limestone, the city is an aggregate of cream-colored cubes, gilded by the sun. Ancient history sits above the downtown streets at the Amman Citadel (Jabal al-Qalaa), a compact hill topped with Roman ruins, a palace, and the national archaeological museum. Whether exploring the sites or simply enjoying panoramic views of Amman, the Citadel is a must-see.

Roman Theatre - The most imposing and best-preserved monument of Roman Philadelphia is the theater: according to an inscription, it was built under the reign of Antoninus Pius (138-161 AD) to accommodate 6,000 people. The theater and the odeon (which housed about 500) were on either side of a colonnaded forum, dated to 189, of which only a part remains. Originally, they were next to a stream and a main road, the Decumanus Maximus – the stream is now in an underground culvert, and the road has long since been built over. The propylon (a triple-arched gate that once stood north of the forum, beyond the stream and road) has also disappeared; it was the entrance to the processional staircase leading up to the citadel and was mentioned by travelers as early as 1911.

Amman – Jerash – Ajloun – Amman

Jerash Ruins - Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Jerash / Lunch. In the morning, depart for the ancient city of Jerash or Gerasa, about 45 km from Amman. It is the second major site in Jordan after Petra. Today, it is considered one of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities in the Near East. Buried under sand for several centuries before being discovered and restored over 70 years. The city was entirely built in pinkish-orange limestone, which is magnified at dawn and dusk by the sun’s rays. Gerasa’s peak was in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Jerash is the epitome of Roman municipal planning, vast and formal, throughout the Middle East. It is adorned with paved streets, colonnades, immense temples on hilltops, charming theaters, spacious public squares, baths, fountains, and walls pierced by towers and gates.

Ajloun Nature Reserve - After lunch, continue to Ajloun, a city with a very impressive fortress (Qalaat al Rabad), nestled atop a mountain, built in the 12th century during Saladin’s time to defend the region and control local iron mines, and to prevent the Crusaders from crossing into Jerusalem. From the top, enjoy superb views of the Jordan Valley. Return to Amman. Dinner & overnight at the hotel.

Amman departure transfer

Amman - After breakfast, transfer to the airport and assistance with departure formalities. End of services.

• Visa gratuit à l’arrivée à l’aéroport
• Bouteille d’eau offerte dans le bus durant les visites
• Accueil et assistance à l’arrivée et au départ pour le groupe avant douane
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Excursion en Jeep 4*4 bédouins pour une heure et demi
• Breakfast
• Frais d’entrées mentionnées dans l’itinéraire
• Transport selon le nombre de personnes
• Guide francophone permanent durant les journées des visites

• Tout service optionnel non décrit dans le tour.
• Les pourboires usuels pour le guide, chauffeurs, hôtels.
• L’assurance de voyage

Le circuit de 8 jours en Jordanie se distingue par son exploration immersive des paysages diversifiés du pays, de son histoire riche et de sa culture vibrante. Mené par des guides expérimentés, il offre un itinéraire complet couvrant des sites emblématiques tels que Petra, Wadi Rum, la mer Morte, Jerash et Amman. Ce qui le distingue, ce sont les expériences personnalisées telles que les rencontres culturelles bédouines, les délices culinaires authentiques et les aventures hors des sentiers battus. Avec un équilibre entre les activités structurées et le temps libre, les voyageurs peuvent explorer en profondeur les merveilles de la Jordanie tout en favorisant des pratiques touristiques durables. Les hébergements confortables combinent des équipements modernes avec une ambiance authentique, garantissant un voyage mémorable rempli de moments impressionnants et de connections significatives avec cette terre captivante.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.