Day 01: Arrive Amman

Ahlan Wasahlan (Arabic for “Welcome”)! Upon our arrival at Amman International Airport, we are warmly welcomed and transferred to our hotel. Check in is from 3:00 PM. The balance of the day if free for to rest, or start discovering Amman for ourselves. Amman, the capital of Jordan, boasts a rich history that spans over 9,000 years, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It has served as a key crossroads for ancient civilizations, including the Ammonites, Romans, and Byzantines.

Overnight: Movenpick Hotel, Amman (3 nights)

Day 02: Amman

We begin with a historical and cultural exploration of Amman and Jordan, providing a perfect introduction to the region. Our journey starts in Al Salt, where we’ll visit its historical museum, Ein Plaza, Madafat al Khalili—once a city grinder mill, now a guesthouse—and the Orthodox Church of Al Khader. After touring the church, we’ll enjoy a cultural experience with a traditional lunch hosted by a local family. From here, we’ll travel to Jerash, home to one of the most complete and well-preserved Roman cities in the world. Nestled in the fertile valley of biblical Gilead, the ruins have attracted visitors since ancient times . We’ll explore its temples, theaters, plazas, paths, and colonnaded streets. We end the day with a highlight—a delicious local Jordanian dinner paired with wine tasting at the Zumot Winery. (B, L, D)

Day 03: Amman

Another specially designed day as we head downtown for a breakfast treat at the famous Hashem Restaurant. Acclaimed by many guidebooks as serving the best falafel and hummus in all of Amman, the restaurant retains its charm as a simple eatery frequented by locals. It made front-page news when King Abdullah II and his family dined there one evening during Ramadan in 2006. Next, we visit the Citadel, the Roman Amphitheater, and the spice market. We’ll also stop at Habiba Sweets for a taste of Kanafeh, a Levantine cheese pastry soaked in sweet syrup, and learn how it is made.

Nestled in one of Amman’s oldest neighborhoods, Jabal Al Weibdeh is an old 1940s-style house that now houses Beit Sitti. Here, we’ll enjoy a unique cook-and-dine experience that blends grandma’s home cooking with a fun night out. The experience was inspired by three sisters who wanted to keep their grandmother’s heritage alive by sharing the recipes she taught them with locals, expats, and tourists. We’ll visit the vegetable market to learn how to bargain and select the best produce before returning to the house to cook a four-course Arabic meal for lunch.

After some rest time at the hotel, we prepare for the highlight of the day. At sunset, we head to Sufra Restaurant, famous for its tasty dishes inspired by Bedouin kitchens and its warm hospitality. The menu at Sufra focuses on traditional Jordanian dishes that "capture the spirit of the Jordanian palette." While many restaurants in Jordan offer Middle Eastern food, Sufra is uniquely dedicated to Jordanian cuisine. We’ll try mutabbal (eggplant with tahini sauce), mansaf, freekeh with chicken, fattet jaj (chicken with bread, rice, and yogurt sauce), and for dessert, enjoy Arabic ice cream with cotton candy. (B, L, D)

Day 04: Amman/Petra (Drive)

We bid farewell to Amman as we head to Bethany to visit the place where it is believed Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist. Along the way, we’ll see Mount Nebo, where Moses is believed to have been buried. In Madaba, the City of Mosaics, we’ll view the oldest known mosaic map of the Holy Land. For lunch, we’ll enjoy a treat at Haret Jdoudna Restaurant, popular with locals and discerning diners from Amman. Set in one of Madaba’s restored old houses, the restaurant offers a cozy indoor setting by a roaring fire in winter or a shaded courtyard in summer. We’ll sample traditional Jordanian dishes like mutaffi bethanjan (fried eggplant with sesame), fatteh (fried bread with garlic-laced yogurt and hummus, sometimes with chicken), and sawani (meat or vegetables cooked on trays in a wood-burning oven).

After lunch, we’ll head to Petra, the Pink City and the Jewel of Jordan and the Middle East. After some rest at our hotel, enjoy dinner at the famous Petra Kitchen. Here, we’ll participate in cooking a full Jordanian dinner, including soup, hot and cold mezze (appetizers), and a main course. While we may already know how to chop vegetables, in most Jordanian households, food preparation is a joyous social event, where family members—especially women—gather to share stories and gossip while cooking. We’ll have the same opportunity to chat and laugh with fellow cooks and the Petra Kitchen staff as we prepare our meal—from chopping and grating to elegantly presenting each mezze dish, a hallmark of Levantine cuisine.

Overnight: Old Village Hotel, Petra (1 night)  (B, L, D)

Day 05: Petra/Wadi Rum (Drive)

A historical site like no other, Petra, also known as Sela in the Bible, was lost to the world for five centuries until its rediscovery in 1812. We enter Petra through a narrow gorge carved into the sandstone, and, at the end of the path, we are rewarded with the most stunning view of the Treasury, famously featured in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. We explore this iconic site before enjoying a buffet lunch at the Basin Restaurant, located within Petra. The spread includes international dishes such as a healthy selection of salads, fresh falafel, and barbecued spicy sausage, along with tempting desserts like fruit and Umm Ali, a bread-pudding-like treat. In the afternoon, we take a short drive to Wadi Rum, one of the locations featured in the film Lawrence of Arabia. Here, we are treated to a traditional Bedouin meal, where meat and vegetables are cooked under the desert sand in a method known as "zarb" or "roast." The food has a barbecue flavor, and the meats are tender and fall off the bone. Be sure not to wander too far—you won’t want to miss the mouth-watering aroma when the food is unearthed!

Overnight: Sun City Camp (Deluxe Tent), Wadi Rum (1 night)  (B, L, D)

Day 06: Wadi Rum/Dead Sea (Drive)

This morning, we experience a camel ride near the camp and get a feel for how Lawrence of Arabia actually lived. Our next destination is the famous Dead Sea, a body of water with high salt content and a low level of life. It is part of the biblical Holy Land and is renowned for being the area where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Specifically, a cave in Qumran is where a number of ancient manuscripts were found, written just after the time of Christ. These scrolls provide contemporary and philosophical insights into Jesus and his followers. We will have some time to relax and experience the wonder of Dead Sea mud, which is bursting with 21 earth-given minerals. Known for its ability to enrich, enhance, and hydrate, this natural mud leaves the skin feeling and looking positively radiant.

Overnight: Dead Sea Holiday Inn Hotel, Dead Sea (1 night) (B, D)

Day 07: Dead Sea/Depart Amman (Drive)

This morning, we head to the community of Ghor Al-Mazra’a, where we will have the opportunity to learn from the local residents about the rich cultural heritage and simple lifestyle of the Dead Sea region. Together, we will make traditional bread and a local dish called Gallayet Bandorah, a tomato-based stew. After a simple yet delicious lunch, we continue on to the airport for our flight home (please double check flight times with us before booking). (B, L)

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

Departure Dates & Prices

We accept payments in US$, CA$ as well as in other convertible currencies like EUR, AUD and GBP. Tour prices have been costed in US$. CA$ price shown below is an indicative amount reached at by using the conversion rate at the time of web posting and will be applicable if there is no change in the conversion rate. Should the currency conversion rate change, the US$ pricing will prevail. Bestway Tours & Safaris offers a conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please click here

Notes

Inclusions

Participants

This tour operates on a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 8 participants

Customised Itinerary

If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you.

Contact Info
Email us at bestway@bestway.com or call 1-604-264-7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1-800-663-0844.

Inquire About this Trip

Tour Application Form