Amman Dead Sea
5
Day Itinerary •
Jordan
Five days in Amman and the Dead Sea gives you the complete extraordinary range of Jordan's capital region, from the layered archaeology of the Amman Citadel and the finest Roman ruins in the Middle East at Jerash to the extraordinary Dead Sea, the Baptism Site of Jesus, the remarkable mosaics of Madaba and the extraordinary viewpoint of Mount Nebo where Moses saw the Promised Land. This route covers the full northern Jordan and Amman experience. The Citadel and Roman Theatre, the Jerash Roman city, the Dead Sea float and mineral spa, the extraordinary Madaba Byzantine mosaics, the Moses Memorial Church on Mount Nebo, the extraordinary Wadi Rum-like desert castles of the Eastern Desert and the finest Jordanian food culture at every stop.
Best Time To Visit
March to May or September to November
Getting There
Fly into Amman (AMM), 45 min from city centre
Getting Around
Rental car recommended for full coverage
Budget Per Day
Approx 75 to 140 USD per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, mostly walking
DAY 1
AMMAN
MORNING
AMMAN CITADEL AND THE TEMPLE OF HERCULES
The Amman Citadel on Jebel al-Qala'a is the extraordinary heart of ancient Rabbath-Ammon, its remarkable layers from the Neolithic period to the Umayyad caliphate all visible in a single hilltop site. The Roman Temple of Hercules with its extraordinary giant hand, the largest ancient hand in existence, the Umayyad Palace domed reception hall and the Amman Archaeological Museum with the extraordinary Ain Ghazal plaster statues from 7250 BC make this the finest single site in Amman. Entry approx 3 JOD. Drive: 20 min walk
MIDDAY
ROMAN THEATRE AND THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN
The Roman Theatre in downtown Amman is the finest Roman monument in the capital, a 6,000-seat theatre built in the 2nd century AD from which the extraordinary panorama over the downtown hills gives the finest urban view in Jordan. The surrounding downtown area with its extraordinary souk, the Al-Husseini Mosque and the extraordinary Duke's Diwan Ottoman library give the finest historical walking experience in Amman. Drive: 10 min walk
AFTERNOON
SOUK AND THE GOLD MARKET
The downtown Amman souk around the central bus station is the finest traditional market in Jordan, its Gold Souk, spice market, vegetable souk and the extraordinary covered perfume market giving the finest sensory experience in the capital. The falafel shops of Falafel al-Quds and Abu Jbara are the finest street food experience in Amman. The evening climb to Rainbow Street in the Jabal Amman area gives the finest evening in the city.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Amman Folklore Museum inside the Roman Theatre complex contains the finest collection of traditional Jordanian dress, jewellery and household objects in the country. The extraordinary embroidered women's dresses from the different regions of Jordan are among the finest examples of traditional craft in the Middle East. Entry included in theatre ticket.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel in Amman Jordanian hotel breakfast. Labneh, olives, hummus and fresh bread is the standard extraordinary spread. | Lunch: Hashem Restaurant, Amman Legendary falafel since 1952. The Kings of Jordan have eaten here. 1 JOD for a full meal. | Dinner: Sufra, Jabal Amman Finest traditional Jordanian cooking. Mansaf lamb, musakhan chicken and the best mezze.
DAY 2
JERASH
MORNING
JERASH, THE ROME OF THE EAST
Jerash is the most complete and extraordinary Roman city in the Middle East, a UNESCO candidate ancient settlement of extraordinary preservation. The Hadrianic Arch, the extraordinary Oval Plaza, the finest colonnaded Cardo Maximus in the Roman world, the North and South Theatres, the Temple of Artemis and the extraordinary series of nymphaea give the most complete picture of Roman provincial urban life anywhere outside Italy. Entry approx 10 JOD. Drive: On site
MIDDAY
JERASH AFTERNOON, THE HIPPODROME AND CHARIOT RACING
The Jerash hippodrome chariot racing show is the finest living history experience in Jordan, a remarkable recreation of Roman chariot racing and legionary demonstrations in the original hippodrome. The extraordinary Temple of Zeus above the Oval Plaza gives the finest elevated view over the ancient city. The afternoon walk through the extraordinary Byzantine churches and the North Theatre district gives the complete picture of 1,500 years of occupation. Drive: 45 min drive back
AFTERNOON
AJLOUN CASTLE AND THE JORDAN VALLEY VIEW
The Ajloun Castle 20km from Jerash is the finest Islamic castle in northern Jordan, built by Saladin's general in 1184. The extraordinary view from the castle walls over the Jordan Valley to Palestine beyond is the finest panorama in northern Jordan. The surrounding Ajloun Forest Reserve with its extraordinary oak forest is the finest natural area in northern Jordan. Entry approx 3 JOD.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts held every July is the finest cultural festival in Jordan, a two-week programme of Arab and international performances in the extraordinary Roman theatres. Watching a concert in the extraordinary South Theatre with Roman columns on every side is one of the finest cultural experiences in the Middle East.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel in Amman Early breakfast before the Jerash drive. Leave by 8am. | Lunch: Restaurant in Jerash Jordanian grilled meats and mezze near the Roman site. | Dinner: Rainbow Street, Amman Finest evening street. Wine, mezze and the extraordinary Amman night view.
DAY 3
DEAD SEA
MORNING
THE DEAD SEA AT DAWN, THE LOWEST POINT ON EARTH
The Dead Sea at 430 metres below sea level is the most remarkable natural phenomenon in Jordan, its extraordinary 34% salinity making floating not just possible but impossible to avoid. The experience of floating effortlessly in the extraordinary mineral water with the West Bank hills across the water and the extraordinary desert landscape above is one of the finest natural experiences in the Middle East. The black mineral mud applied to the skin is the finest natural spa treatment in the region. Beach club entry approx 25 JOD. Drive: 20 min drive
MIDDAY
BAPTISM SITE OF JESUS, BETHANY BEYOND THE JORDAN
The Bethany Beyond the Jordan UNESCO World Heritage Site is the most significant Christian pilgrimage site in Jordan, the extraordinary location where John the Baptist ministered and where Jesus is believed to have been baptised in the Jordan River. The extraordinary series of Byzantine churches, baptismal pools and monastic cells excavated since 1996 are remarkable. Standing at the Jordan River bank looking across to the Israeli and Palestinian side is an extraordinary experience. Entry approx 12 JOD. Drive: On King's Highway south
AFTERNOON
WADI MUJIB GORGE AND THE DEAD SEA SHORE DRIVE
The Wadi Mujib gorge descends 900 metres to the Dead Sea in an extraordinary canyon visible from the King's Highway above. The RSCN Wadi Mujib biosphere reserve offers extraordinary wading and canyoneering tours through the gorge to the sea, one of the finest adventure experiences in Jordan. The drive along the Dead Sea shore road gives the extraordinary combination of the remarkable flat sea surface, the mineral formations and the extraordinary desert cliffs.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary salt formations on the Dead Sea shore near the southern end are the finest mineral landscape in Jordan, extraordinary salt crystal pillars and formations created by the extraordinary evaporation of the shrinking sea. The sea has lost over a third of its surface area since 1960 and the formations are remarkable.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel in Amman Early breakfast before the Dead Sea descent. The drive takes 1 hour. | Lunch: Dead Sea resort Jordanian lunch at the resort restaurant with the extraordinary sea view. | Dinner: Restaurant on King's Highway Local Jordanian food on the return north. Mansaf and fresh bread.
DAY 4
MADABA AND MOUNT NEBO
MORNING
MADABA, THE CITY OF BYZANTINE MOSAICS
Madaba is the most extraordinary mosaic city in the Middle East, its remarkable Byzantine floor mosaics found in churches and houses throughout the town. The famous 6th-century Madaba Map mosaic in the Church of St George is the oldest surviving cartographic representation of the Holy Land, an extraordinary floor mosaic showing Jerusalem, the Jordan River and the Dead Sea in remarkable detail. The Archaeological Park contains the finest collection of Byzantine mosaics outside Constantinople. Entry approx 3 JOD. Drive: 30 min drive south
MIDDAY
MOUNT NEBO, WHERE MOSES SAW THE PROMISED LAND
Mount Nebo above Madaba is the most sacred Christian site in Jordan, the mountain where Moses stood and saw the Promised Land he would never enter before dying. The extraordinary Memorial Church of Moses contains the finest collection of Byzantine mosaics in Jordan. The view from the summit over the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, the Negev and on clear days Jerusalem itself is one of the finest panoramas in the Middle East. Entry approx 3 JOD. Drive: 30 min drive north
AFTERNOON
MADABA MOSAIC SCHOOL AND CRAFTS
The Madaba Mosaic School is the finest traditional craft institution in Jordan, a school where students learn the ancient Byzantine mosaic technique using traditional stone tesserae. The extraordinary mosaic workshops are open to visitors and the shop sells the finest contemporary mosaics in Jordan at remarkable prices. The Madaba crafts souk has the finest selection of traditional Jordanian embroidery, jewellery and pottery in the region.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Mukawir castle ruins on the cliff above the Dead Sea south of Madaba are the site of the palace of Herod Antipas where Salome danced and John the Baptist was beheaded. The extraordinary view from the castle ruins over the Dead Sea and Wadi Araba is one of the finest in Jordan. Entry free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel in Amman Breakfast before the Madaba drive. Mount Nebo is finest in morning light. | Lunch: Haret Jdoudna, Madaba The finest restaurant in Madaba in a restored Ottoman house. Local mezze and wine. | Dinner: Amman restaurant Return dinner in the capital. The Abdali area has the finest contemporary restaurants.
DAY 5
DESERT CASTLES
MORNING
DESERT CASTLES, THE UMAYYAD HUNTING LODGES
The Desert Castles east of Amman are the finest series of early Islamic buildings in Jordan, a circuit of extraordinary Umayyad hunting lodges, bathhouses and caravanserais built in the 7th and 8th centuries in the basalt desert. Qasr Amra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, contains the extraordinary 8th-century frescoes of the Umayyad caliph at leisure, the finest surviving early Islamic paintings in the world. Qasr Kharana is the finest Umayyad castle in Jordan. Entry approx 2 JOD each. Drive: 30 min drive back
MIDDAY
AZRAQ WETLAND RESERVE AND LAWRENCE'S FORT
The Azraq Wetland Reserve is the finest birdwatching site in Jordan, an extraordinary oasis in the basalt desert that was the primary wintering ground for migratory birds between Africa and Eurasia. T.E. Lawrence used the Azraq castle as his winter headquarters in 1917 and describes the extraordinary desert oasis in Seven Pillars of Wisdom. The castle contains Lawrence's private room still intact. Entry approx 3 JOD. Drive: 1 hour drive back to Amman
AFTERNOON
RETURN TO AMMAN AND DEPARTURE
The drive back from Azraq to Amman takes 1.5 hours through the extraordinary basalt desert of the Eastern steppe. The airport is 45 minutes from the city centre. A final falafel at Hashem Restaurant or a coffee on Rainbow Street gives the finest farewell to one of the most extraordinary countries in the Middle East. Jordan's extraordinary combination of ancient history, remarkable hospitality and natural wonders makes it one of the finest destinations in the world.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Shaumari Wildlife Reserve near Azraq was the first wildlife reserve in Jordan, established to reintroduce the Arabian oryx which was hunted to extinction in the wild. The reserve now has the finest population of wild Arabian oryx in Jordan. Entry approx 3 JOD. The extraordinary landscape of the basalt desert around the reserve is remarkable.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel in Amman Final Amman breakfast before the desert castles drive east. | Lunch: Azraq area restaurant Local Jordanian food near the extraordinary oasis. Simple and excellent. | Dinner: Amman or airport Final meal in Amman or airport dining for the return flight.
Where To Stay
Amman, Nights 1-4 Four Seasons Amman or Kempinski. Mid-range from 80 USD per night. Budget option Boutique hotels in Jabal Amman from approx 40 USD. Excellent location. Dead Sea option Kempinski Dead Sea for one night gives the full resort experience.
Top Tips
1. The Jordan Pass covers visa on arrival and all major sites including Jerash, Madaba and the Baptism Site. Approx 70 USD. It is the finest single purchase for any Jordan trip.
2. Hashem Restaurant in downtown Amman is the finest value restaurant in the Middle East. A full falafel meal with extras costs under 2 JOD. The King of Jordan has eaten here.
3. The Dead Sea is shrinking rapidly at one metre per year. The experience of floating in the extraordinary water is one that may not exist in the same form for future generations.
4. Madaba mosaics are the finest example of Byzantine floor mosaic art in the Middle East. The detail of the Madaba Map, showing 6th-century Jerusalem in a floor, is extraordinary.
5. The Desert Castles circuit is the least visited extraordinary experience in Jordan. Qasr Amra's UNESCO frescoes of the Umayyad caliph bathing are unlike anything else in the Islamic world.
6. Jordanian food is extraordinary throughout the country. The mansaf lamb cooked in fermented yoghurt is the national dish and every guesthouse and family restaurant makes it differently.
Total Budget
75 to 140 USD/day