Jordan – Roman Catholic Journey

ITINERARY

• DAY 1
  Memories Aicha Luxury Camp, Jordan

  Petra - King Hussein International Airport

  Welcome to the Jordan!
  
  Upon arrival, meet with your driver and transfer to your accommodating hotel. Spend the day at leisure to relax and rest after your overseas flight.

  What's included?

  • Accommodation
  • Transfer
• DAY 2
  Petra Al Khubtha Trail, Jordan

  Petra Visit - Lot’s cave – Dead Sea

  Petra
  
  Take a two-minute walk to the gates of Petra where Horses are waiting to take the guests on the short Horse ride till the beginning of the Siq, after which they have to walk through the narrow canyon to the first great monument where the treasury is revealed, the Roman theater, Royal Tombs.
  
  Lot’s Cave
  
  Byzantine Christians built a church and monastery dedicated to St. Lot where they believed he and his daughters found refuge in a cave after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The Bible says Lot’s daughters gave birth to sons whose descendants would become the Ammonite and Moabite people, whose kingdoms were in what is now north and central Jordan.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 3
  The Dead Sea is a landlocked salt lake in the Middle East, Jordan

  Dead Sea – Bethany – Mukawir – Amman

  Dead Sea
  
  The lowest point on earth is; the Dead Sea. It is believed to be the site of five biblical cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar (Bela). They will spend the day sunbathing, swimming, or dining. Relax in the gently lapping waters – you cannot sink! Treat yourself to a soothing massage, or try the well-known healing powers of minerals from the sea’s muddy floor.
  
  Bethany Beyond
  
  Possibly Jordan’s most revered religious pilgrimage site, Bethany Beyond is said to be the place John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. There are three medieval Byzantine churches in the area built in commemoration of the baptism site, two within walking distance of Bethany.
  
  Mukawir
  
  Most famous as the place where Salome is said to have danced for the head of John the Baptist, Mukawir was the fortified hilltop palace of Herod the Great. Multiple invasions left little of the original structure standing, but the fortified hill with its ghostly columns and lovely views is nonetheless quite atmospheric.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Accommodation
  • Transfer
• DAY 4
  King Abdullah I Mosque, Amman, Jordan

  Amman – Jabok river - Umm Qays – Tell Mar Elias – Jerash – Amman

  Jabbok River
  
  The Zarqa River is the second largest tributary of the lower Jordan River, after the Yarmouk River. It is the third-largest river in the region by annual discharge, and its watershed encompasses the most densely populated areas east of the Jordan River. It rises in springs near Amman and flows through a deep and broad valley (which is identified with the biblical Jabbok River) into the Jordan, at an elevation 1,090 meters (3,580 ft) lower. The river is heavily polluted and its restoration is one of the top priorities for the Jordanian Ministry of the Environment.[2]
  
  Geologically, the Zarqa river is about 30 million years old. At the river's origin is 'Ain Ghazal, a major archaeological site that dates back to the Neolithic period. Archeological finds along the course of the river indicate the area was rich in flora and fauna in the past. The Zarqa river is well known for its amber deposits that date back to the Hauterivian of the lower Cretaceous (135 m.y.). Remarkable flora and fauna were reported from this amber, reflecting tropical paleoenvironmental prevailing conditions during the time of resin deposition (Kaddumi, 2005; 2007).
  
  Umm Qays
  
  The site of the famous miracle of the Gadarene swine, Gadara, was renowned in its time as a cultural center. It was the home of several classical poets and philosophers, including Theodorus, founder of a rhetorical school in Rome; one poet called the city “a new Athens”. Perched on a splendid hilltop overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Sea of Galilee, Umm Qays boasts an impressive colonnaded terrace and the ruins of two theatres. You can take in the sights and then dine on the terrace of a fine restaurant with a breathtaking view of three countries.
  
  Tell Mar Elias
  
  Tell Mar Elias is a mound consisting of several archaeological strata (a tell) in the Ajlun region of northern Jordan. The site, northwest of Ajlun, has long been identified with Tishbe, mentioned in the Bible as the hometown or region of the prophet Elijah (Elias or Eliya in Arabic). The remains of one of the largest known Byzantine churches in Jordan can be found at the site. Artifacts from this site, including marble carvings and small metal religious objects, are on display at the archaeological museum of the nearby Ajloun Castle
  
  Jerash
  
  One of Jordan’s most stunning sites, the Roman-Byzantine city of Jerash was once one of the ten cities of the Decapolis. Much of the city still stands, giving visitors a clear idea of its former glory as they explore pillar-lined boulevards, public bath houses, the hippodrome, the ancient theatre, and temples.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 5
  In the shadow of the cross procession in Madaba, Jordan

  Amman city tour - Tall Hisban - Mount Nebo – Madaba - Umm Al-rasas – Wadi rum

  Amman
  
  Once known as the ancient city of Philadelphia, Amman is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It is home to some of the best hummus and falafel shops in the country, lively souks, a Roman amphitheater, trendy art galleries, and boutiques. Because Amman is built on seven hills, one of them home to the city’s ancient citadel, there are wonderful panoramic views to be had all over the city.
  
  Madaba
  
  The Jordanian city of mosaics, Madaba is also famous for its many Christian pilgrimage sites. The Greek Orthodox Basilica of Saint George contains undoubtedly the most famous mosaic in the country, the oldest existing map of Palestine and Jerusalem, dating from AD 560 and depicting all the major biblical sites in the Middle East.
  
  Mount Nebo
  
  The church atop Mount Nebo today commemorates the burial site of the Prophet Moses, as it was from here that he was granted a view of the Promised Land before he died. The site offers views over the Jordan valley, and a short hike away is the famous spring Moses is said to have conjured with his staff.
  
  Umm AL-Rasas
  
  Open to the public only since 2009, this UNESCO World Heritage Site was originally a Roman military encampment and then a city and is now home to St. Stephen’s church, famous for its mosaics, which show evidence of an interfaith coexistence – a rare phenomenon in the area at the time.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 6
  Aqaba desert, Jordan

  Wadi Rum – Aqaba

  Wadi Rum
  
  The lunar landscape of this vast southern desert was immortalized through the stories of T.E. Lawrence during the Arab Revolt and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visitors can explore on foot, by camel, or in a 4x4, though the best way to experience Wadi Rum is by staying the night under a blanket of stars in a Bedouin camp.
  
  Aqaba
  
  Greatly prized as Jordan’s window to the sea, Aqaba brings a refreshing release from the rose-colored desert to the north. Its sandy beaches and coral reefs are the most pristine on the Red Sea.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 7
  Dead Sea Aqaba, Jordan

  Day at leisure in Aqaba

  Today is a free day. Explore the city of Aqaba on your own and for your desire.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 8

  Aqaba - Departure

  Transfer to Aqaba Airport for your flight.
  
  Time to say goodbye to magical Jordan.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Transfer