The Historic Highlights of Jordan

Today after an early breakfast at the hotel you will set off on an action-packed visit to Madaba, Nebo and Kerak, finally finishing up in Petra. Though you will fit a lot of historic Jordan in today, your guide will make sure there are also plenty of moments to simply stop and take in everything you see. It's an early start as you leave the hotel and head directly to the ancient site of Madaba. This historic city is best-known for its spectacular Byzantine and Umayyad mosaic Map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, and the church where it lies - built in 1896 AD, over the remains of a much earlier 6th century Byzantine church. You will be kept busy wondering around and absorbing all of the rich history that this ancient building has to offer.

You can then move onto and visit Mount Nebo, a mountaintop memorial of Moses with captivating views of the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea and the River Jordan. A small Byzantine church was built there by early Christians, which has been expanded into a vast complex. You will then drive to Kerak Castle to see the famous crusaders' fort. The fort itself is a dark maze of stone-vaulted halls and endless passageways.

From Kerak you will be transferred to Petra where you can rest and have dinner in your hotel before heading out to see the ancient site at night. It's a unique way to experience this Jordan highlight, with sandstone temples lit by 1,500 candles. Although you will be seeing the city properly tomorrow, this is an unmissable introduction which will only leave you wanting to discover more in the daylight.

With a big day ahead, you will need to get up in good time to visit stunning Petra. Inarguably Jordan's most valuable treasure and tourist attraction, make sure you get there early to beat the crowds. This unique ancient city was carved into the sheer rock face, by the Nabateans, the industrious Arab people who settled here more than 2,000 years ago.

The entrance to the city is through the Siq, a narrow gorge over half a mile in length and flanked on either side by soaring 260 foot high cliffs. The colour formations and dazzling rocks will guide you as you wind through this remarkable landscape. The famous Treasury is just the first of many wonders that make up Petra. There are hundreds of elaborate rock-cut tombs with intricate carvings.

To appreciate the profound scale of Petra, it can be a good idea to climb up a flight of 800 rock cut steps that will take you to a viewing point that looks over the valley and the impressive Ad-Deir Monastery. You will be able to spend as much time as you please here, and when you decide to go back you will have the rest of the afternoon and evening to relax in your hotel, or walk around the area some more.

Today you will carry on with your routine of waking up early to seize the day, but this time you'll be off to the Dead Sea via Wadi Rum. Though visiting Wadi Rum instead of going direct makes this a long day, we highly recommend trying to fit it in as it really is stunning, and definitely a highlight in any trip to Jordan.

This timeless place has been virtually untouched by humanity and the weather and winds have carved imposing, towering rock skyscrapers across the deserted land. What T.E. Lawrence elegantly described Wadi Rum as 'vast, echoing and God-like' is, in reality, a maze of monolithic rockscapes that appear to rise up from the desert floor, creating a variety of natural challenges for serious mountaineers.

By taking a hike around the the vast wilderness of the canyons you will find water holes, 4,000-year-old rock drawings and the many other treasures. Once you have explored the area there will be a two-hour drive to your Dead Sea Hotel where you can relax with dinner.

As your last full day in Jordan you will rise early and travel to Jerash. This is a close second to Petra on the list of favourite destinations in Jordan, the ancient city of Jerash boasts an unbroken chain of human occupation dating back more than 6,500 years.

While the Middle East contains other surviving Roman cities, Jerash stands out amongst them in terms of preservation. There is enough structure that remains intact for archaeologists and historians, and even casual visitors to be able to piece together how this ancient city would have played out under the rule of an emperor.