Jordan Family Holiday

Ahlan Wa Sahlan! Welcome to Jordan. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 5 pm in Amman – the ancient capital of Jordan and home to important Stone Age archaeological sites. If you arrive early, maybe shake off your travel legs with a visit to the Roman Theatre, learn about the Dead Sea Scrolls at The Jordan Museum or explore the excavated ruins of the Umayyad Palace. After your meeting, head out to dinner with your group to get to know each other.

This morning, set off on a short walk along the Soap House Trail. As you hike through the Ajloun Forest Reserve, take in the surrounding landscape of woodlands, filled with oak, pistachio and strawberry trees. When you get to the soap house, you and the kids will meet some of the local women who are keeping the traditional process of making pure Orjan olive soap alive. After your hike, travel to Jerash to explore the ruins, which were re-discovered in 1806. Wander along the ancient Colonnaded Street and see the grooves in the paving stones where chariot wheels once rolled. Return to Amman, where you’ll have free time to maybe visit the citadel or find a local restaurant for dinner – your leader will have the best recommendations.

Take the Desert Highway to Petra this morning. Along the way, stop at Madaba – a historical town known for its Ottoman-style houses and beautiful Byzantine-era mosaics. Slightly out of town, you might see the black beit ash shar tents of the Bedouin who still wander throughout the Middle East as they have for centuries. After, travel to Dana Village, built on a nature reserve, and join your local leader for a walk. Meet some locals and learn about their culture as you make your way through the terraced gardens. Head on to Petra, check into your hotel and spend the rest of the evening as you wish.

This morning, you’ll experience one of Jordan’s best sites and one of the Seven Wonders of the World, as you squeeze through the long stretch of stone wall on your way to Petra. When you arrive, the kids will get a history lesson come to life as you explore the old Roman road, temples, tombs and rock-hewn amphitheatre. After, maybe walk up the clifftop path to the Monastery for panoramic views overlooking the Treasury and Petra’s sandstone landscape. Later, join a Jordanian cooking class at a local Al Qantara kitchen. The whole family can help prepare appetisers like baba ghanoush and hummus and typical Jordanian mains like kabsah (mixed rice) or mjadra (lentils and rice), as you learn the secrets behind these delicious Arabic flavours.

After breakfast, travel to Wadi Rum – the kids may find the desert valley vaguely familiar from blockbuster films like Rogue One and The Martian. Along the way, stop in Little Petra for tea with a local Bedouin family, a great opportunity for the kids to experience what life in the desert is really like. When you arrive in Wadi Rum, jump in a jeep for a ride through the Mars-like landscapes. Pass Lawrence Spring – a rocky landscape contrasted by a freshwater spring and panoramic views over the valley. You’ll also stop at Lawrence House, said to be where Lawrence of Arabia lived during the Arab Revolt. Continue to one of the largest sand dunes in Wadi Rum and check out some of the famous rock bridges. After, set up camp in Bedouin-style tents – or, if you like, sleep in the open air, surrounded by red sandstone mountains and beneath the starry night sky. This might just be one of your family’s most memorable camping trips!

Today you’ll drive from the desert to the coast for some sun and relaxation. Aqaba is landlocked Jordan’s only town on the sea, and this Red Sea beach resort is yours to explore for the rest of the day. Just south of town, the warm, shallow waters of the Red Sea are home to a series of untouched coral reefs. Maybe grab a mask and some flippers and explore the underwater world, take a walk along the shoreline or simply kick back by the pool. Later, perhaps you’d like to visit the 14th-century Ottoman fort before settling in for the evening.

This morning, travel along the King's Highway – a winding road that follows the contours of the rocky hills, occasionally passing nomadic shepherds as they tend their flocks in the few areas where there’s water. Descend lower and lower until you eventually arrive on the shores of the Dead Sea. When you arrive, maybe put your swimwear on and take a dip in the salty lake. While you’re here, it’s worth grabbing a handful of the shoreline’s mud and slopping it over your body – it’s full of nutrient-rich natural minerals that are meant to have healing properties and will leave your skin feeling great. This evening, perhaps head out for dinner with your fellow travellers at a nearby restaurant.