Jordan: Ride Wadi Rum with Richard Dunwoody
10 days starting on Fri 16 Nov 2012Jordan - With a history that stretches back to the pages of the Old Testament and a desert landscape that is amongst the most spectacular anywhere in...
Group Tours in Jordan
Starting in November 2012
Starting in March 2013
Jordan: Lost City Of Arabia (New Tour)
9 days starting on Sat 16 Mar 2013The fabled lost city of Petra needs no introduction… hidden away in the the heart of the Jordanian desert for centuries, Petra obtained a mythical status with much speculation as to whether it...
Jordan Travel Guide
Amman
Amman is the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and is built upon seven hills. The city is dotted with a number of historic sites dating from the Stone Age to the Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic eras. Amman is now a modern and vibrant city, where the new gleaming white houses of downtown Amman blend with the remnants of ancient civilizations. Join the locals roasting meat at the Kebab stalls and sitting in tiny cafes where rich Arabian coffee is sipped in the afternoon sunshine. The atmosphere conjures a mood straight from a thousand and one nights. In the souks you can bargain for fruit, perfume, gold or other exquisite luxuries of the Middle East.
Petra
Hidden behind an almost impenetrable barrier of rugged mountains, the rock-carved city of Petra is full of mysterious charm. Petra was the capital of the ancient Nabatean Kingdom and was an important trading post. The Nabateans established an elaborate network of caravan routes, which brought spices, incense, myrrh, gold, silver, and precious stones from India and Arabia, to be traded onto the west. From the wealth they acquired, they adorned their city with palaces, temples, and arches. Finally, Petra is an enchanting place that captivates and excites the senses. Its overwhelming size, rich textures and stunning surroundings create an ambiance almost impossible to describe.
Dead Sea
Surrounded by barren mountains, the Dead Sea is the lowest exposed point on the Earth's surface and lies at the bottom of a natural depression that reaches 409 m below sea level. The region is a natural spa, and the mud and water contains so much sodium and other minerals that it makes it impossible for plant and animal life to live. However is ideal as treatment for various maladies (or just for soft skin).
Wadi Rum
“Vast, echoing and God-Like” are the words that T. E. Lawrence used to describe one of the Middle East’s most spectacular desert landscapes. Wadi Rum is the meeting point of the Rift valley, the Negev desert and Sinai Peninsular, which spreads eastwards into Arabia. Home to stunning scenery – towering sandstone peaks (Jebels), knife-edged dunes, gorges and canyons – the whole region is peppered with criss-crossing valleys, Bedouin camps and wild camels. One of the highlights of any trip to Jordan is watching the desert change colour as the daylight creeps in and the setting sun draws out the pink, ochre and magenta hue of the rock. At night the skies are ablaze with stars thanks to the lack of light pollution, making it one of the best places in Jordan for stargazing.
Dana Nature Reserve
A combination of mountains and wadis make for interesting landscapes and the chance to spot a wide range of birdlife - over 214 species have been recorded here including Griffon vultures and other birds of prey. The best way to explore Dana is on foot and there are a number of well marked trails and routes to suit all abilities. Explore the old village of Dana and visit the remains of a copper mine. Some walks can done on ones own; others require a guide and are available on request.
Jerash
The city's many splendid monuments still retain the atmosphere of the once thriving metropolis, famous in its own time for magnificent temples, amphitheatres, and plazas. From the buildings and the many other well-preserved structures, it is easy to imagine the city in its heyday. In the days of Alexander the Great (332 BC), the city grew increasingly prosperous and important until, in 63 BC, the Roman emperor Pompey conquered the region. The ancient Arabic name of Garshu was changed to Gerasa, and Jerash became part of the Roman Empire and soon after, a member of the Decapolis.
Aqaba
Surrounded by rugged purple mountains that subtly change in colour as the day unfolds, Aqaba is now a modern holiday resort with some good hotels and beaches, and excellent facilities for water sports and diving. The Red Sea coral and marine life is what attracts most holidaymakers to Aqaba and further down the coast are some of the most spectacular coral reefs to be found anywhere in the world. Often over many hundreds of meters wide, the reef is made up of many delicately hued corals among which live a myriad of brilliantly coloured fish.
Feinan
This area is famous for its ancient copper mines romoured to have been the site of King Solomons Mines. Feinan means "ruins of copper" in Arabic and the area is thought to have been first mined in Neolithic times 8500BC-4500BC. The site has recently been put forward to be awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in order to prevent future mining. Other highlights in the area include Byzantine archaeological ruins and churches, a Roman tower, elaborate water systems and Iron age remians. Wadi Feinan is a rugged area with beautiful red granite rock formations leading to the pink sand dunes of the Jordan valley.
Kerak
It lies south of Amman on the King's Highway - a crucial trade route linking Damascus with Egypt and Mecca, and at an elevation of 1000m it commands fantastic views of the Dead Sea. On three sides there is a vertiginous cliff that greatly aided defence. The fortress is typically Crusader in style, with dimly lit stone-vaulted rooms and corridors leading into each other through heavy arches and doorways. Taking a tour of the interior it is easy to imagine what life would have been like when the castle was under siege.
The King’s Highway
One of three highways running from North to South, the King’s Highway traverses some epic landscapes and is dotted with crusader castles, nature reserves and towns that date back to biblical times. Linking the historical town of Madaba, famed for it’s plethora of Byzantine mosaics and ancient churches, Mount Nebo (the supposed resting place of the prophet Moses, holy to Muslims, Christians and Jews alike) and Shobak, driving along this highway is really a journey through the centuries.
Jordan Travel Information
Visa Information
UK Passport holders require a visa to visit Jordan, but this can be obtained on arrival.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end of your trip, and it must have at least one blank page for each visa required. Please ensure the passport details we hold for you are correct.
Please note it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa documentation when starting your trip. Country entry regulations can alter daily and it is always best to check with the relevant embassies for any changes. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end of your trip, and it must have at least one blank page for each visa required. Please ensure the passport details we hold for you are correct.
If you would prefer to obtain your visa before arrival - this can be arranged through:
Travcour (UK)
Tempo House
15 Falcon Road Battersea
London
SW11 2PJ
Tel: 020 7223 5295
Fax: 020 7738 2617
Email: info@travcour.com
Website: www.travcour.com
If you are travelling on a non-UK passport, please contact your nearest consulate/embassy for up to date visa information.
Insurance:
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours.
You should be aware that many standard insurance policies may not cover you adequately for all aspects of a Wild Frontiers trip and so we strongly recommend that you purchase a suitably designed insurance policy.
One such policy is the "Wild Frontiers" policy underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE " firm reference 202803), which is available to EU residents (which excludes Norway & Switzerland) through our website or via the insurance company direct on 0845 345 3456. Under this policy there are two different levels of cover available.
Standard policy: a comprehensive travel insurance policy that provides cover for all Wild Frontiers activities, including trekking up to 6,000m. This policy does not provide cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel.
Elite policy: provides the same comprehensive level of cover as the standard policy. In addition the Elite policy also provides cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel. The policy will not provide cover for any claims arising from or relating to the reasons why the FCO is advising against travel.
If purchasing the Elite policy you also have the option to extend the cover provided by the policy to include cover for claims arising from a terrorist act in an area where the FCO is advising against travel. You can add this cover to your policy when purchasing online or over the telephone.
These policies are only available to those travelling on a Wild Frontiers holiday.
For more information and to purchase your policy online please visit the Insurance section of our website.
The cover is underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE), and is arranged by Travel & General Insurance Service Limited. Both companies are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Wild Frontiers Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Travel & General Insurance Company plc, details of which can be found at the FSA's website www.fsa.gov.uk.
To contact them please visit their website at www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
Tour Leaders
Richard Dunwoody
Richard Dunwoody was 12 when he started riding racehorses and rode in his first race as an amateur in 1982. He turned professional two years later and won... Read More
Mette Steen
Our most experienced Ethiopia, Yemen and Wakhan guide, Mette has spent the past 18 years traversing the African continent with side trips to Middle East and... Read More
Marc Leaderman
Narrowly escaping the "lawyer, doctor or accountant" stereotype career that is the fate of many London sons, Marc taught English in Romania & Japan... Read More
Dave Watts
After graduating from Edinburgh with a masters degree in geography, Dave was keen to visit the places that he had been studying and took a job in his native... Read More
Tom Skipwith
As a baby being taken around India on the back of a motorbike by his travel-crazed parents, the adventure bug was firmly embedded and a nomadic soul was... Read More
