Country(ies): Jordan
Tour type: Family
Group size: Min: 3 | Max: 16
Accommodation:4-star hotels & Bedouin camp
Meals: Breakfasts - 7, Lunches - 2, Dinners - 1
Transport: A/C minibus
Highlights:Jerash Roman ruins, Kerak Crusader Castle, drive the King's Highway, Wadi Rum jeep safari and camel ride included, Petra tour, Dead Sea swim, Red Sea beaches
This family tour to Jordan combines time at some of Jordan's most important historical sites with some more fun activities for the children. Jordan has so much to offer the adventurous family and this tour is a good mix of interesting historical sites, spectacular landscapes and fun activities such as snorkelling in the Red Sea, a 4x4 desert jeep safari, desert camel rides, and a dip/float in the Dead Sea. Group sizes are small and our guides are used to dealing with children so you'll get the best experience possible. You can also book this tour privately.
Starting your tour in Amman, we first take a trip north to the ancient Roman remains at Jerash before visiting the fun and interactive Children's Museum in Amman. Next we take a spectacular drive along the scenic King's Highway south towards Petra, stopping en-route at Madaba, Mt. Nebo and the stunning crusader Castle at Kerak. At Petra you will enjoy a full day guided tour of the site and there is the option to return in the evening to see Petra by candlelight. Leaving Petra behind we head out into the desert at Wadi Rum for a night it a Bedouin camp and a chance to enjoy the spectacular desert landscape on a 4x4 jeep safari. A change of pace now as we reach the Red Sea at Aqaba where you can relax on the beach or in the surroundings of your resort, or take a boat trip to enjoy some snorkelling over the coral reefs. Heading back to Amman we stop off at the Dead Sea to enjoy the strange experience of swimming in the incredibly salty waters. The tour ends back in Amman with a transfer to the airport for your flight home.
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We meet you at Amman airport and transfer you to your city centre hotel The rest of the day is free for you to settle in and relax.
OVERNIGHT:
Amman hotel
MEALS:
None
EXTRAS:
Extra day in Amman - pre-tour - Standard level
Single room supplement (JOFAFA)
We head out of Amman today and visit the extensive Roman ruins at Jerash, some of the best preserved in the whole of the Middle East. After a snack lunch we return to Amman and visit the fun and interactive Children's Museum. This has areas dedicated to the human body, ancient civilisations, stars and space, optical illusions, and some fun flight simulators built into child sized planes, hot air balloons, pedal planes and much more. There are also outdoor exhibits and overall we find this a fun place to take children of all ages for a couple of hours, and for them to see the type of museums and activities available to local Jordanian children.
OVERNIGHT:
Amman hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast
EXTRAS:
None
Leaving Amman, we drive south along the King's Highway, one of the most scenic roads in the Middle East. This is a full day's drive, but we'll make plenty of breaks along the way. These will include at stop to see the Roman mosaics at Madaba, a leg stretch amidst the huge canyon and olive groves of Wadi Mujib, and time to explore the walls and tunnels of the huge crusader castle at Kerak (bring a torch as the tunnels and halls are great fun for children to explore). We finish the day at our hotel close to the world famous site of Petra.
OVERNIGHT:
Petra hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast
EXTRAS:
None
The main highlight of the tour happens today, as we tour the fascinating hidden Nabatean city of Petra. This is a great place for children as the scenery is dramatic, the history of its rediscovery fascinating, and its numerous paths and steps great fun to explore. We include a 2-3 hour guided tour, lunch, and plenty of free time to walk up to the High Place of Sacrifice and the Monastery if you wish and your children are feeling energetic.
OVERNIGHT:
Petra hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast, Lunch
EXTRAS:
None
We head back into the desert today and travel by 4x4 jeep through the spectacular high cliffs and sands of Wadi Rum. After arriving at a Bedouin camp located beneath the cliffs right inside the desert reserve camp we'll check in and have lunch before taking an afternoon jeep safari through the desert to see the cliffs, dunes and some fun and strange rock formations. In the evening we'll enjoy a fun camel ride at sunset before sharing a traditional Bedouin meal with our hosts. We then spend the night sleeping at the camp. Comfortable beds and bedding are provided but you may also choose to sleep outside under the stars if you prefer (bring a sleeping bag).
OVERNIGHT:
Wadi Rum Bedouin camp
MEALS:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
EXTRAS:
None
The pace of the tour slows down today as we make the short drive after breakfast to Aqaba and we have the rest of the day free to relax on the beach or by the pool at a beach resort. An option is available for a boat trip into the Red Sea to try some snorkelling around one of the nearby islands. Glass bottomed boat rides are also available.
OVERNIGHT:
Aqaba resort
MEALS:
Breakfast
EXTRAS:
Snorkelling in the Red Sea
After time for a final quick morning swim, we head north again today, and drive up the Jordan Valley back towards Amman. After passing some extensive salt flats at the southern end of the Dead Sea we follow the coastline north with Israel visible on the far shore to the west and beautiful mountain scenery and canyons rising straight up from the road to the east. En-route we will stop for a swim in the strange, incredibly salty waters of the Dead Sea. stop along the way to enjoy a 'swim', though the intensely salty waters lead to a very strange swimming experience. In fact, normal swimming is not possible, and it is easier (and more photogenic!) just to float, sitting or lying in the water. Be careful not to get any water in your eyes, as it will sting. Towels and showers are available, and a fun mud bath can also be taken here. The evening is free for a last farewell meal in Amman.
OVERNIGHT:
Amman hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast
EXTRAS:
None
The tour ends in Amman today, and your time is free until we transfer you to the airport for your flight home. Extension options are available to add more time in Jordan, or to head into Israel to visit Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
OVERNIGHT:
N/A
MEALS:
Breakfast
EXTRAS:
Extra day in Amman - post-tour - Standard level
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Hotel Gala Dinners
Most of Jordan's higher level hotels and Beoduin camps arrange a very special gala dinner with entertainment in the evening on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Payment for these is often optional on Christmas Eve (24 Dec) but normally compulsory for all guests of the hotel on New Year's Eve (31 Dec), whether you attend or not. Prices can range from around US$50 to over US$150 per person. Final decisions on prices and whether dinners are compulsory are made relatively close to the time. We aim to always select hotels that make their Gala Dinners optional, though this is is not always possible. Gala dinner prices are therefore not included in our prices above, but will be added to your booking if they become required. Please budget accordingly. More information is available on request.
If you are looking for a tour and not finding what you are looking for, have a look at our best other related tours to check out for your travel plans. At Encounters Travel, we offer a variety of tours to suit your needs. So sit back, relax, and let us help you plan the perfect getaway.
If you would like to do this tour privately just for your family or together with some other families you like to travel with, we can certainly arrange this for you. Please contact us for details and prices.
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The hotels and accommodations listed below are the ones we most often use on this tour. From time to time we may exchange these for similar properties at the same level. In general, specific hotels cannot be guaranteed on our group tours, but you may select your preferred options if you are booking a tailor-made trip.
Our tours are designed to include all that you need to enjoy a really special time in the destination you're visiting. However, we do also offer some extra options to complement the tour and add some additional sightseeing or activities, or some extra time at either end of the tour.
All accommodation based options (e.g. Single supplements, extra nights, cruise upgrades) should be booked and paid for in advance so that we can make the appropriate arrangements. Other options may either be booked and paid for in advance or while you are on the tour, though we recommend booking in advance to ensure there are no issues with availability.
Many options are priced the same throughout the year, but some may incur single or high season supplements - full details are given on the tour reservation form or on request.
The detailed Tour Notes below have been written to give you some more detailed information about how the tour runs, what to expect, and how to prepare for your holiday. We recommend downloading an up to date copy of these shortly before you travel in case of any changes.
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