0 Nights / 1 Days
3rd Jun to
3rd Jun, 2023
A Middle Eastern Sojourn – Jordan
Jordan has got to be the most underrated and undersold tourist destinations in this country.
Why the discerning Indian traveler does not fling herself headlong into this beautiful, charming, and historic land, even as hordes of her countrymen make a nuisance of themselves in Bangkok, Singapore, and Switzerland, has got to be one of the mysteries of the outbound tourism industry.
Jordan is the kind of country where, if you go with few expectations and an open mind, you are sure to come back delighted and enriched. I didn’t really know what to expect and didn’t have an open mind (having been a bit suspicious of the rave reviews I had read before going) – but Jordan has surely been one of the most stirring experiences of my life.
Jordan is where Arabia meets the Levant and can be considered a melting pot of Middle Eastern culture. Its history predates the Bible, its architectural relics are as old as Rome and Damascus, and its landscape is simply stunning; moving from the lowest point on Earth – the Dead Sea, to desert, and thence to mountains whose colors are reminiscent of Ladakh, all in the course of a two-hour drive.
And to top it all, there is Petra.
But first our itinerary begins in the charming and laid back city of Amman, capital of Jordan. A highly underrated city because it compares well with the stars of the region such as Jerusalem, Beirut (er…before the civil war), Damascus (er…ditto) .
It’s the kind of place which makes you want to stroll the streets and the bazaars, stopping every now and then for coffee, sheesha, or delicious kebabs.
Next is Jerash, one of the best preserved Roman Cities in the Eastern Mediterranean, conquered for Rome by Julius Ceaser’s nemesis Pompey the Great.
Then a night in a true Arabian Desert – Wadi Rum.
And two days at the magical and ancient Nabatean city of Petra with its legendary approach (immortalized in countless films) through a high walled Wadi that twists and turns before reluctantly revealing the exquisite entrance to the city chiseled out of pink-hued cliffs – definitely a wonder of the world!
And finally to the Dead Sea, where the salt-laden waters ensure that even the most nervous non-swimmer will float!
The hotels that we stay at have been carefully selected to ensure that we are centrally located as well as in charming environs and most importantly – without spending a bomb.
We have been to Jordan a few times in the past – and this is a new and improved itinerary.
COST
₹98,000 on a twin sharing basis (exclusive of GST – 5% at the moment)
Single supplement – ₹25,000
