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Lawrence's Jordan

Jordan Holidays - Azraq Castle

Click on the name of the accommodation for details

8 days from £1029

excluding international flights

JORDAN HOLIDAYS FACTFILE

'HERO: The life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia' by Michael Korda (2010)

DAY 1 – Arrival in Amman.

On arrival at Amman's Queen Alia Airport you will be met outside customs by a representative of World Discovery and taken by private car direct to your hotel. Recommended flight from London: Royal Jordanian Airlines from London Heathrow (see below).  If you are travelling from a country other than the UK we would be happy to give you guidance on your flight options.

DAY 2 – Amman, Jerash.

Your World Discovery Jordan holiday begins with a private guided visit to the breathtaking ruins of Jerash.  Return to Amman for an afternoon at leisure.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 3 - The Desert Castles.

In the morning travel into the desert east of Amman to visit the Desert Castles. After lunch in the oasis of Azraq, return to Amman in the afternoon.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch.

DAY 4 - Drive to Petra.

Today's journey takes you along the scenic King's Highway, the main north-south trade route through Transjordan since prehistoric times. First stop is at Mount Nebo. A short journey to the town of Madaba next takes you to the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George with its superb mosaic map of Palestine.  Enjoy lunch at the excellent Haret Jdoudna Restaurant in Madaba before continuing south, traversing the spectacular Wadi Mujib, often referred to as "Jordan's Grand Canyon", to reach the majestic Crusader castle of Kerak, a masterpiece of 12th century military architecture. In the late afternoon today's historic journey ends with arrival in Petra, the highlight of your Jordan holiday.  In the evening why not try your hand at cooking your very own Jordanian dinner at the Petra Kitchen?  World Discovery can arrange this for you, including private transfers, for a price of £30 per person.
Included meals: Full breakfast, lunch.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT YOUR GUIDE: On the journey from Amman to Petra you will be visiting Mount Nebo, Madaba and Kerak.  Your English-speaking driver will pay your entrance fees and can give you helpful information about the places you are visiting but he is NOT a guide.  There is the possibility of having your own private guide accompany you on this journey and also continue as your guide in Petra and Wadi Rum, but this is an expensive option as, in accordance with Jordanian Tourism regulations, you must not only pay for the guide's services but also for his or her accommodation and meals during this period.  Most passengers are happy to make the visits without a guide.  Local guides may be available for hire on the spot but they cannot be pre-booked and are sometimes of poor quality.  If you do wish to have a private guide travelling with you (days 4 to 7 inclusive), the supplement is £330 per person.  

DAY 5 - Petra.

A day to explore Petra, undoubtedly one of the world's great destinations. 
Meals included: Full breakfast.

PETRA BY NIGHT

A magical experience not to be missed is an evening visit to Petra, when the rose-coloured rocks seem to glow from within, bathed in the light of more than 2,000 candles.  World Discovery can pre-book Petra by Night for you and include the cost on your invoice.

DAY 6 – Petra.  Wadi Rum.

World Discovery will provide you with a special 2 day Petra entrance ticket so that you can return to the city (without a guide) for further exploration this morning if you wish at no extra cost. In the late afternoon you will be driven to Wadi Rum in time for sunset and for an overnight stay in a tented camp. Wadi Rum was one of Lawrence's favourite locations.  In 'The Seven Pillars of Wisdom', his classic account of the Arab Revolt, he describes his first view of the valley: "Day was still young as we rode between two great pikes of sandstone to the foot of a long, soft slope poured down from the domed hills in front of us. It was tamarisk-covered: the beginning of the Valley of Rumm, they said. We looked up on the left to a long wall of rock, sheering in like a thousand-foot wave towards the middle of the valley; whose other arc, to the right, was an opposing line of steep, red broken hills.....Deep alleys, fifty feet across, divided the crags, whose plans were smoothed by the weather into huge apses and bays, and enriched with surface fretting and fracture, like design.....our little caravan grew self-conscious,and fell dead quiet, afraid and ashamed to flaunt its smallness in the presence of the stupendous hills".
Meals included: Full breakfast, dinner.

DAY 7 – Wadi Rum.  Return to Amman.

Awake to the surreal landscape of Wadi Rum.  After breakfast enjoy a 90 minute jeep ride through the valley, before returning along the Desert Highway to Amman.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 8 - Depart for home.

Your Jordan holiday ends with a private transfer to Queen Alia Airport for your flight home.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

STAY IN AQABA

If you want to relax for a few days after your Jordan holiday, we would recommend a stay on the Gulf of Aqaba.  This could be taken between Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea, or you may wish to do this instead of staying at the Dead Sea if you do not have the time to extend the duration of your Jordan holiday.

THE INTERCONTINENTAL, AQABA

Our recommended hotel is the InterContinental Aqaba.  The hotel has its own 300m private beach, and all rooms have balconies overlooking the Red Sea.  Please ask for a quote.

THE RADISSON BLU TALA BAY

A less expensive option is the resort-style Radisson Blu at Tala Bay, 10 miles from Aqaba city centre.  With 5 pools, a private beach area and a wide choice of restaurants, it's an ideal choice for a few days of relaxation.  Quote on request.

International Flights

We recommend the direct services of Royal Jordanian Airlines from London Heathrow. Flights are daily throughout the year. Current timings (subject to possible change) are as follows:
Heathrow/Amman. Depart at 17.05; arrive Amman at 23.59
Amman/Heathrow. Depart at 12.10; arrive Heathrow at 15.45
EASYJET FROM LONDON GATWICK
EasyJet have a thrice-weekly service from London Gatwick to Amman (and v.v.).  With this itinerary this would mean departures on Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday, returning a week later (although the return flight does not reach Gatwick until after midnight). Prices on this 'no frills' airline are significantly lower than those on bmi or Royal Jordanian. Timings are:
Gatwick/Amman.  Depart at 12.50; arrive Amman at 20.00
Amman/Gatwick.  Depart at 20.45; arrive Gatwick at 00.20 (next day)
The late departure on return would give you scope to stay in Petra rather than Amman on the final night, and drive directly from Petra to the airport.

Jordan Holidays: Lawrence's Jordan (Tour Reference: WDJD007)
2012 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:

Single Room Supplements on request.

The price includes:

• Hotel accommodation as listed above in twin-bedded or double rooms (please let us know which you prefer) with private facilities. Washroom facilities are shared at the tented camp in Wadi Rum.
  
• 8 full breakfasts, 2 lunches and 1 dinner as shown in the itinerary.
• Private transportation throughout with an English-speaking driver.
• Your own private English-speaking guide for included sightseeing in Jerash and at Petra (first visit).  Please see note about the guide at the end of DAY 4.
• All sightseeing as shown (unless indicated as ‘optional’), including private guiding and entrance fees.

Not included in the price:

• International flights (see our recommendation above). We are happy to discuss the flights with you and give you further guidance.
• Optional sightseeing. The World Discovery representatives in Jordan will be pleased to organise any additional sightseeing you may wish to include during your stay.
• International airport taxes.
• Tipping. We will be pleased to give guidance in this often sensitive matter
• A Jordanian Visa. This can be obtained before departure from the Jordanian Embassy in London, or alternatively you can purchase the visa (current price JD20 or approximately £18) on arrival at Amman Airport (recommended).

A deposit of £250 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your Jordan holiday must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure date.