Petra 2-day guided tour from Jerusalem
Leaving Jerusalem in the morning, you'll be driven up the Israeli side of the Jordan Valley, with its stunning scenery, and will cross over the border at the Jordan River Border Crossing in the north. You'll proceed to spot the 900-year old castle of Ajloun, which held off Crusader attacks and was ‘rediscovered’ along with Petra. Passing by incredible views of northern Jordan, you'll arrive at the ancient city of Jerash, an incredibly preserved Roman city with colonnaded streets, mosaics, baths, theaters, temples, and hippodrome - an awesome blend of Eastern and Western architectural traditions.
Your following stop will be the capital city of Amman. You'll see both the modern downtown of the city and the old Citadel above the city, which includes the Temple of Hercules and historic palaces. You will have lunch in a local restaurant, and try out some sweet kanafeh for dessert. The tour will then continue south towards the desert, taking you to the Bedouin camp where you'll stay for the night. The Bedouins, nomadic inhabitants of the desert, have lived in the region for thousands of years, and will share their tasty meals and comfortable tents with you.
The second day is devoted to Petra. Petra, one of the seven wonders of the world, and poetically described as “a rose-red city half the age of time”, is an incredible experience for any traveler. Carved into the red rocks of the desert cliffs thousands of years ago by the ancient Nabatean people, Petra was hidden under sand for centuries before recently becoming accessible again. You will tour through the Visitor Centre, Siq, Treasury and Amphitheater with your guide who will explain the sites and history along the way.
After this, there will be some free time for you to continue the visit individually according to your interests: climb to the Royal Tombs; walk the Roman Cardo; hike up to the Monastery, and explore the various other sites. You'll then meet the group again for a late lunch in Wadi Musa before heading back to Jerusalem via the Allenby border crossing.
