Roman Jordan
July 7-18, 2012
 Directors:
Phillip V Stanley, Professor Emeritus
George Perko

Jordan is a bridge between sea and desert and East and West and is a land of mesmerizing beauty and contrast: from the mountains around Amman to the Dead Sea below sea level. Our tour begins in Amman. From the capital we travel north to the Roman city of Jerash, one of the best preserved Greco-Roman cities with its theaters, temples, churches and colonnaded streets. We journey down to the Dead Sea, visiting Mt. Nebo, where Moses saw the Promised Land before dying and we visit sites built by Herod. From here we go to Petra, entering through the narrow pass to gradually see unfold the mysteries of the Rose Red City with its spectacular treasuries, royal tombs, burial chambers, and high places of sacrifice. Afterward we journey south to visit the Wadi Rum Desert and explore its moon-like landscape. This is where Lawrence of Arabia stayed and where the movie was filmed. From the desert we travel to Aqaba on the Red Sea. This will be a memorable journey through one of Rome's wealthy eastern provinces. For a sneak preview of our tour and the sites to which we will travel visit the virtual reality web site

Itinerary

Day 1 (Saturday, 07/07/2012), Arrival Amman
Upon arrival, a member of our staff will meet you at Queen Alia International Airport for assistance with customs and immigration procedures. Transfer to hotel in Amman.
Welcome dinner. Overnight.(D)


Roman Theater Amman

Day 2 (Sunday, 08/07/2012), Amman/Pella/ Um Qais/ Ajlun/ Amman
Breakfast. Depart Amman to visit Pella. Proceed to Um Qais, a city rich with basalt ruins and overlooking the Jordan Valley, Golan Heights and Lake Tiberius (the Sea of Galilee). Lunch at the Um Qais Rest house Continue to visit the village of Ajlun with its fortress and magnificent view into the Jordan Valley. return to Amman.
Overnight at the hotel. (B,L)


Citadel Amman

Day 3 (Monday, 09/07/2012), Amman/ Jerash/ Amman
Breakfast. Depart Amman to visit Jerash, one of the most preserved Graeco-Roman cities in the Middle East. Return to Amman.
Overnight at the hotel. (B)

   
Jerash

Day 4 (Tuesday, 10/07/2012), Amman city tour/Iraq Al Amir/ Salt/ Amman
Breakfast. Transfer to visit the Amman Amphitheatre, the Umayyad Palace and the Citadel. Free time for walking/shopping in the downtown of the city. Continue to visit Iraq Al Amir. Transfer to visit Salt. Transfer back to Amman.
Overnight at the hotel. (B)

Day 5 (Wednesday, 11/07/2012), Amman/ Desert Castles/ Amman
Breakfast. Transfer to the Desert Castles. Visit Qasr Amra, Al Azraq and Al Kharaneh. Lunch at The Azraq Palace and return to Amman.
Overnight at the hotel. (B, L)

Day 6 (Thursday, 12/07/2012), Amman/Umayria/ Sepphoris Hesbon./Madaba/ Mount Nebo/ Dead Sea
Breakfast. Morning departure to visit Umayria and Sepphoris. Continue to the Christian town of Madaba, "The City of Mosaics" and take a detour to Mount Nebo, the site of the endearing monastery. Depart to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the surface of the earth for a swim in its warm salty waters. Free time at leisure.
Overnight at the hotel.(B)


The Dead Sea

Day 7 (Friday, 13/07/2012), Dead Sea/Baptism Site/Dead Sea
Breakfast. Free morning at leisure. Transfer to visit the Baptism site, where John lived and baptized. Return to the Dead Sea.
Overnight at the hotel. (B)

Day 8 (Saturday, 14/07/2012), Dead Sea /Mkawer /Um Al Rassas/Wadi Mujib / Kerak / Petra
Breakfast. Morning departure south through the king's way, an ancient route that still has marks left from traders, armies and pilgrims who crossed it centuries ago. Transfer to visit Mkawer. Um Al Rassas. Proceed to Kerak through Wadi Mujib, a deep valley holding one of Jordan's most breathtaking views. Visit the Kerak castle with its diverse history dated from the Byzantine to the Mamluk period. Continue to Petra.
Overnight at the hotel. (B)


Treasury at Petra

Day 9 (Sunday, 15/07/2012), Petra
Breakfast. The visit of the ancient Nabatean Capital starts on horseback, followed by a walk through the Siq, a long narrow fissure between two overhanging cliffs. The tour then proceeds to gradually unfold the mysteries of the Red Rose City.
Return to the hotel for overnight.(B)


The Great Temple at Petra

Day 10 (Monday, 16/07/2012), Petra/ Beida/ Wadi Rum/ Aqaba
After breakfast proceed to Beida, also known as little Petra and the place where the Nabateans used to entertain their guests. Continue south to the enchanting desert of Wadi Rum, Jordan's largest desert and one of the most spectacular desert landscapes in the world. Jeep Tour inside the Wadi. (Bedouin Lunch in the desert) Watch the most beautiful view while drinking a cup of traditional Bedouin tea and transfer to the Gulf city of Aqaba.
Overnight at the hotel. (B, L)

 
Tea in the Dessert

Day 11 (Tuesday, 17/07/2012), Aqaba/ Amman
Breakfast. Free day at leisure in Aqaba. Afternoon transfer back to Amman.
Overnight at the hotel. (B)


Sunset at Aqaba

Day 12 (Wednesday, 18/07/2012), Departure
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. Assistance with formalities and departure. (B)

Price: Per person sharing a double room US $2,325
Single supplement US $582.00

Optional Programs

In Jerash you can attend the Roman army and chariots experience (RACE), where you will sit where the Romans sat, see what the Romans saw at the newly restored hippodrome, with its original stone seating. The setting provides an ideal arena for a thrilling spectacle of Gladiators and Charioteers re-enacting how they appeared some twenty centuries ago during a one hour live performance featuring Roman Army warfare tactics with a company of legionaries in action, Authentic seven lap Roman chariot races and Realistic gladiator fights.
Tickets are US$ 17.00 per person.

While you are in Petra you can enjoy the magic of Petra by night. The program includes a candle lit visit to the Rose-Red City of Petra. The special aura of the ancient Nabatean trading empire comes to life as you enjoy a stroll through the mysterious Siq of Petra. At The Treasury, music and stories will help you experience Petra as the travel-weary traders of old must have known it. The excursion departs from Petra Visitors Center every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evening at 20:30, returning to the Visitors Center around 22:30.
Tickets are US$ 17.00 per person, children under 12 years are free of charge. You can buy your ticket at your hotel reception desk.

Graduate Course Credit & Continuing Education Units are available for all tours.

Scholarship application

Scholarships available from other sources.

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