Jordan: Kingdoms of the Desert

JORDAN

March 29 – April 8, 2021 from £3285 per person | with Andrew Wilson

Petra

• Delve into the rich layers of Jordan’s history, from the grand colonnades of

Rome to the castles of the crusaders • Marvel at the awe-inspiring stronghold of Petra, carved from rock by the Nabataeans more than 2000 years ago • Journey through the desert landscape of western Arabia, discovering the prehistoric rock engravings of Wadi

Rum

From the remains of the Stone Age to the magnifcence of the Ottomans, Jordan has long felt the tide of history. Today, the country is home to a spectacular array of archaeological sites ofering tantalizing glimpses into some of the world’s most iconic cultures: Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, Parthia, the Byzantines, the Umayyads, Abbasids, Crusaders and Ayyubids have all left their mark.

We begin our journey on the seven hills of Amman with the biblical city of Madaba, the centre of a Byzantine mosaic school in the 6th century, and home to the famous foor map of the Holy Land and Jerusalem. Meanwhile, at nearby Mount Nebo, site of the mosaic museum and Sanctuary of Moses, we will

26 Tour Director AndrewWilson, BA, BD, FSAScot, studied archaeology then theology before working overseas as an archaeologist. He has led many tours for ACE in the Greco-Roman world, and also several in Britain, with a particular emphasis on the archaeology of his native Scotland. Andrew is a member of the Society for Libyan Studies and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and the Society for Promotion of Byzantine Studies. He has led several ACE tours to Jordan and is thrilled to be returning with a group in 2021.

enjoy unrivalled panoramas of the Dead Sea and the River Jordan.

Te superb Hellenistic and Roman city of Jerash was created at the end of the 4th century BC by the Greco-Roman confederation as one of the 10 cities of the Decapolis. Built to integrate Hellenic and local populations, it is one of Rome’s grandest imperial outposts and boasts a colonnaded oval forum, magnifcent theatres, colonnaded Roman streets and the beautifully restored Precinct of Artemis. Petra, the imposing stronghold carved out of rock by the Nabataeans more than 2000 years ago, is a true marvel. On our visit to the rose-red city we will journey through the towering Siq ravine and admire the stunning vista of soaring temples, dramatic halls and lofty altars hand-chiselled into the sandstone clifs. Highlights include Al Khazneh (the Treasury), the rock-cut theatre, the Great Temple and the Nabataean temple of Qasr al-Bint. Petra’s northern suburb of Siq al-Barid, often referred to as ‘Little Petra’, holds a further gathering of wellpreserved Nabataean tombs, and nearby the prehistoric site of Al-Beidha holds great signifcance for understanding the beginnings of the Neolithic period in Western Asia and the birth of European civilization.

Our journey south takes us into the Valley of the Moon (Wadi Rum Protected Area), a remarkable example of desert scenery, and part of the Hizma basin of western Arabia. Here we will take a ‘safari’ through the magnifcent desert landscapes to see the wealth of prehistoric rock engravings and the 1st century Nabataean temple in Wadi Rum village.

Dotted throughout the steppe-like terrain of eastern Jordan is a string of fortifed palaces, towers and caravanserais. Tese desert castles, eloquent examples of early Islamic art and architecture, include Qasr Amra, its interior adorned with lively frescoes and colourful mosaics, and the oasis and fortress of Azraq, where Lawrence of Arabia quartered during the Great Arab Revolt. We will also visit Kerak, home to the famous Crusader castle used as a stronghold by Reynald de Châtillon.

Our visits will be supplemented by informative talks from Tour Director Andrew Wilson throughout. In Amman we will stay at the Amman Marriott Hotel, before transferring to the Mövenpick Resort at the very entrance to Petra. On the shores of the Dead Sea we will stay at the Dead Sea Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa.

OUR VISIT TO PETRA: We have the opportunity to spend a whole day in Petra, with an optional return the following day, to maximise our visit to this splendid site. Andrew Wilson explains: “On the morning of the frst day we will take a 15 minute walk to the entrance to the Siq, down a gentle gradient on a reasonable path (horses are available). This is followed by a stroll through incredible surroundings, down through the Siq to the Treasury on a beaten earth path. We then make our way through the heart of the ancient city, with some steep ascents and descents over rough ground and rocky, broken paths, fnishing at our lunch stop. In the afternoon there is an optional climb to the monastery, which can take an hour uphill over some tricky and slippery steps in places. The return journey on foot to the hotel from the monastery can take up to two hours, or from the lunch stop 90 minutes. On our second day in Petra we offer an optional ascent to the High Place of Sacrifce, starting from a point halfway between the Treasury and the lunch stop from the previous day. This climb is shorter but steeper than the monastery and takes over 30 minutes, including a precipitous fnal stage.” JORDAN

Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confrmation nearer the time.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: Please note that some of the walks in Petra take in long, steep and demanding gradients, and a good level of ftness is required for this tour. We recommend participants read the ‘Our Visit to Petra’ information box for further details.

Day 1 Depart on fight from London to Amman. Day 2 Transfer to Amman Marriott Hotel for three nights. Whole day excursion to Madaba for Church of St George (6th century mosaic foor map of the Holy Land and Jerusalem) and Mount Nebo for mosaic museum, Sanctuary of Moses and decorated early churches. Day 3 Whole day excursion to the Hellenistic and Roman city of Jerash in northern Jordan: early Byzantine remains, oval forum, theatres, colonnaded Roman streets and restored Precinct of Artemis. Day 4 Transfer to Petra via Dhiban (where the famous Mesha Stele was found), Wadi Mujib and the crusader town of Kerak. Four nights at Mövenpick Resort, Petra. Day 5 Visits in Petra: rock-cut tombs, Al Khazneh (the Treasury), ancient Roman remains, theatre, colonnaded street, the Great Temple and the Nabataean temple of the Qasr al-Bint. Optional walk to Al Deir (rock-cut monastery with preserved tombs). Day 6 Morning: Siq al-Barid (‘Little Petra’) for well-preserved Nabataean tombs and archaeological site of Al-Beidha (Neolithic ruins dating back 9000 years). Afternoon: optional return visit to Petra for ascent to the High Place of Sacrifce. The Madaba Map

Day 7 Whole day excursion to southern Jordan into the Wadi Rum Protected Area (safari drive in 4x4s to see the prehistoric rock engravings and magnifcent desert landscapes) and Nabataean temple. Day 8 Transfer to the edge of the Dead Sea for visit to Bethany (traditional baptismal site of Jesus). Overnight at Dead Sea Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa. Day 9 Return to Amman by road for two nights at Amman Marriott Hotel. Afternoon: Jordan Archaeological Museum, Roman Theatre and Citadel. Day 10 Whole day excursion to the Umayyad Desert Castles of Qasr al-Kharana (8th century inscriptions), Qasr al-Hallabat (2nd century mosaics) and Azraq (oasis and headquarters of Lawrence of Arabia). Continue to Umayyad hunting lodge of Qasr Amra (remarkable frescoes). Day 11 Flight from Amman to London.

“…excellent value for money.Well planned, led and informative” “Very good tour leader,Andrew Wilson, with an encyclopedic knowledge of the area” – ACE customers on 2019 Jordan tour with Andrew Wilson

Cost of £3285 includes: return airfare, group visa, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, breakfast, nine lunches, dinner with water, excursions & admissions, gratuities. Not included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £800. TOUR CODE: JORD21

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