Signature: Jordan's Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea - 8 Days

Welcome to Jordan. Your expedition begins as you touch down in Amman, a city of white stone hills and ancient echoes. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your elegant hotel to settle in. In the evening, gather with your National Geographic Expedition Leader and fellow travellers. A National Geographic Expedition Expert presentation sets the historical stage for your exploration of the Nabataean and Roman empires, followed by a welcome dinner to mark the start of your journey.

Step back in time at Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world. Walk the colonnaded streets and stand in the vast oval plaza, imagining the roar of the crowds. For lunch, visit Beit Khayrat Souf, a the tour operator-supported cafe run by local women. Join a cooking class and share a traditional meal, supporting their financial independence. As the sun dips, ascend to the Amman Citadel for a private, after-hours visit while the city lights flicker on below. Enjoy the cool evening air and tour the Jordan Archaeological Museum after hours, where your expert illuminates the artifacts of Jordan’s storied past.

Rise early for an exclusive visit to the Royal Stables of the King of Jordan. Meet the trainer and witness the grace of the King’s Arabian horses, learning about the lineage of this magnificent breed over tea in the gardens. Travel to the the tour operator-supported, women-owned and managed social enterprise of Beit Al Jameed to meet the women making jameed (dried yogurt), and learn to craft a delicious local dessert. Explore the massive Crusader fortress of Karak before arriving in Petra. The evening culminates with Petra by Night. Walk the Siq in silence, guided by the light of 1,500 candles, until the Treasury emerges from the darkness to the sound of Bedouin flutes.

Dedicate the day to the rose-red city of Petra. Walk the narrow Siq until the sun hits the Treasury facade — a cinematic reveal of Nabataean artistry. Your expert provides deep context before you explore the royal tombs and temples carved into the rock cliffs. Enjoy lunch at The Basin Restaurant inside the site. In the evening, travel to nearby Little Petra for an intimate dinner served inside a centuries-old carved cave. Surrounded by history and candlelight, connect with the spirit of the ancient inhabitants who once called these canyons home.

Continue into the vast, silent sands of Wadi Rum, where sandstone mountains rise like cathedrals from the desert floor. Board 4x4 Land Cruisers to navigate the dunes, stopping for tea in the shadow of the rocks. As the heat fades, gather for a sunset dinner in the desert, enjoying authentic Bedouin music. As night falls, join expert astronomers for a deeper look into the night sky. Through powerful telescopes, explore the constellations and learn how the Bedouin used the stars to navigate this wilderness — a perspective that connects you to the cosmos and the history of desert travel.

Leave the desert for the lowest point on Earth. Stop at Safi Kitchen, a the tour operator-supported project helping local women gain financial independence. Enjoy lunch and try your hand at natural dyeing, connecting with the community. Witness the surreal landscapes of the Pink Lake and the blinding white formations of the Salt Beach before arriving at your Dead Sea resort. Settle in with a sunset cocktail, listening as your expert explains the unique geology of this salt-rich sea while the sun disappears behind the mountains of the West Bank.

Explore the spiritual history of the region, visiting Bethany Beyond the Jordan, believed to be the site of Jesus’ baptism. Ascend Mount Nebo to stand where Moses viewed the Promised Land, taking in panoramic views of the Jordan Valley. Return to your hotel for an afternoon of rejuvenation. Cover yourself in therapeutic mud or float weightlessly in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea. Conclude your expedition with a farewell dinner at an elegant restaurant, celebrating the diversity of history and nature you have experienced.

Your expedition to Jordan concludes today. After breakfast, individual transfers are provided to the airport at any time during the day.