Iraq Al-Amir is about 30 minutes south-west of Amman (Caves of a Prince) and the ruins of Qasr al-Abd (Castle of a Slave). Most people believe that it is the built structure of the Qasr Al al-Abd that defines Iraq Al-Amir, but it is actually the man-made caves that have been honed into the rock. There are about a dozen caves in total, used today by villagers as barns and to house goats, although they were originally used as horse stables. Engraved in Aramaic is the word “Tobiad” and is thought to be the name of the family who built the castle and caves.
Jordan Museum and Royal Automobile Museum should be part of every tour of Jordan. Even if you don’t like Cars, the Royal Automobile Museum is a must for any visitor to Jordan, it explains the modern day history of Kingdom of Jordan through King Hussein’s love of cars. The Jordan Museum is brand new and houses the very best collection of antiquities in Jordan. If you haven’t got time for both, add one museum for $20 per couple.
Dinner at Hashem’s and Kunafa at Habibah. If these restaurants are good enough for the Royal Family, they should certainly be experienced by every tourist in Jordan. Hashem’s Falafel restaurant is written in the history books of Jordan and is frequented by everybody in Amman from young families to the BMW set. It’s open 24 / 7 so no excuses for not passing by for a meal. Once you’ve filled up in Hashem’s, there is only one place to go – if it’s not too late – and that’s Habibah’s for the best Kunafa dessert in the world.
Dinner with Local Family. The best food in Jordan is served at home, so instead of searching for a restaurant or eating in the hotel, why not let us organize a traditional dinner with a local family in Amman. It’s a great way to really see how people live and experience real Jordanian hospitality.
Shop like a local with our Amman Treasure Hunt. We’ll give you a list of stuff to buy, a few Jordanian Dinars to buy them with and then “let you loose” in the Souq to hunt out some of the best gifts in Jordan and some items that you are bound to use while you are in Jordan. It’s the perfect way to get under the skin of Amman and to meet local Jordanians going about their daily lives.
$20 per car Add On
Three Art Galleries in Amman “Darat Al Funoon, Dar Anda, National Art Gallery” Jordan isn’t famous for its Art but there are plenty of new galleries in Amman that are worth a visit. Browse through galleries and you might even buy some modern or traditional artwork as a holiday keep-sake.
Ajloun and Jerash Add-Ons
$20 per person Add On
Tel Mar Elias is thought to be the birthplace of Elijah and also known as Tishbe (mentioned in the Bible), the site also houses the remains of one of the largest Byzantine churches in Jordan. This site is seldom visited on a tour of Jordan, so why not include this for any clients interested in Biblical or Archaeological sites.
Soap and Calligraphy Houses with framed Arabic Art work of your name. The soap house is a wonderful visit as it shows how tourism has not only created jobs, but also developed new industries based on old techniques. Watch how the local women make luxury soap that is sold throughout Jordan and now being exported to luxury shops in Canada. You will also visit the Calligraphy house to see how fine Arabic script is taught.
Lunch with local family in Ajloun is a unique experience. Jordan is famed for its Mezze (Lebanese style) and Bedouin dishes of Mansaf and Zarb. Enjoy the best meal of your life, as you lunch with a local family – picnic style in the spring and autumn and in the colder months in their Diwan – the only public room in their house.
$20 per Car Add On
Anjara is located close to Ajloun north of Jordan within the hills of the Gilead (mentioned in the Bible). It is believed that Jesus and Mary passed through the town and sought refuge in a cave. This has been commemorated with a modern shrine to Our Lady of the Mountains. This is also one of the Five Pilgrimage sites designated by the Pope to commemorate the year Millennium. On the 10th of June, approximately 5,000 Pilgrims visit the town in commemoration of the visit of Jesus and Mary.
Desert Castles and the Eastern Desert
$20 per person
Qasr al-Hallabat Castle and Hammam Sarah are located in the eastern desert. Hallabat was originally built as a Roman fortress to protect the locals from the Bedouin. During the Umayyad period, the Roman structure was demolished and it was redeveloped into the grandest of all Umayyad structures, with a mosque, a water system including cisterns, reservoir and bathhouse. The main building was built from black basalt and limestone which is typical in that part of Jordan. The bathhouse of Hammam As-Sarah is about 2kms east of Hallabat and is considered one of the desert’s castles, which are essentially hunting lodges and desert retreats.
Um al-Jimal is a small town located in the desert of northern Jordan. The ruins of an ancient village date from Nabatean times and Abbasid period. The old village was repopulated in the early twentieth century by the Druze and then the Bedouin tribe of Msa’eid.
Shaumari scientific nature reserve was developed as a breeding center for some of the most endangered and rare wildlife species in the Middle East. In this small but perfectly formed reserve, there is a large herd of a species that was almost on the verge of extinction – the Arabian Oryx. It is also home to Onagers – a form of desert gazelle – and ostriches. This reserve really is a must see for anybody interested in wildlife and captive breeding programs.
Kings’ Highway
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Machaerus is one of the most evocative sites in Jordan with a strong Biblical history. It was the location for Herod’s Hilltop Fortress and was where John the Baptist was imprisoned and eventually was decapitated following what was probably the first every strip tease – Salome’s dance of the seven veils – and following which Herod presented John the Baptist’s head on a silver platter.
Walking tour of Madaba – known as the City of Mosaics – Madaba is the Mosaic capital of Jordan. Despite this, most tourists only visit the Church of the Map. This walking tour includes some of the most important and best preserved mosaics in Jordan including the Madaba Archaeological Park, Madaba Museum and the Apostles Church, sites very seldom visited by tourists.
$20 per car Add On
Um ar-Rasas is located south-east of Madaba, Um er-Rasas started as a Roman military camp and grew to become a town from the 5th century. With remains from the Roman, Byzantine and Early Muslim periods, it has sixteen churches. The most important is Church of St. Stephen with its large mosaic floor depicting all the regional towns. A tall square tower, probably used by an ascetic monk, who would have spent time in isolation at the top of the tower. These monks were known as Stylites.
Little Petra is located a short drive from the visitor center. Although not quite a Little Petra, its high short gorge and handful of carved facades similar to those seen in Petra explain why it has been given this name. The short drive means it is seldom visited and you have to be very unlucky to coincide with other tourists or a tourist bus and its haunted-like atmosphere is rarely disturbed.
