Solo-ish Jordan

Please ensure your flight lands by to 3pm and enjoy an included arrival transfer to the start hotel in Amman. After a brief welcome meeting in the evening, the group will drive to the Roman Amphitheatre and walk to the Fruit Market and Souq Al Bukhari for an immersive introduction to the tastes, sounds, and smells of one of the oldest markets in all of the city. The owners of these shops have been inheriting their businesses here for generations. Visit a nearby restaurant for some regional snacks like, fresh breads, falafel, hummus, and various animal livers before capping off the night with drinks at a rooftop overlooking Amman as night falls like blanket over the city. ...more ...less

TRANSPORT: You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.

ACTIVITY: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

ACTIVITY: Food is a universal language, and there's no better way to get to know a new friend, or a new community, than by breaking bread together and digging in to a delicious meal. Join your fellow Solo-ish travellers on an Amman market walk and food sampling of some of Jordan's best regional cuisine.

Tonight's walk departs from the outside of the Roman Amphitheatre and runs through the Fruit Market and Souk Al Bukhari. Your CEO will share stories and facts about Amman and the group will visit a local restaurant within the market that is known for serving specialty local snacks like chicken liver, hummus, mutabbal, fresh breads, and olives. Leave room for dessert because the final stop of the food walk is at the city's most famous dessert place to try some of their irresistible sweet treats. Then, your CEO will bring you to a rooftop overlooking Amman to share a drink with new friends and toast to the adventure ahead.

See what truly makes this area of Jordan unique and gain full immersion into the ruins and important historical sites surrounding Amman. Travel north to explore the ancient orchards that were part of the fertile crescent region, and the remarkably well-preserved Roman archaeological site of Jerash. Spend three hours being guided around a place with incredible tales of Roman invaders and Christian churches during the rise of Islam and Crusader attacks. Traverse its meticulously paved and colonnaded streets, observe the grand hilltop temples, elegant theatres, expansive public squares, and well-maintained baths and fountains. Then, sit down for lunch at a G Adventures-supported café entirely run and managed by local women seeking financial independence. Enjoy a traditional Jordanian meal before arriving at Aljoun Castle for a short walk through the valley of olive groves towards Mar Elias Church. Arrive back in Amman for a free evening.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle. There will be a stop along the way to visit the well-preserved Roman ruins of Jerash followed by a cooking class and traditional lunch at a G Adventures-supported community project.

ACTIVITY: With your incredible CEO at the helm, get to know the local community and your Solo-ish travel mates on a day packed full of interesting and engaging adventures. Begin by taking a step back in time on a visit to Jerash, one of the most well-preserved Roman sites outside of Italy. Traverse its meticulously paved and colonnaded streets, and observe the grand hilltop temples, elegant theatres, expansive public squares and plazas – all in exceptional condition.

There will be a lunch stop along the way to the Aljoun Castle walk. Learn about the historical significance of the castle and take in the views from the hilltop grounds before starting the walk on a direct path to Mar Elias Church. Pass through some of the area's beautiful natural landscape, featuring fig and pear orchards, oak and oriental strawberry trees, and the stone walls of the valley. The hike will conclude at the hilltop ruins of Mar Elias Church, where you can explore the ancient ruins while enjoying the panoramic views.

Total distance: 3.5km
Duration of hike: 1hr 45min Elevation: 800-950m above sea level
Terrain: Rocky, soil, asphalt street
Level of difficulty: Easy to moderate

ACTIVITY: Part of the G Adventures for Good program, Beit Khayrat Souf is a women-run cafe with the purpose of training and employing women to gain their own financial independence. Women manage the cafe and lead cooking classes on site. Enjoy one such cooking class during today's visit and learn how to make a traditional Jordanian meal before gathering together to eat a lunch of your efforts; an ideal way to connect with the local community .

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Prepare to experience what G does best and enjoy a true taste of Amman. And what better way to fully understand a city and its people than through food? Begin the morning at the Citadel for a guided tour of this archaeological site best known for the Roman Temple of Hercules as well as an outside visit to the Roman Amphitheatre. Hear stories of Jordan’s past before stepping into the present while walking through the gold, spices, and vegetable markets, passing countless stalls of freshly prepared regional dishes and ingredients. Right as the hunger is about to set in, the group will sit down at a nearby charming restaurant specializing in authentic Jordanian cuisine and soak in the warm, welcoming atmosphere full of traditional flavours and local hospitality. Try dishes like, mansaf, makloubeh, and maqluba. Be on the lookout for your surprise moment with a special G twist as the day starts to wind down.

ACTIVITY: With your Solo-ish travel mates and CEO, explore some of the world's coolest activities alongside new friends. It's not just an epic day of fun, its chock full of incredible experiences and a surprise G element along the way to take your day to an 11. The first stop on today's journey is the Citadel, an archaeological site best known for the Roman Temple of Hercules and used by numerous civilizations since the Bronze Age. Gain an overview of the history of this complex within Jordan on a guided visit. Then, head to the Roman Amphitheatre to see it from the outside before a walk through the downtown markets in Amman. Lunch today is a special treat in a charming restaurant that specializes in serving Jordanian cuisine and offer a menu rich in classic dishes such as mansaf, makloubeh, and maqluba. Indulge in time-honoured recipes made from locally-sourced ingredients in a welcoming and authentic atmosphere.

FREE TIME: EVENING Enjoy time to yourself on a free evening in Amman. Find a fun local spot to have dinner or curl up with a good book at the hotel for some rest and relaxation.

Travel to Mt. Nebo’s ridge line for spectacular views over the historic site that is believed by many to be the location of Moses’ death. The views of the surrounding countryside are stunning and on a clear day you can see Israel in the distance. From here it’s time to visit St. George Church to see some of the finest Byzantine mosaics in the world, including the sixth-century mosaic map of the Middle East. There will be free time for lunch on your own before transferring to Wadi Musa, the town just outside of iconic Petra's location. The group will arrive in the late afternoon and can choose to spend the evening together or on their own. Sometimes, after a day of immersion it’s nice to take a walk outside by yourself around the town’s streets, amid the dry heat of the desert.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle. There will be stops along the way, which have been taken into consideration when calculating the total duration of this drive.

ACTIVITY: Visit Mount Nebo, a historic site believed by many to be the location of Moses' death and has thus been a centre for pilgrimage since the earliest Christian times. Reach to the summit (817m or 2,680 ft), and be rewarded with views of the stunning surrounding countryside and Israel in the distance.

ACTIVITY: Explore Madaba’s long history on this guided tour, including its role as the centre of early Christianity. See some of the finest Byzantine mosaics in the world, including the famous sixth-century mosaic map of the Middle East. Tour churches, the Archaeological Park, and the local museum that's housed in several old Madaba residences.

FREE TIME: EVENING There will be a free evening in the desert for you to enjoy the town and your surroundings with the group or on your own.

Begin your day early with a morning visit to iconic Petra. Head into this 2000-year-old site carved out of the rocky Jordanian desert by the Nabateans and hidden completely until 200 years ago. Pass by the famed Al-Khazneh, known as the treasury of Petra, and gain a comprehensive understanding of this awe-inspiring place as you walk through the area with your guide. Located along trade routes that traversed Egypt, Arabia, and the Mediterranean Sea, Petra was once a hub for the transferring of goods across boundaries and cultures. Visit monuments that include the Pharaoh's Castle, the triumphal arch, the amphitheater, and the monastery before proceeding back to Wadi Musa for a free afternoon and evening at your leisure. Who says solo-ish travel can’t have the best of both worlds?

ACTIVITY: Journey to Petra to explore this UNESCO World Heritage site. Wind your way through the Siq, a narrow, 1km-long (.6 mi) gorge flanked by soaring 80m-high (262 ft) sandstone walls. Take in the astounding colours and patterns of the rock, and, at the end of this passage, catch your first glimpse of Al-Khazneh, the famed treasury of Petra.

Explore in depth with your CEO and get a brief history of the city, one of the greatest attractions in the Middle East. The Nabateans carved this capital from the living rock of the surrounding mountains in Petra. Visit monuments that include the Pharaoh's Castle, the triumphal arch, the amphitheatre, and the monastery.

FREE TIME: Take advantage of some free time in Wadi Musa for optional activities. Choose to visit a Turkish Bath for a relaxing experience, or book a visit back to Petra at night for an entirely different perspective.

Another day, another chance for unforgettable adventures! Travel to the breathtaking Wadi Rum, also known as ‘Valley of the Moon’ in the protected desert wilderness of southern Jordan. Witness some of the most dramatic scenery in the entire country and see if you can recognize various viewpoints from old films like, ‘Lawrence of Arabia’. Stop at the main camp for some refreshments and to escape the scorching sun before a 2-hour 4x4 journey through the undulating sand dunes to a remote, private camp. Stop along the way to explore this unique environment and scramble up rocks or dunes. Upon arrival, spend some time getting settled before experiencing a traditional Zarb dinner at camp, in which the meat and vegetables are cooked in an underground oven. Cap off the adventures with a night walk under a vast sky of stars.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Journey into the stunning, colourful desert on this 4x4 excursion. Make stops along the way to get out and explore, learn about the region or scramble up rocks or sand dunes. Reach the Bedouin camp for nightfall to learn about a new culture and eat traditional food beneath the starry skies.

ACTIVITY: Enjoy a traditional Zarb dinner at the camp tonight. Dinner will be prepared in a traditional fashion, with the meat and vegetables cooked in an underground oven.

*Lanterns light the way but we do suggest bringing a flashlight.

ACTIVITY: Walk out into the desert from Wadi Rum and search for stars as the sun goes down and full darkness reveals just how many were there all along.

Awake to the desert hum of life as the sun begins to rise over your remote camp amid the dunes. Journey back to the main camp and onwards to Aqaba, Jordan’s only coastal city, and prepare to enjoy the rich marine life of the warm waters in the Red Sea. A free afternoon along shores sparkling in the mid-day sun is perfect to take some time for yourself. Choose to relax on the beach, maybe read a good book while lounging in the sand, or perhaps choose to go snorkelling. There’s also places in town like the Ayla Oasis or the Aqaba Local Market you can choose visit with your CEO where you can learn more about the history and culture of Jordan’s only seaport.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Traveling solo alongside your new Solo-ish travel mates means there's always something fun to do and new friends to explore with. But the joy of travel can also be about taking time to yourself to recharge, refresh and reflect on the journey. Today, choose to join your CEO for a local activity, or take the time to yourself to enjoy your own company in one of the most incredible places on our planet.

Today trade in one sea for another, albeit a much saltier one and transfer from Aqaba to the Dead Sea known for its high salinity. Arrive around lunch time and find a local spot on your own to grab a bite before a free afternoon in the area. Choose to bob like a cork in the healing water, or opt to cover yourself in therapeutic mud along the shore that is believed to have medicinal benefits. (Don’t worry there are showers nearby to wash off afterwards). In the evening, come together with the group for a final dinner as the sun sets on your solo-ish Jordan adventure.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Discover the legendary healing qualities of the Dead Sea, famous for its unique mineral makeup and salinity. Spot salt chunks drifting by like icebergs on the water’s surface. Take a dip yourself and float like a buoy or cover yourself in the mud along the shore, believed to have medicinal and therapeutic benefits. There are showers nearby to wash off after.

FREE TIME: AFTERNOON The afternoon is yours to enjoy the wonderful atmosphere of the Dead Sea.

You arrived a solo traveller and are leaving with many new friends. Say goodbye to your fellow Solo-ish travellers and depart at any time.

Please note that while this itinerary ends at the finishing point hotel in the Dead Sea, there are taxis/shuttle services available to book back to Amman. Please contact one of our GCOs for more details.

ACTIVITY: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.