27th Dec. Welcome to Jordan and the start of your New Year’s holiday! Included transfer to hotel and overnight. Overnight - Amman

Amman - Jerash - Umm Qais - Amman. Driving north, we visit Jerash, one of best-preserved cities of the Decapolis, a confederation of 10 Roman cities dating from the 1st century! We’ll explore a significant number of preserved ruins including the classic Roman colonnaded street, amphitheatre, nymphaeum and forum before continuing to Umm Qais (Gadara), a dramatic black-basalt Roman city of the Decapolis with great views over the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights. Overnight - Amman (B)

Amman - Mt Nebo - Umm ar Rasas - Petra. Today, we tour the citadel, Archaeological Museum and enjoy free time in the local souq before before visiting Mt Nebo. Having led the Israelites for 40 years through the wilderness, Moses finally saw, from this awesome vantage point, the Promised Land, that God forbid him to set foot in.

Later we visit Umm ar Rasas, a haunted deserted city on the ancient caravan routes. Large mosaic floors of its dozen or more churches dating from the Byzantine and Umayyad periods have been painstakingly cleaned and protected. The mosaic floor of the Church of St Stephen dates to 785, over 150 years after Muslim rule was established in Jordan, and depicts the cities of the day including Jerusalem and the Palestinian cities of Nablus and Gaza. Overnight - Petra (B)

Petra. Today we visit Petra. Accessing the hidden archaeological treasures of the Rose City on a walk through a narrow, deep siq, where the rocks finally give way to reveal the famous facade of Al-Khazneh (the Treasury), we continue our exploration. Dozens of tombs, temples, an impressive amphitheatre and a Roman colonnaded street await our discovery. Want to learn how to cook Middle Eastern food? Consider opting for our Petra Kitchen bolt-on tonight! Overnight - Petra (B)

On 31 December, there’s a chance to return to the Rose City before our afternoon drive to wadi rum. Late this afternoon, we enjoy a 4 x 4 safari across the stunning desert landscape. At our desert camp, enjoy a special New Year’s Bedouin party with musical entertainment, a lavish New Years Eve buffet dinner, party games, fireworks and champagne toast! Overnight - Wadi Rum (B, D)

Wadi Rum - Karak - Dead Sea - Madaba. On the morning of 01 January, we explore the well preserved 12th century crusader castle of Al Karak. Taking some twenty years to build and upon completion in 1161, it became the residence of the lord of Transjordan, by then the most important fief of the Crusader kingdom, rich in produce and tax revenues. Note: Shobak crusader castle maybe visited as an alternative to Karak.

Descending some 1300 metres, straddling the border between Jordan and Israel we arrive at the lowest point on the planet's surface - the Dead Sea. Indulge an mud wrap and an afternoon of swimming and floating in the ever warm mineral-rich body of water. Later we drive to Madaba, a bustling Muslim-Christian market town and enjoy a wonderful traditional Jordanian meal!

On day 7 we tour the sites of Madaba including the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, housing the biblically important map of the Holy Land made in the 6th century out of two million stone pieces. Remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight - Madaba (B:2, D:1)

3rd Jan. Madaba - Amman Airport. Hotel check-out and included onward departure transfer to Amman's Queen Alia airport. (B)