AMMAN Approximately 1 800 000 inhabitants, at an altitude of 750 m, Amman represents the capital of the kingdom, and the main engine of the country. A city tour of Amman allows you, on one hand, to note that the city, in spite of its modern aspect, is not deprived of a long history. On the other hand, it gives you the opportunity of having a direct contact with the Jordanians. IRAQ EL AMIR at 10 km from Amman, Iraq El Amir is an ancient site located in an amphitheatre of rocks where one can see the gigantic and romantic ruins of Qasr El Abd; a palace which was built by the family of Tobias. Its rectangular plan with the megalithic stones and its impressive sculptures of lions represent unique vestiges in Jordan and all the Near East. MOUNT NEBO At 46 km only to the West of Amman, at 838 m of altitude, is the place where God had ordered Moses to go to the top of the Arabot mountains, to mount Nebo, in the country of Moab, opposite to Jericho, to see the Promised Land and to die on the mountain where he will go.. The irresistible sight on the Holy City of Jerusalem and the Jordan valley can make emerge in you nostalgia to the old history and a better comprehension of the Actuality..! Moreover, this site will not fail to surprise you with its mosaics which testify the finesse of the Byzantines. MADABA Containing the greatest Christian community, Madaba always preserves a very important Byzantine archaeological park. More than 150 churches, in the city and its surroundings, trace the history of the Byzantine occupation and its evolution. Moreover, the Map of Palestine in Madaba represents a priceless interest for the study of the topography of Palestine and the countries of vicinity. With less than 40 km of Amman, Madaba is a point of obligatory passage for the tourists as well as the pilgrims. UMM ER RASAS Umm Er Rasas is a city located on the King’s road, between Madaba and Karak. We date this city from the Nabatean, Roman, and especially Byzantine periods. Inside the surrounding walls of the city you find a fantastic puzzle in disorder of reversed towers, and churches into pieces. Despite this first impression we had found one of the most beautiful mosaics in Jordan. A mosaic representing the principal cities on both banks of the rift, which divides the Holy Land in two. MUKAWIR Is a village located on a plate from the Dead Sea as well as foundations of a strong castle where can be seen at the same time. The castle may undoubtedly be the Jewish fortress of Machaerus: the place where, according to the bible the tragic episode of the death of John the Baptist took place. Once on the top, you will be able you to have a wide view on the Araba valley and the Dead Sea but also an opportunity to recall in imagination the dance of Salome and its obtaining the head of John the Baptist. MUKHAYAT Mukhayat is the supposed place of the old village of Nebo, the last stage of the Jews before the Promised Land. Flourishing at the Byzantine period, today in ruins, the churches of St Lot and St Procopius deliver particularly rich mosaics to us. BETHANY On the Opposite side of Jericho, at the junction of Wadi Al Kharrar and the Jordan River, some very old churches were recently discovered commemorating the place of the baptism of Christ. The archaeologists also revealed, to approximately 1 km upstream, the vestiges of a whole religious complex including churches, cisterns and baptismal font built by the first Christian pilgrims at the supposed site of the "Bethany beyond Jordan" where St John the Baptist preached. A descent to these places of pilgrimage will mark your stay in Jordan by a memorable visit. MA' IN At 4 km of the Dead Sea shores, "Zerqa' Ma' in constitute in the sandy throats a whole of natural basins, supplied with thermal hot springs (55◦ to 60◦ C), coming from basaltic rocks. One of them forms a hot cascade. If you wish to satisfy your eyes and to fill your time, do not miss this mineral water bath.   DEAD SEA A short driving towards the Dead Sea, with less than 55 km from Amman, offers one of the most exciting experiences in Jordan. With more than 400 m below the sea level, and a density ten times higher than any other sea, a small quick dip in water will make you live an exciting and unforgettable experiment. Moreover you can benefit of black mud, rich with minerals, to soften your skin and to revitalize your body..!! JERASH One of the most beautiful archaeological sites in Jordan located at 46 km of Amman. The oval place, the cardo-maximus, the nymphium, the temples of Zeus and Artemis... and much more monuments testify the majesty of the builders, and the genius of the Greco-Romans. Moreover, a visit upon sunset will make you benefit of a poem of colours. The know-how of the Greco-Romans and the charm of the site make of Jerash an imposing city to visit.   AJLUN After crossing one of the greenest zones in Jordan, at 87 km North of Amman, you arrive at the village of Ajlun. A village crowned by a fortress at more then 1200m of altitude. A visit of this strong castle offers a panoramic sight to you on the Jordan valley, the mountains of Galileo and the Golan heights... With some chance, if you find the former guard of the site, he will make you taste the local wine (home made...).     GADARA Also named "Umm Qeis", Gadara is a Greco-Roman city located at 29 km North of Irbid. This city, mentioned in the Gospel (8, 28), was also a member of the Decapolis; In addition to the fact that it was always described as "Athica in the country of the Assyrians". This seedbed of philosophers and artists still preserves a part of its monuments, and offers to the visitors a biblical landscape and a panoramic sight on "the Tiberias" Lake. PELLA Founded by the end of the 4th century B.C., Pella is the witness of the work of the Macedonians veterans of Alexander the Great. Located in the heart of the mountains, it dominates the Jordan valley: It’s a strategic and rich place at the same time. A quick glance on the site enables you to note the multiplicity and the diversity of the ruins. In matter of fact, Pella was the crossroads of all the conquerors and one of the most continuously occupied sites in the history of humanity.   KERAK This city at 1000 m of altitude and 120 km from Amman is the old capital of the country of Moab, it appears in the bible under the name of Qir-Heres. Moreover, it is crowned by the ruins of a fortress built by the Crusaders. A worthy work of art that competes with the famous "Crac des Chevaliers". A lordship of Montreal since 1140, this one falls to Renault de Chatillon after its arranged marriage with Etiennette de Milly. Consequently, the history did not cease multiplying!! The guide will go on with you through time to make you live in the world of Crusaders. SHAUBAK At 30km from Petra, you can fork on the left to see, sitting at the top of a hill, the castle of Shaubak, dominating a small valley which drops towards the valley of Wadi Araba. This strategic position of first order was strengthened by Baldwin 1st in 1115 A.D., to control the road between Syria and Egypt or Hejaz. One visit of this castle will give you a good idea about the grandeur and the determination of the Crusaders. PETRA Petra, an extraordinary site located at 235 km of Amman. Mentioned in the bible under the name of Reqem (the "Multi-coloured one"), Petra offers to you the occasion to admire the beauty of nature, to go back in condition, and to live the history through its monuments. A visit of one or several days can only create a love relationship giving you the desire for returning or for sending somebody from your side. BEIDHA Ten kilometers to the North of Petra stands a Neolithic village (approx. 7000 years AV. JC) of an exceptional importance, comparable with Chatalhuq in Turkey. Its excavations will be able to captivate any traveller by their vestiges in a very good state of conservation recalling the evolution of the human habitat starting from the circular hut. During the same excursion, you will visit in the heart of the neighbouring rocks an admirable small Siq where Nabateans dug tombs similar to those in Petra. The reason why it was named "Little Petra"   WADI RUM 330 km to the South of Amman, Wadi Rum is a valley of the Saharan type which you will reach by traversing through astonishing sandy plain, where the road comes very close to some of these innumerable and strange rock formations that you will have seen since the balcony Ras Al Naqab. At sunset, all these petrified fantasizes and the sand beaches take admirable and delicate colours. A visit in 4x4 in this desert will keep on you some unforgettable memories. AQABA This single port of Jordan is located at the bottom of the Gulf of Aqaba, and occupies a narrow crack in the prolongation of the Araba depression. In addition to its harbour functions, Aqaba became also one of the principal tourist centres of attraction. It is at the same time a tempting seaside resort, and a marvellous garden of coral benches, which rests on the old site of Ecyon-Geber. Moreover, Aqaba was always the crossroads of civilizations. A tour in a glass-boat will make you discover the secrets and the magic of this place.   HARANEH It is an imposing castle at 85 km East of Amman; built  on a quadrangular plan with a round tower on each angle, and a semicircular tower in the middle of each side. The walls are cut by three rows of arches. Graffiti in Koufic characters scripted in 92 of the hegira attests the oldness of this castle. AMRA It is a modest construction whose interest lies in paintings which decorate its walls. The varieties of these drawings and the smoothness of work make of this hunting lodge a single site in the world. Thus, it was classified as world inheritance by the UNESCO. The visit of this castle hides surprises which I let the guide reveal it to you.   AZRAQ Located in an oasis at 500 m of altitude, and 130 km at the East of Amman. It extends on the edge of a basaltic lava flow, a calcareous zone, and a small alluvial basin charged with salts. A true natural reserve which occupies 100 km2. The castle was mostly built from blocks of basalt by the Romans to defend this important water point and to control one of the invasion ways of Syria by the tributes of the desert. It was also the headquarters of Lawrence of Arabia and king Feysal. HAMMAM ES SARAH At 5km only from Hallabat, you will stop close to a small recently restored construction, probably a bath of Umayyad time. Divided into 3 rooms (caldarium, tepidarium and frigidarium), this Roman bath is the most preserved of all Jordan. UMM EL JIMAL It is a curious dead city, in a steppe strewn with basaltic lava, at 91 km North of Amman. The tourist will be interested in Umm El Jimal thanks to its relatively good state of conservation, and because it is a good example of these small Byzantine cities built on the fringes of the Arabic World with its churches, its monasteries, its cisterns in a country without spring waters, its military and administrative buildings. HALLABAT Located between Amman and Azraq, the castle of Hallabat is an Umayyad fancy villa from the 8th century built with reemployed limestone and basaltic blocks from preexistent monuments. This characteristic explains the innumerable Greek inscriptions engraved on the blocks. Its walls are decorated with ornaments of frescos; on the ground of certain rooms, you will be able, by putting aside carefully sand, to reveal remains of some mosaics protected by nature. DANA NATURAL RESERVE Among ten reserves in Jordan, Dana represents a single case.. Located at the heart of the mountains with an extent to the Araba valley, it allows at the same time to discover the diversity and the multiplicity of the species. A visit with a local guide, will give you the opportunity of having a direct contact with wild and resting nature. It is also the place where fauna and flora live in harmony.