Eco-nature in Jordan: at the heart of Jordanian Nature Reserves

After breakfast, we drove to the Ajlun Nature Reserve, located around the extension of a long valley known as Wadi Ain Zubia. It resembles a Mediterranean hill, dominated by wooded areas covered with pistachio and oak trees.

A 2-hour hike from the camp to the top of a nearby hill overlooking the Reserve. The area surrounding the hike is rich in wildflowers in the spring. Not far from the camp is an old stone wine press.

Then we set off to visit Jerash , or Gerasa, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and well-preserved Roman cities in the Near East, the city of 1000 pillars. After Petra, Jerash is the second major tourist destination in Jordan.

The ancient city of Jerash can proudly trace its history back over 6,500 years. Conquered by General Pompey in 63 BC, it came under Roman control and became one of the ten major Roman cities that made up the Decapolis confederation. Our local guide will lead you to discover its colonnades, temples, theaters, and cardo-maximum churches.

Late afternoon, return to Amman, dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure towards the Wadi Al Mujib Nature Reserve, located in the Wadi Al Mujib gorge, 400 meters below sea level.

The reserve extends into the mountains of Kerak and Madaba. During the trek in Wadi Al Mujib, you will appreciate magnificent biodiversity, a true adventure experience in Jordan. The hike takes you through mountain waterfalls. Starting from the Al Mujib bridge on the Dead Sea coast, the trek involves crossing the reserve and passing waterholes in the canyon gorge, a walk that lasts between 2 and 3 hours.

Continue to the Dana Nature Reserve (approximately 2 hours drive), visit the abandoned village of Dana, then depart for an easy one-hour hike visiting some spectacular viewpoints above the village of Dana, exploring terraced gardens, meeting some local farmers.

Possibility of visiting a craft center.

Dinner and overnight stay in an eco-friendly hostel.

Breakfast. A 3-hour guided hike to discover the Dana Nature Reserve, which covers some 320 km² and contains numerous natural treasures. It comprises a chain of valleys and mountains stretching from the upper Rift Valley to the desert plains of Wadi Araba, with an elevation change of over 1,600 meters. It encompasses two major geographical areas and four distinct vegetation zones, and boasts a remarkable diversity of landscapes, ranging from forested highlands to rocky gravel slopes, plains, and sand dunes.

It supports a wide variety of wildlife, including many rare plant and animal species. Then

Continue south to visit the remnant of the Crusaders' former glory, the fortress of Shoubak , less than an hour north of Petra. Once called "Royal Mount," Shoubak was built by Baldwin I, King of Jerusalem, in 1115, then

Drive to Little Petra. Half-hour visit. Little Petra served as a caravanserai during the Nabataean era. You will spend the night in a comfortable hotel in Wadi Musa.

Breakfast at the hotel.

A 10-minute drive to reach the entrance of the Petra site to start a full day of visiting Petra , undoubtedly the most famous tourist site in the country.

Petra was left to us by the Nabataeans, a hardworking Arab nation who settled in the southern tip of Jordan more than 2000 years ago.

Renowned for its refined culture, massive architecture and ingenious system of reservoirs and water supply canals, Petra is now inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List and recognized as a site that enchants visitors from all over the world.

Visit Petra, the Rose City: the tomb with obelisks, the Siq, the Khazneh, the Amphitheater, the royal tombs... Petra is sometimes called "The Lost City".

Despite its importance in antiquity, after the 14th century AD Petra was completely forgotten in the West. It was rediscovered in 1812 by a Swiss traveler, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, who managed to gain access to this jealously guarded site by pretending to be an Arab from India come to perform a sacrifice at the tomb of the prophet Aaron.

Picnic or lunch in a restaurant on site, free afternoon.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, we took the road south towards Ras Al-Naqab and Wadi Rum "the Valley of the Moon".

Discover Jordan's largest and most majestic desert landscape, with its red sandstone hills, spires, and ridges. "Vast, resounding, divine" are the terms Lawrence of Arabia used to describe this landscape.

Excursion in a 4x4 vehicle. Nothing is more pleasant than admiring these sandy plains and strange ochre-hued rock formations, eroded by the wind and sand. We will take advantage of this excursion to watch a sunset over the desert.

Typical dinner and overnight stay in a Bedouin camp under tents .

Breakfast at the camp.

Drive towards the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth, 420 m below normal sea level. Lunch at a restaurant on the Dead Sea beach.

Enjoy a strange but delightful experience: "floating" on the surface of the water. This buoyancy is due to the salt content, which is nine times higher than that of ordinary seawater. Today, its partially inhabited coastline is very peaceful. Its landscapes have remained virtually unchanged since antiquity, making it a perfect place for scenic drives. You can also sunbathe, swim, and dine; or simply relax in the water, gently lapping the waves, and discover with amazement that you're not sinking!

Late afternoon, return to Amman.

Dinner in a typical Ammanian restaurant, overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast , transfer to Amman airport.

Boarding and departure for France.