Jordan trip | Self-drive fairytale Jordan

The town of Madaba offers a blend of rural life and a hub for religious tourism. The town is known as the ‘City of Mosaics’. Madaba is the cultural epicentre for Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics, the most famous of which is located on the floor of St George’s Church.
Madaba is a short distance from the capital, Amman.

The city of Petra is one of the world's most famous archaeological sites and Jordan's main tourist attraction. More than 2,000 years ago, Petra was carved out of the mountains by Nabatean Arabs. This city is a unique example of an amazing ancient civilisation. The city remained unknown to the Western world until 1812. The first European to see it was a Swiss explorer named, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, who disguised himself as an Arab scholar. Petra was recognised as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1985 and is among the new seven wonders of the world.

Located on the northern shores of the Dead Sea in Jordan, the city of Swemeh (or Sweimeh) offers its visitors a holiday paradise with luxury resorts, hotels and spas. Sunbathe on soft sandy beaches, enjoy massages and body treatments or take part in a range of outdoor sports. The high salt content of the Dead Sea's water makes floating on the back much easier, but beware, normal swimming is difficult. Nearby attractions include the historic Mount Nebo, the city of Madaba, the Dead Sea Museum, the stunning array of hot springs and waterfalls at Hammamat Ma'in and the Mujib Reserve, home to incredible birdlife and the spectacular Jordan Grand Canyon and waterfall.

The capital of Jordan, Amman is a modern metropolis sprawled over seven hills. The city has bustling streets and is divided into two distinct areas. West Amman, with its residential areas, elegant restaurants, stylish bars and ultra-modern shopping malls. This modern sophistication contrasts with relaxed Eastern Amman, with a more traditional side. Spend your days visiting a wide range of attractions, such as the Amman Amphitheatre, the fascinating Jordan Museum or the numerous luxurious cafés.

With this Arab kingdom in West Asia, people often have an image of vast deserts. In reality, this country has so much more to offer than just deserts. It is a diverse destination with ancient churches and castles, spectacular mountain landscapes and beautiful beaches, as well as very friendly locals. Highlights of the country include: the impressive Dead Sea, the 2,000-year-old 'lost city' of Petra and the famous trail Lawrence of Arabia, which takes visitors from the ruins of his fortress in Azraq to the picturesque deserts of Wadi Rum. Although Jordan's long and fascinating history offers travellers many intriguing historical and Biblical sights, the country is certainly not stuck in the past. The country has many modern luxury hotels, trendy restaurants and lively bars. For a captivating destination full of natural, historical and cultural wonders, look no further, this fairytale land is the perfect destination.

Aptly named "The Valley of the Moon", this desert valley boasts an otherworldly landscape of massive mountains, rolling dunes as far as the eye can see, and rocks sculpted by the forces of nature into incredible bridges, towering canyons , spherical domes and a variety of other impressive formations. With very little modern development, Wadi Rum makes for an amazingly unspoilt destination. While more adventurous travellers can plan an overnight stay in a traditional Bedouin tented camp and explore the extraordinary topography on horseback, those looking for a little luxury can stay in one of the modern tented camps in the area and explore the desert in a 4x4. Wadi Rum is a major highlight and an essential part of any tour of Jordan.

Wadi Musa means 'Valley of Moses' in Arabic, where it is said that Moses drew water from a rock at Ain Nusa (Moses' Spring). The modern town is the entrance to a Petra, one of the most mysterious places in the world. Petra is a completely unique city in the desert. Created by a relatively unknown people of ancient times: the Nabataeans. An absolute must-see in real life. The entrance to Petra is special. You walk along a narrow, winding path of eight kilometres straight through a narrow gorge. At the end, you suddenly find yourself facing The Khaznah ( Treasury of the Pharaoh) a temple carved in the red stone in classical Greek style built in about 50 BC.

The Dead Sea borders Jordan and is a salt lake located in the Jordanian gorge. It is the main tributary of the Jordan River. This huge salt lake is one of the saltiest bodies of water on earth with more than 10 times more salt than sea water. The Dead Sea is one of the most intriguing natural phenomena on earth. The large amounts of salt make it easy for visitors to float on its surface. This has made it a world-famous destination, popular for the healing property of salt for treating skin problems. It is the largest free spa on earth and attracts locals as well as visitors from all over the world.