G Adventures Jordan: Highlights of Jordan Trip Review
Have you dreamed about seeing the highlights of Jordan? If so, look no further than this trip with G Adventures Jordan!
Get ready to check the amazing adventures in Jordan off your bucket list. Petra, the Red Sea, the Dead Sea, and Wadi Rum are all included in this fantastic adventure!
You have the opportunity to add a visit to Egypt as well, and can cover the highlights of both of these incredible countries in just over two weeks! Learn more in my post on visiting Egypt and adding on a weekend trip to Alexandria!
Jordan doesn’t have to be on your bucket list any longer with this incredible trip. It’s affordable, organized, and worth every moment! Learn more about my experience with G Adventures Jordan in this post and the one thing that surprised me about visiting Jordan.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure for more information.
Why I Chose G Adventures Jordan
As you may know from reading my blog, I tend to book and plan my own adventures. I love the freedom of doing what I want and setting my own timetable.
However, when trying to plan to see the highlights of a country in just over a week, that’s a lot of planning! And since I was visiting both Egypt and Jordan, it made sense to book a small group tour.
I visited Morocco with G Adventures several years ago, and had an incredible experience. So, when I was planning this trip, they were the first tour company I looked at.
I did check itineraries for other companies as well, but G Adventures checked all the boxes for the experience I was seeking. Not only do they restrict the size of their groups, but they curate these tours to include incredible personal experiences with locals that I really enjoy.
Also, G Adventures has a non-profit, Planeterra, operating in most of the countries where they offer tours. I love this aspect, and visiting these organizations is always a high point of the trip.
Last, I loved the fact that I was able to join the Egypt and Jordan trips. I even got to add on the Alexandria adventure I wrote about in my post on the Egypt tour!
My Favorite Experiences From the Highlights of Jordan Tour
It’s hard to pick the top experiences on this tour when I had such a great time during the entire trip! But here are some of the most incredible experiences that stood out on the trip.
1. Petra and Little Petra
I’m sure this one won’t come as any surprise, as visiting Petra is what draws most people to visit Jordan.
We visited Little Petra the afternoon before visiting Petra, and it was introduced as the “appetizer.” It was an incredible place to visit in its own right!
Wandering through the sandy pathway through the tall walls of rock was amazing. Before long, we saw evidence of people carving rooms, temples, and more in the rock. We were greeted by friendly cats and dogs owned by the locals who live nearby and sell their wares in the area.
We got up early the next day to visit Petra, and were rewarded by a nearly empty site with amazing views! The Treasury and the Monastery were the highlights, but there were also tombs, a church, and more to see.
The hike to the Monastery was worth the views! It’s lined with locals trying to sell their products like scarves, carved items, and more.
The views are breathtaking, and we just took it all in. It’s a truly remarkable place, unlike any other.
2. The Dead Sea
Floating in the Dead Sea was another incredible experience on this tour. Walking into the sea, your legs quickly pop up as the heavily salinated water provides extra buoyancy. It’s hard to get your legs down to get out!
There is a carved rock area filled with mud that you can slather all over your body to enjoy the healing properties. Then, go into the water to float some more!
Rinse off in the nearby showers and look across the sea to Israel. Lounge around on the chairs and chaises before returning to the hotel to wash off and change.
3. The Red Sea
One optional tour is taking a yacht ride on the Red Sea, an adventure you won’t want to miss. The views of Jordan and Israel are beautiful, and it’s a nice, relaxing day.
If you’re interested, you can go snorkeling to see some coral and a plane crash site. Otherwise, take in the views and relax!
There’s a simple and delicious lunch on board, and you can get drinks and beer or wine as well.
4. Wadi Rum
Staying in the desert at Wadi Rum is another fantastic experience on this tour. You stay in Bedouin tents, which are more like fabric-covered walls in a small and simple motel. It’s a great experience.
The locals drive the group into the desert to see some of the interesting rock formations. You can climb some of them for different views, including a couple of natural arches.
As the sun sets, you’ll see the most incredible colors over the sand dunes. You’ll enjoy a local feast, then enjoy the display of stars over a warm fire. And the stars! The sky lights up like I’ve never seen before.
5. Mount Nebo
For those familiar with the Old Testament, Mount Nebo is where Moses climbed and saw the Promised Land, Israel. You’ll drive up instead of climbing, but the views are absolutely worth it, even on a rainy day.
On the top of Mount Nebo, you’ll find a modest basilica initially built around the 4th century. It has been reconstructed, and inside you can see some incredibly preserved mosaics dating back to the 6th century.
In the distance, we could see Israel and the city of Jerusalem. We also heard what sounded like gunfire, and our visit was during the Gaza fighting. It was very far off, so we weren’t concerned, but it was interesting that we could hear it from such a distance.
6. Jerash
Jerash was an ancient Roman city destroyed by an earthquake in 749 AD. It was conquered by the Romans in the first century and is known to have had human occupation for over 6,500 years.
Jerash is one of the best-preserved Roman towns in the world. It’s not a UNESCO World Heritage site due to the amount of reconstruction done in the archaeological site, but that doesn’t make it any less amazing. You don’t need to use as much imagination to see it for what it was in its golden age.
Walk through Hadrian’s Arch into this magical ruin. Walk through the colonnaded street and visit the two large theaters. You’ll also see two large temples dedicated to the ancient gods Artemis and Zeus.
There is a small archaeological museum with some incredible reminders of the past. For a treat, get a fresh-squeezed orange pomegranate juice on your way out. Yum!
Other Incredible Sites in Jordan
Kerak Castle is a large medieval castle and a prominent fort used during the Crusades. It’s fun to walk through the dark hallways and investigate the rooms inside.
Climb to the upper court to get a great view of Kerak, as seen in the photo below of part of my tour group.
Don’t skip Amman, the capital city of Jordan. If you can, take a few days after the tour to explore this wonderful city. Go to the high point of the city and explore the Citadel. You can see pillars from the Temple of Hercules and an 8th-century Umayyad Palace complex.
Wander around the city, and visit the King’s Mosque, which you can go inside if there is no service. Women need to wear appropriate clothing, which can be rented.
Also, check out Rainbow Street and the Roman Theater. And don’t miss the Jordan Museum with the Dead Sea Scroll exhibit. There are many amazing scrolls, including part of a copper scroll.
Benefits of a G Adventures Small Group Tour
For someone who prefers to make my own flight plans, it might surprise you to see me recommending a group tour. I had many great reasons for exploring Jordan with G Adventures, and I’d do it again!
Though I usually do plan my own adventures, I visited Morocco with G Adventures. So, when I decided to visit Jordan, G Adventures was my logical choice.
Here are some of the great reasons to consider traveling with G Adventures:
- No planning required—Get incredibly curated experiences with all logistics included. No need to determine how to get places, find great hotels, or figure out the top places to see. They do it all for you!
- Tour with local guides—Not only do you get guides, but you get local guides who are experts in the area. The CEOs provide all the information you want about every place you see. And in some specific spots, you may even get guides with additional expertise.
- Optional tours are available—G Adventures includes the top spots on your tours. If you want to see additional places, you can do that too! Select from the optional tours to customize your experience.
- Get a customized tour for a reasonable budget—If you’re looking for a reasonably priced tour that will see everything you want in an area, G Adventures is a great option. Their general tours don’t offer luxury accommodations, and that’s great if you’re trying to see amazing places on a budget.
- Get the downtime you need—The days on tour are busy, but you do get a good amount of downtime if you’re interested. Opt out of the optional tours to take a breather or take a nap! You get optional time on most days to explore places or rest. Whatever you need.
Why I Recommend the G Adventures Highlights of Jordan Tour
This Highlights of Jordan tour was a magical experience that I’ll remember always. Not only did I make several friends during the tour, whom I’m planning to travel with in the future, but I truly fell in love with Jordan.
And that was a surprise to me! I was so excited to visit Egypt, and wasn’t prepared for how deeply I would love Jordan. From the sights to the people, this country mystified me. I couldn’t get enough, and I hope to visit again in the future.
You Might Also Like
- G Adventures Morocco Review: Kasbahs and Desert Tour
- G Adventures Egypt: Best of Egypt Trip Review (+ Alexandria Add-on)
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