Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Petra, swimming in the Dead Sea

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent

Most Inspirational Moment

Going to the wry top of the monastery path in Petra. Amazing views.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take pocket tissues and alcohol gel.

Most Inspirational Moment

So many. Petra astounds, to quote my guide book. This is true. If your only knowledge of this site is glimpses of the Treasury on TV documentaries then prepare to be amazed, the immense scale of the ancient city is breathtaking. Spending two whole days in there allowed us to cover a lot of ground, but still left us wanting more. The old cliché of floating in the Dead Sea does not disappoint either, such an unusual experience, and very relaxing. Lunch in Pella (continuously occupied since Neolithic times ) looking across the Golan Heights to the Sea of Galilee, the borders of Syria, Israel and Palestine, with ancient Roman excavations scattered across the landscape.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Wael was immediately likeable, enthusiastic and knowledgeable about his country and its complex history, giving the group a huge amount of relevant information to absorb about the sites, but stopping short of statistic overload and allowing time for personal exploration. He responded well to group members’ individual needs, and did this with an ever present sense of humour. The only thing he lacks is a volume switch! :-)

Advice for Potential Travellers

If time allows ask for a little longer in the National Museum of Jordan, in Amman. The new location for the Dead Sea Scrolls in a dedicated, beautifully designed limestone building. There is so much to see here and everything is well presented and interpreted. It provides a great introduction for this trip and puts the history into perspective for the rest of the journey. Walking in Petra requires a reasonable level of fitness. It is very hot in there, and to get the best of the site and discover the more remote spots will mean around 15 to 20 miles walking each day. The initial walk through The Siq to the Treasury is about 3 miles! When changing money, don’t accept 50JD notes. Ask the bank to give you 20s, 10s and 5s. Nobody in Jordan seems to have any change, and small 1JD notes can be useful for tips, toilets and snacks. Petra and Jerash are very exposed in the heat without much shade, so keep covered and keep drinking water. Alcoholic drinks are limited in Jordan, but when available are very expensive. They always add service and tax onto the menu price. The breakfasts in all the hotels were limited (apart from the 5* Dead Sea hotel) and considering throughout the land there are the sights and sounds and smells of roadside coffee brewing the use of instant sachets is unforgivable! The hotel in Aqaba was particularly run down and unpleasant, and the long journeys too and from there just for a boat trip seemed excessive. Extra time at Wadi Rum with an overnight stay in one of the many camps would be preferable.

Suggestions

The Jordanian people are friendly, the country is safe despite its geographical location. Presumably fear of that region is putting tourists off visiting as most places were very quiet. This was great for my photos but not so good for the locals. A great time to go, you will be welcomed.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me it was looking around the fantastically well preserved ruins at Umm Qais (Gadara) and seeing the view of the Golan heights and the sea of Galilee / Tiberias. Petra of course doesn't disappoint and two full days are spent there allowing you to explore the vast site. Jordan is currently excavating sites at Pella (Jordan River) which has early Christian remains from the 1st century AD!!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

The tour leader (Wael) was knowledgeable and passionate about Jordan and it's history and encouraged questions and discussion.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for a mix of long journeys (air conditioned transport) and activity at the various sites in what may be some hot weather (May/June for me), keep a wide brimmed hat, suntan lotion and water always to hand. By the end you will still only have scratched the surface of what Jordan has to offer in historic sites.

Suggestions

Jordan is a safe and stable country in an otherwise unstable part of the world. This message doesn't seem to have been received by too many potential visitors around the world, there were hardly any tourists around. That made the trip even more enjoyable for me.

Most Inspirational Moment

Having tea with our driver's mum in her home to see what Jordanian life is about. And being mugged by an excited group of teenage girls at Ajloun to have our photos taken with them (which I get were on Facebook in nanoseconds!). Otherwise, ticking the 50 year old bucket list by seeing Petra!

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was highly knowledgeable, charming, great sense of humour - and sorted the broken loo in our hotel bedroom on the first night (early hours in the morning) - even though it wasn't his job, we could have gone to Reception. He took us to some great restaurants and generally worked hard to make it a memorable holiday.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take something warm to put on i.e. jeans as well as cotton trousers, pair of leggings (ladies only?!), gloves and a thicker jacket than a fleece. It was cold at night and sometimes in the day.

Suggestions

The Al-Waleed hotel in Amman was okay apart from the unrefurbished room that we had the first night (they did move us to a suite the following day). The loo was broke (see above), there was faecal matter floating in the toilet bowl, one of the windows didn't close properly, one of the bedside lights was broken and there were no hangers in the wardrobe. The safety chain on the door had been removed but the holes in the wood were still there and it was generally Not Good! I did resent having Nescafe provided for breakfast and not filter (or similar) coffee. It was great not being overly hassled to buy things unlike some other middle east countries.

Most Inspirational Moment

Visiting Petra. In the media, the impression I got before visiting Petra is the Treasury building and not much else. How wrong could I be! We spent two days at Petra and I could have spent much more. The area is vast with temples, churches, mosaics who whole 9 yards. Its thought provoking to consider that so much of this stunning valley is still under the sand! There is also plenty of opportunity to eat and drink at Petra in particular the pomegranate and orange juice drink is to die for!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alah was great. A fount of all knowledge and very personable. In particular Alah arranged an excellent boat ride at Aqaba which allowed us to see parts of Jordan from a different perspective and tailored the trip to ensure we had time to visit the Jordan Museum to have a gander at the Dead See Scrolls. Thanks Alah!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just go! Pack your bags and get to the airport! Jordan is amazing! Actually, try not spending as much as me on shopping, but that's another story!

Suggestions

Thanks Exodus it was great!

Most Inspirational Moment

The Monastry at Petra and Al Karak castle with its history, plus an unscheduled visit to a local bakers as a request to see bread being made and to buy some local produce.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ali was always alert to the individual needs of the group and was very willing to arrange what we wanted to do. He was very clear on the schedule and made sure everyone had understood what was happening. He was always approachable and gave us some good insights into the culture of the country.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Try and keep with the history as it puts all the different sites you visit into context.

Suggestions

The Jordanians asked us to recommend Jordan as a holiday destination when we got home. There is far more to Jordan than the trip notes and Petra and we are very happy to recommend visiting for a holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

Floating on the Dead Sea - so relaxing!Making it up all the stairs to Monastery at Petra - well worth it as more spectacular than the Treasury and less tourists 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Zuhair was always friendly & enthusiastic about his country and his faith.

Most Inspirational Moment

Visiting Petra, floating in the Dead Sea. Visiting the neolithic village near Little Petra, and Jerash. Visiting all the museums, Wadi Rum and the forts. Everything really.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent. Zuhair was very interesting and informative on Jordan past and present, with a good sense of humour. He tried hard to please everybody, and to go 'the extra mile' in taking us to places not included on the itinerary.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Eat at the Heef wa Reef in Amman, about 50 yards from the El Fanar Hotel. Very cheap and very tasty (esp. chicken and rice). Also did takeaway salads which are good to buy for next day's lunch.

Suggestions

Thanks to Hamza in Petra (guide at the hotel we stayed at) who managed to get me some antibiotics 'over the counter' when I got a flu bug, and thus get me back on my feet again!

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking through Petra and trying to get upright in the dead sea.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was informative but pushed his religion too much

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take sturdy footwear.