9 Day Best of Jordan Tour Package from Chicago, USA

Depart Chicago for Jordan

Your Jordan adventure begins as you make your way to Chicago O'Hare International Airport for your international flight to Amman. We recommend arriving at the airport approximately 3 to 4 hours before your scheduled departure to allow ample time for airline check-in, baggage drop-off, passport control, and security procedures.

Settle in for your overnight transatlantic flight, leaving behind the bustle of Chicago and looking forward to the wonders of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Use the flight time to rest, as your private Jordanian experience begins the moment you land. Whether this is your first journey to the Middle East or a return visit, the days ahead promise extraordinary encounters with ancient civilizations, dramatic desert landscapes, and warm Jordanian hospitality. Overnight on board.

Arrival in Amman - Transfer to the Dead Sea

Marhaba! Welcome to Jordan. Upon arrival at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, your private representative will greet you at the arrivals hall and assist with a smooth transfer directly to your hotel at the Dead Sea. The scenic drive of approximately one hour takes you through Jordan's striking countryside as you descend toward the lowest point on Earth, more than 400 meters below sea level.

After check-in, the remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure. You may wish to take your first dip in the famously buoyant, mineral-rich waters, where floating effortlessly is a sensation unlike any other. Alternatively, indulge in a therapeutic mud treatment, relax by the hotel pool, or simply admire the views across the water toward the hills of the West Bank as the sun sets over this ancient sea. Overnight at the Dead Sea.

Full Day at Leisure - Dead Sea

After breakfast, enjoy a brief welcome meeting with your private Tour Manager to review the exciting itinerary ahead and answer any questions about your journey through Jordan. The rest of the day is entirely yours to spend at your own pace, soaking in the unique surroundings of the Dead Sea.

Take advantage of your hotel's private beach access and float effortlessly in the hyper-saline waters, a sensation made possible by the salt content nearly ten times that of the ocean. The famous black mud, rich in minerals, is renowned for its skin-softening and therapeutic properties, used since the days of Cleopatra.

In the afternoon, you may choose to relax at the spa, take in panoramic views from the infinity pool, or simply unwind with a book in the gentle sunshine. As evening approaches, watch one of the most beautiful sunsets in the region paint the sky in shades of gold and rose. Overnight at the Dead Sea.

Mount Nebo, Madaba and Shobak Castle - Travel to Petra

After breakfast, around 8:30 AM, depart with your private guide for an inspiring day along the King's Highway toward Petra. Your first stop is Mount Nebo, the reputed burial site of the Prophet Moses, where on a clear day you can gaze across the Jordan Valley to the Holy Land, just as Moses did more than three thousand years ago.

Continue to Madaba, the celebrated City of Mosaics, where the floor of Saint George's Church preserves a remarkable 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land. Afterward, stop briefly at Moses Springs and visit a local mosaic school and workshop, where you can observe artisans practicing this ancient craft.

Continue south to Shobak Castle, a dramatic 12th-century Crusader fortress perched on a rocky hilltop east of the Arabah Valley. Tour its stone passages and ramparts at your own pace, learning of its role as one of the first Crusader strongholds in the region. Afterward, continue your scenic drive to Petra for check-in. Overnight in Petra.

Full Day Petra City Tour

After breakfast, around 8:00 AM, meet your private guide for a full day exploring Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Hand-carved into rose-colored sandstone cliffs by the Nabateans in the 3rd century BC, this once-thriving caravan city remains among the most extraordinary archaeological treasures on Earth.

Begin your walk through the Siq, a dramatic narrow canyon stretching more than a kilometer, with towering walls reaching up to 80 meters high. Around each turn, the rock formations grow more remarkable, until finally, the Siq opens onto the iconic facade of the Treasury (Al-Khazneh), an unforgettable first glimpse.

Beyond the Treasury, your guide will lead you to discover the Street of Facades, the impressive Royal Tombs, the Roman Theater carved directly from the rock, and the ancient water channels that once supplied the city. The afternoon offers ample free time to explore further at your own pace, perhaps hiking up to the Monastery (Ad-Deir) for ambitious adventurers, or visiting the High Place of Sacrifice for sweeping views over the ancient city. Overnight in Petra.

Little Petra and Wadi Rum Desert Adventure

After breakfast, around 8:30 AM, visit Little Petra (Siq al-Barid), a smaller but equally fascinating Nabatean site located just north of Petra. Once a suburb where caravans rested and traded, the site features temples, tombs, water cisterns carved into the rock, and rare traces of Nabatean frescoes adorning the ceilings of ancient dining halls. Take your time exploring the narrow passages and climbing to viewpoints overlooking the surrounding hills.

Continue south to the spectacular landscapes of Wadi Rum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose otherworldly scenery inspired T.E. Lawrence and provided the dramatic backdrop for the film Lawrence of Arabia. Upon arrival, transfer to a 4x4 vehicle for an exhilarating two-hour desert excursion across the Valley of the Moon.

Discover towering sandstone mountains, sweeping red sand dunes, ancient rock inscriptions, and the famous formation known as the Seven Pillars of Wisdom. As the sun begins to set, painting the desert in shades of crimson and amber, arrive at your traditional Bedouin desert camp. Enjoy a memorable dinner prepared in the traditional zarb (underground oven) style under a canopy of stars. Overnight in Wadi Rum.

Wadi Rum - Kerak Castle - Amman

Wake to a stunning desert sunrise and enjoy breakfast at your camp before departing Wadi Rum around 9:00 AM. Today's journey takes you northward along the historic King's Highway toward Amman, with a memorable stop along the way.

By midday, arrive at the town of Kerak to visit its imposing Crusader Castle, dating back to the 12th century. One of the largest and best-preserved Crusader fortresses in the Middle East, Kerak Castle played a strategic role in the conflicts between Crusaders and the armies of Saladin. Your private guide will lead you through its stone-vaulted halls, dark passageways, and ramparts, sharing stories of the dramatic sieges and political intrigues that shaped its history.

From the castle's heights, take in sweeping views over the surrounding valleys before continuing your scenic drive north to Amman. Arrive in time to check in to your hotel and freshen up. The evening is yours to relax or explore the lively neighborhoods of the Jordanian capital at your leisure, perhaps strolling through Rainbow Street or sipping Jordanian coffee at a downtown cafe. Overnight in Amman.

Amman and Jerash Day Tour

After breakfast, around 9:00 AM, meet your private guide for a full day exploring the highlights of Amman and Jerash. Begin your sightseeing at the Amman Citadel, perched atop Jebel al-Qala'a, the highest hill in the city. Here you'll see the impressive ruins of the Temple of Hercules, the Umayyad Palace complex, and the Byzantine Church, while enjoying panoramic views over the downtown area. Descend to visit the magnificent Roman Theater, a 6,000-seat amphitheater carved into the hillside in the 2nd century AD and still in use today.

Continue north to Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities in the world. Walk through Hadrian's Arch, the Oval Plaza, the colonnaded Cardo, and the South Theater, where you can still admire the remarkable acoustics of an ancient stage.

By 5:00 PM, return to Amman with free time to wander through the colorful Rainbow Street, browse the lively souks of downtown, or simply enjoy a Jordanian coffee at a sidewalk cafe. Overnight in Amman.

Departure from Amman to Chicago

After breakfast at your hotel, depending on the timing of your international flight, you may have some free time to enjoy a final stroll, pick up last-minute souvenirs, or relax at the hotel. At the appropriate time, your private driver will collect you from the hotel and transfer you to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman for your departure flight back to Chicago.

As you board your flight home, reflect on the remarkable journey through the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the rose-red wonders of Petra, the timeless silence of Wadi Rum, the healing waters of the Dead Sea, the mosaics of Madaba, the views from Mount Nebo, and the warm hospitality you experienced throughout. The memories of these extraordinary landscapes and ancient civilizations will stay with you long after you return.

End of tour services.