Petra & Desert Sky at Night - Astronomy Kids

This morning you will transfer to the ‘lost city’ of Petra. Here you will have a full day to admire the natural beauty and breathtaking architecture of this ancient city. Walk through the Siq, a colourful narrow gorge over a kilometre long which leads to the magnificent Treasury. See royal tombs, the Roman-style theatre, beautiful temples and museums. Take an optional walk to the monastery or the high place of sacrifice.

Often described as the eighth wonder of the ancient world, it is without doubt Jordan’s most valuable treasure and the greatest tourist attraction. It is a vast, unique city, carved into the sheer rock face by the Nabateans, an industrious Arab civilization who settled here more than 2000 years ago, turning it into an important junction for the silk, spice and other trade routes that linked China, India, and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece, and Rome.

The Nabatean Kingdom existed for centuries, and Petra became widely admired for its refined culture, massive architecture and ingenious complex of dams and water channels. Ultimately, however, the Roman Emperor Trajan annexed the Kingdom.

By the 14th century, Petra was completely lost to the West, and so it remained for almost 300 years. Then in 1812, a Swiss traveler, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt persuaded his guide to take him to the site of the rumored lost city. Secretly making notes and sketches, he wrote, “It seems very probable that the ruins at Wadi Musa are those of the ancient Petra.” Al Hidab Hotel - 1 night (B)

You will have a full day exploring Wadi Rum by 4WD and your Bedouin desert guide will give you a closer look at this amazing place. 

Wadi Rum is well known as the largest and most magnificent of Jordan’s desert landscapes, this is a stupendous, timeless place, virtually untouched by humans.

A maze of monolithic rockscapes rise up from the desert floor to heights of 1,750 meters creating a natural challenge for serious rockclimbers. Hikers can enjoy the tranquility of the boundless empty spaces; explore the canyons and water holes to discover 4000-year-old rock drawings and the many other spectacular treasures this vast wilderness holds in store. Also known as ‘The Valley of the Moon’, this is the place where Prince Faisal Bin Hussein and T.E. Lawrence based their headquarters during the Arab Revolt against the Ottomans in World War I, and their exploits are intrinsically woven into the history of this amazing area. 

This evening you will have another night under the stars and recognizing planets and constellations with the astrononmy expert and private use of a 16inch reflector telescope. (BLD)

After breakfast, continue to lowest point in the world The Dead Sea. Spend the day sunbathing, swimming, or dining. Relax in the gently lapping waters and be amazed that you can’t sink! Treat yourself to a soothing massage, or try the well-known healing powers of minerals from the sea’s muddy floor. Dead sea Spa Hotel - 1 night (B)