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Ancient Jordan with Debbie Flynn
An unforgettable six-day journey through Jordan, blending culture, history, and adventure. Highlights include exploring the ancient city of Petra, desert camping in the dramatic landscapes of Wadi Rum, and floating effortlessly in the unique waters of the Dead Sea. Experience a rich mix of activities and sights.
This itinerary is an absorbing journey through the heart of Jordan, blending ancient history, vibrant culture, stunning landscapes and exclusive money-can’t-buy Club Avandra experiences. The trip begins with a VIP welcome in Amman, followed by a personalized tour of the capital city with local expert Muna Haddad. You’ll enjoy special dining experiences, including a gala dinner catered by renowned chef Sara Akel and a home-style lunch at the charming Hikayet Sitt.
The adventure continues with visits to significant religious sites like Bethany Beyond the Jordan and Mount Nebo. Prepare for awe-inspiring moments exploring the ancient, rose-red city of Petra and sleeping under the stars in the vast desert of Wadi Rum. The journey ends with a relaxing and restorative Dead Sea stay. Throughout, you’ll be immersed in the rich history and unique beauty of Jordan – and, of course, the company of Club Avandra members and your engaging host.
Your trip gallery
Debbie Flynn
Your host: Debbie Flynn
Who better to host this trip to Jordan than Avandra Advisory Board chair Debbie Flynn… Debbie has been a leading figure in destination marketing for decades, and having led the UK Jordan Tourism board for 21 years has an in-depth knowledge and passion for this country. Now Chair of the Anglo Jordanian Society, she can’t wait to share the secrets of this endlessly intriguing destination with Club Avandra members. She’s also no stranger to hosting group trips – and is looking forward to doing it the Club Avandra way!
‘Jordan is rightly a wishlist destination for many people – often sadly unrealised as would-be visitors wait for ‘things to calm down’,’ Debbie says. ‘The reality is, it may be situated amongst noisy neighbours but its location should not distract from its many treasures. I have always felt safe on trips there, from ‘Jordan for juniors’ family holidays with my boys to grown-up adventures with girlfriends.’
Discovery Bedu
Forget everything you know – or thought you knew – about glamping. This luxury tented Bedouin-style camp in Wadi Rum, the Valley of the Moon, is remote, secluded and created to blend in with its surroundings both aesthetically and practically. Each king-size tented suite has an en suite with walk-through hot and cold rain showers and a private deck giving out over sunset views and starlit skies. This is also where we break the solo occupancy rule – to make the most upscale camp in Jordan happen, guests should be prepared to share a tent. Regardless, this is the perfect place to clear your head and lose yourself in the moment.
St. Regis Amman
This distinguished 5-star hotel is nestled in the prestigious 5th Circle, just moments from the city’s main attractions. St Regis has a reputation for excellent service and, in our experience, offers the most Club Avandra approach of this city’s more traditional style of hospitality. All rooms include the hotel’s bespoke butler service and from the glamour of its rooftop grill and lounge to the elegant spa, St Regis is a suitably luxurious start to your Jordanian adventure.
Kempinski Ishtar
This 5-star Dead Sea resort in one of the lowest points in earth is inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. A picture of contemporary elegance set in lush surrounds at 434 metres below sea level, it is not only located in one of nature’s most magnificent natural spas but has one of the largest purpose-built ones in the Middle East. At the beach, smother yourself in the rich Dead Sea mud with its high concentration of salts and minerals, and which removes impurities and enriches the skin with numerous minerals, float in the sea itself and then head to the spa for a sea salt scrub extracted directly from the Dead Sea. Or chill in one of six outdoor relaxation areas, women-only hydro-facilities, Tepidarium heated lounges, Dead Sea pools or hammam.
Exclusive access
This trip is infused with exclusive-to-Club Avandra experiences, from tours led by local female destination and tourism experts and trailblazers in regional female-led enterprise, to private viewings of local artists and royal collections. You’ll eat homecooked food in the kitchens of local chefs and dine in the grandeur of royal palaces in the company of some of the region’s most inspirational women (and we don’t just mean your fellow Club Avandra members).
Your itinerary
Today’s highlights
- Escorted VIP arrival in Amman
- Check in to the St Regis Amman
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Ahlan Wa Sahlan, welcome to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan!
Your arrival in Jordan will set the tone for the rest of your stay, as you land at Amman Queen Alia International Airport and are met planeside by a VIP agent who will introduce you to the Club Avandra partner representative from Intrepid Travel, and escort you through immigration, taking care of all visa arrangements and passport checking.
Your driver will be waiting for you outside the airport and drive you to your hotel in Amman.
You’ll check into your Grand Deluxe room at St. Regis Amman.
Meet your host, Debbie, and then enjoy dinner at leisure, either in one of the hotel’s three restaurants: Tamara, Segreta or Zenith with its rooftop views over Amman. Or venture outside – we’d recommend Solaya, within walking distance of the hotel.
Today’s highlights
- Tour of Amman with Muna Haddad
- Lunch at Jasmin House
- Private viewing at the Royal Automobile Museum
- Gala dinner by Sara Akel
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From 0630Â Breakfast at the hotel, served at the Mercado.
Your introduction to Jordan starts in Amman, with a tour of the capital – this fascinating city of contrasts. Located in a steep area in the Jordan Valley which is rich in agriculture, and the desert, it is a special fusion of old and contemporary. Amman is built over seven hills, and during this tour, you will meet Muna Haddad, the founding CEO of Baraka Destinations, a cluster of community-owned, locally-embedded tourism experiences that offer a unique taste and experience of Jordan’s villages and engage women in rural areas in community driven micro-enterprises. Muna – who is also the Founding President of the Jordan Trail Association, and was instrumental in the creation of the Meaningful Travel Map of Jordan – will take you downtown, into areas such as Luweibdeh, the old neighborhood that tell the story of the residents of the city.
12:30 Lunch at Jasmine House. Combine art and food with an intimate, homestyle, specially prepared Jordanian meal crafted from fresh, seasonal ingredients, in this warm and welcoming restaurant-cum-gallery. This is a chance to connect over food, savour authentic flavours, and learn more about local culinary traditions.
14:00Â Afternoon at leisure
19:00 You’ll be welcomed to a private viewing at the Royal Automobile Museum. The museum is owned by the royal court of Jordan, and the home to a unique collection of vehicles that trace Jordan’s modern history, including the legacy of King Hussein. Think of it as the history of Jordan in spotless chrome!
19:30 Dinner inside the museum amongst the rare collection of royal cars. Enjoy a gala dinner catered by renowned chef Sara Akel, featuring a refined menu that blends traditional Jordanian flavors with contemporary culinary artistry.
Today’s highlights
- Guided visit to Bethany Beyond the Jordan
- Madaba and mosaics
- Lunch at Hikayet Sitt
- Mount Nebo
- The Egeria Trail
- Petra
- Dinner in Little Petra
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From 0630Â Breakfast at the hotel
0930 Your day starts with a guided visit to Bethany Beyond the Jordan, the sacred site believed to be where Jesus was baptized. This spiritual and historical landmark holds deep religious significance – it’s also a beautiful place with a serene atmosphere surrounded by nature.
11:30 It’s then time to head to Madaba, best known for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics and notably a large Byzantine-era mosaic map of The Holy Land. St George Church is one of the most spectacular churches in the world, and the Mosaic Map of Jerusalem is painted on the floor of the church.
12:30 Lunch at Hikayet Sitt. This restaurant offers traditional home-cooked Jordanian meals in a 110-year-old house belonging to the Jordanian Karadsheh family. The name, which means ‘Grandmother’s Story’ reflects its focus on authentic, nostalgic experiences, including local games and activities. Your host will be owner Firyal, who cooks traditional dishes using fresh local produce and offers a wide variety of delicious mezza appetizers. She will demonstrate how to make Maqlouba, Jordan’s iconic layered rice, vegetable, and meat dish. You’ll get to witness the unique ‘flip’ that gives the dish its name, followed by a delicious lunch served fresh from the pot.
14:00 After lunch, you’ll visit Mount Nebo, the burial place of Moses. If the sky is clear enough, you’ll have a wonderful view up from the mountain of the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, and Jericho on the opposite bank of the Jordan River. Your tour of the biblical sites of Jordan includes areas of the Egeria Trail (a spiritual and cultural immersion through the early Christian landscape of Jordan).Â
15:00Â And now to Petra, the Rose-Red City and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, arriving at the hotel in time to settle in and freshen up before another magical evening.
After sunset Private dinner under the sky of Little Petra (Sad El-Nimer area).
Today’s highlights
- Guided tour of Petra
- Lunch at Nabatean Cave Bar
- Guided tour of Wadi Rum
- Wadi Rum sunset recital
- Dinner in Wadi Rum
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07:00Â Breakfast at the hotel.
08:00Â Your guide will meet you at the hotel and take you to explore Petra, the rose-red city and ancient capital of the Nabatean Kingdom. Carved entirely into sandstone over 2,000 years ago, Petra was once a major hub of the spice trade and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enter through the narrow Siq to the iconic Treasury, then discover temples, tombs, and dwellings scattered throughout this breathtaking archaeological wonder.
13:00 Lunch at the Nabatean Cave Bar, a unique bar built inside an ancient Nabataean tomb. At some 2,000 years old, it’s considered to be the oldest bar in the world.
14:00Â Continue to Wadi Rum, a desert of towering sandstone mountains and pink sands, where wind-sculpted cliffs form shapes resembling faces and animals. Enjoy a magical sunset from a sand dune accompanied by live violin, followed by dinner at the camp.
Later in the evening and in the heart of Wadi Rum desert, indulge in the time-honoured tradition of stargazing.
Today’s highlights
- Desert breakfast in Wadi Rum
- Afternoon at the Dead Sea
- Dinner at the Lemon Garden
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08:00 Today’s is a very special breakfast in the desert of Wadi Rum.
10:00 You will be transferred outside the desert by Bedouin 4×4 trucks to meet your Intrepid driver and drive to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth.
12:30 On arrival, check in and enjoy lunch and the afternoon at leisure. Lunch is under your own arrangements – we recommend one of the hotel’s six restaurants.
Indulge in the unique floating experience in the mineral-rich waters, or treat yourself to a rejuvenating spa session using the region’s famed therapeutic mud.
20:30 Dinner at Lemon Garden, set in a charming ambiance with panoramic views. You’ll enjoy a menu inspired by fresh, local flavours as you reminisce about the unforgettable experiences of your trip.
Your trip comes to an end today. After breakfast, you’ll be taken to the airport for your return flight.
What's included
TRIP INCLUDES:
- Club Avandra host
- Escorted VIP arrival in Amman
- Private airport transfers
- Tour of Amman with Muna Haddad
- Private viewing at the Royal Automobile Museum
- Guided tours of Bethany Beyond the Jordan, Petra, Madaba and mosaics, Mount Nebo, The Egeria Trail
- Breakfasts, lunches, drinks and dinners as specified
EXCLUDED:
- Return international flights
- Any drinks and meals not specified
- Spa treatments
- GratuitiesÂ
- Travel insurance
- Shopping.
Are you ready for this experience?
£5,750 per person
Based on 9 members travelling
This trip is only available for Club Avandra members
Email our specialist travel partner
Email one of our specialist travel partners to create your perfect experience.
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Speak to one of our specialist travel partners to create your perfect experience.
This trip is operated by Intrepid. Itineraries subject to change and standard check in times apply. Please refer to full T&C’s here.