Jordan Cultural Tour: Authentic Local & Community Experiences in Jordan - 08 Days

Highlights

Itinerary

Tour Overview

This 8-day immersive journey through Jordan is designed for travelers seeking authentic cultural connection, community engagement, and experiential learning, rather than traditional sightseeing alone.

The program thoughtfully blends Jordan’s most significant historical and natural landmarks with local family encounters, women-led initiatives, culinary traditions, and everyday life experiences. Beginning in Madaba and concluding in Amman, the itinerary is carefully paced to balance shared group experiences with personal exploration, including one intentionally designed free & flexible day.

Participants leave Jordan not only with memories of iconic places, but with a deeper understanding of its people, traditions, and contemporary life, built through genuine interaction, dialogue, and hospitality.

Tour Highlights

• Traditional welcome dinner in Madaba

• Byzantine mosaics & hands-on mosaic art workshop

• Biblical viewpoint at Mount Nebo

• Bedouin-led desert experience in Wadi Rum

• Experience an overnight stay at an authentic Bedouin camp or a luxury desert camp in Wadi Rum

• Guided heritage exploration of Petra (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

• Thakafat Jo women-led community dinner

• Dead Sea floating & wellness experience

• Free & flexible cultural exploration day in Amman

• Jerash Roman city exploration

• Village life experience in Umm Qais

• Iraq Al-Amir Women’s Cooperative visit

• Historic walking tour of Al-Salt

• Farewell dinner with the Jordan Horizons Tours team

Brief Day-by-Day Routing Overview

Detailed Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 01 – Arrival in Jordan | Amman Airport → Madaba

Arrival at Queen Alia International Airport, where guests are welcomed by our professional team for meet & assist service, including visa facilitation and private transfer to Madaba.

Arrival flexibility:

• Morning or midday arrivals: light orientation drive or café stop (time permitting)

• Late arrivals: direct transfer to the hotel

Welcome Dinner – Haret Jdoodna Restaurant
Dinner at Haret Jdoodna Restaurant (مطعم حارة جدودنا – “Our Ancestors’ Neighborhood”), a heritage-style restaurant designed like a traditional Jordanian village, serving classic home-style dishes and mezze.

Overnight: Madaba
Hotel: We offer a range of hotel options, including 3-star, 4-star, and 5-star accommodations. Please review the available choices under the Accommodation & Overnight Options section below.

Meals:
Breakfast: Not included
Lunch: Not included
Dinner: Haret Jdoodna Restaurant

Day 02 – Madaba → Mount Nebo → Mosaic Workshop → Wadi Rum

Visit St. George’s Church in Madaba, home to the famous 6th-century Byzantine mosaic map of the Holy Land.

Continue to Mount Nebo, traditionally believed to be where Prophet Moses viewed the Promised Land, offering panoramic views over the Jordan Valley.

Participate in a hands-on mosaic art workshop with local artisans, preserving one of Jordan’s oldest living crafts. Lunch follows at Moabite Cave Restaurant, featuring traditional Jordanian cuisine in a unique cultural setting.

Travel south to Wadi Rum for a 2-hour Bedouin-led jeep tour, exploring sandstone mountains, ancient inscriptions, and desert valleys.
Enjoy sunset followed by a traditional zarb & Bedouin BBQ dinner, cooked underground using time-honored techniques.

Overnight: Wadi Rum
Camp Overnight stay : Experience an overnight stay at an authentic Bedouin camp or a luxury desert camp in Wadi Rum. Please review the available choices under the Accommodation & Overnight Options section below.

Meals:
Breakfast: At the hotel (Madaba)
Lunch: Moabite Cave Restaurant
Dinner: Zarb & Bedouin BBQ

Day 03 – Wadi Rum → Petra | Heritage & Community

Enjoy sunrise in the desert at Beyond Wadi Rum Camp.

Optional early morning activities:

• Hot-air balloon ride (optional)

• Camel ride led by Bedouin hosts (optional)

Travel to Petra, the ancient Nabataean capital carved into rose-colored rock. Walk through the Siq to the iconic Treasury, learning about Nabataean engineering, water systems, and trade routes.

Lunch at Basin Restaurant, located inside Petra.

In the evening, experience Thakafat Jo, a women-led cultural initiative offering a home-hosted dinner with a local family, traditional Jordanian dishes, and meaningful cultural dialogue.

Optional Petra by Night.

Overnight: Petra
Hotel: We offer a range of hotel options, including 3-star, 4-star, and 5-star accommodations. Please review the available choices under the Accommodation & Overnight Options section below.

Meals:
Breakfast: At Beyond Wadi Rum Camp
Lunch: Basin Restaurant
Dinner: Thakafat Jo Community Dinner

Day 04 – Petra → Dead Sea → Amman

Depart Petra for the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth.

Optional stop at Wadi Mujib (seasonal: April–October).

Enjoy day use at a Dead Sea resort, including lunch, floating experience, mineral mud bath, and access to resort facilities.

In the evening, take part in a Jordanian cooking experience with Chef Wafa and her team, featuring hands-on preparation and a shared traditional dinner.

Overnight: Amman

Hotel: We offer a range of hotel options, including 3-star, 4-star, and 5-star accommodations. Please review the available choices under the Accommodation & Overnight Options section below.

Meals:
Breakfast: At the hotel
Lunch: Dead Sea Resort
Dinner: Jordanian Cooking Experience

Day 05 – Amman | Free & Flexible Cultural Exploration

An intentionally designed free and flexible day for rest, personal exploration, and independent discovery.

Suggested options include Downtown Amman (Al-Balad), the Roman Theatre, Amman Citadel, local cafés, markets, shopping, and street food.

Professional support remains available throughout the day for orientation or recommendations, while guests enjoy full freedom to explore at their own pace.

Overnight: Amman
Hotel: We offer a range of hotel options, including 3-star, 4-star, and 5-star accommodations. Please review the available choices under the Accommodation & Overnight Options section below.

Meals:
Breakfast: At the hotel
Lunch: Hashem Restaurant (suggested)
Dinner: Downtown Amman – on own

Day 06 – Amman → Jerash → Umm Qais → Amman

Visit Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman cities outside Italy.

Continue to Umm Qais for a home-hosted lunch at Galsoum’s Kitchen, offering traditional northern Jordanian cuisine and village storytelling.

Explore Umm Qais (ancient Gadara) with panoramic views over the Jordan Valley and the Sea of Galilee.

Return to Amman for dinner at Shams El Balad Restaurant, followed by free time in Jabal Al-Weibdeh.

Overnight: Amman

Hotel: We offer a range of hotel options, including 3-star, 4-star, and 5-star accommodations. Please review the available choices under the Accommodation & Overnight Options section below.

Meals:
Breakfast: At the hotel
Lunch: Galsoum’s Kitchen
Dinner: Shams El Balad Restaurant

Day 07 – Amman → Iraq Al-Amir → Al-Salt → Amman

Visit the Iraq Al-Amir Women’s Cooperative Society, learning about women’s empowerment through crafts and food production.

Continue to Al-Salt for a guided heritage walk through the historic old town, known for Ottoman architecture and traditions of coexistence.

Lunch at Al-Gherbal Restaurant, featuring traditional Salt cuisine.

Farewell Dinner – Jordan Horizons Tours Team
Farewell dinner at Tawaheen Al-Hawa Restaurant, offering a warm closing moment of reflection and shared experience.

Overnight: Amman

Hotel: We offer a range of hotel options, including 3-star, 4-star, and 5-star accommodations. Please review the available choices under the Accommodation & Overnight Options section below.

Meals:
Breakfast: At the hotel
Lunch: Al-Gherbal Restaurant
Dinner: Tawaheen Al-Hawa Restaurant

Day 08 – Departure

Transfer to Queen Alia International Airport for departure.

Meals:
Breakfast: At the hotel

Day-by-Day Meals Plan

This table outlines all meals included throughout the program, highlighting local restaurants, community-based dining, and cultural food experiences. Meals on free or flexible periods are intentionally designed to allow independent exploration.

Vegetarian and special dietary requirements are available upon request.

Accommodation & Overnights options 

3★ Hotels & Traditional Bedouin Camp

Note:
Customized quotations can be provided based on your preferred hotel/camp and room or tent category. The listed hotels are suggested options only; accommodations and overnight stays can be adjusted upon request.

4★ Hotels & Standard Tent at a Luxury Camp in Wadi Rum

Note:
Customized quotations are available according to the selected hotel/camp and room or tent category. All accommodations listed are suggestions and can be modified based on your preferences.

5★ Hotels & Standard Luxury Tent in Wadi Rum

Note:
We are happy to provide customized quotations based on your chosen hotels/camps and room or tent categories. The above accommodations are suggested options and can be tailored upon request.

✔️ Rates Include :

✔️ Meet & assist upon arrival and departure at Queen Alia International Airport
✔️ Visa on arrival (visa fees waived for eligible nationalities staying a minimum of 2 consecutive nights in Jordan)
✔️ All transfers in private, air-conditioned vehicles
✔️ English-speaking local guide during guided touring days

(Other guides are available : Spanish , French , Italian , German , Romanian ...etc )
✔️ Accommodation for 7 nights as per itinerary (Breakfasts are included )
✔️ Meals as specified in the itinerary: daily breakfast and selected lunches & dinners (Check Day-by-Day Meals Plan above)
✔️ Guided cultural, community, and experiential activities mentioned in the program
✔️ Entrance fees to all sites listed in the itinerary
✔️ Hands-on experiences (mosaic workshop, cooking experience, community visits, etc.)
✔️ Bedouin-led 4x4 jeep tour in Wadi Rum
✔️ Dead Sea day-use experience (access to facilities as per resort policy)
✔️ Bottled water during transfers and touring days
✔️ All local taxes and service charges

❌ Rates Exclude :

❌ International flights and airline tickets
❌ Meals not explicitly mentioned as included
❌ Personal expenses (laundry, beverages, phone calls, minibar, etc.)
❌ Tips for guides, drivers, and service staff (recommended but optional)
❌ Travel insurance (mandatory; to be arranged prior to travel)
❌ Optional activities not listed in the itinerary (e.g. Petra by Night, hot-air balloon, camel rides)
❌ Any services or expenses not clearly mentioned under “Rates Include”

Included Cultural, Community & Experiential Activities

This program is built around experiential learning and meaningful cultural exchange:

1. Traditional welcome dinner – Madaba

2. Byzantine mosaic visit & hands-on workshop

3. Mount Nebo biblical viewpoint

4. Moabite Cave culinary experience

5. Bedouin-led desert life experience – Wadi Rum

6. Zarb dinner & desert overnight

7. Petra guided heritage exploration

8. Thakafat Jo women-led community dinner

9. Dead Sea wellness & floating experience

10. Jordanian cooking experience with Chef Wafa

11. Free & flexible cultural exploration day – Amman

12. Jerash Roman city exploration

13. Home-hosted village lunch – Umm Qais

14. Jabal Al-Weibdeh cultural evening

15. Iraq Al-Amir women’s empowerment visit

16. Al-Salt heritage walk & traditional lunch

17. Farewell dinner with Jordan Horizons Tours team

Optional Tours & Add-On Experiences

To further enhance your journey, we offer a selection of optional tours and add-on experiences that can be enjoyed alongside your main itinerary. These activities are entirely optional and designed to enrich your travel experience with unique cultural, leisure, and adventure moments.
All optional services can be arranged locally and do not affect the core itinerary.

1. Camel Ride & Desert Tour – Wadi Rum

Experience the timeless tradition of desert travel with a camel ride across the spectacular landscapes of Wadi Rum. This relaxing experience offers a unique perspective of the desert and an authentic Bedouin touch.

• Cost: 15 JOD / 21 USD per hour

• Advance booking: Not required

• How to book: Can be arranged upon arrival in Wadi Rum directly through the camp

2. Turkish Bath (Hammam) Experience – Amman & Petra

Unwind and rejuvenate with a traditional Turkish bath experience, combining steam, exfoliation, and relaxation. This is a perfect way to relax after a day of sightseeing.

• Locations: Amman & Petra

• Advance booking: Not required

• How to book: Once in Amman or Petra, simply ask your driver or guide to arrange it for you

3. Hot Air Balloon Ride – Wadi Rum

Enjoy a breathtaking hot air balloon ride over the desert at sunrise, offering panoramic views of Wadi Rum’s dramatic rock formations and vast open landscapes.

• Advance booking: Required

• Availability: Subject to availability and weather conditions

• Note: This experience operates early in the morning and depends on favorable weather

4. Royal Automobile Museum – Amman

Visit the Royal Automobile Museum in Amman, showcasing an impressive collection of historic and modern vehicles related to Jordan’s royal history and global automotive heritage.

• Advance booking: Not required

• How to visit: Can be added easily during your Amman city tour

5. Stargazing Experience – Wadi Rum

Discover the magic of the desert night sky with a stargazing experience in Wadi Rum. With minimal light pollution, the desert offers exceptional conditions for observing stars, planets, and constellations.

• Advance booking: Not required

• How to arrange: Can be organized locally through the camp

6. Petra by Night - Petra 

Experience the magic of Petra by Night, where the Siq and the Treasury are illuminated by hundreds of candles, accompanied by traditional Bedouin music and storytelling. This atmospheric evening visit offers a completely different perspective of Petra compared to daytime exploration.

• Operating nights: Usually Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday (subject to change)

• Advance booking: Not required

• How to book: Tickets can be purchased locally in Petra or arranged through your driver or guide

• Note: Entry ticket is not included in the regular Petra day pass , the rate is 30 JD per person

Tour Booking Conditions

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