Middle East - Lawrence's Arabia
9
days - Jerash, Amman, Kerak, Wadi Rum and Aqaba
The mountains and desert
of Jordan radiate a wild and desolate beauty all of their own.
It is these sun-baked wadis and giant granite crags that Lawrence
describes in his 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom' - the rock-hewn
city of Petra, the sandy defile of Wadi Rum and ancient Jerash.
We also have time to enjoy the Red Sea.
Wadi Rum & the Red Sea
Leaving Petra in 4WD vehicles, we push deep into the craggy
desert and cliffs of Wadi Rum. This is 'Lawrence of Arabia' country,
where we'll sleep in a bedouin-style encampment, under a star-filled
desert sky. All around us stretch the solitary vertical cliffs
of the wadi (dried -up river bed); we have the chance to explore
this majestic landscape by camel. Then continue by 4WD to the Red
Sea coast, where we can unwind and snorkel over the coral reef.
Finally we return to Amman, pausing en route to experience the
sensation of floating in the Dead Sea.
Jerash & the King's Highway
Beginning at Jerash, one of the most impressive Roman
cities surviving anywhere, we journey via biblical Mt Nebo to
Madaba and then southwards along the legendary King's Highway
towards Kerak. Here we explore the crusader castle of Kerak,
imposingly sited on a crag overlooking the rocky desert.
Exploring Petra
We finally reach Petra, one of the world's archaeological
wonders. Tucked away like a long-lost Shangri-la, the 'Rose Red
City' is carved from a mountain of multi-coloured sandstone and
approached through a narrow but towering siq (gorge). Local legend
has it that the rock-cut Treasury once stored the gifts of the
Queen of Sheba to Solomon. We have almost two full days at Petra:
ample time to discover some of the hidden corners of the site,
including the vast and impressive Monastery and the High Place
with its fine views of distant Wadi Araba.
For
more details and information contact our experienced travel
agents:
293 Ponsonby Road Ponsonby Auckland
New Zealand
Ph: 09 360 0443| E-mail
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