Catherine’s trip to Jordan back in June will be a good holiday guide to Jordan and the Rose Red City of Petra. Give her a call if you want to discuss your travel plans to Jordan.

Jordan and the Red Rose City of Petra have been on my wish list of places to visit for a long time. Having read so much about this magical and intriguing Kingdom, I was full of excitement at the prospects of visiting the lowest point on earth The Dead Sea, the infamous Rose Red City that is Petra, the jewel in Jordan’s crown and to follow in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia as I cross the desert landscapes of Wadi Rum.

My first stop Jordan’s capital Amman after a four-hour flight delay from London and a slow process through immigration, I finally reached our hotel tired and hungry.  A quick call to room service and a few hours of sleep set us up for what was to become one of the highlights of our trip.

A friendly local face

After an early breakfast we took a taxi to the Roman remains of Jerash, no words could prepare me for my visit to this extraordinary sight- one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world.  Once buried for centuries it is hard to believe that this extensive sight was only excavated in the last 70 years.  You will find arches, churches, spacious squares, colonnaded streets, theatres and hill top temples.

Colonnaded Street Jerash

After leaving Jerash, we headed back to Amman to discover this modern, lively and ancient metropolis and one of the world’s oldest inhabited places.

With its contracting old and new quarters the city has much to offer, the Archaeological Museum houses the Dead Sea scrolls, the impressive Citadel is a highlight as is the 6000 seat Roman theatre which is carved into the hillside and still in use today.

The Citadel Amman

After Amman, we travel south along the Kings Highway, once part of the Silk Road visiting Madaba ‘The city of Mosaics’ believed to have the oldest surviving map of the Holy Land. The Monastery at Mount Nebo where Moses viewed the Promised Land with fantastic views of the Dead Sea the Jordan River, and, on a clear day Bethlehem and Jerusalem. The Baptism Site, where Jesus is believed to have been baptized by John the Baptist, and the Castle of Kerak before arriving in Petra.

Mount Nebo

Petra, at last we arrived at our home for the next three nights, the Movenpick Resort Hotel located right at the entrance to Petra.  We had planned our time in Petra carefully so that we had the opportunity of visiting the Rose Red City both during the day and at night.

Nothing can prepare you for what has to be one of the world’s most famous walks The Siq. The walk is 1km through this narrow gorge with towering pink cliffs on either side.

The Treasury by day

As you start to reach the end of the Siq I found myself filling up with anticipation getting ready to hold my breath and as my the first glimpse of the spectacular Treasury came into sight that’s exactly what I did as one of the greatest wonders on earth unfolded in front of me, truly breathtaking.  I shall always keep with me my first sighting of this amazing sight. The sheer scale of its construction and the many shades of pink were simply awe-inspiring.

The Tombs of Petra

To witness Petra by day truly is spectacular but Petra by night is also a very magical experience, as night falls this desert setting takes on a completely new personality. Approximately 2000 candles will light the way as you walk through the Siq and everyone talks in a hushed voice as they make their way to the Treasury.

Once you reach the Treasury, you are greeted by this amazing scene of low candle light, which light up the entire area whilst people sit sipping tea, listening to a local Bedouin who tells us tales from the past, then suddenly a lone flautist plays a haunting tune. Magical!

The magical Petra at night

A quick visit to Wadi Rum and then on to the Dead Sea where we spend our final three nights just chilling out.