JORDAN ISLAMIC PROGRAM
8 Days / 7 Nights
DAY 1: ARRIVAL AT AMMAN AIRPORT / AMMAN (D)
Arrive Amman Airport where our airport Pan East staff will meet the group at the gate just as they leave the airplane. Full assistance with the visa and customs formalities will be provided at Amman Airport. Leave the Airport for the transfer to Hotel in Amman, and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Buffet Dinner and overnight at Hotel in Amman.
DAY 2: AMMAN / KAHIF AL RAQIM / DESERT CASTLES / BLESSED TREE / AMMAN (B, L, D)
Buffet Breakfast at hotel. Just 10 kilometers outside of Amman near the village of Al Raqim is the Kahif Al Raqim (the Cave of the Seven Sleepers). This popular site is mentioned in the Holy Quran in a Sura named Al Kahf or The Cave. Persecutes by the despotic rule of the Trajan, a group of pious youths took refuge in this cave. To preserve them, God put them to sleep and when they awoke 309 solar years later; they believed they had only been asleep for a day or so. Lunch in Azraq Rest House. Drive to the eastern desert of Jordan to visit the Desert Castles. These castles were built between the 7th century and 8th century AD, under the caliphs of the Umayyad dynasty. Their fine mosaics, frescoes, and stone carvings are beautiful examples of early Islamic art and architecture. Visit Qasr Amra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then on to Qasr Al Kharrana and Qasr Al Azraq. Continue near the town Safawi, in the area of Mafraq, east of Amman you can find The Blessed Tree. Here Prophet Mohammad met as a young boy Bahira, the Christian monk who foretold his career as prophet. The meeting happened in the shade of a tree, when Mohammad was traveling with a caravan from Mecca to Damascus with his uncle Abu Talib. Drive back to Hotel in Amman for Buffet Dinner & overnight.
DAY 3: AMMAN / JERASH / PROHPET HUD TOMB / AJLUN / AMMAN (B, D)
Buffet Breakfast at hotel. Drive to the Graeco-Roman City Of Jerash, the largest and best preserved Roman city outside Italy. Within the remaining city walls are colonnaded streets, hilltop temples, two theatres, plazas, baths and public Square. On a hilltop not far from Jerash is a modern Mosque built over a cave where the Prophet Hud is believed to be buried. He preached the people of AD urging them to worship the One God instead of their many idols. Lunch in Artemis Restaurant in Jerash. Drive to Ajlun situated in the northern region of Jordan to visit Ajlun’s Castle (Qal’at Ar-Rabad). Ajlun’s Castle is a fine example of the genius of medieval Arab military and Islamic architecture. The castle was built by Saladin’s general in 1184 AD to control the iron mines of Ajlun and to counter the progress of the Crusaders. Drive back to Hotel in Amman for Buffet Dinner & overnight.
DAY 4: UM QAYS / YARMOUK RIVER / JORDAN VALLEY / PELLA / AMMAN (B, D)
Buffet Breakfast at hotel. Drive north to Umm Qays perched on a hilltop overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights. Um Qays boats an impressive colonnaded terrace and the remains of two theatres. It is also the place where Jesus Christ performed his famous miracle of the Gadarene Swine. Proceed to the site of the famous Battle of Yarmouk on the river banks. In the face of Muslim Expansion, the Byzantine Emperor Heracilus gathered a large army that fraught the Muslim Army at Yarmouk in 639 AD. Although the Muslims were greatly outnumbered, their commander Khlaid Bin Al Walid led them to victory and ultimately control over Greater Syria. Drive via the Jordan Valley to visit the tombs of Abu Ubeida Amer Bin Al Jarrah, who was a relative of the Prophet Mohammad and one of the first to convert to Islam. He participated in all major events and was of the Blessed Ten to whom the prophet promised paradise. As supreme commander of the Northern Muslim Army he successfully conquered Syria. At the age of 58 he fell victim to the Great Plague, and his tomb in the central of the Jordan Valley is a major Islamic centre with a mosque. Visit the tomb of Shurhabil Bin Hasana, who was a venerable companion and one of the early Muslins who fled to Abyssinia. Known for his strong faith, intelligence, bravery and administrative abilities, he participated in the Battle of Yarmouk and the conquest of Jerusalem. He died from the plague on the same day as Abu Ubeida Amer Bin Al Jarrah. Lunch in Pella Rest House. Continue to visit Pella known in Arabic as Fahl is the site where the famous Battle of Fahl took place in January 635 AD between the Byzantines and the Muslim Army. The outcome was a Muslim victory and liberation from the Byzantines. Pella continued to prosper under the Islamic Umayyad rule. Drive back to Hotel in Amman for Buffet Dinner & overnight.
DAY 5: AMMAN / SALT / DEAD SEA / AMMAN (B, D)
Buffet Breakfast at hotel. Drive to the ancient town of As Salt, which was the administrative center of the Ottmoman rule in the region. Visit the shrine of Prophet Shu’ayb or Jethro, the father in law of Prophet Moses, within a modern mosque in Wadi Shu’ayb. He repeatedly preached to the people about monotheism and urged them to abandon their corrupt practices. Visit the shrine of the Prophet Yusha or Joshua, the apprentice of the Prophet Moses and later his successor, within a mosque on a hill bearing his name to the west of As Salt. He led the army of the tribes of Israel in the conquest of the land of Palestine. The Prophet Ayyoub or Job is mentioned in the Holy Quran four times. His legendary patience and faith gave him the strength to endure great hardships and he was rewarded with blessings. His shrine is in an area known as Khirbet Ayyoub southwest of Salt. Lunch in Amman Beach Resort in Dead Sea. Drive to the Dead Sea the lowest spot on earth 400 meters below sea level. It is believed to be the site of five biblical cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar. The Prophet Lut or Lot was the nephew of Prophet Ibrahim or Abraham where settled in the area of the Dead Sea at Sodom. Spend the day bathing and relaxing in the gently lapping waters of the Dead Sea and be amazed that you can never sink! Drive back to Hotel in Amman for Buffet Dinner & overnight.
DAY 6: AMMAN / MUKAWIR/ KARAK / TAFILAH / PETRA (B, D)
Buffet Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Mukawir where Prophet Yayha, John the Baptist, was beheaded by Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great at King Herod’s citadel situated on a mountain top close to the village of Mukawir. Prophet Yahya’s head was sent to Damascus but his body remained in Mukawir. Continue to Karak to visit the site of the most significant battle fought during the Prophet Mohammad’s lifetime, the battle of Mutah in 629 AD. It took the lives of his closest companions who died fighting the combined Byzantine and Ghassanid Arab armies. Today, the tombs of the venerable companions, Zaid bin Harith, Ja’far in Abi Talib, and Abdullah bin Ruwah can be visited in the town of Al Mazar Al Janubui near Karak. Afterwards, visit Karak’s Crusaders Castle built in the 12th century AD, which is situated on a hilltop about 1000 meters above sea level and surrounded by a valley on three sides. Lunch in Kings Castle Restaurant in Karak Drive south to Tafilah to visit the shrine of Al Harith bin Umayr Al Azdi, who was the venerable companion sent by the Prophet Mohammad to carry a message to the ruler of Busra in Syria inviting him to adopt Islam. When he arrived in Tafilah, the governor of Mutah captured and beheaded him. This act was of one the main causes that led to the Muslim military campaign and the famous battle of Mutah. Continue to visit the shrine of the Prophet Sheeth, who was the third son of Adam and credited with inventing the arts and crafts. Proceed to the greatest city of the Arab nation which existed 2000 years ago: Petra. Buffet Dinner & overnight at Hotel in Petra.
DAY 7: VISIT PETRA / AMMAN (B, D)
Buffet Breakfast at hotel. The ancient Nabatean city of Petra was recently voted as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. In 1985 Petra was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Begin your visit by enjoying a walk or a short horse ride from Petra’s main entrance to the entrance of the old city “Al Siq”, which is a 350 meters narrow canyon. As you reach the end of the Siq, the first and greatest monument of Petra slowly comes into view. This is the famous Treasury monument “Al Khazneh”. Petra “The Rose City” is an extraordinary and unique place, which was built by the Arab Nabateans more than 2000 years ago. The Nabateans carved their monumental tombs, palaces, temples and treasury from the desert’s natural rose-colored rocks and sandstones. Indulge yourself, and allow our professional PAN EAST guide to walk you through the architectural and spiritual wonders of this majestic place explaining every detail in sight. Lunch inside Petra at Al Anbat Tent Restaurant Drive to Hotel in Amman for Buffet Dinner & overnight.
DAY 8: TRANSFER TO AMMAN AIRPORT FOR DEPARTURE (B)
Buffet Breakfast at hotel Transfer to Amman Airport for departure including meeting and assistance during formalities.
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