For 10,000 years travelers have marveled the majestic archaeological sites and natural wonders of hospitable Jordan. The abundance of unique sights across the land is only but a reflection of the rich culture heritage of the Kingdom. Visitors are enchanted, mystified and captivated by the famous rose-red Nabatean city of Petra; Greco-Roman temples and cities; Crusader and Umayyad castles; the spectacular deserts made famous by Lawrence of Arabia; innumerable biblical sites identified with Job, Moses, Elijah, John the Baptist and Jesus Christ; the Red Sea and the Dead Sea; and the capital city of Amman- a fascinating mixture of ancient and modern contrasts.

And Jordan because…

It offers venues that cannot be duplicated anywhere in the world for special events and theme parties; a wide selection of adventures from 4 X 4 trips through the deserts; climbing and hiking; camel caravans; diving in the clear waters of the Red Sea; and “Green Tourism” through protected attractions and nature reserves.

And because…

There's shopping for rugs, antiques and handicrafts native to Jordan; a large choice of 5-star deluxe hotels; relaxing spas with treatments based on local and European products and an array of Arabic restaurants for a taste of delicious Jordanian specialties as well as fine international restaurants with menus to please every palate.
Jordan offers myriad unique venues for special events and fascinating possibilities for theme parties. Just a few of them are listed here:
 

	The Hijaz Railway	Dinners at the Citadel in Amman
	An Evening in Little Petra	Dead Sea Barbeque
	Dine in the Crusader Castle of Karak	Back into Roman History in Jerash
	An Evening at Kan Zaman Village	1001 Arabian Nights Dinner

The Hijaz Railway

The Hijaz Rail Way was built by the Ottoman to run from Damascus to Mecca.
Construction began in 1890, but was never completed because of attacks by robbers and by Lawrence of Arabia and his men. Although a great deal of it was destroyed at that time, much of the line has been rebuilt and runs through all of Jordan. Imagine going to Amman's main rail station and finding an exclusively chartered old steam engine train waiting to carry the guests on an exciting trip into the desert.
Many enhancements are possible for the trip: musicians on board to entertain during the trip…Robbers on horseback to attack the rain and take “hostages”. A Bedouin tent along the roadbed for a “Lawrence of Arabia” coffee break. A catered lunch on the platform of the jiza station…and more.

Dinners at the Citadel in Amman

Choices abound for special parties high atop one of Amman's hills at the citadel in the shadow of the 2 nd century Temple of Hercules. A reception and dinner can be held in the 8 the century Umayyad Palace with waiters in period costumes. Or an evening under a Bedouin tent with traditional Middle Eastern food and entertainment.

An Evening in Little Petra

Nothing can top a visit to the splendors of Petra except a continuation of the excitement and mystery in Little Petra with its own 1150-foot “Siq” entrance, temples, tombs and houses. Colorful carpets line a large candle-lit tent. Musicians play during dinner and light show and dancers follow. It is an awesome finale to one of the most impressive visits to Jordan.

A Dead Sea Barbeque

Swim and never sink in the buoyancy of the Dead Sea at a private beach. It is almost impossible to stand by in the salty water. Then enjoy a Middle Eastern barbeque served under a tent with comfortable seating on cushions at low tables. A delightful way to spend half a day an hour away from Amman.

Dine in the Crusader Castle of Karak

Descend deep into 12th century Karak Castle to the vaulted underground Great Hall for a memorable meal. Candles flicker, musicians play and guests can imagine what it was to live the days of the Crusades.

Back into Roman History in Jerash

Guests are divided into teams and on arrival each team is given a map for a treasure hunt that leads them through the splendid ruins and historical paths of this ancient Roman city. After the treasure is found and a coffee break is served, there are team games Roman styles followed by lunch in this spectacular setting.

An Evening at Kan Zaman Village
 
The hundred-year old village of Kan Zaman is now a charming complex of shops, a handicraft center, cafes and a large restaurant located in what originally were huge, very high-ceilinged stables. The shops sell everything from spices to antiques and in many of those visitors can watch the artisans practice their trades. Local music provides the background for a delicious home-style dinner.

1001 Arabian Nights Dinner

This lovely themed dinner is organized in one of the deluxe hotels in Amman. A Bedouin tent, rich décor and waiters in costume provide the ambiance of a Sultans palace. Seating is Oriental style at low tables. Live musical entertainment, a folklore troupe and belly dancers enhance a magical evening.

 

THE BIBLICAL JORDAN-The Beginning

The part of the Hold Land on the eastern side of the Jordan River, in the country of Jordan, is blessed with the rich spiritual heritage of the full story of Salvation as recorded in the Bible. Abraham, Job, Moses, Ruth, Elijah, John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, Paul and other leading figured from the Bible performed pivotal elements of their divinely-ordained mission in the ancient landscape now within the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

This is why increasing numbers of religious pilgrims today begin their pilgrimages in Jordan and continue into ancient Canaan, modern Palestine and Israel- for in so doing, they retrace the entire saga of God's revelation to mankind and the development of the Abraham faiths.

In and around southern Jordan, God first manifested Himself to human beings, as documented in the narratives related to Abraham, Job and Moses. Subsequently, this land witnessed the missions of numerous prophets, the completion of the First Covenant through Moses and the Israelites, and the launching of the Christian faith through the Second Covenant, heralded by John him Baptist and completed through Jesus Christ.

The very name of the country and its famous river of baptism and spiritual cleansing-Jordan- retain the unique heritage of the land where God repeatedly interacted with human beings and sent them His message of righteousness, love and peace. The heartland of this spiritual landscape that witnessed the unfolding of God's salvation History is the area alongside the Dead sea and Jordan River, in today's west-central Jordan. This area was called the “Plains of Moab” in the Old Testament. This is the only area in the Holy Land that combines the traditions of Moses, Elijah, John the Baptist, and Jesus Christ-key figures in God's redemption of humankind and call for human righteousness.

Other than the central covenants that God made with humankind through Moses and Jesus, Jordan is also where Jacob wrestled with the angel of God, Job suffered and was rewarded for his faith, and Elijah ascended to Heaven. This is where Moses delivered God's Law to humankind, including the great commandments to “love God”, “pursue justice and only justice”, and to “choose life”. Here is where Jesus was baptized by John and anointed by God, where he called his first disciples, and where the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit manifested itself explicitly during the baptism along the Jordan River.

In the land of Jordan, God frequently appeared and encountered humankind in the form of a whirlwind, a cloud of light or dust, an angel, or a voice speaking with the prophets. One biblical passage (Habakkuk 3:3) says explicitly that “God came from Tem an, and the Holy One from Mount Par an”. Deuteronomy 33:2 notes that “The Lord came from Sinai, and dawned down on them from Sir; He shone from Mount Par an”. Tem an, Sir and Par an are in the area of Edom, in southern Jordan.

God repeatedly designated Jordan as a land of peace and refuge, where Ruth, Elijah, David, Jesus, John the Baptist and the first Christian communities, among others, found safety and peace. Most of the great biblical prophets journeyed from the east bank of the Jordan River to the west-symbolically moving from the “wilderness” where men and women are tested, to the promised Holy Land, the Kingdom of God. Among these leading figured whose journeys took them from the east to the west banks of the Jordan River were Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Elijah, John the Baptist and Jesus.

Most of the holy sites in Jordan where the biblical prophets performed miracles or reached out to ordinary people are identified, excavated and easily accessible to visitors today. New sites are discovered every year. Religious pilgrims and visitors to Jordan often can visit archaeological excavations and share in the excitement of identifying ancient remains of places where John the Baptist preached and heralded the arrival of the Messiah, Jesus performed miracles, Elijah lived by faith and Moses completed his mission form God.

What do the Roman Emperor Hadrian, the Prophet Moses, and Lawrence of Arabia has in common? These are just three of the many historical personalities who passed through Jordan in ancient times, and whose itineraries now attract adventure seekers and action vacationers from throughout the world.

Outdoor ‘action tourism' is expanding at a fast rate in Jordan, and promises to remain one of the most dynamic and innovative travel industry sectors for years to come. Several Jordanian companies have started to specialize in eco-tourism and action tourism, providing the combination of safety, adventure, and comfortable facilities that make action tourism such an exciting proposition today.

Jordan has great comparative advantage in this sector, based on several assets: guaranteed sunshine for eight months of the year; a base of powerful, unique cultural attractions such as Petra, Jerash, Jesus' baptism site, and the early Islamic desert castles; and, a wide range of very different, often stunning natural environments that are easily accessible and virtually undiscovered by the tourism industry. Quality hotels and restaurants throughout the country mean that thrill-seekers who want to pamper themselves in between adventure treks have a wide range of facilities to choose from.

Jordan already caters to the more traditional vacationer who likes to combine a visit to an ancient site in the morning with a swim, a round of golf, or a game of tennis or bowling in the afternoon. The exciting new horizons in action tourism allow visitors to push themselves to new levels of adventure and endurance while soaking up natural marvels and dramatic cultural attractions from the ancient world.

For example, a small group of people in 4-wheel-drive vehicles can retrace the journey of the Emperor Hadrian from north to south Jordan, taking in biblical cities and legionary fortresses. Or, more ambitiously, a caravan of 25 people on camels or donkeys can set off to retrace the journeys of Lawrence of Arabia in the central highlands and eastern deserts of Jordan, spending a week en route and camping in a different place every night. Parts of these itineraries can be done along the edge of the desert in steam-powered World War One-vintage trains, the same as those that were attacked by the forces of the Great Arab Revolt and Lawrence nearly a century ago.

Nature enthusiasts have many options in Jordan: the vast, silent drama of Wadi Rum, the forested hills of central Jordan, or the plunging Jordan Rift Valley that includes the Dead Sea the lowest spot on earth at 410 meters below sea level. The Red Sea resort of Aqaba is always warm, balmy, and enticing for divers and other water sports enthusiasts. Aqaba offers a full range of facilities for speed boating, scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, fishing, swimming, water skiing, wind surfing, or simply loafing and sunning in the warm crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea. The sparkling purple mountains surrounding Aqaba beckon hikers who seek new adventures, and unconquered terrain.

Jordan boasts other strange, enticing waters that provide relaxing interludes for action vacationers who want to rest their spirits and soak their bodies. Quality hotels and spas at the Dead Sea and the nearby Azraq Main gorge allow visitors to experience several different kinds of mineral hot springs and the thick, warm brine of the Dead Sea, which are both soothing and therapeutic. One of the great water adventures in Jordan is to hike, climb and sometimes even wade or swim through the magnificent gorge of the Wadi Mujeb, along the east coast of the Dead Sea, to reach a magical pool and waterfall that emerge like a mirage from amidst the surrounding warm cliffs and barren hillsides.
The more daring action visitor to Jordan is likely to climb mountains in Wadi Rum to conquer sheer granite cliffs that retain the inscriptions of local climbers who were there 5000 years ago and more.

Thrill-seekers who want to go beyond the ordinary will get into a helicopter or hot air balloon and rise to mountain-tops in Wadi Rum or around Petra, from where they can trek back down to earth. Gliding and private plane rentals are also available in Jordan, only from Amman airport.
Horseback riders can take a few days to retrace the segments of the ancient Spice, Silk, and Frankincense Routes that pass through the green hills of Petra, Amman, and north Jordan. More daring riders will want to mount their Arabian steeds for a four-day trek through the eastern desert, stopping for rest and water at several early Islamic desert castles and caravan stations. This trip re-enacts the original Arabian pony express mail service that operated here in the 7th Century.