Jordan Real Food Adventure
6 Days Starting and ending in Amman
Visiting: Amman, Petra / Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum
Tour operator:
Tour code:
EEZF
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99 years
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Tour Overview
There’s no doubt that Jordan’s ancient wonders and desert landscapes are absolutely remarkable, but any local will tell you one of the country’s greatest pleasures is its food – so pull up a chair, share dishes and make memories on this 6-day adventure for food lovers. Discover Jordan’s diverse heritage at tables across the country, float in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea, zip through Wadi Rum on a jeep safari, and uncover the majesty of Petra. Be welcomed into local homes for dinner, have breakfast with a shepherd, learn cherished family recipes during a cooking class, and dine with a Bedouin community in the desert.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Amman
Location: Amman
Meals Included: dinner
Ahlan wa sahlan! Welcome to Amman. Your food adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm. This trip puts a focus on the delicious cuisine of Jordan, a gastronomy shaped by centuries of social and political change. Garlic, onions, tomato sauce, olive oil, lemon and za’atar (a blend of sumac, sesame seeds, salt and other spices) are all big-ticket items, and should pop up often on this adventure. After your meeting, get your first taste of Jordanian cuisine at a local restaurant that’s a favourite of royals, diplomats and celebrities travelling through Amman. Your plant-based dinner will consist of their famous Jordanian stuffed falafel, which is fresh and crunchy on the outside while fluffy on the inside. There’s also the chance to dip bread through smooth creamy hummus and moutabel – a smoky eggplant dip served with Arabic salad.
Included Activities:
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Day 2: Petra / Dead Sea
Location: Petra / Dead Sea
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Start your day with a visit to a breakfast joint that’s a favourite among locals. Walk in, choose a hot, fresh loaf and fill it with baked eggs, cheese, spices or anything else you want from the counter. After a filling breakfast, board a bus and head to Madaba, home of the acclaimed sixth-century mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land at St George's Church. Check out the mosaics then head to the Dead Sea. This body of water is famously salty – 9.6 times saltier than the ocean. As a result, it’s believed to have healing properties that can be tested during a swim (or float!). After drying off, prepare for a traditional picnic lunch, a mezze style spread of kibbeh (fried meat with wheat), manakish (flatbread with za’atar and olive oil), spinach bread and cheeses, followed by a cup of shaneeneh (an aged goat milk yoghurt drink) and a serving of hareeseh (a sweet, syrupy pudding). Continue to Petra for dinner, where you’ll learn from a local family how to prepare mansaf, delicious lamb with fermented, dried yoghurt sauce. After a hearty meal and a few shared stories with the family, arrive at your hotel near the ancient ruins of Petra.
Included Activities:
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Day 3: Petra
Location: Petra
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Spend the morning exploring ancient Petra during a guided tour. Known as one of the new ‘seven wonders of the world’, this archaeological city sits within 80-metre-high cliff walls. The iconic treasury, carved into the face of one of these cliffs, is the highlight of this visit. The site is expansive and to explore it all requires quite a bit of walking, and a basic level of fitness will enhance your experience. With a free afternoon to proceed at your own pace, there’s ample time to see the museum, the Roman amphitheatre, the palace and other places – just chat to your leader for suggestions on the best spots to go. Once the day is done, head back to your hotel to put your feet up.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 4: Wadi Rum
Location: Wadi Rum
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
Rise early – today’s breakfast will be shared with a local shepherd in the beautiful countryside. Tuck into a mezze spread and take the chance to chat to the shepherd about their everyday life and customs. Afterwards, head on to Wadi Rum, a place often referred to as The Valley of the Moon. Explore the sparse red sand dunes, steep craggy mountains and the legendary Seven Pillars of Wisdom rock formation on a 4-hour jeep ride through the region. Later, head back to a Wadi Rum campsite for a traditional Bedouin barbecue known as zarb, one of the staples of Bedouin culture, capturing a long running tradition of cooking food underground in earth ovens. Bedouin locals will prepare dinner by digging a large hole in the ground and stoking a coal fire underneath it. Then, meat is prepared with water, lemon juice, pepper and salt before adding a variety of vegetables. Dig into this hearty meal before settling in for an evening under the stars.
Included Activities:
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Day 5: Amman
Location: Amman
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Fuel up for the day with a delicious Bedouin breakfast, typically consisting of labneh (strained yoghurt), olives, za’atar, jebneh (cheese pastry) and tomatoes. You may get the chance to wash it all down with a cup of non-alcoholic Bedouin whiskey. Drive back to Amman through stunning desert scenery and stop for a yummy falafel sandwich along the way. The final meal of your adventure is an extra special one. Take part in a class at the Beit Sitti cooking school, run by three sisters in the home of their grandmother, dedicated to preserving her traditional recipes and sharing her legacy. Maqluba is on the menu tonight. Literally translating to ‘upside down’, maqluba is a casserole with rice, vegetables and chicken which is cooked, flipped, then served with either yoghurt or an Arab salad with tahina sauce. Dessert this evening is a slice of warm knafeh – delicious buttery cheese pastry soaked in sweet, sugar syrup. Savour this last meal with newfound friends before the trip comes to an end tomorrow morning.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Amman
Location: Amman
Meals Included: breaksfast
There are no activities planned for today and you’re free to depart at any time today. If you would like to spend some more time in Amman, we’re happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability). Ask your leader for more tasty local recommendations if you plan to spend more time in Jordan.
What's Included
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Amman - Beit Sitti maqluba cooking class and meal
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Madaba - St Georges Church
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Amman - Knafeh tasting
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Amman - Welcome Dinner
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Petra - Local Family Dinner
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Dead Sea - Visit and float
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Petra - Guided tour of Petra
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Wadi Rum - 4WD jeep safari and desert camp
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Wadi Rum - Zarb dinner
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Petra - Breakfast with a shepherd
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Accommodation
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
- Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
- ACCOMMODATION IN JORDAN
- Accommodation on this trip is clean and comfortable, however, you may note some small maintenance issues that have been overlooked. Please bring these to the attention of your Leader so that we can follow up with our hosts.
- PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
- If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (subject to availability), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
- SHOWERS
- Showers at some hotels only have hot water at peak times (usually morning and evening). Outside of these times, you may need to speak to reception to obtain hot water.
- HEATING AND AIR-CONDITIONING
- As a desert region, this part of the world has extremes of weather. Winter months (December to March) can be very cold and summer months (June to August) can be very hot. Our accommodation contains suitable bedding, but some properties don’t supply heating or air conditioning. In many cases, this would be a major financial and environmental strain on our hotels and the local towns. Please carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
Transport
- Private vehicle , Jeep
Included Activities
- Madaba - St Georges Church
- Petra - Guided tour of Petra
- Wadi Rum - 4WD jeep safari and desert camp
Important Information
- 1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 4 (Desert Camp) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
- 2. While we endeavor to cater for specific dietary requirements, some meals and food activities are set in advance and may be difficult to adjust. Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking so that we can ensure you’ll enjoy this trip.
- 3. Petra By Night is offered as an optional activity. This activity is currently scheduled to operate on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Please check your departure date if you would like to do this activity as it is not available on all departures.
Check out our Q&As
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
No
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Are international flights included in this tour?
No
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Yes if aged 15+ and accompanied by an adult
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Is this trip right for you
Jordan is a great food destination for vegetarians. With wonderful fresh produce and many delicious local dishes, you'll have a great time on this trip. For vegans we recommend reviewing the itinerary and inclusions to ensure that you will be able to fully participate and enjoy this trip. We also have many other trips to Jordan which can accommodate a range of dietary requirements.
Some of the best scenery in Petra and Wadi Rum is found on hikes. While this trip doesn't require a high level of fitness, it’s essential to be at least moderately fit if you want to participate in all activities.
At most of the historical sites in Jordan there is no shade. Bring a hat, sun protection, and sturdy, comfortable walking shoes. Winters can get quite cool, so if you're visiting at this time, don't forget to pack some warmer layers too.
The desert camp in Wadi Rum is basic, but incredibly memorable. There are tents and shared western bathroom facilities. While the desert may be very hot during the day, it will still be cold at night and warm clothes are highly recommended when travelling outside of the summer months.
Ramadan is an annual month-long festival, during which travel can be a rewarding cultural experience, however some regular services may not be available during the day, such as restaurants or cafes, and occasionally travel can be disrupted by events. Your leader will adjust the itinerary accordingly, but please consider this when selecting your travel dates. You'll find dates and further information in the 'Climate and seasonal information' section of the Essential Trip Information. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Thursday - Tuesday
Sep 12, 2024 - Sep 17, 2024Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions