As you'll find out, Jordan is a country of many layers - figuratively and, as we'll see today, literally. After breakfast at the hotel, we'll drive an hour and rewind 2000 years to the city of Jerash, known as the Pompeii of the Middle East for its astoundingly well-preserved Roman ruins. 

Ramzi, our expert Jordanian guide, will bring the stories of this ancient city to life, showing us everything from a hippodrome where chariots once raced to an arch built for the arrival of the Roman Emperor Hadrian 1,890 years ago.

After ambling through the ruins, we're bringing you to downtown Amman to one of our favorite local restaurants in all of Jordan - Hashem, for a feast of falafel (the best we've ever tasted.. nbd!) and mezze - small plates like hummus, baba ghanoush,  fool medames, and more.

This afternoon, join us in exploring bustling downtown Amman, where Ramzi will lead us through the modern souk (marketplace) to a palace from Islamic times, the famous Roman Theater (that's still in use today), and a few small museums where he'll show us the stereotypes and realities of local life in the past. If you have a limited appetite for history, no worries - enjoy some free time to shop or check out Amman's coffee shop scene.

Tonight, go out and enjoy Amman! We will share plenty of our favorite spots with you, or you can go discover your own!

Wake up for a modern breakfast at ThreeSixty, Amman Rotana's well-known breakfast and brunch spot. (Brunch is a big thing here!) Then we'll leave Amman and make a stop at Mount Nebo, the place where it is said that Moses was first shown the Promised Land. Here, we'll find a pilgrim church that's been on this spot for centuries, and incredible views of the Dead Sea, and on a clear day - Jerusalem!

Nearby is the town of Madaba, where we'll take a look at the famous mosaic map that makes up the floor of the Church of St. George. It's so detailed that you could use it to navigate the region today. It's just that it happens to be about 1300 years old from the time of the Byzantine Empire.

Some of our favorite Jordanians, Maha and Mohammad, are thrilled to host us for a huge and delicious lunch at their flat. Maha is an open book - with her warm and dynamic personality, she'll talk to us about life in the Middle East from a female perspective and answer any and all of the questions on our minds.

After feasting, it's time for a scenic drive 3.5 hours south to Little Petra. We'll make a stop for a short hike to Little Petra, which was once a suburb and rest stop for the camels before entering the ancient city. Most visitors don't get to see Little Petra, as it's a bit off the beaten path.

Not far is the Old Village Resort, our home in Petra. Fun fact, it was also Ramzi's ancestral family home in Petra. It literally was an old village for centuries that his family recently turned into a modern day boutique hotel. (Don't believe me? Look at the archeological evidence on display from 700-1000 years ago that was found during the hotel excavation!)

After some time to refresh, we're off to the famous Petra Kitchen. We've been eating a lot of delicious Jordanian food, and now we have the opportunity to roll up our sleeves and learn how to make it ourselves. We can't tell you what's on the menu because the chefs decide that day, based on what is fresh at the market. No freezers here!

Rise and shine! Today is a day many of you have been waiting for since you first saw Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Grab some breakfast and your fedora and we're off to the rose red city of Petra led by our own local expert. 

Ramzi was born and raised just outside the gates of the ancient city and has been sharing the stories of Petra since he was a teenager taking care of the horses. He'll show us the highlights like the famous Treasury and the Roman Theatre, but he knows all the best off-the-beaten-path spots too (and the best spots for IG pics...)

As impressive as Petra is, it was only "rediscovered" by Europeans 200 years ago and  is largely still a mystery, with many areas not yet uncovered. Today, we have an exclusive opportunity to learn from real archeologists who are working on projects in the city. Once they teach us their ways, we will join in and actually help with the excavation and restoration of this world wonder. 

After lunch, one of the best sites of Petra awaits - The Monastery. Seeing the largest known façade in Petra is your reward for a hike up an ancient staircase carved into the mountainside. Over 900 steps, but who's counting? If hiking isn't your thing, you can hire a donkey and a local Bedouin guide to make the trek. 

After stopping for a quick bite, we'll hit the road for our 1 hour drive to Wadi Rum, the majestic (totally an understatement) desert where many have traveled before us including Lawrence of Arabia, Matt Damon, Elon Musk, and the cast of Star Wars. 

Tonight is New Year's Eve, so we're going local and staying at a deluxe campsite (seriously - each tent has a private bathroom, heat and A/C) in the desert, where we'll be welcomed by Hasan and his family- our Bedouin hosts. Bedouin tribes roamed the deserts for centuries, and many in Jordan still incorporate a mix of the traditional and the modern in their lives today. Together, we'll have a Bedouin feast (called zarb, that is cooked underground for hours), after which they'll teach us their ways of music, singing, shisha, and definitely a dance or two. At midnight, we'll pop the corks and toast a new decade with new friends! 

Since maybe you stayed up to witness the epic stargazing and famous Wadi Rum sunrise, we invite you to get a few hours of shuteye and eat breakfast and  so we can go discover the Mars-like terrain that surrounds our camp. 

We want to show you where The Martian was filmed, and where caravans carved messages to other travelers in the red rocks sometime between now and 12,000 years ago. We'll hop in the back of 4x4 pickups with our Bedouin guides and crisscross the desert for some breathtaking views and a great time. 

After our 4x4 tour, we're off on the hour drive to Aqaba, Jordan's little slice of tropical paradise on the Red Sea. 

Our home on the Red Sea is the perfectly situated Kempinski Aqaba. This afternoon and  evening you're free to explore this small seaside city. Go light and local with shwarma, or eat some of the best seafood of your life at one of the city's waterfront spots.

Don't miss the Kempinski's huge breakfast, eaten while gazing out at Egypt. Then, we're off to our private yacht to experience the Gulf of Aqaba the best way - from the water. 

Just off the coast is one of the most well-preserved warm water coral reefs in the world. We'll provide snorkel gear, so jump in and have a look - maybe even at the submerged tank and airplane that help to grow the reef. Or, if a swim is not your style, head to the top deck for sunbathing and views of Jordan, Israel, Egypt and perhaps even Saudi Arabia. 

While we're swimming and sunning, our captain will be grilling up a barbecue lunch of fresh fish, chicken, and of course, Jordanian mezze. The sea breeze or the intoxicating aroma of a summer cookout in December might rouse you from your sun-kissed slumber. 

After yachting, we'll return to the hotel where you can enjoy the amenities or join us for an optional excursion with the local community organization Aqabawi.

After breakfast and maybe one final morning swim in the Red Sea, it's time to head to the Dead Sea, 1400 feet below sea level. Besides being the lowest inhabited point on the planet, it is also home to 21 minerals that are found only here. 

Our hotel for our last few days together is the Kempinski Ishtar Dead Sea Resort, an incredible place for some well-deserved rest and relaxation. Enjoy the restaurants and amenities of the resort, including the largest spa in the region, and of course... go for a float! 

You have some options today - hang out at the resort, or join us for an optional excursion to the Jordan River, 20 minutes from the resort, at the spot where it's believed Jesus was baptized. Here, there are ruins dating back centuries, proving that this was a place of pilgrimage even then.

Today is your day, so relax and recharge. Sleep in, but don't miss indulging in the enormous breakfast buffet that boasts views for days. 

Slather yourself in mineral-rich mud for a DIY facial, grab a book and float away your cares on the Dead Sea. (Seriously, one of the coolest sensations ever.) When you're finished, we'll be sure to find you at one of the resort's many infinity pools, catching the DJ at the pool bar, or embracing serenity and salt water pools at the Ishtar Spa. 

Tonight, we'll meet up for our special farewell dinner at the resort to savor the memorable adventures we've had together in this incredible country. Then, join us on the terrace that overlooks the mirror-like Dead Sea reflecting the starry skies above. We'll close down the bar with some drinks, shisha, and bellydancing on our last night in town. 

Sad to say that it's departure day, but after this intro to the Middle East, we hope you know that you and your family and friends will be welcomed back with open arms.

This morning, grab breakfast to go and hop on the bus for the 45 minute ride to Amman's Queen Alia International Airport to catch the group flight back to the States. 

If you'd like to extend your stay in Jordan, or perhaps add on an adventure to Jerusalem and the sights of Israel and Palestine, let us know and we can assist you with the arrangements.

We wish you safe travels home, and can't wait to welcome you  on a future adventure!