Additional Itinerary and City Guide – Jordan, Amman

Amman is the capital and largest city of Jordan, and the country’s economic, political, and cultural center. With a population of 4,536,500, Amman is the largest city in the Levant region, and the sixth-largest city in the Arab world.

Highlights Covered in the Brand g Tours

Day 1: March 11, 2022 – Amman, Jordan

Arrive in Amman, where our Brand g representatives will meet you and transfer you to your luxurious hotel, the Fairmont Amman. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel. (D)

Day 2: March 12, 2022 – Amman/Jerash/Amman

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll drive to Jerash, a third-century city decimated by invasion and earthquake, often called “The Pompeii of the Middle East.” Explore the massive ruins, which are spread over a large area crisscrossed by colonnaded streets. The pavement still shows the grooves of chariot wheels. Afterwards, we’ll enjoy a delicious local lunch nearby before returning to Amman.

Back in Amman we visit the Citadel, offering commanding views of the city. With evidence of occupation since neolithic times it is considered to be among the world’s oldest continuously inhabited places. On our way back to the Fairmont Hotel, our local guide will point out other important landmarks.

After some time to relax and refresh, we’ll enjoy dinner at a restaurant situated in one of Jordan’s prime ministers beautiful former residence. (B, L, D)

Day 3: March 13, 2022 – Amman/Bethany/Mt Nebo/Madaba/Petra

Our full-day tour begins after breakfast and check-out from the Fairmont Hotel. The first stop on our journey is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bethany, the site which is believed to be the location where Jesus of Nazareth was baptized by John the Baptist. It features Roman and Byzantine remains including churches and chapels, a monastery, and pools in which baptisms were celebrated.

Next we drive to Mount Nebo, where the Bible says Moses glimpsed the Promised Land — which he would never enter. It is here that he spent his final days. Follow mountain-fringed King’s Highway through the beautiful Gorge of Amman to Madaba.

After lunch, we see Madaba’s sixth-century mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land; comprised of two million pieces of colored stone, it depicts villages as far away as the Nile delta. Visit the Madaba School of Mosaic, dedicated to preserving and restoring the ancient mosaics found throughout Jordan, especially on the Madaba Plateau.

From here we continue to Petra and check in to the Movenpick Hotel. Tonight, we enjoy dinner together at the hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 4: March 14, 2022 – Petra

After a nourishing breakfast at the hotel, we spend a full day exploring the “Rose-Red City” of Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site sculpted from a mountain range by the Nabataeans in the third century BC. Visit the Temple of Winged Lions, the Corinthian Tomb and the Palace Tomb. Other major sites include the Treasury, the baths, markets and storerooms.

You’ll have time for lunch before some time to continue exploring this magnificent site at your leisure. Perhaps take a hike to the Monastery, which boasts incredible views of the rose-red canyons below.

Later, return to the Movenpick for some time to refresh before another festive included dinner. (B/L/D)

Day 5: March 15, 2022 – Petra/Wadi Rum/Aqaba/Dead Sea

This morning following breakfast, we drive to Wadi Rum, a striking desert-scape also known as the “Valley of the Moon.” Traverse the desert by 4×4 in the place where Prince Faisal Bin Hussein and T.E. Lawrence based their headquarters during the Arab Revolt against the Ottomans in World War I, their exploits intrinsically woven into the history of this amazing area. See the Seven Pillars of Wisdom along with many other interesting sites.

Next, we venture on to Aqaba, where we’ll enjoy a delicious fresh seafood lunch on the shores of the Red Sea. After, we continue our journey on the Desert Highway, reaching the scenic shores of the Dead Sea around sunset. After a few breathtaking photo stops, we check in to the beautiful Kempinski Ishtar Resort for dinner and a restful night complete with incredible views over the sea. (B, L, D)

Day 6: March 16, 2022 – Dead Sea/Amman

Enjoy your morning with a leisurely breakfast, then take advantage of the spa or take a mud bath and float in the buoyant, mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea.

At check-out time, we make the short journey back to Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport for your flight home. (B, L)

Brand g Vacations does not now recommend restaurants unless we have personally eaten there and can confirm that it is open.  However, Rainbow Street in Downtown Amman, and in the historic Jabal Amman area, is a great shopping destination with a lot of rooftop restaurants, pubs, cafes, and shops. Many expats and tourists visit both during the day and in the evening, and it’s a great spot for people-watching.

Please consult your hotel Concierge for reservations. 

The sleepy image of  Amman, home to 2.1 million people is just that – an image. Underneath that calm skin is a thriving city home to a diverse community of Jordanian’s, Palestinians, and other expats working in an array of political posts from the UN to the American University of Jordan. As such, the city has developed a cosmopolitan atmosphere that has seen the rise of fine dining, decent nightlife, and phenomenal shopping.

With Jordan being an Arabic  country, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT+) individuals in Jordan face legal challenges and discrimination not experienced by non-LGBT persons.

Same-sex sexual activity was illegal in Jordan under the British Mandate Criminal Code Ordinance (No. 74 of 1936) until 1951 when Jordan drafted its own penal code which did not criminalize homosexuality. Homosexual conduct remains legal in Jordan. However, LGBT +people displaying public affection can be prosecuted for “disrupting public morality” and most LGBT people face social discrimination not experienced by non-LGBT residents.

While homosexuality is legal, there still isn’t much of an out and proud gay scene in Amman or the rest of Jordan. At the same time, seeing men holding hands in public is relatively common – it’s a sign of friendship, and many Jordanian men are quite appreciative of male beauty even if they’re not gay, so it may screw up your gaydar!

Even without any established LGBT+ -specific venues, among many of the bars and restaurants popular with Amman’s large international population of expats there are some known hangouts for gay locals and visiting tourists.

Thanks to tremendous support from the reigning Queen of Jordan, homosexual rights – rather than moving backward – are finally at a stable place in the country. As one of the more progressive countries in the Middle East in terms of protections for its LGBT population, Jordan is a relatively easy place to travel as a gay person, but homophobia definitely still exists. While there is not a massive out gay population, there are multiple “gay centric” venues that cater to both the local and international gay community.  While discretion should always be used, Jordan remains one of the most tolerant countries in the Middle East.

The international hotels we use for our tours are wholly accepting of same sex couples sharing a room. It is recommended that you to express caution with activities such as using gay dating apps and of course in cruising.

There are no gay specific venues in Jordan