On the Red Sea, bewitching with its beauty, and healing on the unique Dead Sea, which has no equal in the world.

Aqaba - the pearl of the Red Sea

Aqaba is a small resort town located in the very south of Jordan, on the Red Sea coast. The city is actively building hotels of the most famous world chains and developing tourist infrastructure. Known for its location and beauty of the coast, the Gulf of Aqaba is experiencing a rebirth. Now it is one of the most popular seaside resorts in the world, a real natural treasure.

The Red Sea coast in this area is a chain of mountains rising above the desert plain, and golden-pink sand dunes frame the dazzling blue waves of Aqaba.

Aqaba's greatest attraction is the Red Sea, with amazing coral reefs and vibrant underwater life. A huge selection of entertainment, one way or another connected with the sea, will not leave indifferent neither children nor adults. You can swim all year round, especially since the average annual water temperature does not fall below +23°C.

Among the most common activities are regular swimming, snorkeling, diving, water skiing, surfing and scooter riding. And also - a visit to the luxurious SPA and fitness centers of five-star hotels in Aqaba and, of course, everyone's favorite vacation on the beach.

Rare corals and more than a thousand species of fish live in the clear waters of the bay. At each beach, you can board a submarine or a glass-bottom boat and go on a tour of the Gulf of Aqaba. A more refined version of a walk along the bay is a snow-white yacht or a ship made in the form of an ancient galley.

Aqaba is a place of pilgrimage for divers who come here from all over the world. In the coastal waters of the bay, not far from the coast, there are Coral reefs with colorful underwater world. Underwater visibility at the resort reaches 40 m. The most popular dive site for divers is Cedar Pride. This is a sunken ship that has been lying at the bottom of the sea since 1985. It is located 130 m from the shore at a depth of 25 m. This place is suitable for trained divers, because the currents here are quite strong. In the Power Station coral wall area, you can see sharks, wrasses and moray eels. Also, when diving, divers will be able to admire black corals, meet stingrays, turtles and other exotic underwater animals.

The length of the Gulf of Aqaba is 180 km in length and in some places reaches 25 km in width. Of these, Jordan owns 27 km of the Red Sea line, while the rest of the sea coast is divided between Egypt, Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Dead Sea

A five-hour drive from Aqaba, a health zone awaits tourists. The Dead Sea is rightfully considered a unique place for relaxation and treatment: healing properties possess water, mud, air and sun.

This is the most low point the globe, which is 400 m below sea level. There is 8% more oxygen in the atmosphere over the Dead Sea than over any other sea. This place is the highest on earth ozone layer, which excludes from the spectrum sunlight ultraviolet rays are the most dangerous for the body.

The main attraction of the Dead Sea is warm, soothing water, almost 10 times saltier than in other seas. Living beings cannot exist in such conditions. There are no fish or algae here. Thanks to this fact, the ancient Greeks gave this lake title Dead sea.

This fantastically dense, mineral-rich water has attracted travelers since ancient times. Among them were the Jewish king Herod the Great and the beautiful queen Cleopatra. All of them basked in the thick, healing, invigorating mud of the Dead Sea and effortlessly “floated” in dense water.

Bathing in the Dead Sea leaves an unforgettable experience and relieves many diseases. Treatment is recommended for those suffering from skin, muscle, respiratory, andrological and neurological diseases.

If you visit the Jordanian, eastern side of the Dead Sea, you can confidently refute the stereotype about the static nature of its waters. There are waves, and sometimes quite large ones. The reason is that it is in this direction that the Jordan River carries its waves, flowing into the Dead Sea just a few kilometers from the hotels. Not without reason, flagpoles are installed on the hotel beaches, on which they raise a red flag at those moments when it is better not to swim. Of course, this is unlikely to stop vacationers from the CIS countries, who are not so few in these places.

On the shores of the Dead Sea, you can find a number of hotels designed for tourists with different levels income - from medium to modern hotel complexes with hospitals. Among the most famous health resorts are Dead Sea SPA 4*, Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa 5*, Kempinski Hotel Ishtar 5*, Movenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea 5*. First-class living conditions are ideal for people seeking to recover, forget about stress and everyday worries. All hotels great attention devote to wellness activities and SPA using the healing mud of the Dead Sea.

A trip to the Dead Sea would not be complete without a visit to the shops where you can buy world-famous products based on local natural ingredients.

An interesting fact: the water level in the Dead Sea drops by about 30-50 cm annually and Jordan takes water from it for the needs of industry, Agriculture and consumer services. Scientists believe that by 2050 the sea may completely dry up ...

Valery PATALAKHA

Jordan is one of the most exciting and interesting countries Middle East. It is a safe country for travelers, the people of the country are very friendly and the sun always shines here. In a word - the best place for a vacation can not come up with! :)

What we like

• In one tour you will visit the Dead Sea and Aqaba.
• Accommodation in 5* hotels.
• Meals: all inclusive.
• Grand Swiss-Belresort Beach Tala Bay is located on the Red Sea in Tala Bay, about a 10-minute drive from the center of Aqaba. It has 4 swimming pools and a private beach.
• Petra is a one-hour drive from the hotel.
• On the territory of the Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea 5 * right next to the pools there are 2 heated jacuzzis.
• For all-inclusive tourists, there is a 30% discount on Spa treatments.
• This New Year's Eve tour includes New Year's Eve Dinner at the Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea.

note

• Citizens of the Russian Federation do not need a visa to travel to Jordan.
• Children are accommodated without extra bed, a bed for a child can be requested on the spot or through HIPCLUB, the cost is specified on request, the estimated cost is from $ 32-47 per day (depending on the hotel).
• This offer is available for other dates and number of nights, check the cost of the tour in the comments.
• The validity of the passport must be at least 6 months from the date of return.
• Attention! The flights are charter, the flight program is subject to change.

About hotels

Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea 5*

Situated on the shores of the Dead Sea, this Holiday Inn resort features a private beach, among other luxury amenities. All rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV and free internet access.

• The Holiday Inn Dead Sea Resort is surrounded by lush gardens. In addition, it has a large outdoor pool with sun loungers. The hotel's health club offers a sauna, hot tub and relaxing massage treatments.
• However, the resort has 3 restaurants and bars, including a restaurant that is open from morning until late at night without interruption, a steakhouse that serves meat specialties, and a beach bar. Room service is also available at the Holiday Inn Dead Sea Resort.

Grand Swiss-Belresort Tala Bay Aqaba 5*

Grand Swiss-Belresort Tala Bay Aqaba Resort is located on the Red Sea. It offers 5 pools, water sports facilities, a private beach area and deluxe rooms with free Wi-Fi.

• You can walk to the beach in just 2 minutes.
• Grand Swiss-Belresort Tala Bay Resort offers rooms with large windows and private balconies, partly overlooking the Red Sea. Extras include luxury linens and a flat-screen TV.
• Offering panoramic Red Sea views, Aziab Restaurant serves international and regional cuisine in an al fresco setting. The Sunset Bar offers cocktails, wines and light snacks.
• Guests at the Grand Swiss-Belresort Tala Bay Aqaba can enjoy banana boat rides or diving with a qualified instructor. The resort's location on the Red Sea makes it easy to get to the coral reef.
• Grand Swiss-Belresort Tala Bay Aqaba is an hour's drive from Petra.

Wadi Rum- an amazing place, timeless and untouched by civilization. Wind and sun have influenced the local landscape so strongly for thousands of years, as a result of which unique rocks, arches, canyons and wells have formed here. Hikers, rock climbers and just lovers of history will find themselves here. After all, some rock paintings on the territory of the Wadi Rum reserve are over four thousand years old. And since June 2011, the Wadi Rum desert has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

• Wadi Rum can be explored in several ways, the best option is offered at the Tourist Service Center at the reserve, where you can not only find all the information, but also rent an SUV with a driver-guide. Another option is to hire a camel guide.
• Here it is worth visiting the Burda rock bridge - the highest point of Wadi Rum, the "Seven Pillars of Wisdom", Lawrence's well, the Nabatean temple, desert oases and many others interesting places. Traveling by car will take one day, by camel - two days.

Undoubtedly, a well-deserved place among Jordanian attractions is occupied by the legendary Petra - ancient capital Nabataean kingdom, carved right into the rocks more than 2000 years ago. Due to its rich history, somewhat unrealistic beauty and excellent preservation of monuments, at the end of the last century, Petra was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and in 2007 was elected one of the new seven "wonders of the world."




• The Petra Gate is a long and winding gorge of the Siq. Walking along the gorge will have to overcome several kilometers, but it's worth it. The road is decorated with bizarre stone sculptures, the remains of an ancient pavement and rock bas-reliefs. At the exit from the gorge is the majestic palace of El-Khazneh (Treasury or Treasure), which is carved into solid rock and has a height of 42 meters.
• The next stop is the Facade Square, which is simply "stuffed" with many buildings carved into the rocks: temples, various tombs and tombs. Another attraction is the Roman amphitheater, which can accommodate about 7,000 spectators. The Royal Tombs are just a short walk from the amphitheater.

Amman- "a city of contrasts", in which the old and the new are closely intertwined. modern buildings, hotels, restaurants, galleries and downtown shops side by side with traditional coffee houses and craft shops. On every corner there are testimonies of the ancient past of the city: the ruins of an ancient temple, the Umayyad palace, Byzantine church, Roman amphitheatre. The oldest and more traditional part of Amman is the center (in Arabic "balad"), more modern part cities - "western Amman".




• From the ancient Amman, only the Citadel remained, towering over the city on the hill of Jebel al-Kalaa. Nearby are the ruins of the Umayyad Palace Park. Nearby are the ruins of a small Byzantine basilica, and about 100m to the south are the remains of the Temple of Hercules, also known as the Great Temple of Amman.
• 12 km south of the city, on top of a hill, is "Kan Zaman" - a restored complex of stables, warehouses and living quarters, which has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Amman. In "Kan Zaman" ("once upon a time") you can find traditional dishes, the best handicrafts, smoke a hookah and drink real Jordanian coffee.

Karak, one of the bastions of the crusaders, is located at an altitude of 900 meters above sea level. This city attracts many tourists with a large number of well-preserved Ottoman buildings of the 19th century. But, of course, its main attraction is the Karak Castle. The city is built on a triangular plateau, at the narrow southern end of which the castle was built (length 220 m, width 125 m in the northern part and 40 m in the southern part).




• The Karak Archaeological Museum, located inside the old castle, includes exhibits from the Moabite, Nabataean, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic and Crusader periods. There are also objects found during excavations in the place of Bab al-Zraa, famous for the burials of the Bronze Age discovered there. Museum exhibits include skeletal and pottery remains from graves at Bab al-Zraa, late Iron Age implements from Buseira, Byzantine glass vessels and inscriptions, and Roman and Nabatean implements from Rabbah and Kasr.

Jordanian cuisine generally faithful to Arabic culinary traditions, but has many characteristic features. Contrary to popular belief, the local cuisine is not as spicy and spicy as people usually think. But everywhere mint, various greens and herbs, lemons in all forms, onions, pickled olives, pine nuts are added to food. Salads, stews, pastries with various fillings, as well as dishes from finely grated peas with greens - “falafel” and “hummus” are popular among snacks.




• From Jordan, you can bring Madaba wicker rugs, bottles of multi-colored sand from Petra (it’s better to buy them in Petra itself - there is natural sand different colors from the canyons of the rock city, and not artificially painted, as in most other places), olive wood crafts, ceramics and copper utensils, jewelry, Bedouin jewelry made of black silver and much more. Jordanian cosmetics based on Dead Sea products are also very popular.

How to buy this tour in hipclub

To the right of the text is a list of our offers. Choose the appropriate one, click on the "Select dates and prices" button and you will see options for available dates.
Choose a date, click "Checkout" and pay for the tour - in the office, bank card or others.

1 day. Moscow – Amman
Meeting at Amman Airport
Moving to Amman

Day 2 Amman - Umm Qais - Ajlun - Amman
Breakfast in the hotel.
Moving to Umm Qais, located on a picturesque hill overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Sea of ​​Galilee. You will see a stunning amphitheater made of black basalt, a basilica whose courtyard is lined with black carved sarcophagi, a main street lined with colonnades and an alley with shops, an underground mausoleum, two baths, a nymphaeum (fountain), city gates and the barely visible contours of a huge hippodrome.
Transfer to Ajlun - the castle, also known as Kalat-ar-Rabad, was built in 1184 by Saladin's general Izzeddin Usama ibn Mungid, who defeated the crusaders in 1187. The castle - a prime example Islamic architecture - dominated the vast northern part of the Jordan Valley. Due to its location on a hilltop, Ajlun Castle guarded the road connecting southern Jordan with Syria, and was part of a chain of fortresses on which beacons were lit at night
Return to Amman.
Dinner and rest at the hotel in Amman.

Day 3 Amman - Jerash - Amman
Breakfast in the hotel.
Transfer to Jerash - a city that has existed for over 6500 years. The golden age of the city fell on the era of Roman rule. Today, Jerash is recognized as one of the best preserved provincial Roman cities in the world. For centuries, the city was hidden under tons of sand - excavations began only 70 years ago. Jerash is a magnificent example of provincial Roman town planning, examples of which could be found throughout the Middle East.
Return to Amman, city tour (Aman City tour). Occupying pretty large area the city is spread over 19 hills or "jebels". Amman is the modern and at the same time the ancient capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The city, known during the Iron Age as Rabbath Ammon and later known as Philadelphia and part of the Decapolis, today has a population of approximately 1.5 million people. Often referred to as the "White City" because of the striking whiteness of its buildings, Amman is full of historical sights.
Dinner and rest at the hotel in Amman.

Day 4 Amman - Kerak - Shobak - Petra
Breakfast in the hotel.
Transfer to Kerak. Karak Castle impresses with grandeur rather than beauty, but it is considered a remarkable example of the military engineering genius of the Crusaders. The most famous owner of the castle was Reynald de Châtillon, famous for his incredible treachery and cruelty. The crusaders under the command of Raynald and Guy, King of Jerusalem, suffered a brutal defeat
Transfer to Shobak. A lone monument to the past glory of the crusaders, it was once called "Montreal". Shobak is located on the slope of a mountain, at the foot of which there are magnificent orchards. The impregnable gates and the triple fortress wall make a strong impression. Despite all the builders' tricks and location on an impregnable hill, the fortress surrendered to Saladin just 75 years after it was built. This is evidenced by the proud inscription made on the wall by his successors.
Moving to Petra.
Dinner and rest at the hotel in Petra.

Day 5 Petra - Aqaba
Breakfast in the hotel.
Tour of Petra. Petra is one of Jordan's greatest treasures and the most visited tourist destination in the country. We inherited it from the Nabataeans, a hard-working Arab tribe that inhabited southern Jordan over 2,000 years ago. Its powerful architecture, sophisticated culture and a complex system canals and dams cannot but arouse admiration. Today Petra is listed world heritage UNESCO and attracts tourists from all over the world. Petra owes much of her stunning beauty to the fact that she was carved into the rock at the bottom of a narrow gorge in the middle of the desert. Petra can only be reached by walking through a gorge (sik in Arabic) about one kilometer long and 80 m high "walls". just one of the many archaeological wonders of Petra.
Transfer to Aqaba. In the south of the country is the seaside resort of Aqaba. This is the perfect place to relax on the Red Sea. In addition, there are first-class conditions for diving and snorkeling among the most beautiful coral reefs. Tourists can also go swimming, sailing, windsurfing, water skiing or take a ride on a glass bottom boat to observe the underwater flora and fauna.
Dinner and rest at the hotel in Aqaba.

6-7 days. Aqaba
Breakfast in the hotel.
Free time.
Dinner and rest at the hotel.

Day 8 Aqaba - Wadi Rum - Dead Sea
Breakfast in the hotel.
Transfer to Wadi Rum - 4x4 Jeep tour in Wadi Rum desert (2 hours). Wadi Rum is an amazing place, timeless and practically untouched by civilization. Only weather and winds "worked" here, creating monumental "skyscrapers", which T.E. so beautifully described. Lawrence, who called Wadi Rum "a godlike guttural expanse". During the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Turkey, the headquarters of Prince Faisal ibn Hussein and T. E. Lawrence were located here.
Transfer to the Dead Sea. It is located 410 m below the ocean level - this is the lowest point on earth. The Dead Sea attracts visitors from all over the world, just as it once attracted kings, emperors, merchants, prophets and pilgrims. The main attraction of the Dead Sea is, of course, soft and unusually salty. sea ​​water. The salt content in the water reaches 31.5%, and thanks to this, it is impossible to drown in the Dead Sea - the water will still push the bather to the surface.

Day 9 Dead Sea - Bethany - Mount Nebo - Madaba - Dead Sea
Breakfast in the hotel.
Transfer to Bethany. Bethany, the place where John the Baptist lived and Jesus was baptized, is known from the Bible (John 1:28 and 10:40). It was found that this place was on the east bank of the Jordan River, in the territory of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and now research, excavation, restoration and preparation for the reception of pilgrims and tourists are periodically carried out here. This place is also associated with the biblical tradition of how the prophet Elijah (in Arabic - Mar-Ilyas) ascended to heaven in a whirlwind in a fiery chariot
Transfer to Mount Nebo (Sky). From Mount Nebo, Moses saw the Holy Land of Canaan, on which he never set foot. He died and was buried in Moab, "in the valley<...>against Beth-Pegor". It was on Mount Nebo that the prophet Jeremiah, to whom there was a revelation, according to legend, hid the Ark of the Covenant, the Tabernacle and the altar of the censer. In the 4th century, a small church was built on it in memory of the death of Moses. In V-VI centuries the church was enlarged to the size of a large basilica and decorated with stunning Byzantine mosaics.
Transfer to Madaba. Madaba is famous for its stunning Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics, but its main attraction is the 6th-century BC mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. It depicts hills and valleys all the way to the Nile Delta with the help of two million colored fragments of local stone.
Return to the Dead Sea.
Dinner and rest at the hotel on the Dead Sea.

Day 10 Dead Sea
Breakfast in the hotel.
Free time.
Dinner and rest at the hotel.

Day 11 Dead Sea - Amman Airport
Breakfast in the hotel.
Airport transfer.

The cost of the tour for 1 person.

Due to fluctuations in the exchange rate, the cost is indicated in c.u. (U.S. dollar).
Payment in rubles by .

Supplement for a Russian-speaking guide - 720 c.u. from the group.

Included in cost:

• Meeting and escort at the airport during arrival and departure;
• Accommodation in hotels according to the program or similar;
• Breakfasts and dinners in hotels;
• Transfers on modern transport according to the program;
• Local English-speaking guides in Jerash and Petra;
• Entrance fees according to the program;
• Horse riding in Petra (500 meters from the entrance to the start of Shiga);
• 4x4 jeep tour to Wadi Rum - 2 hours;
• Gift from the host.

The price does not include:

• International flight Moscow - Amman - Moscow;
• Visa to Jordan - $ 57 per person (paid upon arrival at the King Hussein Bridge);
• Departure tax (usually included in the airfare);
• Russian-speaking guide (surcharge - $ 720 per group);
• Medical insurance;
• Personal expenses;
• All additional expenses - meals, tips (porters, driver, guide).

Hotels according to the program

Hotels can be replaced by equivalent ones.

Holidays in Jordan will provide an opportunity to uncover the secrets of the Dead Sea, which has a truly amazing healing power. According to legend, it arose on the site of the biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, the salt column reminds of the divine disappearance of which in the Sidim valley. Vouchers to the Red Sea and pilgrimage tours are also in great demand.

Prices for tours to Jordan

Prices for tours to Jordan for a beach holiday reach 90-100 thousand rubles for two for a week with a flight from Moscow. Is it possible to save money and make a trip without compromising the budget? The most popular Jordanian resort is the Dead Sea coast, dotted with excellent spa centers and health resorts. Hotels here are in demand all year round, so the prices for staying in them are higher than in other regions of Jordan. The cost of the trip also depends directly on the season. The most favorable time for recovery in the saltiest reservoir on the planet is September and May, and travelers flock to the beaches of the Red Sea in October and March.

Inexpensive tours are offered by less popular resorts - Madaba, Petra, Saint Philip and Main. A tour to this country, even in the high season, will cost 10-15 thousand rubles cheaper. Early booking also allows you to significantly reduce costs, thanks to which you can buy a tour to Jordan in advance at a price reduced by 20-30%.

Types of recreation. What to do in Jordan?

Jordan is world famous for its priceless architectural and historical monuments, whose age reaches several millennia, as well as unique nature and holy places that attract millions of pilgrims. Stunning landscapes, luxurious beaches, amazing sunsets, modern high-class hotels and exciting excursion programs attract the attention of tourists.

Health tours

The unique Dead Sea is considered to be calling card Jordan. People come here for restorative rest and recovery. Mineral-rich water helps to cure many ailments, and healing mud is used in cosmetology. A tour to Jordan is also chosen by connoisseurs of true relaxation in modern spa hotels using local mineral cosmetics. And if you just need to get vitality and energy, gain peace of mind, you can go to thalassotherapy centers or to the thermal mineral resort of Main.

Landmarks of Jordan

Jordan is like a magical oasis in a lifeless desert, where every stone keeps a rich history and Old Testament legends come to life. Tours to this extraordinary country allow you to plunge into the sulfur and mineral springs, in which the king of Judea once lived his body, visit the place of Jesus' baptism, descend into the cave where Lot hid with his daughters after the fall of Gomorrah and Sodom.

Desert Castles

Desert Castles - a legendary place that serves as a testament to great era in the history of Jordan. This is the name of a complex of over 30 ancient palaces and fortresses, different in architectural style and internal appearance erected in the 8th century AD. Once they were buried in greenery and amazed with luxury and scope. Amazing frescoes and mosaics, stucco molding and stone carving have been preserved in their interior to this day. Travelers are attracted by the majestic medieval buildings in Shobak and Karak, in Voueira and Habis. Noteworthy are the Azraq castle made of black basalt, the Quseir-Amra castle with bizarre frescoes, Qasr-al-Kharaana, Qasr-Mushatta, Qasr-at-Tuba.

biblical places

There are still many holy places in Jordan, 5 of which are recognized by the Vatican as the greatest shrines. When choosing sightseeing tours, do not miss the city of Madaba, the place of Christ's baptism on the Jordan River, and do not forget to plunge into its sacred waters to perform the sacrament of purification.

Every year, after graduation, we without fail take the children to the sea to swim, eat fruit, recharge their energy and health at next year. At the insistence of her husband, the choice fell on the land of the ancient Nabataeans. To be honest, I didn’t really want to go there, because I have a fairly clear idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe Middle East and, inspired by a trip last year to the Dominican Republic, I wanted something like that. Nevertheless, vouchers to Jordan were purchased. Our choice fell on MOVENPICK hotels, meals - half board, accommodation on the Red Sea in a standard room, and on the Dead Sea - a deluxe room with a sea view.

So, the suitcases are packed, and in high spirits we fly out to meet with new country. The flight with TRANSAERO did not bring any unpleasant moments and we landed safely in the city of Aqaba. Standard customs and passport control procedures, meeting with the guide, boarding the bus. From the airport to the hotel (whatever you choose) to go a maximum of 15 minutes. Settled, and we got a room overlooking the road. Our first dinner did not make a very favorable impression, although later on the dinners were well fed. The breakfasts were very meager and tasteless, by the 4th day of my stay I completely howled, since the food was almost one-time. For a 5-star hotel of a well-known chain, such food is simply nonsense. The hotel restaurants are very expensive, however, probably, like everywhere else. Our next disappointment and the biggest one is the beach and the sea. When choosing a hotel on the Red Sea, we were guided by assurances that this is a chic hotel with a good beach. In fact, everything turned out differently. From the room to the beach it is very far to go, that when you are going, you need to think very carefully if you forgot something. But this does not mean that the territory of the hotel is huge. You just need to go along the endless passage across the road, constantly calling your number, proving your right to visit the beach.

If you intend to go to Jordan to buy children in the warm gentle sea, then you are clearly not here. The Red Sea in Jordan is clean, but quite cool, and at the beginning, going into it, we had "goosebumps". Then nothing, got used to it. We were told that there is the northern part and cold currents. But it's not that scary either. The most surprising thing is that all hotels on the Red Sea are located in the port and swimming is allowed only 100-150 meters from the beach, and then, sorry, there are border ships. Unfortunately, the travel agency did not warn us about all this, otherwise we would not have gone to the Red Sea. There are very few fish for which the sea is so famous. For the happiness of contemplating an incomparable miracle, you better still go to Egypt.

Separately, I want to say about the meeting side. Our tour was organized by the tour operator " South Cross". We go through it not for the first time and have always been satisfied. But still, in Jordan, the meeting side-companion "Desert horizon" leaves much to be desired both in service and in relation to tourists. At the airport we were met by a representative of the host Arina. Answer she categorically refused to answer our questions on the bus, referring to a meeting at the hotel.The only thing she warned us about was that there was practically no crime in the country and that we should not contact the local population and taxi drivers.Our meeting took place the next day in the hotel lobby. Before leaving, I studied the information about the country and already knew exactly what excursions we needed to go on. Therefore, I had an idea of ​​​​what they began to offer us. I will say right away - unreasonably expensive. We took an excursion to Wadi Rum (the second most beautiful desert) For 5 people (children were not given a discount) we paid about $ 700. A group of young guys decided to make it easier - they rented a car and traveled all the excursions themselves these. When we decided to do the same, Arina laughed and said that they would not have a service and a Russian-speaking guide. However, the guys were right. For the money that we paid for the tour, they traveled almost everything and were very pleased. The promised Russian-speaking guide was not given to us and the whole tour took about 4 hours. We were not shown all the places, as promised, we stopped in only 2 canyons, although they promised the Grand Tour of Wadi Rum. Then we met a local resident who, for purely symbolic money, took us for a ride on a glass bottom boat, which turned out to be almost 5 times cheaper than what the travel agency offered. We didn’t even worry about the service, since the meeting party didn’t really burden itself with it. We decided to return our wasted money and asked through Arina to meet with a manager who deals with such issues. He arrived, we explained that we were not happy with the tour, that we were not even given exactly half of what was promised for this money and asked to return it, or we would call Moscow. He generously offered us $100, which we declined. Then he simply disappeared, directly motivating this by the fact that he was tired of messing with us. And only after the tour operator from Moscow called them, they returned the money.

Of course, everyone goes to the Dead Sea for health and those who are more or less indifferent to their appearance try to buy inexpensive and high-quality salt-based cosmetics. I highly recommend buying Rivage in brown-orange packages. The value for money is very good in my opinion. Buy only in Aqaba (if possible). There is a duty-free zone and everything is much cheaper than at the Dead Sea. There is a small shop near the Movenpick hotel (if you get off the road to the left) in a nearby 4 * hotel where you can buy beads from coral, turquoise, onyx, malachite, etc. relatively inexpensively or make them to order of your own design, as I did . Interestingly, the beads are sold by weight. And the earrings were given to me as a gift. A trifle, but nice.

About Petra

Petra was with us in the middle of moving from the Red Sea to the Dead. The travel agency promised a tour with an already paid wagon. But unfortunately, this was not so, and we, exhausted from walking under the scorching sun, were forced to buy our own carriage and donkey fare from our own pocket. Peter really liked it, the majestic architecture of past centuries, contact with history left no one indifferent. Very beautiful rocks, which look like they will close together, leaving you in a small crevice. If possible, do not take small children there. In my opinion, before the age of 10, the kids have nothing to do there, it is very tiring and hot. Petra is worth a visit!

Dead Sea

The hotel of the same well-known chain, also 5 *, has nothing to do with the hotel on the Red Sea, which barely reached 4 *. Very nice style hotel oriental tales. Reminds me of the movie " Magic lamp Aladdin". It is interesting that there are as many buildings on the territory of the hotel as there are letters in English alphabet and the name of each building begins with a certain letter. We lived in a building with the romantic name "NEBO". Speaking of resettlement. It was perhaps the only unpleasant moment. Our accommodation vouchers clearly stated "deluxe" as the type of room. Back at home, we paid extra money for the pleasure of living in a 38 m room with a sea view. We were put in a standard room, very small, we were told to forget about the sea view at all, because. in rooms of this category it is simply not there. We, two adults and a 9-year-old child, were cramped. But for the deluxe room (the real one), we were asked to pay a surcharge of $ 500, which we refused.

The Dead Sea is simply magnificent. I can't swim - and this is the only place where I lie and don't drown. Drowning is simply impossible! You can’t splash, because if water gets into your eyes, it will be impossible to swim. In such cases, rescuers swim up and pour plain water. Only then can you move on.

Taught by the experience of excursions with the host, we also hired a local resident and he took us on all excursions. I highly recommend the hot springs. Beautiful Jerash will also please you very much!

There is a wonderful opportunity to go to the holy places in Jerusalem. We have used it and are very happy with it!

The food at the hotel was delicious and varied. I especially liked the Code fish (apparently, the name is) in different interpretations. Very tasty desserts. All drinks at dinner are paid. It is impossible not to mention the incomparably delicious Nestle water that we bought at dinner. I have never drunk such soft and pleasant water!

In my opinion, the Movenpick hotel on the Dead Sea is the most successful. Nearby stands Kempinski, a new very modern, but somehow cold and uncomfortable. But again, this is my subjective opinion.

Be sure to try to anoint yourself with mud - the effect is amazing, the skin is perfect. On the shore of the mud in barrels in unlimited quantities. The truth doesn’t smell very good - it’s kind of like a swamp and it’s hard to wash it off. So do not forget the old bathing accessories, which are not a pity!

In general, I am satisfied with the trip. My personal findings are as follows:
- you shouldn’t go to the Red Sea - it doesn’t justify that money
- do not be afraid to go on excursions with locals - this way you will save a lot of money, and they are very friendly.
- be sure to visit the Dead Sea - unusual sensations are guaranteed!

Irina
07/07/2008 13:16

The opinion of tourists may not coincide with the opinion of the editors.