Delve Deep: Jordan 2022-23

Touch down in one of the oldest cities in existence. Ready to experience the new and exotic? Thought so. Spot your Topdeck Rep at the airport (hint: they’re holding a placard with your name on it). Dump your stuff at the hotel and meet your fellow explorers. We might be a mixed bunch but we’re all in it together. Hungry? That’s lucky – tonight’s our first chance to sample some lip-smacking local eats at an included group dinner.

Rise and shine! We’re off to the Lost City after breakfast. But it’s not just about the destination – the road to Petra is gonna be amazing. First? Madaba: the site of an ancient holy map that’s so detailed it puts Google Maps to shame. Check out the vibrantly coloured and intricately detailed Byzantine-era mosaics scattered across the city before we take in allllll the views of the Promise Land from Mt Nebo. Seen Kingdom of Heaven? Channel your inner Orlando Bloom as we storm through the Crusader stronghold of Karak Castle. And to round it all off? Experience Petra – by night. Opt for a goosebump-inducing walk down the dark ravine, following the sound of traditional music and the soft glow of a candle-lit desert floor. Awesome is an understatement.

Words can’t describe how breathtaking this place is, so why would we try? Spend the whole day uncovering the magic of the Lost City and learn why people have been drawn to this place since 312 BC. With towering burning-red cliff faces and a façade made famous by Indiana Jones, this place rocks (sorry not sorry). Get your bearings on an orientation walk with our expert Trip Leader. Then: the rest of the day is yours to explore. Just be back in time for tonight’s optional dinner – a delicious traditional meal of maqluba with a local family. This is as authentic as it gets.

Back in the day, camels were the go-to way to cross the desert. But we’ve got a more buttock-friendly transport option today as we switch the coach for a 4X4 and venture across The Valley of the Moon to our traditional Bedouin Camp in the heart of the Jordanian desert. If you want to see if Alice really does have two humps, there’s an optional ride on offer today. Or just sit back and take it all in. This is your moment. Tonight’s included dinner is brought to you by one of the world’s most ancient nomadic tribes – tuck in around the camp fire and learn all about Bedouin life with your trip mates. We’re spending the night under the best-looking night sky you’ve ever laid eyes on. Heck yes!

From a sea of burnt-red sand to well, the actual sea – we’re making tracks to Jordan’s only coastal city. Dating back to 4,000 BC, Aqaba’s located smack-bang in the middle of the Red Sea, with temps rarely dropping below 20°C. Meaning? It’s THE place for diving, snorkelling and Nemo-spotting. And you’ve got the whole afternoon to do just that. Scuba dive around sunken military tanks, transport planes and Lebanese freighters. Make friends with flashy fish, colourful coral and green turtles (maybe). Then, gather the gang for a shawarma (Jordanian kebab) and sunset on the beach. This is livin’.

Ready to tick “bob on top of the Dead Sea” off your bucket list? Today is your day. At 427 m below sea level (the lowest point on Earth), the Dead Sea is so salty you can float weightlessly around like last night’s second helping of shawarma didn’t happen. Tip: avoid shaving your legs, face or other... parts before your swim. Sh*t stings! Give yourself a free spa treatment with the mineral-laden mud. Snap a pic for mum. And pile back on the coach – we’re heading back to Amman for an education in the Roman, Byzantine AND Umayyad empires that have left their mark on this place. Check out the Roman Amphitheatre, Citadel and melting pot of ancient historical sites on a walking tour with your fact-filled Trip Leader before heading downtown for a falafel feed.

Crank the history knob to 11 with a visit to Jerash – home to a bunch of Greco-Roman highlights, including a hippodrome which was used for chariot racing (and has nothing to do with hippos). Check out Hadrian’s Arch and the Temple of Zeus. Stroll down the columned cardo maximus. Then find a fallen column to rest up on and enjoy the jaw-dropping views. Not continuing the adventure in Israel? Wave farewell to the trip mates who are travelling on. Back in Amman, the afternoon is yours. Head downtown for all the ancient city vibes. Take a coffee break in the hip area of Jabal Al Lweibdeh. Or check out the thriving contemporary art scene in Jabal Amman. And tonight? We’ll give this incred trip the send-off it deserves with one final group dinner at a local eatery.

Down your pomegranate juice and brush away those tears – we’ll say our goodbyes after breakfast. WHAT an adventure it’s been. Swap those Insta handles and pencil in next year’s reunion trip.