Today, we leave on our flight to Amman, Jordan.

We'll arrive at Queen Alia International Airport in Jordan's capital city of Amman. We'll proceed to check in to the Intercontinental Jordan, a world-class hotel located in the heart of Amman's diplomatic area.

Later in the day, there will be a guided tour to Citadel Hill, the site of the ruins of the Temple of Hercules, the remains of Roman walls and an Arab castle, which dates from the Umayyad dynasty of the 7th century. The tour will also include the Archaeological Museum, which houses antiquities dating from prehistoric times to the 15th century.

The day will begin with a tour of the Ethnography Museum, followed by a visit to the Roman Amphitheatre. Over 1900 hundred years old, this impressive structure sits below Citadel Hill in the middle of downtown Amman. The theatre is built into the hill and seats up to 6,000 people. In the afternoon, we'll take a short drive west of Amman to Iraq al Amir, a village in the Wadi Seer Valley. Iraq al Amir is home to the fascinating Qasr al 'Abd (Castle of the Servant), a splendid example of Hellenistic architecture from the late second century BC. The Castle is constructed of very large stones, some of which have sculpted figures of lions and eagles. It is surrounded by an artificial moat and served as a temple or palace to Hyrcanus, the governor of Amman and a member of the influential Tobiad family.

In the evening, we'll dine near the American Center of Oriental Research (ACOR), the largest research institute in Amman and key to archaeological, social and scientific research in Jordan and the Middle East.

Today we'll venture to Jerash, considered to be one of the largest and most well-preserved sites of Roman architecture. Located in a quiet, remote valley among the mountains of Gilead, these streets and monuments have been touched only by time and present one of the most complete examples of a Roman city to be found anywhere. The setting is enhanced by a stream that runs through the center, dotted with poplar and walnut trees along the banks. Archaeologists have found ruins of settlements dating back to the Neolithic Age, indicating occupation for more than 6500 years. Jearsh had fallen under various rulers, including Alexander the Great and Roman Emperor Pompey.

This morning, we'll pack our bags and venture to several areas south. We'll check in to the Movenpick Resort and Spa Dead Sea, where, after our tours of the day conclude, you can enjoy the spa, or take a swim or mud bath in the Dead Sea itself.

Our first stop on today's bus tour will take us to one of the most sacred places in Christianity, both historically and symbolically - the Jordan River. It is here, near the town of Bethany, it is believed Jesus Christ was baptised by John the Baptist. After his baptism, Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the wilderness just east of the River, where he fasted and resisted the temptations of Satan. After the death of Moses, the Bible says that God stopped the waters from flowing to allow Joshua to lead his people across the River into Canaan. It is also where Prophets Elijah and Elisha parted the waters so they could cross to the east bank.

We'll continue to the town of Madaba, also known as the City of Mosaics. Here, at the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, you will find the earliest original map of the Holy Land, made around 560 A.D. There are other mosaic floors preserved throughout the town, as well as a fine local museum.

Just west of Madaba is Mount Nebo, believed to be the burial site of Moses. Its peaks offer a stunning view that includes the Dead Sea, the West Bank, the Jordan River, and, on a clear day, Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Also within these hills is a shrine constructed by the Franciscans (who began excavating the site in 1933) to protect the ruins of a 6th century CE Byzantine monastery, which was actually constructed on the foundation of an earlier church from the 3rd or 4th century CE. Still preserved are the stunning mosaics and a beautiful Serpentine Cross, located at the building's entrance, which represents the bronze serpent taken up by Moses in the desert, and the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.

Continuing south, we'll arrive in Petra and check in to the Movenpick Resort Petra.

The first part of the day provides a bus tour through the towns of Kerak and Shobak. Kerak is home to the magnificent Crusader fortress, Crak des Moabites, or Le Pierre du Desert, situated on an almost isolated hilltop and providing a stunning view in all directions, especially towards the Dead Sea. Shobak, as well, contains a large Crusader castle, built around 1115 AD. The castle offers spectacular views of the countryside and has been undergoing restoration. The tour will include discussions on the geology of the region, as well as the Nabataean religion.

In the afternoon, we'll proceed by bus for a tour of Beidha, an ancient village thought to be over 9,000 years old. Nicknamed "Little Petra," the village resembles the original Petra prior to the influence of Roman architecture. A narrow valley winds through large sandstone mountains where ancient homes are carved into the rocks. There are also smaller replicas of Petra's Treasury and Monastery monuments.

As the day winds dow, we'll return to the hotel where we'll dine at the Al Ghadeer Roof Garden restaurant.

Today we'll take a guided tour of Petra, perhaps the most well-known city in Jordan. Petra, which is Greek for "stone", is carved out of cliffs and stood at the crossroads of the international silk and spice trade routes. Its origins can be traced back as far as Paleolithic times. The city was first established around the 6th century BC by the Nabataean Arabs, who retained control until 106 AD, when the Romans took over.

We'll make entry into the city through the Siq, a narrow passageway that winds through high rock walls and leads to an opening that reveals al-Khazneh, Arabic for Treasury. Although it served as a royal tomb, the name is derived from the legend that it was used as a hiding place for treasure. A giant stone urn that stands in the center of the second level is believed to be filled with ancient pharoanic treasure, and you can see bullet and stone holes in the urn's surface from attempts to break it. The al-Khazneh has gained fame in modern times through the movie "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" as the site where the Holy Grail was discovered.

We'll stop for lunch at the site of the Brown University Excavation of The Great Temple, one of the major archaeological and architectural components of central Petra. Click here to learn more about the excavation.

As we wander down the path of the Siq, we'll visit the Temple of the Winged Lions, so named for the carved lions that adorn the temple columns. Nearby, we'll stop at the Petra Church, an immense building rich with beautiful mosaics. The church was discovered in 1990, and in December 1993, over 140 papyrus scrolls were uncovered at this site, which is still being excavated and preserved. The scrolls are currently being deciphered and are yielding a vast amount of information about the Byzantine period in this region.

Further along, standing out from the red rock walls of the city are the spectacular blue granite pillars of the Blue Chapel. The chapel is one of three Byzantine-era churches discovered on a ridge north of Petra's colonnaded main road.

After touring Petra, we'll walk or donkey-ride to the Ad-Dayr Tomb, the largest, and one of the most well-preserved, monuments in Petra. Located about an hour by foot from the center of Petra, the trek is a hardy one but well worth the effort. The path to the tomb is a very steep climb through stunning canyons that emerge high on a plateau above Petra.

Today we'll board camels for a trek through the beautiful valley of Wadi Sabra, which twists and turns high into the surrounding mountains. On our journey, we'll pass by the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre.

In the evening, we'll dine at the Taybet Zaman Resort Hotel, which overlooks the Wadi Mose's Valley and the rose-colored Sharah mountains that surround the city of Petra. The restaurant features international cuisine and Arab specialities

Monday will find us visiting Jabal Haroun, also known as Aaron's Mount, the burial site of the prophet Aaron.

We'll then travel by bus to the site once roamed by Lawrence of Arabia - Wadi Rum, a beautiful desertscape where nature has carved wonderous sand dunes, mountain peaks, and rock formations. Traces of ancient Arabic, Nabatean, and Thamudic civilizations can be found carved throughout the desert. The best times to enjoy Wadi Rum are early morning and late afternoon, and especially at night when the desert sky will amaze you. We'll be setting up camp and sleeping under tents this evening, experiencing life as the Bedouins do.

Today we'll tour the landscape of Wadi Rum, taking in its natural beauty. Uniquely shaped massive mountains rise out of the white and pink desert sand, with towering cliffs of weathered stone. Jabal Rum is the highest peak in the area and the 2nd highest in Jordan, while the Rock Bridge is one of Wadi Rum's most popular attractions. If you would like to read more about Wadi Rum, click here.

After our tour, we'll board a bus for the return trip to Amman, where we'll once again check in to the Intercontinental Hotel.

This morning we will board our flight in Amman for the return trip to the U.S.