Petra

As a travel agent for Jordan, I know that a visit to this land is a must-do event. You cannot travel around the world and miss this country’s amazing attractions, one of which is Petra. In 1985, UNESCO named Petra a World Heritage Site - a place voted as one of the world’s New Seven Wonders.From dawn to dusk, tourists regularly trek the millenia-old paths in Petra, exploring its ancient ruins - funerary monuments that pay homage to mythological beings and animals. It is a place that combines shifting and surreal lights with looming rocky terrains, a place that almost has a supernatural feeling.This city, which has been exceptionally preserved, features monuments and buildings, most of which were abandoned by the end of the 8th century. Yet, today, the details of the buildings are interestingly intricate and fresh, almost as sharp as they must have been in the beginning. While Petra has shed some light on the life of the Nabataeans, whose kingdom covered an area that spanned from the Red Sea to the Euphrates, it still seems mysterious. How the kingdom declined is still not clear. Many archeologists and visitors still believe the site still contains secrets that have not been revealed. About 80% of the ancient city has still not been excavated.Nearly 850 monuments have been documented at Petra's site, covering an area of roughly 100 square kilometers (38 sq miles). Visiting every one of these locations, which are scattered over cliff faces, mountain peaks, and the sand dunes of wadis, would take several weeks. Therefore, it’s a good idea to figure out how much time and energy you have. The major sights can be viewed in two days; however, as your Jordan travel agent, there are numerous itineraries I can recommend.While you are in Jordan, I also suggest seeing Shawback Castle - an impressive site when you see it positioned on its remote hill.When Baldwin I built Shawbak in Outrejordain in 1115, it became the Kingdom of Jerusalem's first fortified settlement. Post-Crusader era construction is evident at Al-karak as well, with the two fortresses having comparable histories. The Ayyubids and subsequently the Mamluks occupied Shawbak, and their significant renovation is documented in inscriptions on the towers' outside faces. IOnly a few apartments in the arched hallway on the northeast side of the castle are recognized as belonging to the Crusaders. In times of siege, a deep and steep path beneath the castle walls led to a spring at the foot of a hill, where water was collected and used. Excavations have revealed a palace/reception hall like the one at Al-karak. The Ayyubid ruler of this region, al-Mu'azzem Isa al-Adil, is said to have erected the site around the end of the 12th century.  As a travel agent for Jordan and Carlisle Travel, I can promise you a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Don’t put off this unique experience. Contact me now for all the details!