Cultural Immersion

It’s time for local sweets! Aqaba’s traditional sweet dish, called Hooh, consists of several layers of dough interspersed with nuts, butter, honey, condensed milk, molasses, and cream.

Revenues are donated to the local community and needy people.

Arbood is the primary food a Bedouin would have for lunch while shepherding the goats in the wilderness. A local will teach you how to bake Bedouin bread from only flour, salt and water kneaded and baked in ash.

Taking a jeep ride in Wadi Rum Reserve is one of the many ways to explore the southern Jordanian Desert and discover its many wonders! You can go on various jeep rides in terms of duration and timings which will take you on a ride to the main attractions from dunes to narrow canyons and high natural rock bridges. Besides, enjoy the thrill of a drive in the vast emptiness of the desert!

(Each jeep seats up to 6 guests)

2 Hours Jeep Tour: Nabatean Temple – Lawrence’s Spring – Sand Dunes – Khazali Canyon 

3 Hours Jeep Tour: Nabatean Temple – Lawrence’s Spring – Little Bridge – Sand Dunes – Khazali Canyon 

4 Hours Jeep Tour: Nabatean Temple – Lawrence’s Spring – Khazali Canyon – Little Bridge – Lawrence’s House – Anfeeshiah Inscription – Sand Dunes – Desert Map (Small map was used by Bedouin to know the directions)

5 Hours Jeep Tour: Sand Dunes – Al-Amelah Inscription – Lawrence House – Um Frouth Rock Bridge – Al-Barrah Canyon – Seeq Um Al-Tawaqi

6 Hours Jeep Tour: Nabatean Temple – Lawrence’s Spring – Khazali Canyon – The Little Bridge – Um Frouth Rock Bridge – Burdah Rock Bridge (The biggest arch in the desert of Wadi Rum) – Al-Mahama Canyon – Lawrence’s House – Anfeeshiah Inscription – Sand Dunes – Desert Map (Small map was used by Bedouin to know the directions)

You will have the chance to bake your own fresh and tasty local Arabic bread using specialized equipment. Dozen of fun is included!

Revenues are donated to the local community and needy people.

It will start with a great jeep tour. Continues to Siq Um Al Tawaqi where the group can rest for 30 minutes and then continue a few of the main attractions for one hour, then will stop to stay with a Bedouin family to see how they make bread and milk the camels and goats. Tells you stories about Arabic coffee and rules of drinking and enjoys the taste of the Bedouin tea. And you can join them cooking Arabic food and have dinner there or you can go back to the camp for lunch or dinner.

Yousef, the beekeeper, will introduce you to the fascinating Queendom of bees before permitting a sneak peek into the hives. Set off in search of the queen, who is twice the size of the worker bees and frequently laying eggs to sustain the size of the colony. Witness the bees fly in and out of the hive with pollen and nectar, the fuel of the hive. ​

Learn this art practice is one of the oldest in the world. The first to discover it was the Nabataeans after they invented the hourglass. The city of Aqaba is home to this unique art, and since the early 1930s, it has housed dozens of shops for visitors to purchase the colorful creations.

Perfect for strengthening ties and division of roles ​ for friends, families, and companies. A unique opportunity to feel like a real Bedouin and build a tent in the middle of the desert. Teams must handle a series of tasks and challenges. 

If you come to Jordan, don’t miss out on camel riding in the Wadi Rum desert! They say “The camel and its driver — each has his own plan”. Our camels and drivers have one plan are to show you the beauty of the Amber Wadi Rum at Sunset time, until the stars start shining in the sky. Several kinds of tours are available in Wadi Rum, from a few hours to a few days, so cover your head with a kuffiyeh, get on your desert mount and leave for a memorable camel ride! Even if most of the camels have long been replaced by jeeps and pick-ups, camels have always been an essential part of the Bedouins’ lifestyle. 

A unique adventure you can enjoy whilst you are camping in the desert is a cultural immersion with the Bedouins of the south. In the evening, you will cook a wonderful traditional meal, sit around the campfire, and sip on a bottomless cup of sweet tea. Depending on which camp you stay at, some hosts will play traditional Bedouin music as the stars come out and peace transcends on the desert. ​

Become a dot artist! This type of decorative art entered the Arab culture recently and is similar to stippling or pointillism. Colorful patterns or images are created by placing small dots or points of color together, rather than using solid lines or brush strokes. This technique can be used to decorate books, stones, or home furniture

A project set up by Maria Haddad and her sisters Dina and Tania in which visitors cook their own meal under supervision. In a spotless modern kitchen installed in a charming historic townhouse, you get a spend a couple of hours cooking. Beit Sitti hires local women from Jordan and Syria, experiencing hardships. ​

Local women from Dana produce fine hand-crafted copper, silver, and bronze jewelry. All the designs have been inspired by the wildlife and landscapes of the area.

The Dana to Petra Trek of the Jordan Trail was rated as one of the world’s 15 best hikes by National Geographic. Let us show you why! We will arrange all the logistics, so you can just hike and enjoy the amazing scenery. ​

Starting from the Dana Guest House, this trail winds above the Dana Village and through the terraced gardens and local craft workshops. Visitors can meet the residents, see the original Ottoman architecture, and learn more about Dana’s rich history. This trail is operated year-round and can be guided or self-guided.

One of the most popular Arab folk dance throughout the region. Could be at a wedding, party, gathering … Once two or more people start holding hands, you know it’s time to form a Dabke line. ​

Learn how a date molasses is produced! Date molasses is another term for date syrup, which is frequently called molasses since it has a dark color and a thick consistency of sugar molasses. It is frequently used as a sweetener in Middle Eastern recipes.

Revenues are donated to the local community and needy people.

The Camp is set in a spectacular tranquil setting in the Beidha area (also known as Little Petra); 14 km north of Petra’s archaeological site, beautifully surrounded by majestic towering rocks with rare 2,000-year-old rocks; lit at night. Upon arrival at the camp entrance guests would be greeted by the sound of el-Shabbabeh (flute) echoing in a distance & once they enter the main area, they would be greeted by a roaring campfire centered in the middle along with lively Bedouin music mainly el-Oud (oriental guitar) & el-Tableh (oriental drum). Bedouin women would present the tradition of kohl making. Guests will try authentic Shraak bread baking and they may watch the Bedouins dig out the traditional Zarb and many more. After dinner under the tents, the Bedouins would invite the guests to dance along around the campfire, etc.

One of the most original bars in the world, Cave Bar is set in a cave tomb carved by the Nabataeans in the 1st century BC. The tomb is one of a few located just outside the Petra site, in what is now Wadi Musa, the town that developed at the entrance of Petra.

Enjoy a traditional north Jordanian meal using locally sourced produce, served up in cook Galsoum’s home in Umm Qais. It’s a great taste of regional culture. Menus depend on the season.

You haven’t tried falafel until you’ve eaten here. This legendary eatery, run for half a century by a Turkish family, is so popular with locals and visitors alike that there’s stiff competition for tables, many of which overflow into the alleyway. Aim for an early lunch or supper if you want to avoid the queues, although it has to be said that Hashem does a fantastic job of feeding the multitude in record time. Mid-afternoon, it makes a great place to sup a mint tea and watches downtown slide towards siesta.

Arabic beauty secrets!
Henna is a temporary dye extracted from a plant used on skin, hair, and cloth sometimes. It has been used and known since ancient times. Henna is widely used in cosmetics. And to celebrate Eid some women like to draw henna on their arms and feet, it is also done in celebration of weddings and other events.
Kohl is an ancient eye cosmetic, traditionally made by grinding stibnite for similar purposes to charcoal used in mascara. It is worn mostly by women, but also by some men and children.

Nestled in a small cozy house restored into a beautiful restaurant, Hikayet Sitti is a place to discover firsthand the Jordanian culture and history and its generous culinary traditions. In the midst of the Christian city of Madaba, the local women put their hands and knowledge together to prepare and serve you the most delicious meal one could ever hope for. This peaceful retreat is the perfect place to gather with friends or family to enjoy real Jordanian hospitality, as good and hearty food will inevitably be accompanied by warm welcomes and homely smiles. A meal in this restaurant will remain for a long time a soothing and memorable experience of your travel to Jordan.

Learn how to cook like Jordanians, you will make popular food such as maqluba, the Madaba specialty sajieh or Musakhan. A soft drink is included. ​

With plush rugs and tapestries dressing the walls and ground beneath your feet, candles illuminating the cave interiors and music adding a dramatic mood, you will feel like you have gone back in time. This is the ideal setting for a whole host of magical evening programs, such as cocktails served inside the caves, a light and sound show to entertain, a Bedouin goat tent, complete with  traditional musicians, or the surprise of a seated gourmet dinner awaiting you on the other side of the Siq, black tie waiters and all! ​

What better way to have a true local experience than eating in Petra at a local home, sitting down and enjoying Jordanian food with the family. Receiving guests bring great honor in the Jordanian culture and you will experience the genuine warmth and welcome that your host bestows on you. ​

Al-Gherbal Restaurant was founded in 2017, offering a high standard of authentic food experience in As-Salt. It is located in a heritage building that dates back to 1824 which was an Ottoman army house. The place is full of heritage pieces that take us hundreds of years back. It’s very characteristic in terms of design and showcases the five main areas of As-Salt through its visuals and custom-made furniture. This visit is being considered as around to an archaeological museum accompanied by a rich menu that serves various traditional Salti and Jordanian dishes.

The place can offer you many cultural activities such as trying the traditional costumes of Salti people, Henna drawing experience, playing the old game “Mancala”, and many more.

Learn more about how to cook some local favorites such as mansaf, mezze salads, fatoush, and tabbouleh, and main dishes like musakhan chicken with sumac and onions. Start with making a refreshing lemon- mint drink that is popular in Jordan and after lunch you can learn some Arabic calligraphy. ​

Start your tour at the Qasr Mushatta, about 30km (20m) southeast of Amman, which is the ruin of an Umayyad winter palace (743-744). Next, you will head to The Qasr Kharrana, about 60km (38m) east of Amman, which is one of the best-known of the desert castles. It is believed to have been built sometime before the early 8th century. Then you will continue your adventure by visiting The Qasr Amra, about 85km (53m) east of Amman, which is the most famous of the desert castles located in present-day eastern Jordan, and was built early in the 8th century. Your tour comes to an end at The Al Azraq Castle, a large fortress in eastern Jordan is named after a nearby oasis.

A local Bedouin will show you the process of making Kohl, the Bedouin eye makeup that is believed to strengthen eyesight, protect against eye ailment in addition to its cosmetic and aesthetic uses. You will be taken through the process from the burning of cotton and olive oil under the Saj, to collecting the Kohl and applying it.

Arabic coffee is an essential part of the Bedouin tradition as it is served on almost every occasion. During this experience, you will be taught how to roast, ground and boil the coffee beans as well as the etiquette of serving the Arabic coffee and drinking it.

On the way to Mount Nebo have a stop at one of the mosaic workshops. Live the Mosaic’s Art Experience and learn more about the art & history of mosaics in Jordan.  This course is especially arranged for your group. Then, each participant will get a small plateau of mosaic.

Afterwards, you will enjoy a walk through the old city called “West Al Balad”. It has hundreds of shops, coffee shops and local restaurants. During your walk, you will stop at Hashem Restaurant direct on the street to taste the most famous Hummus & Falafel with other perfectly cooked & prepared beans dishes. Now continue to the oldest and the most famous sweets store “Habibah” to taste the true Arabian-Jordanian “Kunafa” followed by a drink from one of the street cocktail makers. During your tour you will get the chance to make shopping from the various shops of this area having handmade & local products.

Jordan is famous for its mosaics which are still produced to this day in Madaba Area and sold in all cities in Jordan. You can also shop for: traditional clothes, handmade rugs, handmade jewelry, ceramics, traditional sand bottles, Dead Sea Salts, mud. ​

Enjoy a home-cooked meal in the cozy setting of the Hikayet Sitti Food Basket followed by a traditional coffee. Tip over your cup and when the coffee dregs settle, your fortune will be read! Learn this interesting tradition, and about the role of woman in Madaba lunch. ​

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Enjoy the Bedouin hospitality over dinner and try the Bedouin feast of. Zarb (as known among locals) Bedouin barbecue is an experience on its own where Bedouins cook lamb meat, chicken and vegetables with herbs in a big underground pit with hot coals beneath the desert sands. When the meat is tender with a hint of a smoky taste they take out the big pot and you get to enjoy one of Jordan’s greatest edible treasures under a starry sky in Wadi Rum.