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Bedouin Rababah:
Probably the most important instrument
employed throughout this region is the Bedouin Rababah.
Played with a horsehair bow, this instrument has a quadrilateral
sound box covered with skin and a single string made from
horsehair. Capable of a side range of dynamic accents and
ornaments, this instrument is the essential melody instrument of
the nomadic Bedouins. It is customarily played by the sha'ir, or
poet-singer, to accompany heroic and love songs.
Feynan:
Archeological treasures of Wadi Feynan and the surrounding
area.
In terms of archaeological sites in southern Jordan, the Feynan
area is regarded by many experts to be second only to Petra in
importance. It shows evidence of human occupation stretching
back 10,000 years, when people were just beginning to experiment
with growing crops. But what makes Feynan extraordinary is
copper mining. It was the first place in the world where copper
ore was extracted and smelted for human use. Five thousand years
ago, simple, wind-fired kilns were being used to extract pure
copper for ornaments, utensils and tools. During the Bronze Age,
mining and smelting techniques became more advanced. Extensive
narrow
galleries were dug to excavate the copper, with vertical shafts
to let in air. By the Iron Age,Feynan’s copper wealth was under
the control of the Edomite Kings who supplied the Assyrian
Empire with copper, bringing them unprecedented economic growth.
(the Edomite capital was located on the mountain plateau to the
east - now the small town of Buseira).Copper mining reached it
peak in Roman times, when the older mines were re-exploited
using new technologies. The largest mine in the Roman Empire was
located in Umm al-Amad, where you can still see the big, open
galleries supported by impressive rock pillars. The most obvious
relict of the copper age, however, is not Roman but Byzantine
and is known as Khirbet Feynan. This is a large, rounded hill
overlooking Wadi Feynan, covered with the ruins of a Byzantine
settlement. Here there are three churches, indicating the size
and importance of this “copper-powered” community. At the height
of its prosperity the Khirbet Feynan community was supplying
most of the known world with copper products.
Wadi Arabah:
Wadi Arabah begins at the southern end of the Dead Sea and
extends southward for 112 miles to the Gulf of Aqabah. Along the
length of the centre of Wadi Araba runs the boundary between the
modern states of
Israel
and Jordan. It is an arid depression from six to twelve miles
wide -- in reality a continuation of the Great Rift Valley. This
section has been known from ancient Biblical times as the Arabah.
Beginning at 1292 feet below sea level
the
valley gradually ascends as it goes southward for 67 miles to a
watershed which rises 660 feet above sea level. From here it
quickly descends until 45 miles further southward it reaches the
Gulf of Aqabah at Ezion Geber. Surface explorations along with
minor digs carried on by Doctor Nelson Glueck revealed a number
of ruined villages and many copper and silver mines from which
ore was dug in the time of Solomon (900-1000 B.C.) and during
the time of
the Nabateans
(300 BC to AD 100).
Jfir desert:
Comprising around
75% of Jordan, this area of desert and desert steppe is part of
what is known as the North Arab Desert. It stretches into Syria,
Iraq and Saudi Arabia, with elevations varying between 600 and
900 meters above sea level. Climate in the Badia varies widely
between day and night, and between summer and winter. Daytime
summer temperatures can exceed 40°C, while winter nights can be
very cold, dry and windy. Rainfall is minimal throughout the
year, averaging less than 50 millimeters annually. Although all
the regions of the Badia (or desert) are united by their
harsh desert climate,similar vegetation types and sparse
concentrations of population, they vary considerably according
to their underlying geology.
The volcanic
formations of the northern Basalt Desert extend into Syria and
Saudi Arabia, and are recognizable by the black basalt boulders
which cover the landscape. East of the Basalt Desert, the
Rweishid Desert is an undulating limestone plateau which extends
to the Iraqi border. There is some grassland in this area, and
some agriculture is practiced there. Northeast of Amman, the
Eastern Desert is crossed by a multitude of vegetated wadis,
and includes the Azraq Oasis and the Shomari Wildlife Reserve.
To the south of
Amman is the Central Desert, while Wadi Sarhan on Jordan’s
eastern border drains north into Azraq. Al-Jafr Basin, south of
the Central Desert, is crossed by a number of broad,
sparsely-vegetated wadis. South of al-Jafr and east of
the Rum Desert, al-Mudawwara Desert is characterized by isolated
hills and low rocky mountains separated by broad, sandy wadis.
The most famous desert in Jordan is the Rum Desert, home of the
wondrous Wadi Rum landscape. Towering sandstone mesas dominate
this arid area, producing one of the most fantastic desert-scapes
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Live with Nomads
One of the
best known groups from Jordan's population is the Bedouin. As
they are known in Arabic, the Bedu, or desert dwellers,
endure the desert and have learned to survive its unforgiving
climate. It is difficult to count Bedouins, but it is generally
known that the majority of Jordan's population is of Bedouin
origin.
Join the tribe
of intrepid Nomads and go your own way, live with culture and
traditions, feel the taught life with them, test their food,
sleep on their mattresses on desert sand, and their goats-hair
tents, join their nights, share with them their tea and herbal
drinks.
Day by day itinerary:
Day 1: Amman , Madaba
Meets and
assist at airport by our representatives, visa formalities,
transfer to Madaba the city of Mosaics and where is the holy
land map, This map was originally part of the floor of a
Byzantine church, built during the reign of emperor Justinian,
527-565 A.D. It is the oldest map of the Holy Land that is still
extant. Five other Byzantine churches have been discovered in
Madaba, all with nice mosaics. This has led to Madaba's
designation as "the city of mosaics." Madaba is 20 miles (32
km) south of Jordan's, capital city of Amman. We will stay at
familial hotel, and to test the local food that made at home,
and overnight.
Day 2: Madaba , Sweimeh
We will have
breakfast at the hotel and travel down to west of Jordan, travel
down to Dead Sea where the Bedouin live near Sweimeh village, to
south of Dead Sea we will be welcomed by Bedouins, and have
Bedouin tea as welcome drink, group will be devided to two
parts, woman and men, and will stay at their parts, join the
night with Bedouins, and will have dinner with them, tour guides
will translate the history of the Bedouins in Dead Sea, and
their culture, overnight.
Day 3: Sweimeh , Dead Sea , Feynan
We do same as
Bedouin wake up early in the morning, have breakfast with them,
and we will have short time at private beach in Dead Sea,
floating, mud …etc, after lunch drive a long desert to Feynan
where is copper mines, and black baselt mountains, a great
landscape, which is different area then Dead Sea, where is a
different Bedouins and different tribes, has a long histories
and great stories, we will be welcomed by Bedouin family, and
share with them the night.
Day 4: Feynan , Dhra'a Mkheireigeh
In the morning
breakfast with the family and drive deep in the desert of Wadi
Arabah: Meanings in a Contested Landscape, today we live in real
landscape, in no where, middle of falt desert, and with Bedouin
never met tourist before, we will have to collect their goats
with them, cook with them our dinner, and milky their goats,
prepare for the night altogether, listen to their history, play
Rababa (Bedouin music), and summer night, dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Wadi Namala , Shkaret Msai'ed
In the morning
we will leave with Bedouin goats up to the mountains, and
continue driving them by our Jeeps up to 995 M up sea level
after been in 385 M above sea level to Shkarat Msaied: situated
in the sandstone mountain area some 13 km north of Petra in the
Nemelleh region right next to the track leading from Wadi Musa
into Wadi Araba. The site rests on a small plateau in a
saddle-like situation in between two peaks. The plateau has been
used for agricultural activities in Nabatean and recent times.
In a small canyon where a very friendly Bedouin family, we will
spend the night with them and have dinner with them as well,
overnight.
Day 6: Little Petra , Petra
Today we will
have hiking day to visit the most important site in Jordan,
Petra: we start to visit the sites from different trail not like
usual trail from normal tours, we will do the hiking from back
side of the sites, starting to visit the Monastery and then to
Qasr Al-Bint up to treasury and waliking via Siq to the visitor
centre, we check in at small hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Petra , Wadi Rum
Early
breakfast, drive by Jeep safari off-road from Bedouin Village (Rajif
) and travel down to Hamad well, where is a big Bedouin tribe
live around, have cup of tea with them and continue into desert
to old Humaima, by evening will arrive to Wadi Rum, we will
escort you to the protected area, where still some Bedouin
family live there, we will have dinner with them, and will get
full information about Lawrance of Arabaia and his true story in
Wadi Rum, after that we will have Bedouin folklore, Bedouin
music, loud and dram, star-night, you have optional to sleep
under the stars or at Bedouin tents with the family.
Day 8: Wadi Rum , Batin Ghoul
Today we will
travel to where never tourist been there, Batin Ghoul deep in
east of Jordan, get lost in the desert, flat area, where only
Bedouin with their camels, we will continue by Jeep safari and
then travel into the tribe by camels, will be traveling into hot
difficult desert, and in no where, a lot of stories and old
history about the area and about the Bedouins that live there,
enjoy the amazing history and have dinner BBQ under-ground,
overnight with the Bedouin family.
Day 9: Jafir , Amman
We will travel
back to Amman via un-normal way via the desert east of Jordan,
off-road, arrive to Amman late in the evening, check in at
hotel, enjoy the night's highlights of Amman, dinner and
overnight.
Day 10: Amman , Jerash , Ajlun , Umm Qais ,
Amman
Today we will
have classic tour: After breakfast, transfer to Umm Qais , which
was built mainly out of black basalt. Here you can enjoy the
impressive view over Lake Tiberius and the Golan Heights. And
then drive down to Rabad Castle (Ajlun castle) you will visit
the Islamic military castle of
Ajloun.
The castle was used by the Islamic armies of Saladin to protect
the region against the crusaders. And next destination will be
Jerash You will visit Jerash, the Pompeii of the East. You will
enter
Jerash
through the monumental South Gate and find yourself wandering
around in a Roman city. You will walk in the Oval Plaza
surrounded by colonnades, visit the Roman theatre and Byzantine
churches with mosaic-covered floors. Enjoy a stroll along Jerash’
main road the Cardo and pass by the Nymphaeum. Jerash has been
covered by sand for centuries, the main reason why it is still
so well-preserved. You may experience the marvelous acoustics of
the theatre, the stage of the Jerash music festival which takes
place every year. And see for yourself how the Romans built the
earthquake-proof columns of the colonnaded streets. Evening back
to Amman, enjoy the night highlights of the capital of Jordan,
dinner at your hotel or at nice restaurant, overnight.
Day 11: Amman , Airport
Depend of your
flight schedule, transfer to Airport, assist with departure.
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