Touch down in Amman and settle into a city that layers ancient history under a modern skyline. After clearing customs, most travelers head straight to their hotel to rest and shake off jet lag before diving into the week ahead.

If you have energy left, take an early evening stroll through the Rainbow Street area for a first taste of Jordanian coffee culture and mezze.

Spend the morning wandering Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities anywhere in the world, where colonnaded streets and a restored hippodrome make it easy to picture life here two thousand years ago.

For lunch, a hands-on cooking class in a local home turns a meal into one of the most memorable parts of the day.

Back in Amman, spend the afternoon touring the Citadel and Roman Theater, two sites that anchor the city's ancient core just steps from its busiest modern neighborhoods.

Start the day at Mount Nebo, where biblical tradition holds that Moses viewed the Promised Land. On a clear day you can see all the way to Jerusalem. From there it's a short drive to Madaba, the 'City of Mosaics,' where a sixth-century floor map inside St. George's Church is one of the oldest surviving depictions of the Holy Land.

The rest of the day is transfer time toward Petra, so settle in and enjoy the changing desert scenery.

This is the day everyone comes to Jordan for. Walk through the narrow, mile-long Siq canyon and watch the Treasury reveal itself at the end, a moment photos never quite capture. Spend the rest of the day exploring deeper into the site, including the Royal Tombs and, if energy allows, the climb to the Monastery.

An optional horse ride from the main gate to the Siq entrance is included in the Petra ticket price, but it's just as rewarding to walk it slowly and take in the rock formations.

Transfer from Petra into the otherworldly desert landscape of Wadi Rum, known as the Valley of the Moon for its towering red sandstone formations. A two-hour 4x4 ride across the desert floor, led by local Bedouin drivers, is the best way to take in the scale of the place up close.

Spend the night in a desert camp under some of the clearest, darkest skies in the region.

This Wadi Rum excursion is run by a local Bedouin cooperative, so choosing it directly supports the community that calls this desert home. It's worth asking your driver about their family's history here.

After a peaceful desert morning, make the multi-hour transfer to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth at over 400 meters below sea level. Once you arrive, there's time to float in the mineral-rich water and try the mud treatments the region is famous for.

Floating takes some getting used to: lean back, relax your legs, and let the water do the work rather than fighting it.

Enjoy a final, unhurried breakfast at the Dead Sea before transferring to Queen Alia International Airport for departure.

Build in extra time for the drive, since traffic near Amman can be unpredictable, and airport check-in for international flights can take longer than expected.