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Together Women Rise: Journey to Jordan
May 19th – 30th, 2022

Join Together Women Rise in Jordan, a desert kingdom in the Middle East. Immerse yourself in a world of red desert sands, ancient ruins and the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea — all while surrounding yourself with the famous Jordanian hospitality and warmth. A safe haven for incomers of all kinds, Jordan has absorbed thousands of refugees as well as large numbers of tourists from all over the world.

Together Women Rise’s Journey to Jordan will take you to a place of daily discovery in mind, body and spirit. Aside from seeing one of the famed Wonders of the World, Petra, and beholding Wadi Rum, the Valley of the Moon, while sleeping under the stars in a traditional Bedouin camp, you will have the rare opportunity to spend two full days with Together Women Rise Featured and Sustained Grantee Collateral Repair Project (CRP).

CRP is bringing much-needed assistance to refugees and other victims of war and conflict—those commonly referred to as “collateral damage.” You will learn first-hand how Together Women Rise’s grants are impacting women and children at this center. Whatever experience comes your way on this journey, rest assured it will be one of warmth, wonder and awe. We invite you to join Together Women Rise on this exquisitely tailored journey that highlights CRP’s work and uncovers the power of women and girls throughout Jordan!


HIGHLIGHTS:
  • Behold Petra, the ancient UNESCO World Heritage-listed site and crown-jewel of Jordan’s many antiquities, in a truly unique and private tour. This pink-hued ancient city is carved directly into solid rock cliffs.
  • See Wadi Rum, a spectacular pink-tinged mountain jutting out of the reddened dunes of the Jordanian desert.
  • Explore Al Salt and hike the Harmony Trail where people of different religions live in peace.
  • Visit Jerash, where you can see some of the world’s most well-preserved Roman architecture outside of Italy.
  • Float in the hypersaline water of the Dead Sea for some peaceful contemplation at the lowest point on earth.
  • Spend two days with Collateral Repair Project as you immerse yourself in their community and programming.
ITINERARY:

Day 1: Arrival in Amman & Airport Transfers 

Arrive in Amman at the Queen Alia International Airport (AMM). A representative will meet you before immigration and assist you through customs. After picking up your bags you’ll meet with your driver who will take you to the hotel.

Enjoy a welcome dinner, get to know your fellow travelers, then rest up before continuing on your journey.

Overnight: Marriott Amman

Day 2: Historical and Cultural tour of Al Salt

Start your first full day in Jordan with a visit to Al Salt to see where ancient history coincides with modernity in the Middle East. In the morning, the group will drive around 50 minutes to visit to Al Salt, where you will be taken by a local guide to walk along The Harmony Trail. Al Salt is an ancient agricultural town and is on the old main highway leading from Amman to Jerusalem which has influenced the historic, religious significance of this town. This tour will give travelers the chance to see a very historic and less traveled area of Jordan, rich with religious history, culture, architecture and harmony.

After this tour you will enjoy an intimate lunch at the home of a local woman who will share her personal story as a single woman living alone in Jordan. After lunch, the group will drive back to Amman and have an afternoon free to rest and relax before dinner.

Overnight: Marriott Amman

Days 3: City Tour of Amman

After breakfast, head out into the bustling city of Amman which is famous for being built on seven hills. Today, the most important areas in the city are named after the hills or mountains they lie on. You’ll visit the Citadel, and the magnificently restored amphitheater, the most obvious and impressive remnant of Roman Philadelphia. Continue to the downtown, the heart of the old city, to walk through the streets and open-air markets and visit the Husseini mosque, one of the oldest mosques in Amman.

In the afternoon, learn how to cook some classic Jordanian dishes at a cooking class at Beit Sitti – which means “grandmother’s home.” The school is run by three sisters who chose to preserve their grandmother’s memory by converting her home and terrace into a cooking school – staffed entirely by local Jordanian women. After learning how to make pita, various mezze, and a main course, you will enjoy the fruits of your labor for dinner.

Overnight: Marriott Amman

Days 4 & 5: Visit Collateral Repair Project in Amman 

For the next two days, you will learn how CRP seeks to repair some of the damage inflicted by war and conflict and through these efforts, foster peace and reconciliation. CRP has expanded and grown steadily since its inception in 2006 in order to meet the needs of the ever-growing refugee population in Jordan. CRP’s holistic support model focuses on positive growth and change, based on the understanding that refugees must first have their basic needs met in order to heal from trauma and build a better life. It provides refugee families with basic needs, such as food vouchers, medical assistance, winter needs, education and skill-building, community-building, and programs to help them heal from trauma.

With its Featured Grant from Together Women Rise in 2015, CRP successfully worked with Iraqi refugees to establish a women’s leadership and wellness program. The impact of the nutrition and wellness workshops rippled through the community as beneficiaries shared the knowledge and skills with their families and friends. Together Women Rise is now funding a Sustained Grant ($25,000 per year for three years) to expand CRP’s holistic support model to refugees from Iraq, Syria, Sudan, and Yemen.

Overnight: Marriott Amman

Day 6: Jerash & The Dead Sea

In the morning, the group will depart for Jerash and begin a walking tour through the spectacular ancient Roman Ruins. Jerash is the best preserved Roman city outside of Rome. You will experience a two hour tour that covers between 3.5-4.5 miles (6-7 km).  The tour will conclude late in the morning, at which point you will transfer (25 minute drive) to Beit Khairat Souf (Women’s Community Project). Formerly a Palestinian refugee camp, Beit Khairat Souf is a unique place that combines the elements of nature and allows visitors to experience some of the natural and tasty pleasures of Jordan.

Before or after lunch, the local women will offer a soap making session with locally grown medical herbs.

After lunch the group will be transferred to the Dead Sea (1 hour 45 mins drive) for some rest and relaxation. Here you will have a chance to float in the hyper-saline waters and mineral-rich mud, known for their many health benefits.

Overnight: Dead Sea Movenpick Hotel

Day 7: Dana Valley Reserve and Bedouin Community Visit

The morning will begin with a drive to Feynan Ecolodge, in the heart of the Dana Valley. Dana Biosphere Reserve is Jordan’s largest reserve and is home to four distinct bio-geographical zones which support an astonishing diversity of flora and fauna. You will stay at an award winning eco-lodge where you will have the chance to truly decompress and disconnect, as the lodge is completely off the grid (do not expect internet). In addition to being an eco-conscious lodge with its commitment to zero plastic usage, Feynan Ecolodge is also socially responsible as it supports the Bedouin communities around the lodge. You will have time to meet the local community members who partake in supporting the lodge and participate in one of the following activities with locals before sunset:

  • Arabic coffee making
  • Bread making

45 minutes before sunset you will take a short hike to watch the sunset on top of the mountains.  Once the sun goes down, this lodge has electricity only in the bathrooms and is lit by candle light at night. Enjoy a delicious dinner by candle light with your traveling companions and take in the pristine stillness of the valley. Make sure you walk up to the roof before bed to catch a glimpse of the night sky. Given that there is no light pollution here, the stars are a wonder to behold.

Overnight: Feynan Ecolodge

Day 8: Petra

Today will begin with a lovely breakfast and a one hour transfer to the ancient city of Petra. Dating to around 300 B.C., it was the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom. The incredible structure contains tombs and temples carved into pink sandstone cliffs, earning its nickname, the “Rose City.” Perhaps its most famous structure is 147 ft-high Al Khazneh, a temple with an ornate, Greek-style facade, and known as The Treasury. At the very back of Petra, about 4 miles from the entrance, is the Monastery which is reached by climbing 850 steps. For those who prefer not to make this climb or walk as far, there is still plenty to see from the Street of Facades to the Royal Tombs to the new Petra Museum. This entire day will be spent exploring this magnificent wonder of the world with your expert guide. Expect to be in complete awe.

Overnight: Movenpick Petra

Day 9:  Wadi Rum

In the morning you will drive 20 minutes to visit Baidha Cooperative Association.  Here, you will learn how to make the famous eye liner, Arabic Kohol, with local women.  Afterwards you will transfer for 15 mins to a private lunch at Um Sayhon village in a local woman’s family’s house and then continue on to Wadi Rum (2 hours 15 minutes drive).  These activities are atypical for the average traveler and will give you an intimate appreciation into the lives of local women.

Known also as the Valley of the Moon, Wadi Rum is a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock in southern Jordan. The area has been inhabited by many human cultures since prehistoric times, with many cultures–including the Nabataeans–leaving their mark in the form of rock paintings, graffiti, and temples.

You can choose to participate in a camel ride or a sunset stroll – this will be a desert experience like none other.

In the evening you will sleep in a “modernized” bedouin camp.  Don’t forget to take a walk outside at night. The stars will astound you!

Overnight: SunCity Camp

Day 10: Wadi Rum

Today you will experience Wadi Rum by Jeep and foot.  A Jeep tour is an amazing way to see this magical desert! We encourage you to bring a warm hat (for the wind) and sunglasses for the ride! This jeep tour includes stops at the highlights such as Nabatean inscriptions, sand dunes, and the rock bridge.

During the tour, you will enjoy a beautiful 3.1 mile (5 km) walk through the canyons with a desert lunch waiting for you at the end of the trail.

In the evening, enjoy the legendary bedouin hospitality and relax around the camp fire with your co-travelers.

Overnight: SunCity Camp

Day 11: Wadi Rum to Amman 

After a traditional Bedouin breakfast you will pack up for your departure back to Amman.  On the way, you will stop at the Iraq Al Amir Women Cooperation for lunch and an opportunity to partake in one of these activities: paper making, pottery making, or hand weaving.

The Iraq Al Amir Women’s Cooperative Association was founded by the Noor Al-Hussein Foundation over two decades ago. It aimed to help the women become financially independent and to raise their standard of living by increasing their income and preserving local heritage.

In the evening, enjoy a Farewell Dinner and reflect upon the highlights of your trip with your fellow travelers.

Overnight: Marriott Amman

Day 12: Departures

Airport transfers will happen throughout the day for travelers to their next destination. Ma’asalama!

For more information about this incredible journey to Jordan with Together Women Rise, be sure to visit the following pages: