Young Pioneer Tours
Jordan & Lebanon Combo
There are few places in the world quite as surreal as the annual international arms fair in Amman, Jordan. This vast display is hosted by King Abdullah of Jordan and is attended by the world’s generals, dictators and other assorted people in need of the latest killing machines on the international market, as well as those who are more than happy to sell their wares. This is the place where the men who usually hide in the shadows come to see and be seen, this is the YPT Business of War tour, and business is booming!
Kicking off in the wild city of Amman, we will first explore this hectic, fascinating and ancient city before spending two days at the mother of all arms shows. Royalty from all over the Middle East will be in attendance, there will be displays from military forces neutralizing mock enemy forces featuring helicopters, explosions, and gunfire that will convince you that you are in a war zone. We will have the chance to examine and try out the latest military technology on the market and rub shoulders with some very ‘’interesting’’ individuals.
When the show is over, it doesn’t end there, we then set off to explore one of the seven wonders of the world, Petra, a mind-blowing hidden town literally carved out of desert cliffs, which was created in 312 BC and remained hidden from Western eyes until the 19th Century. We will then round off the tour with Bedouin tribesmen, camel rides and an adrenaline fuelled day tearing through the desert in a 4×4 vehicle! We will then continue our tour over to neighbouring Lebanon.
A country with a history long a rich, Lebanon is home to a wonderful national cuisine, a string of funky beach resorts and the Middle East’s most glamorous city – Beirut.
Damaged by decades of civil war and the invasions and interventions of neighbouring nations, Lebanon is nonetheless blessed with magnificent mountain vistas, majestic ancient ruins and an indomitable, hospitable people. Lebanon rewards the traveller with food for thought and a feast for the senses and the stomach!
The YPT Lebanon extension follows on from our Jordan, business of war tour. After an extra night in Amman, we fly out on Sunday afternoon to Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. The following two days will take in thriving Beirut, Tripoli and Hezbollah areas near the Israeli border.
Monday 7th May:
- Morning arrival in Amman, Jordan.
- check into our centrally located hotel and meet your YPT guide.
- Around noon, the group will meet up and get to know each other before we head out and explore Amman and see some of its incredible sights such as the ancient Citadel, Roman theater, Al Hussieni Mosque.
- In the evening, we head out to try some amazing Jordanian cuisine and wind off the night with drinks and Shisha.
Tuesday 8th May:
- We dress smart and grab breakfast before we meet our drivers who will transport us to the desert, where the mother of all arms shows is taking place.
- Your YPT guide will deal with the group registration and issue everybody with an entry permit.
- Chance to buy cool merchandise and souvenirs.
- We will witness the mind blowing opening Ceremony and SOF Demonstration.
- Take part in a Royal Tour of the Halls, see the awesome Jordanian Royal Falcons Display then then head to see the intense Ground/Air Mobility and Tactical Displays.
- Transfer back to Amman
- Free time in the evening for people to rest up and check out the awesome photos from the day.
- In the evening we head out for group dinner and drinks.
- Overnight in Amman.
Wednesday 9th May:
- Grab Breakfast and meet our drivers to head to the second day of the show.
- Your YPT guide will deal with the group registration and issue everybody with an entry permit.
- After witnessing the main events on the opening day, this day will be spent exploring the vast tents and witness the buying and selling of some of the most lethal military equipment, vehicles and aircraft currently on the market as well as handle and try out a simulation of many products.
- Visit the Small Caliber Live Firing at Ranges where you can test out some of the equipment for sale.
- All the awesome displays from the previous day will be repeated, so the group as free to spectate again if they wish.
- Transfer back to Amman.
- Free time in the evening before heading out for group dinner and drinks.
- Overnight in Amman.
Thursday 10th May:
- We get up early, grab breakfast and checkout of hotel.
- Our private transfer will await us outside and we will begin the 2.5 hour drive via the Desert Highway to the mind blowing wonder of the world, Petra.
- Meet our local guide at the Visitor’s Centre and start to explore this mystic site. You pass the Siq, a narrow gorge where you get the first close views of the colorful sandstone, ending at the beautiful Treasury. Walk along the Street of Facades to the Royal Tombs, the Theatre and Qasr Al Bint. Free time to explore on your own at your own pace and take some incredible photographs.
- Free time in the evening at Petra hotel before we grab dinner.
- Overnight in Petra and chance to meet some local Bedouin tribesmen.
Friday 11th May:
- Breakfast at the hotel in Petra.
- We then drive for around 1.30 hour to Wadi Rum, one of the most impressing desert landscapes in the world!
- On Arrival, we then enjoy an adrenaline fuelled, wilderness adventure of a 4×4 jeep tour of the Wadi Rum desert, following in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia, climbing sand dunes and rock bridges.
- Led by our English speaking Bedouin guide, the jeep tour will be around 4 – 5 Hours, taking in the sights such as the Nabatean Temple, Lawrence Spring,Sand Dunes, Khazali Canyon, Little Bridge, Um Frouth Rock Bridge, Lawrence House, Burdah Rock Bridge/Burdah Arch & more.
- On the way back 01 Hour Camel Riding is optional from Lawrence Spring to Rum Village. Extra cost of 10 JD/15 USD per hour per camel.
- Meet our driver again for the drive back to Amman.
- Overnight in Amman.
Saturday 12th May:
- Breakfast in the hotel before heading down to the Dead Sea.
- We will swim in the super salty water and slather ourselves with the healing mud with the locals.
- Afterwards, we will head to the historical sites of Sodom and Gomorrah.
- Drive back to the hotel in Amman.
- Last Jordanian meal and free nevening to explore Jordan’s nightlife.
- Overnight in Amman
Sunday 13th May:
- Grab breakfast at the hotel.
- Transfer to the Royal Automobile Club on the outskirts of Amman. Established in 2003 upon King Abdullah’s wishes. The museum showcases a rare collection of Jordan’s vehicles ranging from Hussein bin Ali’s cars that came to Amman in 1916 to modern sports cars. The museum also has the rover used in the filming of Hollywood’s movie The Martian, which used Jordan’s UNESCO world heritage site Wadi Rum as the backdrop for the Martian scenes. The rover was gifted to Jordan in return for the hospitality with which Jordan received the movie cast and crew.
- Return to hotel to grab our bags and make our way to the airport for our short flight.
- Arrive in Beirut in the late afternoon and transfer to hotel.
- After we get settled in, we’ll head out to try some of the world famous Lebanese cuisine.
- Overnight in Beirut.
Monday 14th May:
- We grab breakfast at the hotel before we meet our local guide.
- He will take us on a guided tour of the best sights around Beirut
- We will then transfer to The Hope for Peace Monument is a monument in Yarze, made to celebrate the end of the Lebanese Civil War in 1990. It contains 78 military vehicles, from a range of era and nations. The monument resembles a bombed-out building, with the vehicles positioned in it. The guns of the tanks and military vehicles stick out of it, mostly pointing in the one direction…
- After this, we will head to the Hezbollah memorial centre near the Israeli border. A one of kind museum with mind-blowing displays and dioramas full of political statements, it’s one of the only Mujahideen museums on the planet.
- Transfer back to Beirut
- Evening meal
- Overnight in Beirut
Tuesday 15th May:
- We grab breakfast at the hotel before we meet our local guide.
- Transfer to Tripoli, one of the most dangerous cities in Lebanon until recently, when it was torn apart by Al-Qaeda and pro-Assad forces living in the same part of the city.
- We’ll be visiting Syria street, where the brunt of the fighting took place. Expect war damage and aggressive political banners. Including faded ISIS and Al-Qaeda banners from before their groups were defeated in the area.
- Lunch in Tripoli.
- Visit the old town and then to the abandoned train station, with rusty steam locomotives left long abandoned.
- Visit the abandoned trade fair expo centre, conceived in the wake of the 1958 civil conflict, the trade fair was intended to unite citizens and overcome sectarian divisions, as well as to inject a new lease of life into Lebanon’s second city, which lost its historical trade links and stagnated economically after independence. Occupied by fighters during the 1970’s civil war, it never achieved its aims.
- Transfer back to Beirut.
- Final meal and farewell drinks.
- Overnight in Beirut.
Wednesday 16th May
End of tour.
Tour Extensions
Want to extend your YPT adventure? Join one of our great tour extensions
