Its full name is the "Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan". Rich in culture and steeped in history, and politically stable, it is one of the safest countries in the Middle East.

Jordan is also the back garden where Europeans go for trekking adventures and outdoor travel; it has seven World Heritage sites and was chosen by Lonely Planet as one of its "ten best destinations for 2019".

AMMAN

In the 11th century BC the Ammonites founded the kingdom of Ammon, built their capital on Citadel Hill and called it "Rabbath Ammon", which gradually evolved into today's Amman.

Climb Citadel Hill, and rough, ancient stone columns tell passers-by of a history thousands of years long; look down, and row upon row of white buildings gradually unfold before you. Old and new blend in harmony, showing an openness to all influences that is rare among Middle Eastern countries.

*Amman has a wealth of historic remains; these sights are not included in the trip's itinerary or price, and you can arrange your own visits according to your flight times.

PETRA

In Greek, Petra means "rock"; it is one of the mysterious ancient cities in the desert of southern Jordan, and also one of Jordan's most celebrated ancient sites.

On 7 July 2007 Petra was chosen as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

The rock of the Petra site has a faint red tint, like coral gemstone, and glows in the sunlight. Its unusual landforms give it colours of exceptional beauty, which is why it is also known as the "Rose City".

The ancient city has kept its appearance intact to this day. Here you can see the sumptuous, refined royal tomb in the Greek style, the gorge path full of ingenuity and legend, Roman remains, the Colonnaded Street, and so on.

Usually on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, the magical and spectacular *Petra by Night is held in front of the Al-Khazneh temple. The square in front of the temple is then filled with candles, and Bedouins play traditional music and serve tea; there is also a simple blessing ceremony.

*Tickets for Petra by Night are not included in the price of the trip; they cost about €25 per person and must be booked in advance.

JERASH

The period of Roman rule was the golden age of Jerash, then known as Gerasa. Today it is acknowledged the world over as one of the best-preserved towns under Roman administration anywhere.

Before it was excavated, Jerash had lain buried in sand and gravel for several centuries; since its excavation it has undergone nearly 70 years of conservation.

Here are paved streets lined with colonnades, temples rising on the hilltops, sumptuous theatres, and spacious public squares, markets, baths and fountains, as well as city walls pierced by towers and gates.

THE DEAD SEA

China's Journey to the West mentions a River of Flowing Sands: "The realm of flowing sands, eight hundred across; the weak water, three thousand deep; a goose feather cannot float, and a reed flower sinks to the bottom". Jordan's Dead Sea is exactly the opposite.

The Dead Sea is in fact a lake. It contains about forty billion tonnes of minerals of all kinds, and the layer of salt deposited on its bed is about four hundred metres thick. It is precisely because the salt content is so high that the water of the Dead Sea is denser than the human body, so that a person lying in the water does not sink but floats on the surface.

This is a sacred pool for restoring life. The minerals in which the lake is rich have a soothing, pain-relieving effect. It is said that floating in the Dead Sea for forty minutes is equivalent to eight hours of deep sleep. This state of complete relaxation of body and mind is the same as the relaxing, therapeutic effect of doing yoga.

WADI RUM

In recent years Wadi Rum has shot to fame as the filming location of the Hollywood blockbuster The Martian. This sandy plain, full of Arabian character, is a marvellous combination of strange mountains and desert.

In Arabic, Wadi Rum means "valley of the high place". It also has a romantic name, the "Valley of the Moon": scientists once said that the environment and landforms here are the place on Earth most like the Moon; others say it is because, on a map, the shape of Wadi Rum looks like a moon.

Still others call it the wine-red valley, because at every sunset the afterglow spreads over the whole desert and a gorgeous rose colour stains the valley red; in an instant it is transformed into something like a red planet: strange, alluring, with an air of the forbidden and the mysterious.

At night, in a luxury camp made famous on social media, you talk about life with friends over drinks and watch the stars.

Who says only Europe is romantic? The Middle East too has mysterious and romantic places waiting for you to explore.