A Petra project
stopping off in a Bedouin tent for tea. For one final desert thrill, I hop on a camel and trek across the sand.
As the sun beats down, I feel like I’ve stepped back in time to an age of explorers working their way across the desert for the first time.
For the next leg of my trip, I head south to the busy port of Aqaba.
The city, said to be an inspiration for Aladdin, lies across the sun-kissed Red Sea from Egypt and Israel.
Saudi Arabia is just a few miles down the road.
In Aqaba, there are countless restaurants where you can tuck in to falafel and shawarma wraps, as well as cafes serving fresh coffee boiled using hot sand.
I stop for lunch at a beach bar at Ayla Oasis, a sparkling new 10-mile waterfront development along the Red Sea. Then I spend the afternoon soaking up the sun before jumping in the sea for a refreshing dip.
Dinner is at Captain’s Restaurant, beginning with cold mezze dishes of hummus, baba ghanoush and salad before huge platters of lamb kofta, beef and roasted vegetables arrive.
Afterwards, I venture out to the night market where I engage in some friendly bartering with traders selling all manner of exotic delights.
There are huge bags of tea and colourful spices piled up into peaks.
Shelves creak under stacks of Jordanian rugs, jars of olives and handmade crafts.
Staying at the award-winning Mövenpick Tala Bay on the peaceful southern shores of the Red Sea, I make the most of its private beach, swimming pools, spa and sea views. Suitably rested, I head out on a boat tour with Go Aqaba. These waters are famous around the world and I relish jumping straight in to snorkel in this real-life aquarium teeming with fish.
A lunch of fresh fish sizzled on the barbecue up on deck, served with flatbread, hummus and salads, tastes wonderful as we cruise along in the sunshine.
It’s a fitting end to my time in Jordan – a treasure trove of ancient wonders, inspiring desert landscapes and colourful coastlines.