Jordan Day 2 – Tour of Jaresh and short ride - 20km

During or after breakfast, the local guide will give a trip briefing. Then, we prepare our bikes, load them onto the support vehicle and transfer to the Roman city of Jerash, which lies just 50 kilometres to the north of Amman. Jerash is an inspirational, explorable city, one of the best preserved sites to be found anywhere outside of Italy -a real ‘Rome away from Rome’. Conquered by Pompey in 63BC, Jerash was ‘broken’ after a cataclysmic earthquake in 749 and lay deserted for around 1000 years. At the beginning of the 19th century, European explorers were taken round the ruins by local Bedouin and from there started the excavation and restoration of the old Jerash. Its colonnaded streets, baths, theatres, plazas and arches remain in exceptional condition. After a tour of old Jerash, we transfer to our hotel in nearby Suf and have a short evening ride in the local area. Ride distance 16km (10 miles). - KE Adventure Trip Notes

                            

I met our guide Anas and the other six riders at breakfast. All from Great Britain with varied accents. After making acquaintances, we rebuilt our bikes and put them on the truck.

 

 

 Soon after, we departed in our mini-bus for a tour of Jerash which is a large preserved Roman site. A local guide took us around and then we went to a very touristy buffet lunch nearby.

 

Then to Suf, our hotel for the night. We changed into riding gear and headed out for a short ride to test the hills both down and up. Unfortunately, the ups were a bit too up for me so I took the first of what may be many lifts in the bus. A beautiful sunset finished off the evening.

 

The hotel was more or less deserted for the holiday, or possibly for its lack of amenities, and the food for dinner was less than average.