Culinary Tour Of Jordan With Al Manara Hotel

Diana Bell-Heather   |   03-11-2018

HAVE AN APPETITE FOR ADVENTURE? A BRAND NEW LUXURY DESTINATION IN JORDAN OFFERS GUESTS A CHANCE TO SEE ONE OF THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD IN STYLE AND COMFORT.

 

Al Manara a Luxury Collection Hotel

 

There is a sense of great privilege living in a region with our very own wonder of the world just a short trip away. Jordan has been expanding its tourism initiative with an aim to attract up to seven million visitors by 2020, and there is a new luxury resort to welcome explorers and foodies from around the globe.

 

Al Manara a Luxury Collection Hotel

 

Al Manara a Luxury Collection Hotel

 

Al Manara a Luxury Collection Hotel jordan

 

YOUR PERSONAL SANCTUARY

Al Manara, a Luxury Collection Hotel, only opened last month but has already gained a reputation for bespoke service, culinary marvels and attentive hospitality. Located in Aqaba, the resort sits right in the south of Jordan, close to the border with Israel and Saudi Arabia looking towards Egypt. The hotel’s position on the Red Sea makes this one of the best spots for some beach time, and it is also within easy reach of two of Jordan’s other gems; Petra and Wadi Rum.

 

petra jordan

Petra

 

The drive from the airport is long, but you get rewarded at the end as the staff welcome you with a refreshing hibiscus drink and a cold towel before swiftly checking you into one of their 207 rooms. The décor is modern with a nod to Jordan’s rich heritage offering plenty of space with contemporary touches (Byredo products in the bathroom get a thumbs up from us) as well as spectacular views over the surrounding nature. Chill by the pool, or make the most of the location and unwind by the sea as the golden sun sets over a warm afternoon. Dine in one of the three restaurants, or book a unique experience on the beach where executive chef Roman Gernoth prepares Zarb – a Bedouin barbecue feast of meats, rice, potatoes and vegetables that are cooked underground for four hours. Served with a wide selection of mezze, it’s one of the most traditional and indulgent meals you can have and is the perfect way to start your food journey through the Kingdom.

 

YOUR INDIANA JONES MOMENT

A 90 minute drive from Aqaba, and you’ll find  Petra, where great natural, cultural and geological features merge. One of the Seven Wonders of the World holds more than 800 individual ancient monuments, including buildings, tombs, baths, funerary halls, temples, arched gateways, and colonnaded streets, that were mostly carved from the kaleidoscopic sandstone. The Al Manara hotel team can arrange an expert guide and provide a picnic for the journey so you have the energy to explore the vast site and even trek up 900 steps to see the beauty of Petra from above. Our tip is to visit at sunrise or sunset. When you arrive you’ll walk through a narrow gorge with vertical walls of rock on either side before finally getting your first glimpse of the famous Treasury carved into the cliff basking in the pink glow of the suns rays.

 

farm olive tree jordan

Jarba Farm

 

After diving back into history, but sadly not discovering the ancient treasure as Harrison Ford did in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, our taste buds took us to the home of a local family. We were welcomed with a cup of Jordanian coffee that had a touch of cardamom, a recipe derived from the Ottoman empire. Unlike your local Starbucks, there are very strict rules about serving qahwah sädah (welcome coffee) for example, you start with the oldest guests in the room and you must hold the cup in your right hand. This is followed by Maqluba, an upside down dish made up of rice and chicken all cooked in one pot and then tipped onto serving dishes for guests to tuck into with a side of yogurt and tabbouleh.

 

jordanian food

Jordanian Family lunch experience

 

Did you know that olives were first cultivated in Jordan? Despite Italy stealing the thunder, Jordanian olive oil is on the rise and visiting one of the local farms proves that the barren-looking landscape can produce some of the best quality olives. Through the hotel you can arrange a visit to one of the olive  farms and sit with the locals over a cup of sweet tea, fresh grape juice and barazek – crispy butter cookie covered in toasted sesame and honey.

 

YOUR MODERN BEDOUIN ESCAPE

Wadi Rum is a maze of monolithic rockscapes that rise up from the red desert floor to heights of 1,750m creating an out of this world landscape that has attracted Hollywood directors of The Martian and Star Wars Rogue One. Your experience might not be a blockbuster but it will have all the qualities of a VIP escape as you stay the night at the recently opened Memories Aicha Luxury Camp. The unique destination offers tents – not the pitch-it-yourself kind – and panoramic pods that are all fitted with AC units, showers and comfortable beds. After a traditional meal, the hotel staff will lead you to one of the dunes, ask you to lie down on the cool sand, turn of the torches, and close your eyes for a few seconds before opening them to see the constellations of stars with such clarity that you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re in a planetarium. You’ll see the Milky Way and even Mars.

 

jordan food

Traditional Jordanian sweets

 

After a peaceful night’s sleep, thanks to the lack of light or noise pollution, grab a quick bite at breakfast and then hop on the back of one of open top desert trucks and follow your guide into the heart of Wadi Rum. He will lead you through canyons to discover the 4000-year-old rock drawings before showing you the best spots to hike up for breath-taking views of the vast space that once had Lawrence of Arabia (aka Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence who played a key role in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire) trek through.

 

wadi rum camp

Memories Aicha Luxury Camp

 

By now, you would’ve worked up an appetite and will be whisked away to the camp of a Bedouin family who will welcome you with a traditional Mansaf – the national dish of Jordan consisting of lamb cooked separately from the rice. When served, the broth from the lamb is poured over and you tuck in using your hands and flat bread – just how the Bedouins did it for generations.

 

YOUR REWARD

After navigating through the vast desert, there’s nothing like the feeling of being back in the luxurious arms of Al Manara hotel. All explorer’s deserve a rest day, so book into the spa that overlooks the picturesque Saraya Aqaba Lagoon. It offers an extensive sensory experience, a diverse range of treatments using Subtle Energies, Terres d’Afrique and Sodashi products as well as a comprehensive array of relaxing facilities such a steam room, sauna and a heated plunge pool.

 

Al Manara a Luxury Collection Hotel jordan

 

Al Manara a Luxury Collection Hotel jordan

For an escape that offers sun, sea, sand dunes, the wonders of Petra and delicious lamb with yoghurt – Al Manara, a Luxury Collection Hotel, is definitely worth the journey.