Short break to Petra, Jordan

Planet and people

Taybet Zaman Eco Resort, Petra: Located 10 kilometres from Petra, the village of Taybet has been converted to a 5 star resort with the support of the local community. The old village was almost deserted as the community had moved away during the 1960s, and in the early 1990s the mayor proposed turning the old village houses into a tourist resort, rebuilt and owned by the local community. The end result was a recycled village, owned, rebuilt, and run by the locals, keeping the community and its heritage alive and spurring economic growth. There is a Turkish bath and a restaurant serving traditional Arabic meals as well as a small market area which sells locally produced pottery and textiles to keep alive old crafts skills and bring employment and money to revitalise the villagers.

Taybet Zaman was restored with respect to authenticity of materials, environment and regional style, resulting in a preservation of culture along with a recycling of materials, offering a rustic and local Jordanian experience to its guests. Since its completion in 1994, Taybet Zaman has won numerous awards, including the 1996 British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Award and the 1997 Green Global Commendation Award.

Local Guides: As a company we have a policy of staying in locally owned accommodation wherever possible and our ground agent employ local guides using transport owned and operated by local people. Lunches are eaten in locally owned and managed restaurants thus supporting the community financially. This provides valuable employment to the region and keeps the money you spend in the country which helps to maintain and develop the infrastructure.