Jericho

Jericho, a green oasis deep in the Jordan Valley below sea level, is often called the oldest continuously inhabited city on earth, its ancient mound of Tell es-Sultan, a UNESCO World Heritage site, revealing walls, towers and settlement reaching back some ten thousand years. Watered by a perennial spring amid the desert, the town has flourished since the dawn of civilisation. Nearby stand the exquisite ruins of Hisham's Palace, an early Islamic desert retreat famed for its dazzling mosaic floors, while the stark Mount of Temptation rises above. With date palms, ancient history and views towards the Dead Sea, Jericho is a place of remarkable antiquity and atmosphere.

What you actually see

• Tell es-Sultan - the ancient mound of the world's oldest city.
• Hisham's Palace - the early Islamic palace and famous mosaics.
• The Mount of Temptation - the cliff monastery above the oasis.
• The oasis - the date palms and spring amid the desert.

When to go

October to April is by far the most comfortable, as Jericho lies in the deep, hot Jordan Valley where summers are scorching; the cooler months are perfect for the ancient sites and the oasis. Winter here is mild and pleasant, a warm refuge when the hills are cold.

Honest expectations

Jericho's ancient mound of Tell es-Sultan is an archaeological site of layered ruins that rewards imagination and ideally a guide, rather than standing monuments, while Hisham's Palace nearby is the more visually striking. As the oldest city on earth, a green oasis of ten thousand years of history with exquisite early Islamic mosaics, though, Jericho is a place of genuine wonder.

Nearby

The Dead Sea, the Mount of Temptation and the desert monasteries lie nearby.