Hiking in Jordan: Petra and Wadi Rum

Trip Type: Walking & Trekking
Jordan | 8 Days | 1 - 12 People
Starts From:

NZD 3,065.00 /Person

Experience the beauty and culture of Jordan on this exhilarating eight-day trekking adventure. Wander the streets of modern Amman, marvel at Little...

Hiking in Jordan: Petra and Wadi Rum

Experience the beauty and culture of Jordan on this exhilarating eight-day trekking adventure. Wander the streets of modern Amman, marvel at Little Petra, get off the beaten track around ancient Petra (ticking this Wonder of the World off your bucket list), be dazzled by the famous Treasury building, join the Bedouins for a desert adventure in 4WDs, admire the Byzantine mosaics in Madaba and float in the famously salty Dead Sea. This is Jordan at its active, action-packed best.

Ahlan Wa Sahlan! Welcome to Jordan. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. As there's not much time spent in Amman on this trip, you might like to arrive a day or two early to explore the sights. If you do arrive early, maybe visit the citadel, the Jordan Museum and the Roman Theatre. Perhaps head out to try an ara’yes (a toastie filled with spicy mincemeat) while you're here. After the meeting, why not head out to dinner with your group and get to know each other.

After breakfast, head out for the first trek of your adventure. Journey to the Dana Biosphere Reserve – the largest nature reserve in Jordan. Covering 320 square km, the reserve is made up of mountains, Wadis and sand dunes, and is home to an incredibly diverse display of flora and fauna. The reserve was created to protect the natural environment while generating jobs for the local community. Your trek today takes you in and around this protected area, exploring with the expertise of a local guide. Keep an eye out for the varied wildlife, like falcons, chameleons, foxes, porcupines and more than 700 species of plants. After your trek, transfer to Little Petra. Believed by archaeologists to have housed visiting traders on the Silk Road, Little Petra is every bit as fascinating as its larger counterpart (just a lot quieter!). Take some time to explore the site with your local leader this afternoon, then settle in at your camp for dinner and stargazing.

This morning after breakfast, start your hike directly from the camp, following a back-trail leading to Petra. The landscape today is ever changing – sandy plateaus, Bedouin campsites, goat herds and stone staircases. Your guided tour culminates at The Monastery – an impressive seven-storey structure with a doorway that's 8 m high. Though less ornate than the Treasury, the sheer scale of this building makes it an amazing sight. Reportedly, it was used as a temple by Christians in the Byzantine period. Trace your way back to the camp in early afternoon and enjoy the rest of the day as you please.

Today you’ll discover the ancient site of Petra – one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The lost city of the biblical Nabateans comprises an impressive series of tombs and dwellings hidden behind ornate facades carved directly into rock. Shake off the crowds and spend the day taking on some of the sites’ secret hiking trails, where if you’re lucky, you won’t see another soul. What you will see is the Tomb of the Obelisks, the High Place of Sacrifice, Lion Monument and Wadi Farasa. After, you have some free time to explore at your own pace.

After a leisurely morning, journey to Wadi Rum – your base for the next two nights. When you arrive, start with a guided tour in 4WDs. You'll see the sights and landscapes of Wadi Rum on your drive, like the famous Seven Pillars of Wisdom, sand dunes and rock bridges. As the sun begins to set, you’ll explore the beautiful lunar-like landscape on foot, taking in several canyons and the Um Fruth Rock Arch before finishing up at your camp for the night. Tonight, you’ll stay in a simple desert camp, with the choice of sleeping in a tent or out under the stars. Enjoy a delicious dinner cooked in an earthen oven by your Bedouin hosts. Conditions are basic at the desert camp, but the hospitality of these people is legendary, and the experience of sleeping beneath this desert sky is a memorable one.

After waking up in the unique surrounds of the Bedouin camp, head out for a trek around the area, seeing the ancient water collection systems, Thamudic inscriptions and many unique rock formations. You’ll be joined by a local guide and a support vehicle, and there will be stops for tea and lunch. Along the way, you might like to scale one of the large sand dunes for sensational views of the surrounding area. Explore the distinctive rock formations and soak in the vast silence of the desert. Later, return to camp for another night in the desert camp with your new Bedouin friends.

Rise early to catch the first sunrays over Wadi Rum. After breakfast, travel to the small town of Madaba. This town is famous for its Ottoman-style houses and beautiful Byzantine-era mosaics, including the famous 6th-century mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land at St George's Church. Hundreds of other mosaics from the 5th to the 7th century are scattered throughout Madaba’s churches and homes.  This afternoon, take a short drive to the shores of the Dead Sea for a weightless dip in its famously salty waters, and a chance to watch the sunset in one of the world’s most spectacular locations. Back in Madaba this evening, you may like to gather your travel buddies for a celebratory shisha as this adventure comes to an end.

This trekking adventure in Jordan comes to an end today. There are no activities planned and you are free to depart the accommodation at any time.

Meals
7 Breakfast(s), 1 Lunch(s), 3 Dinner(s)

Transport
Jeep , Van

Accommodation
Permanent camp (1 night), Desert Camp (2 nights), Hotel (4 nights)

Included Activities
  • Dana Nature Reserve guided hike
  • Little Petra visit
  • Petra - Leader-led tour of Petra
  • Little Petra Backdoor guided hike
  • Madras Trail guided hike
  • High Place guided hike
  • Wadi Farasa guided hike
  • Wadi Rum desert jeep excursion
  • Sunset hike including Um Fruth Rock Arch
  • Desert guided hike including lunch
  • Madaba visit including St George's Church
  • Dead Sea sunset swim
  • Visit Little Petra and hike the lesser-known backroad into iconic Petra – one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Spend a full day exploring the secret hiking trails of this awe-inspiring ancient treasure.
  • Explore the spectacular Dana Reserve on foot – this unbelievably diverse reserve was established to protect wildlife and provide local communities with employment.
  • See Wadi Rum, a world unto itself. Hop in 4WDs and experience its twisted rock scenery, watching the sunset on a trek through this rugged moonscape.
  • Learn about the Bedouin culture over an earthen oven-cooked feast before sleeping under the stars – these semi-nomadic locals are renowned for their hospitality, so you're in for a treat.
  • Experience the best weightlessness this side of outer space with an effortless float in the super-salty waters of the Dead Sea.
  • There is good amount of hiking involved in this trip and when visiting Jordan's historic sites, especially in Petra and Wadi Rum. A reasonable level of fitness is required. Most of the time there is no shade, so remember to bring a hat, sun protection, and sturdy, comfortable hiking boots or walking shoes. The distances that you will be trekking vary from 14 km to 20 km over a range of terrains, we recommend you consider packing trekking poles for the hikes. The desert camp in Wadi Rum is basic but incredibly memorable. There are tents and shared western bathroom facilities. While the desert may be very hot during the day, it will still be cool at night, so remember to bring some warmer layers, especially if visiting outside of the summer months.

Departing

Finishing

Availability

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Price: NZD 3,475.00

Price: NZD 3,475.00

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Price: NZD 3,220.00

Price: NZD 3,220.00

Price: NZD 3,220.00

Price: NZD 3,345.00

Price: NZD 3,345.00

Price: NZD 3,475.00

Price: NZD 3,475.00

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Price: NZD 3,065.00

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Provided by
Intrepid Travel
Reference Code:
EEXA
Trip Location
Trip Starts:
Amman, Jordan
Trip Finishes:
Madaba, Jordan
Countries Visited:
Jordan
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Destination Details
Jordan | 8 Days | 1 - 12 People

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