Jordan is famed for its ancient past but its present is pretty darn compelling, too. The natural and man-made wonders of Petra and Wadi Rum have been drawing travellers here for ages, but the rough-hewn grandeur of Jordan has remained a secret known only to the boldest of thrill-seekers. Trek the rocky hills to isolated villages along the trails near Ajloun, hike down canyons towards the Dead Sea, and discover the Dana Biosphere Reserve. See for yourself why Jordan is a secret we just couldn’t keep to ourselves any longer.
Required Age: 18+ Years | Group Size: 10 – 15 Pax | Nos of Days: 8 days
Trip Starts Date/Location: 8th Sept 2023 | Amman, Jordan
Trip Ends Date/Location: 15th Sept 2023 | Amman, Jordan
Meals Included: 7 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 3 Dinners
Transport: Private Van/Bus, 4×4, Bike, Hike, Walking.
Accommodation: Hotels (5N), Tented Camp (1N), Summer Bungalows (1N).
Highlights: Trek Ajloun and Dana Nature reserves, float in the Dead Sea, go canyoneering through Wadi Mujib, set your eyes on the Rose City of Petra, savour a local Bedouin meal in the desert of Wadi Rum
The Jordan Multi Sport Adventure – USD 1672 + 5% GST per adult
PS: This Experience is completely managed and operated by G Adventures, Toronto and based on our association you can avail of this special discounted pricing IF booked via iTravel
Amman (Meals Incl. NA) (O/n Mena Tyche Hotel or similar)
Arrive at any time. After learning more about the tour and plans for the following day, choose to head out for an optional dinner at a local restaurant with the CEO and traveling companions. Amman is a very big city and there is not one central area to stay – hotels are spread out across various neighbourhoods within the city. For this reason, to move around the city in your free time, you will have to take a taxi, please feel free to ask your CEO for recommendations and assistance. Please check the hotel notice board for more information on the location of this meeting or ask at reception. Please bring your passport and travel insurance documents to this meeting, as you will be required to fill out some important pre-trip admin documents.
Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don’t forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Optional Activities: NA
Amman/‘Ajlūn (Meals Incl. B, L, D) (O/n Ajloun Nature Reserve or similar)
Travel to the undiscovered Jordan and head north to the Ajloun Nature Reserve for a half day of trekking. After breakfast, head north out of Amman to the lesser known region of Ajloun. The most common image of Jordan is that of an arid land covered in desert. Enjoy a short trek in Ajloun Nature Reserve. Transfer up to Ajloun passing through areas surrounded by woodland, olive groves, and strong oak trees. A hidden gem in Jordan, the area’s natural beauty is impressive.
Private Vehicle Amman – ‘Ajlūn (2 Hrs): Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Ajloun Nature Reserve Hike (2 – 3 Hrs/ 3 – 4 kms): Enjoy a short trek in the Ajloun Nature Reserve, a hidden gem in Jordan. This oasis in the desert boasts impressive natural beauty. Follow a trail surrounded by olive groves, oak trees, pistachio trees, and carob trees – there are a number of trails throughout the park’s 13km (8 mi), which vary in difficulty. The trek is a simple walk, but good footwear is recommended.
Optional Activities : NA
‘Ajlūn/Dead Sea (Meals Incl. B, D) (O/n Ramada Resort Dead Sea or similar)
Prepare Spend the morning hiking and wading through streams in Wadi Mujib before enjoying a float in the famous Dead Sea. Begin today with a short bus ride to Wadi Mujib, and spend the morning hiking, climbing, and walking down to the Dead Sea. From Wadi Mujib, continue the short distance to the Dead Sea. Known for its high salinity, opt to bob like a cork in the healing water or cover yourself in therapeutic mud. There is also the option to visit the site of Jesus’ baptism. Overnight at the Dead Sea. You can hike a wet trail called Mujib Canyon Trail (4 hrs). This trails both offer spectacular scenery surrounded with very different conditions for canyoneering.
Private Vehicle ‘Ajlūn – Dead Sea (4 Hrs): Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Mujib Canyon Trail Hike, Wādī al Mawjib (4 Hrs): Head off for an exhilarating canyoneering experience hiking the Mujib Canyon Trail, a wet trail involving wading through streams in the Wadi Mujib. Enjoy spectacular scenery and a chance to see local wildlife.
Dead Sea Visit: Discover the legendary healing qualities of the Dead Sea, famous for its unique mineral makeup and salinity. Spot salt chunks drifting by like icebergs on the water’s surface. Take a dip yourself and float like a buoy or cover yourself in the mud along the shore, believed to have medicinal and therapeutic benefits. There are showers nearby to wash off after.
Optional Activities
Lunch at the Dead Sea Spa Hotel (10 JOD): Enjoy a buffet of Middle Eastern and International fare at the Dead Sea Spa Hotel.
Mud Baths, Dead Sea (3 JOD): Black mud at the dead sea is rich mineral content, and known to have purifying and healing effects when applied to the skin. Take some time to cleanse your body and mind in this tranquil setting.
Site of Jesus’ Baptism, Dead Sea (18 JOD): Visit the site of Jesus’ baptism with a local guide. Round-trip transportation included.
Dead Sea/Petra (Meals Incl. B) (O/n Edom Hotel or similar)
Visit the impressive Dana Biosphere Reserve and trek through this unique landscape. Transfer to Petra for the night and opt to pay a late night visit to Petra to observe the site illuminated by candlelight. Visit the Dana Nature Reserve, an oasis among the golden expanse of the desert. Take a guided walk through the reserve, following the Feathers Canyon Trail, which leads past Nabatean tombs to a breathtaking siq. Dana is a diverse environment containing a wide variety of plant life, including many that are endemic to the reserve. There are also several endangered species here to keep an eye out for.
Dana BIosphere Reserve Trek (3 – 4 Hrs/3 kms): Hike the Feathers Canyon Trail to Shaq ar-Reesh, a Nabatean mountain retreat. Start the walk in flower filled fields, and do some climbing and scrambling on the way to the highest point, passing water channels along the way.
Private Vehicle Dead Sea – Petra (10 hrs): Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Optional Activities
Petra by Night (17 JOD): Enjoy a magical night at Petra. Sit back in the candle lit Siq and treasury, and enjoy bedouin live music show.
Petra (Meals Incl. B) (O/n Edom Hotel or similar)
Trek through gorges and canyons from Little Petra to the main attraction: the rose-rock city of Petra. Enjoy a guided tour of this magnificent World Heritage Site. Take the next two days to explore the site of Petra. First, head over to Al Beidha, also known as Little Petra. This site is literally hidden away in a mountain and is a miniature version of Petra, containing a number of notable tombs. It offers a glimpse of Petra without the crowds. After exploring this site, make the short trek over to Petra itself. The trail is approx 5km (3.1 mi) between the sites. The excitement builds when first glimpsing the Monastery from a vantage point high above the ruins of Petra. The rest of the day is free to explore the site, before heading back through the siq to the hotel. Approx travel times: Wadi Rum to Amman, 3.5 hrs
Siq al-Barid (Little Petra) Visit Wādī Mūsá visit (3 hrs): Explore the narrow alleyway with tall cliff walls and carved rock of Little Petra, which is similar to its larger namesake. Just 9km (5.6 mi) from Wadi Musa, it’s worth the visit.
Petra Guided Tour (4 – 6 Hrs): Journey to Petra to explore this UNESCO World Heritage site. Wind your way through the Siq, a narrow, 1km-long (.6 mi) gorge flanked by soaring 80m-high (262 ft) sandstone walls. Take in the astounding colours and patterns of the rock, and, at the end of this passage, catch your first glimpse of Al-Khazneh,the famed treasury of Petra. Explore in depth with your CEO and get a brief history of the city, one of the greatest attractions in the Middle East. The Nabateans carved this capital from the living rock of the surrounding mountains in Petra. Visit monuments that include the Pharaoh’s Castle, the triumphal arch, the amphitheatre, and the monastery.
Optional Activities
Turkish Bath, Petra (20 JOD): You’ve done some walking this tour, so take this opportunity to give your muscles some much needed attention. Enjoy this true hammam experience.
Petra/Wadi Rum (Meals Incl. B, D) (O/n Al Zawaydah Camp or similar)
Enjoy a free morning exploring Petra before continuing to Wadi Rum in the heart of Jordan’s desert. Continue by 4×4 to a Bedouin desert camp in the Deisah desert and enjoy a traditional meal while learning more about the ancient Bedouin culture and history before bunking down under the stars. After breakfast, have the morning free to visit Petra again. The site is large, but you can set your own pace depending on the weather and the interests of the group. After the Nabatean ruins, drive to Wadi Rum, a vast, silent landscape of ancient riverbeds and the largest and most magnificent of Jordan’s desert landscapes. There may be time this afternoon for a 4×4 trip into the desert. On arrival, head to a comfortable tented camp at Dissah Oasis in Wadi Rum Desert. Enjoy a traditional meal for dinner and learn more about this ancient culture. Be sure to keep a look out at the night sky; the absence of city lights means that the opportunities for star gazing are really impressive.
Private Vehicle Petra – Wadi Rum (2 Hrs): Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
4×4 Desert Trip (4 Hrs): Head deep into the desert by 4×4 and enjoy the amazing natural beauty and unique landscape on this unforgettable drive. Along the way we drive up red sand dunes, view stunning rock formations and visit ancient sites to view rock art and inscriptions.
Your Local Living Moment: Bedouin Camp Overnight : Camp overnight in the desert, enjoying a traditional meal and learning more about the ancient Bedouin culture. Spend the evening sitting under the stars, around a fire, listening to stories from the Bedouin hosts. If really lucky, they may bring the drums out for some music!
Optional Activities
Petra Visit: Continue exploring historical Petra. There’s still lots to see and do!
Wadi Rum 4×4 Excursion Extension (70 JOD per group): Extend the 4×4 ride by two extra hours to see more of the fascinating Wadi Rum desert. The listed price is the price per jeep.
Wadi Rum/Amman (Meals Incl. B, L) (O/n Mena Tyche Hotel or similar)
Visit a G Adventures supported community for a bike ride and traditional lunch before heading back to Jordan’s capital for the evening. Please note that during May departures for this adventure, a 2 hour walk through Al Hasa Canyon will replace the bike ride before visiting Al Safi Kitchen for lunch.
Private Vehicle Wadi Rum – Amman (3.5 Hrs): Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Your G for Good Moment: Al Safi Community Bike tour and Lunch: Embark on a bike tour of the area before stopping for lunch at Al Safi Kitchen to enjoy a traditional Jordanian meal. Take a tour of the grounds, taste a delicious meal with the freshest ingredients from Safi’s farms, and learn about how this nonprofit is working to create a sustainable future for community members near the Dead Sea. The mission of the company is to raise awareness about the importance of cultural heritage and natural resources of the area. They also offer equal job opportunities for all members of the local community.
Optional Activities : NA
Amman (Meals Incl. B) (O/n NA)
Depart at any time. Please note that the check-out time from the hotel is normally mid-morning, but luggage storage facilities are available. Want to extend your stay for a few more days? We are able to organise extra post-trip accommodation. Please ask at the time of booking.
