Classic Jordan: Dead Sea, Petra & Wadi Rum
Example Itinerary
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Overview
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan lies at the heart of a region whose development and culture has played a pivotal part in the history of the world for the past two thousand years. This short journey provides a stunning introduction to a country whose landscapes and traditions have been influenced by Romans and Byzantines, Crusaders and Arabs for over two millennia. Beginning in Amman, the Jordanian capital, you will travel to the spectacular Roman ruins of Jerash and the imposing Saladin fortress ...
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan lies at the heart of a region whose development and culture has played a pivotal part in the history of the world for the past two thousand years. This short journey provides a stunning introduction to a country whose landscapes and traditions have been influenced by Romans and Byzantines, Crusaders and Arabs for over two millennia. Beginning in Amman, the Jordanian capital, you will travel to the spectacular Roman ruins of Jerash and the imposing Saladin fortress of Qa’lat Al Rabat, before following the King’s Highway south. Travelling along one of the oldest roads in the world you will then visit Mount Nebo and Madaba and the Crusader fortress of Kerak, before reaching the stunning villages and landscapes of the less-visited Dana Nature Reserve, From here head into the desert as you go in search of the greatest treasure of all - Petra, home to one of the greatest archaeological sites in the Middle East. Gaze upon the iconic majesty of Petra’s famous Treasury and tour the ‘Rose Red City’ at your leisure, before striking out into the desert to explore the beautifully haunting landscapes of Wadi Rum. After camping out under the desert stars you’ll then turn north, towards to the healing waters of the Dead Sea.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
How Tailor-Made Works
Discuss your initial ideas with one of our experts, the types of things you want to see and do.
Your expert will start designing your perfect trip. Within a day or two we'll send a suggested itinerary.
At this stage you can still tweak anything from accommodation to experiences and dates, using our expert advice.
Time to prepare for your trip, safe in the knowledge you'll be in the expert hands of local guides and drivers throughout.
Relax and enjoy...through our partners you'll have support on the ground as well as 24-hour emergency assistance in the UK.
Example Itinerary
This is an example itinerary. Our experts have all travelled widely in the region and will be happy to tailor any of our itineraries to suit your tastes and budget, or build a trip from scratch.
Day 1 Amman: Arrival
On arrival into Amman you will be greeted by your Wild Frontiers representative and transferred directly to your hotel for check in.
Day 2 Amman & Jerash: Ancient & Modern Cities
Head north to explore one of Jordan’s highlights this morning – the Roman city of Jerash. Enter through Hadrian’s Arch and explore the vast site of well-preserved ruins. After walking the colonnaded streets and trying the acoustics in the theatres return to Amman for a walking tour of the lively downtown area from Rainbow Street to the souks and experience some delicious street food including falafel and knafeh.
Day 3 Amman – Madaba – Mt Nebo – Kerak - Dana Nature Reserve: Mosaics & Crusaders
Head south from Amman stopping in the mosaic city of Madaba to see a 6th century mosaic map of the Holy Land before looking out over the landscape at Mt Nebo, on a clear day you can see Jerusalem. Continue on to Kerak, a Crusader Castle where you can explore the ruins before arriving in to Dana Nature Reserve to settle in to the guesthouse and enjoy the views out over the wadi.
Day 4 Dana Nature Reserve – Feynan: Scenic Wadi Hike
Today you can soak up the stunning scenery of Dana Nature Reserve as you hike along a beautiful trail to Feynan. En route enjoy a picnic lunch and take in your surroundings as you pass through Bedouin inhabited countryside, also home to over 200 different bird species as well as, season dependent, a multitude of wild flowers. The hike is approximately 15km and takes around 6 hours. After roughly 2 hours of downhill walking, the trail flattens out and becomes a gentle stroll through Bedouin inhabited countryside. Part of the trail is through soft sand to add to the workout, but you will be well-rewarded on your arrival at the beautiful Feynan Ecolodge.
Day 5 Feynan – Petra: Bedouin Experience
This morning you can enjoy a variety of activities organised in-conjunction with the local Bedouin community, before transferring to the ancient city of Petra. Pay a visit to the interesting Petra Museum, before checking into your hotel. This evening you will then be treated to a very special experience, visiting Petra at night, as you follow the candles through the siq and enjoy local Bedouin music as you sit and admire the Treasury lit up at night, a memory that will stick with you for many years to come.
Day 6 Little Petra & Petra: Hike to the Monastery
This morning you'll drive a short distance to Little Petra, located a few miles away from the main valley, and a less-visited site with a charm all of its own. After visiting Little Petra you'll take a shuttle bus (approximately 20 mins) to the starting point of the walk, beginning with a couple of hours’ walk across open farmland from Little Petra before following the path across the eroded sandstone. Huge views begin to open up across the Great Rift Valley to the west. After another hour the trail descends towards Petra and opens onto one of the city’s most impressive sights: the immense rock-cut façade of ad Deir, the Monastery. You can rest and drink tea here, and explore the ruins, before following the stone steps of a Nabataean processional way down into the heart of Petra. Along the way there are traces of ancient stone steps, and eroded relief carvings of deities or ‘god blocks’ cut into the rock walls. This old Nabataean processional route will then lead you downwards, turning back towards Petra and following the main siq for the classic entry into the city. This will bring you out at Petra’s most famous monument, the Treasury. This itinerary offers a long, wonderful day’s hiking around Petra, and means you can experience the two greatest approaches to the city in a single day. Walking distance: 15 km approx 4-5 hours.
Day 7 Petra & Wadi Rum: Desert Camp
Today you will experience not only history but the unique landscapes of Wadi Rum as you go on a two-hour four-wheel drive adventure through the desert, surrounded by towering sandstone cliffs. Wadi Rum is a vast, silent desert, both romantic and extremely beautiful, where massive mountains rise vertically out of the pink desert sand, eroded by the wind into shapes of men, animals and monsters. Finally, reach your desert camp for a night under the stars.
Day 8 Wadi Rum – Dead Sea: Relax & Float
Discover the wonders of Wadi Rum on an optional camel trek this morning. Leaving the magic dunes behind, later in the day drive north to the Dead Sea, where the afternoon is free to enjoy a dip in the salty waters or to relax at your hotel.
Day 9 Dead Sea – Amman: Departure
This morning your driver will pick you up from the hotel and escort you to Amman airport in time to catch your onward flight.
EXAMPLE ACCOMMODATION
Dana Guesthouse, Dana Nature Reserve
Perched on the edge of Wadi Dana, this beautifully styled guesthouse offers breath-taking views of the reserve, comfortable accommodation, traditional Arabic food, and friendly service. The stone building contains nine comfortably furnished bedrooms, most with private terraces. Noted for its local food and warm welcome, the guesthouse actively helps to support the Nature Reserve. A Wild Jordan guesthouse, the building was originally built to house researchers, adding character and authenticity to your stay, however this does mean most rooms do not have private bathroom facilities. There is a restaurant at Dana Guesthouse serving home-made traditional local meals.
Feynan Ecolodge, Feynan
In the middle of the mountainous, desert landscape of Wadi Feynan and the Dana Biosphere Reserve lies the Feynan Eco Lodge. Lit by candlelight with serene courtyards and terraces on which to relax and watch the sunset this is one of the most unique eco-experiences in Jordan. Set up by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature in partnership with Eco Hotels this 26 roomed lodge is solar powered and offers economic opportunities for the local inhabitants as well as raises funds to protect the local environment. The rooms all have private balconies and views over Wadi Feynan and the restaurant provides three meals a day using local herbs, preserves, homemade jams and teas from the Dana Biosphere.
Holiday Inn Resort, Dead Sea
On the edge of the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea lies the Arabesque- style, four star Holiday Inn Resort. Here you can relax in the trio of palm-fringed swimming pools, in the health and fitness centre and in the luxury dead sea mineral spa. All rooms are stylishly designed, light and airy and are equipped with state of the art facilities. There is a good selection of restaurants and bars that cater for all cuisines and tastes. Surrounded by mountains and the sea the resort offers a tranquil place from which to explore the area.
Petra Guesthouse, Petra
Located close to the entrance of Petra, this great mid-range hotel is immersed within the ancient landscape of Petra. The guestrooms and chalets are tucked in the stone, seamlessly blending into the arid environment, yet have modern facilities and spectacular views of the mountains. Step out onto the courtyard to find the Cave Bar, an original Nabatean Tomb with carved Nabatean stonework, best enjoyed at night illuminated blue. Take a walk through the basin yard where the torrents meet the ascent monastery and enjoy a delightful dining experience in the restaurant surrounded by the beautiful Petra Mountains.
Memories Aicha Luxury Camp, Wadi Rum
With Wadi Rum reachable in 700 metres, Memories Aicha Luxury Camp features accommodation, a restaurant, barbecue facilities, a garden and a terrace. There is a fully equipped private bathroom with shower and free toiletries, and the most fantastic views of the desert and stars.
La Locanda Boutique Hotel, Amman
La Locanda Boutique Hotel is Jordan's first 'themed', boutique hotel. Nestled in Jebel Al Weibdeh, the cultural heart of Amman, it's a great place to integrate into the city. Here you’ll find a warm, friendly welcome and 11 cosy, music-themed rooms. First converted into a hotel in the 1970s, the property is housed in one of the oldest buildings in the area, and more recent renovations made the conscious decision to maintain its architectural character. As well as the hotel itself, the surrounding area also has unique architecture to enjoy, reflecting the cultural and historical identity of Amman. The hotel offers a pleasant mix of modern amenities and traditional architectural roots, making it a enjoyable base from which to explore the capital.
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Accommodation listed here is intended as a guide only, to give you a taste of what we can do. Our experts can tailor any aspect of this itinerary and accommodation to suit your budget and tastes.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
MEALS
TRANSPORT
ENTRANCE FEES
EXPERT TEAM
ACCOMMODATION
WILD MILES
ACCOMMODATION
Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
This itinerary is aimed to give you an idea of what we can offer. The price shown above is per person, based on two people travelling outside of peak periods. As this itinerary is only a suggestion and can be tailor-made to suit your interests and budget, your final price may differ.
Positive Impact of this Trip
Making a Difference
Community Tourism
People and local communities have always been at the heart of Wild Frontiers and the travel experiences we offer. Through community tourism we have the opportunity to generate real positive impact, supporting people we visit through sustainable local development, and in turn help to alleviate poverty and protect culture and environments in often more vulnerable destinations. While doing so, our clients gain richer travel experiences and more meaningful connections with the people they meet.
Conservation and Climate Action
As a travel company, we hold a responsibility to minimise our environmental footprint and contribute to sustainability, and work closely with local communities to support their efforts. By implementing initiatives such as carbon measuring, tree-planting, reducing single-use plastic and promoting eco-friendly practices, we can help mitigate the negative impacts of tourism on fragile ecosystems and local communities. Additionally, prioritising conservation efforts helps preserve natural habitats and wildlife, ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy the wonders of our planet.
Wild Frontiers Foundation
The Wild Frontiers Foundation aims to provide a platform to create awareness, raise money and deliver funding to projects in countries where we operate as a travel company. Through the foundation, we are able to channel money into grass roots projects, which we have either established ourselves or support through charity partners. These include initiatives focused around education, the empowerment of local people and community conservation.
START PLANNING YOUR TRIP
Our team of experts have a wealth of knowledge and experience to help you plan your adventure of a lifetime.
WHY WILD FRONTIERS?
Expert travel consultants
Up-to-date knowledge and advice from our experienced consultants on the best places to stay, things to do and regions to visit to make your holiday the trip of a lifetime.EXPERIENCED LOCAL GUIDES
We use experienced local guides to help bring the sights to life, introduce you to local characters and ensure you get under the skin of your destination.HAND-PICKED ACCOMMODATION
Whether you are looking for a boutique hotel, homestay, local guesthouse, luxury spa, tented camp or heritage hotel, our experts can select the perfect property for you.24-HOUR SUPPORT
Our local agents are there to help you on the ground should you need any assistance, and in addition you will be given a 24-hour UK emergency phone number.Meet the expert, Dan
Dan is our Middle East expert, who has travelled extensively in the region.
Speak to Daniel by calling
+44 (0)20 3944 6258
OTHER ITINERARIES IN JORDAN
Check out our group tours in Jordan
As well as private tailor-made trips, we also offer small group tours (max size 12) to Jordan. Led by an experienced tour leader, travel with a group of like-minded people on one of our award-winning group tours.
View Group Tours in Jordan