Adventures with Purpose: Jordan

Suggested Itinerary

Overview

Steeped in human history and strategically placed at the heart of Middle Eastern trade and politics since the dawn of civilisation, Jordan has been witness to some of the most pivotal moments in the region’s historical and cultural development. Delve beneath the surface and you will discover a fascinating wealth of tradition and trade in a land that can trace its cultural origins back to the earliest human settlements.

This remarkable journey opens up a world all but lost to the ...

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TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

Suggested Itinerary

This is a suggested itinerary. Our experts have all travelled widely in the region and will be happy to tailor any of our itineraries to suit your tastes, or build a trip from scratch.

EXPAND ALL ITINERARY DAYS
COLLAPSE ALL ITINERARY DAYS

Day 1 ARRIVE AMMAN

Day 1 ARRIVE AMMAN

On arrival into Amman you will be greeted by your Wild Frontiers representative and transferred directly to your hotel for check in.

La Locanda Boutique Hotel

Day 2 AMMAN

Day 2 AMMAN

Established in 2001 to generate income by the women of a community near Amman, the Iraq Al Amir Women Society Centre offers handicraft workshops such as weaving, pottery, soap making and paper making. It also runs a bed and breakfast and a communal kitchen. Your visit will provide a unique opportunity to meet the women and discover for yourself the work they do here, as well as learn more about the various handmade products. Afterwards, a homemade meal from the kitchen will provide a delicious introduction to Jordanian cuisine. This afternoon is then free to explore at leisure and discover some of the capital's sites.

La Locanda Boutique Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3 AMMAN - DESERT CASTLES - AZRAQ

Day 3 AMMAN - DESERT CASTLES - AZRAQ

This morning head out of the capital towards the desert castles located to the east of Amman including Qasr Kharanah, one of the best-preserved of the Umayyad castles and Qasr Amra, renowned for its 8th century frescoes. Continue on to Azraq, a unique wetland oasis inhabited since ancient times. Located in the heart of the semi-arid Jordanian eastern desert, Azraq is a seasonally flooded marshland, where a wide variety of migrating, breeding and wintering birds stop during their migration between Asia and Africa.

Azraq Lodge
Breakfast

Day 4 AZRAQ

Day 4 AZRAQ

Hop on a bike today and set off from Azraq Lodge to a Bedouin tent, where a local Bedouin guide will provide an introduction to the history of the Bedouin community over a cup of traditional Arabic coffee. Learn about daily activities, such as herding sheep and milking goats, and discover how to make laban makheed, a sour buttermilk created using a traditional leather bag. Then enjoy a delicious Bedouin lunch. The encounter is the creation of the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN), conceived to not only bridge the gap between our cultures, but also to bring career opportunities and sustainable tourism to the Azraq Wetland Reserve itself.

Azraq Lodge
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5 AZRAQ – UMM EL-JIMAL - UMM QAIS

Day 5 AZRAQ – UMM EL-JIMAL - UMM QAIS

Drive from Azraq to Umm Qais today, visiting the archaeological research, cultural heritage and community development partnership project at Umm el-Jimal along the way. On arrival in Umm Qais, you will be introduced to some of the local trades. Weaving with banana leaves, palm leaves and straw is a tradition that spans the generations and is still alive today in Umm Qais. A chance to sit and learn with the local artists provides an ideal opportunity to discover the intricate skills needed to weave even a simple design, and provide some support to this less-visited village.

Beit Al Baraka
Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6 UMM QAIS - AJLOUN

Day 6 UMM QAIS - AJLOUN

Starting with a visit to Yousef’s Honey Farm, located in the village, you’ll have the chance to try your hand at beekeeping this morning. Yousef is a former soldier, who has spent the last 15 years keeping bees and his obvious passion for his craft is infectious. From here you continue on a tour of ancient Umm Qais, a fascinating setting that is home to numerous theatres and temples, a colonnaded street and an aqueduct. After enjoying a local lunch, you’ll set off for Ajloun.

Al Asef House
Breakfast

Day 7 AJLOUN

Day 7 AJLOUN

Enjoy a wonderful day of hiking today, as you explore the surrounding valleys and ridges. Passing local villages and orchards and savouring a picnic lunch along the way, there are some wonderful panoramic views to enjoy into neighbouring West Bank and Syria. There are a selection of hard or softer trails to choose from, so just discuss your preferences with your hosts and make the most of discovering this captivating and little-visited corner of Jordan.

Al Asef House
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8 AJLOUN

Day 8 AJLOUN

Enjoying another wonderful RSCN activity today, you’ll visit an organic farm to meet the farmers and learn more about the process of organic farming and its benefits. Taking part in some of the daily activities, you may get a chance to feed the goats or perhaps try your hand at milking or harvesting crops. You will then meet a local chef, who will show you the ingredients to collect from the farm for a tasty lunch. This afternoon then introduces you to the art of calligraphy, as you delve into the beauty of the Arabic language under the expert tutelage of a local artist.

Al Asef House
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9 AJLOUN – SALT – DANA

Day 9 AJLOUN – SALT – DANA

Leaving the hills and orchards of Ajloun behind, you travel next to the pleasant Ottoman town of Salt. Explore its historic and narrow winding streets lined with the houses of Ottoman merchants, the most beautiful of which is Abu Jaber’s mansion, whose fine frescoed ceilings can trace their origins back to the late 19th/early 20th centuries. You will also have time to visit Salt’s Handicrafts Training Centre, which is a vocational school for young artisans who receive expert instruction in weaving and ceramics. After a chance to visit its shop, which helps to fund the project, you’ll then continue your journey to the Dana Nature Reserve. Around a three hour journey, Dana was the first Nature Reserve in Jordan and can boast an area of spectacular wadis and views.

Dana Guesthouse
Breakfast

Day 10 DANA - FEYNAN

Day 10 DANA - FEYNAN

Set deep in the mountains of the Dana Reserve, the Feynan Ecolodge has been described as one of the best ecolodges anywhere in the world. Entirely solar-powered, with natural ventilation and water supplied from a local spring, it sits in the heart of perfect hiking country. An array of trails, along with a picnic lunch, provide the ideal ingredients for a day of exploration and scenic majesty. Home to local Bedouin, the surrounding countryside celebrates more than 200 species of birds and, in season, a profusion of wild flowers.

Feynan Ecolodge
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 IN AND AROUND FEYNAN

Day 11 IN AND AROUND FEYNAN

Enjoy a free day to relax or make the most of the wonderful activities made available by the eco-lodge.

Feynan Ecolodge
Breakfast

Day 12 JORDAN TRAIL HIKE (FEYNAN – GHBOUR WHEDAT)

Day 12 JORDAN TRAIL HIKE (FEYNAN – GHBOUR WHEDAT)

An early start sees you being transferred by road to the trailhead of today's challenging hike. Leaving the stony ‘hamada' desert behind, you begin your steep ascent across rocks and small boulders which eventually leads you up into the mountains through a narrow and dramatic valley, offering stunning views eastwards towards the Wadi Araba Desert, well worth the climb! From here you can enjoy the descent into the dry river valley which leads you through dry wadis and indistinct cols. Be sure to look out for the elusive ibex along the way. Wadi floor is soon replaced by pale sandstone mountains as you make your way ever closer to Petra's dramatic escarpment location. This evening you can enjoy a sheltered wild camping spot, offering some of the best night skies in the world.

Wild Camping
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13 JORDAN TRAIL HIKE (GHBOUR WHEDAT - LITTLE PETRA)

Day 13 JORDAN TRAIL HIKE (GHBOUR WHEDAT - LITTLE PETRA)

Today we leave the wilderness of the desert ravines and walk through a gentler terrain of open sandstone hills, interspersed with patches of agricultural land tended by the Bedouin. The rocks here have eroded into distinctive clusters of white domes, especially as you get close to Beida, or Little Petra, an outlying suburb of the ancient city. You’ll get a chance to wander round the carved temples and facades of Little Petra in the afternoon before a short walk to a permanent camp in a secluded valley. The campsite has a generator providing enough electricity for you to enjoy a hot shower, and to recharge your camera batteries for tomorrow’s walk into Petra.

Seven Wonders Bedouin Camp
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14 JORDAN TRAIL HIKE (LITTLE PETRA - PETRA)

Day 14 JORDAN TRAIL HIKE (LITTLE PETRA - PETRA)

Today’s hike brings you into Petra via a spectacular but little-known Bedouin trail through the mountains. You’ll begin with a couple of hours’ walk across open farmland before the path begins to contour around the mountain, following natural ledges of pale 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. After wandering through the temples and tombs you will leave through another secret slot canyon (‘the Dark Siq’) before turning back towards Petra and following the main siq for the classic entry into the city. This brings you out at Petra’s most famous monument, the Treasury. This option 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. Finally, in the last light, we leave Petra and walk back down the siq towards the main gate of Petra.

Petra Moon Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 15 Petra - Madaba: Mosaic cities

Day 15 Petra - Madaba: Mosaic cities

This morning will be free to explore further independently or relax at your hotel after your exciting hike. Your driver will then pick you up and take you to the mosaic town of Madaba stopping en route to view the fabulous and much lesser-known mosaics at Umm Ar Rasas. The site was originally a Roman garrison town but grew very wealthy in the Byzantine period, from when the finest of these mosaics date. In Madaba visit St Georges Church to see the 6th century mosaic map of the Holy Land.

Aitch Hotel
Breakfast

Day 16 Madaba - Amman Airport: Depart

Day 16 Madaba - Amman Airport: Depart

This morning your driver will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to Amman airport in time for your onward flight.

Breakfast

SUGGESTED ACCOMMODATION

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

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.

GUIDELINE PRICE & WHAT'S INCLUDED

16 days from £4,995

MEALS

As specified in the itinerary, sampling some of the country's finest cuisine.

TRANSPORT

Private air-conditioned vehicles with experienced, dedicated drivers.

ENTRANCE FEES

Tours and admission fees, including tickets specified in the itinerary.

EXPERT TEAM

Licensed English-speaking guides and a support team available 24/7.

ACCOMMODATION

As specified in the itinerary, using some of our favourite local properties.

WILD MILES

This tour will earn you 4530 Wild Miles

ACCOMMODATION

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

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

Tree
Ten trees are planted per passenger on this trip
Community
Supports Wild Frontiers Foundation community projects
Wind Turbine
A contribution to renewable energy projects

WHEN TO GO

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?

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

The Backdoor trail to Petra is the best way to see the ancient city. It's a great hike and if you start early, you'll end up with parts of Petra almost to yourself as most tourists come in via the normal Siq route.

OTHER ITINERARIES IN JORDAN