Hiking in Jordan: Petra and Wadi Rum
Trip Code: EEXA
Why we love it
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.
Is this trip right for me?
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.
Important information
1. You'll need a good level of fitness for this trip.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Days 5 & 6 (Desert Camp) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. Due to local weather conditions we may have need to changes some of the advertised walks. This decision is made by the local authorities and only occurs from time to time, should this occur then a substitute activity will be planned and advised.
4. Travellers only have to carry their essential items in a small backpack when hiking, while the main luggage will be transferred.
What to bring/pack
What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. Generally speaking you should pack as lightly as possible. On the vast majority of our trips you are expected to carry your own luggage, although you won't be required to walk long distances with it (max 30 minutes).
Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day trips.
Please follow the link for the Intrepid’s ultimate packing list. Please use this checklist as a guide when packing for your holiday.
https://www.intrepidtravel.com/us/packing-list
On this strip you will be required to bring a specific Trekking Equipment.
TREKKING EQUIPMENT:
Trekking Boots (broken in)
Windproof jacket
Basecamp Footwear (ie sneakers or booties)
Several pairs of good quality socks
T-Shirts - Highly recommended are synthetic t-shirt styles that wick away moisture
Thermal Underwear / layers
Warm jacket
Warm mid layers (fleece/micro fibre)
Trousers - Lightweight, loose fitting, trekking trousers.
Shorts or skirt for summer
Sun Hat
Scarf/neck warmer
Sunglasses with UV protection
Head Torch (spare batteries)
Sunscreen and Lip Balm
Light weight towel
Personal First Aid Kit
Biodegradable wet wipes / toilet paper
Hand sanitizer gel
Trail mix/nuts/muesli bars
Daypack – You will be required to carry some essentials by yourself, so your daypack must have the capacity for several items: jacket, trousers, water bottle, camera equipment, sun cream, sunglasses and all other items you may need during the walk. You should consider day packs of at least a 30 to 40 litre capacity. Your main luggage will be carried for you so items like, spare clothes can be stored in there.
Physical rating
You’re in for an active trip! Whilst previous experience isn’t essential for getting involved, a good level of fitness will really help you get the most out of this tour. There are certain activities it’s not possible to skip. If you can imagine yourself hiking for two days on the trot or canoeing for a couple of days and setting up camp on the shore; this is the adventure for you.
If you’re already a regular exerciser, it might be an idea to up your game a little. Run those extra laps, cycle the extra mile or swim a few more lengths to make sure you’re on top form. If you’re not exercising so regularly (we’re talking 2-3 times a week here), it’s important to start in the weeks leading up to your departure. Your best bet would be to tackle trip-related activities (yes, that’s cycling and hiking), but anything cardio based will make a huge difference (swimming, running or rowing). Add it to your routine now and you’ll be ready to go in no time.
Joining your group
Liwan Hotel, Mohammed Street, Prs. Taghrid St. Amman, Amman, 11181, JORDAN
Alternate Joining Point
Joining instructions
Finishing your trip
Aitch Boutique Hotel, Aisha Um Al Mu'meen, Madaba, 17110, JORDAN, Phone: +962 5 324 0060
Alternate Finish Point
Intrepid can assist with pre-booking a departure transfer to the airport - enquire with your agent. Please advise your flight arrival details at least 14 days prior to the start of your trip.
If you have a confirmed departure transfer your leader will advise your pick up time the day before your trip ends. If your driver has not arrived within 30 minutes of the scheduled pick up time, or your departing flight is cancelled or changed, please contact the transfer operator directly: +962 7 9554 4854. You can also reach our local operations team on +962 79700 4051 for further assistance.
A taxi from your hotel to the airport will take approximately 45mins, depending on the traffic, and cost approximately JOD25. Please ask your leader or hotel staff for assistance in arranging a taxi. We recommend using only authorised airport taxis.
Meals & dietary information
Breakfasts included: 7
Lunches included: 1
Dinners included: 3
While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader or local representative will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. If you have dietary requirements and/or food allergies, please let your booking agent know prior to departure.
Climate & seasonal information
The weather in Jordan can get quite extreme. Overall, it tends to be hot during the day and cold at night (in desert areas, expect it to be extremely hot during the day and freezing at night). Yet during winter it can get bitterly cold, with snowfall occurring in some parts of the country.
Travelling during the summer months (June, July and August) can be challenging for those not accustomed to the heat, so visiting Jordan during spring and autumn is recommended for those who wish to escape the hotter temperatures.
Consider your travel dates when packing for your adventure. Whilst the camps in Wadi Rum do have blankets you may want to consider packing some thermals or additional layers.
RAMADAN
The important month of Ramadan will be in progress 1 March to 30 March 2025 and the Eid ul-Fitr festival will be held directly at its conclusion for 3-4 days. Ramadan is a festival of sacrifice where the devout refrain from eating or drinking during daylight hours. During Ramadan, business hours are shortened, including opening hours at some tourist attractions. Alcohol is not permitted during daylight hours and many restaurants will be closed. While you should expect some delays and inconveniences during this period, the month is a fantastic opportunity to travel in a Muslim country and witness this unique period, particularly the nightly celebrations when the sun sets and the fast is broken. Please note that although the Eid ul-Fitr festival can also be a fascinating time to travel it's a period of national holiday. Most government offices and businesses will be closed and some tourist site opening hours may be affected.
In case of emergency
While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.
For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us
In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:
Intrepid's Local Operator: +962 7 9700 4051
Accommodations
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
ACCOMMODATION STYLE
Some of the accommodation along the way is basic or simple, three and four-star accommodation in the Middle East (with the exception of Israel) is often not equal to same-star facilities in some western destinations. Rooms are clean and comfortable, however, you may note some small maintenance issues that have been overlooked, please assist us by bringing these to the attention of your group leader or local representative so that we can follow up with our hosts. Many restaurants and hotels do not serve alcohol for religious reasons or due to local laws. Breakfast is included in 95% or our hotels, pleaser refer to our daily itinerary for meal inclusions.
TWIN SHARE / MULTI SHARE BASIS
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multi-share basis.
CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip, we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination. Standard check-in time is 1400 hours.
PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (subject to availability), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
SHOWERS
Showers at some hotels only have hot water at peak times (usually morning and evening). Outside of these times, you may need to speak to reception to obtain hot water.
HEATING AND AIR-CONDITIONING
As a desert region, this part of the world has extremes of weather. Winter months (approx December to March) can be very cold. All of our hotel accommodation contains suitable bedding, and simple light bedding is provided during camping activities such as an overnight felucca, desert camps or at the Red Sea Beach camp stay. Most of our travellers find the bedding provided here adequate, but for your own comfort and if you are particularly sensitive to the cold, consider bringing your own sleeping bag, thermals, scarf, gloves and a warm jacket. Some of our guesthouses/hotels don't supply heating. In many cases, this would be a major financial and environmental strain on our hotels and the local towns. Summer (approx June to August) can be very hot everywhere we travel, which means that it can be quite uncomfortable for those not used to the heat. Not all our hotels have air-conditioning, and in those that do, it's not always functioning.
ROOM ISSUES
If you have any issues with your room, please speak to the hotel and your group leader or local representative right away so that the problem can be addressed without delay.