Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum and the Life of the Bedouin

Step into the kingdom of Jordan and walk in the footsteps of past civilizations and modern culture as you explore the country’s abundant natural wonders and ancient sites. We welcome you to Amman, and to Jordan, and we invite you to see this beautiful country in a way that allows you to experience its culture, people and natural beauty.

Arrive at any time. After meeting fellow travellers and your CEO during the welcome meeting, share a delicious dinner at the Tawaheen Al Hawa Restaurant and experience a full immersion into Amman and Jordanian cuisine.

TRANSPORT: You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.

ACTIVITY: EVENING Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. 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.

Leave Amman for the day as you head north to explore ancient orchards and historical sites. Part of the fertile crescent, the region is rich with agricultural tradition and also home to incredible tales of Roman Invaders, Christian churches, the rise of Islam and Crusader attacks. Experiencing this part of the country will quickly give you a deep appreciation for what makes Jordan so unique.

Set out on a morning hike through the crisp, fresh air from Ajloun Castle to Mar Elias Church. There will be a group lunch and in-depth visit to our G for Good cafe, Beit Khayrat Souf, owned and operated by a team of women. Visit Jerash before travelling back to Amman for a free evening.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Take a tour of historic Ajloun Castle, one of many Crusader fortresses in the area. Learn about its interesting past, and opt to see artifacts in the castle's museum.

ACTIVITY: Set off on a lovely hike from Ajloun Castle to Mar Elias Church as a group. Walk the winding trail through fig and pear orchards, forests of oak and strawberry trees. You'll see stone walls criss-crossing the valley to guard the farmers' crops inside from winter rains and wild boar. Enjoy a glass of tea in the shade of a tall tree before finishing the climb to the hilltop ruins of one of Jordan's oldest churches.

Terrain: Easy to moderate / rocky
Length: 7km (4.4 miles)
Time: 3-4 hours total hiking

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Part of the G Adventures for Good program, Beit Khayrat Souf is a women-run cafe with the purpose of training and employing women to gain their own financial independence. Women manage the cafe and lead cooking classes on site. They engage more women outside the organization by sourcing and making preserves sold at the cafe. This growing café employs over 20 women to support in daily management, service and cooking. As this business continues to grow, more women can gain employment opportunities and break the cycle of unemployment that has remained rampant for women in the region. Sit down for an enjoyable lunch here made by the women of Beit Khayrat Souf and feel instantly at home amid the warm generosity and true kindness you will find here.

ACTIVITY: Take a step back in time visiting Jerash, one of the most well-preserved Roman sites outside of Italy. Wander amid its paved and colonnaded streets, soaring hilltop temples, handsome theatres, spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains, and city walls pierced by towers and gates – all in exceptional condition. For 3 hours you will wander amid the city's paved colonnaded streets, staring up at the soaring hilltop temples, and taking in the spacious public squares, plazas, baths, and fountains before your eyes.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Food and culture are one of the best ways to fully understand a city and its people, and you'll see why today in Amman. While historical sites allow you to hear stories of the past, it's the market stalls with freshly prepared dishes and coffee with a host family that allow you to experience the present. Prepare to be immersed in all the great stories Amman has to tell, both past and present.

Start the morning with visits to the Citadel and Roman Amphitheatre before a downtown market walk through stalls with spices, vegetables, locally handcrafted goods and freshly made dishes. Lunch like a local and discover cuisine from the best of the food stalls. Head out of the city center to meet with a local family to gain a rare authentic glimpse into the life of a local Bedouin family and enjoy a free evening.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: The first stop on today's journey is the Citadel, an archaeological site best known for the Roman Temple of Hercules and a site used by numerous civilizations since the Bronze Age. Gain an overview of the history of this complex within Jordan on a guided visit, and then jump in a private vehicle for a ten minute drive to the Roman Amphitheatre. When under Roman rule, Amman was the bustling capital of the Roman Empire with the name of the city back then being Philadelphia. The structure was built between 138-161 CE dating back to the reign of the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius. The theatre could once sear up to 6,000 people in its steep stairs. Spend some time with a guide learning more about the theatre and then walk through the downtown markets in Amman. From the gold market to the spices and vegetable markets there is no shortage of humming activity and vibrant colours.

ACTIVITY: Enjoy the savoury flavours and delicious local cuisine in Amman. Experience the best food stalls in the area like the famous Hashem for falafel, local olive & pickle shops, dairy shops, and the local favourite, Shehrazad Restaurant for local meat sandwiches called Arayes. Finish your locally flavoured lunch with a stop for the best Kunafa in all of Jordan at Habiba Pastries.

ACTIVITY: Travel to a Bedouin family abode in the Dheir area and experience a delightfully warm welcome into their home with the timeless tradition of a cup of authentic coffee. Become immersed in the intriguing complexities of coffee service and uncover the significance behind each cup as stories are told around the table. Put your senses to the test and savour the strong taste of jameed, a vital component of the Mansaf dish. This is Jordan's national dish consisting of hard, dry laban made from goat's milk. Learn how the milk is kept in a cheesecloth to obtain a thick yogurt in which salt is added daily to thicken the yogurt substance. After a few days of salting and rinsing the yogurt is dense enough to be shaped into round balls. The balls are dried outside in sun or shade and then used in the main dish. As you eat and listen you will gain insight into this unique way of life; a tapestry woven with time-honored traditions and cherished customs. There may be an opportunity to engage in the time-honoured practice of goat milking, offering a true glimpse into authentic daily activities.

FREE TIME: Spend some time in Amman on your own. Some optional activities available in the area to boost those cultural connections are, the Jordan Museum, Art Gallery Ras Al-Ain, and some perusing of handmade goods on Rainbow Street.

From Mount Nebo it is said that Moses set sight for the first time on the promised land, how beautiful it must have been, and it still is. Wander into the Dana Biosphere Reserve, home to human settlement well before the earliest writing. Here set against the expansive semi desert landscape sits the Feynan Ecolodge, devoted to the protection of the country’s finest natural landscapes. Soak in the atmosphere of a forgotten time and spend an evening deep in the heart of the mountains in an idyllic candle-lit lodge.

Travel to Mt. Nebo’s ridgeline for spectacular views then drive to St. George Church. See the mosaics of Madaba and enjoy lunch in Dana Village, prepared by members of the local community. Stretch those legs as you enter the Dana Biosphere Reserve on foot and follow the Shaq Al Reesh hike, an impressive gorge in the heart of the reserve.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle. The drive time includes stops along the route.

ACTIVITY: Visit Mount Nebo, a historic site believed by many to be the location of Moses' death and has thus been a centre for pilgrimage since the earliest Christian times. Reach to the summit (817m or 2,680 ft), and be rewarded with views of the stunning surrounding countryside and Israel in the distance.

ACTIVITY: Explore Madaba’s long history, including its role as the centre of early Christianity. See some of the finest Byzantine mosaics in the world, including the famous sixth-century mosaic map of the Middle East. Tour churches, the Archaeological Park, and the local museum that's housed in several old Madaba residences.

ACTIVITY: Begin the hike today in a mesmerizing gorge in the heart of the Dana Nature Reserve. Walk through the rolling landscape and discover archaeological sites as you go. Wander past juniper and wild pistachio trees, and smell the aromatic scents of lavender and sage. The Shaq Al Reesh hike features unique limestone rock formations and the name translates to the "crevice of feathers" to reference the geological rift present between the rocks. You will hike around and amidst these large rocks as you full take in the natural landscape around you.

Terrain: easy to moderate / rocky & sandy
Length: 3km (1.7 miles)
Duration: 4 hours at a slow, leisurely pace

One of the best gifts of travel is seeing the world from the perspectives of others. Born naturally curious, we search a special connection and an understanding of the larger world, and today you get to pick how you get that connection. Choose between walking with a Bedouin shepherd to immerse yourself in a truly unique way of life or meet with a Bedouin Family to learn more about their culture, with the opportunity to prepare traditional dishes together.

Choose between two different activity options to either spend a day with a local shepherd or to immerse yourself in the daily life of the Bedouins with a cooking class. In the afternoon drive south to Petra and enjoy a free evening.

ACTIVITY: Option 1: Immerse yourself in the local culture as you learn about the day-to-day experience of a shepherd in Jordan. Spend the day grazing the family's goats in the wilderness of Feynan with your guide. Share lunch with the shepherd after they make a fire and bake "Arbood" bread and serve it with sweet Bedouin tea.

Option 2: Gain unique insight into the lives of one of the last remaining Bedouin communities in Jordan. See how they have preserved their cherished traditions while maintaining forward progress in their lives. Join a local family in their goat-hair tented home and learn about their daily life as well as the sustainable lifestyle adopted by traditional Bedouin tribes. Then, make a full three course vegetarian lunch featuring popular Jordanian dishes. Feast on your own creations for lunch as you sit down together for a meal that unites generations and cultures.

Sprawling over a hundred square miles, the city of Petra is one of the world's most iconic cultural sites-a New Wonder of the World. With only 15% of the site exposed, there are still mysteries and secrets that are destined to remain locked in time. We likely will never witness the site returned to its former glory, when over 20,000 people lived within the city, but that shouldn't stop you from harnessing your inner explorer and following the ancient back trail from Little Petra to Petra, a unique way to enter the site, leaving the crowds behind.

Start the morning at Little Petra, a site many skip but unique and charming compared to its famous big neighbour. Then embark on a hike along the ancient trail that leads to the back entry into Petra to the Monastery. Along the way you will take a deserved break to enjoy your packed lunch before continuing on to the front entrance of Petra visiting the site as we make our way to the hotel. Spend free time in Petra City to round out the day in this incredible landscape.

ACTIVITY: Explore the narrow alleyway with tall cliff walls and carved rock of Little Petra, which is similar to its larger namesake. Hike along the canyon to the Petra Visitor Centre. Also known as Siq al-Barid, Litte Petra was once a suburb of its larger neighbour Petra. It served a support town for traders heading to the main city. Built by the Nabateans and carved right into the sandstone of the canyon there are tombs, temples, dwellings, and evidence of a sophisticated water system designed by the Nabateans. On this hike you'll begin at the smaller temple, ending at the larger, most recognized one. The best part? You get to walk along a trail that has been used since the first century B.C.E.

Terrain: moderate to rocky, uneven, & sandy.
Length: 12 km (7.5 miles)
Duration: 5-6 hours at a leisurely pace

Witness the dawn of a new day in the red rose city as old as time itself. Watch as the sun awakens the enigmatic wonder of Petra in its warm golden light, and feel as if you are the one who discovered this carved city built by the Nabateans more than 2000 years ago. The sands of time are no match for this magnificent structure in the Middle-East. Head further south and continue your discovery of Jordan, entering the sandy valley of Wadi Rum.

Visit Petra again at sunrise before driving to Wadi Rum for a Jeep tour through the rolling sand dunes and some light hiking. Enjoy the sun slipping beneath the horizon amid the desert landscape and savour a delicious dinner back at camp with the group.

ACTIVITY: Visit Petra one last time for an impressive sight of sunrise above The Treasury. Truly the best time to see Petra in all its glory, you will experience far fewer visitors at this early hour. Sit down, take it all in, and feel how the string of time pulls thinner while the sun lights up the sandstone cliffs in an ethereal glow.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Hop in the jeep and cruise through the desert over the dunes before some light hiking in Siq Al Barrah with sunset views and cup of tea to keep you company in the vast landscape. Walk through impressive desert mountain scenery with vast multi-coloured cliffs and rock towers looming over the red sands below. Keep an eye out for the rick array of animal and plant life as the canyon winds through the large canyon with smaller canyons sprouting off along each side. At the end of the hike soak up the coming twilight and get cozy under a blanket in the sand with your warm tea.


Terrain: Easy, sand with gravel and a gentle downhill with some dunes at the lower, northern end of the hike.
Length: 5-7 km (3 to 4.5 miles)
Duration: 4-5 hours (including 4x4 tour)

Like travel, the power of water knows no bounds, which you will see evidence of even in the middle of a desert. Spend the day hiking through Wadi Himara, where water winds through the narrow canyon and creates verdant green gardens. Follow it up by submerging yourself in the Dead Sea, making you feel weightless in water that feels lighter than air.

Drive to the Dead Sea and hike through Wadi Himara along a river before taking a swim in the Dead Sea. In the evening sit down for a farewell dinner with the group and swap stories of your adventures.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Walk beside water stream winding through smooth rubble that was once fractured by the flowing of the water here. The splits in the rock open allowing the water to pour out along the path. Among these springs there are four offering cold water to the valley, while the remaining two release hot water that reaches 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Search for the cold spring residue that resembles travertine rocks with formations ranging from 1-20 meters in diameter, and covering the valley like suspended green gardens. Witness Jordan's tallest waterfall with a pond below fed by the cascading runoff from the Dead Sea from 80 metres away.

Terrain: easy to moderate with some rocky, uneven sections of trail
Length: 2-3 km (1-2 miles)
Duration: 4-5 hours at a leisurely pace

*It is recommended that you pack hiking clothing, shoes, a sunhat, and sunscreen for this trail.

ACTIVITY: 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.

Your adventure comes to an end, and you can depart at any time today. You may be leaving Jordan behind, but no matter how many miles you travel home, your newfound connection to this Kingdom and your travel mates will never fade.

Your adventure comes to an end, and you may depart at any time today.

TRANSPORT: You will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport at the end of your adventure.

ACTIVITY: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with any onward travel arrangements you require.