The Jordan Trail: Dana to Petra itinerary

Day 1: Arrive into Amman. Welcome meeting with your trip leader.

Arrive at any time and arrive at the group hotel in Amman. There will be a briefing meeting with your trip leader and an opportunity to meet your fellow travellers. If time allows, the historic centre of Amman is well worth exploring and we recommend a stroll up to the amazing citadel, perched high on a hill, featuring incredible Roman temple ruins.

(No meals )

Day 2: Travel to the undiscovered Northern Jordan and trek in the Ajloun Nature Reserve.

We transfer from Amman to the Ajloun Nature Reserve in a relatively undiscovered part of Northern Jordan (approximately 2 hours). The most common image of Jordan is that of hot, arid land covered in desert but here we will find rolling hillside covered in oak, pine and pistachio forest. Home to wolves, roe deer, striped hyena and Indian crested porcupine amongst many more species, this truly is a hidden gem. We will take a guided walk on one of the nature trails to discover the impressive natural beauty of the reserve before staying in one of the rustic chalets.

2-3 hours, distance: 3-4km

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3: Head south and explore the waterfalls and pools of the Wadi Mujib canyon. Continue on to our Dead Sea resort.

Leaving early in the morning, we transfer towards the Dead Sea to reach Wadi Mujib (approximately 4 hours). This incredible gorge stretches for 70km as it descends from the mountains surround the Desert Highway all the way to the Dead Sea. Wadi Mujib is an adventurer’s paradise and there a number of trails that thread their way through the canyon walls of this incredible natural phenomena. During the drier months we will wade, swim and abseil our way down the canyon bottom. In the wetter winter season, we will stick to the drier trails due to higher water levels. Once our canyon adventure comes to an end, we take a short drive to our Dead Sea resort where we can experience the legendary healing qualities of the water, famous for its unique mineral makeup and salinity. Floating in the Dead Sea is one of life’s more surreal experiences and takes some getting used to and we can also cover ourselves in the clay-like mud found along the shore, believed to have medicinal and therapeutic benefits. There is an optional visit to the place reported to be the location of Jesus’ baptism.

4 hours canyoning

(Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 4: Drive to Dana and enjoy a walk through the Biosphere Reserve. Transfer to Wadi Musa and opt to visit Petra by candlelight.

We take a scenic drive across the desert and mountains to the Dana Biosphere Reserve (approximately 3 hours). Situated along the face of the Great Rift Valley, the reserve features four distinct biomes which accommodate an astonishing diversity of flora and fauna and there may be opportunities to glimpse increasingly rare animals such as the Syrian wolf, sand cat or spiny-tailed lizard. Archaeological evidence suggests humans have settled this valley for over 6000 years and we will pass through many ancient villages. We will follow the Feathers Canyon Trail which starts off in flower-filled meadows and we climb and scramble our way up to Shaq ‘ar-Reesh, a Nabatean mountain retreat dotted with ancient cisterns and water-channels. On our return to Dana, we drive on to Wadi Musa, the gateway to Petra (approximately 1 hour) and check in to our hotel. We have the option of an unforgettable experience: to enter Petra by the Siq at night and experience the famous Treasury façade lit by candles as we enjoy a live Bedouin traditional music performance.

2-3 hours, distance: 4km

(Breakfast)

Day 5: Walk from ‘Little Petra’ to Petra, along a balcony route to enter the site of Petra via the little known back door.

This morning we drive out to Siq al-Barid; otherwise known as ‘Little Petra’. We will enter the canyon of soft sandstone walls on foot to explore this Nabataean outlier of Petra, believed by archaeologists to have once housed traders traveling along the Silk Road. The fascinating rock-carved dwellings are over 2,000 years old yet we will still be able to observe the stunning frescoes adorning the walls and ceilings. The site is small and intimate and receives far fewer visitors than Petra and will give us taste of what is to come. We trek out on an ancient trade route, climbing gently out of the valley until we gain a natural rock balcony path, clinging to the mountainside. The views are incredible as the path narrows before reaching a plateau above the impressive chasm of Wadi Siyyagh. It is here that we will be rewarded with our first glimpse of Petra as the stunning façade of the monastery suddenly appears. This marks the entrance to Petra known as the ‘back door’. Most other visitors will enter Petra via the busy main entrance on the far side of the site and to walk into Petra from the mountainous desert is a very special and unforgettable experience. There is a small cafe at the foot of the Monastery which makes a wonderful place to sit in the shade and sip an aromatic cardamom coffee. From there, it is a steep walk down a long set of Nabataean steps into the heart of Petra where we can walk along a colonnaded street; past rock cut tombs, temples and a Roman style theatre. Finally, we arrive at Petra’s probably most iconic building: the Treasury and its detailed artworks. After some time spent taking it all in, we leave the site through the Siq, a narrow, steep-walled canyon and return to our hotel.

3-4 hours (plus extra time exploring Petra), distance: 13km, total ascent 495m, total descent 520m

(Breakfast)

Day 6: A free morning to explore Petra further. Take a 4x4 deep into the desert of Wadi Rum and overnight at a Bedouin camp.

This morning is free to return to Petra and explore the site at our own leisure and ponder that despite the ongoing archaeological work, over 90% remains unexcavated. Once done, we transfer to Wadi Rum (approximately 2 hours) and meet our Bedouin hosts. We will then take to rugged 4x4 vehicles before leaving the road and driving into the stunning desert of Wadi Rum. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed location was once the clandestine home to Lawrence of Arabia who described the desert here as “Vast, echoing and God-like”. The other-worldly landscape has been used as the film location for films such as The Martian and Dune. Along the way, we will have the opportunity to wander, scramble and explore at our own pace. We will reach our Bedouin tented camp to hopefully experience one of the most magical sunsets in the world before experiencing some famous Bedouin hospitality with a traditional meal under a starlit sky.

5-6 hours (plus extra time exploring Petra), distance: 14km, total ascent 495m, total descent 520m

(Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 7: Transfer back to Amman, stopping off on the way to take guided cycle tour of rural Jordan and lunch at a family home.

After a relaxed breakfast, we set off back across the desert and hit the road to return to Amman (a total of approximately four hours). On the way, we stop off in the South Ghour region to visit the Numeira Environmental Association. Set up to promote sustainable farming practices and water conservation through education and cultural programmes, our hosts will take us on a guided cycle tour of rural farms and hamlets before visiting a family for lunch. Afterwards, we continue on our way to Amman where we can enjoy our last evening in Jordan together and perhaps arrange to go out for a celebratory meal together.

(Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 8: Depart any time from Amman.

North Star Adventure services end. Depart at any time.

(Breakfast)