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Highlights
Amman - Madaba - Mount
Nebo - Dead Sea - Dana natural reserve - Petra - Wadi Araba -
Wadi Feinan - Little Petra - Wadi Rum - Aqaba
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Introduction
When thinking of
Jordan, many of us associate it mainly with desert sands and the
rose-red city of Petra. However Jordan has a lot more to offer. It
abounds in natural beauty. There are a lot of places in Jordan where
you can still merge with nature and have a true wilderness
experience. You might wander about for days without meeting a soul,
something you won’t even dream of anymore in the crowded and busy
western world. This 13-day hiking tour
offers you the undiscovered Jordan. It’s an excellent opportunity to
‘walk slowly in this life’ and be one with nature. Allow yourself to
explore the country on foot, and you will enjoy the beautiful
natural environment with ‘every move you make, every step you take’.
The trail will offer an endless variety of landscapes, ranging from
the green mountains of Dana to the natural fountains and white sands
of Wadi Araba. From the black basalt rocks near Ras Namalah to the
prehistoric site of Little Petra. Nowadays many of the sites you
will visit are sparsely inhabited by the local Bedouin tribes. But
in the early days many of them were flourishing. The tour will show
you some of the highlights of these cultures ancient and gone. And
of course we will also show you some of the highlights of the
Jordanian history.
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Day by day itinerary
Day 1:
Flight to Amman and transfer to your hotel, where you
will enjoy dinner and stay overnight |
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Day 2:In
the morning you will visit
Madaba,
which is world-famous for its Byzantine mosaics. You shall see the
masterpiece: the map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. The next stop
will be
Mount Nebo,
where you will overlook the Promised Land. Just like Moses once did
after travelling through the desert for forty years. And you will
visit the remains of a church dating back to the sixth century. From
Mount Nebo you will
hike
all the
way down to the
Dead Sea,
the lowest spot on earth. The Dead Sea is believed to have healing
powers, because of the super salty water. Sodom and Gomorrah, the site
where Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt, is believed to have
been located close to the Dead Sea. Enjoy the afternoon floating
around in the sea water, bathing in the sun, or undergo one of the
relaxing mud treatments. Late in the afternoon the bus will transfer
you to the
Dana Nature Reserve
where you will enjoy a traditional Arabic dinner and
spend the night in an pastoral environment. |
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Day 3 - 6:
This
four-day hiking tour
will lead you through the Dana Nature Reserve and the Wadi Araba, with
destination the rose-red city of Petra. Dana Nature Reserve is a
system of mountains and wadi’s, dry riverbeds. The height drops
dramatically over 1600 meters from the tops of the
Rift Valley
to the desert lowlands of Wadi Araba. This,
combined with the compact variety of landforms, results in a very high
biological diversity. Ranging from densely vegetated mountainous areas
to the Rummana fountain. From white desert sands covered with fanciful
acacia trees to small streams flanked by man-size oleander bushes.
From sky-high sand dunes to barren basalt or granite rocks. The area
is also rich in archaeology and culture. Near
Wadi Feinan
you will visit the remains of the ancient
capital of the Edomite kingdom. Feinan is a large area of copper
mines. In ancient times these mines were among the largest in the
world. You will also visit the ruins of the Roman water system and two
early Christian churches. From Feinan one of the most beautiful
off-roads in Jordan will take you to Beidha or
Little Petra,
which dates back to the Stone Age. Camping near Little Petra is a
wonderful experience. It is almost like living in prehistoric times. |
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Day 7 - 8:
In a
spectacularly way the hiking tour will reach its final destination:
the Nabatean city of
Petra.
You will see the most astonishing and dramatic monument in Jordan: the
Treasury. Other places you will visit are the Monastery, the theatre,
the tombs and façades and the colonnaded street.
The night is spent in one of the hotels of Wadi
Mousa, the village next to Petra. You can spend the next day according
to your own wishes. Perhaps you would like to explore Petra for
yourself and see some more of the monumental buildings in the rose-red
city. Or climb the stairs all the way up to the High Place of
Sacrifice and see the obelisks believed to represent Dushara and Al
‘Uzza, the most important Nabatean gods. It is also possible to take a
jeep tour to Aqaba by off-road. Or maybe you would just like to relax
and enjoy a Turkish bath in the local hammam. |
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Day 9 - 10:
Our jeeps will
transfer you to
Wadi Rum.
You will pass the seven pillars of wisdom, described so vividly by
Lawrence of Arabia. The next two days you will be
hiking
amidst the beauty of this unique and timeless place,
where uniquely shaped massive mountains rise out of the rose-red
desert sand. In the evening a traditional Bedouin dinner will be
prepared for you at a campfire. The guide will show some of the most
beautiful spots in Wadi Rum and the inscriptions written by the
Thamudic and Nabatean people a long, long time ago. And you will climb
the famous rock bridges. The trail will lead you to the red sand area
to contemplate the silence, sitting on top of one of the sky-high sand
dunes, beautifully set against the eroded rocks. |
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Day 11 - 12:
In the morning
you will be transferred to
Aqaba
by bus.
Lying on the northern tip of the Red Sea, Aqaba is well-known for its
beautiful coral reefs. You are free to spend the day according to your
own wishes. Aqaba is an ideal location for scuba diving, snorkelling
and other water sports. Or you might just relax and spend a good time
at the beach or stroll around some of the traditional markets. Late
afternoon you will be transferred to
Amman.
In the evening there will be ample opportunity to explore Jordan’s
capital, enjoy dinner in one of the many restaurants and visit some of
the highlights. |
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Day 13:
You will depart early for the airport and fly back
home. |
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Accommodation |
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6
nights in good standard hotels, 6 nights in nomadic campsites where
simple toilet and bathroom facilities will be provided. |
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Transportation |
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In
air-conditioned buses, from Petra to Wadi Rum by jeeps driven by local
drivers. |
| Meals |
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In
hotels half-board, during hiking days full-board, the group will be
accompanied by a cook. |
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Luggage |
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During
hiking days the luggage will be carried after the group by a jeep. |
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Recommended time |
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In
spring or autumn seasons. | |
