13-day nomadic nature tour of Jordan
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.
Day 1
Flight to Amman and transfer to your hotel, where you will enjoy dinner
and stay overnight.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Day 13
You will depart early for the
airport and fly back home.
Prices included:
Meets and assist at the airport
Professionals tour guides
All transfers by deluxe busses/cars/Jeep Safari
Hotel Accommodation on F/B bases
Campsites on F/B bases with all suppliers
Entrance Fees to all sites
Horse ride in Petra for the second day
Prices not included:
Airline tickets, personal expenses, Tips and private insurance.
Accommodation:
6 nights in good standard hotels, 6 nights in nomadic campsites where
simple toilet and bathroom
facilities will be provided.
Transportation: in air-conditioned buses, from Petra to Wadi Rum by
jeeps driven by local drivers.
Meals: in hotels half-board, during hiking days full-board, the group
will be accompanied by a cook.
Luggage: during hiking days the luggage will be carried after the group
by a jeep.
Recommended time: in spring or autumn seasons.
go back to adventures in jordan
|