Hiking in Jordan: Petra and Wadi Rum

Intrepid Travel · 8 days
Hiking in Jordan: Petra and Wadi Rum
Hiking in Jordan: Petra and Wadi Rum
Hiking in Jordan: Petra and Wadi Rum
Hiking in Jordan: Petra and Wadi Rum
Hiking in Jordan: Petra and Wadi Rum
Hiking in Jordan: Petra and Wadi Rum
Hiking in Jordan: Petra and Wadi Rum
Hiking in Jordan: Petra and Wadi Rum
Hiking in Jordan: Petra and Wadi Rum
Hiking in Jordan: Petra and Wadi Rum
Hiking in Jordan: Petra and Wadi Rum
Hiking in Jordan: Petra and Wadi Rum
Hiking in Jordan: Petra and Wadi Rum
Hiking in Jordan: Petra and Wadi Rum
8 Days
From AUD $2366 Was AUD $3155
Trip Type
Small Group
Activity Level
Demanding

Rating


(20 reviews)

Hiking in Jordan: Petra and Wadi Rum

Hiking in Jordan: Petra and Wadi Rum

Intrepid Travel · 8 days
Duration

8 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Moderate

Physical Rating

Demanding

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

Experience the beauty and culture of Jordan on this exhilarating eight-day trekking adventure.

Highlights

  • 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.

Trip Details

Duration

8 days

Transportation

Jeep,Van

Tour Type

Small Group

Guide Language

English

Starts

Amman, Jordan

Finishes

Madaba, Jordan

Accommodations

Moderate

Travel Style

Walking & Trekking

Physical Rating

Demanding

Itinerary

1
Day 1: Amman
Ahlan Wa Sahlan! Welcome to Jordan. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. As there's not much time spent in Amman on this trip, you might like to arrive a day or two early to explore the sights. If you do arrive early, maybe visit the citadel, the Jordan Museum and the Roman Theatre. Perhaps head out to try an ara’yes (a toastie filled with spicy mincemeat) while you're here. After the meeting, why not head out to dinner with your group and get to know each other.

Accommodation:

  • Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
2
Day 2: Amman - Dana Biosphere Reserve - Little Petra
After breakfast, head out for the first trek of your adventure. Journey to the Dana Biosphere Reserve – the largest nature reserve in Jordan. Covering 320 square km, the reserve is made up of mountains, Wadis and sand dunes, and is home to an incredibly diverse display of flora and fauna. The reserve was created to protect the natural environment while generating jobs for the local community. Your trek today takes you in and around this protected area, exploring with the expertise of a local guide. Keep an eye out for the varied wildlife, like falcons, chameleons, foxes, porcupines and more than 700 species of plants. After your trek, transfer to Little Petra. Believed by archaeologists to have housed visiting traders on the Silk Road, Little Petra is every bit as fascinating as its larger counterpart (just a lot quieter!). Take some time to explore the site with your local leader this afternoon, then settle in at your camp for dinner and stargazing.

Included Activities:

  • Dana Biosphere Reserve - Guided hike
  • Little Petra visit

Accommodation:

  • Permanent Camp (Number of Nights: 1)
3
Day 3: Little Petra / Petra
This morning after breakfast, start your hike directly from the camp, following a back-trail leading to Petra. The landscape today is ever changing – sandy plateaus, Bedouin campsites, goat herds and stone staircases. Your guided tour culminates at The Monastery – an impressive seven-storey structure with a doorway that's 8 m high. Though less ornate than the Treasury, the sheer scale of this building makes it an amazing sight. Reportedly, it was used as a temple by Christians in the Byzantine period. Trace your way back to the camp in early afternoon and enjoy the rest of the day as you please.

Included Activities:

  • Petra - Leader-led tour of Petra
  • Little Petra Backdoor guided hike

Accommodation:

  • Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
4
Day 4: Petra
Today you’ll discover the ancient site of Petra – one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The lost city of the biblical Nabateans comprises an impressive series of tombs and dwellings hidden behind ornate facades carved directly into rock. Shake off the crowds and spend the day taking on some of the sites’ secret hiking trails, where if you’re lucky, you won’t see another soul. What you will see is the Tomb of the Obelisks, the High Place of Sacrifice, Lion Monument and Wadi Farasa. After, you have some free time to explore at your own pace.

Included Activities:

  • Madras Trail guided hike
  • High Place guided hike
  • Wadi Farasa guided hike

Accommodation:

  • Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
5
Day 5: Wadi Rum
After a leisurely morning, journey to Wadi Rum – your base for the next two nights. When you arrive, start with a guided tour in 4WDs. You'll see the sights and landscapes of Wadi Rum on your drive, like the famous Seven Pillars of Wisdom, sand dunes and rock bridges. As the sun begins to set, you’ll explore the beautiful lunar-like landscape on foot, taking in several canyons and the Um Fruth Rock Arch before finishing up at your camp for the night. Tonight, you’ll stay in a simple desert camp, with the choice of sleeping in a tent or out under the stars. Enjoy a delicious dinner cooked in an earthen oven by your Bedouin hosts. Conditions are basic at the desert camp, but the hospitality of these people is legendary, and the experience of sleeping beneath this desert sky is a memorable one.

Included Activities:

  • Wadi Rum - Desert Jeep Excursion
  • Sunset hike including Um Fruth Rock Arch

Accommodation:

  • Desert Camp (Number of Nights: 1)
6
Day 6: Wadi Rum
After waking up in the unique surrounds of the Bedouin camp, head out for a trek around the area, seeing the ancient water collection systems, Thamudic inscriptions and many unique rock formations. You’ll be joined by a local guide and a support vehicle, and there will be stops for tea and lunch. Along the way, you might like to scale one of the large sand dunes for sensational views of the surrounding area. Explore the distinctive rock formations and soak in the vast silence of the desert. Later, return to camp for another night in the desert camp with your new Bedouin friends.

Included Activities:

  • Desert guided hike including lunch

Accommodation:

  • Desert Camp (Number of Nights: 1)
7
Day 7: Madaba - Dead Sea
Rise early to catch the first sunrays over Wadi Rum. After breakfast, travel to the small town of Madaba. This town is famous for its Ottoman-style houses and beautiful Byzantine-era mosaics, including the famous 6th-century mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land at St George's Church. Hundreds of other mosaics from the 5th to the 7th century are scattered throughout Madaba’s churches and homes.  This afternoon, take a short drive to the shores of the Dead Sea for a weightless dip in its famously salty waters, and a chance to watch the sunset in one of the world’s most spectacular locations. Back in Madaba this evening, you may like to gather your travel buddies for a celebratory shisha as this adventure comes to an end.

Included Activities:

  • Madaba visit including St George's Church
  • Dead Sea sunset swim

Accommodation:

  • Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
8
Day 8: Madaba
This trekking adventure in Jordan comes to an end today. There are no activities planned and you are free to depart the accommodation at any time.
Exclusions
  • Flights to and from origin and destinations
  • Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
  • Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
  • Recommended gratuities/tipping
  • Optional activities/tours
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.
Important Information
Meals

When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We willdo our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

This tour requires an Average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.

Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.

If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling. (Note: I assume each tour has a different description depending on level of fitness required).

Sightseeing

If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.

Visas

Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.

  • It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
  • Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
  • Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.
Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.

From
AUD $3155

AUD $2,366
(Tour only)
Offer ends 04 Oct, 2025 Per Person Twin Share
25% Off

Duration: 8 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Demanding

Experience the beauty and culture of Jordan on this exhilarating eight-day trekking adventure.

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 04 Oct 2025

Customer Reviews

Overall Rating
Excellent
4.5
Guide
Excellent
4.5
Itinerary
Excellent
4.5
Accommodations
Excellent
4.5
Transportation
Excellent
4.5
Tour Operator
Excellent
4.5
Food
Excellent
4.5
4.0
scarlet
Traveled, March 2024

03/19/2024

Embarking on a guided trek through Jordan's wonders was an enriching experience. The camaraderie forged with fellow adventurers from around the globe added a vibrant cultural dimension to our journey. From Petra's ancient allure to the ethereal beauty of Wadi Rum, every moment was a shared discovery. Stop thinking about it and book it! you won't regret it!

4.5
Emily
Traveled, October 2023

11/05/2023

What an amazing adventure! I would highly recommend this trip. Every day was magical. Especially hiking to Petra from Little Petra and Wadi Rum. Our guide Mohammed was incredible - an amazing trekking guide and wonderful group leader. The trip was so well organize, great itinerary and important information very clearly communication. The local guides also were excellent. Thank you Mohammed for such an incredible experience!

Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.

In Business Since 1989