Jordan: Hike, Bike & Snorkel
Step, cycle and swim your way across Jordan
Set off on an active 8-day adventure through Jordan’s diverse landscapes and ancient monuments. Tick off UNESCO-listed sites like Petra and natural wonders like the Dead Sea, but don’t just see them like everyone else. Instead, cycle the trails up to the ancient site of Umm Qais, hike the backdoor paths to Petra’s Treasury and snorkel the waters of Aqaba. Start by seeing the capital from a new perspective, stopping at an Aljoun Reserve eco-lodge to hike and dine al fresco in the orchards. Then, take to the desert in a 4WD, awake to see a Wadi Rum sunrise and end your adventure with a sunset float in the Dead Sea.
Start: Amman, Jordan
End: Dead Sea, Jordan
- Duration
- 8 days
- Group size
- 1 to 12
- Minimum age
- 15 years old
- Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time
Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time
Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities
Premium: Our best accommodation, exclusive inclusions and our most experienced leaders
- Original
- Theme
Our themes categorise trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.
- Multi-active
- Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Why you'll love this trip
- Join a local for a guided ride around scenic Umm Qais with views of the Golan Heights and Jordan Valley and visit the archaeological site dating back to the Roman empire.
- Hike through the canyons to see the iconic rock-hewn Treasury, Monastery and High Place sites of Petra, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
- Stay overnight with Bedouins in Wadi Rum – with an exciting 4WD drive to get to your desert camp, where you’ll then wake up for a sunrise hike with your Bedouin hosts.
- Explore the forests and orchards of the Aljoun Reserve before you sample the flavours during an al fresco brunch among ancient olive and apricot trees.
- Snorkel the coral reefs of Aqaba in the Red Sea, before ending your active adventure with a rejuvenating float in the buoyant waters of the Dead Sea.
Itinerary
Ahlan Wa Sahlan! Welcome to Jordan. Start your multi-active adventure in Jordan’s capital city, Amman – known for its ancient ruins and blend of old and new culture. Your trip begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, you might like to visit some of Amman’s ancient sites, like the Citadel ruins or wander through one of the many engaging museums found around the city.
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Amman - Roman Theatre - JOD2
- Madaba - Al-Maghtas Bethany Baptism site (entrance fee) - JOD12
- Amman - King Abdullah I Mosque (entrance fee) - JOD2
- Amman - Citadel (entrance) - JOD3
- Amman - Jordan Archaeological Museum (entrance fee) - JOD3
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
Hit the ground running with your first full day spent exploring Amman and the Aljoun Reserve. In the morning, you’ll be joined by a local guide who’ll show you the lesser-known side of Amman – its hip-hop and street art scene. Spend two hours on a guided walk through the city’s thriving creative scene. Part of the funds from your tour are reinvested into the community for art and culture. Then, drive to Aljoun Reserve, check into your ecolodge and put on your hiking shoes before heading out for your first trek. Set off on the Roe Deer Trail and along the way, pass one of Jordan’s old stone wine presses and if you’re lucky, you may spot a roe deer. Aljoun Reserve has an onsite restaurant but ask your leader if you’d like to eat elsewhere.
- Ecolodge (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Ajloun Reserve - Hiking
- Amman - Underground tour
Your hiking time today will be approximately 2 hours or 2 km.
Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.
Enjoy a free morning but be sure to get in a good breakfast because an afternoon of hiking awaits. Take off from Rasoun village and trek through wooded valleys until you reach Orjan village. Walk a trail framed by trees, arid mountains and the occasional water mill once used by local people to grind seeds. Along the way, you’ll sit down to a traditional brunch made by a local family in an orchard of fig, pomegranate, apple and apricot trees. Finish your hike with a walk through olive trees so old that they date back to the Roman Empire. Spend a final evening at your eco-lodge.
- Ecolodge (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Ajloun - Lunch with a local family
- Ajloun Reserve - Forest Walk
Your hiking time today will be approximately 6 hours or 12 km.
Say goodbye to the Aljoun Reserve and gear up for a day of exploring on two wheels. Today, you’ll be led by a local guide on a bike tour through the villages of Umm Qais. Enjoy the fresh air and views of the Golan Heights and the Jordan Valley before you stop to see the Umm Qais archaeological site. Your cycling guide is an expert in all local trails and terrain and will tailor the day’s ride to the ability and interest level of the group. Expect gentle climbs and scenic paths that let the landscape of Umm Qais shine. After the ride, continue to Petra.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Umm Qais - Cycling
- Umm Qais - Archaeological Site Entrance
Your cycling time today will be approximately 4 hours.
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
Today’s cycling route may vary due to location and weather.
Today’s active adventure begins with a quick 4WD to Siq al-Barid, also known as ‘Little Petra.’ Here, you’ll start the backdoor hike to Petra, beginning with the 800 stairs up to the Monastery – Petra’s largest monument. Take in this impressive feat of architecture before you make your way down to the basin and out through the Siq canyon. The hike will move at an easy pace with plenty of time to rest, stop for tea and moments to soak up the rock-carved views. Enjoy a free evening in Petra.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Petra - Guided Hike
Your trekking distance today will be approximately 8 km with 420 m of elevation gain.
Enjoy another morning exploring the historic grounds of Petra with a guided hike of the Main Trail and the High Place of Sacrifice. This walk takes you through the main entrance known as the ‘Siq’, the iconic Treasury building and the grand Nabatean Theatre before climbing 800 steps to reach the High Place of Sacrifice. Then, spend the afternoon kicking back on a jeep safari through Wadi Rum. Known for its unique geographical features, golden dunes and carvings from ancient civilisations, you’ll get plenty of time to look out over the lunar-like rock formations with your night spent enjoying Bedouin hospitality at your desert camp.
- Desert Camp (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Wadi Rum - Desert Jeep Excursion
- Petra - Guided Hike
Your trekking distance today will be approximately 12 km or 5-6 hours with 600 m of elevation gain.
Your travel time today will be approximately 90 minutes.
A mattress and blankets are provided tonight. While the desert may be very hot during the day, it will still be cool at night, so warm layers are highly recommended if you're travelling outside of the summer months. Western-style toilet facilities are available.
Rise and shine early this morning to see the sunrise over the sand dunes of Wadi Rum. Set out on a moderately difficult hike with your leader and a local Bedouin guide to get the best vantage of the brightening skyline – this is one early wake-up you won’t want to miss. Then, leave the desert behind and set out for the water, arriving at Aqaba for a snorkel at the Aqaba Marine Reserve. Search for a range of local Red Sea marine life, including clownfish, lionfish, sea turtles and sea goldies. After snorkelling, travel to the Dead Sea for a sunset swim.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Dead Sea - Sunset Swim
- Aqaba - Snorkeling
- Wadi Rum - Sunrise Hike
Today’s trekking distance will be decided by the group.
Your snorkelling time today will be approximately 2 hours.
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
After breakfast, your active adventure through Jordan ends at your accommodation in the Dead Sea. There are no activities planned and you are free to depart the accommodation at any time.
- Breakfast
Amman's Queen Alia International Airport is approximately one hour's drive from the Dead Sea.
Inclusions and activities
7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
Private transport, bicycle, on foot
Hotel (4 nights), Ecolodge (2 nights), Desert Camp (1 night)
- Ajloun Reserve - Hiking
- Amman - Underground tour
- Ajloun - Lunch with a local family
- Ajloun Reserve - Forest Walk
- Umm Qais - Cycling
- Umm Qais - Archaeological Site Entrance
- Petra - Guided Hike
- Wadi Rum - Desert Jeep Excursion
- Dead Sea - Sunset Swim
- Aqaba - Snorkeling
- Wadi Rum - Sunrise Hike
- Amman - Roman Theatre - JOD2
- Madaba - Al-Maghtas Bethany Baptism site (entrance fee) - JOD12
- Amman - King Abdullah I Mosque (entrance fee) - JOD2
- Amman - Citadel (entrance) - JOD3
- Amman - Jordan Archaeological Museum (entrance fee) - JOD3
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Before you book you should know
- This active hiking trip requires a good level of fitness, due to the varied terrain and potentially hot temperatures. The hiking days involve hills and lots of steps that you'll need to be able to walk up and down. Walking times vary between three and six hours a day, but the rewards are worth every step.
- Most of the time there is no shade, so remember to bring a hat, sun protection, and sturdy, comfortable hiking boots or walking shoes. The hikes occur over a range of terrains, we recommend you consider packing trekking poles for the hikes.
- The distances that you will be trekking vary from 14 km to 20 km over a range of terrains, we recommend you consider packing trekking poles for the hikes.
- The desert camp in Wadi Rum is basic but incredibly memorable. There are tents and shared western bathroom facilities. While the desert may be very hot during the day, it will still be cool at night, so remember to bring some warmer layers, especially if visiting outside of the summer months.
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
ACCOMMODATION STYLE
Some of the accommodation along the way is basic or simple, three and four-star accommodation in the Middle East (with the exception of Israel) is often not equal to same-star facilities in some western destinations. Rooms are clean and comfortable, however, you may note some small maintenance issues that have been overlooked, please assist us by bringing these to the attention of your group leader or local representative so that we can follow up with our hosts. Many restaurants and hotels do not serve alcohol for religious reasons or due to local laws. Breakfast is included in 95% or our hotels, pleaser refer to our daily itinerary for meal inclusions.
TWIN SHARE / MULTI SHARE BASIS
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multi-share basis.
CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip, we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination. Standard check-in time is 1400 hours.
PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (subject to availability), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
SHOWERS
Showers at some hotels only have hot water at peak times (usually morning and evening). Outside of these times, you may need to speak to reception to obtain hot water.
HEATING AND AIR-CONDITIONING
As a desert region, this part of the world has extremes of weather. Winter months (approx December to March) can be very cold. All of our hotel accommodation contains suitable bedding, and simple light bedding is provided during camping activities such as an overnight felucca, desert camps or at the Red Sea Beach camp stay. Most of our travellers find the bedding provided here adequate, but for your own comfort and if you are particularly sensitive to the cold, consider bringing your own sleeping bag, thermals, scarf, gloves and a warm jacket. Some of our guesthouses/hotels don't supply heating. In many cases, this would be a major financial and environmental strain on our hotels and the local towns. Summer (approx June to August) can be very hot everywhere we travel, which means that it can be quite uncomfortable for those not used to the heat. Not all our hotels have air-conditioning, and in those that do, it's not always functioning.
ROOM ISSUES
If you have any issues with your room, please speak to the hotel and your group leader or local representative right away so that the problem can be addressed without delay.
Khan Khediwe Hotel
Quraysh St
183195
Amman
JORDAN
Phone: +962 64651444
Dates and prices
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Days 6 (Desert Camp) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. Travellers only have to carry their essential items in a small backpack when hiking, while the main luggage will be transferred.
3. It is very important that you provide your height at time of booking so we can ensure that you have the appropriate sized bicycle when your trip starts. If you do not provide your height ahead of arrival we cannot guarantee a suitably sized bike for you.
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