petra trek - 9 days

Walking through the Siq at Petra Tour Information
Starts in: Amman
Ends in: Amman
Prices and Departures: Click here
Local Payment Required: No
Breakfast: Daily, Lunch: 6, Dinner: 5
Hotel rating: 3 (+ wilderness lodge, guest house)
Guide: Yes (for groups 6 or more)
National Reserve fees & permits: Included

Day 1: Amman
Welcome to Jordan and the start of your holiday! Arrive Amman, included transfer to hotel and overnight.

Day 2: Take a dip in the Dead Sea
Amman - Dead Sea - Dana Nature Reserve - breakfast. Today, we descend from the elevation of Amman to the Dead Sea for a chance to take a dip in the mineral-rich waters, before continuing to our drive through Wadi Araba to Faynan at the lower, western end of the Dana Nature Reserve. Unique in the Middle East region, Dana NR is a protected region overseen by Jordan’s RSCN (Royal Society for the Protection of Nature) combining scientific research, social reconstruction and sustainable tourism. Offering a dizzying array of resident flora and fauna, Dana NR is the start point for our trek to the Rose City of Petra. Various kinds of eagles, kestrels, falcons, cultures, wildcats, hyenas, foxes, badgers, jackals, wolves and hares inhabit the region. Our base this evening is the RSCN-run Faynan Wilderness Lodge which blends perfectly with the environment, from where we can explore the surrounding area and relish the solitude of this isolated and beautiful location. In antiquity, Faynan was an extensive copper-smelting settlement. Archaeological digs have unearthed remains of Bronze and Iron Age copper mines, remains of Byzantine churches, a Roman tower and more, which can be explored. Lunch, dinner and overnight - Faynan Wilderness Lodge.

Wadi – a term used throughout, is a valley or watercourse and can also refer to a dry or seasonal riverbed.

Dana Nature Reserve and Rose city of Petra

Day 3: Dana Nature Reserve
Dana Nature Reserve - breakfast. Today, we hike along the upward sloping floor of the colourful Wadi Dana through wild and desolate terrain which changes to lush, green gardens as the upper reaches closer to Dana Village are approached. Our destination is RSCN’s Dana Guest House. With an exterior and interior designed by acclaimed architect Ammar Khamash, the Guest House offers a skilful and attractive blend of traditional Jordanian style against a minimalist backdrop of stone and iron. As for the views, check out magnificent panoramas over Dana NR encompassing Wadi Dana and Wadi Araba. There will be free time to explore the old Bedouin village, long abandoned though slowly but surely being brought back to life as the tribes of the area begin to enjoy the benefits of ecotourism which the Nature Reserve and the associated handicraft projects have brought to the area. Organically produced preserves and herbs, olive-oil soap, textiles and other nick-knacks make authentic souvenirs of a stay at Dana NR. Lunch, dinner and overnight – Dana Guest House

NB - The Guest House has only 9 rooms, for a maximum capacity of 27 guests. No single rooms are available. Whilst only one of the rooms offers en suite facilities, there are a number of very clean and accessible communal showers and WCs to serve the remaining 8 rooms. The room with en suite facility cannot be requested in advance.

Day 4: Trekking at Dana
Dana Nature Reserve - Mansura - breakfast. Today, we begin the trek to Petra, hiking past the area’s reforestation project and the upland wadis. Lunch, dinner and overnight camping - Mansura

Day 5: Trekking from Mansura
Mansura - breakfast. Continuing our trek through valleys overlooking Wadi Araba there is a small Bedouin track which runs through the valley where there are still families living in their characteristic nomadic black tents. Along the way we’ll pass unexcavated remains from the Iron Age, Nabatean and Roman eras. Lunch, dinner and overnight camping

Day 6: Oasis scenery, Neolithic etchings
Breakfast. Today’s route passes a number of Roman watchtowers and several small wadis where waterfalls and date palms flourish even in the driest seasons. We arrive at an area dotted with Neolithic remains, where we camp for the night. Lunch, dinner and overnight camping

Dana Nature Reserve and Camping in the Reserve

Day 7: Ammareen territory
Breakfast. Approaching from Ammareen territory, our trek takes us to Siq al Barid (Little Petra) and the Baidha Neolithic village. Continue cross-country on a little-used trail, which circumnavigates the main entry routes into the ancient city of Petra, we trek on a back route up to Ad-Deir. Better known as the Monastery, Ad-Deir has a similar rock- hewn façade to that of Petra’s famous Monastery (reached through the legendary Siq and which we’ll visit on day 8) but is the largest of all ancient Petra’s monuments. The sight of the Ad-Deir will really rate on everyone’s top five experiences during this trek. From the nearby cliff-tops, the views are simply stunning. Exiting via Wadi Turkomanieh, we transfer to our hotel in Petra’s modern-day town – Wadi Musa for a well-earned rest and overnight stay. Lunch and overnight –Petra

Day 8: The rose city of Petra
Petra - breakfast. Chief among Jordan’s many archaeological riches is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Rose City of Petra. The city was first settled around 6th century BC by the Nabatean tribe from Western Arabia. A succession of habitation, leadership and further development followed, but as the caravan routes were gradually displaced by the advent of sea trade routes, the city’s importance declined and Petra passed into obscurity. Rediscovered in 1812, it remain on the list of many travellers. We access the hidden archaeological treasures of the Rose City on a walk through a narrow, deep siq, where the rocks finally give way to reveal the famous façade of Al-Khazneh (the Treasury). Continuing our walk, we’ll then go on to explore chunks of this fantastic once-lost city, which is full of tombs, temples, an impressive amphitheatre and a Roman colonnaded street. Camels and donkeys offer a novel way of getting around, for those that might want to take the weight off their feet. Overnight – Petra

Day 9: Petra
Petra - breakfast. Hotel checkout and included onward to transfer north to Amman and Queen Alia International Airport.

On the go is a specialist operator of cultural and adventure tours in the Kingdom of Jordan. Fun and informative group tours of Jordan offering frequent departures at realistic prices from Amman include highlights such as the Rose City of Petra, the Dead Sea, Wadi Rum, Roman Jerash, sunny Aqaba, Madaba mosaic town, biblical Mt Nebo, neighbouring Damascus and Bosra in Syria. Trek Petra walking holidays, Petra Kitchen cooking classes, the annual Distant Heat Desert Rave at Wadi Rum, Christmas in Petra, New Year’s in Wadi Rum and tailored Jordan are also a hallmark.