KE Expert
David Saudek, Adventure Travel Consultant
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Holidays
without flights
MODERATE
Jordan's Wadi Rum and Petra
Jordan
Available Departures:
Jan,
Feb,
Mar,
Apr,
Oct,
Nov,
Dec
8 days from
US$1,750
Walk & Trek
Guided Group
MODERATE
Explore the vast emptiness of Jordan`s Wadi Rum and desert mountains
Trip Code: JOR
Holiday Grades
Our Holiday Grades Explained
To show the relative difficulty of our holidays, each trip is graded on a scale of 1 to 12, with 12 being the most challenging. Although we have tried to make our grading system as clear as possible, it cannot take into account your personal interests, abilities or experience. If you have any questions about the nature of a particular trip or its suitability for you, please read the 'Is this holiday for you?' section or contact us.
1 - 3 LEISURELY
Suitable for most people in good health, holidays at this grade include only limited amounts of activity.
View leisurely holidays
4 - 6 MODERATE
Suitable for reasonably fit individuals, such as weekend walkers and cyclists. There can be the occasional more difficult day.
View moderate holidays
7 - 9 CHALLENGING
Physically challenging holidays, where you need to be prepared before you go.
View challenging holidays
10 - 12 TOUGH
Our toughest holidays, involving many long days, often in isolated areas. A high level of fitness and previous wilderness and mountain experience is essential.
View Tough holidaysJordan's Wadi Rum and Petra
Highlights
- Walk in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia across stunning pristine desert
- Fall asleep under a blanket of stars in Wadi Rum
- Climb Jordan's highest peak - Jebel Um Adaami (1832m)
- Spend a full day exploring the archaeological jewel of Petra
- Why not experience Petra on Christmas Day on our special December departure?!
At a Glance
- Group Size 6 to 16
- 6 days trekking and scrambling
- Max altitude 1832 metres
- Join In Amman
Accommodation & Meals
- All meals included
- 4 nights Camping
- 1 nights Hotel with swimming pool
- 2 nights Hotel
Overview
Jordan's Wadi Rum and its 'rose-red City' of Petra provide a magical setting for a winter walking holiday. Rising abruptly from the desert plains, the red-ochre sandstone mesas of Wadi Rum provide one of the world's most dramatic landscapes. It was famously described by T.E. Lawrence as "Rum the magnificent... vast, echoing and God-like." In this traditional land of the Bedouin, our 5-day trek will take us on ancient trails through hidden canyons and across open rocky slopes to the summits of several of the biggest formations in Jordan, including Jebel Um Adaami (1832m), Jordan's highest peak. Throughout the holiday, some easy scrambling will be required to get to the best viewpoints including the dramatic Burdah Bridge. Four-wheel-drive vehicles will provide back-up and we will camp each night on the sands in the company of our hospitable hosts. A final highlight of this outstanding Arabian adventure holiday is our 2-day visit to the awe-inspiring 2300 year old, rock-hewn city of Petra. Here, we will make our initial approach through the dramatic winding Siq and spend the whole day exploring the site, following in the footsteps of the ancient and the intrepid.
Is this holiday for you?
This holiday is a series of day-hikes in an unusual mountain area. We will walk for around 4 to 5 hours on each of the 5 days that we spend at Wadi Rum. This will involve walking on desert trails and soft sand, as well as easy scrambling on the jebels themselves. When climbing on the jebels we will usually be following routes which have been used for generations by Bedouin hunters and shepherds. The guide will carry a rope, which may be used on exposed sections to reassure group members who are not confident scramblers. The scrambling sections are usually attempted by most walkers, some sections are optional and your guide can explain the difficulty level. At the time of year that we will be visiting Jordan (winter) it will not be extremely hot, but you should expect day-time temperature upto 30 degrees centigrade. At night it can also cool down to around zero. We wild camp in the desert away from any light pollution, the stars are amazing.
Why KE?
"Vast, echoing and God-like". Come and experience the true wonder of the desert and discover what brought Lawrence of Arabia to write this famous description of Wadi Rum. More recently the film location of Ridley Scott's The Martian, featuring Matt Damon, camping under the stars in this other-worldly landscape is an experience that will truly stay with you forever.
Tour Leader Bio
David Saudek
Adventure Travel Consultant
About David:
Running and cycling are David’s main hobbies, and he is on a mission to explore the roads of the Lake District, North Pennines and Yorkshire Dales on two wheels, as well as eventually tick off all the Wainwrights. Having completed two multi-day rides both spanning the length of England, David is also looking to ride the length of the UK and then Spain in the near future. On David’s bucket list for his next destinations are Norway, the Canaries and to head to Northern Spain to explore the Pyrenees.
Itinerary
Day 1
Meet at the group hotel in Madaba. A single timed transfer from Amman Airport is provided.
Show Details
Meet at the group hotel in Madaba. A single group transfer from Amman Airport to the group hotel in Madaba is provided. This transfer is normally in the late evening and a representative of our local agent will accompany the group on the 30 minute journey to the hotel.
Accommodation
Hotel with swimming pool
Hide Details
Day 2
Drive south to Wadi Rum. Trek from Lawrence’s Well across Jebel Rum to Abu Aina.
Show Details
Today we set off by minibus for the morning's drive southwards to Wadi Rum. The Desert Highway runs alongside the railway line which was famously blown up by Lawrence of Arabia during the Great War. We will meet our Bedouin hosts at the Visitor Centre in Wadi Rum and transfer our baggage to our 4-wheel-drive vehicles, before walking into the village to a house where our lunch has been prepared. Here, we will meet our guide and drivers. Lunch is likely to consist of salad dishes, pasta and tuna, with sweet tea and biscuits. Lunch over, we will walk through the village and make the half-hour hike up to 'Lawrence's Well' in Wadi Shelaala. This is a great place and has the only running water that you are likely to see during your time in Jordan, as well as fig trees, gardens and grinning Bedouin kids and their goats. We will spend a little time in this peaceful place, before continuing our walk on a wide and rocky ledge across the face of Jebel Rum. The great expanse of desert on our left side is called Ghor al Ajram and was the place where all the tents were set up for Abu Tayi's 'party' in the film Lawrence of Arabia.
As an introduction to Wadi Rum, this short walk cannot be bettered. After 2 hours or so, this route takes us down to the desert sand at Abu Aina. Spring water has been channelled into troughs here and the camels that roam around the desert during the day come to drink here before returning to the village or to the desert for the night. Here, we meet our transport for the half-hour drive to our camping place at the mouth of Wadi Um Ishrin. At the entrance of this valley a large dune has built up and our camp is hidden behind this. Tea and biscuits will be served and there will be chance to do some exploring before dinner. This is also a good opportunity to select the place where you would like to sleep, under the stars or in your tent as you prefer. You can find plenty of private spots if you wish, or you can remain near to the campfire. As it gets dark, around the campfire you will meet the team of helpers, learn their names and exchange banter with them. An important part of this holiday is to get to know something about the extraordinary people who are the Bedouin of Wadi Rum.
As an introduction to Wadi Rum, this short walk cannot be bettered. After 2 hours or so, this route takes us down to the desert sand at Abu Aina. Spring water has been channelled into troughs here and the camels that roam around the desert during the day come to drink here before returning to the village or to the desert for the night. Here, we meet our transport for the half-hour drive to our camping place at the mouth of Wadi Um Ishrin. At the entrance of this valley a large dune has built up and our camp is hidden behind this. Tea and biscuits will be served and there will be chance to do some exploring before dinner. This is also a good opportunity to select the place where you would like to sleep, under the stars or in your tent as you prefer. You can find plenty of private spots if you wish, or you can remain near to the campfire. As it gets dark, around the campfire you will meet the team of helpers, learn their names and exchange banter with them. An important part of this holiday is to get to know something about the extraordinary people who are the Bedouin of Wadi Rum.
Accommodation
CampingMeals
B L DAscent
350 MDescent
330 MTime
2 hrs walkingDistance
4 KM
Hide Details
Day 3
Scramble up the Burdah Bridge. Hike into desert and onto Jebel um Frith camp.
Show Details
After breakfast, we will board our vehicles for the short drive to Jebel Burdah, which leads through Khor Al Ajram, a wide valley with magnificent cliffs and high sand dunes. On the way to Jebel Burdah, we pass a particularly fine and very old rock inscription which shows a camel caravan. This morning's objective is the Burdah Bridge, a well-known landmark which is reached by way of relatively easy scrambling across open rock slabs. Our guide will show us the best route through a maze of blind alleys and dead ends. There are some steeper sections and you will need to use your hands at times. A jumble of rocks leads to a small plateau, through a valley and then over a steep slab. From here, we turn a corner into a hidden gulley that provides us with a wonderful view of the bridge above. Obligatory photo stop. We then climb a short, steeper wall and here the guide will use a climbing rope to safeguard our passage. Above, we will cross the dramatic Burdah Bridge - another fantastic photo opportunity. There are magnificent views from here, extending over the whole area of Wadi Rum. We have the option of descending by an alternative route, again crossing wonderful open slabs and culminating in a steep groove which is best descended on your backside, with the climbing rope at hand for reassurance (crossing the bridge is optional!). Back on the desert floor after a 3-hour round-trip, we meet our vehicles and have lunch in the shade. Fruit juice and tea/coffee will be waiting for us. Lunch is usually a lighter meal than supper, very often heavier on vegetables than meat. After a siesta, we set out to walk for a couple of hours through desert canyons to our next overnight camp. This takes us past some impressively eroded cliffs and by way of a second rock arch that forms a part of Jebel Um Frith. At camp, jugs of water will be available for those who want to find a quiet corner and wash off the desert dust.
Accommodation
CampingMeals
B L DAscent
500 MDescent
500 MTime
6 hrs walkingDistance
13 KM
Hide Details
Day 4
Traverse Jebel Khasch (1700m) and descend a rocky wadi to a picturesque desert camp.
Show Details
The day starts with a half-hour transfer southwards to Jebel Khasch. Here, we start out hiking through an interesting rocky valley with some sparse vegetation, before negotiating easy rocky slabs as our route twists and turns to the plateau area beneath the highest rocky piles of this massif. We will choose a prominent summit as our high point (1700m) and enjoy views which extend on all sides across the desert landscape. Descending towards the west through another rocky valley, we will effectively made a traverse of Jebel Khasch which takes around 4 hours. There are some great rock colours, blues and purples, as we finally reach a sandy wadi and meet up with our vehicles for lunch. After lunch, we descend an impressive wadi, where we may see Sinai or roseate finches (the national bird of Jordan). This walk also takes us through an ancient Bedouin cemetery and into an area of red rocks and red sand. There is a choice of camping places in this area which each afford good sunset views.
Accommodation
CampingMeals
B L DAscent
480 MDescent
650 MTime
6 hrs walkingDistance
13 KM
Hide Details
Day 5
Trek to summit of Jebel Um Adaami (1832m) and enjoy desert views across to Saudi Arabia.
Show Details
There are even better views today, as we set off to tackle Jebel Um Adaami, the highest mountain in Jordan, which lies on the border with Saudi Arabia. This is quite a difficult drive for our 4-wheel-drive transport, but an enjoyable one for the passengers. Especially memorable is the wide and lonely Wadi Saabit, close to the mountain. Notice the deep stream bed in the centre of this valley - it shows just how much water used to fall in the Wadi Rum area. Arriving at the start of the day's walk, we can see a Nabatean dam on the left as we head up into a sandy valley. Still in use by the Bedouin, a long line of stones (now set in cement) directs as much water as possible into the shaded reservoir under the cliff. At the end of the valley we climb up a gulley onto the mountain and this is the only difficulty in the ascent. The rest of the path is a stoney one, leading to the cairn marking the summit. Here, we are right on the border and can see far into the Saudi mountains. Make sure you have plenty of film with you! The Bedouin guide might even brew a cup of herb tea on the summit, using materials gathered on the ascent. After this 3-hour round-trip, we will drive back to our camping place of the previous evening for lunch. The afternoon's programme is a 2-hour walk across the desert, through an area where we are likely to see Bedouin camps and grazing goats and camels. On this evening, we may choose to spend the night in a Bedouin tent, close to Um Sabata. Anybody who wishes can sleep outside on the soft sand, otherwise we spread our mattresses inside the tent which is twenty or thirty metres long. One option tonight is to have a traditional Bedouin dish of chicken or lamb, cooked in an underground oven. These ovens are often improvised in the desert, dug out and lined with a metal drum, before a fire is lit inside and the oven heated for a couple of hours. The meat and vegetables are placed on the embers and sand heaped high over the oven. A couple more hours and the dish is ready. The cooks will start this dish before we arrive, but you can see the finished product being brought out.
Accommodation
CampingMeals
B L DAscent
400 MDescent
680 MTime
5 hrs walkingDistance
11 KM
Hide Details
Day 6
Drive to the UNESCO site of Petra for a day of guided exploration. Overnight Wadi Musa.
Show Details
This morning we leave Wadi Rum and head to Petra. We make our entrance to the Petra site through the atmospheric chasm of the Siq, which brings us out at the magnificent monument of the Treasury. We have the whole day with a guide, exploring the different sites of this huge city, before we transfer to our hotel in Wadi Musa.
Accommodation
HotelMeals
B L DAscent
350 MDescent
500 MTime
5 hrs walkingDistance
9 KM
Hide Details
Day 7
Trek to the biblical summit of Jebel Haroun (1270m). Walk down to Petra and transfer to hotel.
Show Details
Today we start our trek to the top of Jebel Haroun (1270m), also known as Mount Aaron. Our route takes us on zig-zagging paths and between rugged cliffs to reach the small, white-painted mosque and shrine at the summit. It's a hike of approximately 7 kilometres, with 370 metres of ascent and will take us close to 3 hours to reach the top. The views here are legendary and we spend some time, admiring the shrine, reputedly, the burial site of Moses's brother, Aaron - with its Hebraic inscriptions. We retrace our step down Petra and have another chance to do some exploration, before we walk out through the Siq and return to our hotel in Wadi Musa.
Accommodation
HotelMeals
B L DAscent
630 MDescent
770 MTime
6 - 7 hrs walkingDistance
20 KM
Hide Details
Day 8
Departure day. A single timed transfer to Amman Airport is provided.
Show Details
The holiday ends after breakfast. A single timed transfer (3hrs) to Amman International Airport is provided. If you would like to extend your visit in Jordan to visit the Red Sea, the Dead Sea or Jerash, please contact our team of adventure travel consultants.
Meals
B
Hide Details
Download Trip Notes
The Route
Point
Direction
Transfer
Trek
Essential Information
We've compiled some of our Frequently Asked Questions to help you learn more about this amazing trip.
Holiday
General
Equipment
What's Included
- A professional and qualified tour leader
- Airport transfers as described
- All accommodation as described
- Meals as detailed in the Meal Plan
- All land transport involved in the itinerary
- Guided sightseeing tour of Petra including entrance fees
- A full service on trek including food and all equipment (excluding personal equipment)
What's not Included
- Travel insurance
- Visa
- Tips for local guide and other local staff
- Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc.
Joining Arrangements & Transfers
The group will meet at the hotel in Madaba.
A single group transfer from Amman Airport to the hotel will be provided.
At the end of the holiday there will be a single timed transfer from the group hotel in Wadi Musa back to Amman Airport.
Anyone may join the group transfers by prior arrangement. Travelling as a group or on public transport saves energy. If this is not practical, we can provide private transfers at an additional cost. Taxis are also available.
Hotel contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation.
Meal Plan
All meals are included in the holiday price.
Food & Water
Drinking Water
It is not recommended to drink untreated water from the taps. If you are on a trekking or cycling holiday, water is supplied to fill up your individual bottles. This will be boiled, filtered or provided in large jerry cans or 5 litre bottles. Additionally you should take purification tablets or a filter bottle (such as a Water-To-Go bottle) to treat your water when in towns or where water is not supplied. We do not encourage the purchasing of single use plastic bottles.
Breakfasts on trek consist of bread, a variety of cheese, honey, jams, fruit, tea and Nescafe. For lunch there will be a variety of salads, spicy humus, breads and other dishes from which we can select. Dinner will usually be barbeque or pan fried meat and vegetables with plenty of bread, yoghurt, and humus followed by fresh fruit and tea or coffee. While camping with the Bedouin in Wadi rum dinner usually consists of grilled meat and vegetables, perhaps chicken with rice and vegetables cooked in the embers of the camp fire. The Bedouin prefer to cook on a fire rather than a gas ring. The main dish will be followed by fruit, or possibly by cake. There will be a different evening meal every day and on one occasion there will be a chance to eat as the Bedouin do, using your fingers to eat from a communal tray. In all cases, provision is made for any vegetarians in the party. Mineral water is provided.
Special Diets
Whilst we can cater for vegetarians, albeit sometimes with a more limited choice, we cannot always provide for special diets. Due to the nature of some of the trips that we operate and the countries in which we operate them, it can be very hard (and sometimes impossible) to cater for a wide range of dietary choices and you may have to supplement your meals with food/snacks from home. If you have specific dietary requirements please do speak to our sales team and they will be able to advise you whether or not we will be able to offer your specific choice. Please note that we are unable to provide separate menus and cannot accept liability for any problems arising from special dietary requirements or intolerances.
Accommodation
You will spend 1 night in a comfortable family-run hotel in Madaba and 2 nights in a similar standard of hotel in Wadi Musa (Petra). All rooms are en suite.
There are 4 nights camping at Wadi Rum. When camping in the desert, we provide 2-man tents, but it is quite usual for people to find a secluded spot in the dunes (or by the campfire if preferred) and to sleep out under the blanket of stars. Washing facilities will be limited due to all water arriving by vehicle with our camping equipment. On some nights, a basic shower will set up so we can have the chance to freshen up.
Accommodation is twin share. If you are travelling by yourself, you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex. Single hotel rooms and/or single tents are available for a supplementary cost. If you are planning to extend your holiday, additional nights are available on request.
Group Leader & Support Staff
The group will be led by a professional and qualified tour leader. When in Wadi Rum, the group will also be accompanied by a local Bedouin guide and a support crew of one or more drivers who will also do the cooking.
Altitude
This holiday does not involve any significant ascent to altitude and we would not expect any altitude issues with this trip.
Spending Money
Approximately £125-£150 (or the equivalent in US dollars or euros) should be allowed for miscellaneous expenses including visa and tips. You should carry your travel money in the form of cash and should exchange the majority of this on the day of your arrival at the airport in Amman. Sterling and US Dollars are equally acceptable for exchange in Jordan. The unit of currency is the Jordanian Dinar (JD). The cost of the Petra visit is included in the trip price. If you are intending to buy expensive souvenirs, you should budget accordingly (credit cards can be useful in this respect). Also, if you expect to buy considerable quantities of drinks or other refreshments, you should allow for this.
Guidance on Tipping
Tips are the accepted way of saying ‘thank you’ to your local guides and porters. They do not form part of their wages. KE always pays local crews the best rates of pay, no matter what country they are in and any tips they receive are seen as a personal thank you from group members. For our part, we advise local teams that tips are not a duty or a prerequisite but are a bonus and entirely dependent on the service that was given. As a rough guide we suggest you allow a total of around £70 (in equivalent local currency) for tipping your crew. We recommend that tips be given from the group as a whole rather than from individuals and the amount determined by the group.
Baggage Allowance
During the holiday your baggage will be carried by bus and by 4WD vehicles. The only baggage limit is that which is imposed by the airline. We recommend that the weight of your packed trek bag does not exceed 15 kgs as this will make transiting airports a much more pleasant experience for you.
Group Size & Holiday Status
For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in the ‘Dates and Prices’ table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.
Passport & Visas
The information that we provide is for UK passport holders.
A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required, and you should have at least 2 blank pages for each country that you visit.
For other nationalities, please refer to your own Government website for the latest information.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Please ensure that you check for the latest advice before travel.
Visa Jordan
If you are a UK, Canada, USA or Australia passport holder, travelling on a KE organised itinerary (inc pre or post tour extensions), you may now be eligible to receive a free visa upon entering Jordan. Please look for a representative with a KE sign between the arrival gate and before the immigration desks and they will accompany you to arrange the free visa and passport stamp. The free visa is reliant on us receiving your passport and flight details prior to travel and to you meeting with the KE representative before heading to immigration to join the single timed transfer. If you have not given us these details or if you do not meet with the representative for the single timed transfer you will have to purchase an individual visa for 40JD. Please ask for further details.
If you are arranging your own pre or post trip accommodation/excursions or transfers we will be unable to arrange a free visa for you and you will need to purchase an individual visa on arrival for 40JD
Other nationalities are included in the free visa scheme, please check with your individual embassy.
Health & Vaccinations
VACCINATIONS
You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations or other preventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g. diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella, along with hepatitis A and typhoid. A good online resource is Travel Health Pro.
If you have a severe allergy please inform the KE office before you travel. We will do all we can to help, but we cannot guarantee an allergy free environment on KE trips. You will need to carry your own treatment for the allergy with you, as 'adrenaline auto-injectors' are not carried as standard by KE leaders and staff. You should inform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.
Currency
The unit of currency in Jordan is the Jordanian Dinar.
Preparing for your Holiday
It makes a lot of sense to spend some time getting some additional exercise before going on an active holiday. The fitter you are, the more enjoyable you will find the experience. For this holiday you need to be aerobically fit and also capable for walking up to 4 or 5 hours each day over a period of 5 days. Regular walking in hill or back country is the best preparation but if this is not possible, regular exercise with your preferred sport or pastime such as running, cycing and swimming, will develop better fitness and stamina. Before departure, we suggest that you try to fit in a number of long walks in hilly country.
Climate
The best period for trekking in Jordan is in the late autumn through to early spring season, from October through to mid April. Outside of this period it can be very hot, with temperatures, rising to 40°C in July and August. In October and in April, the maximum daytime temperature is likely to be in the high twenties or low thirties °C, falling as low as 10°C at night. Heading into November the temperatures begin to cool and by December/January, typical daytime maximum temperatures are around 12 - 15 °C falling as low as 5°C at night. In December and January it can even snow in Amman.
Travel Aware
As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's ‘Travel Aware’ campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that before travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCDO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.
KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCDO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates directly from the FCDO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.
Single Use Plastic
KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world are working together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KE office by reducing our plastic use.
Books
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Treks and Climbs in Wadi Rum. Tony Howard. Cicerone Press.
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Jordan - Walks, Treks, Caves, Climbs and Canyons. Taylor and Howard. Cicerone Press.
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Walks and Scrambles in Wadi Rum. Jordan Publishers
Maps
Reise Know-How Verlag 1:400,000
Double-sided and detailed map, dividing the country horizontally just underneath al-Karak. Combines clear road and tourist detail with general relief indicated by contours, altitude tinting, mountain passes and peak heights.
Private Groups Information
Make this KE Adventure holiday your own!
Do our normal group departure dates not fit?
Would you prefer to travel with just friends and/or family?
Are you looking to organise a trip for your local walking, biking or mountaineering club?
It's really easy to make a trip your own. Simply select from our full range of adventure holidays and choose the dates that work for you and your group.
We are experts in creating holidays for groups of friends, families, charities and clubs. Our personal service means you’ll be fully involved as we make the arrangements for your perfect adventure holiday.
Independence with Security
Travelling as a KE Private Group allows you more flexibility and choice, but still with the peace of mind that everything is pre-planned and arranged for your group by a reputable adventure travel company.
To take your first step to an amazing adventure with your friends and family complete the private group enquiry form, or call our Sales Experts on: 017687 73966
Travel Insurance
It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation. When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.
For appropriate insurance cover we recommend Campbell Irvine Direct. Please go to our Travel Insurance page for further information and to get a quote.
Explore International
This holiday is part of our Explore International range. Participants on these trips can book through KE or through one of our international partners. This helps us to gather together sufficient numbers of like-minded adventurers to get your holiday up and running quickly. Led by an English-speaking guide, the cosmopolitan nature of these groups can be an important part of the experience!
Equipment List
Please try to keep the weight of your baggage to a minimum. See the ‘baggage allowance’ section for further details.
You SHOULD bring the following items:
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Sleeping bag (comfort rated -5°C)*
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Hiking boots/Approach shoes
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Water bottles – 1 litre x 2 (we encourage re-filling water bottles rather than single use plastic)
- Water purification tablets
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Training shoes or sandals for sightseeing and camp use
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Socks
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Trekking trousers
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Lightweight waterproof overtrousers
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Underwear
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Travel pants
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At least 1 long sleeve shirt with collar (for sun protection)
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T-shirts
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Warm jacket (eg. Fleece)*
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Lightweight waterproof jacket
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Sunhat
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Warm hat (for chilly evenings in the desert)
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Sunglasses
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Daypack of approx 30 litres
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Headtorch and spare batteries
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Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.)
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Lighter/matches – for burning toilet paper
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Washbag and toiletries
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Insect repellant
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Antibacterial handwash (note that washing water can be limited in the desert)
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Basic First Aid Kit including: antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, Insect repellent, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite).
The following items are optional:
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Shorts**
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Small towel
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Sleeping bag liner
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Thermarest (a foam mattress is provided)
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Trekking poles
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Pen-knife (note: always pack sharp objects in hold baggage)
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Repair kit – (eg. needle, thread, duct tape)
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Camera
-
Swimming shorts/costume (if extending at the Red or Dead Sea)
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Spare laces
- Reusable cloth bag for shopping (to avoid plastic bags)
Notes
*For the November - February trips when night-time temperatures can fall below freezing in the desert, we recommend a sleeping bag - comfort rated -10°C, a warmer jacket such as a down-filled jacket, and thermal baselayers.
**As Jordan is an Islamic country, modest dress is preferable in the towns and cities. Shoulders should be kept covered, and full-length trousers/skirts are recommended. Shorts are OK once on trek.
Recommended Outdoor Retailers
Many of the equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive a 12.5% discount with Cotswold Outdoor, Snow+Rock and Runners Need. The discount code can be downloaded from your MyKE account and you can use this code at the checkout, either in store or online.
Extensions
Extension Details
Guided tour of Jerash
2 Days
Enjoy a full day exploring and learning about the main sites of the ancient city with a private guide. Jerash is one of the best preserved Roman cities in all of the Middle East and only an hour north of Amman. Within the remaining city walls archaeologists have found ruins of settlements dating back to the Neolithic age, indicating human occupation for more than 6500 years. Jerash is most famous for its Triumphal Arch, the Hippodrome, baths, and the wide street of columns leading to the Temple of Artemis.
Sharing Price from
US$595
Single Traveller Price from
US$640
Single Room Supplement from
US$325
Extension Itinerary
Day 1
Day 1
Show Details
You will take the group transfer to the airport and then meet your Jerash guide for the day, and your private transfer. You will have a full guided tour of the ancient city of Jerash. In the late afternoon, you will be taken back to the hotel in Madaba.
Hide Details
Day 2
Day 2
Show Details
You will be picked up at the hotel after breakfast and taken to Amman Airport to check in for your homeward flight.
Meals
B
Hide Details
Whats Included
- Professional local guide for the day
- All transfers within the itinerary
- One night accommodation at a Madaba hotel
- Jerash entrance fee
- Breakfast
What's Not Included
- Meals other than breakfasts
Extension Details
Red and Dead Sea Extension
4 Days
Aqaba on the Red Sea, with its warm temperatures, is the perfect place for some relaxation after your adventure holiday. It is said that some of the best snorkelling and diving in the world can be found in here. The lack of strong currents, together with the warm sea temperature, creates perfect conditions for coral growth and this has resulted in fabulous underwater life. You can also swim with sea turtles and dolphins amongst schools of multi-coloured fish or take a glass-bottomed boat ride over the reefs. There is also, of course, the option to simply relax in the sun on the sandy beaches.
Depending on your preferred airline, it may be possible to fly from Aqaba. Please ask for further details.
Sharing Price from
US$695
Single Traveller Price from
US$1,140
Single Room Supplement from
US$175
Extension Itinerary
Day 1
Day 1
Show Details
When the main group leaves Petra to travel north, you will have a private transfer to Aqaba and check in at the Marina Plaza Hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax by the sea or choose amongst the many optional activities that Aqaba offers. All activities are extra and should be paid direct to the hotel.
Hide Details
Day 2
Day 2
Show Details
You will spend a full day at this popular Red Sea resort. Stroll on the beach or explore the market streets and cafes of the old part of town. Spend a second night at the Marina Plaza Hotel.
Meals
B
Hide Details
Day 3
Day 3
Show Details
After breakfast (0900 pick up) we depart for Madaba, enjoying a dip in the saline waters of the Dead Sea along the way. There will also be time to visit Mount Nebo. Overnight at the Mariam Hotel in Madaba.
Meals
B
Hide Details
Day 4
Day 4
Show Details
The final morning and we take a private transfer to Amman International Airport for our flight home. Depending on your preferred airline, it may be possible to depart from Jordan from Aqaba. Please ask for further details.
Meals
B
Hide Details
Whats Included
- 2 nights at the Marina Plaza Hotel
- 1 night hotel in Madaba All private transfers
- Private transfer from Aqaba to Amman Airport
- Entrance fee to Dead Sea Beach and Mount Nebo
- All breakfasts
What's Not Included
- Lunches or dinners
- Activities in Aqaba
- Any extra activities at the Dead Sea
- Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc.
Reviews
The whole trip itinerary was spot on
Charming staff always at the end of the phone to answer questions on the planning stage. Good trip descriptions on web site. Excellent staff on the ground at all stages of the trip. Great advice on what to take etc. I also admire the ethos of the company.
Guide Murad is such a special find. He is extremely knowledgable and friendly and professional - the fact he enjoys his job and the activities comes over well. He was helpful and safety conscious and had a wonderful banter and re lationship with Salam. I consider myself lucky to have had him as our guide.
Guide Murad is such a special find. He is extremely knowledgable and friendly and professional - the fact he enjoys his job and the activities comes over well. He was helpful and safety conscious and had a wonderful banter and re lationship with Salam. I consider myself lucky to have had him as our guide.
Wadi Rum and Petra
Excellent customer service from booking in the UK and including the actual holiday in Jordan. The tour guides were exceptional and treated everybody equally and with boundless energy, humour and friendship.
Jordan's Wadi Rum and Petra
Highlight - The whole experience from scenery, contact with local people and conversation with our local guide Yarob and Bedouin guide Salam in Wadi Rum. Yarob was an excellent knowledgeable guide who looked after us very well including waiting for us to arrive in the early hours due to a delayed flight. He was very passionate about his country and it's history and clearly enjoyed sharing it with the group.
Jordan's Wadi Rum and Petra
Trip was very well organised from arrival at Amman airport to departure following week. Guide, support team very friendly. food, hotel, itinerary all excellent. Entering petra from the back entrance so you start with monastery and finish at treasury (the money shot) was a fantastic way of doing route rather than other way round which most people do.
Camping experience was fantastic.. we were very well looked after and made to be as comfortable as possible while wild camping. Guid e and support crew really looked after us, very friendly, great food and we all became one big group. Yarobk was very friendly, cheerful, helpful, knowledgeable and always went the extra mile to make sure the whole group enjoyed the trip .. he became a good friend and one of the group during the trek.
Camping experience was fantastic.. we were very well looked after and made to be as comfortable as possible while wild camping. Guid e and support crew really looked after us, very friendly, great food and we all became one big group. Yarobk was very friendly, cheerful, helpful, knowledgeable and always went the extra mile to make sure the whole group enjoyed the trip .. he became a good friend and one of the group during the trek.
Wadi Rum and Petra
This is my third trip with KE and they have all been excellent. Wafa'a was absolutely fantastic as a guide - erudite, informative, thoughtful, and above all very friendly and sociable. We felt that she was one of our tour group and not the guide. Our Bedouin guide Salaama was excellent throughout, humorous and engaging. We really enjoyed the quality of the food and the fresh ingredients. Wadi Rum is a landscape like no other, so trekking through it is one big highlight, but campfires under
the stars are hard to beat.
Traveller Reviews
The whole trip itinerary was spot on
Charming staff always at the end of the phone to answer questions on the planning stage. Good trip descriptions on web site. Excellent staff on the ground at all stages of the trip. Great advice on what to take etc. I also admire the ethos of the company.
Guide Murad is such a special find. He is extremely knowledgable and friendly and professional - the fact he enjoys his job and the activities comes over well. He was helpful and safety conscious and had a wonderful banter and re lationship with Salam. I consider myself lucky to have had him as our guide.
Guide Murad is such a special find. He is extremely knowledgable and friendly and professional - the fact he enjoys his job and the activities comes over well. He was helpful and safety conscious and had a wonderful banter and re lationship with Salam. I consider myself lucky to have had him as our guide.
Wadi Rum and Petra
Excellent customer service from booking in the UK and including the actual holiday in Jordan. The tour guides were exceptional and treated everybody equally and with boundless energy, humour and friendship.
Jordan's Wadi Rum and Petra
Highlight - The whole experience from scenery, contact with local people and conversation with our local guide Yarob and Bedouin guide Salam in Wadi Rum. Yarob was an excellent knowledgeable guide who looked after us very well including waiting for us to arrive in the early hours due to a delayed flight. He was very passionate about his country and it's history and clearly enjoyed sharing it with the group.
Jordan's Wadi Rum and Petra
Trip was very well organised from arrival at Amman airport to departure following week. Guide, support team very friendly. food, hotel, itinerary all excellent. Entering petra from the back entrance so you start with monastery and finish at treasury (the money shot) was a fantastic way of doing route rather than other way round which most people do.
Camping experience was fantastic.. we were very well looked after and made to be as comfortable as possible while wild camping. Guid e and support crew really looked after us, very friendly, great food and we all became one big group. Yarobk was very friendly, cheerful, helpful, knowledgeable and always went the extra mile to make sure the whole group enjoyed the trip .. he became a good friend and one of the group during the trek.
Camping experience was fantastic.. we were very well looked after and made to be as comfortable as possible while wild camping. Guid e and support crew really looked after us, very friendly, great food and we all became one big group. Yarobk was very friendly, cheerful, helpful, knowledgeable and always went the extra mile to make sure the whole group enjoyed the trip .. he became a good friend and one of the group during the trek.
Wadi Rum and Petra
This is my third trip with KE and they have all been excellent. Wafa'a was absolutely fantastic as a guide - erudite, informative, thoughtful, and above all very friendly and sociable. We felt that she was one of our tour group and not the guide. Our Bedouin guide Salaama was excellent throughout, humorous and engaging. We really enjoyed the quality of the food and the fresh ingredients. Wadi Rum is a landscape like no other, so trekking through it is one big highlight, but campfires under
the stars are hard to beat.
Wadi Rum and Petra Trek
AWESOME! Holiday of a lifetime!
If you are looking for an adventure away from civilisation then this trip is for you! We were transported into another world on entering the Wadi Rum and Petra. As with other reviews I would agree that this is physically more challenging than described so you need to be fit to walk, scramble, climb 6hrs per day in the heat. The Mariam Hotel in Madaba on the first night is very basic - hostel standard but we were only there for 7hrs. In hindsight I would have liked to see more of Madaba so do con
sider adding an extra day. Definitely take a thermorest mat with you for camping as the foam mattresses provided are quite thin. The location of the campsites and Bedouin site were wonderful. Views from the campsite, sun rises and sunsets were breathtaking. The hotel facilities (pool and bar) at both Hotels (Madaba and Petra) were closed. As a Muslim country the sale of alcohol is limited to hotels so suggest you bring your own as both bars at the hotels provided by KE were closed. The hotel in Petra - Edom Hotel was ideally situated next to the entrance into Petra. We had a truly exceptional guide Murad and support staff - Ali, Salem and team. I cannot speak more highly of them and they certainly made the holiday special. Murad was extremely knowledgeable on the history and culture of Jordan. I took poles and was glad I did! Walking through the sand in the desert and up the 800 steps to the Monastery (and 800 steps down!) in Petra and up to Jebel Haroun (Aaron's burial site) - they came in very useful! Our trip was in November so shorter days (gets dark by 5pm) so you might want to consider that when booking in the winter months. KE provided excellent transport arrangements - both on arrival in Jordan and departure. Highly recommend this trip.
Camp fires and Climbing
It's a fantastic experience to camp in the desert, watching the stars and chatting over dinner. The walks in the morning are scrambles with some climbing. The guides were great at helping people but some of the group found it quite tough. Afternoons you're just walking back to camp in the desert. I went over Christmas and it was cold, so pack a thermarest, pillow, and thermals! Other packing tips: take a trek towel, as there might be hot water in the Bedouin camps. Also take some thick
socks.... at the Bedouin camps you have to take off your shoes for dinner and your feet get cold! It's nice to spend an extra day or two at the start of the holiday in Madaba. If you do, ask to stay in the Mosaic Hotel....the hotel KE use for your first night is the Miriam, and it's more of a hostel - with truly the worst breakfast I've ever had! Unless you want souvenirs, you only need about £100 which covers tips.
KE Adventure reply
Thank you for your review Christine. It's great to hear you had such a fantastic experience in Jordan and we're sorry you felt the group hotel in Madaba was not as good as the one provided for your extra nights. While the Mariam hotel could never be described as a hostel, we appreciate it is much bigger and less intimate than the Mosaic hotel where you stayed for your additional nights. However, the Mariam has the advantage of the facilities of a larger hotel including an outdoor swimming pool. We will look into what happened to the breakfast on your trip and make sure this is rectified for the future.
A fabulous hiking holiday in the awe-inspiring Wadi Rum desert and Petra
This was one of the best holidays we have ever had. Our guide Murad was fantastic. Ali and Hussein were also wonderful. In such a short time the group and guides built a wonderful rapport and had so much fun together. And Petra and Wadi Rum were quite simply STUNNING. Spectacular landscapes, absolute stillness in Wadi Rum and mind-blowing history in Petra. This is a fabulous trip.
A Wild Thyme in Jordan
Marvellous scenery in Wadi Rum, with some very enjoyable climbs and walks through the rocks. The routes included some very narrow crevices, very tight! No need for poles (they stayed in my bag all week). Quite chilly in the evening. We had one wild night with the tent needing repitching at 3am. Our guide (Nader) was very knowledgable about Petra and his descriptions filled in many blanks. We found thyme growing wild and when added to the sweet tea it made a refreshing drink.
A brilliant tick off the old bucket list!
My wife and I had always wanted to see Petra, and it turned out upon discussion with our sons that they wanted to do so as well. Thus, we were able to schedule a family holiday to check it off the bucket list. We wanted a trek as well - we're not ready to settle for bus tours. The combination of Petra with Wadi Rum fit our calendars, so that's what we signed up for. Petra was stunning and well worth the visit. Hiking Jebel Haroun and then returning to the carved sandstone buildings gav
e us a chance to see them in a better light (literally, better light in the late afternoon). Our only disappointment with Petra was how crowded it was; it was nice to get away from the crowds for the camping and peak hiking portion of the Petra segment. Wadi Rum was much more than we'd expected. The silence, the vistas, the stars at night. . .what an experience! The only thing we'd have changed would have been to pack a little warmer for our December visit as it got very cold in the evenings. Our leader and crew took excellent care of us, including delivering a bag (that had been misplaced by Royal Jordanian airlines and reached Amman several days after we did) all the way out to our remote camp site in the desert.
WADI RUM AND PETRA
I've been to Mars or wadi rum in jordan
I saw wadi rum on the film the Martian and was blown away with the scenery and it lived upto this image and then some. The day hikes were strenuous and climb on few occasions but brilliant. The desert was just awesome with views that went on forever. Petra was magnificent. The staff were really happy all the time and always helpful they were just great as was Sad am the English speaking leader. Even the wild storm in the desert didn't dim our enthusiasm with wild lightening strikes and stro
ng winds. You just gotta see Mars but think on this is a fairly strenuous trip.
Remarkable trip to Jordan: trekking in Wadi Rum and Petra
Amazing trip to Jordan, exploring the desert of Wadi Rum and Petra. Beautiful landscapes, extremely welcoming and friendly people: spending time hiking and camping with Bedouins was just an amazing experience.
Tour leader Nader was excellent in organizing our days and provide additional insight into the history and culture of this remarkable country. Great job!
Petra was great, as well was the hike to biblical summit of Jebel Haroun.
Overall an truly stunning experience!
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DATES & PRICES
Private Departure?
Gather a few friends, family or club and take over your own departure.
2025
Dates
Adults from
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Status
2026
Dates
Adults from
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Status
Land Only Information
Please refer to the 'Joining Arrangements & Transfers' within Holiday Information for further details.
Flights and other transport to your destination should not be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the departure is showing 'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'.
The LAND ONLY dates and prices are for joining in Amman. Single timed transfers to/from Amman airport are included at the start/end of the holiday.
BOOK WITH KE CONFIDENCE - No surcharge guarantee
The price of our holidays can change depending on a variety of factors but unlike some other tour operators, KE have undertaken to guarantee the Land Only price of your holiday will not change after you have booked. The price when you book is the price you will pay, whether you are booking for this year or the next. Book early to avoid any tour price increases, get the best flight prices and take advantage of our 'No Surcharge Guarantee'.
KE Adventure is a fully bonded tour operator. We hold an ATOL license (No: 2808) and are bonded with ABTA (Membership No: W4341)
