TREK TO PETRA THROUGH THE BACK DOOR

It doesn’t matter how you arrive, Petra will take your breath away with its incredible sculpted sandstone facades and temples. The classic way to arrive into Petra is through the meandering, narrowing canyon, known as the Siq. The first glimpse of the Treasury is said to be an unforgettable moment. However, we were rewarded with a more intimate experience as our trekking route followed a magnificent cliff-side trail that arrived into Petra via the ‘backdoor’. Upon walking into this distant corner of this once-lost city, our first glimpse was not of the Treasury, but of the equally spectacular Monastery. This architectural wonder is far from the main entrance and, as such, we shared this special place with only a few other visitors. We sat in the shade and sipped deeply aromatic cardamom coffee and marvelled at the human achievement hewn from the soft, rose sandstone. We continued on our way down the steep trail that wound its way down into the centre of Petra, buzzing with excited tourists.

Take a look at - Jordan's Dana to Petra Trek.

BIKE THE WADIS

With quiet roads and trails that stretched for miles and miles across empty rugged scenery, cycling was a fantastic way of exploring this incredible landscape. The uphill sections were never too steep, and freewheeling down the other side, creating a cooling breeze was a joyous experience. From the crumbling remains of the crusader castle of Shobak, our cycle route followed an off-road track that contoured around the edge of the Eastern Plateau with fantastic views across the Rift Valley. Our passage was uninterrupted, save for the odd camel crossing the track. Later, once we regained the smooth, tarmacked surface of the King’s Highway; we picked up speed as we passed swiftly through remote villages on our way down into the desert described by Lawrence of Arabia as “vast, echoing and God-like”.

Take a look at Bike Dead to the Rea Sea and Jordan Multi Active Adventure.

SWIM IN THE DEAD SEA

Floating in the waters of the Dead Sea is a curious experience and well worth making time for. Covering yourself with the mineral-rich mud before bathing is almost obligatory. I’m not sure how much to believe the purported health benefits of Dead Sea mud, but I figured ‘when in Rome’ and joined in the rituals with covering myself in the stuff. Floating serenely in the buoyant water was a relaxing, yet incredibly surreal, experience. My only advice would be to avoid getting any of the water in your eyes!

Take a look at Bike Dead to the Rea Sea, Jordan Multi Active Adventure and Family Jordan Adventure.

Want to know more about our holidays to Jordan? Just give us a call on +44 (0) 17687 73966 or USA/Canada toll-free 1888 630 4415.