In February this year, Jayne from the KE Office swapped the snowy fells of Keswick for an adventure in the desert and travelled on our Jordan's Dana to Petra trek. This classic KE itinerary involves trekking on hidden trails and off-the-beaten track routes through stunning Jordan landscapes, before reaching Petra where an expert KE guide shows you the best way to explore one of the world's New 7 Wonders. Have a read of Jayne's blog to find out what she learnt on her adventure.

Having never visited the Middle East before, I was incredibly excited for the opportunity to join our February departure of our Jordan’s Dana to Petra Trek. After a seamless journey with Air France from Manchester, via Paris, I arrived in Amman ready to experience what Jordan has to offer. Needless to say, I learnt a lot! Here are 5 things I didn’t know about Jordan.

1) The people are incredibly friendly and welcoming

From Mohammed, who met me on arrival in Amman airport and helped me through the incredibly easy visa process, to Ali, our Bedouin guide. He knew the trails incredibly well along with his trusty sidekick, Lucky the Donkey.

2) Trekking to Petra, rather than visiting by bus, makes a real difference 

We trekked a little-known route which meant the first façade we saw was The Monastery. It was only 10 am and there were hardly any tourists in sight! It was incredibly magical to have it to ourselves before delving deeper into the site. The Monastery was a real highlight for me. As was lunch at the High Place of Sacrifice (well worth the many steps to reach it!).

3) Petra is a HUGE site

We had the entire day to explore it thankfully but it really is mind-boggling just how big of an area it spans. It is known as the Lost City after all.

4) Hone your haggling 

Don’t be afraid to barter if you’ve got your eye set on a souvenir in particular. Vendors will respect you for it.

5) The food is delicious 

We had a fantastic support crew throughout our 6 day trek and they served up the tastiest, freshest foods every day, without fail. My favourite dish was maklouba with chicken; a Jordanian delicacy. Delicious!

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