Walking with sightseeing in Jordan
10 nights
May, Oct - Nov
Grades 2
10 nights from
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This trip is graded level 2, high end of leisurely. It is a mix of walking and sightseeing, and you do need to be a regular walker and have a good level of mobility, stamina and fitness for walking days, especially in Petra. The terrain will be uneven; in Petra there are many rocky steps and some sections are steep. Your Tour Manager will explain what to expect and suggest alternatives if you if you prefer not to do any of the sections.
All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take alternative routes or adapt the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.
Arrival in Amman and transfer to our hotel for a 3-night stay.
Travel north of Amman to the Roman city of Jerash, one of the biggest and best-preserved Roman cities outside of Italy. Explore its colonnaded streets, amphitheatres, temples, and plazas before a visit to the ruins of Ajloun Castle. Originally built by the Ayyubid’s in the late 12th century to defend against crusading Christian armies, it has since been destroyed and rebuilt many times due to its strategic location atop Mount ‘Auf. Don’t miss the magnificent views of the Jordan Valley. In the afternoon we return to Amman for the night.
Today is about exploring all the highlights of Amman. We begin with the Citadel ruins which tower over Amman and offer 360-degree views over the city. After learning about the city’s ancient history, we will walk down stone stairs to Hashemite Square which is a vibrant hub linking modern life with relics from the past like the Roman Theatre. Take a steep but rewarding climb up the stairs, find a good seat and imagine Roman actors entertaining the crowds.
We walk through bustling souks filled with Jordanian handicrafts, golden jewellery, Dead Sea products, nuts and spices, and local produce. During this walk, you might like to sample local drinks such as fresh sugar cane juice, a refreshing Limonana, or strong Bedouin tea. Lunch is at one of Jordan’s oldest and most famous local eateries, known for falafel, hummus, and other mezze-style dishes. Finish off with a sweet treat of kunafa (cheese pastry soaked in sugary syrup). Our last stop is King Abdullah Mosque, known as the blue mosque for its beautiful tile work inside and out.
Distance: 4 miles (6km)
Ascent and Descent: minimal
We head south to the Al-Karak region for a walk through Wadi Bin Hammad. This narrow river gorge is a less visited oasis known for its dramatic canyon walls, warm springs, waterfalls and lush plant life.
Following our walk, we continue south to the Dana Biosphere Reserve. This area of outstanding beauty has a melting pot of species from Europe, Africa and Asia. So far, a total of 800 plant species and near 500 animal species have been recorded. These include over 200 bird species, 38 mammal species and a range of reptiles and amphibians. We are staying deep in the heart of the mountains at an ecolodge hailed as one of the best 25 in the world.
Distance: 8.5 miles (14km)
Ascent and Descent: 250 feet (70m) and 3,080 feet (940m)
This morning, we take a short walk and explore the ancient copper mines in Feynan. Afterwards, we’ll drive to Dana, an historic village on a mountainside overlooking the spectacular Dana Biosphere Reserve. We will enjoy a lunch of local dishes including salads, and seasonal sides prepared by villagers before a walk on the Shaq Al Reesh Trail. On a guided walk of approximately 3 hours, keep your eyes peeled for rare wildlife such as the Nubian ibex, caracal wild cat, and lesser kestrel. Following the hike, we drive to Petra for our three-night stay.
Distance: approx. 6 miles (9.5km)
Spend an unforgettable two days exploring the pathways of Petra on foot. Discover rock-hewn churches, grand buildings, and ceremonial sites scattered around this huge ancient city. Staggering in scale and splendour, what was once the prosperous capital of the Nabataeans is now a wow-worthy tourist attraction welcoming over 1.1 million visitors every year. The walk through the narrow canyon entrance known as the Siq leads to the intricate yet massive façade of the Treasury – one of the most iconic images of Petra.
This full day tour of Petra’s main site covers all the highlights including Djinn Blocks, Obelisk Tomb, the Dam, the Siq, the Treasury, Street of Facades, Theatre, Nymphaeum, Colonnaded Street, Winged Lion Temple, Great Temple, and Qasr al-Bint. There will be plenty of stops and rest opportunities
Distance: 4 miles (6km)
Ascent: 1,150 feet (350m)
Today we follow the Madras trail to the Royal Tombs and walk Wadi Farasa to Petra’s basin. Reach the Place of Higher Sacrifice and there are awe-inspiring views across the whole of the Petra area.
From Petra we join the Desert Highway heading south to the stunning desert landscape of Wadi Rum. We arrive at Wadi Rum village where we transfer to 4x4 vehicles for an exhilarating trip to our camp in the heart of the desert. This otherworldly Martian-like landscape has inspired many including T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), who described it as "vast, echoing, and Godlike". It has also served as a setting for numerous films including Lawerence of Arabia, The Martian, Dune, and Star Wars. Human presence in the Wadi stretches back 12,000 years when nomadic hunter-gatherers roamed its canyons and later the Nabataeans used it as a vital trade route stop, building water systems including cisterns and dams. The Bedouin presence became dominant from the 5th Century onwards and despite their mobile phones, 4x4s, and houses of today, they still enjoy nothing better than sleeping under the stars in the desert. We arrive at a small, remote Bedouin camp for a peaceful two-night stay.
Leaving the desert behind, we drive back up north to Madaba, home to the Mosaic Map which is the oldest surviving representation of the Holy Lands. From here we head to Mt Nebo where the bible states Moses saw the Promised Land before he died.
Our final evening in Jordan is located at the lowest land area on earth – the Dead Sea. This unique natural phenomenon has been attracting visitors for thousands of years and features in religious texts. Our resort has a private white-sand beach where you can walk into the warm waters, lie back and float without any effort. The waters and the mud are used in therapeutic treatments and products. Our farewell dinner has a central buffet and several live cooking stations.
Transfer to the Queen Alia International Airport for return flights. We do not have to go through busy Amman to get to the airport.
Easier Walks
Good paths but walks are a bit longer. Some walks, particularly in mountain areas, may have sections over rough or steeper terrain.
Please inform us of any medical situation which may affect your enjoyment of the holiday. This is important because our leaders must consider both group and individual safety at all times.
Whilst out with the group, we respectfully request that you:
Each leader carries a first aid kit but is not allowed to supply any medication including aspirin, paracetamol, antihistamines and antiseptic cream. You may wish to bring these items with you in your own kit (see Suggested Kit List).
In the unlikely event that your leader is incapacitated, please use any emergency kit in their rucksack and call emergency services.. Please then call our emergency number (sent in your final dispatch) and let us know there is a problem.
Please contact us as far in advance as possible if you have any specific dietary requirements and we will do our best to meet your needs.
If you require a specific meal on the flight, please let us know as soon as possible, and no later than 96 hours before travel.
Before booking, you should check with your doctor to see if any health precautions are needed.
The following websites provide a wealth of information on travelling and health: www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or www.traveldoctor.co.uk
Vaccines: Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, & Tetanus vaccinations are recommended. Typhoid and Rabies are sometimes recommended too.
A full British Citizen passport is required for travel to Jordan and must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry. if you hold a passport of a different nationality please check the travel requirements from your local embassy.
For travel to Jordan, your visa is arranged on your behalf whether you are travelling on the group flight or independently. The Jordanian authorities currently advise that there is no visa charge for stays of less than 30 days, provided a minimum of two nights are spent in Jordan. To enable our local agent to arrange your visa, you must supply your passport details at least 8 weeks prior to departure.
We avoid the summer heat travelling in spring and autumn. In spring you can expect warm to hot days while coastal/desert areas like the Dead Sea are much hotter. The nights are usually cooler. In autumn, you can expect hot to warm days and cooler nights as the year progresses. Wadi Rum has a desert climate with warm to hot days with the temperature dropping significantly in the evening through to the early morning. Packing layers is a good plan.
Essentials
Recommended
Optional
Book your holiday ‘with flights’ and you can choose to depart from a range of UK airports* to your destination. For latest flight times and prices please call us on 0203-974-8865 or email reservations@hfholidays.co.uk
If you choose to book your flights with us, we automatically include return transfers between the destination airport and hotel.
If you prefer to book the holiday without flights and make your own travel arrangements you will still be able to make use of the return group transfers between the airport and hotel, which are included in the cost of your holiday. You must contact us on +44 (0)20 3974 8865 or email reservations@hfholidays.co.uk at least 8 weeks before your holiday start date to provide your flight details if you wish to join the transfers. If you do not contact us, we will assume you are making independent travel arrangements.
If you are arriving ahead of the group, and are meeting them at the first hotel, please leave a message at the hotel reception for the HF Holidays’ leader or local leader, detailing your room number, and a mobile telephone number if possible. The leader will contact you once the group arrives. If you are arriving after the group, a message will be left for you at the hotel reception, welcoming you and giving details of the time and place to meet the group.
1 piece checked-in luggage (max 23kg). Please check details of your airline’s baggage allowance, as shown on your e-ticket.
Advice issued by the UK Foreign Office in 2017 indicated that several airlines flying from Jordan to the UK forbade the use of laptops and tablet devices in the cabin, and they must instead be stored in hold luggage. We recommend you follow this advice unless you are advised otherwise.
If your bag or its contents are damaged or lost while in the airline’s care, this should be reported to the baggage service agents at the airport on arrival. They will assess the damage; in some cases, the airline may decide to settle your claim immediately.
You will be given a reference to quote to your insurance company if an immediate settlement is not possible - in many cases, baggage claims can only be accepted in writing. A baggage claim form must be obtained from the airport.
The unit of currency is the Jordanian Dinar (JD)
GMT + 3 hours
Jordan has a very mixed approach to electrical sockets – European two- and three-pin plugs as well as British-style square three-pin plugs are all used across the country. Frequency is variable across the country so don’t be surprised if things charge more slowly or aren’t as powerful in some places.
ATM machines, accepting most major credit cards, are available in Amman, but are very scarce across the rest of the country. Credit cards are accepted in most of the hotels and larger restaurants, especially in the tourist areas of Petra and the Dead Sea. Traveler’s cheques are not advised.
Suggested reading
Maps
Although you won’t need them, if you’d like any maps of the destination, you can obtain some in advance from The Map Shop: www.themapshop.co.uk
We see it as our responsibility to minimise our emissions, not just for this year but every year to come. Our work with sustainability experts, ecollective, has enabled us to measure our carbon footprint and create a strategy to reduce the carbon intensity of our product by 5% each year. Our ambition is to be net zero by 2040 – earlier if we can.
Learn moreCode: JDN10-WHW10
Dates & Prices
All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take an alternative route, or vary the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.
Flight Inclusive
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Non-members
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Land Only
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Non-members
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Single Price - Land Only
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Non-members
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Single Supplement
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Itinerary: 10 Nights - Itinerary
Trip Type: Walking with sightseeing
All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take an alternative route, or vary the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.
All holidays are subject to availability. Supplements may apply.
Flight Inclusive
Call to Enquire
Non-members
Call to Enquire
Land Only
Call to Enquire
Non-members
Call to Enquire
Single Price - Land Only
Call to Enquire
Non-members
Call to Enquire
Single Supplement
Call to Enquire
Non-members
Call to Enquire
Itinerary: 10 Nights - Itinerary
Trip Type: Walking with sightseeing
All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take an alternative route, or vary the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.
All holidays are subject to availability. Supplements may apply.
Flight Inclusive
Call to Enquire
Non-members
Call to Enquire
Land Only
Call to Enquire
Non-members
Call to Enquire
Single Price - Land Only
Call to Enquire
Non-members
Call to Enquire
Single Supplement
Call to Enquire
Non-members
Call to Enquire
Itinerary: 10 Nights - Itinerary
Trip Type: Walking with sightseeing
All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take an alternative route, or vary the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.
All holidays are subject to availability. Supplements may apply.

If the flights we have organised are cancelled or changed, we’ll do everything we can to find alternative transport, with minimal disruption to your holiday
If we cancel your holiday, we honour all refund requests

We know that peace of mind is priceless, so we’ll always go above and beyond to meet – and exceed – expectations
If the flights we have organised are cancelled or changed, we’ll do everything we can to find alternative transport, with minimal disruption to your holiday

A British heritage brand with 111 years of experience
Offering a choice of over 260 itineraries in nearly 40 countries
Run as a co-operative with 40,000-plus members

If the flights we have organised are cancelled or changed, we’ll do everything we can to find alternative transport, with minimal disruption to your holiday
If we cancel your holiday, we honour all refund requests

We know that peace of mind is priceless, so we’ll always go above and beyond to meet – and exceed – expectations
If the flights we have organised are cancelled or changed, we’ll do everything we can to find alternative transport, with minimal disruption to your holiday

A British heritage brand with 111 years of experience
Offering a choice of over 260 itineraries in nearly 40 countries
Run as a co-operative with 40,000-plus members
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