Desert Trek in Jordan

Upon your arrival at the Queen Alia International Airport, you will be greeted by a local guide who will be joining you on your upcoming week in Jordan. Overseas adventure travel is a great way to explore a new place and this week you will do just that. Following your arrival, you will catch the transfer shuttle to your accommodation in the city. 

For the rest of the afternoon, you will be connected with members of the Amman Center for Human Rights Studies to learn about their current projects helping to empower women in leadership, the rights of migrant workers and more. In the evening, your guide will show you around Amman while shedding some light on the local customs. 

Today, you will begin your desert trek en route to the archaeological wonder of the ancient site of Petra. During this trek, you will be guided by locals and have all the necessary equipment and supplies for the trip. However, it is strongly recommended to bring your a scarf or hat for the journey. 

Departing from Amman, the first stop on your five-day desert excursion is the Dead Sea, a salt lake bordered by Israel and Jordan. The sea is situated 430.5 meters below sea level, making it the lowest point on Earth. In addition to the hypersaline water, the Dead Sea’s mud contains many nutrients which can you use as a natural exfoliant all over your body. 

After a night sleeping under the stars, wake up and enjoy a warm Arabian tea before continuing to the Dana Biosphere Reserve, Jordan’s largest natural bio-reserve, which also boasts some great hiking. On that note, you will be hiking up the Rummana Mountain Trail, a moderate 1.5 km hike that takes about two hours to complete. 

While in the Dana Biosphere Reserve, you will get the chance to encounter a melting pot of native wildlife species and vegetation. A wildlife biologist will be joining you on day three of your desert excursion to provide insights on the native flora and fauna in the reserve. You will spend the night in the reserve before making your way to Petra the following day. 

Today you will be visiting the ancient archaeological wonder of Petra. As you arrive from the Dana Biosphere Reserve, you will have the choice of completing this section of the excursion either on foot or by camel. Upon your arrival to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, you will be graced with the main entranceway to Petra, a narrow stone walkway known as Siq. 

After you’ve explored the Siq and taken some photos that will certainly vamp up your collection, head on to the iconic Al-Khazneh. Recently dubbed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, this is one of the most emblematic sites in Petra, once an occupied site in its prime thousands of years ago. 

Today, you will continue exploring Petra’s ancient wonders. The Monastery, also known as Ad Deir, is said to be one of the most fascinating sites in all of Petra. Carved out of a sandstone rock face and one of the largest monuments in the area, Ad Deir is a site not to be missed while in Petra. 

From Ad Deir, it’s now time to visit the Royal Tombs. The Royal Tombs consist of a series of burial sites. If you’re up for a bit of a hike, climb the stairs on the mountainside to reach the iconic Urn Tomb, which is said to hold one of the ancient city’s previous kings.

On your final full day in the Great Rift Valley, you will continue to the protected desert area of Wadi Rum. While In this region, you will feel as if you’ve been transported to Mars. Here you will be able to take in the vast mountainous landscapes and snap some incredible photos for your Instagram account. 

The night you spend here will be unlike any other, as you will be staying in a unique luxury dome. These domes have all the amenities you could need and are quite simply “glamping” at its finest. While lying in bed at night, you will be able to see right through the glass roof and into the night sky. 

As you wake up in your dome in the middle of the desert, take in the morning light and get ready to embark on the trip back to Amman. Today you will be traveling by Jeep from Wadi Rum and returning to the Queen Alia International Airport to catch your flight back home. 

Although your desert trek has come to an end, the memories and relationships you’ve made will last a lifetime. Enjoy the ride back amidst the desert landscapes and allow everything that’s happened throughout the week to fully resonate.