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Jordan - Wadi Rum and Petra

Trekking and scrambling amongst the sandstone mountains of Jordan`s Wadi Rum
Camping under the stars with the Bedouin
In the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia
Exploring the fabulous `Rose-red City` of Petra
Famous for its spectacular desert scenery

Jordan's Wadi Rum and its 'rose-red City' of Petra provide a magical setting for a trekking holiday in the Middle East. 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 hunting ground 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 / 6010ft), Jordan's highest peak. Throughout the trekking holiday, some easy scrambling will be required to get to the best viewpoints and the guide will carry a rope to safeguard exposed sections, such as the final part of the approach to 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 Bedouin hosts. A final highlight of this outstanding Arabian adventure holiday is our guided tour of the awe-inspiring 2300 year old, rock-hewn city of Petra.

Trip Guide

This is not a long or sustained trekking holiday. It 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 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 Bedouin guide will carry a climbing rope, which may be used on exposed sections to reassure group members who are not confident scramblers. The altitudes attained during this holiday will not cause problems. At the time of year that we will be visiting Jordan (winter) it will not be extremely hot during the day. However, we might encounter day-time temperatures as high as 30°C / 86°F and sun protection and adequate hydration are important considerations.