Bedouin Trails of Jordan & Egypt

Walk through two ancient lands in one incredible adventure

Journey through the neighbouring nations of Jordan and Egypt on this unique adventure from the Middle East to Africa. You'll visit World Wonders, millennia-old landmarks and Unesco World Heritage sites. The highlights are many: take the lesser-known Back Trail to Petra; marvel at the pyramids and Sphinx in Giza; and climb Mount Sinai for sunrise. We’ll also explore natural wonders: floating in the Dead Sea, snorkelling in the Red Sea, walking in Dana Nature Reserve and exploring the Wadi Rum desert by 4×4 and on foot.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips which improve life for the people and places we visit, and look after the planet we explore. Find out more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here, and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

In Jordan we are very proud to work with a local partner who are Travelife certified. Travelife is a certification system dedicated to achieving sustainable practices in the global tourism industry. In order to receive the award our Jordanian partner had to comply with over 100 criteria related to Corporate Social Responsibility. The Travelife standard is formally recognised for full compliance with the UN Sustainable Tourism Criteria.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• The use of local guides, including Bedouin guides for Mount Sinai, means our customers will be well informed about local traditions, and cultural and social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally-owned hotels and restaurants, the emphasis on eating locally produced food and support of other local enterprise.
• The hotels we stay in are dedicated to hiring local staff, this helps to benefit the surrounding community by providing employment opportunities and income alternatives where they may be otherwise hard to come by.
• This trip stays one night in Wadi Rum desert at the Exodus Private camp which is owned and managed by a local Bedouin family. This not only provides a source of income for the family but is a wonderful opportunity for our guests to interact with local people and share aspects of their traditions.
• In Wadi Rum we also do a jeep safari which provides another source of income for local people.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels.
• By travelling in a small group, led by a local guide, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• On this trip we visit nature reserves and heritage sites and the entrance fees included generates income which is used for the upkeep and development of these important monuments and nature parks.
• Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices with regard to working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
• In Petra we do not recommend that guests ride horses or mules as we are not convinced their treatment is in line with industry-leading animal welfare guidelines.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively eliminate or reduce waste, for example eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles and instead providing refills for re-usable bottles.
• It is standard practise in Jordan to distribute left-over restaurant food to people in need.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.
• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally-sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
• The Exodus Private camp in Wadi Rum uses solar power.

 Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish behind in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, we’d ask you to consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: Please bring your own re-usable water bottle on this trip; filtered water will be provided where tap water is not drinkable.
• Cultural respect:
  • Some Jordanians especially women and the elderly object to being photographed so please ask first. In Egypt, photography is particularly sensitive, ask your tour leader for guidance on what is and is not permitted. Photography of children is illegal in Egypt and photography of adults requires written consent.
  • Jordanians and Egyptians are very proud of their country and can be offended if you take pictures of anything ‘negative’ or suggestive of poverty. Photography in military zones and strategic areas like public buildings is prohibited.
  • Handshaking is only between members of the same sex.
  • It's polite to use only your right hand when eating something without cutlery and when handing money and small objects to someone else.
  • It is common practice to remove one’s shoes before entering a mosque or someone’s home and you should tuck them under if sitting on the floor. It is respectful for women to cover their heads with a scarf when entering a mosque. Please note many mosques are not open for tourist visits.
  • Generally men’s and women’s clothing should cover shoulders and be on or below the knee.
  • During the holy month of Ramadan Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, and smoking during daylight hours. Even chewing gum is considered haram. (forbidden). Although foreigners are not expected to follow these practises it is respectful to be discrete and not eat, drink, or smoke in general public.
  • Making the effort to fit in is invariably appreciated so being aware of these aspects of cultural respect will assist you during your travels.

Visa

While this trip will normally visit only Jordan and Egypt, our contingency plan in the event of poor weather or cancellation of the ferry from Aqaba to Taba may involve passing through Israeli territory. This means all participants in this tour must be able to meet Israeli entry requirements.

Visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Jordan
Visas are required by most nationalities and can be obtained at the border or Amman airport.

We will arrange a free visa (usually 40 Jordanian dinars) for travellers booking a tour and any pre-tour arrangements through us, provided we receive full passport and flight details at least two weeks before arrival.

You will need to pay for the visa if we do not have these details two weeks before arrival or you are making your own pre-tour arrangements (ie extra nights before the tour that are not booked through Exodus).

Our airport representative will meet and assist you with obtaining the free visa on arrival in Jordan at Customs & Immigration. They will be carrying an Exodus sign.

Egypt
While entry to the Sinai Peninsula is visa free for a number of nationalities, most nationalities (including UK, US and EU passport holders) will need a visa to fly to Cairo. It may be possible to obtain a visa at Sharm El Sheikh airport, but we recommend the following:

• Obtain your visa in advance, for e-visa eligible nationalities, apply here: www.visa2egypt.gov.eg
• Print two copies of your e visa and take them with you.
• On arrival in Taba, handover one of the copies of your e visa at immigration. The copy may be kept and a note made beside your entry stamp.
• Keep the other copy in case it is requested when flying from Sharm El Sheikh to Cairo.

When obtaining your e-visa, ensure you have a scan of your passport ready. The file size should be very small and saved as a JPEG or PDF otherwise you might not be able to load it on the visa application.

You will need to provide your host’s information on the application – please use the following details:

South Sinai Travel
79 Merghany Street
Cairo
Egypt
Telephone: +20 22418 7310
www.southsinai.com
salwa.ibrahim@southsinai.com

Please note, Egyptian officials require tourists to carry a copy of their passport with them while in the country. Please also note, some prescribed medicines are controlled substances in Egypt.

Israel

Most nationalities don’t require a visa to enter Israel as a tourist. On entry, visitors are typically granted leave to enter for a period of up to three months and are given an entry card instead of an entry stamp in their passport. You must keep your entry card with your passport until you leave. This is evidence of your legal entry into the country.

Vaccination

Jordan

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies and typhoid. Please confirm all requirements with your doctor or travel clinic.

Egypt

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include tetanus, polio, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies and typhoid.

You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you're arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or transiting for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Some travellers may also need proof of a polio vaccination. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts, six dinners and two box lunches are included. The dinners are included at the Petra camp, the Wadi Rum camp, the St Catherine’s hotel and the Dahab hotel.

When not half-board, we usually eat in local restaurants and the leader arranges bookings for those in the group who would like to join. We suggest you budget around US$28 per person for non-included meals. If you are vegetarian, please note that main meals are limited in choice. At the Wadi Rum camp, we enjoy a traditional dinner called zarb, which is cooked underground. This consists of rice with a selection including chicken, lamb and vegetables. Vegetables are cooked separately from the meat. In Egypt, meals are often buffet style.

Alcohol is available in Jordan, but not widely. Many hotels do not sell alcohol but will often allow it to be brought in from elsewhere. It is best to plan ahead if you’ll want a drink, your tour leader will be able to tell you what’s possible and may be able to arrange a stop at a supermarket or liquor store (depending on location). In Petra, the unique Cave Bar in Petra Guesthouse is open to the public. A less expensive option is the bar in the Petra Palace Hotel which is also open to all.

Weather

Spring and autumn are very popular in Jordan as it is cooler, around 24C (75F) in the day and 8C (46F) at night. Rain is more likely, but protracted bad weather is unlikely. During summer, it is hot and dry, but not unpleasant. Daytime maximum temperatures are around 32C (89F) in Madaba.

Wadi Rum in summer is around 30C (86F) on average, though it can hit 40C (104F). At night it is usually cooler. In winter, it is much cooler and can dip to 10C (50F) during the day. In the evening, it can hit freezing point. There are occasions when there is rain or even snow in the desert. If weather conditions require, we may need to modify the itinerary or the camp location for your comfort and safety.

Aqaba and the Sinai Peninsula are very hot when the air is still, but there is often a breeze. Rain is unusual but possible. Mount Sinai can be very cold and warm clothing is needed.

As with many countries in the world, seasons can go on longer than usual so it is advisable to always check the weather of the country you are travelling to a week or two before your trip so you can pack appropriately.

Is this trip for you?

This trip involves a combination of cultural visits and walking. It is ideal for anyone who enjoys walking at a reasonable pace, is reasonably fit and has a sense of adventure. While the walks are generally moderate and the pace modest, there are some full days and temperatures can be high, especially in exposed parts of the desert, so a reasonable level of fitness and stamina is required.

Mount Sinai
We plan to ascend Mount Sinai at night, meaning there will be little opportunity to sleep that night. However, we have a free afternoon at our Red Sea hotel the following day. For many people, summiting Mount Sinai for sunrise will be a trip highlight; however, you can remain at the hotel in St Catherine’s if you do not wish to participate.

The walk up the mountain is quite straightforward; however, it can be cold and, while rare, rain is possible, especially in January and February. We’ll rest in a Bedouin shelter near the summit until sunrise. The shelter is very basic and offers limited comfort – a hat, gloves and warm jacket are essential for this rest period. Blankets may be available for hire. There are some basic toilets on the mountain, but no washing facilities.

We ascend the mountain earlier than most people, meaning we may have the path and summit almost to ourselves, which is a special experience. However, by sunrise the summit becomes busy – be mindful of where you choose your sunrise viewing spot, away from any steep drops.

Our tour leader will not accompany us up the mountain. Instead, we will be led by an English-speaking Bedouin guide who has excellent knowledge of the mountain.

Snorkelling
On Day 9, there are two opportunities for snorkelling from the shore. Mask and fins are provided. You may bring your own if you prefer. If you are not a confident swimmer, you may relax instead.

Ferry
We plan to travel by passenger ferry from Aqaba in Jordan to Taba in Egypt. The modern ferry is used mostly by tourists and usually takes about an hour, leaving Aqaba around 10am and arriving in Taba at the same time (due to an hour’s time difference between Jordan and Egypt). The ferry is generally reliable and a fun way to cross from one country to another, but delays can happen and the water can sometimes be choppy. Our Jordanian leader will wait until the ferry departs Aqaba but will not travel on the ferry with us. We’ll be met on arrival in Taba by our Egyptian leader.

In the unlikely event of a cancellation, major changes to the ferry schedule or predicted poor weather, we may use one of the following contingency plans, our preference being Option 1.

Option 1: Land travel from Aqaba to Taba via Israel
The total distance by road from Aqaba to Taba is about 15mi (25km). We would be driven from Aqaba to the Jordan-Israel border, where our Jordanian leader would leave us and we cross unaccompanied into Israel where transport will take us on a short drive through Eilat to the Israel-Egypt border crossing. Again, we’ll cross unaccompanied and then meet our Egyptian leader once through immigration. If we use this route, depending on how long the two border crossings take, we may not have time for the boat trip to the Castle of Saladin; however, the Mount Sinai climb should be unaffected. Due to the time needed to secure necessary police permissions in Egypt, if the weather is predicted to be poor, or there is uncertainty over the ferry operation, we may make the decision to travel overland before knowing for sure if the ferry is cancelled.

Option 2: Vehicle ferry from Aqaba to Nuweiba
We may use this route in the unlikely event of a last-minute cancellation of the Aqaba to Taba ferry. We would travel on foot on the vehicle ferry from Aqaba to Nuweiba. This ferry usually travels at night and takes longer than the passenger ferry. We would have a free day in Aqaba and would not be able to visit the Castle of Saladin or Harun’s Tomb. Our Mount Sinai climb would still be possible, but we would not be in time for sunrise at the summit.

Travel in Sinai Peninsula
Sinai is a beautiful and welcoming region and the Egyptian government places great importance on tourist safety. However, you will encounter police and military checkpoints and it is likely that some journeys here will be made as part of a convoy, a common practice that should not deter you from visiting. Please note, checkpoints and convoys can slow our journeys. You should also check with the tour leader before taking photos in Egypt and avoid photographing checkpoints, convoys, ports and airports.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.