Petra & Wadi Rum Adventure

A Jordan trip for all the family

Take your family on a trip back in time where Romans roamed and Nabateans built one of the most unusual cities in the world, Petra. Starting in the north with a Gladiator show at Jerash, we head south to Petra, a city still shrowded in mystery and Wadi Rum a stunning desert that looks like Mars.  Both have featured in a number of blockbusters including Indian Jones, Star Wars, The Martian and more recently Aladdin.  Our private Exodus camp in Wadi Rum is run by a Bedouin family who will make your stay one of the most memorable parts of your holiday.  Heading further south to the Red Sea coast and the town of Aqaba its chill out time at a private beach resort.  Our adventure ends at the lowest point on earth and with one of the craziest experiences you might ever have - floating in the Dead Sea.  Swimming in its saline waters is just about impossible so lie back and relax.  The history astounds, the landscapes amaze and the hospitality of the Jordanian people will stay with you long after your holiday is over.  Jordan really has all the ingredients for a great family adventure.

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 received the Travelife Partner award in July 2021. 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 a local guide 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.
• This tour encourages guests to visit local cafes and restaurants and use markets to purchase traditional crafts.

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 8 national 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.
• Where possible on this trip paper bags are used as an alternative to single-use plastics.

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.
• This trip favours locally-owned and run accommodation.

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:
  • Family plays a central role in Jordanian culture so they will be very pleased to welcome your family to their country.
  • Some Jordanians especially women and the elderly object to being photographed so please ask first.
  • Jordanians 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 in Jordan.

Visa

Jordan

Visas are required by most nationalities, including British, and can be obtained at the border or Amman airport. At time of print, visa fees (usually 40JOD) have been waived for all nationalities travelling to Jordan with a tour operator and spending a minimum of 2 nights in country. Our airport representative will meet and assist you with obtaining the free visa on arrival in Jordan at Customs & Immigration. He will be carrying an Exodus sign.

For more information on the free Jordan Visa, please see the link below:
http://international.visitjordan.com/MediaCenter/News/JordanianGovernmentEasesRegulationsonEntryVi.aspx

Vaccination

Jordan

There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts, two picnic lunches and a lunch at our Wadi Rum camp and a dinner at our Wadi Rum Camp and at the Dead Sea resort are included.

 When meals are not included we usually eat in local restaurants and on some occasions the leader will take those who wish to a restaurant for a 'mezze' style meal. These allow fast service with a variety of good quality food for the group and usually cost 15-20 JOD per person ( GBP 15-20, USD 19-26, CAD 25-34, AUD 28-37 ). If you are vegetarian, please note that main meals are limited in choice; however, mezze is almost always available in restaurants and is a good, filling choice. There is also a good choice of seafood available when at the Red Sea. While camping in Wadi Rum we enjoy a traditional meal called Zarb which is cooked underground.  This consists of rice with a selection including chicken, lamb and vegetables. Vegetables will be cooked separate to the meat.  It is great fun to see it being dug up and the result is a delicious hearty meal. 

Weather

Spring and autumn are very popular as it is cooler, at around 24ºC in the day and down to 8ºC at night. Rain is more likely, but protracted bad weather is unlikely.
Summer in Jordan is hot and dry, but not unpleasant. Daytime maximum temperatures are around 32ºC in Amman. Aqaba is very hot when the air is still, but there is usually a breeze. Rain is unusual but possible.
In winter it is generally crisp and warm in the day, approximately 10-15ºC, however, temperatures can approach freezing or below zero at night in the desert. There are even occasions when it snows in Jordan during winter.
In the chart below, the first figure is the average number of wet days in a given month and the second and third figures are minimum and maximum average temperatures in centigrade in Amman.

Weather Charts

Is this trip for you?

Activity level 2: Leisurely/Moderate

There are a few things that we advise you take into consideration before booking this trip. The night in the Wadi Rum will be spent in a private camp with a toilet and shower block. Beds with mattresses, sheets, blankets and pillows are all provided. You may like to pack a sheet liner to make sleeping more cosy. Although quite basic, a night in the desert is exciting and memorable and should be approached with a sense of adventure.

Although this is a cultural trip, some days such as the one in Petra are full on. Your Tour leader will give you options if your family prefer to take Petra at their own pace and meet up with the group at the end of the day's tour.  There are some long distances to travel although we make comfort stops along the way.  It is a good idea to bring books or other forms of entertainment for these journeys.  The Tour leader will provide commentary during the journeys and try and break up the driving as much as possible.

The food in Jordan can be a little spicy and uses flavours that children may not be used to. Please bear this in mind when ordering in restaurants. It is possible to find food that avoids this but the meals may lack a little variety.

It can be hot in Jordan, please ensure that your children are well protected from the sun with sunscreen and hats and that you all keep well hydrated. During the winter months warm clothes will be needed for mornings and at nights.

Please note that Ramadan is expected to run from 22 March 2023 to 21 April 2023 and 10 March 2024 to 10 April 2024. Ramadan is a special time to visit Jordan as it is one of the most important periods in the Muslim calendar. Each evening the streets empty while people return home to break the fast and then there is an air of festivity every evening. Our leaders and drivers choose to work at this time so we continue to run trips however please be aware their energy levels may be slightly lower. Tourist sites are still open although closing times may be earlier than usual. Your leader will know how the timings for each day need to be adapted in order to still experience all the inclusions on this trip. Restaurants may close during the day and this is also accounted for in planning meal arrangements for your group. Shops are usually open though their hours may vary and they will definitely be closed during the breaking of the fast. To fully enjoy your holiday experience at this unique time of year we suggest patience and flexibility (in fact these are useful at any time of year on any overseas holiday).

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.