Most Inspirational Moment
I loved the desert scenery. I was expecting sand.... but I got beautiful imposing sandstone mountains and rocks which looked strangely like melting chocolate in places. So, the most inspirational part of the trip for me was the day spent scrambling up the hills to a rock bridge where a bit of a climb enabled me to stand on the bridge to make the most of the views. I also slept outside with amazing clear sky's full of stars.
Thoughts on Group Leader
He was superb. Very knowledgable about the history and culture of Jordan but also had an amazing ability to check out how the group were feeling. He made the trip run very smoothly.
Advice for Potential Travellers
You may wish to take a little more money than the trip notes advise. All meals were usually less than 15 dinars, but with snacks and tips I spent £150 altogether. Not a lot for a week away, but if I had wanted to buy presents (I didn't) I could have been left short of cash. Be aware that debit or credit cards are not widely used at all.
Suggestions
Two things to look out for -
1. I hate animals at any tourist sites as they are rarely well treated. This was evident in the desert with the camels having sores around straps and fixings and with one camel having barbed wire around it's neck. The same went for the horses at Petra who were worked too hard. If you're an animal lover you will need to look away sometimes. I know the culture is different to the British way of life, but informing local people that you won't use the service unless they treat the animals well may eventually have an impact.
2. The desert was covered in litter and plastic bottles. Jordan may not have a recycling policy but tour companies may wish to collect obvious litter at the camps in order to make it more comfortable for people as well as protecting the environment.