Petra & Wadi Rum Trek

Enjoy a magical walk in the desert

Some of the most spectacular desert scenery in the world is found in the south of Jordan at Wadi Rum, a place of dramatic beauty providing an ideal environment for trekking. Millennia of erosion has formed wonderful mountains (known as jebels) that rise from the desert sands, creating exciting terrain that we explore from the valley bottom to the jebel tops. Throughout the trip, we are accompanied by local Bedouin people and shall camp as they do, under the stars. Our trip finishes with a walk via the Back Trail into the ancient rock city of Petra, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that 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. To receive the award, our Jordanian partner had to comply with more than 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.

• Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
• This trip stays one night in Wadi Rum desert at the Exodus Private camp which is owned and managed by a local Bedouin family. The trekking crew accompanying the group are from local Bedouin families. This not only provides a source of income for these families but is a wonderful opportunity for our guests to interact with local people and share aspects of their traditions.
• We stay in Ammarin Bedouin camp near to Little Petra in the community of Baidha. The Ammarin tribe receive little benefit from the large numbers of visitors to Petra who typically stay in the main town of Wadi Musa. The camp is owned by the Baidha Cooperative which 200 families are members of. Staying here helps ensure the Ammarin see some benefits from tourism and helps preserve their culture.
• Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

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

• By travelling in a small group, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• We follow designated routes on this trek following conservation policies.
• The crew and group collect rubbish where they find it and sort for recycling at the end of the trip. Any non-biodegradable waste generated during the camping in Wadi Rum is kept on board the support vehicle for responsible disposal at the end of the trip.
• Reusable plates and eating utensils are used for all meals.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for reusable bottles.
• The payment of entrance fees to natural reserves generates income used to upkeep and develop these important sites. On this trip, we visit two national heritages and trek through the protected Wadi Rum area.
• With our partners, Rewilding Apennines, we rewild 100 square meters (1,075 sqft) of land per passenger who travels with us.
• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

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

• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
• The camp we stay at on the first night uses solar panels for heating water.
• Walking trips like this have very little detrimental impact on the environment and the locals, as it is a quiet, low-impact activity requiring comparatively few resources to support.
• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: Please bring a reusable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is rated Activity Level 4 (Moderate & Challenging). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.  

A good level of fitness is required. Previous trekking experience is desirable but not vital as long as you are confident of your physical condition. Each day your main luggage will be transported in 4x4s; all you need to carry is your daypack.

We use hotels in Amman and Petra but while trekking in the desert the facilities are basic (no toilets and showers) so please take this into consideration when assessing whether this trip is right for you. We spend up to six hours a day trekking and you need to be fit enough to cope with this. We will be walking on sand and scrambling over rocky terrain on days 3 (no scrambling), 4 and 5. At times, this can be relatively steep with uneven ground and in some instances ropes may be used. Please note that just before the Burdah Bridge ascent (day 4), there is a challenging section that may not be enjoyable for those with a fear of heights.

During winter, Jordan can experience low temperatures so it is really important you are adequately equipped for the nights in the desert (it can drop to freezing). Conversely, it can get very hot during summer and you will need to ensure you are hydrated and have appropriate sun protection.

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.

Vaccinations and Health

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.

Visa

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.

Food & Drink

All meals are included while trekking. The three nights spent in hotels are on a bed-and-breakfast basis. You will be required to buy two lunches on days 2 and 7 and dinners on day 1 (depending on flight arrival time), 6 and 7. Allow about 64 Jordanian dinars (US$90) to cover these meals. On days where lunch is not included, your guide will recommend local restaurants. We usually eat in restaurants where traditional food is served to allow maximum flexibility of choice, and, for those who wish, to try a meze-style meal. You can usually expect food options to include rice, beans, salads, and meat.  If you are vegetarian, please note that main meals are limited in choice; however, meze is almost always available in restaurants and is a good choice for vegetarians, usually costing approximately 15 dinars (US$21) per person. Unlimited drinking water is provided free of charge on the trek in Wadi Rum.

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 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; however, protracted bad weather is unlikely. It is hot and dry (but not unpleasant) throughout Jordan in the summer. Daytime maximum temperatures are around 32C (90F) in Amman.

Wadi Rum is around 30C (86F) on average in summer though it can get as high as 40C (104F). At night it is usually cooler. In winter it is much cooler and can get as low as 10C (50F) during the day. In the evening, it is around 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.