Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Every new experience on the trip was a highlight, but I guess the obvious one is that first sight of the Treasury as you emerge from the Siq at Petra. It is, literally in my case, jaw dropping! Floating in the Dead Sea was pretty amazing too! It is probably easier to say that there is no one aspect of the itinerary which isn't inspirational in its own way. However, if I had to pick one thing, it would be the warmth and friendliness of the Jordanian people themselves. Whilst waiting at the side of a remote(ish) road due to a bus breakdown (sorted very quickly) my daughter and I chatted to a local man who proceeded to invite us to his home nearby to meet his entire extended family, where we were offered tea and coffee and the warmest of welcomes. I've no doubt they would have been happy to welcome and entertain us for the rest of the day if we had the time! It was almost a disappointment when we realised the bus was ready to go! This typifies the welcome we received from ordinary Jordanian people throughout the visit.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Brilliant. Friendly, efficient and amazing local knowledge. Danny's support and guidance throughout the trip was a highlight and in my view could not be faulted. Top man!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just go (and book it with Exodus)! Having travelled in Europe, Africa and Asia, this was my first trip to the Middle East and I was not sure what to expect. It turned out to be one of the best trips I've ever had and I would have absolutely no hesitation in repeating it. I could not offer much in the way of additional advice beyond the excellent guidance given by Exodus.

Most Inspirational Moment

It is hard to pick just one. Jordan at night. Standing on a sandstone mountain looking down into Petra. Dinner at a cave in Petra (this was an optional thing we did as a group). Shooting stars in Wadi Rum. Talking with Jordanian people.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Danny was really superb. You could tell that he was telling us the essentials of what we needed to know about each site and that we could easily ask for more details, if we wanted to know. He was very sociable with the group and really helped us to learn a bit about Jordanian culture. He made wonderful recommendations every day of the trip (i.e., where to get lunch, places for dinner, ideas for optional activities); Danny was one of the key reasons this trip was so wonderful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This trip is a must! You'll have 2 full days in Petra (which most other tours do not offer), so take your time to savor and enjoy this wonderful site. And take time to talk to the people of Jordan; they are so eager to tell you about their country and their culture. On a more practical note: do read the trip notes to know what to expect and what to bring. Some people did not read this before the trip and did not bring the proper shoes for walking in Petra or did not bring a flashlight as outlined.

Most Inspirational Moment

Our visit to Petra. We found that the 2 full days in Petra was absolutely perfect as it gave us time to see all the main sites and have a guided walk in the hills surrounding the site.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader, Danny Haddad, was excellent and really made the trip. His knowledge was immense and he was very able to put material across in a very interesting way. Nothing was too much trouble.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The weather was perfect for us (end March/1st week April) and the temperature ranged from upper teens to upper twenties which meant that it was never too hot to visit the sites and do the walking trips in Petra. The evenings could get chilly but all the was required was a flease or a jacket.

Most Inspirational Moment

Favourite parts for me were day 2 in Petra, camping in Wadi Rum and chilling out on the dive boat in Acaba. In Petra on day 2 we walked (scrambled) up and down gorges with not another tourist in sight. Great to get off the beaten track. The Wadi Rum camp site is comfortable and secluded - and the Bedouin guides cooked a really delicious meal underground in the sand! On the last but one day in Acaba - having several hours to relax on board with snorkelling and another delicious meal was a perfect way to unwind at the end of a busy week. All in all a great trip!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ali was helpful and knowledgeable and really helped make the trip work for the group

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many to count, swimming at sunset in deadsea, walk to high sacrifice in Petra, candle evening in Petra, amazing feeling of peace just relaxing at Monestry and Urn Tomb in Petra and 'the view' in Little Petra, boat trip and snorkling in Red Sea. Great happiness.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Super Sami - fun and very knowledgeable. Great company. Big thank you.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take good walking shoes or boots as ground at Petra is rocky and loose cobbles. 4 Seasons sleeping bag for desert stop over enabled me to sleep outside under the stars. I loved it.  

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellant leader

Advice for Potential Travellers

No need to take a sleeping bag for the desert

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many highlights, but my favourite experiences had to be floating in the Dead Sea, the first glimpse of the Treasury at Petra, dinner in a Bedouin cave and sleeping under the stars in Wadi Rum.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ali was a fantastic leader - the most consistent and patient out of all of the guides on the 6 group tours I have been on to date.  We never felt rushed and had plenty of time to take as many photos as we wanted.  He was also happy to rearrange plans to suit the group, for example when we asked at short notice to change the Petra by night trip we had already booked in the hope of getting better weather.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You don't generally need to take anything smart, but a few people in the group dressed up on the evening in Aqaba.I was expecting to be cold in Wadi Rum but I was actually too warm at night (at the end of November).  I did take a decent sleeping bag though, and a small hot water bottle (a kettle was kindly put on the fire for me to fill it).  You can sleep in tents on camp beds (two per compartment) or on cushions outside around the camp fire.Be prepared for a range in quality of accommodation, even within the same hotel.  You may have a nice room one night and a not so great room the next, but it will generally even out over the week.  The hotel in Aqaba was the best quality of the ones we stayed in. The Cave Bar by the entrance to Petra is quite smart and does great cocktails.  The only hotel to have a bar was the one in Petra, but you could generally buy alcohol nearby the others to take back to drink at the hotel if you wanted to.  Food was more expensive than I expected. 

Most Inspirational Moment

Petra was amazing and our guide Sami was very knowledgeable, there were some nice touches from him like how we got our first glimpse of the treasury (I wont say as it would spoil it for others). On our 2nd day he took us on a trek to see Petra from the top of the mountains it was great. The night in the desert was good and our meal there was one of the best. Floating in the dead sea was weird oh and quite chilly but a great experience.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sami was good, helpful and knowledgeable, he did a great job of keeping the group together.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Some days there is quite a bit of walking and it can be hilly, so pace yourselves. We went the first week in November and the weather was excellent a nice temperature (evenings a little cool for some) however we were told that it would probably change in the next 2 weeks. The night in desert was fine flusing toilets and sinks, there is lights after about 8.30 but there is a camp fire. great to see stars. Things to take a torch, sleeping bag liner (blankets supplied), pillows were like bricks. Meals each night varied in price and choice, we were given different jordanian dishes depending on the restaurant we were taken to speciality, cost 10-16 Jordanian dinar (JD) drinks extra. Lunch was better when the guide sorted a picnic for the group 4JD. Read the literature exodus provide it is usefuland gives you a good idea of extra costs for trips and tips etc.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many fantastic moments but without doubt, the most amazing was seeing the Treasury buliding at Petra for the first time having walked along the 1 kilometre beautiful canyon before emerging right infront of the Treasury.  The whole of Petra and the two days spend there were incredible.  Apart from Jerash, the desert and the dead sea experience, the other memorable experience was an afternoon spent on a sailing boot, swimming and snorkelling amongst thousands of fish and brightly coloured corals - and in sea so warm it was like being in a bath.  Beautiful!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sammi, our Group leader was fantastic.  He helped make the trip what it was.  He has an incredible knowledge and took time to explain so many aspects of Joran culture and way of life. He also guided us around all the sights and gave us a the background to everything we saw.  Above all though, he has a wicked sense of humour and took great pleasure in having fun with the guests. He was fun, very personable and engaged very well with all of the Group.  I would say that he is the perfect guide and the best one I have ever travelled with.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take sturdy shoes for Petra - not necessary to take full walking boots.  Take something warm for the evenings as it can get a little chilly at times. Don't expect to drink alcohol wherever you go - it is a dry country and only the biggest hotels sell alcohol. Many of our meals were with soft drinks which was a surprise for those not expecting it. If you have time and can do it - add a few days on at the end of the trip to chill out in Aqaba - there's not a great deal there but to relax in the sun and by the Red Sea is great and there are a few very good hotels to choose from.

Most Inspirational Moment

I have always wanted to see Petra and it was just amazing. First sight was on the nightime event outside the Treasury which although short is a magical experience and well worth a first introduction. The next day was a full day sightseeing. Never realised it was such a massive site. The walk to the Treasury was fantastic and later in the day the walk to the monastery was equally as good. Breathtaking. My feet certainly ached at the end of the day. The second full day there involved the walk to the High Place and yet more time to soak up the atmosphere.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The tour leader was excellent. Very well informed and full of information about Jordan and the various places visited. Also just the right amount of information as well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just go and enjoy. Make sure you have good comfortable walking shoes for the two days in Petra and something to wear on your feet for the Dead Sea "float". Currency exchange is readily available but make sure you get small notes. They tend to like giving out 50 and 20 Dinar denominations which is equivalnet to £ 50 and £ 20. Country feels perfectly safe. Go now while tourist numbers are low. On our second day in Petra the place felt quite deserted. Even obtained pictures of the Treasury with no one else around. Probably don't go in summer as I would imagine it would be unbearable walking around Petra for a couple of days.