Most Inspirational Moment
My first view of Petra was unforgettable - the rich pinks and red of the rocks, the narrow chasm you walk through to get there, the extraordinary carving and architecture and the sheer awe-inspiring size of it. It’s certainly worth several days exploration. But the jeep ride across Wadi Rum was if anything even more exciting and the night at the Bedouin camp with the brilliant stars and moon above and the fire in the middle of the stone circle was unforgettable. And just the endless expanses of desert as we drove along.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Wa’el was full of enthusiasm and jollity and humour. A different guide would have made the trip entirely different. He was full of information on everything and also ran the trip with a firm hand and made sure we all turned up on time. I appreciated that he gave us a lot fo free time at Petra. He was also very responsive to the demands of the group. We asked for more local food and he found it for us and also gave us extra time in Amman for shopping which involved making last minute changes to the schedule.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Go now! Jordan is entirely safe and incredibly welcoming. At one point I was walking alone down a back street in Aqaba and saw a group of blokes who I thought (as a lone female) looked a little dodgy. Then they all gave me huge grins and shouted out, ‘Welcome to Jordan!’ Because people are nervous not many tourists are visiting so this is an extraordinary chance to have Petra to yourself. In practical terms I was glad of my sleeping bag in the Bedouin camp. The weather was incredibly varied - very cool in the evening in Petra, surprisingly warm in the Bedouin camp and very hot in Aqaba.