Petra & Wadi Rum Family Adventure

Enjoy the adventure of a lifetime with your loved ones in Jordan

Take your family on a time-travelling trip to when Romans roamed and Nabateans built one of the most unusual cities in the world, Petra. Starting with a gladiator show at Jerash, we head south to the mystery-shrouded city of Petra and the Mars-like desert of Wadi Rum (where we stay at a private Exodus camp run by a Bedouin family). At the Red Sea and town of Aqaba, it’s chillout 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. The history astounds, the landscapes amaze and the hospitality of the Jordanian people will stay with you long after your trip is over. Jordan has all the ingredients for a great family adventure.

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.

• The use of a local guide means our customers will be 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 and restaurants, the emphasis on eating locally produced food, and by supporting other local enterprises.
• 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 the 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 4×4 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.
• We visit eight national heritage sites and the entrance fees generate income used to upkeep and develop 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 guidelines on animal welfare.
• 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 reusable bottles.
• It is standard practice in Jordan to distribute leftover 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 reusable 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, 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 practices, 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.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page.

Though this trip has been designed for nine to 12-year-olds, it’s also suitable for 13 to 16-year-olds. Our Family trips are aimed at children in the primary age group, so if your child is in the secondary age group, they may find it a little easier. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

The night in Wadi Rum is spent in a private camp with a toilet and shower block. Beds with mattresses, sheets, blankets and pillows are provided. You may like to pack a sheet liner for extra comfort. Although quite basic, a night in the desert is memorable and should be approached with a sense of adventure.

Although this is a cultural trip, some days (such as the one in Petra) will be busy. 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 entertainment for these journeys. The tour leader will provide commentary during the journeys and try to 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 your children are well protected from the sun with sunscreen and hats and that you all keep well hydrated. During winter, warm clothes are needed for mornings and nights.

Ramadan is expected to run from approximately 10 March-10 April 2024 and 28 February-29 March 2025. One of the most important periods in the Islamic calendar, it is a special time to visit a Muslim country. Each evening, the streets empty as people head home to break the fast, followed by an air of festivity upon their return. Our leaders and drivers choose to work at this time so we continue to run trips; however, their energy levels may be slightly lower than normal. Many tourist sites, restaurants and shops will have an amended schedule, but your tour leader will know how to adapt the itinerary to still experience all the inclusions on this trip and maximise your experience during this special time.

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 breakfasts, two picnic lunches, a lunch at our Wadi Rum camp, and 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. On some occasions, the leader can take those who wish to a restaurant for a mezze-style meal. These allow fast service with a variety of tasty food and usually cost 15-20 dinars (US$19-US$26) per person. If you are vegetarian, main meals are limited in choice; however, mezze is almost always available in restaurants and is a good, filling option. 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.

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 can 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 as it is cooler, around 24C (75F) in the day and 8C (46F) at night. Rain is more likely, but protracted bad weather is unlikely.

Summer (July and August) is hot and dry. Daytime maximum temperatures can reach around 40C (104F) in parts of the itinerary and care needs to be taken to keep hydrated. Rain is unusual but possible.

In winter, it is generally crisp and warm in the day, approximately 10C-15C (50F-59F); however, the desert can approach freezing or below at night. There are even occasions when it snows in Jordan during winter.