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All the major sites covered, in a well balanced trip to Jordan.
The sight of the Treasury at Petra.
Mikhled was well organised, knowledgeable and joined in with the good humour within the group.
The early morning arrival on day 1, can be mitigated by arriving a day earlier
Jordan is packed full of ancient history and extraordinary landscapes. We absolutely loved our visit and learnt a huge amount about this country and the surrounding region. We were in a group of 20 like-minded travellers, ranging in age from 20’s to 70’s. We thoroughly enjoyed their company, and the shared experience was a huge positive.
Although we had visited Petra the previous day with our guide, on our second day in Petra we decided to get up early so we could enter the site for its 6.00am opening. There are inevitably lots of visitors at Petra, but there are far less people at this time of day and the temperature is much cooler. Sipping freshly brewed Arabic coffee (delicious!) at 7.00am in front of the Treasury before the crowds had gathered was so worth it! The light was magical. But there were other special moments too: exploring the unexpectedly large Jerash site with its huge array of columns; sitting on the sand exploring the night sky in Wadi Rum; sharing jokes with each other whilst riding our camels across the desert as well as floating in the Dead Sea.
The leader for most of our trip was Amer. He was friendly, helpful, and very experienced. Amer was hugely knowledgeable about all aspects of the region’s history, culture, and religion, and answered all the group’s questions in a comprehensive and often humorous way. He often took extra time to expand his answers so that we fully understood both the past and present political and religious complexities concerned: As a proud Jordanian his perspective on the topic of Palestine reflected his views. More generally, Amer took time to explain the plans/timings for each day. With such a busy schedule I think we all appreciated his organisational skills. On the coach he ensured there were plenty of regular breaks on the longer drives. He also handled check-in procedures at each hotel so generally all we needed to do was to collect our room key from him.
If you are worried about the visa / arrival process, for us this went very smoothly as the Exodus rep at the airport was extremely good. Be aware that on this itinerary, you will arrive at your first hotel in Amman around 2am after the visa procedure and transport from airport etc. You are then asked to be available for departure (after breakfast) at 8am the next day for a day trip to Jerash. Some may consider adding an extra night at the beginning to address this. The Day 3 itinerary which is the drive to Petra was very long but did contain several stops along the way. Departure was around 8am but arrival in Petra was not until around 7:30 so prepare for a long day. Try to get up for 6am when the site opens on your free day in Petra. There are far less people at this time of day, the temperature is much cooler and the light is magical. Bring beach shoes for Aqaba and the Dead Sea. We forgot ours, and whilst the pebbles and grit weren’t a problem the sand was burningly hot! If you can, bring a LARGE water bottle. This saves the chore of filling up every stop. Payment by card is simple in many locations, even to the craftspeople/store holders in the Siq at Petra! Even so, bring plenty of Jordanian Dinars for food/drink/snacks etc. Also, we had to hand over quite a bit of cash to our guide to support the tips strategy (see below) so make sure you bring enough to cover this aspect. We had a small pair of binoculars confiscated by security when we checked in at our hotel at the Dead Sea Resort. They were returned just before we left for the airport. Although the hotel is in Jordan, its proximity to Israel seems to make the staff nervous of such items, so beware. We recommend you either do not bring binoculars at all, or are prepared to do without them for this part of your stay. All the hotels were OK, but nothing special. This wasn’t really a ‘hotel holiday’. From our perspective, if the accommodation is clean with reliable plumbing and has reasonably comfortably beds that’s fine, and that was our experience. Hotel breakfast buffets were variable in range of options but there was something available for everyone. As a coeliac I was able to cope although I did bring enough gluten free rolls to last the full week. Eating out (or at the hotel) was simple and the places we visited offered many venues, but the food at each was pretty much the same everywhere: cold mezze followed by kebabs or lamb/chicken stews with vegetables.
We feel both the Little Petra and Bethany-on-the-Jordan “options” were in truth essential aspects of the trip and should be included within its basic itinerary and price. Indeed, had anyone chosen not to take these options (all our group selected them), it was unclear what their alternatives would have been, other than remaining at the hotel or on the bus for several hours. We were surprised and a bit uneasy about the tip strategy. On our first day on the bus, we were all asked to contribute JD23 and US$30 each to a ‘tip kitty’. Whilst we understand Jordan is a ‘tipping culture’, we have never been asked to ‘tip in advance’ on any previous trip. By our reckoning if all 20 travellers contributed as suggested, this would have created a kitty of nearly JD900. Our guide told us that these tips would be given to service providers en-route (hotels were mentioned…) but apart from our (excellent) driver who we know received JD200 at the end of the trip we have no idea how the rest of the large pool of tip money was actually distributed and generally, we didn’t notice anything particularly worthy of a large tip from any of the places or hotels we visited. We feel Exodus need to rethink this whole area, or at least provide a fuller explanation and detailed breakdown of where the money goes in the trip notes. Better still, Exodus could consider including all tips except those for the driver and guide in the base holiday price. For the driver and guide, we believe passing “driver” and “guide” envelopes round the bus at the end of the tour (perhaps with “suggested donations” for each) is a better solution. This would allow individuals to donate anonymously what they felt was appropriate for them, without the pressure of being asked to pay a specific amount before the services have even been supplied.
We saw all the major sights and were delighted with the holiday. Mikhled was an excellent guide. We stayed in good quality hotels and we travelled in a comfortable, air conditined bus (with a plentiful supply of water).
First glimpse of The Treasury at Petra, having walked through the Siq. The expert knowledge of Mikhled explaining the various carvings added greatly to the experience. The sheer expanse and quiet of the desert at Wadi Rum was awesome.
Mikhled was an excellent leader who was hugely knowledgeable and was able to communicate effectively without overloading us with facts and figures. He was happy to elabarte on any topic when requested. He was very organised, had a good sense of humour, and never got flustered. It was unfortunate that the late arrival on day 1 and early start on day 2 meant that our group didn't get a proper chance to introduce ourselves. With a large group of 20 this was a slight disadvantage which took a couple of days to resolve.
Take Jordanian Dinars with you (rather than US Dollars). The Trip Notes need revison on this matter. The Petra Visitor Centre had a 3 D model of the Petra site which was very useful in giving an understanding of the physical relationship of the various sites and monuments. The Visitor Centre and Petra Museum should be mentioned in the Trip Notes. Travel light. There are plenty of opportunities to wash and dry clothes.
We had two meals out with Jordanian families. The first was excellent, with the dignified host and family talking about Jordanian family life and mingling with the group. We opted out of "Petra By Night" to have a "Mansaf" meal at the second family. While the food was enjoyable, the evening was not a success as the host "Jeff" dominated the evening and conversation in a manner which caused us to be distinctly uncomfortable. In retrospect we would much rather have exerienced "Petra By Night" and eaten Mansaf at a local restaurant. While we understand the need to use trusted hosts, the fact that "Jeff" was hosting our group of 16, as well as the Exodus Cycling group and an American couple (all in different rooms), did not seem to meet the objective of helping (a number of) local families. The Edom hotel in Wadi Musa was excellenty positioned but our room was not clean and had a view of a rubble and rubbish pile out of the window (photos available!). At Wadi Rum, the Trip Notes advised that we would "learn about Bedouin culure and music through interacting with the family who run the camp". This did not happen.
Excellent holiday
The 2 days in Petra
Fantastic - very knowledgeable
Be prepared for quite a lot of easy climbing
Highly recommended
I lost count of how many times my breath was taken away by this beautiful country. Yes, of course Petra is the crown jewel, the elegant beauty Queen that brings you to tears with her subtle grace. She tends to overshadow the rest of the country that is bursting with history and antiquities. Mikhled took advantage of every opportunity to educate us about his country and culture. His dry wit and generous nature made the entire experience. He went above and beyond to share his world with us. I feel safe in saying we all fell in love with the country. Jordan is the total package. Go. Pick a time and go. You will not regret it.
Walking through the canyon, catching my first glimpse of the Treasury in Petra brought tears to my eyes. I grew up reading about it in National Geographic, watching documentaries, and finally I was there. In person. It is overwhelming to say the ver least.
Mikhled was the perfect balance of presence & availability. He advised approximate costs of items, how to negotiate, sometimes did it for us. He included everyone in the group decisions, and he often provided snacks & treats when necessity stops were made. Mikhled shared his knowledge & love of his country and culture with us. Any minor issues were promptly addressed and resolved as best as possible. He has such a great sense of humor and truly the patience of a saint. Absolutely ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Go! It is a vastly gorgeous country. Every day was a new surprise. The experience blew away any expectations I had. We are here for less than a blink of an eye. See as much of this world as you can, WHILE you can.
Exodus, please include details in the trip notes about “dry hotels”, camping in Wadi Rum, and shockingly abrasive wind. As I’m sure you are aware many western folks like a drink, especially while vacationing. I feel safe in assuming most people who travel are aware of cultural differences, but some of us make assumptions about availability in tourist areas. I’ve never heard of a “dry hotel” and wasn’t entirely sure what that meant. It would be beneficial to have that information beforehand. Secondly, the hotel in Petra. At first glance we were all excited only to have carpets that weren’t clean, beds that were more like bounce houses, shower doors falling off the hinges, and one morning without hot water. I travel for work and leisure so have a certain expectation when it comes to lodging. The Edom Hotel did not meet them. The physical location was great and I believe that if the hotel were to correct these housekeeping problems it would be infinitely better. Secondly, the “camping” in Wadi Rum. Having been on a previous tour that included desert “camping” I had an idea of what to expect. Most in our group had not and were quite frankly dreading it. There are various styles of camping, from the most base level of “roughing it” to “glamping” with all the amenities & modern day comforts. More detailed information would have prevented many from unnecessary worry. The “glamping” in Wadi Rum was absolutely lovely. The people, location, food, and accommodations were warm and inviting. I am NOT an outdoorsy camper. That was my kind of camping! Lastly, the wind at Mount Nebo and Karak were shocking to say the least. No one has any control over Mother Nature. However, informing travelers of the climate and extraordinary winds would be helpful in preparing and packing. There were a few times I was concerned about losing my footing due to the 40mph+ winds. Again, no one has any control over that it is simply providing unsuspecting travelers of the possibility of it. I believe Exodus can do better with providing detailed information to travelers and addressing housekeeping concerns with hotels to ensure happier guests. All that being said, it was an amazing experience and I will sing the praises of Jordan to any and all willing to listen. My life has been enriched with the journey through this remarkable country.
First time with Exodus – they get it right – take all the hard work out of researching the how where when and then just sit back and take you on an adventure filled 8 nights. Perfect trip and overview of Jordan, taking in all essentials in a small group with small coach facilities but plenty of room. Mikheld was an excellent guide and everywhere we stayed he knew everyone and made sure we had all that we needed if anything was not quite right for some of the group. Petra was outstanding and the hotel was SO close it made up for its limited housekeeping side. All in all I would recommend this journey and Exodus in general.
`entering the area by the Treasury having walked along the Siq. the place just kept giving and two days there are essential in order to take it all in and walk the walk everywhere. excellent
Mikheld is a very gentle soul who in true jordanian style wants all of the group to have a great experience.
None. Go with an open mind and a mixture of travel wear just as you would for any other trip - the Wadi Rum experience was fantastic but take an extra little bag with your swim stuff for the next day and leave it on the coach overnight..then your packing is much easier.
Not really. I will be back!
Who knew Jordan had so much to offer! The trip notes gave a good overview of what we would do, but the reality far exceeded our expectations. Whilst everyone expected the Treasury to wow us, the week held further surprises every day for us to discover. From the moment we stepped out of the bus on our first day, until we said our farewells, we were astonished by the fabulous history, culture, food and people that make up Jordan. The accommodation was clean and comfortable with good breakfast choices. The week was a great mix of diverse activities – culminating in a relaxing day at the Dead Sea. We thoroughly enjoyed our week in Jordan.
For me there were two: Discovering the vast area of Petra beyond the Treasury was sensational. We drank tea at the Place of High Sacrifice and took a lesser-trodden route back – the scenery was simply stunning! Wadi Rum was amazing – an overnight in a tent in the desert is an experience not to be missed – the evening meal was delicious!
Our guide Mikhled, was a real ambassador for his homeland. Demonstrating he loved his job, he shared his passion for Jordan with the group. He was professional, caring and at all times determined that our holiday would be the best he could organise. His choice of restaurants and lunches was a feast for the palette and gave a great introduction into Jordanian cuisine. The cooking class he organised allowed us to make some of the dishes ourselves (the recipes were sent to the group to allow us to try at home). Mikhled was at all times courteous, smiling and able to keep the group amused with his dry sense of humor. When difficulties arose, he was able to support and help to find a solution. Thank you Mikhled for making our week such a special experience.
The trip gives a lot but also expects a lot from each group member. It is vital that each person takes responsibility for themselves, their belongings and their timekeeping. It is important not to overestimate your fitness or underestimate the physical demands necessary in such a trip. There are many vista rewards for walking and climbing the age old routes but good footwear is an absolute must. The temperature range is quite diverse (from 8-20 degrees during our week) depending on which location is being visited. Make sure you have layers, warm clothes and a hat as well as swimming gear. For the Red and Dead sea we took water shoes which protected our feet from coral and sharp rocks. A lunch pack is available in Petra – this is a great option as you can choose your stop based on where you are rather than where food is available for purchase. Take a small backpack as you will need to carry the lunch pack. Not all ATM’s work with all UK bank passes so it’s a good idea to get a few Jordanian Dinars before leaving or at the airport to make sure you have money as necessary. There are lots of opportunities for shopping and cash is sometimes preferable. We used about 350 dinars per person during the week.
This is a once in a lifetime trip – make sure you take advantage of everything on offer and approach each day with an open mind (especially the additional activities cooking class, meal with a family, Little Petra, camel ride and Turkish baths). You will be rewarded with a glorious week in the absolute gem that is Jordan!
Where to begin with all the superlatives of this trip……..from all the details that Exodus takes care of from the moment you step off the plane until the moment you step back on. They’ve thought of it all!! From authentic experiences, the places you visit, and people you meet, it cannot be beat. Each spot we visited was the perfect amount of time to spend at it with plenty of time to explore. If you go on this trip and are lucky to have Amer as your guide, it only enhances an already fantastic experience. His knowledge, passion, personality and fun-loving nature made this a trip I will never forget!
Our guide Amer's passion for his country had my attention and was inspiring the entire week
There are not enough good things to say about Amer. He is an asset to his country of Jordan and to Exodus
Be prepared for the trip of a lifetime. This is a magical place to visit.
It was a good trip, I enjoyed most of them. and It was packed with all activities, sightseeing, hiking, I have met very nice people on the trip. Few comments below: 1. We know Jordan is a tipping country, but £50 per person for a 20 people group seems a lot, we still had to pay for the most evening meals at our own cost and some trips are not on the itinerary that the tour guide has made sufficient profit from. We can’t see the tips that been well spent. 2. Some hotels were the bad points to let you down. The hotel room in Petra was very tired, needs serious updating but the location is very good next to the entrance of Petra. The last stop hotel “Holiday Inn” in dead sea was the worst 5 star hotel I have ever been, flies everywhere, wherever you went you encountered enormous amount flies, you could see the flies landing on the food, drinks, people, basically we were surrounded by hundreds, thousands flies, the buffet restaurant was full of flies everywhere, we had to use tissues to cover our food, most our group got very ill after returning to UK, we reckon the food in Holiday inn been infested by the flies, I also found ants in my room and bad smell in the garden. I suggest Exodus to reconsider to choose this hotel for the last stop, it totally ruined the “Holiday Inn” reputation, unless they have made the big improvement to justify their hygiene levels otherwise it will spoil the whole trip. In general, it is a must do but needs a few improvements. Overall I am general satisfied with the planning and organisations.
2 full day Petra stay and desert stay.
Get to the airport at least 3 hours before to prepare the manually check in and long queue if you take flight with Royal Jordanian.
An action packed entirely fascinating FULL week in Jordan, Palestine. Great company, great local food, excellent Group Lead/Tour Guide. Much much better than I expected. Felt very safe in Jordan too.
The realisation that the history of the three significant Abrahamic religions surrounded me in this region. I went to see Petra, The Red and Dead Seas, I came away with so much more. Roman Jerash, Mount Nebu and Moses, the Baptism site of Jesus Christ no less, (optional extra, everyone took).
This is our third Exodus trip and as with the two previous it is the Group Leader who made it an exceptional experience. Amer, a warm, eloquent Jordanian with four relevant degrees brought the history, religions and politics of the region to life with clear chronological explanations drawn from the sites we visited. You felt totally confident in his care, bus broken down near Wadi Rum, replacement arrives within 20 mins - impressive for the middle of nowhere.
If you're transiting through Heathrow be prepared for very lengthy delays, not quite as bad as Manchester, but pretty appalling still, with little care for passenger wellbeing. Try to drink plenty on the plane as there is nothing for the couple of hours it takes to transit from one terminal to the other via yet another security check.
There's a lot of litter beside the roads in the towns and cities, but the main sites are well cared for. This is a minor distraction compared to the quality of the experience. Everyone on our tour thoroughly enjoyed the trip, amazing country and outstanding guide from Exodus as usual.
