From Petra to Wadi Rum

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Jerash (ancient Gerasa) reached its peak in the 2nd century. The decline of the city began with the Persian and Arab invasions, it continued with the earthquakes of the 8th century and ended in the 12th century. Hidden under the sand for several centuries before being rediscovered, the ruins of Jerash were miraculously preserved and then restored. This particularity makes Jerash the most spectacular Greco-Roman site in Jordan, and one of the best preserved in the world. Visit the site for 2 to 3 hours. Lunch on site. In the early afternoon, drive to Umm Qais (1h15), visit the ancient Greco-Roman site and return to Amman, dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 3: Amman - Desert castles - Mount Nebo - Madaba
Drive east to visit the castles of Qsar Amrah, Qsar Kharanah and Qsar Azraq. 1h30 drive to get there, 30min to visit each castle. Lunch and departure for Mount Nébo. According to legend, it was from this natural promontory that Moses contemplated the Promised Land before taking his last breath. Continue to Madaba by vehicle and visit the famous Saint Georg de Madaba church and the city's small shopping streets. Dinner in a traditional restaurant in Madaba, night at the hotel.

Day 4: Wadi Ibn Hammad - Kerak - Dana
We take the Kings Road to go to Wadi Ibn Hammad (2 hours drive). Aquatic hike in the heart of the canyon, discovery of the hanging gardens (the hike of about 3 hours is done with your feet in warm water at ankle height). Picnic in the canyon, then we continue the magnificent “Kings Road” to the fortress of Kerak, visit the castle and then drive to the traditional village of Dana. (2.5 hours drive in the afternoon).
Dinner and overnight at an inn in Dana.

Day 5: Dana - Wadi Rum
Hike in the morning from the village of Dana in the Feynan Valley (2.5 hour walk). Picnic lunch. Transfer by vehicle in the afternoon to Wadi Rum (2 hours and 15 minutes of transfer). Meet the local team who will accompany us in the desert. Discover the ruins of the house of Lawrence of Arabia, and short hike in the direction of the Grande Arche. First bivouac in the desert, dinner in a furnished camp.

Days 6 and 7: Wadi Rum
2 days of hiking, sometimes alpine in the exceptional setting of Wadi Rum, sandstone fortresses as far as the eye can see: ascents and crossings of wild canyons, mixture of sandstone and sand, changing lights on the mountains “of a thousand colors”.
We move to the southern and eastern borders of the massif (In the direction of Saudi Arabia), far from the beaten track and the usual tourist circuits. We get access to unique perspectives. Lyrically described by Lawrence of Arabia in his book recounting the adventures of the Arab revolt against the Turks, the sumptuous rock formations of Wadi Rum offer magnificent hiking terrain. The new itineraries in the canyons and labyrinths explored by us, allow you to make the most of the atmosphere of this majestic desert. A semi-desert, in fact, because we encounter the greenery of bushes, plants and wild cypresses on a daily basis.
Around 2.5 to 3 hours of walking in the morning with a departure around 8 am. Lunch, rest for 1h30 and resumption of the hike for 2 hours before joining our bivouac.

Day 8: Aqaba - Petra
Last hike of about 1 hour in the Wadi Rum desert to Umn Fruth, Transfer at the end of the morning to Aqaba (1 hour drive), lunch.
Free afternoon: relaxing, swimming, visiting the city and shopping in the souks.
Transfer to Petra (1.5 hours drive). Dinner and overnight in Petra.

Day 9: Petra
Day of walking to discover “the pink city of the Nabateans”.
Through the long corridor of the “Sicq”, in a soft morning light, we approach the famous “Treasure”, the “Khazneh”, the center piece of this almost endless abundance of tombs and temples. The doors of the lower city and the “High Place of Sacrifications” are open to us, overlooking the great classical monuments of this ancient wonder: the Roman theater, the Byzantine basilica... about 5 hours of walking during the day. Picnic lunch during the hike. Dinner and night in a bivouac.

Day 10: Petra - Ed Deir
Starting from the bivouac, the trail allows us to access the spectacular monastery (Al-Deir), the northernmost monument in Petra. Along the way we enjoy beautiful views of Wadi Araba and Mount Aaron. We go down to Lower Town by taking the 790 steps to reach the Byzantine Church, the Royal Tombs and the top of the Treasury to enjoy a magnificent view. Transfer to the bivouac near Al-Baydha. Dinner and night in a bivouac.

Day 11: Petra - Dead Sea - Amman
Visit Little Petra then transfer to the Dead Sea (3 hours drive).
Along the shores of the Dead Sea, we pass the numerous “wadi” that cut deeply into the Trans-Jordanian plateau (Wadi Mujib, for example) supplying fresh water and hot springs to this so-called “lifeless” sea, nearly 417m below sea level. Floating in salt-saturated water, without any effort, is a special experience. Lunch by the sea, swimming possible followed by a freshwater shower. Transfer to Amman (about 50min drive) and visit the capital. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

NB: depending on the airline used, the return flight may involve a departure from Amman on day 11, at night on the plane, with an arrival on day 12, or a night at the hotel on day 11 and a flight during the day on day 12.

The course of this program is given for information purposes only. It may undergo modifications or adjustments, depending on technical criteria, safety requirements or the climatic conditions of the moment. In this case, only those responsible for UCPA supervision are authorized to take the necessary decision (s).