Walking Jordan's Spice Trails

Arrive in Amman, the capital of Jordan, which is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Now home to almost half of the country's population, it is a fascinating city of contrasts, where the very ancient and the brand new collide.



There are no planned activities for today, so you can arrive into Amman at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), which is around 30 minutes' drive. Due to a majority of flights arriving in the late evening, your leader will meet you for the welcome meeting on the morning of day two. This evening you will find information including meeting times on the Explore hotel notice near reception.



If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you may wish to explore the streets and souks of downtown Amman independently.

From Amman we immediately head south on the Desert Highway to Wadi Rum. On arrival we load our bags into vehicles which sets off to deliver them to our nightstop. After a picnic lunch we walk through one of the most powerfully evocative places in the Middle East, to our campsite. The legend of Lawrence of Arabia and his Arab revolt lives strongly here and scenes from the famous film were shot here - deep in the fabulous purple-black and yellow mountains that rise from the sands of the desert. We walk to southern Wadi, where Lawrence of Arabia used to live, continuing to the highest point on this day the Seven Pillars Mountains (950m).



We generally arrive to the camp in the late afternoon as the hot desert sun starts to set, revealing an evening of incredibly clear skies studded with stars. The private camp is in the middle of Wadi umm Eshreen surrounded only by beautiful sand dunes and granite hills. There are toilets and hot water available for washing.



Today's six-and-a-half kilometre walk is expected to take around two hours, along a flat route with some walking on soft sand.

We spend the next day exploring the beautiful desert area of Wadi Rum. Starting from our desert camp, we walk in the footsteps of the early Nabatean traders. Spices, silks and perfumes were once carried along this same route. We will explore the northern side of Wadi Rum visiting the natural stone bridge, walk past sand dunes, follow camel foot prints and see inscriptions and graffiti on the weathered pink granite mountains. The desert is another world, inhabited by the Bedouin people for generations. After an unforgettable day's trekking through this remarkable desert scenery of sculpted sandstone canyons and pristine dunes, we return to our camp and enjoy another night under the star-studded sky.



Today's 17 kilometre circular walk is expected to take around seven hours. Walking on mainly soft sand ascending gradually with stops for tea and lunch in the shade.

After breakfast there is an optional two hour camel ride through a landscape of sandstone canyons. Non-riders are welcome to walk with the riders - quite a moderate pace, given the speed at which camels walk - or transfer ahead by 4WD to the road. The walk out if the desert descends from Wadi Rum to Edom (red) Mountains, we see the largest sand dunes area and pass the remains of Nabtain inscriptions in Jabel Elmezeet from 3rd century BC.



Meeting our bus we drive northwards to Petra where our luggage is taken onto the campsite and we look forward to a day exploring this dazzling site on foot. We first enter via the twisting and colourful Siq gorge arriving at the famous Al-Khazneh (The Treasury). Continue through the heart of the ancient city climbing to the Royal Tomb and Roman Theatre before heading up to our campsite in the Wadi Shamassat. We have special permission from the Petra authorities to wild camp in this unique location, within walking distance of the Petra archaeological sites. The camp is basic with are no showers but a portable toilet and bowls of water will be provided for washing.



This evening there is the option to return to Petra after dinner, for an enchanting tour of the old city by candlelight.



Today's 13 kilometre walk in Wadi Rum is expected to take around five hours, descending to Edom and ascending 270 metres to the campsite.

Today we head back to Petra to walk up to one of Petra's greatest monuments, Ad-Deir (The Monastery), set high above the city and almost hidden in the mountains.



From our camp we trek across a wild and windswept plateau called Alzantour, overlooking the Wadi Araba to the ruins of Petra. Upon reaching the rim of Jabel Almatalah we are rewarded with a superb panorama over the mountains of Petra. From here we follow a trail along some spectacular ledges to arrive at the cliffs at the top of Petra where we enter via the Monastery (1,120m). This is the part of Petra which is visited the least and a unique and unforgettable vantage point offering excellent views out over the whole city. We walk down the steps from the Monastery and visit the church, Alhabes Castle, then to the main tombs and the Nabatean Temple. The remainder of the day is free to explore the site at leisure. In the late afternoon our trek follows a different route along small paths called Wadi Alturkmanyah back to our campsite.



Today's 18 kilometre walk and guided tour is expected to take around seven hours, it is approximately a two hour walk to The Monastery.

This morning we walk from the campsite to little Petra. The ruins of little Petra are approached from one end by the narrow canyon known as Siq Barid (the Cold Canyon). Inside the Little Petra valley the walls are lined with tombs and the remains of caves previously inhabited by the Nabateans.



After visiting the site we drive along the Desert Highway before joining one of the oldest trade routes in the world, the King's Highway, up to the impressive Crusader Castle of Kerak, imposingly sited on a hilltop. Kerak became famous in the time of the Crusades as one of a chain of fortresses in the Holy War against Islam. The castle was built in 1132 by Baldwin of Jerusalem, a Crusader king.



Later in the afternoon, we continue to the small, mainly Christian town of Madaba where we spend the night. Madaba is famous for its collection of extraordinary mosaics, including the Great Map of Palestine (6th century). Discovered in 1896, and only fragmentary, it contains a good picture of Jerusalem.



This morning's three kilometre walk is expected to take around 45 minutes along a flat route.

This morning we visit Jebel Neba, better known as Mount Nebo - the point from which Moses saw the Promised Land. From here we descend to the lowest place on earth, the shimmering Dead Sea. Surrounded by barren hills, this unique water body has an amazingly high salt content (33%) that means no animal life survives and that it is almost impossible to sink. The experience of floating naturally is unique and relaxing on the calm sea. There is also the opportunity for mud pack treatments, renowned for their precious mineral contents and their health and beauty benefits. We have access to the use of showers and washing facilities.



After a float we continue ancient Jerash. Located in the Gilead Hills, it is considered to be the best-preserved city of the Decapolis, a confederation of ten Roman cities. One of the highlights of the Middle East, a triple arch gateway gives way to colonnaded streets, theatres, temples and baths. Particularly striking is the elegant forum - a fitting place to reflect on our exploration of this wonderful desert kingdom before we return to Amman. There may be time this afternoon to visit a Hamman in Amman.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Amman.



There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Amman at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), a 30 minutes' drive from the hotel.