Gorges and the Petra Trek

Day 1. Outbound

Fly to Amman and transfer to the nearby town of Madaba.

Day 2. The Dead Sea and the Mujib Canyon

Drive down into the great Rift Valley, in the depths of which is the unique Dead Sea. Numerous hidden canyons split the walls of this great valley, and within many of these one finds the unexpected delights of fresh flowing streams. Here you make an optional descent of the lower section of the Mujib Canyon. After wading or swimming through the water for one hour you reach the Mujib waterfall down which the qualified guide will lower you on a rope. Please note this descent is subject to water conditions and cannot be guaranteed. This is a physically challenging expedition lasting approximately 5 hours; not for the faint-hearted but great fun! After lunch and a quick dip in the Dead Sea you will drive along the scenic Wadi Araba road to stay at a delightful new eco-lodge at Fienan, situated in the lower end of the Dana nature reserve.

Days 3 to 6. Dana to Petra Trek

Enjoy some truly 'off the beaten track' trekking as you walk through the bewitching semi-arid landscape of the Abu Skakeen region, following ancient Bedouin and hunters' trails. You will witness the miraculous colours of the rocks change as the sun dances from one corner to the other. After a day meandering across the base of the Wadi Araba, the route climbs up into the mountains on the edge of the Rift Valley, seeking out perennial streams and springs. Ascents of the basalt mountains and sandstone escarpment will be quite tough but as long as you are reasonably fit you will enjoy the exertion. Nights will be spent camping 'Bedoin style' in remote locations, and in the evenings you can enjoy and experience true Bedouin food and lifestyle. Hunters trails cut across the contours of the mountainsides, and after an amazing excursion though a maze of rock pinnacles, you reach the Wadi Araba viewpoint where you will feel as if you are standing on the edge of time as you look out on the fascinating landscape, which leads you towards the famed site of Petra. This magical spot will surely remind you how the explorers of the 20th century felt on discovering this stunning rock-hewn city, 'as old as time'. You will have a chance to explore the intriguing site of Little Petra, the caravan station for the Nabataeans in ancient times, before retiring to your campsite.

Day 7. Petra

Enter the magical site of Petra by the unusual Monastery route. This is usually the last part of Petra that people reach so by arriving early in the morning you should have the place to yourselves! Descend from the Monastery and exit Petra by a secondary siq (canyon) before re-entering the site though the main siq for the true 'Indiana Jones' experience of emerging at the awe-inspiring face of the Treasury. Take the rest of the day to explore the wonders of Petra, and in the early evening make the hour and a half transfer to our fabulous fixed camp, Bait Ali, evocatively situated near the edge of Wadi Rum.

Days 8 and 9. Wadi Rum

Enjoy two full days of desert excursions using 4x4 vehicle support, walking through both sandy and rocky siqs, crossing wide wadis (dry river beds) on camelback and visiting impressive natural arches and pre-historic rock engravings. Returning to Bait Ali each evening you will be able to lie in the open-roofed Bedu tent and stare up at the stars enjoying the silence of this incredible place. You will be transferred back to Madaba, with time to explore this predominately Christian city, in the afternoon.

Day 10. Homeward

After overnighting in Madaba you will be transferred to Amman airport to connect with your flight home.

You may like to extend this tour by flying out a day earlier and taking a day trip to Jerash, the 'Pompei of the East', from the hotel in Madaba. A full day allows you to enjoy this fascinating site, with its triumphal arches, theatres and forums. Also, if you would like to add a coastal experience at the end of the tour, Aqaba is the perfect place to dust off the sand of the desert and relax in the warm waters of the Red Sea. Once the main port for King Solomon's fleet, today it is the ideal location for water sports and snorkelling over the stunning coral reefs. It is also a useful place to catch up on some souvenir shopping and enjoy some wonderful meals in this Mediterranean-style Arabic city. A third option would be to return to the Dead Sea and pamper yourself with a day or two of indulgence at a five star luxury spa resort for some ultimate, if a little expensive, relaxation! Please call us to discuss your requirements and we will quote you a price.