View Expedition Map

Expedition Guide

Raed Saleem: Raed Saleem has been with A&K since the opening of the Jordan office in 1998, escorting hiking, trekking and camping programs. Raed has a B.A. in Literature from Kuwait University and has attended many training courses and workshops in ecological tourism.

Travel Facts

Country Name

Jordan

Capital

Amman

Coordinates

31 00 N, 36 00 E

Area

Total: 92,300 sq km
Land: 91,971 sq km
Water: 329 sq km

Elevation Extremes

Low: Dead Sea -408 m
High: Jabal Ram 1,734 m

Population

5,924,000

Demonym

Jordanian

Climate

Month	High	Low	Rain
Jan	52	39	2.50
Feb	55	40	2.50
Mar	61	44	1.70
Apr	71	51	0.70
May	80	57	0.10
Jun	85	63	0
Jul	88	67	0
Aug	88	67	0
Sep	85	64	0
Oct	79	58	0.20
Nov	66	49	1.10
Dec	56	42	1.90

Time Zone

UTC+2 (UTC+2)

Currency

Jordanian dinar (JOD)

Voltage

230 V

Calling Code

+962

Jordan: Ancient Strongholds & Desert Camps

Expedition Type [ Desert Expeditions ]
Difficulty [ Moderate ]
Activities [ Bicycling, Camel Riding, Camping, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Rappelling, Swimming ]
Duration [ 8 Days ]

Expedition Timeline

Jordan's ancient fortresses and haunting landscapes are irresistible to the desert adventurer. Beginning at the Dead Sea, this expedition takes in Jordan's most spectacular sites, which become yours to discover by Jeep, by camel and on foot. Bike to Herodus Antipas' palace, abseil through black basalt and white limestone canyons and explore the impressive, maze-like Crusader castle at Karak. Then switch gears, zooming through Wadi Rum by Jeep, sleeping under the stars in a Bedouin tent, exploring the sands by camel and dining at the home of Lawrence of Arabia. Afterward, the "rose-red" city of Petra awaits, carved from the mountain in which it resides. Conclude your expedition hiking the Dana Nature Reserve.

Days 1-2

Arrive Amman, Jordan/The Dead Sea

Upon arrival, meet fellow adventurers over dinner and ready yourself for the upcoming adventure. The next morning, you start the day preparing for the exertions ahead bathing in the Dead Sea. After, head out on a 10-mile biking expedition from Madaba along surfaced roads before continuing another 12 ½ miles along a narrow, paved village route to Mukawer, the hilltop palace of Herodus Antipas.

Kempinski Hotel Ishtar [ B L D (Day 1: D) ]

Day 3

Dead Sea / Madaba / Dead Sea

After an early breakfast, meet your expedition team and drive to Madaba. After a quick briefing, hit the trailhead next to the village of Ma'in to start your canyoning adventure. Intersecting a black basalt canyon and white limestone canyon, you reach the first waterfall, where you have plenty of time to abseil its reaches. Rappel down another impressive nearby waterfall, and hike for about an hour until you reach the hot springs, where splendid pools — girded by travertine drapes — are found.

Kempinski Hotel Ishtar [ B L D ]

Days 4-5

Karak/Wadi Rum

Depart the Dead Sea on your way to Wadi Rum, where you board your Jeep tour for an off-road desert adventure. After an exciting day’s exploration, gather in your remote Bedouin-style camp, where you enjoy dinner and the camaraderie of your teammates beneath a curtain of brilliant desert stars. The next day, set out on camelback to the house of Lawrence where you visit and have lunch. From there, return to your Jeep to explore inside Wadi Rum, pausing to watch the sun sink beneath the horizon.

Bedouin-style tented camp [ B L D ]

Day 6

Petra

Today, you spend at Petra, arriving by horseback, and then exploring the ancient city on foot. Built from 800 BC to AD 100 by Nabetean Arabs, this fortress was carved from the craggy rocks where it resides. At day’s end, continue to the ruggedly beautiful Dana Village Lodge, located within a reserve stretching from 5,900-foot-high Sharaa Mountains to the dunes of Wadi Araba at sea level.

Dana Village Lodge [ B L D ]

Day 7

Dana Nature Reserve

Set out on the Wadi Dana trail, which passes through the Dana Nature Reserve’s diverse vegetation zones — from Mediterranean scrub forest to stony deserts. Explore the reserve on foot, ending at Wadi Feynan eco-lodge. Developed by Jordan’s Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, it is constructed of local materials and lit by candles at night.

Wadi Feynan [ B L D ]

Day 8

Depart Amman

Check out of your lodge and transfer to the airport for your international departure.

[ B ]

Departure Dates & Pricing

Various Departure Dates can be arranged. Please tell us your preferred travel dates on the reservation form.