Jordan Family - Wadi Rum, Petra and the Dead Sea

Day 1: Arrive in Madaba

Rendezvous at the group hotel in Madaba. There will be a single group transfer in the evening from Amman Airport. A representative of our local agent will assist with the 20 minute transfer to the group hotel in Madaba. KE group package services begin with overnight at the group hotel. Meals included: None (you will arrive at the hotel at 11pm)

Day 2: Drive south to Petra via Wadi ibn Hammad

After breakfast at our hotel, we meet our local guide and board our transport for the drive south to Wadi Musa, the town adjacent to the ancient ruins of Petra. We don't drive there directly via the featureless Desert Highway. Instead, we follow the King's Highway through the Moab Mountains which lie to the east of the Dead Sea. After an hour and a half's drive we reach Wadi ibn Hammad, one of a number of impressive sandstone canyons which flow down out of the mountains. Here, we take the opportunity to stretch our legs with a walk down into the gorge, which is subtropical in appearance, its walls festooned with 'hanging gardens' of lush vegetation and palm trees. A clear, shallow stream flows through the canyon and there are hot springs which we can swim in. After our walk, it's back in the bus for the short drive to the town of Kerak, where we have lunch. Nearby is one of the most impressive of all Crusader castles, which we will be able to visit. Dating from the 12th century, Kerak Castle has an interesting museum and views which stretch to the Dead Sea. After spending an hour at this site, we will complete our drive to Wadi Musa (1 hour), where we will check into our hotel and have time to rest and freshen up before dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 3: Petra sightseeing, drive to Wadi Rum

We have arranged for a sightseeing visit to the ancient city of Petra, accompanied by a knowledgeable English speaking guide. Making an early start, we will walk to the Visitor Centre, pick up our tickets and set off through the narrow 'Siq' which leads to the heart of this site. If you wish, you can ride a horse for the first few hundred metres of the approach to the site (the cost of this is included in the Petra entrance fee - but note that the horsemen expect a tip). Petra was created by the Nabateans, an industrious people of Arab descent who came to this part of Jordan some 2500 years ago. The city lay entirely deserted and forgotten for a period of approximately 300 years before its 'rediscovery' in 1812. Approaching through the gloomy kilometre-long chasm of the Siq provides a dramatic contrast as we reach arguably the most spectacular of the city's rock-hewn buildings, the magnificent Treasury, with its intricately carved facade. There are over 800 individual monuments at Petra, including temples, tombs, arched gateways and entire streets, carved from the colourful native sandstone. Other highlights are the High Place of Sacrifice, which offers views across the whole area, and the Monastery which is even bigger than the Treasury and is reached by way of 800 steps. It is not possible to see everything in one day. After a morning with the guide, we will take a break for lunch at one of several restaurants on site. The afternoon is free for a bit of independent exploration and then we will make our way back to the Visitor Centre by 4.30 to meet our bus for the one and a half hour drive to Wadi Rum. We will meet our Bedouin hosts at the new Wadi Rum Visitor Centre and transfer our baggage from the bus to our 4-wheel-drive vehicles. It is a short drive to our semi permanent camp close to Jebel um Sabata, some 10 miles out into the desert, south of Wadi Rum Village. Our camp is centred around a large, traditional Bedouin tent, made of tough goat-hair fabric and around 20 metres long. There is also a toilet tent and a camp shower. Meals are cooked on a fire actually inside the tent (part of which is open at the top) and the group will also eat breakfasts and evening meals in this communal tent. On this evening, we will be ready for dinner and then bed. If you wish, you can commandeer a corner of the large tent and sleep there, or use the simple, 2-person tents which are also provided. (B,D)

Day 4: Lawrence Spring and desert exploration

The itinerary that we have set up is easy-paced and there is no need to make too early a start. Breakfast will usually be under way by 7.30 a.m. and this consists of bread, sometimes heated on the fire, a choice of jams, cheese and halva, as well as eggs, either served as an omelette or hard boiled. Tea is supplied in quantity and Nescafe is also available. Anybody who wishes can pocket a snack for later. Usually fruit is available also for this. After breakfast, we return to Rum Village by jeep and hike up a clearly marked and easy path to Shelaala (Lawrence's Spring). This is the same spring described in the book Seven Pillars of Wisdom and you can see how exact the description is. On the way we will see Nabatean inscriptions on the rocks. This tiny corner of Jebel Rum is shaded and cool even in the height of summer and gives us a lovely view over the village and south-east towards the desert. The water dripping down from the roof of the spring is completely pure and anybody who wishes can drink it. We might take the time to make tea here.

The Bedouin children, who are usually to be found here, tending small herds of goats, will be intrigued to meet youngsters from foreign lands. We now have the option of returning to the village by the same way we came, which takes half an hour. Or, we can follow an interesting path southwards along the edge of Jebel Rum to Abu Aina. This takes an hour or so and involves some very easy scrambling. Reunited with our jeep transport, we will drive around to the sand dunes at the southern end of Jebel um Ishrin. These are the biggest dunes we will see, rising 50 metres or more above the desert floor. We will climb the dunes and descend into the narrow confines of Wadi um Ishrin, which makes a suitably shady place to stop for lunch. Our Bedouin hosts will lay out a selection of salads and tinned tuna or cheese, with fruit and biscuits, as well as fruit juice and tea or coffee. After a siesta, we can make an exploration into the cool um Ishrin canyon, with easy walking and interesting scrambling through narrow passages and over smooth rock slabs. The Nabatean ruin known as 'Lawrence's House' is reachable in a 2 hour easy hike. Although it is unlikely that Lawrence ever came here, this is a great spot, with views across Wadi Rum. Young children can stay with the jeeps if necessary during this hike. From Lawrence's House, we will return by jeep to the camp at Khazali for supper and sleep. On one of our days at Wadi Rum, we will try to arrange a visit to a Bedouin family at their tented camp, although fewer and fewer families now choose to live in the desert. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Rock arches

Today, we will do some exploring amongst the jebels which lie to the south of our camp. There is the option of a 2-hour morning walk or a rather shorter transfer by jeep to Jebel um Frith. Here, there is a striking rock formation sometimes called the 'Middle Arch' which can easily be climbed. Although only about 20 metres high, there are impressive views of nearby eroded cliffs and vast tracts of desert. We continue by jeep for half an hour through the valley of Farata Sheib towards a second, lower arch which makes a great place to have lunch. Resting for a couple of hours during the heat of the day, we will then set off to hike for about 2 hours through a narrow and attractive valley called Abu Khashaba. This takes us to an open wadi where we can look up to the 'Burdah Bridge', a wonderful arch which is situated 200 metres above the wadi on Jebel Burdah. At some point in the day, we can visit a particularly fine and very old rock inscription which shows a camel caravan. In the afternoon, if anyone wants to try riding a camel, this can be arranged at Rum Village at additional cost, providing there are at least 6 of the group who want to do this. Camel riding is very easy, and even young children are quickly at ease and can control their mounts like veterans. When we return to camp on this last evening in the desert, we will have a party, with a traditional Bedouin dish cooked in a pit in the ground. Anybody who wants to try eating with their fingers is welcome – but we will supply a spoon as well! (B,L,D)

Day 6: Transfer to Aqaba on the Red Sea

After a final breakfast at camp, we will drive to Wadi Rum Village, say goodbye to our Bedouin friends and board the bus that will take us on the 1-hour journey to Aqaba. Situated at the northern tip of the Red Sea, Aqaba is known for its sandy beaches, unbelievably clear water, coral reefs and colourful fish. It is an understandably popular spot for SCUBA diving. After checking in at our hotel, we will start our short visit with a glass-bottomed boat trip out into the Gulf of Aqaba. As well as allowing us to see some of the multicoloured fish that inhabit the offshore reefs, this boat trip will give us a new perspective on the port of Aqaba and its mountainous backdrop. After the boat trip, we will spend some time on the beach, with the chance to try our hand at snorkelling in the clear, warm water. Lunch will be at a beach café or at a restaurant in the centre of town. We will also visit the old part of the town, before returning to our hotel for dinner. (B)

Day 7: Drive to Madaba via the Dead Sea

Today, we will head north, stopping off after around 3- hours drive at the Dead Sea. This inland sea has a high salt concentration (four times saltier than normal sea water) and this means that the human body floats very easily - a fact which we will take the opportunity to test. The mineral-rich waters and sticky black mud are supposed to have curative powers. The Dead Sea is also the lowest point on earth at over 400 metres below sea level. After lunch beside the Dead Sea, we will return to the pleasant town of Madaba and our hotel. There will be some time before dinner to do some sightseeing, with the most stand-out attraction being the Greek Orthodox Church of St George, which is home to a famous 6th century mosaic map of the Holy Land. Set into the floor of the church, the mosaic presents a colourful picture of Jerusalem and its holy sites, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dead Sea, Jericho and the Jordan River. It provides a fascinating and very early map of the region. Overnight at the group hotel in Madaba. (B,L)

Day 8: Depart Amman, arrive UK

If you are on the British Midland flight we start early with a group transfer to the airport in time to check in for a breakfast time flight. If you are on the evening Easy Jet flight an airport transfer is also provided. If you are on the later flight then you have the opportunity to take advantage of an optional trip to Jerash. (B)