A Week In Jordan

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 158 reviews.

Peter Howard

A WEEK IN JORDAN

Written May 2012
An excellent week with first class guide and helpers. Very good itinery from begining to end. Cannot suggest making any changes at all.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Every day was inspirational!
What did you think of your group leader?
Absolutely brilliant!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Go on the week in Jordan trip.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Everything was good so nothing to add.
Richard Farmer

A WEEK IN JORDAN

Written May 2012
Excellent trip...a holiday full of excitement and wonder! Jordan is a fantastic country with breathtaking scenery, fascinating history, welcoming people and tasty food! The week in Jordan will definitely stay with me for a long time to come.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Too many to mention and amazingly all packed into one week.
What did you think of your group leader?
Khaled did a fantastic job with the group, ably assisted by Sadam the tourist policeman and Kamal our driver. They all took great care of the group both from a professional viewpoint with the day to day activities, but also from the social aspect, they were more than happy to join in!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you are thinking of going...JUST GO! Nothing to be worried about regarding safety. It is really a fantastic country!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Shame I couldn't stay another week!
Sheila Grady

A WEEK IN JORDAN

Written May 2012
I loved every minute of the trip to this fascinating country, which has culture, archeological highlights and plenty of mixed activity involved. The fact that our group of mixed ages, from 23 years old to late 70's, bonded so well, added to the enjoyment.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Camping in the Wadi Rum and sleeping under the stars, was the most magical time for me. But visiting Petra, which I hadn't realised was so vast, was also an amazing experience.
What did you think of your group leader?
Khaled was one of the most interesting, kind and experienced guides I've encountered on my travels. His love and knowledge of his country was very evident and he happily shared this with us. His dry sense of humour also went down well with the group.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for plenty of hiking in Petra, if you want to make the most of it. There is so much to take in.
Absorb the culture and enjoy the food, it is wonderful.
The only minor problem I had, was trying to drink the strong sweetened tea (mint or otherwise) that is customary in Jordan. Unsweetened weak tea, are not words Jordanians seem to understand!
Traffic can be chaotic in Amman, so leave plenty of time to get to the airport at end of trip.
Some taxi drivers smoke when driving, not pleasant for us non smokers, even if the windows are wound down.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Go for it!
Jordan is not to be missed and it depends on tourism to keep its economy going.
The people are friendly and helpful.
Not once did I feel unsafe in their company, except perhaps when being driven from the Amman airport to the hotel, on the first day of the trip, by a rather erratic taxi driver!
Dianne Fletcher

A WEEK IN JORDAN

Written May 2012
A fantastic trip - lots to do and see, and all packed in to a week. A fascinating mix of history, geography and culture. In King Abdullah's words, Jordan is in a 'rough neighbourhood', but please do not let this put you off. Jordan is a peaceful and safe haven in this difficult area, and at no time did we experience any problems. The people are very friendly, welcoming and helpful, and I have rarely felt safer in a big city or tourist attraction.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing the Treasury for the first time was amazing and photographs can not prepare you for the real thing. The night in Wadi Rum was also fantastic and we were looked after very well. I also really enjoyed floating in the Dead Sea and being coated in black mud - a real group bonding experience!
What did you think of your group leader?
Danny was a fantastic group leader - very knowledgeable, extremely well-organised, and friendly and caring. He made sure that everything ran smoothly, down to getting up early to buy tickets to Petra so that we did not have to wait in a queue. Nothing was too much trouble and he took a personal interest in each and everyone of us. His love of his country was obvious and he went out of his way to show us aspects of his country that tourists often miss - for example, taking us to a local bakery and fruit market to buy a picnic. His knowledge of the history of the area was incredible and he told lots of good stories. He also seems to know all the best places to eat!

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take good footwear as there is a fair amount of walking over stony dusty ground. Lightweight cotton clothes, with a light fleece for evenings.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I would not hesitate to recommend this trip to friends. Ours was a large group - 18 people - but it did not feel like that as Danny managed everything so well. He arranged optional group meals every evening - and we all went! He created such a welcoming warm atmosphere that included everyone and these evenings were a very enjoyable part of the trip.
Norman Taylor

A WEEK IN JORDAN

Written May 2012
This was a unforgettable holiday, leaded by a master in guiding, a great introduction into a country rich in history. The tour encompassed both archaeology, history, scenery, and culture, Jordan is one of best places I have ever visited.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The desert in Wadi Rum.
Stopping for a tea break along "The Jordanian Grand Canyon" and having our first Bedouin Whisky Party as Danny called it.
FLoating in the Dead Sea.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader was just brilliant, extremly knowlegable, very professional also very well-organized, Danny have made our tour so special with his skills, his art or presentation of the subjects, he also looked after us very well & we felt so safe with him and most of the time made us feel very special, I was also surprised how Danny acted very professionally toward some of the ladies in our group that were keen on him, well, I also thought that Danny was a charming person & in my opinion he is number one middle east, in which, he did not like to be called that way, truly fantastic person.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Just do it, you will never regret it.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I cannot recommend this holiday enough - its a perfect adventure. Fascinating, exciting and yet safe and secure.
Martin Roberts

A WEEK IN JORDAN

Written May 2012
We have both travelled a lot, usually independently and outside Europe, but this is possibly the best one-week holiday either of us has been on. The itinerary is perfect for that length of time, as it incorporates iconic sights such as Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea; Jordan is an extremely welcoming and friendly country - all the more remarkable when you consider its neighbours; and the trip was outstandingly well run with a brilliant guide who was very knowledgeable and passionate about his country.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
We've been wanting to visit Petra for a long time, and the Treasury (the rock-hewn facade that everyone associates with the site) is absolutely stunning, however many pictures you may have seen before. However, we never realised how extensive the site is, and it is full of some of the most amazing man-made structures. The Monastery may be a long, steep and hot walk, but is well worth it, as is the second day hike to take a bird's eye view of Petra. Camping out under the stars at Wadi Rum was very memorable, but to add something that isn't always mentioned, we both enjoyed the boat trip from Aqaba and the surprisingly impressive reefs for snorkelling
What did you think of your group leader?
Danny was outstanding, and I'm fairly sure that everyone in our group felt the same, even if they don't get round to writing a review. He was extremely warm, friendly and approachable, and nothing was too much trouble. He has clearly been running the trip for some time as it went like clockwork, but Danny was still keen and enthusiastic to tell us about his great country and to make sure that everyone had a wonderful holiday. We had a great group and everyone got on really well, but I'm sure part of that was down to Danny's skill as a leader, making everyone feel welcome and included, and sorting out any minor problems almost before they occurred.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
You will receive plenty of warning about this at the time, but it's worth bearing in mind how long, tiring and potentially expensive the days in Petra can be. Going from the gate to the furthest extent, at the Monastery, is a very long way - and then you have to come back again! There is transport on offer, but it is broken down into stages, so if you didn't feel like walking at all, you would have to take a horse, then horse-drawn 'rickshaw', camel and finally donkey up the steps. The horse is included in the ticket price, but the operators still push hard for as big a tip as they can get. All the others are negotiable, but it could end up expensive if you don't bargain hard, and the heat means you end up climbing on that camel when you vowed you would never need one.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you have ever been put off going to Jordan for some reason - possibly because of seeing where it is on the map, then put those worries aside and go. You can see some truly amazing sites and have plenty of memorable experiences in just over a week's travelling. It's a packed tour, but strikes the perfect balance by fitting plenty in without leaving everyone feeling too tired and harassed. We were also pleasantly surprised by the excellent standard of accommodation, especially considering the price of the trip. We went in late May, when the official high season had just ended, so I imagine at those times Petra can be a bit less pleasant and with a not so good hotel because of the crowds. As I mentioned before as well, Jordanians are very friendly and helpful, and the hassle is minimal, especially compared with the constant badgering from stall-holders in particular that you often get in other Middle Eastern/North African countries.
Nicola Dunleavy

A WEEK IN JORDAN

Written April 2012
A brilliant but hectic week travelling around a truly fascinating country. Although principally a "sightseeing" tour, you'll need to have your walking legs on for Petra and your camping head on for the Wadi Rum! I had an awesome time and made some lovely new friends but you never know what kind of group you're going to get so it definitely pays to have a laid back approach to life! The weather was starting to get very hot when we were there in April so I wouldn't recommend visiting Jordan (or anywhere in the Middle East) much later on in the year as the weather would be unbearable.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
My two stand out moments were fairly predictable but no less enjoyable because of that:
- walking down the Siq at Petra and catching my first glimpse of the breathtakingly beautiful Treasury; and
- sleeping under the stars in Wadi Rum and watching the moon make its way across the night sky.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader was great - smart, extremely well informed, kind, helpful and endlessly patient. If anything, he gave us a bit too much information and could have perhaps shortened and/or simplified some of the explanations that he gave us. I think he may have assumed a bit too much prior knowledge on the part of the group!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
A week is long enough to see the key sights of Jordan but it's still a pretty hectic itinerary. So don't be expecting long lie-ins or anything!
Highlights for me were Petra (of course) and the majestic Wadi Rum. You'll get most out of Petra if you have a reasonable level of fitness as it's a vast site to cover and many of the best trails and viewpoints requires some (fairly tough) climbing. It can also get blisteringly hot, even when we were there in April, so be sure to wear heaps of sunscreen and a hat. And drink plenty of water.
As long as you're prepared for fairly basic conditions in the desert, you'll have a great time at Wadi Rum. And the food we had there was absolutely delicious!
It would have been nice to have a bit longer in Aqaba (Red Sea) after the rigours of the desert but there wasn't time in the itinerary for that. I can highly recommend the boat trip in Aqaba. We had the entire boat to ourselves (there were only about 10 of us) and both the snorkelling and the lunch they fed us were brilliant. Judging by what those who didn't come on the boat told us, it was definitely the best thing to do in Aqaba.
Amman was a bit of a disappointment ie, a mostly modern city with very few sights of historical interest, but that's fine as it was mostly just a starting and finishing point for the trip.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Make sure you get a good guidebook before you go and make the effort to mug up on some of the history and politics of the country and broader region. It's such a fascinating part of the world with so much to see and do. I constantly wished I knew more about so many things (although our guide was great for filling in the gaps!)

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Our Clients’ Reviews

A WEEK IN JORDAN

A WEEK IN JORDAN

A WEEK IN JORDAN

A WEEK IN JORDAN

A WEEK IN JORDAN

A WEEK IN JORDAN

A WEEK IN JORDAN