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A fantastic week with a great group. Although Petra was the highlight, Wadi Rum came a close second. Having two full days to explore Petra was just right, and although I wasn't sure about my first sight of the Treasury being by candlelight after a long day of travelling and swimming in the Dead Sea, with hindsight I'm glad we did it that way round. I certainly wouldn't have been up to another walk up and down the Siq on the final evening after two hard days of walking and climbing. I particularly liked the way we were given a very informative guided tour of each attraction and then allowed plenty of time to explore by ourselves.The Jordanian people were particularly welcoming and friendly.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
That first glimpse of the Treasury from the Siq at Petra has to be my first choice, but the vast silence of Wadi Rum cmes a close second.
What did you think of your group leader?
Khaled is a wonderful leader. Nothing was too much trouble, and his considerable knowledge combined with unfailing good humour ensured we never suffered from information overload. He was always there to answer the million questions we threw at him, and was equally willing to help with problems and queries beyond what I would expect from a holiday guide. A truly inspirational leader.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Collect small change in coins at every opportunity. There are lavatory attendants at all tourist attractions (many handing out loo paper to each individual customer) who expect to be tipped. Calls of nature can become expensive when you have to hand out a 1 dinar note, roughly the equivelant of £1 each time you only want to spend a penny.
Take flipflops or crocs for the Dead Sea -- the sand is very sharp and crunchy, even under water.
Check the weather forecast for Jordan before final packing. I left a warm and sunny London in early March to find snow piled in the streets of Amman. It was unusual weather for the time of year, but luckily, I had warm and waterproof clothing. Three days later, we were swimming in the warm waters of the Dead Sea and sunbathing on the beach.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The hotels were surprisingly good, of a higher standard than I expected. Aqaba was also a surprise. Unexpectedly cosmopolitan and pleasant seaside city, totally unlike the hustle and bustle of Amman.
Laura Duncan
A WEEK IN JORDAN
Written
This was such a perfect holiday. I saw everything I wanted to see in Jordan and more.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Petra had to be the highlight, but looking out from Mount Nebo and swimming in the Dead Sea were amazing too.
What did you think of your group leader?
Khaled was simply fantastic. Thoughtful, intelligent and passionate about introducing us to his country. He struck an excellent balance between taking us round as a group and giving us time to explore separately.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Book now!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I enjoyed the company of all the people I met on the trip. This was my first organised tour and I would definitely book on one again. It was superbly organised and very good value for money.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Walking down the siq for our first glimpse of The Treasury for the Petra by candlelight evening.
Exploring Petra, especially the 'adventure hike' we did to the high places above The Treasury.
The night spent at Wadi Rum and seeing the amazing starlit sky.
What did you think of your group leader?
Dani was just brilliant. He truly loved his country and was very knowledgeable. He was fun to be with and looked after us all very well. He was caring and considerate.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
As we went in February and north Jordan had snow, I would suggest plenty of layers with more warm clothes than you might expect to pack. Take a good sleeping bag for the night in Wadi Rum. Comfy walking shoes/boots essential.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you are thinking about doing this trip, go for it, it is brilliant. You visit so many interesting places and do a lot but there are chill out times built in too. Eating out was very good value and the people are so lovely, warm and welcoming to visitors.
An amazing sightseeing trip - lots of busy days and walking, there isn't much free time. Lots of hightlights for me - practically everything on the itinerary.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing the Treasury at Petra for the first time. We did Petra by Night, which whilst quite pricey, is well worth doing for the magical experience. It is also amazing to see it during daylight for the first time, as well as the high climb on the second day in Petra where you get such a good persepctive on the whole city form up high.
What did you think of your group leader?
Excellent - Kheled was very informative and helpful.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take bath plugs - most of the hotels don't have them and sometimes the pressure in the showers isn't always great.
It is easy to change money over there
Most hotels have UK plug sockets so you don't need to worry about adaptors.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I was also really surprised by Jerash, I wasn't expecting it to be so well preserved.
A great trip. I wouldent want tghis level of organisation all the time but having given in to it I felt we got a lot done in a relatively short space of time. The pacing was good so that just as we got used to one amazing aspect, another came along.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Walking on our own in Petra and watching the sun go down in Wadi Rum.
What did you think of your group leader?
Very professional. He gave a close and personal tour whilst keeping personal thoughts on sometimes tricky political matters secret. His knowledge was rounded and excellent and his specialist architectural knowledge very useful.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Not really. I think the trip notes are pretty comprehensive. But take a plug!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
It feels pretty safe so the policeman seems redundent but maybe there was more going on than we knew. It might have been nice to go to non dry restaurents more often and something a bit special for Xmas day would have been nice.
Jordan is a charming country and I would definitely recommend a visit. The people are so welcoming (always saying 'welcome to Jordan'!), friendly and speak a good level of English, even children as young as 6. I travelled with a very good tour firm, Exodus, and we were a group of 19, ranging from 24-65. There were solos, siblings, friends and couples. We felt like we had known each other for years by day 4! I definitely enjoyed travelling alone and highly recommend it.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Petra is obviously the highlight of Jordan yet it is difficult to explain in words and I doubt my pictures could justify the range of colours and stonework that was on display. The striated rocks of red, pink, chocolate looked even more radiant once the sun had calmed down in the late afternoon.
The Treasury is Petra's most famous feature, depicted in the Indian Jones & the Last Crusade film, and is situated at the end of the narrow entrance, which itself has carvings and 'statues' lining its path.
There was a lot of climbing and hiking to reach some of Petra's many tombs, dodging camels, donkeys and horses en route and you need to be prepared for thatm, but it's worth doing.
What did you think of your group leader?
I was very fortunate to have an amazing guide for the whole tour, who brought Jordan alive with his humour and vast knowledge and love of his country. I was also lucky with my lovely tour group.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
You need about 200 GBP to take with you as spending money.
Go to Little Petra.
This is unfortunately a place that is often forgotten by the tourists so it was quite deserted when we arrived. Again, fantastic views and I purchased many of my goods from the poorer Bedouins who ply their trade at the entrance.
Food was very good though there wasn't so much variety. The mezze were addictive and the national dish is mansaaf (lamb with rice and yogurt). They love lamb and chicken. And rice. Lots of rice. If you have meze you dont need a main. Massive portions. In Aqaba there is more choice of fish and seafood.
Don't pay more than 4JOD for a scarf!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Book it -it is worth it and good value. Some of the hotels need to sort out their aircon and the brekki isnt up to much , so make sure you ask the guide to take to to a fruit market.
Victoria Mance
A WEEK IN JORDAN
Written
A busy week's sightseeing, taking in all the highlights of Jordan. A full itinerary, but still plenty of R&R and "downtime" for people wanting to chill out as well as taking in all the sights.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I think everyone books to go to Jordan because they want to visit Petra. It doesn't disappoint. You walk for the best part of three or four kilometres before, as the path (carved out from an old river gulley) winds its way yet again through yet another twist between rose red vertical cliffs, you catch that first glimpse of the Treasury between the walls of the Siq. And stop to take at least one photo before walking on to gaze up - necks crooked - at the heights of the Treasury and the facing cliffs.
Being there in the week before Christmas in the year of the Arab Spring, there were just no crowds - and very few other people - there with us; the moment was magical.
What did you think of your group leader?
Ala was informative, interesting, and hilarious in equal measure. A large chap, he created quite a splash with the locals wherever we went, being personally known to almost everyone everywhere we stopped - including the boat crew, who forgave him when he divebombed into the Red Sea and drenched the back of the boat including the BBQ with lunch being prepared! What they don't tell you in the brochure is that every tour involving American, English or Aussie tourists must - by order of the Jordanian government - be accompanied by a tourist policeman. That is usually a spotty 18 or 21 year old, newly recruited to the Jordanian police service, who will sit at the front of the bus and fall asleep on long bus journeys. Ala - bless him - ended up guiding the Exodus tourists in English, and the tourist policemen in Arabic (we had a changeover of policemen mid-trip), with a big smile on his face as he said everything at least three times (some of the tourists were a bit hard of hearing!)
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Travel with a smile, and see where the tour takes you. Be open minded. Compared to other places in the middle east - or indeed around the world - you really do get "no hassle" in Jordan, Petra aside. You can't help but smile at Petra as the boys see if you'd like a donkey or camel ride - "air condition taxi, miss?" In a country where people dress relatively conservatively, follow their customs and you don't get any hassle on the streets and do get a friendly welcome wherever you go.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Just do it. I'd been looking at this tour for several years, and am so glad we went. The week before Christmas was ideal - I think we saw only two other tour groups all week - but we were exceptionally lucky with the weather everyone said; apparently it isn't always sunny and hot in December ...
from 158 reviews.
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