9 days from:
£1,249 to £1,479
including flights

The Lost City Of Petra - Family Holiday

Tripcode: FMJ

Countries visited: Jordan

Review your Exodus adventure now

Our Clients’ Reviews

Average Review Rating: from 12 reviews.

Phillip Oxenham

THE LOST CITY OF PETRA - FAMILY HOLIDAY

Written October 2012
Amazing to think that floating in the Dead Sea didn't make it in to our top 3 activities for the week. It was trumped by 1. Sleeping under the stars by a camp fire in Wadi Rum, 2. Snorkelling in the life size fish tank that is the Red Sea and 3. Petra by candle light - magical.
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Experiencing sleeping outdoors under the shadow of the towering rock faces of Wadi Rum and being able to clearly see all the stars, including the Milky Way next to the warmth of the camp fire. And then wake up for a camel ride. And to be able to able to share this exparience with your children.
What did you think of your group leader?
Ala was a good and informative leader who seemed to know everyone, everywhere. Most things ran smoothly and when they didn't Ala was able to rustle something up. His knowledge of the sites and history was excellent but he didn't always participte in all of the activities with the group.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Jordan wasn't particularly cheap and eating out (except some places in Aqaba) was quite pricey. There is quite a bit of travelling and a couple of packs of cards were essential. Ipods were also a god send - especially as a couple of the hotels had free wi-fi.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
What was refreshing was the ability to see fabulous historic sites and for there to be few health and safety restrictions/signs. This allowed the kids to run free and explore castles, Petra and the cliffs of Wadi Rum. The kids absolutely loved the freedom and this allowed the parents to discover things at their own pace and take the time to hear about the history without impatient kids. Our group ranged from children aged 7-14 and the activities allowed them to mix well and discover what being a kid used to be like - learning from playing outdoors.
Laila Atallah

THE LOST CITY OF PETRA - FAMILY HOLIDAY

Written July 2012
My two teenage children and I loved everything about this trip and would highly recommend it to others. Jordan is a beautiful country with friendly people. Petra was amazing. The overnight at the camp with our Bedouin hosts in the desert was the highlight. Our guide and driver were excellent.
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
We loved the desert. Beautiful and calm. The Bedouin hosts took wonderful care of us. The children took camel rides they enjoyed. We also enjoyed the immense calm of the Dead Sea surroundings.
What did you think of your group leader?
Excellent. Very knowledgeable and helpful.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take this trip!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I personally would prefer to eliminate tipping for the guide and local staff, and see the tips added to the cost of the trip. Less to worry about on the trip.
Prerna Desai

THE LOST CITY OF PETRA - FAMILY HOLIDAY

Written April 2012
A complete holiday for one incredible week.
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There are many parts of this trip which were unforgettable, but climbing the dunes of Wadi Rum and dancing with the Bedouins at the camp are the most memorable.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our leader, Samer, was freelance and contracted to us for the week. While very warm and helpful if asked, he did not take as much initiative in explaining to us the itinerary for the day or helping us understand what we might need in terms of the various bits and bobs required to make a trip more comfortable. For example, the group would often wonder how long a journey may be, where we would have lunch next, or how far we'd have to go before we reached a toilet.
With children (there were ten children) it is more essential to be told when we would need to slather suncream on them so we could do it before we got to a destination rather than waste time at it.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The Wadi Rum accommodation is actually quite good - they provide very thick blankets (in April at the time of writing this) - so you may not really need sleeping bags.
Aqaba has a laundry service round the corner from the hotel (Mina Hotel) and you can wash there if you need to.
Carry strong sunscreen for the Dead Sea and Red Sea and Bethany.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
I very much enjoyed this holiday - it encapsulated everything that Jordan has to offer within a very short amount of time.
I would however have liked to spend one more day in Amman because we did not get the opportunity to see Jerash. Perhaps getting to Aqaba earlier/leaving earlier might help to gain more time in order to see Jerash.
I wish the hotel in Amman was closer to the downtown area, as that may offer a glimpse of Amman. Our time in the city was fleeting so having a location closer to be able to see the city better would compensate for it. Also, there is nothing near the hotel at all, so the only choice was to eat its rather large (and expensive) menu. The staff though was warm and welcoming, as is usually the case with most Jordanians.
People are friendly and seem to really like foreigners. If you are kind and patient and friendly with them, they often go out of their way to help you.
Rachel Cuthbert

THE LOST CITY OF PETRA - FAMILY HOLIDAY

Written January 2012
Perfect half term trip for families with a great balance of sights to see, breaks for some DIY exploring and fun. Jordan has a beautifully barren landscape hiding some amazing sites that will stay with us always. We loved the Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum camping, Jerash, sitting on the bank of the River Jordan and cruising on the Red Sea.
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Emerging from the ancient gorge approach in darkness after the thirty minute walk to see the majesty of the Treasury at Petra lit by hundreds of candle lanterns was breathtaking. An experience that neither Hollywood or You Tube could spoil. Quick to correct, my daughter advises that the best bit was riding camels at Wadi Rum having slept under the stars by the camp fire. This trip really does have something for everyone.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our great group leader was a Palestinian refugee generous with his knowledge and life experiences. He really rounded out our experience giving us so much more than just historical background. Most importantly, given the age range of children and parental interests within the group, our guide was able to set a great pace - never rushed and able to fill the gaps when we finished things early.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Recommended for all interests and ages. We travelled in October 2012 and the weather was perfectly warm hot rather than hot hot. There are a couple of longer drives so a pack of cards in addition to the ubiquitous iPod / mp3 player really helped time pass. Food was delicious throughout. Our daughter couldn't get the hang of the breakfast buffets where the food choices were not familiar and I wish I had bought some more familiar "back up" snacks for her. Hats needed all round. Wouldn't recommend low cut tops or short shorts for Mums or Dads - dress is conservative - occasional inappropriate dress choices didn't cause an issue but I definitely felt more comfortable with covered shoulders/upper arms and knees! Children are welcome everywhere and were able to run wild climbing and exploring. Our long blond haired seven year old daughter did attract a little more local attention than the boys in the group but not in an excessive way. Final piece of advice...don't hesitate this is a great trip.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I don't think you can wrong booking an Exodus trip - the other families in the group were all different but we got along famously. We have talked about booking an Exodus trip together next year!
James Marsh

THE LOST CITY OF PETRA - FAMILY HOLIDAY

Written October 2011
We thoroughly enjoyed this holiday, it was a memorable experience for both adults and children. It was our first Exodus holiday and we immediately ordered a brochure to plan our next trip on our return. Jordan was a fantastic place to visit with a stunning scenery and very friendly people. I would thoroughly recommend this trip!
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There were many highlights during this action packed week - Petra, the Dead sea, snorkelling in Aqaba. However we all enjoyed the day and night in Wadi Rum the most. Our guide suggested paying extra to have an extended jeep excursion which was good advice. All the children and many adults slept under the stars - an amazing experience!
What did you think of your group leader?
Danny our guide was fantastic. He was enthusiastic, extremely knowledgeable and great with the children. He was full of fascinating information about his country and the Jordanian way of life. His advice regarding restaurants and additional extras was always sound.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If flying separately from the group it might be worth organising your visa before travelling. We had to queue for almost an hour on arrival which was not ideal after a long overnight flight. It was cool in the evenings and we needed jumpers. A couple of medium sized back packs were very handy for the coach. Some of the coach journeys were several hours long and it may be worth taking something to keep children entertained. There is a DVD player on the coach.
Susan Taylor

THE LOST CITY OF PETRA - FAMILY HOLIDAY

Written June 2011
My daughter and I loved this trip - beautiful landscapes, a range of things to do and great company. I could never have gained such insight into Jordan in one week travelling on our own - our guide was fantastic.
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Camel trekking in the Wadi Rum early in the morning and the majesty of Petra glowing pink in the sun.
What did you think of your group leader?
Fantastic: extremely knowledgeable, patient, with a fabulous sense of humour and - with 5 of his own children - great with the kids.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't stress about any part of the trip - it is well organised, well paced, interesting, diverse and fun.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I could have spent much more time in Wadi Rum, really, I just loved it. Consider doing a day's camel trek as part of the package.
Barbara Roemmele

THE LOST CITY OF PETRA - FAMILY HOLIDAY

Written April 2011
I had gone expecting Petra to be the highlight but was bowled over by all the activities being interesting and enjoyable . How can one small country have so much to see and do , one memorable experience after another.
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Walking out of the Siq in Petra atnight by candlelight ; waking up in the desert ; the amazing fish in the Red sea and bagpipe players in the ampitheatre in Jerash!
What did you think of your group leader?
What a great guy, knowledgable , tolerant of children , would arrange anything ,he took us to Petra at night and organised our boat trip and our trip to Jerash when the gladiator show was on.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take a sleeping bag to the desert ,take a fleece and sunblock and go because it was well worth it.The Dead sea is just a strange experience .
Is there anything else you would like to add?
My son who is 13 really enjoyed it ; he rode a horse a donkey and a camel in 2 days .