Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the milky way and sleeping under the rotating stars. Seeing the treasury at Petra for the first time by candlelight.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was very friendly, knowledgeable and well organised, but also allowed people to enjoy the trek at their own pace.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring snack food like nuts, chocolate etc for the trek. Definitely bring a camera!

Suggestions

I would like to see exodus take the lead in keeping wadi rum campsites free of litter, with a leave no trace ethos applied. There was quite a lot of rubbish at the back of some of the camps and it would be a shame to spoil such a beautiful location by leaving rubbish behind.

Most Inspirational Moment

The sunset over the desert and the new moon/evening star combinationAlso, seeing the Treasury   

Thoughts on Group Leader

By and large he was good  - but had a tendency to overelaborate when perhaps silence would have been better.  there were a few occassions where he could have picked up the tempo a little such as when we were at Petra where people were conscious of being on a tight time schedule.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take wet wipes, light weight boots and compede.  Also for the scrambling, try and get some gloves unless you want to have your finger prints erased.

Most Inspirational Moment

Standing on top of the rock bridge, quite high up, and  overwhelmed by the vast desert landscape before me.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was friendly enough but didn't engage a great deal.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a camping mug as they just give you plastic cups to drink hot tea out of.  It wasn't particualrly cold at night so you don't need a really warm sleeping bag, especially as they provide super thick blanlets anyway.Remember a headtorch for the evenings.It's too hot to walk in the middle of the day so you get a couple of hours sitting in the shade so travel scrabble or something similar is a good idea.

Suggestions

The desert and the visit to Petra were amazing.  The group were all so friendly and we had a good laugh, especially about the portaloo which was transported across the desert from camp to camp.  There was something surreal about following it.  As long as we had it in our sights we knew we couln't get lost!  Altogether an amazing experience and quite different from other treks and travels.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Apart from the mountain ascent, the hike is all quite manageable as long as you have the stamina to walk for several hours.  When we went at Easter the weather was great, nice and warm during the day, but not too hot (or cold at night).  I didn't like the mountain ascent (I did rip my trousers on the way down!) and might have opted to stay back at base, but everyone else seemed to enjoy it.Probably a good idea to take some luxuries - we had fresh coffee, others had snacks or sweets -  the food provided on the trek was fine and filling, but a bit spartan.

Suggestions

This trip is a great week out, with a combination of good (but not overstrenuous) exercise, sightseeing and relaxation.  A fascinating history is never far away and it's great to get a glimpse into how Bedouin people live. Lots of fun along the way too.  Hiking means you get a chance to get a bit beneath the surface of Jordan - so why not take a crash course in a country that you probably don't know very much about?!

Most Inspirational Moment

Crossing the Jebel Burdah bridge, drinking sage tea round the campfire and sleeping under the stars every night of the trek.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Salah was fantastic - knowledgeable and with a great sense of humour and fun.  I could not have done the Jebel Burdah climb without him - he was so encouraging and I felt I was in very safe hands as I negotiated the trickier sections with his help.

Advice for Potential Travellers

A pair of cotton gloves was very useful on the climb - there is a lot of scrambling using handholds and the rock is quite rough.  The camel ride on the last day in Wadi Rum is definitely worth doing - great photo opportunites and gives the feet a rest!

Suggestions

Choose this trip!  Wonderful mix of physical challenge, serenity and culture.

Most Inspirational Moment

Petra by day.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader Salah a Jordanian was friendly, helpfull and extremly knowlegable and happy to share it with me.

Advice for Potential Travellers

For extra comfort when sleeping in the desert take a camping mat to spread the weight over the open cell foam matras for a better nights sleep.

Suggestions

Go out and enjoy lifes experiences whilst you still can.My late father told me, Young men live off their dreams and Old men live off their memories, I am still DREAMING and may it last for many years. Go out there and live your dreams.

Most Inspirational Moment

The desert trekking and camping were brilliant.  The clear sky at night was fantastic.

Thoughts on Group Leader

An excellent group leader, who had very good knowledge and was very helpful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Choose the right time of year, depending on how hot or cold you like it!

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing 800 steps, rounding the corner and glimpsing The Monastery in Petra for the first time in the late afternoon sun.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Brilliant, passionate, proud and perfect. Zuhair was outstanding.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Drink enough water. Take a decent hat. The scrambling is great fun but both of knees need to work properly. You can still do virtually all the climbing and opt out of the stone bridge traverse (NOT recommended if you do  not have a head for heights). If you are over 6 foot, you wont fit into a tent. The 3/4 season sleeping bag they said I could borrow on site was more like a one-season. Take thermals and a hat to sleep out of the tent.

Suggestions

This was a wonderful trip. I am so glad I went and feel blessed with the group we had and the leader we were fortunate to get. Many thanks

Most Inspirational Moment

For me, the starry skies in the desert. I know that will sound odd on a trip that took it the magnificent sights of Petra but, most of all, I enjoyed the quiet peacefulness of the desert.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was Zuhair and he was very good. He kept everything running smoothly and possesses a wealth of knowledge about his country and the region.

Advice for Potential Travellers

(1) Because a lot of other reviewers had pointed out that sand gets in your boots I took and wore gaiters every day and that was very effective in preventing that particular problem. (2) Even if you're somewhat afraid of heights (as I am), make the effort to steel yourself to walk across the the natural rock bridge at Jebel Burdah ("the arch of Burdah"). (3) Learn some short stories! If you are fortunate enough to have Zuhair as your group leader he will regale you with stories and folk tales over the camp fire. It would have been nice if we could have returned the favour but we couldn't come up with anything remotely as in-depth or entertaining.

Suggestions

I thoroughly enjoyed this trip and there were no siginificant negatives at all (well, apart from the chaotic arrival at Amman airport which is beyond Exodus's control). I would recommend this trip to anyone with reasonably good levels of health and fitness (you don't need to be an athlete or endurance hiker). The Jordanian people are lovely - very friendly and welcoming. I was especially fortunate to be with a very nice, good-natured group of fellow travellers and that made an already great holiday even better.

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing up to the Jebel Burdah rock bridgeSleeping outside under the starsThe evening camp firesThe feeling of open spaceEverything about Petra (except the donkeys!)The hospitality of ordinary Jordanians

Thoughts on Group Leader

Saalah was an excellent leader, who was constantly helpful and informative.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take several pairs of trousers, as you'll ruin a pair on the descent from Jebel BurdahDon't worry about the lack of facilities when camping in the Wadi Rum, it all makes the Turkish Bath in Petra more enjoyableTake plenty of  warm clothing as it gets cold in the Wadi Rum at night, and don't forgot a head torchTake an astronomy guide, as the night sky is amazing

Suggestions

Go to Jordan for a holiday you won't forget.