Spice Trails of Petra

Walk through the spectacular Petra and Wadi Rum!

Petra, among the most magnificent sites in the Middle East, and Wadi Rum, arguably Arabia's finest desert, are explored in depth on this unique hiking tour. As well as retracing the steps of the ancient Nabateans and hiking through breathtaking siqs and wadis, we have time to absorb some of the other attractions of this compact yet diverse kingdom - from the Dead Sea to the remarkably preserved city of Jerash.

WADI RUM JEEP SAFARI & CAMEL TREK
A drive south along the Desert Highway brings us to the northern reaches of Wadi Rum, where we walk or take an optional camel ride through the twisting siqs (gorges) and wadis (dry river valleys) to our camp. The scenery here is breathtaking, especially at dusk, when the hue of the golden cliffs intensifies to a deep pink, and at dawn, when crisp morning light bathes the surrounding desert. To appreciate the stillness of this majestic landscape which so inspired Lawrence of Arabia, we travel mainly on foot and camp Bedouin-style, surrounded by the echoing granite walls of the mountains beneath star-filled skies.

ON FOOT IN PETRA
Visitors to Petra are never less than astonished by its sheer expanse, and yet few stay for more than a few hours. Our walking tour spend the best part of two full days hiking the ancient trails near Petra - ancient paths that were used by camel caravans travelling with their precious cargo of spices from Arabia via Petra to the Mediterranean. Camping amongst little known valleys, we sense the weight of history all around us.

JERASH & THE KING'S HIGHWAY
Heading north along the 5000-year-old King's Highway, we pause to walk through the dramatic gorge of Wadi Ibn Hammad and for a soak in the Dead Sea before visiting some of the most cherished sites in the Holy Land - including Moses's Mount Nebo and Madaba, the 'City of Mosaics' We end our journey with a tour of ancient 'Gerasa' - Jerash, a Greco-Roman city straddling the trading route from the eastern Mediterranean into the Orient. Jerash is still resplendent with its colonnaded streets, baths, theatres and marketplace.

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Itinerary / Highlights

Trip Highlights
Wadi Rum - Walks through breathtaking desert scenery with fascinating rock formations.
Petra - 2 days of hiking and camping in this spectacular ‘Rose Red City’.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Join tour Amman
Arrive Amman and check-in at hotel.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)

Day 2: Walking in Wadi Rum
From Amman we immediately head south on the Desert Highway to Wadi Rum. On arrival we load our bags into vehicles, which then set off to deliver them to our nightstop whilst we walk approximately 2 hours through one of the most powerfully evocative places in the Middle East, to our campsite. The legend of Lawrence of Arabia and his Arab revolt lives strong here and scenes from the famous film were shot here – deep in the fabulous purple-black and yellow mountains that rise from the sands of the desert. We generally arrive in the late afternoon as the hot desert sun starts to set, revealing an evening of incredibly clear skies studded with stars.

Overnight Basic Camping (C) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Walking in Wadi Rum
We spend the next day exploring the beautiful desert area of Wadi Rum. Starting from the our desert camp, we walk in the footsteps of the early Nabatean traders. Spices, silks and perfumes were once carried along this same route. We shall see their inscriptions and ‘graffiti’ on the weathered pink granite mountains that we pass. The desert is another world, inhabited by the Bedouin people for generations. After an unforgettable day’s trekking through this remarkable desert scenery of sculpted sandstone canyons and pristine dunes, we return to our camp and enjoy another night under the star studded sky. Approx. 6 hours walking.

Overnight Basic Camping (C) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Petra; walks in the Rose Red City
After breakfast there is an optional camel ride through the Siq Umm Nfus, a landscape of sandstone canyons. Non-riders are welcome to walk with the riders – quite a moderate pace, given the speed at which camels walk – or transfer ahead by 4WD to the road. From Wadi Rum we drive northwards to Petra. Our luggage is taken to our campsite and we look forward to 1 and 1/2 days of exploring this dazzling site on foot. We first enter via the twisting and colourful Siq gorge arriving at the famous ‘Al-Khazneh’ (The Treasury), and continue through the heart of the ancient city before heading up to our campsite in the Wadi Shamassat. Approx. 5 hours walking.

Overnight Basic Camping (C) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Petra
Today we head back towards Petra through Wadi Shammaratt and Petra Basin before walking up to one of Petra’s greatest monuments, ‘Ad-Deir’ (The Monastery), set high above the city and almost hidden in the mountains. Following the 900 steps down into the heart of Petra, we hike more of the little known routes of Petra to the High Place of Sacrifice. Here is a unique and unforgettable vantage point offering excellent views out over the whole city of Petra. Finally we descend into the site before returning to our camp. Approx. 7 hours walking.

Overnight Basic Camping (C) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Travel on King's Highway to Kerak and continue to Madaba
We set out today along the Desert Highway before joining one of the oldest trade routes in the world, the King’s Highway, up to the impressive Crusader Castle of Kerak, imposingly sited on a hilltop. Kerak became famous in the time of the Crusades as one of a chain of fortresses in the Holy War against Islam. The castle was built in 1132 by Baldwin of Jerusalem, a Crusader king. Later in the afternoon, we continue to the small, mainly Christian town of Madaba where we spend the night.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Day 7: Via Mt. Nebo and the Dead Sea to Jerash and Amman
Madaba is famous for its collection of extraordinary mosaics, including the Great Map of Palestine (6th century). Discovered in 1896, and only fragmentary, it contains a good picture of Jerusalem. From Jebel Neba (808m), better known as Mount Nebo – the point from which Moses saw the Promised Land we descend to the lowest place on earth, the shimmering Dead Sea. Surrounded by barren hills, this unique water body has an amazingly high salt content (33%) that means no animal life survives and that it is almost impossible to sink! We end with a flourish as we finally drive northwards to ancient Jerash. Located in the Gilead Hills, it is considered to be the best-preserved city of the Decapolis, a confederation of ten Roman cities. One of the highlights of the Middle East, a triple arch gateway gives way to colonnaded streets, theatres, temples and baths. Particularly striking is the elegant forum – a fitting place to reflect on our exploration of this wonderful desert kingdom before we return to Amman.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Day 8: Tour ends Amman
Included meals: Breakfast

Other Details

Accommodation Details

4 nights Basic Camping (C)
3 nights Standard Hotel (H+)

Departure Dates, Options & Prices

Sat 01 Oct - Sat 08 Oct 2011 -1520 GBP
Sat 15 Oct - Sat 22 Oct 2011 -1520 GBP
Sat 05 Nov - Sat 12 Nov 2011 -1380 GBP
Mon 26 Dec - Mon 02 Jan 2012 -1560 GBP
Sat 11 Feb - Sat 18 Feb 2012 -1560 GBP
Sat 24 Mar - Sat 31 Mar 2012 - 1560 GBP
Sat 31 Mar - Sat 07 Apr 2012 - 1610 GBP
Sat 07 Apr - Sat 14 Apr 2012 -1610 GBP
Sat 14 Apr - Sat 21 Apr 2012 -1560 GBP

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