Explore Wadi Rum Ride, Jordan

Wild and Exotic sample itinerary for the Wadi Rum Ride in Jordan

This 9 night itinerary has 6 riding days exploring the dramatic Wadi Rum landscape, but also includes a night in Petra and a guided visit to the legendary rose city prior to the commencement of the ride. During the actual ride guests are expertly guided by local Bedouin and experience the simple desert life, spending nights either sleeping on mats beneath the stars, or in small portable tents. Campsites are selected for shelter, beauty and privacy and are often overlooked by towering sandstone cliffs. Meals are cooked and prepared by local camp staff and eaten sitting down on mats in the traditional Bedouin way - this ride is less about luxury and more about the experiencing the extraordinary desert landscape from the back of horses that are fit, responsive and great fun to ride. At night the profound silence of the desert and the glittering stars of the Arabian sky must be seen to be believed. The itinerary ends with the final day and night at the famous Dead Sea, the lowest expanse of water in the world where swimmers float in the saline waters.

Please note that we can also organise a mobile ride from Petra to Wadi Rum and a longer Lawrence of Arabia ride. These rides are normally run for families or small groups by special request. Please contact us for further details and a sample itinerary.

Day 1: Arrive in Amman at Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA), where you will be met and transferred to your Amman hotel.

Day 2: After breakfast you will be transferred south on the desert highway (approx a 3 hour drive) to the Nabataean Rose Red city of Petra. Lunch is normally taken in a local restaurant prior to a guided tour of the ancient rose city. After the official tour has finished guests may explore the ruins under their own arrangements prior to taking a taxi (this is a 5 minute ride for a negligible fare) back to the Petra Palace hotel. Dinner & night at the Amra Palace hotel or similar.

Day 3: Breakfast followed by a road transfer (approx a 2 hour drive) to the stables in Wadi Rum village. You will meet your horse and set off riding north ward towards the Seven Pillars of Wisdom and stopping for lunch.  This morning is a slow & short ride to give you chance to get use to your horse. In the afternoon we ride towards the famous Thamudic inscriptions and then head towards our first camp at the entrance of Barrah canyon. Dinner & night camping.

Day 4: Breakfast in camp, and then ride towards the agricultural village of Disi. On this morning we ride over the famous flats (Al Ga'a). These mud flats are perfect for a long exhilarating canter. We then ride through a small Bedouin village called Manasheer and back towards our camp at Barrah for lunch. In the afternoon, we ride through Barrah Canyon another spectacular canyon in Wadi Rum surrounded by high cliffs where we often see climbers. At the end of the canyon, we reach our camp of Mzelgah. Dinner & night camping.

Day 5: After breakfast, we ride south east towards Burdah Mountain. We cross Khour Al Ajram which is one of Wadi Rum's main valleys. We get a good view of the Rock Bridge of Burdah. We keep riding south until we reach Jabal Al Mangour where we stop for lunch. In the afternoon we ride east to Foura'a which is the highest point in the Wadi Rum Area at about 1400m. Dinner & night camping in Kharouba.

Day 6: Breakfast and then ride south towards the Saudi border, Wadi Saabit. Nice slow & long ride this morning. Stop at camp site for lunch & dinner. The camp site is next to Jabal Um Adami, Jordan's highest peak at (5948 feet).  In the afternoon ride around Wadi Saabit mountain close to the border of Saudi Arabia. Dinner & night camping.

Day 7: After breakfast ride North West towards Jabal Suibet and then along nice hard tracks for long canters until we reach the Caves of Harab Antar, stopping for lunch. In the afternoon, we ride west towards Jabal Kattar where we get a chance to see some Bedouin tents with families, goats and camels. Dinner & night camping.

Day 8: An early start this morning riding North West towards the south end of Khazali Mountain with stunning scenery along the way. We will continue towards the Khoshkhasheh area and then through the main valley of Wadi Rum stopping in front of Jabal Khazali which has a narrow siq (canyon) that collects water in the winter & spring time. We then pass Lawrence's spring and continue north towards our stables in Rum village. On this day, we have a long morning ride (approximately 5 hours) before stopping for lunch. After a farewell to the horses, you will be transferred by road to this evenings campsite, which is a permanent camp with a few more facilities. Dinner & night camping.

Day 9: After breakfast you will be transferred by road to the Dead Sea. The journey is along the King' Highway, a caravan route used through the ages and of great historical and religious significance. You will stop for lunch at Karak, an old city dominated by a fortified crusader castle with a gruesome history. After lunch you will continue to the Dead Sea to swim, float and relax. Tonight will be spent at the Dead Sea Spa Hotel or similar.

Day 10: Breakfast and then transfer to Queen Alia International Airport for your flight home.

Notes:

The Explore Wadi Rum ride runs all year round on set departures from Friday - Sunday. The best months are April, May, September, October and November but we offer rides throughout the year.

The price of this itinerary includes airport pickups, drop offs and all other transfers, provided that client arrives and departs on the scheduled dates of the tour, accommodation in 3 or 4 star hotels in half board and on twin room occupancy, all riding, all meals on the ride, camping equipment (tents, mattresses etc.), entrance fees to Petra & Wadi Rum and a guide in Petra.

The price does not include return flights to Jordan, entry visa fees and departure tax to Jordan, items of a personal nature, drinks; lunches in Petra or the Dead Sea, personal medical insurance, personal expenses, gratuities to guides and staff.

All arrivals and departures are in Amman. Guests arriving or departing before and/or after the scheduled days of the tour will be charged extra for airport pickups, drop offs and/or any other transfers. Please note that rates are calculated on sharing hotel rooms and if a sharer cannot be found, the single supplement will be charged.

Itineraries and rides will vary according to the prevailing weather, condition of the horses, and competence of the riders. The guide reserves the right to amend and change the itinerary at any time for whatever reason.

Private rides: Please note that we regularly organize tailor-made riding holidays for couples, families, and groups of friends. We can organize a riding holiday according to your needs and specific requirements. Please contact Wild and Exotic for further information.

Please note that it is the responsibility of the client to ensure they obtain the correct visa prior to travel. Wild and Exotic will assist with visa applications if instructed but cannot be held responsible for a client's failure to obtain a visa for whatever reason. A valid visa is required for this holiday, and information regarding visa applications to Jordan can be obtained by visiting the following website http://www.jordanembassyuk.org/. If you are travelling from the US / Canada or the UK you can obtain a visa on arrival. It costs 10 Jordanian Dinar (equivalent to £7 or about $13 US) and must be paid for in local currency. If you arrive at Amman airport, there are money changing desks alongside the visa desk. It is an easy and straightforward process.

Neither Wild and Exotic nor the operators or suppliers can accept any responsibility for changes to itineraries or dates that may arise due to weather or unforeseen circumstances such as changes, disruptions or delays to airline flights for whatever reason. This holiday is subject to Wild and Exotic's terms and conditions, a copy of which is enclosed with your booking form.