Explore Wadi Rum Ride, Jordan

Wild and Exotic fact sheet for riding in Jordan

Accommodation: Accommodation in Amman, Petra & Aqaba is in 3 or 4 star hotels. Hotel upgrades or single supplements may be available on request. All nights on the ride are spent camping.  We stay at picturesque campsites that also offer top quality amenities and safety is paramount. The weather is often warm enough for sleeping under the stars, however we also supply single & double dome tents that are quick and easy to put up, camp staff can assist with this if requested. We also supply sleeping mattresses that can be used in the tents or outside. Guests may bring their own tent if they wish. For our fixed camps and the New Year Ride we have a large traditional Bedouin tent for dinning, entertainment and sleeping. Please note that we do not provide any sleeping bags and that you are required to bring your own.

Assistance & Staff: All baggage, camping equipment, water, food and horse supplies are transported by 4x4 back up vehicles. Generally we have one to three vehicles on the tour depending on the number of participants. All staff are local Jordanians, Bedouins & Egyptians.

Best time to visit: Jordan's climate is generally hot and dry. The months of spring (April and May) and autumn (September and October) are considered the best times to visit, as the sun is no longer baking hot during the day and temperatures between night and day are less extreme. Little rain falls between May and September, when temperatures range from a low of around 18°C to a high of 32°C. Away from the western plateau, in the desert areas of Wadi Rum and the north, summer temperatures can soar to the high 40's falling at night to 10°C. Most rainfall occurs from September to December and this can be heavy. Winters (between November and March) can be very cold in most parts of the country but Aqaba and the Red Sea area remains warm at this time of year. In February, Amman experiences lows of 2°C or 3°C and highs of 18°C; in Wadi Rum temperatures can fall to near freezing at night but warm to the low 20's during the day. When visiting Wadi Rum remember to bring something warm to wear at night as temperatures can vary from a daytime average of 32°C down to 4°C at night. A clothing list will be sent to all participants.

Food: All of the meals on the tour are prepared by our cook & staff, using fresh and local ingredients. Continental breakfast are served together with a cooked egg dish each morning. Lunches are usually light, consisting of salads and other local dishes. Dinner consists of rice, chicken, vegetables, lamb and other delicious local dishes. Fresh fruit is offered with all meals, as are mineral water, juices, coffee & tea. All dietary requests will be met to the best of our ability. We eat on a carpet on the floor with mats around, the traditional Bedouin way, without tables or chairs. Alcohol must be organised in advance of the ride through Wild and Exotic, and guests are also encouraged to purchase a bottle of their favourite spirits (if desired) at duty free prior to arrival. 

Guides: All our guides are talented, caring & fun. They are experienced with horses & guiding, and have a comprehensive knowledge of Jordan and its deserts. All speak English and French, are trained in first aid and carry a first aid kit.

Group Size: The group size is usually 5 to 10 riders plus the guide. We reserve the right to cancel a ride if there are less than 5 participants, and also reserve the right to exceed 12 riders in certain circumstances.

Horses: The horses hot bloods originating from Jordan, Syria and Iraq, mostly Bedouin Arabians, with some pure Arabs (WAHO Registered), part-breeds and Anglo Arabs. The averages size is 15 hh. The horses are mainly mares & geldings, but we also have a couple of stallions. They live outside in the desert most of the year, so they are tough, strong, spirited, fast, and responsive. All the horses are cared for to a very high standard. 

Insurance: Travel insurance is compulsory for all holidays. Wild and Exotic can provided cover if instructed.

Level of riders: Riders must be confident and fairly experienced. They must be comfortable in the saddle and in control of the horse at all gaits; walk, trot, canter & gallop.

Loo & Shower: There are many private places in the desert suitable for loo use. We provide warm water for washing and showering each day, although the shower is a very simple bucket and ladle system within a small shower tent. Warm washing water is provided before lunch at the end of the morning ride.

Money: We suggest guests bring out approx 200 JOD (Jordanian Dinars) as you do not need a lot of cash as you can pay for any souvenirs with a credit card and there are cash machine's in the cities.

Pace: In general the pace of the ride is moderate, but changes according to terrain and time of the day. We always start and end riding sessions by walking. The landscape is open and flat, which provides good opportunities for long trots and fast canters. We usually avoid full gallops, but that depends on the riding ability of the group as a whole and the conditions of the horses. Safety of the riders and horses is our main concern.

Rider responsibilities: Riders are required to comply with all the instructions and regulations given to them by their guide, and to respect the safety and welfare of their horse. Riders are required to groom and tack their horses up before morning and afternoon rides, although a guide will assist if necessary. Wild and Exotic recommend that riding hats conforming to minimum safety requirements are worn at all times during a ride.

Riding options: We off various rides throughout the year;

Explore Wadi Rum ride - 9 night set departures during the months of March, April, May, September, October, November, December and January. This ride includes a night in Amman to begin with, and consecutive nights beside the Red Sea and Dead Sea to end the holiday

Petra to Wadi Rum - 9 night itinerary run by request only - best months as per the Explore Wadi Rum ride

New Year Ride - 9 night set departure over the New Year during which the ride operates from a fixed base.

Lawrence of Arabia - Itinerary run by request only

We ride 5 to 6 hours a day, depending on itinerary, terrain, horse's condition and weather. We ride up to 4 hours in the morning, followed by a two hour break for lunch with a further 2 or 3 hours ride in the afternoon, covering up to 35 km per day. There may be some walking each day leading the horses. We always start and end rides by walking on foot for approximately 5 minutes.

Tack: The tack we use is all English and of good durable quality. The saddles are general purpose synthetics made by Thorowgood UK. We use leather & synthetic bridles mainly with snaffle bits and some Pelhams. We provide saddle pads with a big pocket on each side suitable for water bottle, camera or other personal belongings.

Terrain: The terrain of Wadi Rum is generally sandy, vast and open, offering a beautiful riding environment. The landscape varies from day to day, including hard mudflats, hard and soft sandy trails and sand dunes. We mainly ride on compacted sand tracks. The riding in the Petra area (Petra to Wadi Rum ride) is quite different, being rougher, stonier and following narrow paths through the hills. On the Lawrence of Arabia ride the terrain varies all the time, beginning in arid desert mudflats, then to the harder tracks of Al Jafer and the sandy tracks in the Mudawara area. We occasionally pass nomadic Bedouins living in traditional tents on our rides, as well as cemeteries and other historical landmarks and sites.

Transportation: All our transportation is by cars, taxes, minivans and busses, depending on the number of participants.

Weight Limit: The weight limit for riders is usually 85 kgs, 190 lbs or 13 stone 5 lbs. However we do have a few horses that can take heavier riders. If you are over the weight limit please contact us for availability of the bigger horses.

Weather: See best time to visit