Jordan Family Adventure Holiday

Our family adventure holiday in Jordan, exploring Petra, Wadi Rum and the Red & Dead Seas

Guide
Guided Tour
Language
English
Transportation
Bus
Minimum Group Size
6
Destinations
Jordan
Trip Type
Family Holidays
Difficulty
LEISURELY
Trip Tag
Guided Tour

Jordan is the perfect place for those looking for an action-packed one-week family adventure holiday. Our itinerary is full of awesome experiences including exploring lost cities, swimming and camping in the desert! Our trip starts at Jerash, where many ruined remains allow us to step back in time and imagine life in the bustling Roman metropolis that once thrived here. We drive down through Jordan to reach Mount Nebo and the Dead Sea, where we can enjoy the unique experience of floating in the saline water. Covering ourselves in the mud, although traditional, is optional! We have a full day exploring the lost city of Petra, tucked away in a series of connecting canyons and gullies, entering via the atmospheric narrow Siq. We then take to our 4×4 vehicles and drive into the deep, ochre-hued desert of Wadi Rum, once home to Lawrence of Arabia. Our vehicles will take us to explore the rocky outcrops and red sands of this awe-inspiring landscape. We enjoy the very best of Bedouin hospitality in a desert camp, choosing to sleep beneath the stars if we so wish. Our journey through Jordan takes us all the way to Aqaba were we can relax by the turquoise waters of the Red Sea before returning to Madaba for our flight home. This is a wonderful Jordan adventure, which simply sparkles with fun family activities, incredible ancient sites and plenty of interaction with the welcoming people of this friendly country.

Highlights

Visit the ancient Lost City of Petra, one of the Seven Wonders of the World
Sleep under an endless blanket of stars in the desert of Wadi Rum with the Bedouin
Snorkel in the warm waters of the Red Sea and have a float in the salty Dead Sea
Visit the Roman city ruins of Jerash, including collonaded streets and a largely intact amphitheatre

Day 01 :

Meet at the group hotel in Amman. A single transfer from Amman Airport is provided.

Meet at the group hotel in Amman where your holiday starts. There will be a single timed group transfer in the evening from Amman Airport.

Accommodation Hotel

Day 02 :

Explore the Roman city of Jerash.

The Roman city of Jerash is approximately a 1hr drive from Amman. We arrive here in the mid-morning and we have plenty of time to explore. Jerash is perhaps the best preserved walled Roman city in the world which flourished until the Galilee earthquake in 748AD. We can walk along colonnaded streets, see remains of beautiful mosaic flooring and visit the sprawling amphitheatres, which are still complete with numbered seats. Wandering the streets and buildings of Jerash, it is easy to imagine life here thousands of years ago. We return to Amman and our hotel later in the day.

Accommodation Hotel

Meals

Day 03 :

Visit Mount Nebo before driving down to the Dead Sea for a swim and float. Travel onwards to Petra.

Leaving Amman, we drive to Mount Nebo, where Moses was said to have seen the Promised Land before he died. We have time to briefly explore this important Christian pilgrimage site before continuing down to the Dead Sea. This lake is 400m below sea level, the lowest place on Earth which accounts for its rich salt and mineral content. The salt levels in the water mean extra buoyancy and it's a unique experience to float on the surface of these therapeutic waters. Don't forget that Dead Sea mud is highly sought after and it great fun to cover yourself from top to toe in the clay-like mud! After a well needed shower, we continue our adventure and drive south to Wadi Musa (approximately 3hrs), the gateway to Petra.

Accommodation Hotel with swimming pool

Meals

Day 04 :

Exploring the lost city of Petra. Optional Jordanian cooking class.

The sense of anticipation is palpable as we wander through the narrow, winding canyon of the Siq into Petra. This is a very special place, which will evoke memories for many years to come. As we reach the end of the Siq, you are rewarded with your first glimpse of the enormous and ornate façade of the Treasury. Petra was hewn out of the red sandstone cliffs in around 600 BC by the nomadic Nabataean people as a rest stop for camel caravans crossing the expansive desert. Faded from memory after being abandoned, it lay hidden from western eyes for thousands of years, a secret guarded by the inhabitants of the area. It wasn't until 1812 when intrepid Swiss explorer Johannes Burckhardt heard a rumour of a hidden city whilst on his quest to find the source of the River Niger. A fluent Arabic speaker, he disguised his appearance and was able to convince a local tribe to show him the location of this incredible site. The remains of Petra are sprawling and it can take a full day of walking to visit the main attractions. Some of the façades are incredibly well preserved, whilst others have eroded due to the weather and of great interest are the ingenious irrigation systems and water channels that fed a network of underground cisterns, supporting life in the desert for 30,000 inhabitants. Tonight there is an optional visit to 'Petra Kitchen' where we can learn to cook typical Jordanian cuisine.

Accommodation Hotel with swimming pool

Meals

Day 05 :

Explore the desert outcrops of Wadi Rum and stay in a Bedouin camp.

Leaving the mountains we drive down the King's Highway to meet the Desert Highway and onto Wadi Rum (2-3 hrs drive). The desert here is extraordinarily photogenic, with red sands and vertical outcrops of rock. It is no surprise to learn that both Red Planet and The Martian were filmed here, testament to its 'other worldliness'. Wadi Rum was also home to T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia and it was from here that he struck out at the Ottoman Empire. Using our 4x4 vehicles we explore the outcrops and dunes of the desert. We can climb up and jump and tumble back down the dunes. Tonight, we enjoy the legendary hospitality of the Bedouin, at a camp of traditional Bedouin tents, made of tough goat-hair fabric. These camps are small and intimate but will have most conveniences you would need. Meals are traditionally cooked on a fire and we enjoy the evening around the fire, under the enormous sky of stars. We can choose to sleep out, star-gazing, or retire to our tents.

Accommodation Bedouin Camp

Meals

Day 06 :

Transfer to Aqaba for some R&R or snorkelling in the Red Sea.

We wake early in the silent desert, the warming sun hitting our faces as it appears over the horizon. After breakfast with the Bedouin, we say goodbye to our friendly hosts, their camels and the desert and travel to the beach resort of Aqaba (approximately 1hr). We check into our hotel and spend the rest of the day as we wish. The crystal waters of the Rea Sea will entice us and Aqaba is a perfect location to chill out after an action-packed week of adventure! The Red Sea is known for being one of the best spots in the world to snorkel and we can even take an optional cruise on a glass-bottomed boat. For those who need a little more relaxation; a good book, a lounger and a swimming pool at the hotel will suffice.

Accommodation Hotel with swimming pool

Meals

Day 07 :

Morning at leisure at the Red Sea. Afternoon transfer to Madaba.

We have the morning to enjoy the highlights of Aqaba. We should make the most of swimming in the sea, or maybe some more relaxing around that pool! After lunch, we set off back up the Desert Highway to Madaba (approximately 4hrs). Madaba is famous for its Christian churchesand Byzantine-era mosaics, the best known of these being a map on the floor of St George's Church. It is also conveniently situated to reach the international airport for tomorrow. We will enjoy a final meal and reminisce and reflect on the adventure of a lifetime.

Accommodation Hotel with swimming pool

Meals

Day 08 :

Departure day. A single transfer to Amman Airport is provided.

Your holiday ends after breakfast at the hotel. A single timed transfer is provided from Madaba to Amman Airport.

Meals

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Joining Arrangements & Transfers

The group will meet at the hotel in Amman. A single transfer from Amman Airport to the group hotel is provided in the evening of Day 1 of the Land Only itinerary.

On the last day of the Land Only itinerary, there will be a single transfer back to Amman Airport timed to meet the check in for the late morning flight to London.

Anyone may join the group transfers by prior arrangement. Travelling as a group or on public transport saves energy. If this is not practical, we can provide private transfers at an additional cost. Taxis are also available.

Hotel contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation.

Meal Plan

All breakfasts, 2 lunches and 1 dinner are included.

Food & Water

It is not recommended to drink untreated water from the taps. If you are on a trekking or cycling holiday, water is supplied to fill up your individual bottles. This will be boiled, filtered or provided in large jerry cans or 5 litre bottles. Additionally you should take purification tablets or a filter bottle (such as a Water-To-Go bottle) to treat your water when in towns or where water is not supplied. We do not encourage the purchasing of single use plastic bottles.

Breakfasts can vary a little with the accommodation, but typically consist of labaneh (thick sour creamy yoghurt), hummus, cheese, beans, eggs, olives, za’atar (thyme, sesame seeds, sumac and salt) washed down tea, coffee or fruit juice. Lunch on some days may be in the form of a picnic (sandwiches, fresh vegetables, fruit and juice and tea) or a simple hot meal such as fresh tomato cooked with garlic, onion and olive oil. Dinner will again vary with the location, but we will aim to sample a variety of traditional Jordanian meals. Salad, rice, chicken, vegetables and yoghurt are usual dinner ingredients. In Wadi Rum, we’ll perhaps get to try the Bedouin ‘zarb’, a meal of meat and vegetables cooked under hot sand. Most hotels and restaurants will have options for those with a less adventurous palate. Complimentary water, biscuits, cakes and fruits will be offered on most days.

Accommodation

During this holiday we will stay 6 nights (Amman, Wadi Musa/Petra & Aqaba) in a mid-range hotel with en suite rooms, free wi-fi and swimming pools. Our hotel in Amman is near the old town and in walking distance of the popular downtown areas. In Wadi Musa the hotel, near the souk and a short walk from the entrance to Petra and has panoramic views of the mountains. Our camp in Wadi Rum is a traditional Bedouin large goat hair fabric tent. They are divided into ‘twin-rooms’. There are proper toilets and showers on the site. Blankets and pillows are provided, but you may wish to bring a sheet sleeping bag. This is a great experience and children and parents alike always love it. In Aqaba our centrally located hotel is close to the beach and has a rooftop swimming pool and restaurant.

Generally children of 11yrs and under will share with parents in a triple for a family of 3, or for a family of 4 have a double with 2 extra beds or 2 rooms. Children over 12 yrs will share with parents in a triple for a family of 3, or have 2 rooms for a family of 4. We will do everything to ensure that you are happy with your rooming allocation.

Guidance on Tipping

Tipping is the accepted way of saying ‘thank you’ to your leader and local team. Tipping is entirely voluntary and should be dependent on good service. We recommend that you decide levels of tipping and give any tips as a group rather than from individual group members. We recommend a total amount of around £50 per person.

Passport & Visas

A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required, and you should have at least 2 blank pages for each country that you visit.

For other nationalities, please refer to your own Government website for the latest information.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents including vaccinations and health certificates (see Health & Vaccinations below), and visas for your holiday. Please ensure that you check the FCDO for the latest advice for each country visited before travel.

Visa Jordan

If you are a UK, Canada, USA or Australia passport holder, travelling on a KE organised itinerary (inc pre or post tour extensions), you may now be eligible to receive a free visa upon entering Jordan. Please look for a representative with a KE sign between the arrival gate and before the immigration desks and they will accompany you to arrange the free visa and passport stamp. The free visa is reliant on us receiving your passport and flight details prior to travel and to you meeting with the KE representative before heading to immigration to join the single timed transfer. If you have not given us these details or if you do not meet with the representative for the single timed transfer you will have to purchase an individual visa for 40JD. Please ask for further details.

If you are arranging your own pre or post trip accommodation/excursions or transfers we will be unable to arrange a free visa for you and you will need to purchase an individual visa on arrival for 40JD

Other nationalities are included in the free visa scheme, please check with your individual embassy.

Climate

The best period for travelling in Jordan is late autumn through to early spring (October through to mid April). Outside of this period it can be hot, with temperatures rising to 40°C in July and August. In October and in April, the maximum daytime temperature is likely to be in the high 20’s or low 30’s, falling as low as 10°C at night. Heading into November, the temperatures begin to cool and by December/January, typical daytime maximum temperatures are around 12-15°C, dropping as low as 5°C at night. In December and January it can even snow in Amman.

Travel Insurance

It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation. When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.

For appropriate insurance cover we recommend Campbell Irvine Direct. Please go to our Travel Insurance page for further information and to get a quote.

Jordan Family Adventure Holiday

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