TASTE AND TRAILS OF JORDAN
9-DAY JORDAN ITINERARY
ABSORB ANCIENT HISTORY & MODERN CULTURE IN JORDAN THROUGH THE EYES OF LOCALS
Trip Highlights
Boutique hotel stays with handcrafted local touches + sunsets & stargazing during our Bedouin glamping
Little Petra to Petra “back door” hiking route plus canyoning through the breathtaking Wadi Mujib
Human-centered experiences with local women’s cooperatives
Visits to unique historic sites including the Um Qais, Jerash and the Amman Citadel
Experience hyper local, seasonal cuisine complete with a cooking class
If you’ve been looking for a Jordan itinerary that is adventurous, human-centered and experience-oriented then this is the one for you! This 9-day Jordan trip takes you from the bustling capital of Amman, down to Petra and Wadi Rum, then up north to the lush region of Um Qais. Each day highlights the best in the region, from a dip in the Dead Sea, to canyoning at Wadi Mujib to experiencing Jordan’s best hiking trails from Little Petra to Petra to the ochre landscapes of Wadi Rum. Enjoy true Bedouin hospitality along the way before venturing north to visit the ancient Greek & Roman ruins of Umm Qais overlooking the Sea of Galilee as well as Jerash. Along the way we visit numerous social enterprises on Jordan’s Meaningful Travel Map, engaging with women’s cooperatives and a community-run cooking project where you’ll learn to make traditional Jordanian dishes. You’ll stay in boutique accommodations as well as get the full Bedouin glamping experience. We'll feast on seasonal, farm-to-table eats the whole journey through, connecting the inextricable links between culture, cuisine and hospitality in Jordan.
Book our 9-day Jordan group trip or select Jordan Custom Dates September through May! Starting at $3995 per person. See all inclusions, itinerary details and complete pricing in the drop downs below.
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STARTING AT $3995
Fully guided 9-day Jordan group trip
4-12 people
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STARTING AT $4495
Fully guided 9-day Jordan itinerary
Private transit
Minimum of 2 people
Trip Inclusions
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8 nights total stay, combination of 3- and 4-star boutique hotels, Bedouin camp full structured tents, and gorgeous B&B with private rooms and shared bathrooms
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Transfers to/from airport on arrival & departure days
Private vehicle transit between all excursions
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15+ miles fully guided hiking along the Jordan Trail and at the Ajloun Forest Reserve
Entry to Little Petra, Petra and Wadi Rum
Visit to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth
Wadi Mujib canyoning experience, complete with rope and ladder gear provided
Bedouin desert camp experience, with homestyle food, music under the stars, and cultural education
Visit to multiple women’s cooperatives including a cooking experience
Guided visit to the Citadel & Roman Theatre in Amman, the Greek & Roman ruins of Umm Qais and the Roman provincial city of Jerash
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Daily breakfast + 5 dinners + 5 lunches
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Experience with our Community Partner + donation to their organization
Dedicated local guide throughout your trip
Traverse representative assisting you from booking to departure
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Extra nights in Amman
Amman food tour on Day 1
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International airfare or required visas
Additional meals, excursions and activities not listed
Tips to your local guide, Traverse guide, drivers, etc.
Alcohol, unless specified
Required travel insurance
Testimonials
DAILY ITINERARY
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Welcome to Jordan! Upon arrival at Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), your driver will transfer you about an hour to your boutique hotel in the heart of the city. Settle in & rest up or explore the neighborhood, filled with cafés and art boutiques and very safe for walking around to explore!
In the evening, we enjoy our Welcome Dinner experience - but first, we will cook it! We’ll head to a local restaurant run by three sisters who were inspired by their grandma’s cooking. You’ll have local “sitti’s” or grandmas directing you how to make the most delicious Jordanian regional and local specialties. Get to know your fellow travelers and your local guide, who will brief you on our next week together.
Meals: D, wine pairing
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We’ll start our explorations in the Old City of Amman, tasting some street food specialties along the way then visiting one of its most iconic archeological sites, the Citadel. We’ll then hop in our private van and descend to the Dead Sea where we’ll make a stop to float in the salty water and cleanse your skin with a detoxifying mud bath.
We’ll then follow the Jordan Valley Highway all the way south the magical UNESCO Heritage site of Little Petra, also known as Beidha, where the ancient Nabataeans carved the sandstone canyon walls. We’ll stay in the hospitality of a locally-run Bedouin camp, where we’ll have full-structured tents with beds and shared bathroom facilities. Dinner will be a home-cooked feast followed by music and festivities under the stars.
Meals: B, D
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After breakfast, it’s time to lace up the hiking boots for our 12-mile hike to Petra. We’ll enter through the “back door” using the Wadi Muthlim trail, which takes us through the sandstone mountains of Wadi Ghurab. This way follows a Nabataean route out of the valley and skirts around the final mountain on a natural rock terrace before reaching a hidden plateau with impressive views of the Wadi Siyyaqh chasm. Just beyond, we’ll reach The Monastery, one of Petra’s many famous carved sites. We’ll stop for tea, lunch and mint lemonade at a Bedouin café before descending all the way down to the town of Wadi Musa where we’ll stay for the night.
You’ll have the evening free to explore, relax and enjoy fabulous Middle Eastern cuisine at one of the many local restaurants in walking distance. Also, be sure to try out the hammam, or Turkish bath, for a soak & scrub!
Meals: B, L
Hiking Notes: The hike is lower intermediate, with some lightly technical portions over rocky terrain. If you do not wish to hike, you can transfer from Little Petra to Wadi Musa in the morning with the luggage and meet up with the group in the evening.
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We’ll hit the trail early this morning to avoid the crowds, starting with the walk through the long, narrow gorge that leads to the famous Treasury site of Petra. The grounds are massive, and we’ll spend the next few hours exploring their elaborate rock-cut tombs, the Roman-style theaters and temples, sacrificial altars and colonnaded streets.
After a late lunch, we’ll drive to the ochre desert of Wadi Rum, meaning “high” and “low” for its flat sandscapes and towering buttes. Our van will take us to a small village where we’ll hop into trucks and our expert drivers will navigate through the sand to our second Bedouin tent experience.
Get ready for another homemade feast, this time cooked slowly under ground in a local style known as za’arb. You’ll also have ample amounts of desert-style herbal tea and brilliant views of the stars.
Meals: B, D
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After a nourishing Bedouin breakfast, we’ll get back in the trucks to explore the dunes and see petroglyphs dating back more than 4,000 years plus inscriptions more than 400 years old.
We’ll then make our way back to Amman, stopping along the way for a meal at one of Jordan’s best farm-to-table restaurants and cultural spaces in the country. The establishment uses permaculture design, rainwater harvesting, and the knowledge of small farmers to preserve and inspire Jordan’s culinary landscape.
We’ll arrive back in Amman for a free evening.
Meals: B, L, D
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Today we’ll start out with some history as we visit the Greek and Roman Umm Qais with views overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Sea of Galilee. The ruins boast a history as one of the Decapolis cities and Umm Qais is famous as the home of many classical poets and philosophers, who once called it the “New Athens.”
For lunch, enjoy a hyper local, home-style meal based on sustainable agriculture and foraging.
We’ll then visit Jerash, the best example of a Roman provincial city in the whole Middle East. We’ll visit the spectacular Forum, Roman colonnaded street, the Nymphaeum and the Artemis Temple and have ample time to explore the ruins on your own and soak in its history.
We’ll spend the night at a beautifully preserved agrotourism B&B, supporting the local environment and community through sustainable tourism development initiatives. The home has multiple private and shared rooms with bathrooms for every 2 to 4 people. Get ready for some local experiences tomorrow!
Dinner will be enjoyed together at our B&B.
Meals: B, L, D
Side notes about the northern area! Much of the northern area, in particular the Ajloun Forest, was established by Jordan’s Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature and serves as a captive breeding ground for the extinct Roe Deer as well as a protected habitat for many bird species. Jordan’s national flower, the Black Iris, can be found here as well as evergreen oak, carob and wild pistachio, all of which have been important to locals for their food and medicinal value.
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Today will be spent experiencing life as the community does near our B&B. Our activities may range from olive picking, to beekeeping & honey harvesting, to textile work or basket weaving. The choices will depend on the season and availability of your local wisdom keepers!
During your meals, you’ll enjoy many key traditional Jordanian dishes using local ingredients like eggplant, tomato, sumac, pomegranate molasses, za’tar and tahini.
back in Amman for a free evening. Consider a progressive meal of street-style falafel or schwarma, shop for mementos along Rainbow Street in Jabal Amman, or chill with a drink on one of the city’s many terraces.
Meals: B, L
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This morning you’ll enjoy a sweet, slow morning at our B&B with a chance to explore the grounds or walk to nearby ruins.
Then we’ll have our Farewell Feast together over lunch as we bid farewell to our new friends and dream about more adventures to come!
We’ll arrive back in Amman in the late afternoon, where you can explore the city on your own or pack up for your departure.
Meals: B, L
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Depart any time today from Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport (AMM). Check out is at 11:00 and if you depart late you can leave your bags at the hotel before your transfer according to your flight schedule.
Meals: B
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You'll be paired with a roommate of your same gender unless you request your own room.
$3995 per person - double occupancy
+495 'My own room' option
starting at $125/$135 Extra night (single/double pricing per room)
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Minimum 2 people
$4495 per person - double occupancy
+495 'My own room' option or odd bookings (3, 5, etc.)
Extra nights on request
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starting at +$50 Amman Food Tour, Day 1. A 3-hour guided food tour to taste the best Jordanian food, experience the markets, sample fresh juices, meet some locals and explore downtown Amman with an expert local tour guide. Price depends on availability and number of participants.
Extra nights, pricing on request
Saudi Arabia excursion, details on request
FAQs
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This Jordan trip has one long hike and several shorter ones. The trail is not super technical, though there are inclines and declines throughout the trail. While your fitness level doesn't have to be like an athlete, you should be able to hike for multiple hours at a time through diverse terrain.
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Not at all! We're quite adept at tailoring to your needs. Whether gluten free (including Celiac), vegetarian or vegan, dairy or lactose free, or if you have a specific allergy or intolerance we can work around your needs and provide fresh, locally sourced meals that will keep you nourished and satisfied.
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Yes, for this itinerary you’ll have a guide and driver with you throughout the trip when you book self-guided. You’ll have lots of opportunities for flexibility throughout your day for explorations on your own if you’d like too.
Terms & Conditions
Please refer to your Registration Packet for complete Terms & Conditions, which can also be obtained by submitting a request to hello@traversejourneys.com
Deposit
A $250-500 non-refundable deposit is required for each traveler to secure the booking (varies by trip). 50% remainder due 30 days from booking. Balance due 60 days prior to trip start. Refer to the Flexible Booking Policy for cases in which the deposit may be transferrable.
Payment
Payments can be made either by 1) full payment on booking 2) Deposit on booking + payment schedule below. Payments will be invoiced via e-mail for credit card or Paypal payment online.
Cancellations Policy
Cancellations, less the trip deposit, are refundable up to 90 days prior to the trip start date unless otherwise specified.
Flexible Booking Policy Specific to COVID-19
In the wake of COVID-19, Traverse has implemented a flexible booking policy that allows for deposits and payments to be transferrable to the greatest extent possible to new trip dates should a recurrence of COVID-19 render travel impossible due to border closures and related travel restrictions.
Travel Insurance
The trip price does not include travel insurance. Trip protection-style travel insurance that includes travel medical coverage is required for all trips with Traverse. The coverage must have a minimum $150,000 of medical coverage and include injury, medical, evacuation, and repatriation. See more info at https://traversejourneys.com/insurance
Documents, Personal Identification, Vaccinations
Traveler assumes complete and full responsibility for all required travel documents including passport, visas, entry or exit fees, and vaccinations. Traveler is also solely responsible for any adverse consequences resulting from incomplete or defective documentation. Traverse does not cover the cost or assist in obtaining any of the above, and reserves the right to collect information on all.