Kingdoms of Jordan - Premium Family Adventure

Experience Overview

Designed for families, this journey through Jordan pairs the major sights with the best of Jordanian hospitality. With an expert local tour leader, we spend two unhurried days exploring the rock-cut temples and tombs of Petra, before heading into the vast desert landscapes of Wadi Rum. Here, we stay in comfortable Bedouin-inspired cabins and enjoy evenings under star-filled skies. We also step back into the classical world at the Roman city of Jerash, then end by the water, with time at both the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, where floating in its mineral-rich waters offers a memorable finale for all ages.
Trip For You
This trip has been rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.   Suitability: Although this is a cultural trip, some days, such as those in Petra, are long and you should be ready to expend some energy. To do the optional 850 steps up to the monastery or the climb up to the High Place of Sacrifice you should have a reasonable level of fitness. Your tour leader can provide you with further advice about these hikes. It is not advisable to do the High Place of Sacrifice if you suffer from vertigo as there are some very steep narrow steps and cliffs. The tour leader always accompanies anyone doing this option. If you don’t do the optional hikes, there is still plenty to see by wandering through the ancient city. Itinerary: In very rare instances where local conditions require, we may need to amend the order of the itinerary, but we will ensure that elements of the itinerary are still included and site visits are of the same duration.
Group Description
The group will generally be between four and 16 people. All departures have a tour leader, chosen for their expertise. They are fully qualified English-speaking Jordanian guides.
Eating Drinking
All breakfasts, three lunches and four dinners are included. Dinners are included at the Wadi Rum camp and Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa. In Amman, we include a welcome dinner at a restaurant known for its excellent Jordanian food. Dinner on the first night in Petra is included at our hotel. In Aqaba, we include sundowners from the private beach overlooking the Red Sea. When not on half board, we usually eat in local restaurants and the leader arranges bookings for those in the group who would like to join. We suggest you budget around 20 Jordanian dinars per person (US$28) per non-included meals. If you are vegetarian, please note that main meals are limited in choice; however, meze is almost always available in restaurants and is a good, filling vegetarian choice. There is a good choice of seafood available when at the Red Sea. At the Wadi Rum camp, we enjoy a traditional dinner called zarb, which is cooked underground. This consists of rice with a selection including chicken, lamb and vegetables. Vegetables are cooked separately to the meat. Alcoholic drinks: Alcohol is available in Jordan, but not widely. Many hotels do not sell alcohol but often allow it to be brought in from elsewhere. It is best to plan if you’ll want a drink, your tour leader can tell you what’s possible and may be able to arrange a stop at a supermarket or liquor store (depending on location). In Petra, the unique Cave Bar in Petra Guesthouse is open to the public. A less expensive option is the bar in the Petra Palace Hotel, which is also open to all.
Transportation
For most of this trip we use a private air-conditioned bus, with a local driver. To reach the Wadi Rum camp and to explore the surrounding desert, we use basic 4x4 vehicles, owned by the Bedouins. The vehicles are appropriate for local desert travel but may fall below normal vehicle safety standards expected on our trips, and do not have seatbelts. As there are no other vehicles available, and as we are not travelling by road, we feel they are an adequate means of transport.
Joining Instructions
Key information Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today as there are no activities planned for Day 1 of this trip. Our welcome briefing takes place on the morning of Day 2. Airport: Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) Getting to the start hotel The start hotel is approximately a 35-minute drive from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start hotel for any flight landing on arrival day. Speak to your sales representative before departure to book. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative. Catching your return flight There’s a group departure transfer to the airport timed to coincide with a chosen flight. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer. If you book post-tour accommodation with Exodus in Madaba, we can arrange free drop-off as a stop on the group transfer. If arranging a post tour stay in Amman, a private transfer at additional cost will be needed, either from the Dead Sea or Amman airport. On departure, a transfer from Madaba or Amman to the airport would also be at extra cost.
Weather Information
Spring and autumn are very popular times to visit Jordan as it is cooler, around 24C (75F) in the day and down to 8C (46F) at night. Rain is more likely, but protracted bad weather is unlikely. It is hot and dry, but not unpleasant, throughout Jordan in the summer. Daytime maximum temperatures are around 32C (89F) in Amman. Jerash temperatures are the same. Wadi Rum is around 30C (86F) on average in summer, though it can get as high as 40C (104F). At night it is usually cooler (30C/86F). In winter, it is much cooler and can get as low as 10C (50F) during the day. In the evening, it can hit freezing. There are occasions when there is rain or even snow in the desert. If weather conditions require, we may need to modify the itinerary or the camp location for your comfort and safety. Aqaba is very hot when the air is still, but there is usually a breeze. Rain is unusual but possible. The Dead Sea air temperatures vary from around 14C (57F) in winter up to 37C (98F) in summer. The water temperature doesn’t drop below 20C (68F). As with many countries in the world, seasons can go on longer than usual so it is advisable to always check the weather of the country you are travelling to a week or two before your trip so you can pack appropriately.
Spending Money
Optional excursions There are various excursions possible on this trip – the leader will provide more details on arrival. Please note that all prices are subject to change. — Petra by Night: 30 dinars per person (US$43), which features 3D and hologram technology. Available Sunday to Thursday. — Turkish bath in Petra: 22 dinars per person (US$31) — Little Petra: A smaller but still impressive version of the main Petra site. 13 dinars per person (US$19) for guided tour and transport. This is an option on the morning we travel to Aqaba. If the whole group does this option, then we check out of the hotel beforehand. — Camel rides in Wadi Rum: Camel rides provided by the local Bedouin will be possible and scheduled according to the group preferences. A trek in the desert is approximately 45 - 60 minutes and costs 20 dinars per person (US$28). — Amman entry fees: The main sites are included in our city tour at the beginning of the trip. However, if you arrive a day early you may like to visit the King Abdullah Mosque. The entrance is 2 dinars (US$3). — Meal at a family home in Petra: 20 dinars (US$28)
Tipping
On all Exodus Premium Adventures tipping for any local support staff is included and will normally be taken care of via your tour leader (or in some cases through our local agent). So need no for any tipping kitty contributions, or to make your own tips during the trip. Our ‘included tips’ will normally cover drivers, local specialist guides, certain hotel staff, and serving staff for included meals. Amounts will be in line with the local standard. Of course, if you wish to make a further tip for some extra special service you may do so. Tips for the Tour Leader are not included and most clients will wish to tip the leader. As a guide we suggest US$55 per person for this trip. Most groups prefer to present the money to the leader at the end of the trip in an envelope. The amount is at your discretion and our suggested amount is to be used as a guideline only.

Highlights