Dana to Petra Trek + Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea – 9 Days

Jordan rewards strong legs. This nine-day small-group trip links the Dana Nature Reserve, Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea with far more time on foot than a standard sightseeing tour. I like the quiet approach to Petra through a little-used Nabataean route, and I like that meals, camping, luggage transfers, and local support are built into the price.

The main tradeoff is simple: this is a demanding trek, not a gentle walking holiday. You should be comfortable hiking up to 17 kilometers in a day, handling steep ascents and descents, and sleeping in wilderness camps. The group limit of 14 helps, but the remote trails and basic camping require a good level of fitness and flexibility.

Five details that shape the experience

• Dana to Petra on Bedouin paths: Four serious walking days cross canyons, sandstone country, and the Sharah Mountains.
• Petra by the Back Door: You approach the Monastery from above, avoiding the usual entrance route and much of the foot traffic.
• A small group of up to 14: The size allows the guide to keep an eye on the group and provide hands-on support.
• Support on the toughest opening days: A local hiking guide and donkey accompany the group from days 2 to 4 for safety measures.
• Wadi Rum after the trek: A 4×4 safari adds desert valleys, inscriptions, dunes, rock bridges, and a Bedouin camp.
• The Dead Sea as a finish: Floating in mineral-rich water and trying the famous mud gives tired legs a welcome break.

What the $1,595 price really covers

At $1,595 per person, this is not a bargain city break, but it covers the costly and awkward parts of a multi-day Jordan trek. You receive eight nights of lodging, English-speaking guiding from days 2 through 8, transportation, luggage transfers by pickup truck, eight breakfasts, seven lunches, and six dinners.

That matters here. You are not arranging separate transfers between Amman, Dana, Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea. You also do not need to carry all your belongings along the trail. Your larger luggage moves by vehicle while you hike with only what you need for the day.

The price does not include airfare, travel insurance, tips, personal spending, hiking gear, the Jordan Pass, or airport transfers. The Jordan Pass is especially important to budget for because it covers the visa and entrance fees according to the supplied details. Check the current rules before booking, since visa and attraction arrangements can change.

The value is strongest if you want a supported trek rather than a self-guided route. You are paying for route finding, camp logistics, drivers, meals, local assistance, and access to trails that would be difficult to organize alone. If you already have transport, camping equipment, and strong navigation skills, the price may feel less attractive.

Amman gives you a soft landing

Day 1 is deliberately light. You arrive in Amman, check into your hotel, eat Jordanian food, and perhaps explore downtown if your flight lands early enough.

Amman is an old city with Bronze Age roots, but it is also Jordan’s modern capital. The free time is useful because it lets you settle in before the early start. Do not treat this as a sightseeing day packed with monuments. It is more of a breathing space before the trek begins.

The trip starts and ends in Amman. The stated meeting time is 7:00 a.m., while the day-two pickup is described as 7:30 a.m. Confirm the exact hotel pickup time before departure. That small detail matters when you are preparing for a long drive and a five-to-seven-hour hike.

Day 2: Dana reveals Jordan’s changing terrain

The drive from Amman to the Dana Nature Reserve takes about two and a half hours. Once you begin walking, the country changes quickly. Dana contains four ecological zones, so the route gives you a surprising range of plants, birds, animals, and rock country in a single reserve.

The first trail follows mountain slopes above Dana Valley before dropping into Al Khashasha Valley. The day covers about 15 kilometers, with a 260-meter ascent and a substantial 690-meter descent. Expect five to seven hours of walking, though the full day lasts longer once transport, stops, and camp arrangements are counted.

That descent is worth noting. Downhill walking can be just as tiring as climbing, especially on uneven ground. Good shoes with reliable grip matter more than fancy equipment.

The night is spent at a wilderness camp near Mansoura. This is part of the appeal: you sleep close to the route rather than returning to town each evening. It also means you should pack for simple conditions and bring the personal hiking gear you need, since gear is not included.

Day 3: A hard climb to Furon

The group leaves the camp early and heads toward Furon. The route begins with roughly an hour of climbing through the mountains. You then reach views of the Sharah Mountains and the broad Wadi Araba Desert.

The figures explain the effort: 16 kilometers, 563 meters of ascent, and 170 meters of descent. The walking time is again listed as five to seven hours. This is a more uphill-focused day than day 2, so pacing becomes important.

The camp at Al Furon is part of the reward. You can sit with tea, look across the desert, and let the day settle before dinner. That pause is not filler. On a trek like this, quiet time at camp helps you recover for the next morning.

A local hiking guide with a donkey is included for safety support on days 2 through 4. This does not turn the trek into an easy walk, but it provides useful backup in a remote area. Your English-speaking guide handles the main trip, while local assistance adds practical knowledge of the trail.

Day 4: The most rugged walking day

Day 4 takes you past Ras Al-Feid toward Ghbour Whedat. The route follows smaller Bedouin shepherd paths while contouring the Sharah Mountains. This is the day when the trek feels most remote and raw.

The numbers are demanding: 17.1 kilometers, 750 meters of climbing, and 920 meters of descent. The bare black peaks, canyon edges, and wide desert views create some of the finest scenery of the trip. Later, the rock formations soften into unusual mushroom-like shapes near camp.

The combination of climbing and descending is the key point. You need more than basic walking fitness. You should be ready for long hours, uneven ground, heat or cold depending on the season, and limited facilities.

The wilderness camp at Ghbour Whedat keeps the night close to the trail. This is a good place to appreciate the design of the trip. You are not simply driven between famous sites. The route earns Petra by taking you through the country’s less developed corners first.

Day 5: Little Petra connects daily life with antiquity

After the most isolated sections, signs of ordinary life begin to appear. You pass Bedouin camps, sheep pens, and small agricultural plots before reaching Al-Beidha and Little Petra.

This transition is one of the most interesting parts of the route. Ancient ruins do not appear in isolation from modern Jordan. You see working landscapes and then encounter old wine and olive presses, aqueducts, and other Nabataean water systems.

Little Petra, also called Siq al-Barid, means the Cold Canyon. The site is often described as a suburb of Petra, and its narrow sandstone passage gives you a quieter archaeological experience than the main city. You enter through a canyon lined with soft rock and descend a steep, narrow staircase.

The supplied schedule does not give the exact walking distance or elevation figures for this day. Still, the approach includes a climb, a steep descent, and several archaeological stops. Take care on the stairs, especially after four days of hiking.

Little Petra is not merely a shorter version of Petra. Its smaller scale lets you notice how the Nabataeans used water, shade, carved spaces, and trade routes. It also prepares you for the larger site without using up the drama too early.

Day 6: Petra through the Back Door

This is the trip’s signature day. Instead of entering Petra through the crowded Siq, you approach from Wadi Ghurab on a route associated with the Nabataeans.

The trail drops through sandstone mountains, then follows a natural rock terrace around the final mountain. Parts of the path narrow, and the route reaches a high plateau above Wadi Siyyagh. The first major reveal is the Monastery, appearing suddenly from the cliff face.

There is a Bedouin café near the Monastery for refreshments if you want them. Nabataean steps then lead onward into Petra. The exact details of the remaining route are not provided, so you should ask the guide how much time will be spent at the Monastery and which parts of Petra are included that day.

The advantage of this entrance is both practical and emotional. You avoid much of the usual approach and meet Petra at one of its most powerful monuments. The drawback is that this is still a serious hiking day, not a shortcut. You trade the standard entrance route for mountain paths, terraces, and steps.

For many people, this will be the most memorable day of the nine. You see Petra as the end point of a journey through the mountains, rather than as a single attraction reached by vehicle.

Day 7: Wadi Rum adds a different kind of desert

After breakfast, the group leaves the Petra mountains for Wadi Rum. The pace changes from sustained trekking to a 4×4 jeep safari with Bedouin hosts.

The safari includes valleys, narrow gorges, ancient rock inscriptions, sand dunes, and rock bridges. You can hike, scramble, and explore at your own pace during stops. The activity lasts about five hours, followed by sunset, dinner, tea, and a night at a Bedouin camp.

Wadi Rum is not a substitute for the Dana to Petra trek. Its appeal is different. Dana gives you long, quiet movement through changing mountain country. Wadi Rum gives you open desert scale, short bursts of exploration, and a stronger connection to Bedouin hospitality.

The overnight camp is another basic accommodation night, so do not expect a city hotel. The reward is the desert sky and the chance to end an active week with a slower, social evening.

Day 8: The Dead Sea treats tired legs

Day 8 moves from red desert to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. After several days of walking, the change of pace is welcome.

You can float in the salty water, apply Dead Sea mud, relax by the pool, or pay for spa treatments. The mineral-rich water is the central experience, but the day also works as recovery time before returning to Amman in the late afternoon.

The tour does not say that spa treatments are included, so budget separately if you want one. The same applies to any personal purchases or refreshments not covered by the included meals.

The winding road back to Amman closes the loop. You spend the final night at a hotel, which is a sensible arrangement before departure rather than ending the trip at the Dead Sea.

Guides, group size, and the human side

The group is limited to 14 people. That is small enough for a more personal atmosphere and practical enough for a guide to monitor different walking speeds. It also gives solo visitors a ready-made group without the scale of a large coach trip.

Guide quality is central on a route like this. Motaz Zghoul is repeatedly praised for being attentive, reliable, supportive, well informed, and good-humored. Mutaz Jarrar is also singled out for his care, commitment, humor, and ability to look after the whole group. The exact guide may vary, but these names give you a useful sense of the company’s guiding style.

The support team matters too. Drivers, local trail workers, camp staff, and the hiking guide all help keep the route moving. Food receives especially strong praise, which is welcome after long days outside.

Solo women may find the small group and organized support reassuring. One important strength is that the group is kept together while still allowing people to move at their own pace. That balance is useful for mixed fitness levels, though it does not remove the need to meet the physical requirements.

What to pack and how to judge the effort

Hiking gear is not included, so bring the equipment you trust. The supplied details do not specify a required gear list, but the terrain and distances point to sturdy walking shoes, sun protection, layers, a daypack, and a refillable water container.

Plan for considerable elevation change. The largest figures are on day 4, with 750 meters up and 920 meters down. You should also be comfortable sleeping in tents and handling several consecutive active days.

This trip suits you if you enjoy:

• Long walks in remote mountain country
• Simple camping and organized outdoor travel
• Archaeology reached by foot
• Small groups and local guiding
• A mix of exertion and recovery time

It is less suitable if you want daily hotel comfort, flexible lie-in mornings, or short walks between major sights.

Should you book this Jordan trek?

Book it if you want Jordan as a physical journey rather than a checklist of famous places. The route from Dana to Petra is the heart of the experience, and the Back Door approach gives you a memorable way into Petra. Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea then provide two very different finishes.

Think carefully before booking if your fitness is uncertain. The company requires a strong physical fitness level, and that warning should be taken seriously. Also confirm the exact start time, seasonal conditions, accommodation details, Jordan Pass arrangements, and what personal hiking equipment you must bring.

The cancellation terms are strict close to departure: full refunds require cancellation at least six full days ahead, with a 50 percent refund available two to six full days before the start. Weather or minimum-group cancellations offer a new date or full refund. Travel insurance is not included, so it is worth arranging your own cover.

For fit walkers who value scenery, quiet routes, shared meals, and a well-supported adventure, this is a strong way to see southern Jordan. You earn Petra one day at a time, then finish with a desert sunset and a float in the Dead Sea.

FAQ

How long is the Dana to Petra trek?

The full experience lasts approximately nine days. The main guided activities run from days 2 through 8, with arrival and departure time in Amman on days 1 and 9.

How many people can join the group?

The maximum group size is 14 people.

What level of fitness do I need?

You should have a strong physical fitness level. The trek includes several long hiking days, with distances of 15 kilometers, 16 kilometers, and 17.1 kilometers listed for days 2 through 4.

How much hiking is included?

Days 2 through 4 list five to seven hours of hiking per day. Day 5 and day 6 also involve hiking routes to Little Petra and Petra, but exact walking figures are not supplied.

Is camping included?

Yes. The package includes eight nights of accommodation, including wilderness camping in Mansoura, Furon, and Ghbour Whedat, plus a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum. Hotel accommodation is provided in Amman.

Are meals included?

Yes. The package includes eight breakfasts, seven lunches, and six dinners.

Is luggage transferred during the trek?

Yes. Luggage transfers by pickup truck are included, so your larger bags do not need to be carried on the hiking route.

Is the Jordan Pass included?

No. The Jordan Pass, including visa and entrance fees, is not included in the stated price.

Are airport transfers included?

No. Airport pickup and drop-off are not included.

Does the tour include a guide?

Yes. An English-speaking licensed guide accompanies the group on days 2 through 8. A local hiking guide with a donkey is also included for safety measures on days 2 through 4.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least six full days before the experience start time. Cancellations two to six full days before departure receive a 50 percent refund, while cancellations less than two full days before the start are not refunded.