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

The best part of this Jordan trip is the way it reaches Petra on foot. You spend several days crossing rough canyons, high ridges, and old Bedouin paths before seeing the famous Nabataean city from an unusual direction. By the time the Monastery appears, you have earned the view.

I like the small maximum of 14 hikers, which keeps the group manageable on narrow trails. I also like the mix of hard walking and comfort: wilderness camps, a Bedouin evening in Wadi Rum, and a slow float in the Dead Sea.

The main caution is simple: this is not a sightseeing trip with a little walking added. The four hiking days cover about 15 to 17 kilometers each, with steep ascents, descents, uneven ground, and long hours outside. You need strong fitness, sensible footwear, and a willingness to sleep in tents.

Key points to know before booking

• Dana to Petra is the heart of the trip: Four days of hiking connect the Dana Nature Reserve with Little Petra and Petra.
• Petra’s back-door route avoids the usual approach: You reach the Monastery through Wadi Ghurab and a Nabataean trail rather than starting with the crowded Siq.
• The toughest day gains and loses serious elevation: Day four covers 17.1 kilometers, with 750 meters of ascent and 920 meters of descent.
• The group stays small: The maximum is 14 hikers, with an English-speaking licensed guide and local hiking support.
• Camping is part of the experience: Three wilderness camps and a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum replace standard hotels for much of the route.
• The price covers more than guiding: At $1,595 per person, the package includes eight nights, transport, meals, luggage transfers, guides, and most scheduled activities, but not the Jordan Pass, airfare, insurance, or tips.

Why this route feels different from a standard Jordan tour

Many Jordan trips connect Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea by road. This one links them with a serious walk through the country’s south. That changes the pace. You see the ground under your feet, follow small shepherd paths, and spend evenings at camps far from large hotel areas.

The Dana Nature Reserve is a strong starting point because it contains several ecological zones in one protected area. The route begins high above Dana Valley, then drops into drier valleys and desert country. You are not walking through one unchanging scene. Plants, birds, rock colors, and views shift as you lose elevation.

The route also offers a closer look at life beyond Jordan’s headline sights. Near Little Petra, the trail passes Bedouin camps, sheep pens, small agricultural plots, ancient presses, aqueducts, and other water systems. Those details help connect the ancient Nabataeans with the modern communities still living in this dry country.

That said, the route’s remote character comes with tradeoffs. Camps are practical wilderness accommodation, not luxury lodges. Some paths are rough, and the elevation changes can make a day feel longer than the distance suggests. You should choose this trip for the walking, not simply as a cheaper way to see Petra.

Amman arrival: one gentle night before the trek

Day one is deliberately light. You arrive in Amman, check into a hotel, and have time to eat Jordanian food or explore downtown if your flight lands early enough. Amman is an old city with modern streets and daily life, so even a short introduction gives you a useful first look at Jordan before the remote portion begins.

The overnight hotel matters because the next morning starts early. Pickup is scheduled around 7:30 a.m. after breakfast, although the listed meeting time is 7:00 a.m. Confirm the exact pickup time with the operator before the trip and keep your first morning simple.

Airport pickup is not included. You need to arrange your own transfer into Amman, and the tour also excludes the Jordan Pass, visa and entrance fees, airfare, travel insurance, personal spending, hiking equipment, and tips.

Day two: Dana’s high ridges and the first wilderness camp

The drive from Amman to the trailhead takes about two and a half hours. That gives you time to meet the group and settle into the trip before the walking begins.

The first hike covers about 15 kilometers, with roughly 260 meters of ascent and 690 meters of descent. You start along mountain trails overlooking Dana Valley, then head down toward Al Khashasha Valley. The changing elevation is the point here: the day introduces the reserve’s broad views while also making you work for the lower camp.

The overnight stay is wilderness camping near Mansoura. A local hiking guide and a donkey are included for safety support on days two through four. That does not mean the animal carries every personal item, so pack light but keep water and essentials with you during the day.

Expect five to seven hours of hiking. The listed total day length is about 12 hours because transport, breaks, meals, and camp arrangements are part of the day. A pickup truck handles luggage transfers, which is a major practical benefit on a multi-day walk.

Day three: the climb to Furon

Day three is a more direct mountain day. You leave camp early and climb for about an hour before reaching views of the Sharah Mountains and the broad Wadi Araba Desert. The route then continues toward Furon, where the camp provides a place to rest and take in the view before dinner.

The figures are useful here: 16 kilometers, 563 meters of ascent, and 170 meters of descent. It is not the biggest elevation day, but the sustained climb can feel demanding after day two. You should keep a steady pace rather than racing early and paying for it later.

The camp at Furon is another wilderness night. Bring layers, a headlamp, a refillable water bottle, and a small overnight bag. The package includes meals, but it does not include personal hiking gear, so do not assume camping equipment or clothing is supplied unless the operator confirms it.

Past departures have been led by guides including Motaz Zghoul and Mutaz Jarrar. Their work has been praised for keeping groups together, explaining the area, and helping hikers manage different abilities. Guide assignments can change, but the structure includes an English-speaking licensed guide throughout the active days.

Day four: the hardest and wildest walking

Day four is likely the most demanding section. The trail passes Ras Al-Feid and continues toward Ghbour Whedat along smaller Bedouin shepherd paths. You contour the Sharah Mountains, with black rock peaks above and steep canyon drops below.

The numbers tell the story: 17.1 kilometers, 750 meters of ascent, and 920 meters of descent. That combination creates a long, tiring day even for experienced hikers. Loose surfaces, narrow sections, and repeated climbs and drops can slow the group, so strong fitness is not a formality here.

The scenery changes as you move along. The mountains begin in a hard, rugged form, then the route softens near camp, where mushroom-shaped rock formations appear. It is the kind of day when the trail itself becomes part of the attraction, not just a way to reach Petra.

You finish at the Ghbour Whedat wilderness camp. There is no need to prove anything by walking ahead of the group. Stay with the guide, use the support available, and tell the team early if your feet, knees, or energy are struggling.

Day five: ancient water systems and Little Petra

After the most remote portion, signs of habitation return. The route passes Bedouin camps, sheep pens, agricultural plots, and Nabataean remains. Wine and olive presses, aqueducts, and other waterworks show how people made productive use of an extremely dry setting.

The final approach to Little Petra runs through a canyon lined with soft sandstone. You then descend a steep, narrow flight of steps into Siq al-Barid, the site commonly called Little Petra or the Cold Canyon.

Little Petra is often treated as a quick side stop, but this route gives it a stronger role. Archaeologists believe it functioned as a settlement or suburb connected to Petra. Its carved spaces and position along old routes help you understand that Petra was more than a single dramatic facade. It was part of a wider network of trade, water management, storage, and movement.

The supplied schedule gives this day an approximate 12-hour duration but does not specify the hiking distance, elevation figures, or overnight accommodation. Ask for those details before departure if you want to plan your energy and packing precisely.

Day six: entering Petra by the back door

This is the trip’s payoff. After breakfast, you walk toward Petra through Wadi Ghurab, following a route that avoids the usual first approach. The trail runs down between sandstone mountains, then follows an old Nabataean route around the final mountain on a natural rock terrace.

The path narrows in places before reaching a high plateau above Wadi Siyyagh. Then the Monastery comes into view from an unexpected angle. A Bedouin café near the Monastery offers a possible refreshment stop, according to the planned route, but bring water and snacks because availability can vary.

You continue down Nabataean steps into the Petra area. The route is especially valuable because you do not begin with the standard sequence of entrance, Siq, and Treasury. Instead, Petra reveals itself gradually, after days of walking through the terrain that surrounds it.

The schedule marks this stop as about 12 hours but does not provide a distance or elevation total. Petra involves uneven stone, steps, and exposed walking. Wear shoes with good grip and keep your expectations realistic: entering by a quiet route does not make the site physically easy.

Day seven: Petra to Wadi Rum by road and jeep

After a relaxed breakfast, the walking portion gives way to a desert outing. You leave the Petra mountains and travel to Wadi Rum, where Bedouin hosts take you on a four-wheel-drive safari.

The jeep route includes valleys, narrow gorges, ancient rock inscriptions, sand dunes, and rock bridges. You can get out to walk, scramble, and explore at your own pace. The activity lasts about five hours, so it adds variety without asking your legs to complete another full trekking day.

Sunset is the natural highlight, followed by dinner and an overnight stay at a Bedouin camp. This is a different kind of camping from the wilderness nights. It adds cultural contact and a shared evening around Jordanian hospitality, with tea and a chance to sleep under the stars.

The exact camp style can vary, so ask what bedding and washroom arrangements are provided. The tour includes the camp and dinner, but personal extras and tips are your responsibility.

Day eight: the Dead Sea reset

The Dead Sea is a smart final stop after four long hiking days. Its salty water lets you float with very little effort, and the mineral-rich mud is available as part of the visit. You can also use the pool or choose spa treatments if you want a more polished rest day.

Do not treat this as another active excursion. You will likely get more from it by slowing down, floating, rinsing off, and giving your feet a break. Avoid getting the salty water in your eyes, and follow local instructions about how long to stay in the water.

In the late afternoon, the bus returns to Amman along the winding road from the Dead Sea. You spend the final night at an Amman hotel, which is useful for an early departure the next day.

What the $1,595 price really covers

The price is strong value if you would otherwise book the pieces separately. It includes eight nights, transport, luggage transfers, breakfast each morning, six dinners, seven lunches, the English-speaking guide on days two through eight, local hiking support on days two through four, the Wadi Rum activity, and scheduled entrance activities.

You are paying for logistics as much as for sightseeing. Moving luggage by pickup truck, arranging remote camps, supplying meals, coordinating local support, and connecting Dana with Petra take work that is difficult to organize independently.

Still, budget for the exclusions. The Jordan Pass and visa or entrance fees are not included, nor are flights, airport transfers, insurance, gear, personal costs, or tips. The advertised price is not your complete trip budget.

The group limit of 14 helps the value. A larger group could make narrow paths slower and reduce the personal attention available on difficult sections. The small format also makes it easier to ask for help, learn about the route, and share the long walking days without feeling lost in a crowd.

Who should book this trek

I would choose this trip if you want Jordan’s famous sights but prefer earning them on foot. It suits hikers who can manage five to seven hours of walking on several consecutive days and who are comfortable with tents, basic camps, steep steps, and uneven paths.

It also works well for solo hikers who want company without joining a very large group. Past departures have included solo participants, and the group format creates a natural social setting. The guides have been praised for being attentive, humorous, and good at keeping different abilities moving together.

I would not choose it for a first trip if your priority is hotel comfort, easy transport, or long museum visits. The schedule is active, and the remote camps can be tiring. A shorter Dana to Petra walk or a road-based Jordan itinerary would suit you better if you are unsure about the physical demands.

The tour requires good physical fitness. Weather can also force a change of date or a full refund, and the operator requires a minimum number of participants. Cancellation terms are strict close to departure: a full refund requires cancellation at least six full days ahead, while later cancellations receive less or no refund depending on timing.

Should you book the Dana to Petra trek?

Book it if the thought of reaching Petra from a quiet mountain trail appeals more than arriving by bus and following the standard entrance route. The combination of Dana, Little Petra, Petra’s Monastery, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea gives you a broad look at southern Jordan in nine days.

Before paying, confirm the exact camping setup, the day five details, your guide assignment, the Jordan Pass requirements for your nationality, and what hiking gear you must bring. If you can handle the long days and accept basic camping, this is a well-balanced adventure with real walking, strong scenery, and enough recovery time at the end.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts approximately nine days and includes eight nights of accommodation. Day one is arrival in Amman, and day nine is departure from Amman.

How many people can join the group?

The maximum group size is 14 participants.

How difficult is the hiking?

The tour requires a strong physical fitness level. Hiking days cover roughly 15 to 17.1 kilometers where figures are provided, with substantial climbs and descents. Day four includes 750 meters of ascent and 920 meters of descent.

What accommodation is included?

The package includes eight nights. The schedule specifies a hotel in Amman, wilderness camps during the Dana to Petra trek, a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum, and another hotel night in Amman. Ask the operator for the exact accommodation details for every night.

Are meals included?

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

Is luggage transfer included?

Yes. Luggage transfers by pickup truck are included.

Is the Jordan Pass included?

No. The Jordan Pass, visa, and entrance fees are not included in the tour price.

Is airport pickup included?

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

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. The experience also requires a minimum number of participants, and a cancellation for that reason comes with an alternative date or experience, or a full refund.