120km Desert Trekking Expedition in Jordan

The Jordan Trail is a route which runs 420 miles from Umm Qais, a town in the north of Jordan, to Aqaba in the south. It passes through the capital of Amman, the ancient city of Petra and the desert of Wadi Rum, dotted with sandstone monoliths, before finishing at the Red Sea. In its entirety, the trek is estimated to take 40 days to finish, though it is split into eight sections and generally done in chunks. You'll be tackling the section from Humeima all the way to Petra, expedition-style without transfers, from Day 3 until Day 7 on this trip.

You can read more about The Jordan Trail on our journal feature The 420 mi Hiking Trail Through the Heart of Jordan.

The trek is fully supported with a team of guides and staff taking care of route-finding, meal preparation, and camp setup and takedown each day. Your job is simple – trek! You will only need to carry your essentials for each day: your lunch, which will be given to you at the start of each trekking day, plenty of your own water in bottles and/or bladders, snacks, personal items, and extra layers such as a sun hat and light jacket. The expedition team will transport everything else. We suggest bringing at least a 25-30 liter backpack as you'll need to be carrying at least two liters of water.

At Much Better Adventures, we work hard to accommodate dietary requirements and allergies so your trip is safe, inclusive, and enjoyable. That said, options can vary by country, location, and lodging, and in some places, options may be limited or unavailable. The information below has been provided by your host so you’re fully informed about what will be possible on your trip depending on your individual requirements. This information should be read carefully before your trip to ensure that you are adequately prepared for the situation ‘on the ground’.

Once you have booked your trip, please fill out your passenger information form asap with any dietary requirements. Once you complete your passenger information, your dietary needs and any allergies are automatically shared with your host and, in turn, your guide. Please submit this as early as possible so they can plan accordingly and deliver the best experience. Please also remind your guide about your dietary requirements upon arrival, as mentioning these in person allows your guide to comprehend individual preferences and limitations as soon as you arrive.

BACKGROUND Jordanian cuisine is deeply rooted in Bedouin traditions, Levantine flavors, and a culture of generous hospitality. Meals are often shared, with dishes built around grains, legumes, and seasonal vegetables, alongside spiced meats and rich dips like hummus and mutabbal. Olive oil, herbs, and flatbreads are staples, and many everyday dishes are naturally plant-based.

SPECIAL DIETS

Vegetarian -Vegetarian diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. Jordanian cuisine offers a variety of delicious vegetarian options such as falafel, hummus, moutabbal, baba ghanoush, mujaddara (lentils and rice), stuffed vegetables, fresh salads, and flatbreads.

Vegan -Vegan diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. In addition to classic dishes like falafel and hummus, vegan-friendly options may include lentil and vegetable soups, okra or green bean stews in tomato sauce, roasted seasonal vegetables, vine leaves (waraq enab), tabbouleh, and a variety of mezze prepared without dairy.

Kosher -Fully certified Kosher kitchens and supervision are non-existent in Jordan. Vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

Halal -Halal diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. Halal food is widely available in Jordan, and in practice, almost all food served throughout the country is Halal. As a predominantly Muslim country, restaurants, hotels, and food suppliers follow Halal standards as a norm, making it easy for you to dine with confidence.

INTOLERANCES

Gluten Free (for Celiac, please see Allergies section below) -Gluten-Free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. However, options will be more limited compared to those without dietary requirements. While your local hosts will do their best, it’s worth knowing that gluten-free supplies are generally only available in Amman and Madaba. In more remote areas, it's not possible to source specialist products, so meals will be based on naturally gluten-free dishes rather than substitutes. That said, most standard meals already include several options without gluten, even without special preparation. Please do consider bringing your favorite snacks or food supplements from home to ensure that you always have enough fuel for your adventure.

Lactose Free -Lactose-Free diets can be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance. Many traditional dishes are naturally lactose-free or can easily be prepared without dairy, such as grilled meats, rice and vegetable dishes, legumes, salads, and mezze based on olive oil rather than yogurt or cheese.

ALLERGIES

Our host has confirmed that they are able to accommodate mild allergies to the 14 allergens identified by the UK Food Standards Agency, where these are disclosed in advance. However, if you have a severe or life-threatening food allergy, please get in touch with our Customer Experience team before booking to discuss whether your requirements can be accommodated safely on this trip. This will allow us to carefully consider the sensitivity and severity of your allergy, the available provision on the trip, and the accessibility of medical care should a reaction occur. Your safety is always our top priority. Please note that when traveling overseas, local ingredients, food preparation methods, and labeling standards may vary, particularly in remote areas. It is also worth noting that any allergies may result in more limited options and repetitive provision in some areas. While your guide will help communicate dietary requirements where possible, customers remain responsible for managing their own allergies during the trip.

You shouldn’t drink tap water in Jordan. Your trip vehicle will have large containers of water that you can use to fill your water bottles before and after each hike. At most hotels, drinking water should be purchased; unfortunately, very few hotels currently provide refilling stations.

Yes, you can definitely book last minute, although this trip does regularly sell out, so we recommend booking early to guarantee your spot on the trip. If requesting a spot less than 31 days in advance, the host will need to check accommodation availability before accepting your booking (please do not buy flights until your booking has been confirmed by the host).

Ramadan will take place throughout February and early March. The national holiday of Eid ul-Fitr will follow for 2-3 days. Ramadan is an Islamic festival where the religious do not eat or drink during daylight hours. While this is a really interesting time to travel, you can expect some business hours will be shortened, alcohol is not permitted during daylight hours, and some restaurants will be closed during this festival period. Activities for local people tend to be limited during the day, and the nights are very active in cities, with lots of different foods being sold and consumed. However, in hotel restaurants and tourist areas, food and drink are served as normal and Ramadan will not affect the inclusions on your trip. Liquor stores are likely to be closed for the month, but in tourist enclaves, bars stay open (some may not allow alcohol outdoors – but inside is generally okay).

Yes. Trips to Jordan have been running as normal throughout the conflict – check out our latest customer reviews! Much Better Adventures operate trips in line with the British FCDO travel advice and also consult with security advisors, both of whom have confirmed that trips are safe to run. We continue to receive real-time updates from the FCDO and our local host in Jordan will also inform us immediately should anything change locally. In case you have any questions, we have prepared some additional information about travel to Jordan during the Middle East Conflict.

If you’re based in the United States, you can check the latest travel advisories from the U.S. Department of State.

For travelers from other international locations, we recommend checking the official travel advice issued by your government, as guidance may vary.

Tourists are not allowed to bring drones, binoculars, or some large telephoto camera lenses into Jordan. These will be confiscated at the airport and returned on departure, so please do not risk bringing these on your trip. Even if these are missed by airport security, your guide cannot allow them to be used, as this can have legal consequences if you are caught.

In the event of heavy rain, strong winds, or storms, conditions may be unsafe to complete the planned hikes. Your guide will monitor forecasts and make decisions with safety in mind. If needed, the itinerary may be adjusted and an alternative route or activity offered.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers review the practical information available on the UK Government’s FCDO website, where you can find up-to-date advice by searching for your destination(s).

If you are based in the United States, you can also check the latest travel advisories from the U.S. Department of State.

For customers joining from other international locations, we recommend checking the official travel advice issued by your country of residence, as guidance may vary.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates daily, so prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips typically consist of a mix of solo travelers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves, and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

We have planned this trek to occur in the cooler months of the year to take advantage of the lower temperatures and lighter humidity levels. November and December have the lowest temperatures out in the desert. In November expect daytime temperatures between 72-82°F and nighttime averages of 46-57°F. In December things drop further, so this is the coldest month we run the trip. Daytimes are a pleasant 63-73°F while nights are a chilly 41-50°F. Bring some extra layers for camping if traveling in December.

May and June tend to be hotter and sunnier with daytime temperatures around 82-92°F with nighttime offering respite and pleasant temperatures of 57-68°F. Rain is unlikely but not unheard of, so do be prepared, especially if traveling in November and December.