Day 1
Arrive in Madaba
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The start point for today is your hotel in central Madaba. You'll be met at the airport and transferred to Madaba and are free to check in after 14:00.

Real people, real adventures.
Take on the most epic sections of the pioneering Jordan Bike Trail, all the way to the unmissable 'Rose City' of Petra – one of the Seven Wonders of the World
Cycle along the ancient paths of camel caravans to the majestic Wadi Rum, hopping in a desert Jeep in search of a spectacular sunset
Chill out by the Red Sea, and swim (or float!) in the Dead Sea – the lowest point on earth, famous for its healing properties
Love the idea of the Jordan Bike Trail, but not the leg burn? Check out our e-bike edition for a pedal-assisted version of this adventure
Day 1
The start point for today is your hotel in central Madaba. You'll be met at the airport and transferred to Madaba and are free to check in after 14:00.
Day 2
Over the next two days, you'll be cycling the most epic stages of the Jordan Bike Trail, a pioneering mixed-surface route that stretches 730km down the entire length of the country. First, from Madaba, you’ll jump in the minibus and head south to the Dana Nature Reserve, where you’ll get set up with your bike. You’ll hit the road in the late morning after enjoying some panoramic views of the reserve's rugged beauty. Pedal along the historic King’s Highway – an ancient trade route that has connected cultures for centuries. As you cycle, you'll pass through a landscape of rocky hills and distant desert plains passing by Shobak Castle, before you arrive to have lunch with a welcoming local Bedouin family, where you can enjoy traditional dishes and learn about their culture. In the afternoon, you’ll continue cycling along winding tracks around the mountains of Dana and Petra, to reach a special camping location in the wilderness, with sweeping views over the dramatic Wadi Araba.
Day 3
After a substantial hummus-based breakfast, you’ll begin cycling straight from the wilderness camp, tackling a brief climb to rejoin the route to Petra. The trail continues crossing dry streams, then climbs to a track on the upper rim of the Araba Valley, offering magnificent expansive views of the distant Petra mountains. The route is proper wilderness riding with a mix of dirt tracks and gravel roads with some steeper descents, all framed by the desert landscape. Later on, rejoin the King's Highway and soon after you can enjoy a winding descent towards the entrance of Little Petra. After a picnic lunch, you'll have time to explore this fascinating site on foot. Also known as Siq al-Barid, Little Petra is a Nabataean settlement also cut into the rock which served as a 'suburb' of the larger city of Petra. Later in the afternoon, you'll cycle back a short way to arrive at the Little Petra Bedouin Camp, the peaceful desert retreat where you'll spend the night. Lit by fire torches and scattered with traditional carpets, it’s a great place to unwind and share stories around the fire.
Day 4
Today starts early with a spectacular hike to Petra, one of the world’s most iconic archaeological sites. You’ll take the lesser-known 'backdoor' route to enter the city, winding on ancient pathways alongside rugged canyons and up rocky steps. You will have a little time to explore the sites and learn all about its ancient past with a local specialist guide before leaving the same way, usually in the early afternoon. Following a short jeep transfer to the village of Rajif, the next part of your journey begins. You’ll get back on your bike for an off-road adventure, descending through dirt roads that wind down toward Wadi Rum. You’ll find yourself cycling through the vast expanse of desert as you approach your wild campsite. Run by a local Bedouin family, they’ll prepare traditional meals for you to tuck into. As night falls, you can either climb into your tent or grab your mattress and sleep open-air – highly recommended for star-gazing fans.
Day 5
Today you’ll get a true taste of Middle-Eastern desert landscape today as you make your way through isolated caravan tracks, crossing the desert highway and marvelling at how ancient navigation worked in such vast spaces. As you make your way toward Wadi Rum, the landscape gradually shifts from rocky desert to wide, open sandy plains, and you’ll start to see the iconic sandstone buttes of Wadi Rum in the distance. Upon reaching Wadi Rum, you’ll jump into a desert Jeep to explore the valleys, canyons, and gorges that make up this desert playground – hiking and scrambling is the only way to do it! Bed down in a luxurious Bedouin camp to enjoy the comforts of glamping under the stars.
Day 6
It’s your final day on the bike. A Jeep will transfer you out of camp and from there, you'll cycle across the desert mudflats surrounding Wadi Rum, soaking up the vast desert landscape as you continue your journey south. The terrain here is unique, with hard-packed, flat stretches of desert earth making for a fast and exhilarating ride. It’s time to leave the desert behind and hop on the bus for a short ride to Aqaba, Jordan’s ‘window to the sea.’ You’ll have a bit of time to kick back and relax, or grab a snorkel and marvel at the underwater life that the Red Sea offers.
Day 7
Having reached the southern tip of the country, it’s time to start the journey back north. Today is a scenic road trip, making a few stops at key points of interest and reaching the Dead Sea for lunchtime. Enjoy the sunshine at the lowest point on earth, give yourself a mud bath, gaze towards Jerusalem or simply spend the afternoon trying to keep your balance in the Dead Sea's salty waters. You'll then continue on to Amman for the night.
Day 8
After breakfast and final goodbyes with your team, you'll be returned to the airport in time for your flight home. Or if you choose to extend your stay, enjoy a wander around the many sites of bustling Amman.
Our trips do not include flights, trains or other travel to the start point and back from the end point.
Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion but in Jordan, there is an expectation to tip for good service. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. Your guide will help with advice however, we suggest the below as a guideline per person:
Of course, you are free to tip more or less and the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality – while often expected, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures, and you'll need to provide your policy details before departure. Your insurance should offer adequate cover for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment, and the specific activities involved in your adventure. We also recommend ensuring your policy includes cancellation and curtailment cover, in case you're unable to join your trip due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness.
Standard travel insurance may not cover all the activities included in your adventure, so it's essential to check the details carefully. There are adventure-specific providers that many travellers have used in the past, such as True Traveller (opens in new tab) (for those based in the UK or Europe), or Rise + Shield (opens in new tab), both of which offer cover for a wide range of adventurous activities.
Please make sure your chosen policy meets your individual needs and covers all aspects of your trip.
Visa requirements often change, and you are responsible for obtaining any required visas for this trip. Please check with your nearest embassy or consulate for up-to-date advice, or contact the Jordan Tourism Board for updates specific to your nationality.
Most travellers need a visa to visit Jordan, but the process is simple and flexible. There are two main ways to get your visa:
Visa on arrival: many nationalities (including UK, US, EU, Canada, Australia and New Zealand) can obtain a single-entry visa on arrival at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, or at designated land borders. The fee is 40 JOD (approximately $56). Queues can be long during busy periods.
E-visa: There is an option to apply for a visa online before travelling via the Jordan e-visa portal. Approval online is usually quick, however it won’t generally save you any time on arrival, as you’ll still have to join the same queue to get your passport stamped.
You know your own spending habits best, so please budget an appropriate amount for things like optional meals and drinks, shopping, optional activities, and laundry.
For breakfast at the hotels expect a buffet typical of 3-star hotel breakfasts all over the world. Lunches will generally be buffet style at local cafes. Dinner (where not included) will be at local restaurants and will cost approx $15-$20pp. Your gu…
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Saturday 19th September 2026
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Your host will provide private tents as standard while wild camping on Days 2 and 4 (without additional charge). However, for solo travellers looking for their own space for the full duration of the trip, an optional solo upgrade at the hotels and Bedouin camps can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking, as this is subject to availability.
To request any extras, message your host via your Much Better Adventures account once you have booked your trip.
All extras must be paid before your trip starts.

It's no secret that we love cycling and many of us at HQ think it's the best way to see a country; however, we realise that organising your own trip can be a total faff. On our cycling trips, we've found a local guide who has put together a perfect route and will navigate for you all the way. We send a van that transports your overnight luggage, as well as providing high-quality bikes and delicious snacks to keep you going. Faff eliminated! All you have to do is turn up, pedal and take in the landscape with your fellow tourers. You don't need to be a lycra-clad 'roadie' although they're welcome too!
Have a read of our article on cycling difficulty levels for further information on selecting the right level of bike adventure for you.
You'll be riding Scott Aspect 740 bikes. These are light hardtail aluminium mountain bikes - perfect for riding on-road and for the gravel tracks over the desert. You'll need to let your host know your height, to ensure the correct frame size is supplied.
The bikes are equipped with one water bottle cage. They all come with standard flat pedals and unisex saddles. If you would rather pack your own saddle and pedals (including SPDs), please do and these will be fitted for you.
Can I bring my own bike? Bringing your own bike is discouraged. This is due to a lack of storage for bike boxes/bags, and also, the support trailers are tailored to fit the bikes the host provides, which means safe carriage of your personal bike cannot be guaranteed. In addition, your own bike may require special parts for maintenance which may not be locally available, nor possible for the support vehicle mechanics to repair, so the use of the bikes provided by your host is recommended.
Yes, you will cycle point to point during the trip. Each day, you'll travel from one location to the next, cycling along the Jordan trail through nature reserves and desert landscapes, from Madaba to Wadi Rum.
E-bike upgrades are not available for this trip; you’ll be riding mountain bikes as listed in the trip inclusions. Keeping everyone on the same bike type helps maintain a comfortable group pace, simplifies logistics and ensures a more inclusive experience. We do, however, have a growing collection of e-bike adventures which you can explore.
You shouldn’t drink tap water in Jordan. The support vehicle will have large containers of water that you are able to top your water bottles up with. 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 that you book 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.
For current Government advice about travelling in Jordan, have a read of the FCDO pages.
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 rides. Your guide will monitor the forecasts and make decisions with safety in mind. If needed, the itinerary may be adjusted and an alternative route or activity offered.
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 accommodation, 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 prior to your trip to ensure that you are adequately prepared for the situation ‘on the ground’.
Once you have booked on 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 flavours 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 Coeliac, 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 favourite 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 prior to 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 travelling overseas, local ingredients, food preparation methods and labelling 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. Whilst your guide will help communicate dietary requirements where possible, customers remain responsible for managing their own allergies during the trip.
Yes, you need to bring your own cycle helmet on this adventure. It should meet recognised safety standards, display a relevant certification mark, and be in good condition. It is mandatory for all riders to wear a helmet whenever cycling.
Please make sure your helmet is:
A purpose-built cycling helmet that meets a recognised safety standard and displays a relevant certification mark, including (but not limited to):
In good condition:
A good fit:
If your helmet isn’t suitable on arrival:
Need help choosing or fitting a helmet?
For advice see British Cycling’s guidance.
Cycle Safety Please see our cycling safety guidance for further information.
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 are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).
For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.
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 on a daily basis so this does mean that 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 are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers 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. Check out our Community Values – a shared code to make sure that everyone's experience is safe, inclusive and brilliantly unforgettable.
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:
See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.
Jordan's climate is characterised by long, hot and dry summers, and short, cool winters. The climate is influenced by Jordan’s location between the subtropical aridity of the Arabian desert areas and the subtropical humidity of the eastern Mediterranean area.
The optimal seasons to explore Jordan by bike are March to May, and September to December, when the temperature is comfortably warm but not scorching hot! The daytime temperatures during these times are around 23-27°C, and the nights are cooler, but not cold.
Travelling in December will be cooler, but it also means that the main sites (such as Petra) are far quieter. While the days are usually sunny and around 15-20°C, the nights can be very cold in the desert, and on occasion drop to near zero. Your reward is crisp, clear night skies in the desert.
We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 367kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.

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