120km Desert Trekking Expedition in Jordan

You'll need to be fit and have a real sense of adventure for this trip. Days on the trail are long, trekking up to 9 hours and averaging 20km in a single day. Your main luggage is transported for you so you'll only need to carry a small daypack during the hikes. The temperatures in this part of the world will add an additional layer of challenge: the sun is hot and unrelenting in the middle of the day in the desert, though we have scheduled the trip in the cooler months and there are ample opportunities for shade in the gorges and canyons along the way. The terrain is dry and uneven in many places – bring along worn-in hiking boots, plenty of changes of socks and some blister treatment for the worst-case scenario. There will be a few exposed sections, so those with vertigo may not be too comfortable. Your guides always be on hand to help you get through any of the trickier sections of the route.

The Jordan Trail is a route which runs 420 miles (675km) 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 magazine feature The 675km 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 take down 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 litre rucksack as you'll need to be carrying at least two litres of water.

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

We recommend booking more than 31 days in advance to guarantee your spot on the trip. If requesting to book less than 31 in advance, the host will need to check accommodation availability before accepting your booking (please do not book flights until your booking has been confirmed by the host). Due to high demand in Jordan, if requesting a spot within two weeks of departure, chances are that there won't be any availability – so the sooner you can make plans the better.

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 22-28°C (72-82°F) and night time averages of 8-14°C (46-57°F). In December things drop further, so this is the coldest month we run the trip. Daytimes are a pleasant 17-23°C (63-73°F) while nights are a chilly 5°C-10°C (41-50°F). Bring some extra layers for camping if travelling in December.

May and June tend to be hotter and sunnier with daytime temperatures around 28-34°C (82-92°F) with night times offering respite and pleasant temperatures of 14-20°C (57-68°F). Rain is unlikely but not unheard of, so do be prepared, especially if travelling in November and December.

Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion but there is an expectation in Jordan to tip for good service. Your guide will help with advice however we suggest the below as a guideline per person, which equates to approximately $100 for the whole trip as an acceptable amount.

Main tour guide: $5 per person, per day
Hiking expedition main guide: $3 per person, per day (accompanying you for five days of the trip)
Wilderness camping support team: $3+ per person, per day (accompanying you for five days of the trip)
Driver: $3 per person, per day (you have a driver for two days of the trip)
Jeep drivers on Day 3: $2 per person
Hotel porters: $2 per person, per day (factor in five nights in hotels)
Restaurants: $1 per person, per restaurant

Of course, you are free to tip more if you wish and the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality.

No. Your trek is fully supported, meaning that your main luggage, communal camping equipment and food will be transported from each camp spot to the next for you by vehicle. You'll have access to your main luggage each night. In addition to your main bag, you'll need a small rucksack (daypack - 25-30l) to carry personal items during each day of activity: see kit list for details.

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

We are monitoring the UK government travel advice closely in response to the conflict over the border in Israel and Palestine. In addition, we are in close contact with our local hosts in Jordan in relation to the situation. Trips in Jordan remain unaffected and are running as scheduled. Last updated: Wednesday 11 October 2023

For current advice about travelling in Jordan, have a read of the FCO pages here.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.

Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

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 (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

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.

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.

Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.

Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. See here for more info about the local teams we partner with.