Lucy McGuire | 01 January 2023
5 exciting and eco-friendly trips to Jordan
From low impact cycling tours to hiking trips that take you to desert hotels, eco-friendly adventures abound in Jordan. Here are just five to choose from
From low impact cycling tours to hiking trips that take you to desert hotels, eco-friendly adventures abound in Jordan. Here are just five to choose from
Culturally curious travellers need look no further than Abercrombie & Kent's 11-day Jordan in Depth tour, showcasing Jordan’s natural and cultural wonders, from crusader castles to mind-bending desert landscapes. It allows you to get under the skin of the capital city of Amman, where you can soak up the hipster vibe of Jabal al-Weibdeh. Don't miss unearthing history across its imposing Citadel, 6,000-seat Roman Amphitheatre and Downtown-based Archaeological Museum. Historically rich sites beyond Amman such as the Decapolis city of Gadara, the 12th-century Muslim castle of Ajloun, and the Greco-Roman city of Jerash – famous for its ruined Temple of Artemis and Hadrian’s Arch – are also explored. Other intriguing relics include the world’s oldest floor mosaics in Madaba as well as the spiritual Mount Nebo. Gourmands enjoy this tour for the regional Levantine cuisine, while those yearning to see the country’s biggest-hitting attractions – the Mars-like Wadi Rum and iconic rock-carved Petra – certainly can.
As far as travel experiences go, emerging from Petra’s winding narrow Siq to marvel at The Treasury – a 390-metre-high mausoleum – is pretty special. And it’s something adventure-seeking travellers can do on the Jordan Discovery trip with Intrepid Travel. Starting in Amman, you’re taken to the spellbinding rock formations – and Neolithic petroglyphs – of Wadi Rum. And after hiking across its rock-strewn landscape, you can rest your head in a traditional Bedouin camp, enjoying the desert’s stargazing and life-affirming silence.
A good level of fitness is required for this sustainably minded excursion, and under-water adventures feature in the port city of Aqaba, where in the eponymous Gulf, you can dive or snorkel among an array of marine life, from angelfish and sea turtles to multi-hued corals. To really help you connect with the culture, after marvelling at those world-famous Nabataean relics, visit a local’s home in Petra for a traditional Jordanian feast.
If you’re short on time yet eager to experience Jordan’s most fascinating sights, G Adventures' eight-day Highlights of Jordan trip could be just the ticket. Exploring Jordan’s ancient sights and lost cities this compact yet unhurried tour covers key sites between the capital of Amman and the southern coastal city of Aqaba, with the most northerly stop being the ancient Roman town of Jerash, where you will discover hilltop temples, handsome theatres and a striking oval colonnade.
In between coach transfers, there are plenty of opportunities to explore on foot, including a hike to the 817m Mount Nebo summit and a guided walk through the famously narrow Petra Siq. It also includes the chance to take a dip – or slather yourself in the therapeutic mud – of the iconic Red Sea. Plus, you’ll take an exhilarating 4x4 excursion into the vast Rum desert, savouring traditional Jordanian cuisine under star-lit skies.
There’s plenty of opportunity to marvel Jordan’s famous historical sights on Audley's Jordan's Nature Reserves trip. But since its focus is nature, the Dana Biosphere Reserve – a 300 sq km area of mountains and wadis, celebrated for its unique biodiversity – is a key feature. Using Amman as a base for exploring the Dibeen Forest, the trip also involves a nature-watching adventure to the Azraq Wetlands where some 280 migratory birds – from the little ringed plover to the European honey buzzard – can be observed. From here it’s onto the scenery laden Ajloun Nature Reserve, where elusive mammals such as the Striped Hyena and crested porcupine are said to be found. After marvelling the sights of Petra, Aqaba and Wadi Rum, it’s onto the aforementioned reserve, inhabited by some 700 plant species, 37 mammal species, 36 reptile species and 200 different types of birds. You’ll reach the ultra-remote Feynan Ecolodge via the rewarding 16km-long Wadi Dana Trail.
A good level of fitness is required for Trailfinders’ nine-day Petra & Wadi Rum by Bike cycling tour, which also features a stamina-testing hike up Mount Nebo. But what comes with the novelty of exploring Jordan in this sustainable, low-impact way, is a true appreciation of its topography, from lush hillsides and the remote Wadi Araba desert to cloud-piercing peaks. It’s on Mount Nebo's summit where you can enjoy panoramic views out to The Dead Sea before taking a thrilling descent and then dipping into these salty waters. Between the hilltop villages of the north, and desert roads of the south, this tour includes two days in Petra where you can cycle to the lesser-visited Little Petra, known for its painted frescoes. Between here and Aqaba, you’ll cycle through Wadi Araba’s traditional Bedouin territory and camp under starry skies.
Tailor-made for visitors, the Jordan Pass is the ultimate sightseeing package, giving you access to over 40 of Jordan’s attractions including Petra. The pass allows you to skip the queues for tickets, offers downloadable brochures and information, and even includes the cost of your visa, saving you money.
Fly direct from London to Amman in just five hours with Royal Jordanian.
For more inspiration, and to start planning your dream visit to Jordan, head over to the official website.
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