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

Jordan rewards walkers. This nine-day trip links Dana Nature Reserve, Little Petra, Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea without making you repack for a new hotel every night. I especially like the quiet approach to Petra through the Back Door and the small group limit of 14, which gives the trek a more personal feel than a standard coach tour.

I also like the practical support: meals, tented camps, luggage transfers, transport, and guides are built in. The main caution is simple: this is a serious walking holiday, not a sightseeing tour with a few gentle strolls. Days reach 15 to 17 kilometers, with steep climbs, rocky paths, and long hours outside.

Key points to know

• The Dana to Petra route takes you across four demanding hiking days, with Bedouin paths, canyons, sandstone formations, and wide views toward Wadi Araba.
• Petra arrives by a quieter back route, with the Monastery appearing suddenly above the trail.
• A group of no more than 14 people keeps the walking company manageable and makes it easier for the guide to help individuals.
• Wadi Rum adds a jeep safari and Bedouin camp, including dunes, rock bridges, ancient inscriptions, and sunset.
• The Dead Sea is a useful final rest day, especially after several days on foot.
• The $1,595 price includes most major trip costs, but not the Jordan Pass, flights, insurance, airport transfers, tips, or personal gear.

What the $1,595 Price Really Covers

At $1,595 per person, this is not a budget Jordan package, but it covers far more than a simple guided walk. You receive eight nights of accommodation, transport throughout the route, an English-speaking licensed guide on days two through eight, luggage transfers by pickup truck, and meals listed as eight breakfasts, seven lunches, and six dinners.

The price also includes local hiking support on days two through four. A local guide and donkey are provided for safety measures, which matters on remote sections where the trail is less familiar and assistance may be needed. The combination of a lead guide, local support, and vehicle logistics takes much of the planning burden off you.

You still need to budget for the Jordan Pass, which covers the visa and entrance fees according to the tour information. Flights, airport pickup and drop-off, tips, hiking equipment, travel insurance, and personal spending are also extra.

I see the value in the package if you want one organized trip covering Jordan’s major outdoor sights. Booking separate transport, camps, Petra access, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea would take time and careful coordination. The tradeoff is that you give up some control over pace, meal choices, and daily plans.

Amman Arrival: One Easy Night to Get Oriented

Day one is deliberately light. You check into a hotel in downtown Amman, known locally as Al Balad, and have time to settle in, eat Jordanian food, and perhaps walk around on your own if your flight arrives early enough.

That quiet opening helps. You are not expected to begin a long hike immediately after landing, and the city gives you a first look at Jordan beyond the desert. Amman is both modern and very old, with Bronze Age roots and a strong culture of hospitality.

The next morning begins early. Pickup is scheduled around 7:30 a.m. after breakfast, although the meeting information gives a 7:00 a.m. start time. I would confirm the exact pickup time before departure, then keep your first night simple so you are rested.

Days Two Through Four: The Hardest and Most Rewarding Walking

The drive from Amman to Dana takes about two and a half hours. That transfer gives you time to meet the group, rest, and adjust to the change from city streets to open country.

Dana Nature Reserve contains four ecological zones, so the scenery changes as you walk. On day two, the trail first follows mountain slopes above Dana Valley before dropping into Al Khashasha Valley. You cover about 15 kilometers, walking for five to seven hours, with 260 meters of ascent and 690 meters of descent.

That amount of downhill walking can be tougher than it sounds. Descents test your knees, especially on uneven ground, and you should bring poles if you normally use them. The reward is a night at the Mansoura wilderness camp, away from city noise and surrounded by the reserve’s open country.

Day three begins early and heads toward Furon. The trail climbs for about an hour, then opens to views of the Sharah Mountains and the broad Wadi Araba Desert. You walk about 16 kilometers, with 563 meters of ascent and 170 meters of descent.

This is a more uphill day, but the route’s wide views give you plenty of reasons to pause. The Furon camp is set up for a slower evening, with tea, dinner, and time to take in the setting. Do not expect a hotel-style night. The attraction is the remote camp, and comfort will be basic.

Day four is the most demanding on paper. The route covers roughly 17.1 kilometers, with 750 meters of climbing and 920 meters of descent. It passes Ras Al-Feid and continues toward Ghbour Whedat through some of the most remote country on the trip.

You follow smaller shepherd paths along the Sharah Mountains. Black rock peaks, steep canyon edges, and views across the dry country make this a striking day, but the footing and elevation changes require attention. Later, the rock shapes soften, with mushroom-like formations near camp.

This is where a capable guide matters. The route is not simply a marked park path, and the support team helps keep the group moving safely. The strongest praise for the trip has focused on guides such as Motaz Zghoul and Mutaz Jarrar, both described as attentive, good-humored, well organized, and careful about individual needs. Your assigned guide may differ, but the company’s guide support is clearly central to the experience.

Day Five: From Remote Trails to Little Petra

Day five changes the mood. You begin to see more signs of daily life as you approach Al-Beidha, including Bedouin camps, sheep pens, small farm plots, and old water systems.

The archaeological remains along the way include wine and olive presses, aqueducts, and other Nabataean water infrastructure. These details help you understand that this area was not only a place of grand carved façades. It depended on careful water collection and storage in a dry environment.

The approach to Little Petra is memorable. You climb through a canyon of soft sandstone, then descend a narrow, steep staircase into Siq al-Barid, better known as Little Petra. Archaeologists generally connect the site to Petra as a kind of outer settlement or suburb.

Little Petra is smaller than its famous neighbor, but that is part of its appeal. You can study the carved spaces without the same sense of scale and traffic found at Petra itself. After several days in remote country, the site also provides a clear bridge between the older hiking route and the Nabataean city ahead.

The day’s outline does not give a hiking distance or elevation total, so I would ask your guide for the exact plan and expected walking time. The steep stair section alone makes sturdy shoes important.

Day Six: Entering Petra by the Back Door

This is the trip’s signature day. Instead of beginning at Petra’s main entrance, you walk in through a lesser-used Nabataean route from Wadi Ghurab.

The trail descends pleasantly between sandstone mountains, then follows an old route along a natural rock terrace. The path narrows in places before reaching a high plateau above Wadi Siyyagh. The setting feels very different from arriving with a crowd at the usual entrance.

Then the Monastery appears in the cliff face. That sudden reveal is the payoff for several days of walking. A Bedouin café near the Monastery offers a place for refreshments, though you should not assume every personal purchase is included.

From there, Nabataean steps continue through Petra. The route gives you a strong sense of arrival because you reach the archaeological city through its surrounding mountains rather than treating it as a quick photo stop. The tour information does not specify how much free time you receive at each Petra monument, so ask the guide about the day’s timing.

The Back Door route is not a shortcut in the usual sense. It is a proper hiking day, and Petra adds more walking on top of the approach. Wear footwear with dependable grip, carry water, and save some energy for the stone steps.

Day Seven: Wadi Rum After the Trek

After breakfast, the trip leaves the Petra mountains for Wadi Rum. The change is dramatic. You trade narrow canyons and steep trails for broad desert valleys, sandstone walls, dunes, and open sky.

A Bedouin team takes you by four-wheel-drive vehicle through narrow gorges and across the desert. Stops include ancient rock inscriptions, sand dunes, and natural rock bridges. You can hike, scramble, and explore at your own pace during the outing.

The jeep safari lasts about five hours, so it is active but not another full trekking day. That timing is welcome after the Dana to Petra route. You still need to watch your footing during short walks and scrambles, but the day lets your legs recover while keeping the adventure moving.

Sunset is followed by dinner at a Bedouin camp, then an evening of tea and desert hospitality. Overnight accommodation is in the camp, under the open night sky. Again, this is a cultural and outdoor experience rather than a luxury stay. If you need hotel-level facilities every night, the camping portions may test your patience.

Day Eight: The Dead Sea as a Proper Recovery Stop

The Dead Sea is well placed at the end. After four substantial days of hiking, you can float in mineral-rich water, apply Dead Sea mud, relax by the pool, or pay for spa treatments.

The salty water is the main attraction, but take care around your eyes and any cuts. The provided information does not specify the exact resort or spa package, so consider treatments an optional extra unless your booking says otherwise.

Later in the afternoon, the bus returns to Amman along the long road up from the lowest point on earth. You spend the final night at a hotel in the capital, which is much easier than trying to connect directly to an early flight after a full day at the Dead Sea.

Food, Camps, and Daily Comfort

Breakfast is included each morning, along with seven lunches and six dinners. That covers the main food needs during the trek and the scheduled touring days, but you should still carry personal snacks and money for drinks or café stops.

The camps are part of the trip’s character. Wilderness nights in Mansoura, Furon, and Ghbour Whedat put you close to the country you came to see. They also mean basic conditions, possible temperature changes, and less privacy than a hotel room.

Luggage transfers are handled by pickup truck, so you do not carry your main bag along the trail. You should still bring a daypack with water, sun protection, a warm layer, personal medication, and anything needed between camps.

Who Will Enjoy This Jordan Trek Most?

I would recommend this trip to people who already enjoy long walks or are prepared to train for them. The stated requirement is a strong physical fitness level, and the numbers support that warning: multiple days of 15 kilometers or more, up to 750 meters of ascent, steep descents, and rocky Bedouin routes.

It also suits solo hikers who like company without joining a huge group. A maximum of 14 people gives you a chance to get to know the group, and the guide can pay closer attention to different walking speeds. Several strong guide comments center on the friendly group atmosphere and the care shown by staff.

This is less suitable if your main goal is relaxed sightseeing, private rooms, or guaranteed time at every Petra monument. It is also not the right choice if you dislike tents, early starts, or changing conditions underfoot.

Cancellation terms are worth noting before you pay. You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least six full days before the start, while cancellations two to six days ahead receive 50 percent. Cancellations less than two days before departure are not refunded. Poor weather or failure to meet the minimum group size can lead to a new date or a full refund.

Should You Book It?

Book this trip if you want Jordan as a walking journey rather than a checklist of famous sites. The strongest reasons are the remote Dana routes, the Back Door approach to Petra, the carefully arranged support, and the satisfying contrast between mountain trails, Nabataean ruins, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea.

I would skip it if your fitness is uncertain or if you want a soft adventure with short walks. For the right person, the price buys more than transport and admission. It buys a connected route through Jordan, with the hard work handled by guides and support staff while you concentrate on the views, the ruins, and the next cup of tea.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts approximately nine days, including arrival and departure days. Services begin and end in Amman.

How large is the group?

The group can include a maximum of 14 trekkers.

What accommodation is included?

Eight nights of accommodation are included. This covers a hotel in Amman, wilderness camps during the Dana to Petra trek, a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum, and a hotel in Amman on the final night. The exact accommodation details are provided through the booking information.

Are meals included?

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

Is airport transportation included?

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

Do I need a Jordan Pass?

The Jordan Pass, listed as the Jordan Wanderer option for visa and entrance fees, is not included in the tour price. You need to arrange and pay for it separately.