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

The heart of this Jordan trip is the four-day Dana to Petra trek, a demanding walk through canyons, bare mountains, Bedouin paths, and desert views that most visitors never see. You enter Petra from above, arriving at the Monastery by the Back Door rather than joining the main stream at the Siq.

I like the small group, capped at 14, and the practical support: luggage moves by pickup truck, meals are arranged, and a local hiking guide with a donkey accompanies the first three trekking days for safety. I also like the way the trip adds three very different finishes: Petra, a Wadi Rum jeep safari, and a Dead Sea rest day.

The main consideration is physical effort. You will hike 15 to 17 kilometers on several days, with steep climbs, descents, rough paths, and long hours outside. This is not a sightseeing tour with a few scenic strolls attached. You need strong fitness, proper shoes, and a willingness to sleep in basic tented camps.

Key points to know before booking

• Four serious trekking days: Expect 15 to 17.1 kilometers per day, with the hardest day reaching 750 meters of ascent and 920 meters of descent.
• Petra by the Back Door: You reach the Monastery along a quiet Nabataean route, then continue through Petra toward the main entrance.
• Small-group support: The group maximum is 14, with an English-speaking licensed guide and local trail support.
• Basic wilderness camping: Tented nights are part of the experience, along with pre-arranged meals and luggage transfers.
• A useful Jordan finale: Wadi Rum provides a jeep safari and Bedouin camp, while the Dead Sea gives tired legs a welcome break.
• Price and exclusions: The $1,595 price includes eight nights, transport, meals listed in the program, guides, and luggage transfers, but not the Jordan Pass, flights, insurance, tips, or hiking gear.

Why the Dana to Petra route is worth the effort

Many Jordan itineraries connect Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea by road. This one links them with a long walk through the country’s south. That changes the pace completely. You watch the ground shift beneath your feet, from high reserve country to dry valleys, sandstone cliffs, and the Petra hills.

Dana Nature Reserve is a strong starting point because it contains four ecological zones. You are not walking through one repetitive desert. The trail begins along mountain slopes above Dana Valley, then drops toward Al Khashasha Valley. Birds, plants, and changing rock colors give the first day more variety than the word desert might suggest.

The route follows Bedouin trails and shepherd paths rather than a polished tourist walkway. That is part of its appeal, but it also means uneven footing and occasional route-finding. Your guide matters here. Past departures have been led by guides including Motaz Zghoul and Mutaz Jarrar, both praised for keeping groups together, offering personal support, explaining the surroundings, and creating a friendly mood on long days.

The group limit of 14 is useful. It is small enough for the guide to notice when someone is struggling, yet large enough to make camp evenings social. If you usually travel alone, the format gives you company without putting you in a giant coach group.

Day 1 in Amman: a soft landing before the trail

The first day is intentionally light. You arrive in Amman, check into your hotel, and have time to eat Jordanian food or take a short walk around Al Balad, the downtown area.

Amman is one of the world’s oldest inhabited cities, but this program does not schedule a major guided city tour. That is both a limitation and a benefit. You have room to recover from your flight, but you need to plan your own sightseeing if you want more time in the capital.

Use the day to organize your hiking clothes, fill any personal supplies you need, and rest. The early departure on Day 2 comes quickly. The stated meeting time is 7:00 am, while the pickup after breakfast is listed at 7:30 am, so confirm the exact time with the operator before departure.

Day 2: Dana Valley and the first wilderness camp

The drive from Amman to the trailhead takes about two and a half hours. It is a useful transition from city to open country, and a chance to meet the group before the walking begins.

The opening hike covers 15 kilometers, taking roughly five to seven hours. You first follow the mountains overlooking Dana Valley, then descend toward Al Khashasha Valley. The figures tell you what the day feels like: about 260 meters of ascent and 690 meters of descent.

That downhill profile can be harder than it looks, especially on loose or rocky ground. Trekking poles would be sensible, although gear is not included and you must bring your own.

The night is spent wilderness camping in Mansoura. Accommodation is arranged, but you should expect a simple outdoor night rather than hotel comforts. Dinner, lunch, and breakfast are included according to the program, which removes the need to carry several days of food.

Day 3: the climb toward Furon

Day 3 reverses the pattern. You leave camp early and climb through the mountains for about an hour before the Sharah Mountains and the Wadi Araba Desert come into view.

The total distance is 16 kilometers, again taking five to seven hours. You gain around 563 meters and descend about 170 meters. This is a more uphill-focused day, and the timing makes an early start important.

The reward is the widening view. The desert appears broad and open below the mountains, while the trail continues toward Furon. You spend the night at a wilderness camp with time for tea and the view before dinner.

That small pause is one of the pleasures of a trek like this. The schedule is active, but not every moment is spent walking. Still, there is little room for an easy day during the central section. If your hiking experience is limited, train beforehand with back-to-back walks and some uphill work.

Day 4: the toughest and wildest walking

The route from Ras Al-Feid toward Ghbour Whedat is the most demanding day on paper. It covers 17.1 kilometers, with 750 meters of ascent and 920 meters of descent.

You contour the Sharah Mountains on smaller Bedouin shepherd paths. The description of this section is not an exaggeration of a flat marked trail: there are rugged black peaks, canyon drops, gradual climbs, and remote corners with few signs of settlement.

The scenery changes as you go. Early sections feel stark and severe, while later parts soften with unusual mushroom-shaped rock formations near camp. This is the day when good pacing matters most. Stay with the guide, take water breaks, and do not burn all your energy during the first climb.

A local hiking guide and donkey accompany the group on Days 2 to 4 as a safety measure. That support does not turn the walk into an easy outing, but it is reassuring in a remote area. Your main luggage is transferred by pickup truck, so you do not need to carry your full trip bag on the trail. You will still need a daypack with water, sun protection, snacks, and an extra layer.

Day 5: human life, old waterworks, and Little Petra

After the remote mountain walking, Day 5 brings more signs of everyday life. You pass Bedouin camps, sheep pens, small agricultural plots, and evidence of older settlement.

The archaeological details are especially worthwhile. Along the way are Nabataean remains, including wine and olive presses, aqueducts, and other water systems. These features help explain how people lived in a dry region. Petra is not only about grand carved facades. Water control made the wider settlement possible.

The route eventually enters a sandstone canyon and descends a narrow, steep staircase into Little Petra, also called Siq al-Barid, or the Cold Canyon. Archaeologists generally view it as a settlement connected to Petra, possibly serving as a commercial or residential suburb.

Little Petra is quieter and smaller than the main archaeological site, but that is precisely why it works well here. You encounter carved sandstone spaces without the same scale or intensity as Petra itself. The approach also gives you a gradual introduction to Nabataean architecture before the main event.

The schedule lists this as a 12-hour day, though the hiking time and distance are not fully specified in the supplied program. Ask for the expected walking distance and final camp location before departure. A long day after three hard stages may be tiring.

Day 6: entering Petra through the Back Door

This is the trip’s signature day. After breakfast, you walk down Wadi Ghurab through sandstone mountains and follow an old Nabataean route toward Petra.

Instead of approaching through the famous Siq with the usual stream of visitors, you skirt the final mountain on a natural rock terrace. Parts of the path have been improved for walking, but it narrows in places and crosses exposed terrain. You should be comfortable with heights and uneven ground.

The first dramatic reveal is the Monastery, appearing from the cliff face above the route. A Bedouin café is available there for refreshments if you want a break. From the Monastery, Nabataean steps lead farther into Petra.

Entering from this direction gives you a strong sense of discovery, but it does not mean you avoid all walking inside the site. You still need to descend and continue through Petra. This is another long day, listed at about 12 hours, so bring enough water and wear shoes with reliable grip.

The program lists Petra admission as free on this day, while the Jordan Pass and entrance fees are excluded overall. In practical terms, you need to arrange the required pass or tickets yourself. The Jordan Pass named for this trip is the Jordan Wanderer, which covers visa and entrance fees according to the tour information.

Day 7: from Petra’s mountains to Wadi Rum

After the concentrated walking and archaeology of Petra, the trip changes gear. You leave the mountains and travel to Wadi Rum, where Bedouin hosts take you on a 4×4 jeep safari.

The five-hour desert outing includes valleys, narrow gorges, ancient rock inscriptions, sand dunes, and rock bridges. You have chances to walk, scramble, and explore at your own pace. The jeep makes it possible to cover a broad area without adding another full trekking day.

Wadi Rum is at its best when you slow down enough to watch the colors change. The sunset is a natural highlight, followed by dinner and a night at a Bedouin camp. Tea and conversation are part of the evening, and the open sky provides a memorable contrast with the enclosed canyon routes of the Dana trek.

This is still a basic camp night, not a luxury hotel. If you want polished accommodation, check the exact camp category before booking. If you want a desert setting and a taste of Bedouin hospitality, the stop fits the trip well.

Day 8: the Dead Sea as a recovery day

The final full day is designed for recovery. You drive to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, where you can float in mineral-rich salt water, apply Dead Sea mud, use the pool, or book spa treatments.

After four hard hiking days, this is more than a famous photo stop. It gives your legs a genuine pause before the return to Amman. Follow any instructions at the bathing facility, and take care around your eyes and cuts, since the water is intensely salty.

The afternoon transfer returns you to Amman along the winding road from the Dead Sea. You spend the final night at the Amman hotel, which is helpful if your flight leaves the next day.

What the $1,595 price really covers

At $1,595 per person, this is not a budget independent trek, but the cost includes a substantial amount of support. You receive eight nights of accommodation, transport throughout the program, an English-speaking licensed guide on Days 2 through 8, a local hiking guide with a donkey during the remote trail section, luggage transfers, eight breakfasts, seven lunches, and six dinners.

The value is strongest if you want the logistics handled. Moving luggage through remote terrain, arranging camps, coordinating drivers, and placing guides on a multi-day route can be awkward to organize alone. A group of no more than 14 also gives you more personal attention than a large bus tour.

Budget separately for the Jordan Pass, visa and entrance fees, airfare, airport transfers, travel insurance, tips, personal expenses, and hiking gear. Those exclusions can add a noticeable amount to the advertised price, especially if you need boots, poles, or technical clothing.

Who should book this Jordan trek?

You should consider it if you enjoy long days on foot, changing scenery, basic camping, and a mix of nature and archaeology. It is also a good fit if you want Petra and Wadi Rum but prefer to reach them through active travel rather than a string of road transfers.

Solo travelers can benefit from the built-in group structure. Past group leaders such as Motaz Zghoul and Mutaz Jarrar received especially strong praise for being attentive, good-humored, supportive, and organized. The group setting has also worked well for solo female travelers who wanted company without losing the ability to move at their own pace.

You should think twice if you want comfortable hotels every night, short walks, or a flexible schedule. Four consecutive trekking days, including one with nearly 1,000 meters of descent, can test even experienced hikers. The operator requires a strong physical fitness level for good reason.

Bring broken-in hiking shoes, sun protection, a refillable water container, a headlamp, a warm layer for camp, and a small daypack. Hiking gear is not included. Your larger luggage is transferred, but the essentials for each walking day belong on your back.

Final verdict: a strong choice for active Jordan travel

I would book this tour if the Dana to Petra walk is your main reason for visiting Jordan. The route gives you the country’s most famous sites, but the real value lies in the spaces between them: remote Bedouin paths, mountain views, old waterworks, rough sandstone, and quiet camps.

The $1,595 cost makes sense for the guiding, transport, meals, camps, and luggage support, provided you budget for the excluded pass, insurance, gear, and tips. Book it for the walking, not as a conventional sightseeing holiday. If you are fit, open to simple camping, and want Petra from a less familiar angle, this nine-day route offers a memorable and well-rounded way to see southern Jordan.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The experience lasts approximately nine days, including arrival and departure days.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts in Amman, Jordan, and ends back at the Amman meeting point.

What time does the tour start?

The listed start time is 7:00 am. Day 2 pickup is described as taking place at 7:30 am after breakfast, so confirm the exact pickup time with the operator.

How many people can join the group?

The tour has a maximum of 14 travelers.

How fit do I need to be?

You should have a strong physical fitness level. The trek includes several 15 to 17 kilometer days, steep climbs, steep descents, and long walking days.

Is accommodation included?

Yes. Eight nights of accommodation are included, combining a hotel in Amman, wilderness camping, a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum, and other pre-arranged accommodation listed for the tour.

Are meals included?

The program includes eight breakfasts, seven lunches, and six dinners.

Is the Jordan Pass included?

No. The Jordan Pass, visa, and entrance fees are excluded. The tour information identifies the Jordan Wanderer pass as the relevant option.

Is airport transfer included?

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

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can receive a full refund by canceling at least six full days before the start time. A cancellation two to six full days in advance receives a 50 percent refund. Cancellations less than two full days before the start time are not refunded.