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

The best part of this Jordan trip is the way you reach Petra: on foot, through Dana’s mountain wilderness and Bedouin trails, rather than simply arriving by road with the crowds. You camp in remote valleys, pass old Nabataean waterworks, enter Petra by its back route, then trade boots for a Wadi Rum jeep and a float in the Dead Sea.

I like the small group, capped at 14, and the practical support: luggage moves by pickup truck, a local hiking guide and donkey accompany the first three trek days, and guides such as Motaz Jarrar and Mutaz Zghoul have earned repeated praise for care, humor, and steady leadership. The main drawback is simple: this is a serious hike, not a gentle sightseeing holiday, with long days, steep climbs, rough tracks, and several nights in tents.

Key points to know before booking

• Dana to Petra on foot: Four demanding hiking days cover mountain paths, canyons, sandstone country, and remote Bedouin routes.
• Petra by the back door: You reach the Monastery from a quieter approach, then continue into Petra’s main archaeological area.
• Remote camping: Wilderness camps in Mansoura, Furon, and Ghbour Whedat bring quiet skies and basic conditions.
• A full Jordan finish: Wadi Rum adds a 4×4 desert safari, while the Dead Sea gives tired legs a recovery day.
• Small-group support: The group limit is 14, with English-speaking guides, local trail support, meals, transport, and luggage transfers.
• Fitness matters: Hiking days run about five to seven hours, with listed distances of 15, 16, and 17.1 kilometers on the toughest middle days.

Why this route is different from a standard Jordan tour

Many Jordan trips link Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea by road. This one uses those famous places as the bookends of a proper trek. You spend the middle of the trip moving through country that most visitors never see from a bus window.

The Dana Biosphere Reserve begins the journey with a striking range of terrain. You start high above Dana Valley, then descend into Al Khashasha Valley. Over the next days, the route changes from broad mountain views to black ridges, narrow canyons, bare desert, softer sandstone, and old paths used by local shepherds.

That variety is the real reason to choose this trip. The archaeological sites matter, of course, but the space between them is just as important. You see Jordan as a lived-in country, with Bedouin camps, sheep pens, small agricultural plots, and ancient systems built to move and store water.

The schedule also gives you a useful rhythm. The first day is for arrival in Amman. Four main days are devoted to hiking toward Petra. Then come Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea before you return to Amman. You get an active trip, but not nine straight days of hard walking.

Days 1 and 2: Amman to Dana’s wild valleys

Day 1 is intentionally light. You arrive in downtown Amman, check into your hotel, and have time to get your first meal in Jordan. If your flight arrives early enough, you can explore Al Balad on your own, though the schedule does not promise a formal city tour.

Amman is an old city with a modern face, so this first night helps you adjust before the physical part begins. Do not expect the trip to provide airport pickup. That service is not included, and your own flight, personal expenses, travel insurance, and tips are also separate.

The group leaves after breakfast at about 7:30 the next morning. The drive to Dana takes roughly two and a half hours, which gives you time to meet the group before the walking starts.

Day 2 covers about 15 kilometers in five to seven hours. The route descends 690 meters, with about 260 meters of climbing. That descent is important: even when the trail is not technically difficult, several hours downhill can work your knees and feet.

The day begins along mountain paths above Dana Valley, then drops into Al Khashasha Valley. Four ecological zones meet within the reserve, so the scenery and plant life change as you lose height. Your first wilderness camp is near the edge of the valley in Mansoura.

A local hiking guide and donkey support the group on days 2 through 4. That does not turn the walk into an easy outing, but it adds useful safety support in a remote setting. You should still carry your own water, snacks, camera, and day essentials, while the larger bags move separately by pickup truck.

Days 3 and 4: The hardest walking

Day 3 takes you from the first camp toward Furon. The day begins with about an hour of climbing before the Sharah Mountains and Wadi Araba Desert open out in front of you.

The numbers tell you what to expect: 16 kilometers, 563 meters of ascent, and 170 meters of descent. The five to seven hour estimate does not include every pause, so you should not treat it as a tight arrival schedule. The reward is a long view toward the desert, followed by a night at a camp in Furon.

This is a good example of the trip’s style. You are not rushing from one monument to the next. You walk, stop for tea, watch the light change across the mountains, and eat dinner at camp. The setting matters as much as the destination.

Day 4 is the most demanding day on paper. The route passes Ras Al Feid and continues toward Ghbour Whedat on smaller Bedouin shepherd paths. It covers 17.1 kilometers, climbs 750 meters, and descends 920 meters.

The trail contours the Sharah Mountains, with dark, rugged peaks above and steep canyon drops below. Later, the rock becomes softer and mushroom-shaped formations appear near the camp. The combination of climbing and descent makes this a day for good boots, measured pacing, and attention to the guide.

You should be comfortable walking for several hours on uneven ground before booking. The tour requires a strong physical fitness level, and that warning is justified. The route is not presented as a technical mountaineering trip, but its length, elevation change, heat, and remote camps can test anyone who rarely hikes.

Day 5: From remote country to Little Petra

After the previous day’s isolation, Day 5 brings more signs of daily life. You pass Bedouin camps, sheep enclosures, and small agricultural plots. These details give you a better sense of the area than a quick drive through the region would.

You also begin to encounter Nabataean remains. Old wine and olive presses, aqueducts, and other water systems show how much planning was needed to live in this dry country. The Nabataeans were not simply carving grand facades into rock. They were also managing scarce water and supporting settlements across difficult terrain.

The approach to Little Petra is memorable. You climb through a canyon of soft sandstone, then descend a narrow, steep set of steps into Siq Al Barid, known in English as the Cold Canyon. Archaeologists generally view Little Petra as a settlement connected to Petra, possibly serving as a commercial or residential suburb.

Little Petra is smaller than its famous neighbor, but that is part of its appeal. You can focus on the carved spaces and canyon walls without the scale of the main Petra complex. The site also helps you understand the next day, when the route brings you into the wider Nabataean city from an unusual direction.

The schedule for this day does not provide a distance or elevation figure, so conditions may vary. You should still expect more walking and uneven steps, not a simple transfer to a hotel.

Day 6: Entering Petra through the back route

This is the dramatic payoff of the trek. After breakfast, you follow good tracks down Wadi Ghurab between sandstone mountains. The route follows an old Nabataean approach, skirting a mountain on a natural rock terrace that has been improved in places for safer walking.

The path narrows before reaching a high plateau above Wadi Siyyagh. Then the Monastery comes into view, carved into the cliff. Arriving here from above and behind gives you a very different first impression from the standard approach through the Siq.

A Bedouin café near the Monastery provides a possible place for refreshments, though you should plan your own water and spending money. From there, Nabataean steps lead farther into Petra.

The back route helps you avoid the busiest entrance traffic, but it does not mean you have Petra to yourself. Once you reach the main archaeological area, other visitors will be present, and the walk down through the site can be tiring after several days on the trail.

Still, this is one of the tour’s strongest choices. You earn Petra with your feet, and the Monastery appears as part of the route rather than as a quick stop on a coach schedule. If Petra is your main reason for visiting Jordan, this approach adds real meaning to the visit.

Day 7: Trading mountain paths for Wadi Rum

After Petra, the journey changes pace. You leave the mountains and continue to Wadi Rum, where Bedouin hosts take you out in a 4×4 jeep.

The safari includes desert valleys, narrow gorges, ancient rock inscriptions, sand dunes, and natural rock bridges. You can get out to walk, scramble, and explore at your own pace. The listed activity time is about five hours, so this is a substantial desert outing, but it is far less demanding than the trek.

Wadi Rum is a useful contrast to Dana. Dana gives you long, sustained walking through changing elevations. Wadi Rum gives you open space, red and ocher rock, and the fun of reaching scattered sites by jeep.

The day ends with sunset and a Bedouin camp. Dinner, tea, and an evening under the stars are included in the experience. Camp conditions are basic compared with a hotel, so you should choose this trip for the setting, not for private-room comfort.

The extension to Wadi Rum is worth keeping. It adds a different kind of desert experience and prevents the trip from becoming only a hiking route between Dana and Petra.

Day 8: A needed pause at the Dead Sea

Day 8 is the recovery day. You leave Wadi Rum for the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, and have time to float in its salty water, use the mineral-rich mud, relax by the pool, or book spa treatments.

This stop has practical value after four long days on foot. Floating is not a cure for every sore muscle, but the chance to slow down, wash off the dust, and sit by the water is a welcome change from tents and trail shoes.

In the late afternoon, the group drives back to Amman along the winding road from the Dead Sea. You spend the final night at a hotel, which is useful if your departure is the next day.

The Dead Sea portion is not a full sightseeing day. It is a rest stop with leisure time, and the exact balance depends on the group schedule and the facility used. If you want a long spa holiday, this tour is too short for that. If you want one comfortable pause after a hard trek, it fits well.

Meals, tents, luggage, and group size

The price is $1,595 per person. That is a substantial sum, but it covers eight nights of accommodation, transportation, an English-speaking licensed guide on days 2 through 8, local trail support on days 2 through 4, luggage transfers, seven lunches, eight breakfasts, and six dinners.

You are paying for the support system as much as for the sightseeing. Moving bags by pickup truck means you can hike with a daypack rather than carrying all your camping gear. The guides and local support also matter on remote trails where finding the correct path alone would be difficult.

The group limit is 14. That is small enough for the guide to keep an eye on pace and comfort, while still giving you the social feel of a shared adventure. Several people have praised guides including Motaz Jarrar and Mutaz Zghoul for being attentive, funny, organized, and careful with different ability levels.

Not every meal is included, so check the meal count before you leave. The Jordan Pass, visa and entrance fees, tips, airport transfers, airfare, insurance, hiking gear, and personal purchases are extra. The price is strongest for anyone who wants a managed trek and does not want to arrange drivers, camps, meals, and luggage movement separately.

Who should book this Jordan trek?

I would choose this trip if you want Jordan’s major sights tied together by physical effort and outdoor time. It suits hikers who enjoy long days, simple camps, group meals, and changing scenery more than polished hotels and a relaxed schedule.

It can also work well for solo visitors, including solo women, who want the structure of a group without joining a large coach tour. The small group, named guides, and local trail support make the experience more social and organized than attempting this route alone.

I would not choose it if you dislike camping, struggle with steep descents, or want plenty of free time in Amman and Petra. You will see Petra in a distinctive way, but much of the trip is built around walking, not lingering in museums or sitting in cafés.

Weather matters. The experience can be moved or refunded if poor weather forces cancellation, and the same applies if the minimum group size is not met. You can cancel for a full refund at least six full days before the start time. From two to six full days before departure, the stated refund is 50 percent, while cancellations less than two full days before departure are nonrefundable.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if the thought of walking into Petra from Dana sounds better than arriving by car. The strongest reasons are the quiet Bedouin routes, the carefully supported camping setup, the back-door arrival at the Monastery, and the satisfying contrast of Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea.

Skip it if you want an easy Jordan sampler. The hiking is long, the terrain is rough, and the remote camps require flexibility. For a fit person who values scenery, local support, and a real sense of moving through the country, the $1,595 price is reasonable for what it bundles together.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts approximately nine days, beginning and ending in Amman.

Where does the tour start and finish?

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

What time does the tour begin?

The stated start time is 7:00 am, with the group pickup from the Amman hotel scheduled for about 7:30 am on Day 2.

How large is the group?

The maximum group size is 14 people.

How physically demanding is the trek?

You should have a strong fitness level. The hiking days last about five to seven hours, with listed distances of 15 kilometers, 16 kilometers, and 17.1 kilometers on Days 2 through 4. The route includes substantial climbs and descents.

Is camping included?

Yes. The tour includes tented wilderness accommodation during the trek and a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum, along with hotel accommodation in Amman.

Are meals included?

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

Are airport transfers included?

No. Airport pickup and drop off are not included.

Are entrance fees and the Jordan Pass included?

No. The Jordan Pass, visa, and entrance fees are listed as additional costs.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least six full days before the start time. Cancellations made two to six full days before departure qualify for a 50 percent refund, while cancellations less than two full days before departure are nonrefundable.