Jordan: Culture & Nature In Depth

Visit all of Jordan’s Unesco sites, plus nature reserves and hidden treasures along with the classic highlights

This 12-day trip to Jordan is a great way to appreciate all the country has to offer. We visit some of the less explored archaeological sites, stay in lodges and cabins in nature reserves run by Jordan’s Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature away from the usual tourist centres, try home cooked food and of course visit all the main highlights such as Petra, Wadi Rum and Jerash along the way.

This trip includes a few of our Citizen Science Departures. These special departures offer you the opportunity to be involved in the collection of freshwater samples during the trip. The environmental DNA information derived from this sample will contribute directly to the eBioAtlas; the world’s largest repository of flora and fauna species data, contributing to the conservation and restoration of biodiversity both locally and globally. To book onto one of these special departures, see the Dates & Prices tab. For more information on these departures and the eBioAtlas, click here.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that improve life for the people and places we visit, and look after the planet we explore. Find out more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here, and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

In Jordan we are very proud to work with a local partner who received the Travelife Partner award in July 2021. Travelife is a certification system dedicated to achieving sustainable practices in the global tourism industry. In order to receive the award our Jordanian partner had to comply with over 100 criteria related to Corporate Social Responsibility. The Travelife standard is formally recognised for full compliance with the UN Sustainable Tourism Criteria.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• The use of a local leader means our customers will be well informed about local traditions, and cultural and social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of hotels run by Jordan’s Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN).
• There is an emphasis on eating locally produced food and support of other local enterprise. We have lunch included with a local family in Umm Qais, and the option of a dinner with a family in Petra.
• We visit Iraq Al-Amir Women’s Cooperative which aims to make the women involved financially independent through their production of crafts and food.
• We include a visit to the Al Numeira Environmental Association where we can learn about their efforts to improve the local environment.
• Many of the hotels we stay in are dedicated to hiring local staff, this helps to benefit the surrounding community by providing employment opportunities and income alternatives where they may be otherwise hard to come by.
• This trip stays one night in Wadi Rum desert at the Exodus Private camp which is owned and managed by a local Bedouin family.
• In Wadi Rum we take a 4×4 tour which provides another source of income for local people.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels.
• By travelling in a small group, led by a local guide, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• By staying at RSCN properties, we are helping to support nature reserves and conservation.
• On this trip we visit several national heritage sites and the entrance fees included generates income which is used for the upkeep and development of these important monuments and nature reserves.
• We don’t just visit the most popular destinations, but include a number of smaller, less visited sites which helps to spread the benefit of our visit outside of the main tourist areas.
• Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices with regard to working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
• In Petra we do not recommend that guests ride horses or mules as we are not convinced their treatment is in line with industry-leading animal welfare guidelines.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively eliminate or reduce waste, for example eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles and instead providing refills for re-usable bottles.
• It is standard practise in Jordan to distribute left-over restaurant food to people in need.
• Where possible on this trip paper bags are used as an alternative to single-use plastics.
• Some departures of this trip provide the opportunity for you to collect water samples for the International eBioAtlas initiative which collects vital DNA information to assist in essential conservation initiatives.
• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us and the eBioAtlas.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.
• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally-sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
• The Exodus Private camp in Wadi Rum uses solar power.
• This trip favours locally-owned and run accommodation.

 Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish behind in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, we’d ask you to consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: Please bring your own re-usable water bottle on this trip; filtered water will be provided where tap water is not drinkable.
• Cultural respect:
  • Some Jordanians especially women and the elderly object to being photographed so please ask first.
  • Jordanians are very proud of their country and can be offended if you take pictures of anything ‘negative’ or suggestive of poverty. Photography in military zones and strategic areas like public buildings is prohibited.
  • Handshaking is only between members of the same sex.
  • It’s polite to use only your right hand when eating something without cutlery and when handing money and small objects to someone else.
  • It is common practice to remove one’s shoes before entering a mosque or someone’s home and you should tuck them under if sitting on the floor. It is respectful for women to cover their heads with a scarf when entering a mosque. Please note many mosques are not open for tourist visits.
  • Despite what other tourists may wear, generally men’s and women’s clothing should cover shoulders and be on or below the knee.
  • During the holy month of Ramadan Muslins refrain from eating, drinking, and smoking during daylight hours. Even chewing gum is considered haram. (forbidden). Although foreigners are not expected to follow these practises it is respectful to be discrete and not eat, drink, or smoke in general public.
  • Making the effort to fit in is invariably appreciated so being aware of these aspects of cultural respect will assist you during your travels in Jordan.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is graded Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.  

Although this is a cultural trip, some days (such as those in Petra) can be long and tiring. All visits to Petra require a reasonable amount of walking, and to do the optional 850 steps up to the monastery, or the climb up to the High Place of Sacrifice, you should have a good level of fitness. Your leader can provide you with further advice about these hikes. It is not advisable to do the High Place of Sacrifice if you suffer from vertigo, as there are some very steep, narrow steps and cliffs. The leader will show where the route to the High Place of Sacrifice starts, but does not accompany people wishing to take this route.

While camping in Wadi Rum, please be aware that, while the campsite does have plumbed toilets and showers, it is basic and hot water may be limited. Our private Exodus camp is, however, often mentioned as a trip highlight by many of our guests.

In very rare instances, we may need to amend the order of the itinerary, but we will ensure that all the elements of the itinerary are still included and site visits are of the same duration.

Ramadan is expected to run from approximately 10 March-10 April 2024 and 28 February-29 March 2025. One of the most important periods in the Islamic calendar, it is a special time to visit a Muslim country. Each evening, the streets empty as people head home to break the fast, followed by an air of festivity upon their return. Our leaders and drivers choose to work at this time so we continue to run trips; however, their energy levels may be slightly lower than normal. Many tourist sites, restaurants and shops will have an amended schedule, but your tour leader will know how to adapt the itinerary to still experience all the inclusions on this trip and maximise your experience during this special time.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Vaccinations and Health

There are no mandatory vaccination requirements; however, polio, tetanus and typhoid vaccines are all recommended.

Visa

Jordan

Visas are required by most nationalities and can be obtained at the border or Amman airport.

We will arrange a free visa (usually 40 Jordanian dinars) for travellers booking a tour and any pre-tour arrangements through us, provided we receive full passport and flight details at least two weeks before arrival.

You will need to pay for the visa if we do not have these details two weeks before arrival or you are making your own pre-tour arrangements (ie extra nights before the tour that are not booked through Exodus).

Our airport representative will meet and assist you with obtaining the free visa on arrival in Jordan at Customs & Immigration. They will be carrying an Exodus sign.

Food & Drink

All breakfasts and five evening meals are included on this trip.

When not half board, we usually eat in local restaurants and the leader arranges bookings for those in the group who would like to join. We suggest you budget around 20 Jordanian dinars (US$28) per non-included meal. If you are vegetarian, please note that main meals are limited in choice; however, meze is almost always available in restaurants and is a good, filling vegetarian choice. There is a good selection of seafood available by the Red Sea. At the Wadi Rum camp, we enjoy a traditional dinner called zarb, which is cooked underground. This consists of rice with a selection including chicken, lamb and vegetables. Vegetables are cooked separately from the meat.

Alcohol is available in Jordan, but not widely. Many hotels do not sell alcohol but will often allow it to be brought in from elsewhere. It is best to plan ahead if you’ll want a drink, your tour leader will be able to tell you what’s possible and may be able to arrange a stop at a supermarket or liquor store (depending on location). In Petra, the unique Cave Bar in Petra Guesthouse is open to the public. A less expensive option is the bar in the Petra Palace Hotel which is also open to all.

Weather

Spring and autumn are popular in Jordan as it is cooler – around 24C (75F) in the day and 8C (46F) at night. Rain is likely, but protracted bad weather isn’t. It is hot and dry, but not unpleasant, throughout Jordan in the summer. Daytime maximum temperatures are around 32C (89F) in Amman. Jerash temperatures are the same.

Wadi Rum on average in summer is around 30C (86F) though it can get as high as 40C (104F). At night, it is usually around 10C (50F) cooler. In winter, it is much cooler, reaching as low as 10ºC during the day. In the evening it is around 0C (32F). There are occasions when there is rain or even snow in the desert. If weather conditions require, we may need to modify the itinerary or the camp location for your comfort and safety.

Aqaba is very hot when the air is still, but there is usually a breeze. Rain is unusual but possible. The Dead Sea air temperatures vary from around 14C (57F) in winter, nearing 40C (104F) in summer. The water temperature doesn’t drop below 20C (68F).

As with many countries in the world, seasons can go on longer than usual, so it is advisable to always check the weather of the country you are travelling to a week or two before your trip so you can pack appropriately.