- Explore the Roman ruins at Jerash
- Have your own Indiana Jones adventure in Petra
- Stargaze in Wadi Rum
- Chill by the Red Sea and float in the Dead Sea
Petra & Wadi Rum Family Adventure
Family
Activity Level
Leisurely/Moderate
Itineraries at this level will have slightly longer days, often returning to the hotel mid to late afternoon. The level of physical activity may be slightly increased, such as including a few walks or activities requiring children to be outside and active a little longer. Travelling is still however kept to a minimum and journeys (aside from airport transfers) are unlikely to be longer than 2 hours. Weather conditions - heat or cold - are more of a factor on trips at this level, for example spending time outside in the height of summer.
Itinerary
Amman Dead Sea London London
Fly to Amman; transfer to hotel
Our flight usually arrives in Amman, capital of Jordan, late tonight or very early in the morning tomorrow. We catch our transfer to the hotel and head straight to bed.
Those on the group flight will be met before immigration by our Airport Coordinator who will collect your passport to get it stamped with the group visa. Please be aware in high season this process may be subject to delays. The Coordinator will be holding an Exodus sign, please make yourself known to him. You will then be directed to the baggage collection point and then to the arrivals hall for the transfer to the hotel. It is at this point that the Airport Coordinator will return the passports.
Accommodation: Corp Hotel (or similar)
Start Amman
Welcome to Amman, the capital of Jordan, where our adventure begins. There are free transfers to the hotel from Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) for all customers today. Please note, transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.
Accommodation: Corp Hotel (or similar)
Tour the Roman city of Jerash
After breakfast, we take our first steps back in time to the Roman city of Jerash. Settled as a town during the reign of Alexander the Great, it peaked during the period of the Decapolis – a group of 10 great Roman cities on the eastern frontier of their empire. Walking along the well-preserved Roman roads, wandering through the marketplace and climbing the theatre steps is bound to capture the imagination of everyone in the family. After our Roman adventure, we return to Amman for free time and maybe a dip in the hotel pool.
Accommodation: Corp Hotel (or similar)
To Petra via Mount Nebo and Madaba
Leaving Amman, our first stop is Mount Nebo where Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land. Race to the top and take a family photo on this historic spot. Our next stop is the market town of Madaba, famous for its Byzantine-era mosaics, which includes the oldest map of Palestine in existence. Crafted in 560 CE, it depicts all the major Biblical sites of the Middle East from Egypt to Palestine. A visit to a mosaic workshop reveals how these artworks are made. Before leaving Madaba, fill up your water bottle with one of the many delicious fresh local juices. We journey south through deserts and amazing canyons and stop at a high point for wonderful views. We also see fossils and have a picnic lunch. On arrival at Wadi Musa, the gateway to Petra, we have free time to settle into our hotel.
Accommodation: Standard hotel – see accommodation section for more detail
Explore magical Petra
This morning, we start early to avoid the heat of the day. Maybe your family is too excited to sleep anyway because today is our Indiana Jones adventure into the lost city of Petra. We start our early wandering through the Siq, a natural gateway to one of the most spectacular landmarks in the world. Along the way, we pass djinn blocks – djinn is Arabic for spirits and source of the word genie, so maybe these monoliths can grant wishes!
Through a narrow opening in the rock, we get our first glimpse of Al-Khazneh or the Treasury. Featured in the 1989 blockbuster film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the astonishing sites of Petra were brought to the attention of the world. We continue exploring this amazing city, scrambling up hills to find huge tombs and palaces. Winding our way around the hillsides, we stop for a picnic lunch before exploring the colonnaded street and great temple. Heading back along the main street, we re-enter the Siq leaving a magical city that will stay in your memory forever. The rest of the afternoon and evening are free to relax.
Accommodation: Standard hotel – see accommodation section for more detail
To Aqaba on the Red Sea
After breakfast, we head to Little Petra to climb through cave rooms and explore a much less crowed site. From here, we head to Aqaba, the premier beach resort on the Red Sea. Our hotel has a private white-sand beach, lagoon-style pool and options for watersports and snorkelling. It has several restaurants and is close to the downtown area, home to a small market and more cafes and restaurants. This afternoon is free to relax. As the sun sets, meet up with the tour leader – it’s time to dive into the colourful bazaars and have fun haggling for a souvenir.
Accommodation: Beach resort
Free time to snorkel, swim, relax in Aqaba or visit Saraya Water Park (optional)
Today you have extra time to enjoy Aqaba or relax on the beach. The pool area of our resort features artistic fountains surrounded by palm trees and there are watersports available, including snorkelling and scuba diving among the amazing Red Sea coral. The hotel also has a spa and wellness centre and a gym so the needs of the whole family are catered for. Your tour leader can arrange fun time on the beach; in the evening, they arrange a group dinner in Aqaba for those who want to join.
Saraya Water Park is also near and features more than 25 waterslides and water-drenched versions of Petra and Jerash – it is suitable for children up to 12 years’ old. Prices start from 20 Jordanian dinars (US$28) for adults and 25 dinars (US$35) for children. Please let your tour leader know if you would like to go and they will arrange a taxi for you (approximately 2.15 dinars/US$3 each way).
Accommodation: Beach resort
Wadi Rum 4x4 adventure; sleep in a desert camp
Leaving the Red Sea, we head into the desert and to our private Exodus camp run by a Bedouin family. There’s a small dune nearby, which is great fun to roll down. Later in the day, we bounce around the dunes in our 4x4s and then scramble up rocks to watch the sunset. This evening, we can stargaze and maybe even meet up with some of the animals that come out at night. Our dinner is cooked the traditional Bedouin way, underground, and there’s a campfire where we can sit and talk. Camping in Wadi Rum is an experience of a lifetime.
Accommodation: Permanent Bedouin camp
From Wadi Rum to the Dead Sea
We’re up early today to say goodbye to our new Bedouin friends and head to the lowest point on earth: the Dead Sea. Our family-friendly resort has outdoor pools with waterslides and a terrace overlooking the Dead Sea. Have fun floating in the saline waters, rub on the mineral-rich mud for a great family photo and enjoy the swimming pools at the resort. Tonight, get together with the rest of the group to share all the memories of our Jordan adventures over dinner and maybe cement new friendships.
Accommodation: Four-star hotel
Transfer to airport for flight to London
After an early breakfast, Flight inclusive guests transfer to the airport for flight back to London.
Trip ends at the Dead Sea
The adventure comes to an end this morning and we begin our return journey home. Of course, if you’d like to stay a little longer, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.
Hotels and camping in Wadi Rum
We spend two nights in a four-star hotel in Amman, two nights in a comfortable hotel in Petra, two nights in a five-star beach resort in Aqaba and the final night in a four-star hotel at the Dead Sea. We also have one night in a desert camp in Wadi Rum. The camp is for the sole use of the Exodus group and offers Bedouin hospitality that your family will never forget.
Throughout the tour we use hotels with air conditioning and wifi. Some have more facilities than others; however, it is always good to keep in mind that the star rating in Jordan is quite different to what you may expect at home. Sometimes we may use less centrally located hotels in the interests of comfort.
Hotels in Petra: Accommodation in Wadi Musa (the town adjacent to Petra) is limited and demands on infrastructure are high; this can create problems with hot water and plumbing. In general, the hotels are of an older style and more basic in comparison to the rest of Jordan. Hotels we use include Petra Plaza, Petra Palace, Edom Hotel, Amra Palace and La Maison among others. All are a similar standard. When not within walking distance of the entrance to Petra, a transfer to/from the entrance is provided (typically a 10-minute drive).
At the Wadi Rum camp, there are traditional-style tents equipped with basic beds, sheets and blankets. There are plumbed toilets and basins, and simple shower facilities with (limited) hot water.
Single supplements are available for this trip; however, this cannot be guaranteed at Wadi Rum. Please enquire at the time of booking for details and up-to-date prices.
While we do our best to ensure families are roomed close together (in some cases, we can arrange adjoining rooms), we can’t guarantee this. Most family trips occur during peak season and we sometimes have little control over where you will be put.
Reviews
Add your own reviewPetra Adventure
Great trip learnt all about ancient Jordans deep historical past
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing the treasury at Petra the first time
Thoughts on Group Leader
Muayal our guide was Incredibly knowledgable, he has a deep passion for his country and the subject he looked after all of our needs and requirements
Advice for Potential Travellers
Definitely worth paying the extra for the 5 star tour, take good quality walking shoes and socks
“Jordan? Really…why?”
Before we went on this amazing trip whenever we were asked where we were going it invariably provoked a “Really…why?” type of response. We’re now much more qualified to answer that question. Firstly, let’s address the 4/5 rating. Don’t get us wrong, this trip was amazing but it’s up against our first Exodus holiday to Costa Rica in Christmas 2019 and that’s a very hard act to follow. Being more cultural, historical and less about animals and adrenaline, this is a far harder holiday to make work with our particular family. Despite this, our time in Jordan was virtually non-stop and we’ve come home with memories that will last our lifetimes. No more comparisons.
Most Inspirational Moment
Jerash was our first opportunity to explore what is an amazingly well-preserved ancient Roman city. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see the gladiator or chariot display but the vastness of the site gave us plenty more to absorb. Jerash was just the teaser though because Petra makes that look tiny in comparison. We were not at all prepared for the vast awesomeness of it all and spent a good day there covering over 10 miles on foot. The site is a tourist trap but once you get beyond the treasury itself there’s plenty of room for everyone. Highly recommend making the extra effort to climb up to The Monastery. We also did the optional Petra by Night which we enjoyed the candlelit walk to but were a bit underwhelmed by the “show”. A few of us also enjoyed climbing up to the “best view in the world” (there were a few of those) at Little Petra. The less said about the hotel in Petra, the better. These trips are not about the accommodation, that said our two nights at our Red Sea 5-star hotel were enjoyed, by the kids in particular. The Wadi Rum was a magical experience with all the sand dune rolling, jeep exploring and sunrise watching we’d been promised. This definitely met expectations. However, we would recommend not interrupting this experience with the optional stargazing excursion. It’s a great experience in itself but being 45 minutes away by jeep it does rather distract from the isolated experience camping overnight in the Wadi Rum is supposed to deliver. Finally, the Dead Sea experience is just plain weird. Very strange indeed but an experience not to be missed.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Mekhled, our group leader, was great. Genuinely well informed and available for our needs at all times. He did his best to manage a group with a wide demographic, including children covering a fairly wide age-range. He engaged well with all. I think this may have only been his second family trip as a guide but that didn’t show.
Advice for Potential Travellers
As ever with these types of holidays be prepared for early starts and long journeys. Take enough local currency so that you’re able to pay in cash for many of the optional extras. Try to bring a day pack which you can use for the overnight stay in the desert, those jeeps aren’t well suited to carrying loads of suitcases! Perhaps pack a travel game or two. We didn’t need to bring our snorkel stuff. We dressed modestly (by western standards) in public areas and found the Jordanian people to be friendly and welcoming. We were more sensitive to local customs in rural and less touristy areas and we think this struck the right balance.
Jordan - worth a visit
This was our first exodus holiday. It isn’t worth experiencing although I would advise arriving one day earlier to enable a rest day after a late travel day and an early start to the Dead Sea. Petra and the wadi rum was amazing and would love to return to spend more time there. The hotels were very comfortable other than the last one in Amman which was very poor but exodus responded to complaints and we were moved.
Most Inspirational Moment
Looking over the holy land. Staying in the wadi rum watching shooting stars and eating amazing food and visiting wadi rum train station with the steam train - would have loved to have spent two days in the wadi rum and two days in Petra. Making the climb to the monastery in Petra, most unexpected reward after the climb.
Thoughts on Group Leader
The group leader was friendly and knowledgable.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don’t buy pack lunches they are not worth it and not nice.
I want to go back!
Last week we floated in the Dead Sea, snorkelled in the Red Sea, rode camels, camped in the Wadi Rum, looked out over awesome canyons and amazing landscapes, marvelled at mosaics, drank mint tea with the Bedouin, were driven through the desert in a 4×4, run down sand dunes, ate more houmous than you can shake a piece of flat bread at, and, of course, explored the wonders of the Lost City of Petra. We felt completely safe and welcome the entire time and have made new friends and memories that will last a lifetime! Go with an open mind, be prepared to take the rough with the smooth – the hotels are not 5 star – the Petra Palace Hotel is far from palatial (someone in our group joked that it was probably discovered at the same time as Petra) and the Golden Tulip at Aqaba lost its shine years ago – but we didn’t come to Jordan to sit in hotels. The only real downside to it all is coming home! Last night my 13 year old said to me, “We were a bit worried about going on this holiday, but I”m so glad we did but I”m sad it’s all over!”.
Most Inspirational Moment
The first glimpse of Petra at the end of the Siq; making it up the 900 steps to the Monastery without dying and then walking that little bit further at the top and looking out over the Rift Valley.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Knowledgeable, patient, funny, good rapport with both adults children in the group.
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you tell the souvenir sellers at Petra that you will look at their wares "on the way back down" they won't forget you - I am now the proud owner of 7 fridge magnets! Read the book "Married to a Bedouin" by Marguerite van Geldermalsen alongside your trip - it adds another dimension. Oh, and cultivate a love of houmous!
I want to go back!
Last week we floated in the Dead Sea, snorkelled in the Red Sea, rode camels, camped in the Wadi Rum, looked out over awesome canyons and amazing landscapes, marvelled at mosaics, drank mint tea with the Bedouin, were driven through the desert in a 4×4, run down sand dunes, ate more houmous than you can shake a piece of flat bread at, and, of course, explored the wonders of the Lost City of Petra. We felt completely safe and welcome the entire time and have made new friends and memories that will last a lifetime! Go with an open mind, be prepared to take the rough with the smooth – the hotels are not 5 star – the Petra Palace Hotel is far from palatial (someone in our group joked that it was probably discovered at the same time as Petra) and the Golden Tulip at Aqaba lost its shine years ago – but we didn’t come to Jordan to sit in hotels. The only real downside to it all is coming home! Last night my 13 year old said to me, “We were a bit worried about going on this holiday, but I”m so glad we did but I”m sad it’s all over!”.
Most Inspirational Moment
The first glimpse of Petra at the end of the Siq; making it up the 900 steps to the Monastery without dying and then walking that little bit further at the top and looking out over the Rift Valley.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Knowledgeable, patient, funny, good rapport with both adults children in the group.
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you tell the souvenir sellers at Petra that you will look at their wares "on the way back down" they won't forget you - I am now the proud owner of 7 fridge magnets! Read the book "Married to a Bedouin" by Marguerite van Geldermalsen alongside your trip - it adds another dimension. Oh, and cultivate a love of houmous!
The Time of Our Lives
Though I have travelled to about seventy countries, Jordan with Exodus offered me one of the best weeks of my life and I and my twelve year old will be absorbing the experience for a long time to come. A haven of peace in a troubled region, it is so important that we go to Jordan and support such wonderful people in building their tourism industry. Petra and Wadi Rum were high points, though you somehow have to make it to Jerash, the Roman city north of Amman. Our guide, Sami, organised it for us and we were taken there on the usual tour bus. I will always remember him. He was such a good guide, not just for running the mechanics of the trip but because he was so a charismatic figure, a serious scholar of all he was showing us, a superb story teller and so good at relating to the kids. At Wadi Rum he even bought a football for them and they had an amazing time. Thanks to him for making it perfect.
Most Inspirational Moment
Jerash.
Thoughts on Group Leader
See above.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The minimum age is five but I would think twice about taking a child under eight. It's hardly leisurely. (And I took a six month old baby to the Philippines and to Kashmir when she was one... portable at that age!)
Magical Trip
A one-of-a-kind trip, in the very capable hands of first rate guide.
Most Inspirational Moment
Sand Storms in Wadi Rum and night trip to Petra were unforgettable.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Wael was a credit to your company, and was particularly good adapting the pace and content of the tour to fit the needs of two families with 7 year olds.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't be affraid to step out of the air conditioned buses and see some of the real Jordan. You will lose out if you just eat in hotels and don't sample charms of downtown Amman. Guide was very helpful in getting us off the beaten track.
The Lost City of Petra
Most definitely a holiday to remember. Our guide, Zuhair was excellent and given the constraints placed upon him by Exodus, the trip was on the whole an ideal way to travel to the region with a young family. The main disappointment was the lack of genuinely local experiences. The shops we stopped at were of the service station variety. The restaurants we ate at were of the chips and coke variety. The Bedouins we took tea with were happy to welcome us as part of a steady stream of tourists passing through their tent, where commercial goods were available to buy as you exited. The trip was fun and extremely well organised but smacked of a commercially focussed enterprise and not as an opportunity to experience the real Jordan. Visits to Petra (make sure you include the additional walk to the Monastry. The walk up the steps is as memorable as the experience at the top) and the river Jordan site are a must, along with the Wadi Rum desert experience. Aqaba however did not add anything, other than cost, to our trip. We couldn’t shake the very loud western pop music, even on the boat trip. An insufficient number of childrens lifejackets (we only found this out mid journey) and no snorkelling equipment for children, proved without doubt that this was an 18-30 party boat and not a family enterprise.
The best experience we had of the real Jordan was our last night in Amman. Jump in a taxi, head down town and just drink in the city. Souks, shisha, hustle & bustle and super shops for spices, sweets etc and tea at Café Jafra is a must. Enjoy the stress free, well organised and efficient guided tour, but make the most of the “unscheduled” hours of the trip to see Jordan, beyond the tour bus.
Most Inspirational Moment
Ancient history - Petra - just mesmerising Recent history - the River Jordan - just a few metres of water separating the borders of Jordan and Isreal. Quite humbling.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent. The constant narrative, in excellent English, was very welcome and very well received by all ages. Maybe a few too many religious facts for the younger ones but there were a lot of long drives and a lot of religious sights to visit. Traditional Jordanian stories in contrast with current affairs and the history of the region kept us enthralled throughout the trip.
Advice for Potential Travellers
We travelled in March/April. There was no need for solid footwear, my 13 year old spent the week in flip flops. In Petra, there was a significant difference in the quality of the Turkish bath experienced by the females in the group compared to the men. For the same price, the men were given a far more lengthy and comprehensive time in the baths. I would question the value of the baths for ladies. Don't fill your luggage with towels. They can be hired wherever you are although I don't remember being given towels at the desert camp.
The Lost City of Petra
This is an excellent trip, Petra is astounding, the Wadi Rum is achingly beautiful and peaceful and the array of life in the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea just amazing. The Dead Sea ranks amongst one of the weirdest experiences of my life!
Most Inspirational Moment
Petra has to be seen to be believed, I just wasn't prepared for the scale and the colours. For once in my life I made my boys, 15 & 17, climb to the top of something (a good hour’s very steep hike in the searing heat) without them being disappointed by the sight that awaited. George who had gone on ahead as usual, came running back to tell us, Wow! you're not going to believe it, it is so worth it! A monastery as big as a cathedral on the top of a Mountain surrounded by endless desert, there are no words, you have to go and see it!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Salah was a fantastic guide, a very proud Jordanian who not only looked after us in a practical way but gave us a fascinating insight into his country and people. Our driver Mamdoor also went out of his way to make sure we were always comfortable.
Advice for Potential Travellers
We all made an effort to respect the fact that we were visiting a Muslim country during Ramadan by dressing conservatively and not making a show of eating and drinking during the day. I feel this was very much appreciated. The food was great everywhere and kept our hungry teenage boys very happy.
The Lost City of Petra
An amazing trip….can I go again please?
We went with our three kids, aged 11, 6 and 5. They all had a wonderful time and could name many highlights…from rides on camels, mules and horses (yes, all three!!!), to snorkeling in the Red Sea or climbing rocks in the desert!
Most Inspirational Moment
The highlights are different for all of us...I choose seeing the sunset on a camel in Wadi Rum. My son's highlight was snorkeling in the Red Sea. And one of my daughters' preferred moment was the mule ride in Petra...admittedly after climbing 900-1200 steps up to the monastery (and down again!), it was heavenly to have a ride back to the treasury.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Alla(din), our guide, was incredibly knowledgeable and very open to any questions. He gave excellent advice (for example to do the camel ride in Wadi Rum and not in Petra) and really helped to make our trip a very memorable one. He certainly added value to the whole experience.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Yes. We hired a medium sized boat with our group for snorkeling in Aqaba. The minimum group size is 10 and it cost 35 JD per person. BBQ, towels and snorkeling equipment were included. Although this is optional, I would highly recommend it...it was one of the highlights of our trip. We brought sleeping bags for the one night's camping in Jordan, but in May it certainly doesn't get very cold in the desert, so they were not really used. Our children were fine with all the food, but if you have got very fussy eaters, you may want to take some snacks (like oat bars or fruit bars) to keep them going.
Would you like to include flights with your booking?
- ATOL protected
- Competitive flight prices
- Full refunds in the event of FCDO cancellations or major disruption at your UK departure airport
- Specialist support to rearrange flights and transfers
- Regional flights available from many UK airports
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