Hotels, lodges, cabins and desert camp

Just like the trip itself, the accommodation is delightfully varied. We stay in four different properties run by Jordan's Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN): in Ajloun Forest Reserve, Azraq, at the Dead Sea and in Dana village. These are unique places to stay and support nature reserves and local communities. Typically, we use three-star hotels in Amman, Petra and Madaba. We also spend a night in our private Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum, a truly memorable experience.

Amman: Hotel Khan Khediwe (nights 1-2)



In Amman, we usually stay at Khan Khediwe, a three-star hotel in the bustle of downtown Amman. It's ideally placed for our adventures, close to a market and within walking distance of the Roman amphitheatre and shopping areas.

Ajloun: Ajloun Cabins (night 3)



In the Ajloun Forest Reserve, the RSCN's Ajloun Cabins are surrounded by pistachio, oak and strawberry trees. This peaceful location is very convenient for Ajloun Castle and Jerash. The restaurant serves typical local dishes.

Azraq: Azraq Lodge (night 4)



RSCN-run Azraq Lodge is partly a former 1940s British field hospital and partly modern brutalist accommodation blocks. The lodge staff are from the local community, which includes Chechen, Druze and Bedouin people. The buffet dinner often features Chechen dishes.

Dead Sea: Mujib Chalets (night 5)



Another RSCN property, the Mujib Chalets are right on the shore of the Dead Sea. This is a peaceful area away from the Dead Sea resorts further north and a relaxing float in the sea can be enjoyed right from the chalets' own beach.

Wadi Rum: Exodus Private Camp (night 6)



Used exclusively by our groups, the permanent Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum is a highlight for many travellers. We sleep in traditional tents sheltered by rugged stone cliffs and enjoy the warm hospitality of our Bedouin hosts. In the evening, they serve us a zarb dinner, cooked underground in the traditional manner, while the rest of the night is typically spent around the campfire, chatting and sharing an unforgettable experience.

Petra: (nights 7-9)



We spend three nights in Wadi Musa, the town adjacent to Petra. Demand for rooms near Petra is very high; over the years, we have built relationships with several accommodations, which allows us to secure spots even during peak season. The hotels are modest but well located. Some are within walking distance of the main entrance to the Red Rose City, others are no more than a 10-minute transfer away. Places we stay include Edom Hotel, Petra Plaza, Petra Palace, Amra Palace and La Maison among others.



On a small number of departures we use a Superior (four-star) hotel in Petra. These departures are identified in the Dates & Prices section as 'Superior hotel in Petra'. The hotel we usually use on these departures is the Petra Canyon Hotel (above), which is about a 10-minute drive from the entrance to Petra.

Dana village: Dana Guesthouse (night 10)



The final RSCN property of our trip, the Bedouin-run Dana Guesthouse has a beautiful location on the side of a cliff overlooking Wadi Dana. There are pleasant walks through the village straight from the door.

Madaba: Black Iris II (night 11)



Modest but well run, the Black Iris II has modern rooms, a bar and outdoor seating area. The restaurant serves excellent typical Jordanian food.

Worth knowing

Demand for accommodation in Petra is high; this can create problems with hot water and plumbing. In general, the accommodation here is more basic compared to the rest of this trip and service levels are variable.
Single supplements are available for this trip but are not applicable at Wadi Rum.

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.

— Day sack
— Lightweight walking boots/shoes for Petra
— Sports bottle with wide top (not plastic) for water refills from large containers
— Sunhat
— Sunblock
— Swimwear for the Red and Dead Seas
— Insect repellent for the night at the desert camp
— Torch (flashlight) for desert camp
— Appropriate footwear for the Dead Sea as parts are rocky underfoot

You will encounter a range of temperatures on these trips; in spring and autumn the days are generally quite hot (very hot in July and August), the nights are cool in the desert. Light cotton clothing is suitable for daytime use, but you may need a sweater, and for departures from the end of September onwards you should also bring a warm jacket.

Please note, Jordan is a Muslim country and so modest dress is required on this trip when visiting holy sites and rural areas (ie legs, shoulders and upper arms should be covered). In the larger cities and more popular destinations this is not necessary.

Please try to bring no more than one main piece of luggage per person. On occasion luggage may be transported separately to the vehicle the group travels in.

— Enjoy two full days in Petra, the Red Rose City
— Take a four hour 4x4 tour of Wadi Rum
— Visit desert castles, steeped in centuries of history
— Explore the Roman city of Jerash
— Take in views of the Sea of Galilee from Gadara ruins at Umm Qais
— Spot migratory birds in the Azraq Wetlands
— Float in the Dead Sea in a quiet spot away from most hotels
— Visit all six of Jordan's Unesco World Heritage Sites

Key information
Recommended arrival time: Hotel check-in is from 2pm
Airport: Queen Alia International Airport (AMM)
Getting to the start hotel
The start hotel is approximately 40 minutes’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for all customers.
Catching your return flight
Exodus provides free departure transfers for all customers to Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) from the end hotel.

Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.

— Travel insurance
— Single accommodation (available on request)
— Visas or vaccinations

— Day sack
— Lightweight walking boots/shoes for Petra
— Sports bottle with wide top (not plastic) for water refills from large containers
— Sunhat
— Sunblock
— Swimwear for the Red and Dead Seas
— Insect repellent for the night at the desert camp
— Torch (flashlight) for desert camp
— Appropriate footwear for the Dead Sea as parts are rocky underfoot

You will encounter a range of temperatures on these trips; in spring and autumn the days are generally quite hot (very hot in July and August), the nights are cool in the desert. Light cotton clothing is suitable for daytime use, but you may need a sweater, and for departures from the end of September onwards you should also bring a warm jacket.

Please note, Jordan is a Muslim country and so modest dress is required on this trip when visiting holy sites and rural areas (ie legs, shoulders and upper arms should be covered). In the larger cities and more popular destinations this is not necessary.

Please try to bring no more than one main piece of luggage per person. On occasion luggage may be transported separately to the vehicle the group travels in.

— Accommodation: 2 Superior nights (lodge/cabin), 7 Classic nights (5 hotel, 2 lodge/cabin), 1 Simple night (Bedouin camp). Cabins are run by Jordan's Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature.
— Travel by air-conditioned minibus and 4x4 in Wadi Rum
— Citizen Science departures available on this trip
— Group normally four to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16 years old

There are various excursions possible on this trip – the leader will provide more details on arrival. Please note that all prices are subject to change.

— Petra by Night: 30 dinars per person (US$43), which features 3D and hologram technology. Available Sunday to Thursday.
— Turkish bath: 22 dinars (US$31) per person
— Camel rides in Wadi Rum: camel rides provided by the local Bedouins may be possible in Wadi Rum. Around 1hr 20mins costs 20 dinars (US$28) per person

Our local staff are paid fairly for their work. However, while tipping may not be common in your home country, in Jordan it is part of the culture and is generally expected within tourism and many other areas of Jordanian life. We have given guidance in US dollars below, but tipping is best done in the local currency (Jordanian dinars).

For tipping your driver, hotel staff and other local staff, we recommend the use of a tipping kitty. Your leader can advise on the amount, as a guide, expect it to be US$85 for this trip. This kitty can be placed in the hands of one of the group members to look after and the leader will advise where it is appropriate to tip. If preferred, however, the leader can manage this for the group. The kitty is there to ease confusion and embarrassment by not knowing how much or how little to tip.

Most clients also wish to tip their Tour Leader and as a guide we suggest US$55 per person for this trip. Most groups prefer to present the money to the leader at the end of the week in an envelope. The amount is at your discretion and our suggested amount is to be used as a guideline only.

For most of this trip, we use one air-conditioned bus with local drivers. To reach the Wadi Rum camp and to explore the desert of Wadi Rum, we use basic 4WD vehicles owned by the host Bedouin family. The vehicles are appropriate for local desert travel but may fall below normal vehicle safety standards expected on our trips, and do not have seatbelts. As there are no other vehicles available, and as we are not travelling by road, we feel they are an adequate means of transport.

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.

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.