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

The best part of this Jordan journey is the way it reaches Petra on foot. You do not simply arrive at the Treasury, take a few photos, and move on. You cross dry valleys, high mountain paths, old Bedouin routes, and sandstone country before entering Petra through its quieter back route. The Dana to Petra trek is the heart of the trip.

I like the small group, limited to 14 people, and the practical support along the way. I also like the mix of rough camping and classic Jordan stops: Little Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea. The main caution is simple: this is a demanding walking holiday, not a relaxed sightseeing tour. Several days cover 15 to 17 kilometers with steep climbs and descents.

Key Points to Know Before You Book

• Walk into Petra from the back: Reach the Monastery by a little-used Nabataean route instead of starting with the usual crowded approach.
• Expect real hiking: The trek includes up to 750 meters of ascent and 920 meters of descent in a day.
• Sleep close to the desert: Three wilderness camping nights offer a basic, quiet connection with southern Jordan.
• Travel with useful support: Your bags move by pickup truck, and a local hiking guide with a donkey supports the group during the first three trek days.
• Finish with comfort: Wadi Rum brings a 4×4 desert outing, while the Dead Sea gives your legs a chance to recover.
• Budget for extras: The $1,595 price includes lodging, meals, guiding, and transport, but not the Jordan Pass, flights, insurance, tips, or hiking gear.

A Nine-Day Route That Builds Toward Petra

This trip begins and ends in Amman, with seven active days between arrival and departure. You spend the first night in downtown Amman, walk from Dana toward Petra over four days, visit Petra, then continue to Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea.

That structure works well because the trip does not try to cram every Jordan sight into one rushed loop. The walking days have a clear purpose, and the final two stops change the pace. You move from mountain trails to desert rock, then to warm, salty water.

The group size matters here. Fourteen people is small enough for the guide to keep an eye on walking speed, water breaks, and general morale. It also gives you a fair chance to get to know the people sharing camp and meals with you. Guides including Motaz Zghoul and Mutaz Jarrar have been singled out for thoughtful support, humor, and careful attention to the group.

Night One in Amman: An Easy Start

Your first night is in a hotel in downtown Amman. The arrival day is intentionally light, which is useful after an international flight. You can check in, eat Jordanian food, and take a short independent look around the capital if your arrival time allows.

Amman is old, busy, and modern at once. The tour does not spend several days touring the city, so think of this stop as a gentle landing rather than a full city visit. You will need to be ready for a 7:30 am pickup the next morning, so a quiet evening makes sense.

One practical point: the stated meeting time is 7:00 am, while the first pickup is described as 7:30 am after breakfast. Confirm the exact pickup details before departure. Airport transfers are not included, so arrange those separately.

Day Two: Dana Nature Reserve and the First Camp

The drive from Amman to the trailhead takes about two and a half hours. That gives you time to meet the group before the walking begins, but the first hiking day is still substantial: about 15 kilometers, five to seven hours, with 260 meters of ascent and 690 meters of descent.

Dana Nature Reserve is a strong opening because it brings several ecological zones into one long route. You start high, walking along mountain paths above Dana Valley, then descend into Al Khashasha Valley. The scenery changes as you lose elevation, and the route gives you an early feel for the scale of southern Jordan.

The overnight camp is near Mansoura, on the edge of the valley. Wilderness camping means you should be ready for basic conditions rather than hotel comforts. In return, you get a quieter night and a direct connection to the terrain you have just crossed.

A local hiking guide and donkey accompany the group during the first three days for safety support. That does not make the route easy, but it adds a sensible layer of help on remote ground.

Day Three: The Climb to Furon

The second walking day covers about 16 kilometers and takes five to seven hours. The key challenge is the climb toward Furon, with 563 meters of ascent and only 170 meters of descent.

You begin by climbing for roughly an hour. The reward is a broad view of the Sharah Mountains and Wadi Araba Desert. This is one of those days when pacing matters more than speed. You will want water, sun protection, and shoes that feel secure on uneven ground.

The Furon camp is placed for the view. After dinner, a cup of tea and open desert scenery provide the evening entertainment. Jordanian tea is not a minor detail on this route. Shared tea stops help break up the physical effort and create the social rhythm of the trip.

If you are new to multi-day hiking, this is a useful test. Your legs have worked the day before, and the climb comes early. The guide can help with pace, but you still need a good fitness base.

Day Four: Remote Paths Around Ras Al-Feid

Day four is the most demanding on paper. The route covers about 17.1 kilometers, with 750 meters of ascent and 920 meters of descent. You walk past Ras Al-Feid toward Ghbour Whedat, using smaller Bedouin shepherd paths that connect across the mountains.

This is not a polished park trail with constant signs and railings. The route passes bare black peaks, steep canyon edges, and high desert views. The rugged setting is a big reason to choose this trip, but it is also why you need to be comfortable with uneven footing and exposure.

As the route continues, the scenery softens. Mushroom-shaped rock formations appear near the wilderness camp at Ghbour Whedat. That change gives the long day a pleasing sense of movement, even though the physical effort remains high.

You will appreciate having your main luggage transferred by pickup truck. Carry only what you need for the day, but pack that day bag carefully. Water, snacks, a sun hat, layers, and personal medication should stay with you.

Day Five: Little Petra and Signs of Older Life

The route begins to pass more signs of settlement as you approach Al-Beidha and Little Petra. Bedouin camps, sheep pens, and small agricultural plots give you a glimpse of present-day life in the region. Ancient features appear too, including wine and olive presses, aqueducts, and other water systems.

Little Petra, also called Siq al-Barid, is one of the most useful stops on the trip because it prepares you for Petra without repeating the main site. The canyon is narrower and more contained, with soft sandstone walls and carved spaces. You reach it through a canyon and descend a steep flight of stairs.

The provided schedule does not give a hiking distance or elevation figure for this day, but it still follows three strenuous days in a row. Do not mistake the shorter description for a rest day. Your overnight arrangements and exact walking finish should be confirmed before you go.

Little Petra is thought to have served as a settlement or service area connected with Petra. The ancient presses and water systems make the site more than a quick photo stop. They show how people managed food, trade, and water in a dry region.

Day Six: Entering Petra by the Back Door

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

The path reaches a natural rock terrace that has been improved in places for safer walking. It narrows before arriving at a high plateau above Wadi Siyyagh. Then the Monastery comes into view from an unusual angle, built into the cliff face and reached without first passing through the standard entrance route.

A Bedouin café near the Monastery offers a place for refreshments. After that, Nabataean steps lead farther into Petra. The route avoids most of the crowds at the start, though Petra itself is a major archaeological site and you should not expect complete solitude once you reach its main areas.

This approach changes the feel of the visit. Instead of walking toward one famous monument with a crowd, you earn the first major view through several hours of open trail. It also lets you appreciate how Petra fits into the surrounding mountains.

The listed day is about 12 hours, including the hike and time in Petra. That is a long day. You need stamina for the walk, and you may still want energy for the archaeological site after reaching the Monastery.

Day Seven: From Petra to Wadi Rum

After a more relaxed breakfast, the tour leaves the Petra mountains for Wadi Rum. The change is dramatic. Petra gives you carved stone and narrow mountain routes, while Wadi Rum opens into wide desert valleys and red rock formations.

A Bedouin host takes you out by 4×4 jeep. The outing includes narrow gorges, ancient rock inscriptions, sand dunes, and rock bridges. You can walk, scramble, and explore at your own pace during the stops, within the limits set by the local guide and conditions.

The stated activity lasts about five hours. That is enough time to see several parts of the desert without turning the day into another full trek. It is a welcome change after the Dana to Petra route.

Sunset is followed by dinner and a night at a Bedouin camp. The camp is not the same as wilderness camping, so expect a different level of setup, but it is still a desert night rather than a standard hotel stay. Tea and Bedouin hospitality are part of the evening.

Day Eight: The Dead Sea as a Recovery Day

The Dead Sea is a smart final stop after a week of walking. You can float in the salty water, cover yourself with mineral-rich mud, relax by the pool, or pay for spa treatments if you want more comfort.

The water is the main attraction, but follow local instructions carefully and avoid getting it in your eyes. The tour gives you time to rest before the final drive back to Amman in the late afternoon.

The Dead Sea stop is included in the transport and activity plan, but the exact resort facilities and any spa treatments are not specified. Treat treatments as an optional extra, not part of the $1,595 price.

You spend the final night at a hotel in Amman. That is helpful for an early departure, although airport transport remains your responsibility.

What the $1,595 Price Really Covers

At $1,595 per person, this is not a cheap walking tour, but the price includes a lot of moving parts. You receive eight nights of accommodation, an English-speaking licensed guide on days two through eight, transport, luggage transfers, seven breakfasts, seven lunches, and six dinners.

The package also covers wilderness camping, the Wadi Rum camp, hotels in Amman, and the logistics of moving between Dana, Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea, and Amman. A trip like this would be difficult to arrange independently because the route uses remote paths and requires vehicle support for bags and transfers.

You still need to budget for the Jordan Pass, visa and entrance fees, airport transfers, tips, travel insurance, flights, personal expenses, and hiking equipment. Those exclusions can change your final cost considerably.

The value is strongest if you want a guided trek with meals and support already arranged. It is less attractive if you mainly want Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea with little walking. In that case, a standard sightseeing circuit would suit you better.

Fitness, Clothing, and Camp Expectations

You should have a strong level of physical fitness before booking. The hardest figures are 17.1 kilometers, 750 meters of ascent, and 920 meters of descent on day four, but the bigger issue is the repeated effort across several days.

Train with long walks on uneven ground, including hills. Break in your hiking shoes before arriving. Carry a day pack you can manage for several hours, and bring layers because desert temperatures can change sharply between day and night.

The tour provides tents and meals, but the details of bedding, showers, and camp facilities are not specified. Ask the operator for the current camping setup before departure. Pack personal hygiene items, a headlamp, and any medication you need, unless the operator confirms they are supplied.

Food is one of the pleasant parts of this style of trip. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included on most active days, and the guide team handles the meal arrangements. If you have dietary needs, communicate them before booking rather than waiting until the first camp.

Who Will Enjoy This Jordan Trek

I would recommend this route to fit hikers who want Jordan through their feet, not just through a bus window. It suits solo visitors who like meeting a small group, couples who are comfortable with simple camping, and experienced walkers looking for a route with cultural interest.

It can also work for a first multi-day trek if you already exercise regularly and are willing to accept long days and basic camps. The guides are there to support you, but they cannot remove the distance, heat, climbs, or descents.

I would not choose it for a family seeking an easy holiday, anyone who dislikes camping, or anyone hoping for a slow luxury tour. The Dead Sea and hotel nights add comfort, but most of the trip is built around walking.

Should You Book the Dana to Petra Trek?

Book it if the idea of approaching Petra from the mountains sounds better than arriving by vehicle. The combination of Dana’s varied terrain, Little Petra, the back route to the Monastery, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea gives you a strong nine-day portrait of Jordan.

The best reasons to choose it are the route, the small group, luggage support, and the care provided by guides such as Motaz Zghoul and Mutaz Jarrar. The main reason to hesitate is the physical demand. Read the daily distances, prepare your legs, and confirm camp conditions before paying.

The cancellation terms allow a full refund when you cancel at least six full days before the start time. Cancellations two to six days ahead receive 50 percent, while cancellations less than two days ahead are not refunded. Poor weather or failure to reach the minimum group size may lead to a different date or a full refund.

FAQ

How long is the Dana to Petra trek?

The full experience lasts approximately nine days. The active walking portion runs from day two through day six, followed by Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea.

How large is the group?

The maximum group size is 14 people.

What fitness level is required?

You should have a strong physical fitness level. Walking days cover about 15 to 17 kilometers, with substantial climbs and descents.

Is accommodation included?

Yes. The price includes eight nights of accommodation, including hotels in Amman, wilderness camping, and a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum.

Are meals included?

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

Is luggage transferred during the trek?

Yes. Luggage transfers are provided by pickup truck, so you do not need to carry your main bags along the walking route.

Is a guide included?

Yes. An English-speaking licensed guide accompanies the group on days two through eight. A local hiking guide with a donkey provides safety support on days two through four.

Are the Jordan Pass and airport transfers included?

No. The Jordan Pass, visa and entrance fees, airport pickup and drop-off, tips, travel insurance, airfare, hiking gear, and personal expenses are not included.