Petra & Wadi Rum
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Port
Aqaba (for Petra), Jordan
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Activity Level
Strenuous
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$314
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 13 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
Lost to the desert for centuries, Petra is one of the most spectacular sites of antiquity. A rose-hued city carved out of solid sandstone, Petra is the legacy of the Nabataeans -- an industrious Arabian people who settled in southern Jordan more than 2000 years ago. Admired then for its refined culture, massive architecture and ingenious complex of dams and water channels, Petra is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, enchanting visitors from all corners of the globe.
Explore on foot with your guide this marvelous city lost to all but nomadic Bedouins until 1812. Excavations of the site began in 1929 -- today, it's your turn to unearth the extraordinary.
Continue exploring Jordan's bizarre and intriguing desert landscapes, following in the footsteps of British adventurer T.E. Lawrence. The afternoon's adventure begins with a one-hour drive to the famous Wadi Rum. This is the site of the 1920s Arab Revolt championed by Lawrence. Meet up with a Bedouin family and hop into a four-wheel-drive vehicle to forge your way into the Valley of the Moon, passing through some of the most magnificent scenery in the world. The bumps you encounter on your one-hour ride will be well rewarded with dramatic vistas of desert dunes, wind-sculpted hills and striking rock formations.
Notes:
There is a strenuous walk into and out of the Petra site along an inclined path that includes slippery and unpaved surfaces, suitably only for physically fit participants. It is approximately a half-mile walk (each way) from the entrance to the site to the beginning of the Siq (canyon). From there, participants must walk five to six miles (each way) through the canyon all the way to the ruins. Temperatures are high -- easily 105° at Petra. Please realistically assess your physical fitness and ability prior to booking, as the walking is uphill and over unpaved, rough walking tracks with steps. Shade is limited; please dress accordingly. Bring water and a hat, and wear sunscreen. While a limited number of golf carts, camels and donkeys are available at Petra for transportation (at your own expense and responsibility), they are strictly on a first-come, first-served basis, and their use is in no way encouraged as they are not insured. If you choose to take the golf cart, you do so at your own risk, and there will be no narration during the bumpy ride that ends at the Treasury building. Your golf cart driver will schedule a meeting time with you in front of the Treasury Building for the return ride. Expect delays; 20 minutes late is not considered late in Jordan. Guests wishing to arrange for a golf cart ride must do so at the visitors center before entering the site.Not suitable for guests using a wheelchair or for those with mobility limitations. Even if you engage a carriage or service animal, you must still travel on foot over uneven and inclined terrain in order to completely view the site. No guest is obliged to stay with the guided tour; guests who feel they cannot continue (taking into consideration the return walk) can leave the group and return to the entrance on their own.
At Wadi Rum, the 4x4 vehicles are provided by a charity to assist the local Bedouin people. The vehicles are not air-conditioned, and their condition is very basic. Ride will be bumpy. Pregnant women and guests with back or neck conditions are not allowed to participate. Waiver must be signed, and medical conditions disclosed. Not suitable for guests using a wheelchair. The stars are visible only at a particular time of the night. Bring sturdy non-skid walking shoes.