Jordan Explorer

The Gateway to Jordan

Ahlan Wa Sahlan! Welcome to Amman, the uber modern capital of Jordan! From the get-go, experience the country’s deeply carved history—it’s visible in the hillside juxtaposition of ancient ruins, stone amphitheater and contemporary buildings like the Jordan Museum, touted as the best in the Middle East.

A Wild Women will welcome you at the Queen Alia International Airport (AMM). On the transfer to the hotel, you will travel through Amman, the largest city in Jordan—take in its buzzing density. While Amman is a popular launching pad for the red carpet stars (Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea) it’s a necessary mood-setting experience of its own accord.

Tonight we gather for our first dinner together at a local restaurant in Amman.

Included Meals

Dinner

Accommodations

The House Boutique Suites or similar 

The Women of Jordan

After breakfast, we drive north to Jerash (31 miles/50 km). It’s known as one of the largest and most well preserved sites of Roman architecture outside of Italy. The Greco-Roman ruins and ancient walled town are a remarkable (and resilient) evocation of life 2,000 years ago.

We have a traditional lunch at Beit Khairat Souf, a unique women-owned and managed cafe in Souf. Established as a creative solution to women’s unemployment, the project continues to inspire a sturdy community of women leaders to network and propel the cafe’s success.

Back in Amman, we join a Jordanian-style cooking class and have dinner at Beit Sitti. In Arabic, Beit Sitti translates to “in my grandmother’s house.” The three entrepreneurial sisters who started the cooking school will introduce us to the “Big Guns” trio: tahini, za’atar and sumac. We will leave satiated with a few local recipes up our sleeves.

Included Meals

Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodations

The House Boutique Suites or similar

A Solar-powered Stay

In the morning, we explore Amman on a city tour which includes a visit to the Citadel, with a view of the Roman Theatre.

Next we head to Iraq al-Amir Women’s Cooperative to share lunch with the members. Founded in 1993, the co-op encourages women of all ages to learn how to create artisan products which are then sold in the gift shop and online. We can learn the art of paper-making or pottery project and then support the co-op by checking out the store’s shelves for meaningful souvenirs. 

Tonight we dream big at the Dana Guest House (121 miles/194 km drive), panoramically located on the cliffs of Wadi Dana and the Dana Nature Reserve. Each room has a terrace for premium, uninterrupted stargazing.

Included Meals

Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodations

Dana Guest House 

Travel

2 hours 40 min drive to Dana Guest House

The Wilds of Wadi Feynan

En route to Feynan Ecolodge, we share the path with local Bedouin tending to their goats. Over this challenging nine mile (15 km) walk, we experience the four different biogeological zones and rare flora and fauna of Dana Biosphere Reserve. In this sprawling reserve, more than 700 plant species, 190 bird species, 37 mammal species and 36 reptiles species have been documented.

Snuggled deep in the beating heart of the mountainous Dana Biosphere Reserve, the solar-powered Feynan Ecolodge has been named as one of the best 25 ecolodges in the world by National Geographic Traveler magazine. Its concept was inspired by the camel caravans and roadside inns that peppered the historic Silk Route.

Enjoy every dreamy wink, but first take a moment to visit the Ecolodge’s rooftop, where a telescope allows for an even closer inspection of the dazzling constellations.

Included Meals

Breakfast, lunch and dinner 

Accommodations

Feynan Ecolodge

The Hike

There’s an alternate shorter hike and shuttle option for women who would prefer not to walk all the way to Feynan. The nine-mile (15 km) hike is rated moderately difficult due to length and steep downhill at the beginning (with undulating hills for the remainder); it can be technically challenging in places due to wash-out and loose stones.

For the alternate hike option, the climb is still challenging and steep with some rocky scrambling, but shorter. Our guide will thoroughly describe both options for those who are concerned but be prepared to sweat—it will be a hot and challenging walk!

Connect by Disconnecting

We spend the first half of the day exploring the dynamic area around Feynan. Depending on the ecolodge’s daily activity calendar (which is subject to change and availability) there will be additional active and cultural pursuits to consider. 

Feynan partners with Bedouin families, providing them with a reliable means for financial security. Bedouins are typically a wandering community, however they are often found in this valley because there is a school for the children. The Ecolodge’s remote location allows travelers to completely disconnect from the world, recharge and support the Bedouin community in an empowering way.

Later today we have a 1.5 to 2 hour shuttle (40 miles/64 km) out of the valley and transfer to the city of Petra where we will be staying for the night.

Included Meals

Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodations

Petra Moon

TRAVEL

1.5 to 2 hours

Reveling in the Red Rose City

We strike off on a casual 1-mile (1.6 km) guided walk between the towering towers of rock. Al Khazna, or “the Treasury,” is the single most striking sight of the entire region with its 131-foot (40 m) facade, Corinthian columns, friezes, intricate carvings, cavernous chambers and funerary urn.

Spend time exploring the old Roman road, amphitheater and several ancient tombs of the Red Rose City (so-named for the color of its stone).

Returning to our hotel late afternoon, we have free time to explore Petra before dinner. In the evening, we visit a local home, meet with the family and have dinner with them.

Included Meals

Breakfast, boxed lunch and dinner 

Accommodations

Petra Moon

Petra’s Back Door

After an early breakfast we make our way to the site of Little Petra and the “Back Door”.

Upon arrival, we meet our local guide and take a 2.5 mile (4km) jeep transfer to the trail head. From here, we hike our way back to Petra, through the sandy plateaus to stone staircases, past Bedouin campsites and goat herds, culminating at the Monastery. This impressive seven-story structure has a doorway that’s 26 feet (8 m) high. Though less ornate than the Treasury, the sheer scale of this building painstakingly carved into a mountainside is a marvel. Then, we walk back down a section of stone stairs (about 30min) to the main Petra site, and then walk back through Siq to the main entrance of Petra.

We stop for lunch at or near Petra and then transfer (2 hours) to our next anticipated destination—Wadi Rum. High on the WOW factor, tonight’s incredible posh stay is 100% opulent. It’s otherworldly. The Red Valley dome site is akin to a Mars colony.

Included Meals

Breakfast, lunch and dinner 

Accommodations

Memories Aicha Luxury Camp

The Hike

6.2 miles (10 km) from trailhead back to Petra entrance with an ascent of 496m and a descent of 519m

Moon Walking in Wadi Rum

It’s usually the early bird who gets the worm but today, the early birds get camels! We get to absorb a desert sunrise from the best seat in the house–on a camel! Camels are often referred to as “the ships of the desert” as they have been historically instrumental in transporting awkward and heavy loads. 

We then jump in a Jeep for a four hour ride in Wadi Rum, stopping for a desert BBQ lunch. Wadi Rum means “Valley of the Moon,” and we spend the morning exploring this lunar landscape from the vantage point of the Jeep, with several selfie stops.

After climbing sand dunes, poking around Bedouin caves and marveling at the 12,000-year-old hieroglyphs, we have the evening to relax—enjoy some quiet time in your sleek geodesic dome or hang out in the camp’s phenomenal cafe pocketed in the side of the sandstone cliffs.

Included Meals

Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodations

Memories Aicha Luxury Camp

Get Your Float On

We depart the clutches of Wadi Rum for the Dead Sea. We’ll celebrate our journey with a farewell lunch at the local restaurant, The Precious, which is proudly woman-owned! You have the afternoon at your leisure to enjoy the Dead Sea. Soak, float and enjoy a purifying mud and salt scrub. Ahhh.

Included Meals

Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodations

Crowne Plaza Dead Sea or similar

Travel Time

3 hours

Ma’asalama (Goodbye)

After a reflective breakfast we have a memorable morning lolling about in the Dead Sea. This is the perfect send-off.

Scrubbed and rejuvenated, we can take a group shuttle (one hour) to the Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) in Amman in the early afternoon. Prepare for big hugs and heavy-hearted goodbyes. Departure flights out of AMM should be booked after 4 p.m.

The only unanswered question is, where next?

Included Meals

Breakfast