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

The best part of this nine-day Jordan trip is the route into Petra. Instead of arriving with the usual crowd through the Siq, you approach the Monastery from a high, quiet trail through sandstone mountains. Before that, you spend four days walking from Dana Nature Reserve along old Bedouin paths, sleeping in wilderness camps.

I like the small group of no more than 14 and the practical support: guides, meals, tents, transport, and luggage transfers are arranged. I also like the variety. You get a serious trek, Little Petra, a Wadi Rum jeep outing, and a slow afternoon at the Dead Sea. The main caution is simple: this is a demanding walking holiday, not a sightseeing tour with a few gentle strolls.

Key points to know before booking

• Four days of demanding walking: Daily distances run from 15 to 17.1 kilometers, with steep ascents and descents on rough trails.
• Petra by the Back Door: You reach the Monastery from Wadi Ghurab and avoid the usual approach through the Siq.
• Remote camping: Nights in Mansoura, Furon, and Ghbour Whedat place you close to the desert, but comfort is basic.
• A guide-led experience: An English-speaking licensed guide works with a local hiking guide and a donkey for safety support on days 2 through 4.
• More than a trek: The trip adds Little Petra, a Wadi Rum jeep safari, and time at a Dead Sea resort.
• Good value for an active trip: The $1,595 price includes eight nights, transport, meals listed in the schedule, luggage transfers, and guiding, but not the Jordan Pass, flights, insurance, or tips.

Dana to Petra is the heart of the trip

Jordan is often visited by car, with Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea checked off in quick succession. This trip takes a slower and harder route. You walk across the country’s southwest, watching the terrain change from high reserve to dry canyon, black mountain, soft sandstone, and open desert.

The trek covers four active days, though the total trip lasts nine days. You walk 15 kilometers on day 2, 16 on day 3, and 17.1 on day 4. The climbs are serious: day 3 gains 563 meters, while day 4 gains 750 meters and loses 920 meters. Those figures matter more than the word trek in the title.

You should arrive with a strong level of fitness. The routes use Bedouin shepherd trails and connecting paths rather than a smooth, marked tourist walkway. A local hiking guide joins the main guide, and a donkey is available for safety measures during the first three walking days. That support is useful, but it does not turn the route into an easy hike.

Day 1 in downtown Amman

The trip begins in Al Balad, downtown Amman, with a hotel night and free time. Your arrival schedule determines how much you see, but the first day is intentionally light.

Amman gives you a useful introduction to Jordan before the walking starts. It is an old city with a modern edge, and the downtown area is a practical place to begin trying local food and getting used to the pace of the country. You should not expect a full guided city tour from this schedule. Think of day 1 as time to arrive, check in, and rest.

The next morning starts early. Pickup is scheduled around 7:30 am after breakfast, with the drive to Dana taking about two and a half hours. The departure time is listed as 7:00 am in the general meeting details, so confirm the exact pickup time before you go.

Days 2 and 3: Dana’s high trails and the first camps

Dana Nature Reserve is a strong place to begin because it contains several ecological zones in one broad area. The first day gives you mountain views over Dana Valley before the trail drops into Al Khashasha Valley.

The walk is about 15 kilometers, with five to seven hours on foot, 260 meters of ascent, and 690 meters of descent. That is a long first day, especially after the morning drive from Amman. The reward is a gradual move away from roads and buildings toward open country.

Your first night is wilderness camping near Mansoura. The accommodation is tented and practical. You are here for the location and the quiet, not for hotel comforts. Pack with cool nights, simple washing arrangements, and limited personal space in mind.

Day 3 begins early and heads toward Furon. The route climbs for about an hour before the Sharah Mountains and the wide Wadi Araba Desert come into view. The walk covers 16 kilometers in five to seven hours, with 563 meters of ascent and 170 meters of descent.

This is one of the days when the trip’s value becomes clear. You are not simply driven to a viewpoint. You earn the view step by step, then spend the night near it at the Furon camp. The schedule allows time for tea and the setting sun before dinner, which helps balance the physical work of the day.

Still, do not underestimate the climb. If your hiking experience is limited, you may find the repeated ascent tiring. A steady pace is more useful than speed, and good footwear matters more than fancy equipment.

Day 4 across Jordan’s wildest section

Day 4 is the toughest-looking day on paper. The route passes Ras Al-Feid and continues toward Ghbour Whedat, following small Bedouin shepherd paths around the Sharah Mountains.

The figures are 17.1 kilometers, 750 meters of ascent, and 920 meters of descent. The trail crosses bare black peaks, canyon edges, and high ground above the desert. Later, the rock shapes become softer, with mushroom-like formations near the camp.

This section delivers the most remote walking of the trip. You get a sense of how much work is involved in moving through this country without roads. The route also changes in texture and color as you go, which keeps a long day interesting.

The drawback is that remoteness means fewer easy exits if you are having a bad day. The trip includes local support and luggage transfer by pickup truck, but you still need to carry the water and personal items you need while walking. Ask the operator in advance about daily water arrangements and the exact luggage limit.

Day 5: approaching Little Petra

After the most remote walking, day 5 brings signs of settlement. You pass Bedouin camps, sheep pens, and small agricultural plots. These details add human context to the trek. You are not walking through an empty postcard. People live and work in this dry country.

The route also passes Nabataean remains, including wine and olive presses, aqueducts, and other ancient water systems. Water management was essential here, and these practical ruins help explain how communities and trade routes functioned in a dry environment.

The final approach to Little Petra leads through a canyon of soft sandstone. You then descend a narrow, steep flight of stairs into the site. Little Petra is also called Siq al-Barid, or the Cold Canyon, and is generally understood as a kind of suburb of Petra.

This stop is valuable because it prepares you for the larger archaeological site without the same scale or approach. It is also a good reason to bring shoes with firm grip. Soft rock, uneven surfaces, and steep steps are part of the experience.

The schedule gives this day about 12 hours, though the exact walking time and distance are not stated. That long day may include transfers, sightseeing, and time at the site, so ask for the detailed daily timing before departure.

Day 6: entering Petra through the Back Door

This is the trip’s signature day. After breakfast, you start from the Petra area and follow the Back Door route rather than entering through the standard tourist approach.

The trail goes down Wadi Ghurab between sandstone mountains. It follows an old Nabataean route around the final mountain, using a natural rock terrace that has been improved in places for walking safety. The path narrows near a hidden plateau above the chasm of Wadi Siyyagh.

Then the Monastery comes into view from above. That arrival is very different from walking directly through the Siq toward the Treasury. The Monastery is one of Petra’s great carved facades, and seeing it appear suddenly from a remote trail gives the site a stronger sense of discovery.

There is a Bedouin café near the Monastery for refreshments, and Nabataean steps lead onward through Petra. The exact walking time is not fully specified, but the day is listed as roughly 12 hours. You should plan for a full day on your feet, with uneven stone, steps, and heat depending on the season.

The Back Door route is not a shortcut. It avoids much of the main crowd, but it replaces an easy tourist entrance with a serious mountain walk. That trade is worth it for hikers who want Petra to feel like part of a journey rather than a single stop.

Day 7: Petra to Wadi Rum by jeep

After a calmer breakfast, you leave the Petra mountains and transfer to Wadi Rum. The mood changes quickly. The narrow sandstone setting gives way to a huge desert area shaped by valleys, cliffs, dunes, and rock bridges.

A Bedouin team takes you out by 4×4 jeep. The outing includes valleys, narrow gorges, ancient rock inscriptions, sand dunes, and rock bridges. You can get out to walk, scramble, and explore at your own pace.

This is a smart addition after four hard walking days. You still experience the desert directly, but the vehicle removes the need for another long trek. The five-hour schedule leaves room for stops and a sunset before returning to camp.

Your night is in a Bedouin camp, with dinner, tea, and time beneath the night sky. Accommodation is again simple. The appeal is the setting and the welcome, not a private hotel room. If you prefer a soft bed and full facilities every night, this trip will ask you to adjust.

Day 8: the Dead Sea as a recovery day

Day 8 gives your legs a break at the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. You can float in the salty water, apply the famous mineral mud, relax by the pool, or pay for spa treatments.

The timing matters. After several long walks, the Dead Sea is more than another Jordan attraction. It is a deliberate recovery stop before the final drive to Amman. You should cover any cuts before entering the water, since the salt can sting, though the provided schedule does not spell out resort rules or treatment costs.

In the late afternoon, the group returns to Amman by bus. You spend the final night at a hotel there, which is useful if your flight leaves the next day. Airport transfers are not included, and you are advised to leave Amman at least four hours before departure.

Guides, group size, and the feel of the trip

The group limit is 14 people, small enough for the guide to keep track of different walking speeds and comfort levels. It is also large enough to create a social atmosphere during long drives, shared meals, and camp evenings.

Several guides are associated with this trip, including Motaz Zghoul and Mutaz Jarrar. The schedule promises an English-speaking licensed guide from days 2 through 8, plus a local hiking guide for the early trail sections. Your specific guide will depend on the departure, so ask when booking.

What matters most here is active support. The guide has to manage pace, route choices, camp timing, local arrangements, and the needs of people with different fitness levels. The strongest feedback about the guiding centers on care, humor, organization, and making solo hikers feel part of the group. That is especially useful if you are joining alone.

What the $1,595 price really covers

At $1,595 per person, this is not a cheap Jordan tour, but the price includes a lot of moving parts. You receive eight nights of accommodation, transportation, an English-speaking guide, local hiking support, luggage transfers, eight breakfasts, six dinners, and seven lunches.

The luggage transfer is a major practical benefit. Your main bags move by pickup truck, so you do not need to carry everything over the mountains. You still need a day pack with water, layers, sun protection, and personal items, but the arrangement makes the trek much more manageable.

You must budget separately for the Jordan Pass, visa and entrance fees, airfare, airport transfers, travel insurance, tips, personal spending, and hiking gear. The Jordan Pass is listed as the Jordan Wanderer option, but check current terms and pricing before you buy.

The value is strongest if you want one organized package that combines the trek, camping, transport, Petra access, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea. If you already have Jordan transport and prefer to book camps separately, the package may feel expensive. If you are new to multi-day hiking, the support can justify the cost.

Who should book this Jordan trek

I would recommend this trip to you if you want Jordan’s major sights linked by real walking. It suits hikers who can manage 15 to 17 kilometer days, steep climbs, steep descents, rough paths, and basic camping.

It also works well for solo people who want company without joining a very large group. The group limit, shared camps, and guide-led format make meeting people easy, while the walking itself gives everyone time to move at a natural pace.

I would not choose it for a relaxed first visit to Jordan, for anyone with limited mobility, or for someone who dislikes tents and long days outside. You can see Petra and Wadi Rum with far less physical effort.

Cancellations are fully refundable up to six full days before the start time. A cancellation two to six days ahead receives a 50 percent refund, while cancellations less than two days ahead are not refunded. Bad weather or failure to reach the minimum group size can lead to a new date, another experience, or a full refund.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if the thought of walking into Petra from the mountains sounds better than arriving by bus, and if you want the desert, camps, and Dead Sea included in one active trip. The route gives you a strong sense of Jordan’s terrain, not just a collection of famous stops.

Skip it if your priority is comfort, flexible personal timing, or short walks. The real cost is not only the money. It is four demanding trekking days and several nights of basic accommodation.

For the right person, the balance is excellent: remote trails, a memorable approach to the Monastery, Little Petra, Bedouin hospitality, Wadi Rum, and a well-timed soak in the Dead Sea. Bring fitness, patience, and proper hiking gear, and this can be a very rewarding way to see Jordan.

FAQ

How long is the Dana to Petra, Wadi Rum, and Dead Sea tour?

The tour lasts approximately nine days, including arrival and departure days. Guided activities run mainly from days 2 through 8.

How large is the group?

The group can include a maximum of 14 trekkers.

What level of fitness do I need?

You should have a strong physical fitness level. The trek includes walking distances of 15 to 17.1 kilometers, steep ascents and descents, rough trails, and long days outdoors.

Is accommodation included?

Yes. Eight nights of accommodation are included, with hotel stays in Amman, wilderness camping during the trek, a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum, and other arranged lodging according to the schedule.

Are meals included?

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

Is the Jordan Pass included?

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

What is the cancellation policy?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least six full days before the start time. A cancellation two to six full days ahead receives a 50 percent refund. Cancellations less than two full days before the start time are not refunded.