Jordan and Petra Tour
Holiday Highlights
- Guided tour of the amazing ‘Rose-Red City’ of Petra, fabled trading centre for thousands of years and one of the new ‘Wonders of the World’
- Enjoy the unique experience of staying overnight in the heart of the Wadi Rum desert and see the staggering ‘Seven Pillars’ rock formation, made famous by ‘Lawrence of Arabia’
- Stay by the shores of the remarkable Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth
- Discover Jerash, the remarkably preserved ancient Roman city, with a local guide
- Visit the biblical site of Mount Nebo, where Moses saw the Promised Land
- Signature experiences (2026 only):
- Take an exhilarating drive in a 4x4 through the desert of Wadi Rum and watch the sun set over the golden sands.
- Enjoy a traditional Bedouin tea during our visit to the ancient site of Petra.
- Join your fellow travellers on our last night for a drink overlooking the Dead Sea at sunset.
What's Included
- The price of this holiday is per person, based on two people sharing a twin room. Sole occupancy rooms are available at the relevant supplement. The price includes:
- Six nights’ accommodation in four-star hotels
- Daily breakfast and dinner (plus camp-style accommodation in Wadi Rum)
- Scheduled return flights to Amman
- All guided tours and entrances to Wadi Rum, Little Petra and Petra, Shobak castle, Mount Nebo, Madaba and Jerash
- All transfers
- Hotel porterage of one item of luggage
- The services of a Riviera Travel tour manager
- The Jordan departure fee of 10 Jordinian dinar per person is not included. This is payable locally.
Itinerary
Day 1
We set off early to make the most of the day, travelling south along the Desert Highway through the sandy heart of Jordan to Wadi Rum – the ‘Valley of the Moon’. Nothing prepares you for the awe-inspiring sight that greets us: the sandstone massif that TE Lawrence described as ‘vast, echoing and god-like’. The magnificent cliffs and stone buttresses rise sheer from the sea of red sand, together forming a timeless panorama of monolithic rocks. The twisted huge bulk of this network of canyons, rock bridges and ravines is one of the world’s most stunning desert environments. Quite apart from the visual experience – the silence is almost unnerving; bizarrely you cannot hear anything at all. After transferring to 4x4 vehicles, we tour the canyons and valleys (Signature experience, for 2026) before arriving at the Wadi Rum Space Village, a Bedouin-style tented camp. This evening enjoy a traditional ‘zarb’ dinner – a delicious barbecue cooked for hours under the hot desert sand. All tents have twin or double beds with private shower and WC. Signature experience: This afternoon, we'll transfer to 4x4 vehicles to explore the canyons and valleys on our way to the Wadi Rum Space Village, a Bedouin-style tented camp. Our tour allows us to see more of this otherworldly landscape, including naturally carved rock arches and undulating red dunes, accompanied by a local guide who'll tell you more about life in Wadi Rum. You may even spot a few camels wandering across the sand. The further out you travel, the quieter and more isolated it feels, and as the sun sets over the desert, there's a sense of peace.Â
Day 2
Petra is one of the world's 'must-see' sights. Famous throughout history, its huge wealth was amassed from its time as the centre of the ancient caravan routes, which traded as far as China and rivalled that of the Romans. A city to match was created, with sophisticated public buildings lavish houses and colonnaded streets. We walk down the increasingly narrow gorge and, just as you think the vertiginous sides could not get any narrower, the incredible vista of the Treasury appears like a mirage through a slit in the rock. The perfection of its proportions and the sheer vastness of this edifice are astounding. Beyond, there’s an entire city waiting to be discovered: the amazing Royal Tombs, the theatre, the Street of the Facades, the Great Temple, early-Christian churches, and the main colonnaded road that ran through the centre of this ancient but tremendously cultured city. The afternoon is at leisure, so you may wish to return to your hotel and enjoy its facilities or remain at the site to continue exploring. Signature experience: During our guided tour of Petra, we'll stop to enjoy a traditional Bedouin tea in the company of locals. Typically made with black tea, water, and sugar, you may also find herbs and spices - or a squeeze of lemon added for an extra kick - tea is the staple of Bedouin life in Wadi Rum. Not only does tea offer relief from the hot sun, but it's also a symbol of hospitality and tradition - a way for locals to connect with fellow travellers.Â