Untold Jordan

Welcome to Amman, a city that, unusually for the middle east, feels young. It’s a place where crumbling monuments stand amongst sparkling high-rises, art galleries and trendy cafes; a new era fuelled by the progressiveness of the next generation. It’s a safe and highly explorable city, so upon arrival at your hotel, we’ll equip you with the best insider tips for your free-time here. Think bustling souks, bohemian tea rooms and the best kunafa in the city.  Having settled in and met your group as they arrive throughout the day or evening, you’ll dine together at an authentic local restaurant. Afterwards, you might have just enough time to bask in your 5-star hotel’s rooftop pool and sip a nightcap overlooking the city.

First up today: a back-street exploration of Amman. On this insightful walking tour, you’ll forgo the tourists in exchange for a closer look at the inner workings of the city. From the din of locals haggling in vibrant souks to the delicious smells that will lead you to the best falafel in Amman; your senses will be in overdrive as you explore deeper and deeper. Now for the vast nothingness of Wadi Mujib. 410m below sea level, Jordan’s answer to the Grand Canyon is a world of spectacular sandstone canyons and fast-moving streams. The perfect spot then, for canyoning*; a challenge made easier by the camaraderie of your group. Expect to clamber up and slide down a series of dramatic ravines and gorges, and find yourself wild swimming through waterfall pools, pumped up by adrenaline. *Travelling between November and April? For safety reasons, canyoning can’t take place, but your foodie alternative won’t disappoint…Situated in one of Amman’s oldest neighbourhoods, Beit Sitti has become somewhat of an institution, and you’ll quickly understand why. The owners, all sisters, have opened the kitchen of their old family home to let people in on the secrets of their family cooking. Here you’ll be taught to cook traditional Jordanian cuisine, and then get to feast on the fruits of your labour.

Today will see you all head over to the Dana Biosphere Reserve, an area steeped in biodiversity bordering Israel and Palestine. You’ll be trekking a fairly challenging 14 kilometres across rocky sand dunes, pink valleys and open plains. When you finally reach your remote eco-lodge, you’ll feel a real sense of achievement and welcome the cool towel and drink that’s waiting and ready for your arrival.  Named by National Geographic Traveler as one of the world’s best eco-lodges, and one of the top-50 places to stay if you care about the planet; Feynan Eco Lodge is a destination in itself. On a clear night, you can expect to be led to the rooftop, mint tea in hand, and look on as you’re taken on an astrological journey, constellations and planets clearly pointed out to you with a futuristic laser.

Wake up and enjoy some free time to fall in love with Feynan Eco Lodge even more. If you’re not feeling too achy from yesterday’s hike, you can head out on a more gentle tour of the area with a local bedouin and further discover the area’s unique flora and fauna. Or how about a cooking class, or mountain biking? By the time you’ve feasted on a vegetarian lunch and are ready to leave, you’ll feel like you’ve experienced and understood true Jordanian desert living – and left barely a footprint on the planet, too. From Feynan Eco Lodge, you’ll begin your journey to Jordan’s most famous icon: Petra. But don’t expect the norm, you’ll be experiencing this beauty from a wholly unique perspective tomorrow…

This morning, you’ll hike into Petra via its secret back door, a 15km route the world seems to have forgotten (or not yet found). Relish being the only group in sight as you ascend a steep stairway over the rocks and explore the labyrinth of caves, temples and tombs chiselled out of the dusty-pink cliffs. With huge drops alongside you and endless ruins to discover on this, at times, challenging route, there’s no doubt you’ll feel like Indiana Jones when you finally stop for a picnic lunch at the impressive Monastery. Then it’s on to the Theatre, the Street of Facades and Petra’s famous postcard spot: the spectacular Treasury.  After an action-packed day in the Rose City, you’ll get to replenish your stores as the Bedouins do, but that’s all we’ll say, for now…

It’s time. The other-worldly rolling red dunes of Wadi Rum are calling. Jump aboard a fleet of desert jeeps and race through a landscape of jagged mountains and towering sand dunes. As dusk settles in, pick a spot to admire the sunset with your group before setting off to your remote desert lodgings for the night. There’s something almost martian about arriving to the view of futuristic looking pods scattered amongst the sand and mountains of the desert. And once you’re led to your own luxuriously kitted-out pod, it’ll feel even more otherworldly. With uninterrupted views across the desert and out to a blanket of stars – it doesn’t take too much imagination to feel like you’re on the red planet, millions of miles from earth.

It’s an early start this morning as you get to witness the spectacular show of a desert sunrise from the vantage point of camel back.  Once the sun is up, you’ll return to camp for a final breakfast, and then begin the five-hour drive back to Amman. On the way, you’ll stop at the 4-star Dead Sea Spa Resort, so you can fit in some pre-flight wellness and a mineral-rich mud-bath. Arriving in Amman, you’ll have some free time at your hotel to relax and freshen up before your final meal, where be taught to cook traditional Jordanian cuisine, and then get to feast on everything you’ve created.

After breakfast at the hotel, it’s over to you to make your own way onwards. You’ve hiked over 30km, canyoned through dramatic gorges, glamped beneath the stars and eaten arguably the best and most traditional food you could find. It’s been an adventure, and when those blues inevitably kick in, just let us know when you’re ready for the next one.