Full Day Desert Adventure of Petra and Wadi Rum

Duration: 1 day

Highlights: Petra, Wadi Rum.

Full day exploration of Petra and Wadi Rum.

Itinerary

FULL LENGTH TOUR DESCRIPTION
This long and rich full day of exploration is designed maximizse your enjoyment of the natural and historic gems available during a visit to Aqaba.

The day begins with a trip to the ancient Nabataean city of Petra, Jordan’s most impressive national attraction. Many of you will recognise the impressive carved edifice that was used in the final scenes of "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade". Leaving Aqaba by deluxe motorcoach, take in the city views and mountain vistas on the approximate 2-hour drive that leads to today’s extraordinary destination. The fascinating excavated site of Petra consists of massive tombs carved from the sandstone hills more than 2,000 years ago. Lost for almost 12 centuries, today the ancient capital of Petra stands as a timeless tribute to the ingenuity and creativity of the Nabataeans.

Leaving the motorcoach, begin your walking tour down a long curving path to the Siq, the official entrance to this great monument. You may wish to go by horseback as far as the Siq, then it’s everyone on foot as your guide then leads you into a natural rock channel. The passage, which is often no more than 16-feet wide with walls that tower over 650-feet high, eventually leads you to the magnificent Khazneh, or the Treasury. Your walking tour continues down the path to the impressive 8000-seat Roman Amphitheatre, which it is now believed was carved around the time of Jesus Christ. Nearby are the Royal Tombs, considered to be the most impressive burial places in Petra.

The return journey back to the Siq entrance takes you by numerous carved temples, burial chambers, tombs, water channels, gates and arches. Once back at the visitor centre, continue to a nearby hotel for a relaxing buffet lunch and some much needed time to relax.

After your afternoon respite, reboard your motorcoach for the scenic drive to Wadi Rum to see the setting sun cast its glorious glow on Jordan’s stunning and unusual desert rockscape. This area is where the famous T.E. Lawrence began his revolt against the Turks in 1917 and where the spectacular desert scenes of "Lawrence of Arabia" were shot.

Arrive at the transfer point and debark the coach to board the four-person, 4x4 vehicles that will set out on your desert safari. Once in the desert you’ll pass Bedouin communities and the stunning rock formations of the Jebels that rise from the desert floor and are capped by smooth, pale sandstone, perfectly designed for casting unusual colour hues as the sun disappears.

The safari drive ends at our exclusive tents for a deluxe dinner and entertainment Bedouin-style. After soaking up the food, drink and atmosphere under the stars, it’s time to reboard your motorcoach for the trip back to Aqaba and your ship.

SHORT LENGTH TOUR DESCRIPTION
Combine two of Aqaba’s most dazzling highlights in this combination full-day tour. An active exploration of spectacular Petra (remember "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade?") shows you this must-see ancient attraction. After lunch near the site, travel into the desert to see Wadi Rum from a 4x4 safari drive caravan as the sun sets over extravagant desert scenery. Dinner under the stars in a Bedouin tent is the perfect closer to an extraordinary day.
 
TIMING BREAKDOWN
00:00 – 00:15 Disembark the ship, board the deluxe air-conditioned motorcoaches
00:15 – 02:15 Drive Aqaba port to Petra
02:15 – 03:00 Guests assemble at Treasury (whether by foot, horse & foot, or carriage)
03:00 – 05:00 Guided tour of Petra
05:00 – 05:30 Guests reassemble at Siq entrance and return to starting point
05:30 – 05:45 Walk to Petra Movenpik Resort for buffet lunch
05:45 – 07:30 Lunch and relaxation time
07:30 – 09:00 Drive to Wadi Rum Visitors Centre
09:00 – 09:10 Transfer to 4X4 vehicles
09:10 – 11:10 Desert sunset safari drive
11:10 – 13:10 Private dinner at Bedouin camp tents
13:10 – 13:30 Transfer by 4x4 to motorcoaches
13:30 – 14:30 Return drive to Aqaba port

Approximate duration: 14½ hours

Optional Entertainment during dinner at Wadi Rum:
- Folklore Dance Group dancing our traditional dance ‘Dabkeh’ for around 45 minutes
- DJ throughout dinner + Belly dancer to perform for around 45 minutes
- Firework show for around 8 minutes will cost US $1,400.00 for the entire group
- Arabic Quartet playing classical Arabic music during dinner
- Arabic duet playing classical Arabic music during dinner

OPERATIONAL NOTES
- Red carpet at dock on arrival
- Flowers for the ladies upon arrival
- Free bottled water on coaches
- Free postcards, one per person on board the coaches
- Free Arabic sweets to taste on board the coaches
- Pre-paid tickets to the sites, so there will be no queuing or waiting at the entrance
- Uniformed staff with clear nametags available at the pier, the site, and the restaurant to assist the guests at any time
- At Petra, Restrooms, bank and shopping facilities available (note additional restrooms and shopping facilities are available at the deluxe Petra Movenpick Resort 5 minutes walk from Visitors Centre)
- For the guests who want to take a horse, one of our staff will attend to them. The horse ride is around 800 metres only, and then the guests will have to walk.
- For the guests who want to take a carriage to the site, we will arrange as many carriages as possible, however the total number of carriages at the site is only nine and they are on first come first served basis, so we will try to restrict use to the guests most in need. The carriage goes all the way inside the ‘Siq’ to the Treasury and back. There is a US $15 supplement per carriage
- Guests wanting to walk can join the guide on foot through the ‘Siq’. The walk through the ‘Siq’ to the Treasury is around 1216 metres long and takes around half an hour
- Buffet lunch at the main restaurant of Petra Movenpick Resort
- Local wine, local beer, soft drinks, mineral water, and coffee or tea are included with lunch
- Time permitting, there is approximately 15 minutes of shopping at the handicraft stores at the entrance to Petra. There is also a gift-shop at the hotel where lunch is served
- Horse transfers from Petra entrance to the Siq are included in the excursion price however, guests should be aware that horse owners frequently demand tips at the end of the ride
- The private Bedouin camp is built exclusively for our guests. Portable Chemical toilets are available at the camp
- Special buffet dinner is served under Bedouin tents, with low seating Bedouin style
- Local wine, local beer, soft drinks, mineral water, and coffee or tea are included with dinner
- A list of optional entertainment can be chosen as mentioned above
- Extensive Walking: at Petra there is approximately 3 to 5 miles of walking over uneven gravel and uneven packed sandy surfaces. There is a long, gradual decline/incline from the entrance of Petra to the Treasury and the Royal Tombs. Some guests prefer to remain in the Treasury area, thereby reducing the amount of walking