Petra & Wadi Rum by Bike

Petra & Wadi Rum by Bike

9 Days Starting and ending in Amman

Visiting: Jordan

Tour operator:

Exodus Adventure Travels

Tour code:

MXW

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

5 - 18

Physical rating:

Moderate

Age range:

16-99

Special diets catered:

Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements

Tour operated in:

English

Activities:

Cycling

From: $2550

NB: Prices correct on 05-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

The Kingdom of Jordan is the perfect place to combine a cycling tour with some of the best sites in the Middle East. This biking trip takes us through olive groves and hilltop villages in the north, while further south we head along desert roads where the communities are sparse and nomadic and the landscape vast and spectacular. If the cycling alone isn’t enough to entice you, perhaps the Unesco-badged Petra, a night under the stars in the Wadi Rum desert, or a float in the Dead Sea will tempt you to visit this fascinating country.

Highlights

  • Cycle through spectacular desert scenery

  • Visit the Unesco-listed site of Petra

  • Camp under the stars in Wadi Rum

Itinerary

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Day 1 : Start Amman

Welcome to Amman, the capital of Jordan, where our adventure begins. There are free transfers to the hotel from Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) for all customers today. Please note, transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.



Accommodation: Larsa Hotel (or similar)

Day 2 : Visit Jerash; Ride/Drive Through Olive Groves And Villages To Madaba

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

After an initial briefing, we transfer by bus for approximately 45 minutes to the ancient city of Jerash. Known in Roman times as Gerasa, Jerash is one of the best-preserved examples of a Roman provincial town in the Middle East. It is a vast site with incredible ruins that enable you to almost visualise Roman life there, from the dramatic chariot races to the everyday bartering along the colonnaded streets. After a couple of hours absorbing the atmosphere of this incredible site, we return to the bus for a short transfer to the beginning of our ride, having lunch en route. When we arrive we will be introduced to the cycling team and our bikes.



This afternoon we will cycle for approximately 3hr 30min through the foothills of the Jordan Rift Valley. This is the most fertile region in the country and also the most populated. We will wind our way down quiet roads and through small villages taking in the landscapes. The cycling is on good roads and much of the time you will be descending. In places, there may be some loose gravel that you will need to watch out for and there is one fairly long ascent. You will be briefed about the ride before you set off and the support vehicles will always be on hand. At the end of the ride we will leave the bikes for the day and transfer to Madaba, the City of Mosaics. The bus journey will take approximately two hours. There are several nice restaurants in Madaba, plus cafes and shops selling excellent baklava.



Accommodation: Black Iris Hotel (or similar)

Day 3 : Petra Via Mount Nebo And The Dead Sea

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning we will wake up in Madaba, the City of the Mosaics. Madaba is the most important Christian centre in Jordan and best-known for its Byzantine mosaics. The most important of these is the sixth-century mosaic of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, which covers the floor of the Greek Orthodox church of St George. This morning we can marvel at its detail and natural colour. We then have a short transfer out of the town centre to be reunited with our bikes.



Today's ride starts with a 4.3mi (7km) mild ascent up Mount Nebo, reputedly the burial site of Moses. We take a pitstop at the top for a spectacular view over the valley below. From here it's a fantastic descent to the shores of the Dead Sea. Parts of this descent are quite steep but support will be at hand and you can take your time. We follow the coast on a smooth, paved surface to Suwaima where we can change and take a float in the waters. After a shower, it's back on the bus for the long drive south (approximately three hours) along the Kings Highway towards Petra. In many places, the route is spectacular and there will be a couple of stops to admire the view on the way.



Accommodation: Standard hotel – see accommodation section for more detail

Day 4 : Explore The Fascinating Unesco-Listed City Of Petra

Meals Included: Breakfast

The so-called Red Rose City was hidden for centuries until the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt rediscovered it in 1812. It was founded by the Nabateans, an Arab tribe that arrived here in the sixth century BCE. Building at Petra began in the third century BCE and continued through the Roman period, financed by taxes levied on the desert caravans. Two features of Petra are unique: firstly, it is a city made defensible by being built down a series of chasms, rather than on a hilltop. Secondly, it is built directly into the rock – beautiful red-and-yellow sandstone carved into the most impressive facades, which glow in the sunlight.



During our time in Petra we will have the opportunity to explore the site from all angles. We will walk down the narrow Siq, where a sandstone chasm rises 260ft (80m) either side of us and reveals El Khazneh (the Treasury) as we reach its end. There will also be an opportunity to explore the higher caves and the High Place of Sacrifice for a fantastic panorama of the whole site. At ground level, we pass the houses and tombs of the rich citizens, and the amphitheatre. A long walk beyond the centre is El Deir (the Monastery) with its superb facade topped by a huge urn. The Monastery is set in a more remote location of the site and there is the option to climb around 800 steps to reach it, but it is well worth it.



Accommodation: Standard hotel – see accommodation section for more detail

Day 5 : Cycle To Little Petra

Meals Included: Breakfast

In the morning we cycle to the north of the main city to Little Petra and the Siq Al-Barid. A classical temple stands guard outside the miniature siq, which is believed to have been an important suburb to the city of Petra itself. The narrow file, only some 1,148ft (350m) long, is crammed with triclinia, water channels and cisterns. Of particular note are the remains of painted frescoes on plaster dating from the first century CE, which are to be found in one of the biclinia. Overnight in Petra.



Accommodation: Standard hotel – see accommodation section for more detail

Day 6 : Ride Via Wadi Araba To Aqaba On The Red Sea

Meals Included: Breakfast

It's an early start today to avoid the heat for our first real desert experience. After a short transfer to Tayba village, we begin riding mostly on paved surfaces to Ar-Rajif. The road cuts through traditional Bedouin territory and is a seasonal stop for the nomadic shepherds of south Jordan so the chance of a local tea break is high. The road is in a good state of repair, with some sections having been recently resurfaced. However, parts are quite heavily potholed and there is a chance that sand and stones have blown across the road and make for a loose surface, so care should be taken. We head into the desert and follow the road down to Gharandal via Dilagha to Wadi Araba.



There are a few ascents and descents and it is our longest and hardest day of riding. However, it is also the most spectacular and rewarding. The road takes you on an amazing journey through the desert and makes for a very satisfying day of riding. This day is all about the cycling allowing us to immerse ourselves in the landscape. After our desert crossing, it's a short drive to Aqaba on the Red Sea.



Accommodation: Lacosta Hotel (or similar)

Day 7 : Free Morning; Drive/Ride To Wadi Rum

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we have free time to lounge on the beach, swim, or snorkel. The transport and entrance to one of the private beaches is included in your trip. The hire of snorkelling equipment is extra to be paid on the day. In the early afternoon, we will transfer out of town for around 45 minutes and then we will get on the bikes for the last time. This ride will take us into Wadi Rum on a relatively flat desert road. The desert scenery today is quite different to that experienced yesterday and will evoke a sense of more recent history than what we have been experiencing until now. This is where Lawrence of Arabia and Prince Faisal assembled the Arab tribes for the attack on Aqaba in the first world war and also where sections of the film Lawrence of Arabia (1962) were shot. Tonight we will experience Bedouin hospitality with a traditional meal, sweet tea and desert camping in goat-hair tents. We will be able to contemplate our week of adventure as we gaze up at the star-lit sky, warmed by a fire. If you like you can pull your mattress outside and sleep under the stars.



Accommodation: private Bedouin camp

Day 8 : Jeep Safari; Drive To Amman

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast we take a 4x4 into the desert for around two hours. Following lunch, surrounded by the vastness of the desert and towering rocky outcrops, we transfer back to Amman, a journey of approximately four hours with a stop en route.



Accommodation: Larsa Hotel (or similar)

Day 9 : End Amman

Meals Included: Breakfast

Breakfast marks our final meal, an excellent chance to reminisce about an adventure packed with excitement. To make your return journey home easier, there’s a free shared transfer back to the airport.

What's Included

  • All breakfasts, two lunches and one dinner

  • All accommodation

  • All transport and listed activities

  • Tour leader throughout

  • Arrival and departure transfers

  • Local bike hire

What's Not Included

  • Travel insurance

  • Single accommodation (available on request)

  • Visas or vaccinations

Food

All breakfast, two lunches, and one dinner in Wadi Rum are included. While staying in hotels we usually eat in local restaurants and on some occasions the leader will take those who wish to a restaurant for a meze-style meal. A meze is made of lots of small dishes, eaten as a starter before a larger main course – a great way to taste lots of different regional foods in one sitting. These allow fast service and a good quality of food for the group and usually cost 10-15 Jordanian dinars per person. If you are vegetarian, please note that main meals are limited in choice; however meze is almost always available in restaurants and is a good, filling option. There is also a good choice of seafood available at the Red Sea. Meals are nearly always served with bread or in wraps so we recommend bringing some of your own snacks if your diet is more limited.



Alcohol is available in Jordan, but not widely. Many hotels do not sell alcohol but will often allow it to be brought in from elsewhere. It is best to plan ahead if you’ll want a drink, your tour leader will be able to tell you what’s possible and may be able to arrange a stop at a supermarket or liquor store (depending on location). In Petra, the unique Cave Bar in Petra Guesthouse is open to the public. A less expensive option is the bar in the Petra Palace Hotel which is also open to all.

Accommodation

On this cycling adventure in Jordan, we use a range of hotels and spend one night in a private Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum – an unforgettable experience. Below are the accommodations we typically use.



Amman: Larsa Hotel (nights 1 and 8)







Our first and final accommodation is usually the Larsa Hotel, around a 30-minute drive from Queen Alia International Airport. Locally rated as a three-star, it has some welcome amenities, including an outdoor swimming pool, sauna and hot tub. There’s also a restaurant, where we eat breakfast, plus a bar.



Madaba: Black Iris Hotel (night 2)







Run by the Al Sawalha family, the two-star Black Iris is our base in Madaba, well located as it’s just a short walk from the town centre. If you do explore, consider visiting St George's Church, home to a historically significant sixth-century mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. It's less than 10 minutes' walk away.



Wadi Musa, near Petra: Hotel (nights 3-5)







We spend three nights in Wadi Musa, the town adjacent to Petra. Demand for rooms near Petra is very high; over the years, we have built relationships with several accommodations, which allows us to secure spots even during peak season. The hotels are well located. Some are within walking distance of the main entrance to the Red Rose City, others are no more than a 10-minute transfer away. Places we stay include Edom Hotel, Petra Plaza, Petra Palace, Amra Palace (above) and La Maison among others.



Aqaba: Lacosta Hotel (night 6)







In the heart of modern Aqaba, the four-star Lacosta Hotel is within easy reach of shops, restaurants and the Red Sea. The rooms come with furniture and beds from the Middle East, while the hotel also has a gym and restaurant.



Wadi Rum: Private Bedouin camp (night 7)







Used exclusively by our groups, this permanent Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum is a highlight for many travellers. We sleep in traditional tents sheltered by rugged stone cliffs and enjoy the warm hospitality of our Bedouin hosts. In the evening, they serve us a zarb dinner, cooked underground in the traditional manner, while the rest of the night is typically spent around the campfire, chatting and sharing an unforgettable experience.



Worth knowing



Single supplements are available for this trip; however, they cannot be guaranteed at Wadi Rum. Please enquire at the time of booking for details and up-to-date prices.

Demand for accommodation in Wadi Musa (Petra) is high; this can create problems with hot water and plumbing. In general, the accommodation is more basic compared to the rest of Jordan.

The star rating in Jordan is quite different to what you may expect at home. Sometimes we use less centrally located hotels in the interests of comfort.

Check out our Q&As

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    Yes,Arrival & departure transfers

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes.

  • What is the maximum group size?

    18

  • Are vaccinations required for this tour?

    There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid.

  • Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

    Minimum 16 year age people can go on this tour.

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Exodus has been trading since 1974

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.

Reviews from travellers on this tour

PETRA & WADI RUM BY BIKE

Well-organized trip. Hotel was good. Food was good. We had many opportunities to try the local dishes

PETRA & WADI RUM BY BIKE

My first ever organised tour of any kind (at 61yrs old) I thoroghly enjoyed it. A good mix of people who got on well so that was lucky and good for all of us. Always wanted to see Petra and knew little of the other regional visits which were also interesting, Roman city of Jerash, Dead sea resort, the Red sea at Aquaba (never done snorkling on a coral reef, brill)  and a camp site at Wadi rum all very different. 

PETRA & WADI RUM BY BIKE

This is a fantastic non stop week of wonder

Outstanding trip

Outstanding combination of biking, sightseeing the most spectacular sites and “swimming “ in the Dead Sea. Excellent guide with Sami, who is a PhD, so very knowledgeable, has great stories and is lots of fun. Biking is fun and routes are more downhill that uphill. Great scenery. Saw Jarash, Madaba, Mt Nebo, floated in the Dead Sea, had a mud bath, lots of time in Petra (amazing), little Petra, Aqaba, time to Scuba dive in Aqaba while most snorkeled. Wadi Rum was amazing, dinner cooked in the sand, Bedouin style, spent the night in the Beduoin camp. In the morning toile the jeeps to see ancient petroglyphs, climb a sand dune and rock cliff, and rode camels back to Rum. Fantastic group of fellow bikers/travelers. All became good friends.

petra and wadi rum by bike

Jordan…the North-South, Africa-Mecca-Damascus corridor…with the Silk Road surely the most important historical routes to travel…with scenery and modern politics to match. To stand where one can see Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Israel or Palestine…depending on your politics ;where Moses is said to have viewed the “Promised land” ; where Lawrence blew up the Hejaz railway. To see it from the saddle of a bike…whizzing into the Jordan valley…was sublime. This trip was filled with bike…maybe not enough for the really keen cyclist…history..and experiences like night under the stars in the Wadi Rum desert; a lively scramble to look down on the Treasury at astonishing Petra…as well as reeling at the sight of looking up at it at the end of a near half mile walk through a slim fissure in the rock; dipping in the Dead Sea. Always on to the next thing. Eighteen independent souls of a big age range…early 20’s to ’70’s…herded like cats by a guide with great character,humour and knowledge, looked after assiduously on the bikes rides by two great young Jordanians who are the Jordan Triathlon team. The support and organisation were excellent. There were just enough pacey rides and hill climbs not to frustrate the ardent cyclists…and plenty of support for those for whom the hills were a challenge. There was even a police escort…blue lights flashing. The hotels are modest but adequate…one does not do this for the luxury…the fare a bit better than that. It was tempting enough to lure two separate travellers from Canada and one from Spain. Maybe we got lucky with our group…but we were able to do and enjoy so much because of the organisation and attention to detail of the crew…there was a plan for everything…but it was not rigid.

PETRA & WADI RUM BY BIKE

I really wanted to see Jordan and Petra, but as sightseeing by itself can be a bit tedious this cycling holiday was a perfect way persuade the family to join me. With the help of our guide and his team and a great group of fellow travelers, we and our 18 and 19 year old, all had a brilliant time. 

Amazingly well put together and supported holiday

An amazing trip from end to end. It had everything! Great food, great biking, great people and most of all great scenery.

Astounding Jordan

An excellent holiday, taking in religious history, amazing scenery, ancient civilisation and making fab friends.

PETRA & WADI RUM BY BIKE

A very enjoyable trip which was well organised and provided a great opportunity to experience much of what Jordan has to offer in a short space of time.

PETRA & WADI RUM BY BIKE

An excellent trip for those who want to have some exercise as well as seeing the sights.

Read all 131 reviews

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  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.

    Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

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