Wadi Rum Desert Trail
The natural wonder of Wadi Rum is one of the most impressive desert landscapes in the world. This echoing and colourful desert is a true paradise for nature lovers. Ride over the mountainous area around Petra with stunning views of the desert and enjoy long canters across the vast sand plains. Spend the evenings at camp sitting around a campfire, tasting delicious Arabic dishes and soaking in the quietness of the desert under starlit skies.
The Wadi Rum desert offers a fantastic setting for riding where you'll ride over mountainous passages and navigate through narrow canyons. The flat sand plains invite you to enjoy long canters and gallops across the vast open land.
itinerary
Day 1
Arrive at Amman Airport and get a transfer by car to a hotel in Madaba; a mostly Christian town. If time allows, you can visit the St. George church and the mosaics at the archaeological museum. Our partners in Jordan can highly recommend you a very nice Jordanian dinner at a local and unique restaurant: Haret Djoudna.
Day 2
Visit Petra (no riding)
08.30 AM: transfer to Petra (3 hrs). You will be taken to the hotel where you can leave your luggage (Early check-in if possible). A short walk takes you to the visitor centre of Petra where they scan your Jordan Pass and you start your visit via the Siq, the Treasury, the street of façades and the colonnaded street. Climb up to visit the Monastery and the High Place of Sacrifice. Tonight you will have dinner at Petra B&B with your trail riding guide and fellow riders.
Day 3
Start of the ride in the mountains
After breakfast: transfer to the starting point of the ride. In the mountains you start your adventure with great views over Petra. 3 hrs of riding takes you to an area with natural springs and tree gardens with amazing views over Petra and Wadi Araba. Continue riding after lunch for another 2.5 hours via the viewpoint of Dilagha and then descend down into Wadi Thugra where the camp will be set.
Day 4
To Wadi Rum
Groom and tack up your horse and the day can start! Ride via a small Bedouin village and slowly but surely mountains become desert; After about 2.5 hours you reach “the 3 trees”, the only shady place in this area and a good lunch spot. Continue riding towards the village of Humayma, where you can lead your horse across the Desert Highway into the north part of Wadi Rum, the Kharaza area. It will take another 2 hours to reach the camp for the night by a beautiful U shape rock formation. It’s the perfect spot to see the moon rise over the mountains and wake up to a beautiful sunrise.
Day 5
Further into the desert
The third day of riding begins in a stunning part of the desert, far away from the tourist areas. Today you will see natural rock bridges, the "mushroom", and inscriptions. There will be plenty of chances for nice, long canters. Enjoy a relaxed lunch in the shade after a 2,5 hour morning ride, maybe have a little power nap, take pictures and enjoy the scenery. After lunch continue for another 2,5 to 3 hrs on endless sand roads, perfect for long canters. In this area the sand has many colours so keep your camera ready!
Day 6
Protected Area of Wadi Rum
Today the ride will take you via the mudflat to Um Salab where you cross into the Protected Area of Wadi Rum! Experience riding through a stunning canyon to Um Ishrin, where you’ll stop for lunch. Ride for another 3 hours in the afternoon crossing the highest sand dunes in Wadi Rum and past the inscriptions of the Nabateans. Call by Laurence’s house before continuing to Burdah Bridge where the camp is set for the night.
Day 7
More amazing desert
This morning ride for about 2.5 hours from Burdah Bridge to the back of Um Fruth Bridge and enjoy a lunch break here. After lunch the ride will take you from Um Fruth Bridge to the 5-kilometre-long Barrah Canyon. The camp will be set in the canyon. Embrace the silence!
Day 8
Ride back to civilization
Continue our ride through Barrah canyon and from there towards and through Siq Um Foos and Siq Um Atawaki where you will have lunch after a 2.5 hour ride in the morning. The ride continues across the mud flat, a great place for a long canter. This afternoon you’ll say goodbye to your horse and to the team at Wadi Rum, transfer back to Petra where you will spend the night at a hotel where you can wash away all the dust and enjoy a dinner at Petra B&B.
Day 9
Dead Sea and Madaba (no riding)
8.30 AM: transfer to the Dead Sea (3 hrs). You will spend the afternoon at the 5* Holiday Inn Resort, where you have access to the beach, the pools and other facilities and where you will enjoy lunch at their buffet restaurant (drinks are not included). Around 5 PM: Transfer to your hotel in Madaba via the scenic Mt. Nebo way through the hills.
Day 10
Departure
Pick up 2,5 hours before the departure time of your flight.
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Wadi Rum Desert Trail
Mini-brochure PDF
know before you go
The riding on this trail is a mix of relaxed riding at walk with long trots and canters where the terrain allows faster riding. There are also opportunities to gallop. All riders must be fit enough to ride 5-6 hours a day, sometimes in the heat of the desert. Previous trail riding experience is a must and each participant should be confident and in control at all paces out in the open on a forward going horse.
Wearing a hard hat is strongly recommended.
Weight limit: 85kg / 13.3 stone
You will be guided by Eid who was born and raised in Wadi Musa. He has more than 20 years of experience in working with horses and guiding trails in Wadi Rum.
The maximum number of riders in a group is 8.
The horses on this trail are local Arabs and Arab crosses. They are forward going rides and can be spirited. They are small but tough and perfectly suited for the desert environment.
All the horses will have their own individual English saddle and bridle fitted to them. The saddle pads have pockets that can carry the daily essential items, such as water bottles, sun cream and camera.
The guests can participate in grooming and tacking up their horses each day, as well as, helping with the feeding and watering of the horses.
Price includes
- 6 full days of riding
- Trail riding horse, tack and saddlebags
- Night in a hotel in Madaba on Days 1 and 9, including breakfast
- Night in a hotel near Petra on Days 2 and 8, including breakfast and dinner
- 5 nights camping in the Wadi Rum
- All meals from Day 2 to Day 10 excluding lunch on Day 2 and dinner on Day 9
- All land transfers
- All arrangements for duration of holiday
- Services of guide
Price Excludes
- Flights
- Jordan Pass
- Tips
- Lunch on Day 2 or dinner on Day 9
Accommodation
The accommodation during the first and last night of the holiday will be in a hotel in Madaba with breakfast included. On days 2 and 8 you will be staying in a hotel near Petra, with breakfast and dinner included.
While out on trail in the desert the accommodation will be in a mobile camp in dome tents (bring your own sleeping bag!) Each guest will have their own tent with a mattress provided. Sanitary facilities in the camps are basic and there is a limited amount of water available for washing. Each participant should help out with camp chores, such as putting up and taking down tents. During the ride in the desert you will enjoy a full board of delicious Arabic dishes. Tea will always be available, as well as, water and soft drinks (no alcohol). Allergies or special dietary requirements can be catered for with advance notice.
Luggage will be transported by the support vehicle between overnight camps. The support vehicle meets the group each day also at lunch time so you will have access to your belongings during the day as well.
Wadi Rum Desert Trail
Booking Conditions
See the full booking conditions specific to this trail here.Flights and transfers.
Do not book your flights until you have received the confirmation email from saddletravel.com
Flight and transfer information
- Amman (AMM)
- Airport transfers to and from the airport are included in your holiday. Individual transfers will be arranged if guests are arriving at significantly different times. The transfer time is approximately 25 minutes.
- Departure time: On departure day, your transfer from the hotel will be scheduled approximately 2.5 hours before your flight departure time.
Jordan Pass: We recommend purchasing a Jordan Pass before the start of your holiday. The required pass is the "Jordan Wanderer", which costs 70 JOD. The pass waives your visa fee on arrival and includes entry to Petra and Wadi Rum. Please print your Jordan Pass and bring it with you, as your guide will need it for entry arrangements.
The single supplement is available upon request and subject to availability. We cannot guarantee a solo room.