Jordan: Deserts, Petra & the Dead Sea

Land in Amman early—like, before sunrise early. This trip kicks off straight away with a drive north to the Roman ruins of Jerash. You'll spend a few hours walking the colonnaded streets before the main event: a three-hour overland journey south to Wadi Musa, the town outside Petra. Drop your bags at the hotel, meet the rest of the crew, and find some dinner. The real exploration starts tomorrow.

Forget the main entrance. Today's plan is to hike into Petra via the 'backdoor' trail, starting from the smaller, quieter site of Little Petra. It's a solid trek that brings you out high above the main valley, with a first look at the massive Monastery carved into the cliff. After a packed lunch with a view, you'll explore the rest of the ancient city, walking down through the site and eventually exiting via the famous Siq.

The afternoon is free to chill on the hotel rooftop or find a local spot for dinner in Wadi Musa. It's a long day on your feet, so plan accordingly.

It's an early start for a return to Petra, this time to see the Treasury lit up by the first light of sunrise—the best time to see it without the crowds. After breakfast back at the hotel, you'll trade the city for the desert on the two-hour drive to Wadi Rum. From there, it's into a 4x4 to cross the red sand dunes and rock formations to reach a Bedouin-style camp for the night. After a group dinner, a short walk out into the dunes reveals a sky with practically zero light pollution.

After breakfast at the camp, it's time to leave the desert behind and head for the coast. A short drive gets you to Aqaba, Jordan's only port city on the Red Sea. The rest of the day is yours. The main move is to find a boat trip for some snorkeling in the clear water, or just wander through the local market and the shops at the marina. Find your own dinner; the crew will likely scatter to different spots tonight.

You've got a full free day in Aqaba. Your options are pretty straightforward: hang out by the hotel pool, or go for a full-day beach club pass, which usually includes lunch and a guaranteed spot on the sand. If you missed anything in town yesterday, now's the time to check it out. For dinner, you can grab something solo or find a spot with the rest of the group. Expect a proper night out with the crew later on.

Today is a travel day north, leaving the Red Sea behind for the Dead Sea. The drive is broken up by a stop for a traditional Jordanian meal at a community-run kitchen in the Jordan Valley. Then it's on to the main event: floating effortlessly in the hyper-saline water of the Dead Sea. Cover yourself in the mineral-rich mud, float around, and then wash it all off. Afterwards, you'll continue to the town of Madaba to see the famous Byzantine mosaic map at St. George's Church before settling in for the night.

The trip officially ends after breakfast in Madaba. You can pack up and head out at any time. If you're flying out of Amman's Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), you'll need to sort out a taxi or shuttle for the ride.