Dana to Petra Trek + Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea – 9 Days

Jordan rewards hikers who like their days full.

This Dana to Petra trek is interesting because you walk deep into canyons and desert mountains on Bedouin trails, then reach Petra via a less obvious approach that helps you dodge the worst crowds. I also like the small-group feel, with a maximum of 14 trekkers, plus real support on the trail, not just a label on a map.

What I like most is the way the trip handles the practical stuff for you: meals plus pre-arranged tented accommodation are included, and you get an English-speaking licensed guide on days 2 to 8. One possible drawback: it is a serious hiking schedule, with days 2 to 4 listed around 5 to 7 hours on the move, and you are expected to have strong physical fitness.

Key points worth packing for

• A small group up to 14 means more human-scale hiking and easier logistics at camp and in tight places.
• Dana Nature Reserve trails cover multiple ecozones, so the scenery changes without you having to do extra planning.
• Little Petra via Al-Beidha and the Cold Canyon gives you Petra-adjacent ruins without the same stampede vibe.
• Petra entry through the Back Door uses a Nabataean route that is designed to reduce crowd time inside.
• Wadi Rum 4×4 plus on-foot exploring lets you do dune climbs and rock-bridge spotting at your own pace.
• Dead Sea recovery time includes floating and mud, with spa treatments as an optional add-on once you arrive.

Your 9-day route: Dana Nature Reserve, Little Petra, Petra, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea

This isn’t a quick, checklist-only tour. It is a full Jordan sampler built around one main idea: walk the country like you mean it, then slow down just enough to enjoy the reward.

You start in Amman, then you head out to Dana Nature Reserve, where the trek days are structured around changing valleys and mountain passes. From there, the route pushes toward Petra through the back roads first, including a stop at Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) before you go after Petra itself. Finally, you trade trails for desert theater in Wadi Rum, then finish with the anti-gravity trick of the Dead Sea.

If you like journeys that mix hiking with culture and you want a guide who handles the messy parts, this format fits well.

Amman Day 1: easy landing and a first taste of Jordan

Day 1 is intentionally low pressure. You arrive in downtown Amman (Al Balad), check in, and have time to get your bearings. If your flight lands early, you can explore on your own, then settle in for the next morning pickup.

What matters here is timing. A trek like this does not start when you want it to start, it starts when your group leaves the hotel. So Day 1 gives you a buffer to sleep, eat, and not feel rushed about meeting time.

Day 2 in Dana Biosphere Reserve: from Dana Valley views to wilderness camping

The action starts at 7:30 am after breakfast with pickup from your Amman hotel. The drive to Dana takes about 2.5 hours, which is plenty of time to get to know your fellow hikers or catch up on sleep.

Once you hit the reserve, your route follows mountain trails above Dana Valley, then descends into al Khashasha Valley. You camp in a wilderness setting, described as a wilderness campsite on the outskirts of the valley.

Why this first day is smart: you start with a long walk, but the way it is paced lets you build rhythm. The stats for the day are clear too: about 15 km, with roughly 260 m ascent and 690 m descent, and a hiking window listed at 5 to 7 hours. That climb and drop mix is a good preview for what the next days will do to your legs.

Day 3: a tough climb day with Sharah Mountains views and Furon camp

Day 3 is labeled challenging, and the hike backs that up with a longer distance and more climbing: about 16 km, around 563 m ascent, and about 170 m descent, with hiking time again listed around 5 to 7 hours.

You head out early and start ascending through the mountains for about an hour. Then you get a wide look toward the Sharah Mountains and out across the Wadi Araba desert. That kind of long, open view matters because it breaks the rhythm of walking inside valleys all day.

By the time you reach Al Furon, the day shifts into recovery mode: tea, campsite views, and dinner when you are done. I like this balance. You get hard effort, then you get a moment to sit and actually notice where you are.

Day 4: Bedouin shepherd paths, canyons, and Ghbour Whedat

Day 4 leans into the rugged side of the trek. You pass Ras Al-Feid toward Ghbour Whedat, and the route is described as contouring the Sharah Mountains on trails made up of smaller connecting Bedouin shepherd paths.

This is where you start to feel the difference between walking a marked trail and walking a network of lived-in routes. The description calls out black rugged mountain peaks above and steep drops into canyons below, so expect big vertical perspective even if you are not always on the steepest sections.

The hike distance is 17.1 km, with about 750 m ascent and 920 m descent, listed as around 5 to 7 hours. That descent is real work on knees and shins, so if you know you get cranky on downhill days, plan to use trekking poles if you have them, and go slow on the first part.

You camp again in a wilderness setting at Ghbour Whedat, with the day ending on a more softly changing terrain, including mushroom-like rock formations along the way.

Day 5: Al-Beidha to Little Petra via Nabataean water and the Cold Canyon

Day 5 is a pivot from hiking in remote Dana areas to stepping into the Nabataean story. You start approaching Little Petra from Al-Beidha, and the trek gradually shows more signs of human habitation: Bedouin camps, sheep pens, and small agricultural plots.

That small shift is useful. You are not just moving through scenery, you are transitioning into a lived landscape again.

You also pass Nabataean ruins before you reach the site: wine and olive presses, aqueducts, and other ancient water infrastructure. Then you climb through a canyon with soft sandstone walls and descend down narrow, steep stairs into Little Petra, also called Siq al-Barid, described as likely a suburb of Petra.

Practical note: this is not a simple “walk to a viewpoint” day. You have canyon stairs in the mix, so it is worth taking your time on the descent and keeping an eye on footing.

Day 6: Petra via the Back Door, Wadi Ghurab, and a quiet view of the Monastery

Petra day is one of the main reasons people book this trek. What makes it feel different is the approach: you enter via a route called The Back Door, described as avoiding most of the tourists.

You start with a hike down Wadi Ghurab through sandstone mountains that guard the approaches to Petra. Then the route follows a Nabataean route out of the valley, skirting around the final mountain on a natural rock terrace that has been improved for safety.

Eventually you reach a hidden plateau above the impressive chasm of Wadi Siyyagh. Then, carved into the cliff face, The Monastery comes into view. There is even a Bedouin café for refreshments if you want a break.

This is the tradeoff: Petra is famous for crowds, but you are choosing a way in that spends more time walking and less time queuing. The schedule still lists the day as a full hiking day, around 12 hours.

If you love photography, this style of entrance helps. You will get the payoff point of the Monastery sight when you are not stuck fighting crowds for every angle.

Day 7: Wadi Rum 4×4 safari, Bedouin hospitality, and sunset time

After breakfast, you leave the Petra area and move on to Wadi Rum. This is your change of gear day: from hiking to desert exploration with Bedouin hosts.

You meet them and set out on a 4×4 jeep safari through valleys and narrow gorges. You also explore with on-and-off walking at each stop, with opportunities to hike, scramble, and explore at your own pace. The itinerary mentions ancient rock inscriptions, climbing sand dunes, and rock bridges.

Then you get the most classic Wadi Rum moment: sunset. The trip notes it as one of the most magical sunsets in the world. After the sunset, you return to your Bedouin camp for dinner and hospitality, then a night under starlit skies with countless cups of tea.

This day is a reminder that you do not have to be in constant motion to feel like you had an adventure. You can go hard when you want, then relax when you do not.

Day 8: Dead Sea float and mud recovery, then a long road back to Amman

On Day 8 you shift from desert drama to the Dead Sea, described as the lowest point on earth. Here, your legs get a break, and your reward is the famous float plus mud time.

The itinerary gives you options: float in the salty water, try the Dead Sea mud, relax by the pool, and even do spa treatments if you want to pamper tired muscles. Then, in the late afternoon, you take the bus back up the winding road to Amman.

The practical side matters here. You have already walked for multiple days, so Dead Sea time is positioned as your recovery chapter, not just a sightseeing stop. I like that the itinerary builds in that reset before you close out Day 9.

Day 9: back in Amman, with enough buffer for flights

Day 9 is the wrap-up day. You return to Al Balad in downtown Amman and end services at the meeting point. If you are flying out, the itinerary recommends leaving Amman at least 4 hours prior to departure.

That buffer is not just comfort. It reduces stress from traffic, paperwork, or the simple reality that travel days rarely go exactly as planned.

What is included, and why that matters for real value

At $1,595 per person, this is not a budget trip. But the cost makes more sense when you look at what you are getting for it.

Included basics you should care about:

• 8 nights of accommodation, including tented wilderness camping during the trek and hotel time in Amman, plus the Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum
• An English-speaking licensed guide on days 2 to 8
• A local hiking guide with a donkey for safety measures on days 2 to 4
• Transportation as per the itinerary
• Luggage transfers by pickup truck
• Meals: 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 6 dinners

The biggest value here is reducing your mental workload. You do not have to organize daily logistics between remote areas. You also get safety support through a local hiking guide and donkey assistance early in the trek.

What is not included:

• Jordan Pass for visa and entrance fees
• Airport pickup and drop off
• Tips for drivers, guides, and camp staff
• Travel insurance, airfare, and personal expenses
• Hiking gear

If you already own basic hiking gear, you might be okay. If you do not, you should budget time and money to source the essentials before you go.

Guides and the small-group factor: where this tour wins hearts

This trip runs with a maximum of 14 travelers, which is a big deal on multi-day hikes. Tight spaces, meal timing, and moving between sites all work better with fewer people.

The feedback around the guides is consistently strong, with names like Motaz Zghoul and Mutaz Jarrar showing up in the praise. The consistent themes are reliability, thoughtfulness, and a friendly atmosphere. There is also credit given to operations support, including an operations officer named Shushan for pre-trip help.

I take that seriously because on a trek, the guide is not just the person with the facts. They are the person who keeps the group moving at the right pace, solves problems fast, and helps the route feel understandable instead of intimidating.

Fitness and pacing: how hard is it, really?

The itinerary is honest about effort. It lists daily hiking windows, often 5 to 7 hours, and distances ranging from about 15 km up to 17.1 km on days 2 through 4, with substantial ascent and descent.

The tour also says you should have a strong physical fitness level. That is not meant to scare you, but to set expectations. You should be comfortable with long walking days and uphill effort, then ready for downhill strain.

A common mistake is treating this like a moderate walk because it is guided. Guidance helps with route and safety, but your body still has to move through the work.

If you are a regular hiker, you will probably find the pacing manageable. If you are newer to multi-day hiking, this is still doable, but you should prepare and plan to take it seriously from day 1.

Practical tips before you go (based on what the plan demands)

• Bring the basics. The tour does not include hiking gear, so make sure you have shoes you trust on uneven ground and stairs.
• Plan for long days. Even when hiking time is listed as 5 to 7 hours, the day still stretches, especially on days that include major transitions like Petra and the approaches to it.
• Expect tent camping to be part of the rhythm. This is not hotel comfort every night, and that is the point.
• Pack for heat changes. You start in Amman, hike through mountain and canyon areas, then shift into the desert and Dead Sea recovery. Layers help.
• Do your Jordan Pass math early. Entrance fees are not included, so build that into your total budget before you fall in love with the trek.

Should you book the Dana to Petra Trek plus Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea?

You should book if you want:

• A guided multi-day hiking trip that actually gets you into the Dana to Petra route on foot
• A lower-crowd feeling inside Petra thanks to the Back Door entrance
• Extra variety, with Little Petra, then Wadi Rum 4×4, then Dead Sea floating for recovery
• A small group experience with support, including a local hiking guide and donkey safety help in the early trekking days

You might skip it if:

• You are not ready for long hiking days with real elevation and descent
• You hate planning for entrances, because the Jordan Pass is not included and you will need to handle it
• You want a lighter itinerary with mostly short walks and lots of hotel time, because tented nights and big walking days are central to the design

If those points sound like your kind of adventure, this is a strong, value-structured way to see the Jordan highlights by foot, then cool your heels where your body asks for it.