You ride about 5-6 hours per day. Approximately 2.5-3.5 hours in the morning, then a three-hour lunch break and then another 2-3 hours in the afternoon. You ride about 25-35 kilomaters (15-18 miles) per day. Every ride starts and ends with about 5 minutes walking with the horses which is good for both the riders’ and the horses’ stiff muscles.
The pace of this ride is medium-fast, with a lot of walking, a little trotting and some galloping - around two chances in the morning and two in the afternoon. The open desert and the firm sand is perfect for long controlled gallops.
Riding experience: You should be a safe rider who can relax on a spirited horse in all gaits. The horses are calm and nicely alert.
The terrain: Wadi Rum’s large desert area is a fantastically different and beautiful area to ride in. The landscape varies. You will ride through the desert mountains, across vast open desert plains, and also through green farmland. Typically, the surface is hard-packed sand.
Preliminary program:
(Note that the deserts can be very unpredictable, so the guides must be able to change the route depending on weather and local conditions.)
NOTE: During December- February it is too cold to ride in the mountains and there might even be snow. Therefore you and the horses are driven about 1.5 hours to Humaime after Petra (day 4 in the program below). In the afternoon you start riding east towards your camp and the rest of the days you ride in Wadi Rum.
Day 1: Arrival to Amman Queen Alia International Airport - Head to Madaba Welcome to Jordan! After immigration procedures, your driver will take you directly to your hotel in Madaba where you will be
staying. Overnight at Madaba. Madaba is mostly a Christian town and the center is within walking distance of the hotel. If you arrive early enough then you can visit the St. George church to admire the mosaics (Dinner is included for arrivals before 10:00PM).
Day 2: Depart Madaba heading to Visit Petra. This morning, after breakfast, your driver will pick up you at 8 am from the hotel lobby to drive you down to Petra (3h drive). Leave your bags at the hotel and head out to explore the ancient Nabatean city with a local English-speaking guide for 2-3 hours. The rest of the day is free to explore the city of Petra by yourself at your own way or to relax at your hotel in Petra. Overnight at three stars’ hotel. Breakfast and dinner are included. At the evening, you will meet the horse-riding organizer to discuss the program for the next days. Breakfast and dinner included. Lunch to own account
Day 3: Riding in Petra’s mountain then to Taibah. Breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to meet the horses just outside Wadi Moussa. Mount up and set off riding into the hills above Petra, with wonderful views across to Jebel Haroun mountain, the highest summit in the Petra region. The prophet Aaron, older brother of Moses, was buried here by Moses himself. Leaving the horses tied up, those who wish can walk up to the “High Place of Sacrifice” for the incredible view over Petra and the maze of canyons in which it is hidden. A picnic lunch before riding on in the afternoon to camp on Taybeh mountain. Dinner and the night in camp. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are included).
Day 4: Riding from Taibah to Al Rajif Continuing to Beer Hammad. After breakfast you will ride from the mountain of Taibah to the old village of Rajif, which has great views overlooking the Wadi Araba desert. A magical experience in the clean nature of the area. Stop for lunch in the shade of a garden. After lunch you continue riding along the Silk Road which was used by caravans of traders to exchange their produce. There are opportunities for long canters across the plains in the direction of Ber Hamad (an old Nabatean caravan cistern). Dinner and overnight in a portable camp. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included).
Day 5: Riding Through Beer Hammad – Humaimeh – Karazeh Breakfast in camp and then set off riding through Ber Hammad along the trail which in Nabatian and Roman times connected Wadi Sabra and Petra. With fit horses and fresh mountain breezes, there should be plenty of chances for exhilarating trots and canters where the going allows. A dynamic afternoon takes you through limestone hills to the gateway of the desert “bab el Sahara’’ - in good weather you can see the red sandstone buttresses of jebel Rum, the central mountain of the Wadi Rum area with peak at 1784 meters. Dinner and the night in camp. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included).
Day 6: Riding Through the Desert of Wadi Rum Continue riding east through curious little canyons, still following the spice trail along parts of the ancient silk road. Pass the old village of Thogra and then dismount to lead the horses across the Desert Highway, the main road between Amman and Aqaba which continues to Saudi Arabia. Continue east through a long valley to the lunch stop. In the afternoon, eastwards again riding towards the sandstone cliffs of Wadi Rum where you should be able to see the natural rock arch ‘Karazeh’ before reaching camp. Dinner and the night in camp
Day 7: Riding in Wadi Rum (Karazeh-Chakria-Um Ishrin) Breakfast in camp and mount up to ride beneath the majestic sandstone cliffs, seeing famous inscriptions made by the Thamudic and Nabatean people centuries ago. Continue riding south east towards the agricultural village of Chakria stopping for lunch on the edge of the famous mud flats. Ride up to the French fortress which is well maintained and situated in one of Jordan's most beautiful desert landscapes which is rarely visited by tourists. In the afternoon you will continue riding through stunning canyons and out onto the mud flats which are perfect for long exhilarating canters. Eventually you arrive at Wadi Um Ishrin, a large valley next to Jabel Um Ishrin, with beautiful sand dunes. Overnight in Um Ishrin valley in your camp. (Breakfast, lunch and dinner included).
If you have booked an 8 day program, you will now be driven back to your hotel in Madaba for one last night before transfer to Amman Airport after breakfast Day 8.
Day 8: Last Day of Riding in Wadi Rum – Then Head to Aqaba by Vehicle You are now in the heart of the Wadi Rum. After breakfast saddle up and set off through the beautiful valley of Um Ishrin, passing by the red sand dunes in the valley of Anafishia. You will pass the ruins of “Lawrence’s house” and ride through the beautiful Barrah canyon, where there are several Thamudic engravings on the cliff faces depicting camels and other animals. Reaching the lunch stop you say goodbye to the horses and, after lunch, transfer about 1 hour by car, to Aqaba on the Red Sea. Dinner and night at the My Hotel (or similar) in Aqaba.
Day 9: Depart Aqaba to Dead Sea and Mount Nebo – Overnight at Madaba. Breakfast and then you will be driven to the Dead Sea. A relaxing day swimming, floating & relaxing by the Dead Sea, trying a famous mud wrap if you wish! Own arrangements for lunch and in the late afternoon you will be driven back towards Madaba passing Mount Nebo, with a chance to visit the church before sunset. Dinner and night at the Mosaic Hotel (or similar) in Madaba
Day 10: Madaba Hotel – Amman Queen Alia International Airport After breakfast, we will transfer you to the Airport for your journey home.
