Dana to Petra is the kind of trip that changes your pace. You hike through canyons and desert mountains on Bedouin trails, then land in Petra and finish with a well-earned Dead Sea reset. Two things I really like: you stay in a small group (max 14) and you get built-in support with an English-speaking licensed guide plus local help (including a donkey guide for safety on the early hiking days). One consideration: this is physically demanding, and the whole plan depends on good weather since some sections are outdoors and remote.

Key points at a glance

• Small group of up to 14 for a calmer feel on trail and at major sights
• Multi-day hiking Dana to Petra on Bedouin routes with serious scenery changes day to day
• Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) on the way to Petra, usually quieter and easier to enjoy slowly
• Petra via the Back Door using a hidden Nabataean approach that helps you dodge the biggest crowds
• Wadi Rum 4×4 + Bedouin camp night with tea, dinner, and stargazing
• Dead Sea time for floating, mud, and optional spa-style recovery

From Dana to Petra, then Wadi Rum to the Dead Sea: what the trip really feels like

This is not a drive-and-look-around Jordan tour. It’s a hiking-first experience, built around walking from the Dana Nature Reserve area into the Petra region, with camping nights in between. If you like movement, changing views, and the satisfaction of arriving somewhere by foot, this route fits you well.

The best part is the pacing. You start in greener, higher terrain around Dana, then progressively trade it for sharper canyon walls, desert tones, and that Petra scale you only really understand once you’ve been walking through the approach for hours. Then, after Petra, Wadi Rum gives you open desert drama from a jeep, and the Dead Sea finishes things with comfort and buoyancy.

Day 1 in Amman: Al Balad and an easy first taste of Jordan

Your trip begins in Amman, with a welcome day that’s intentionally light. You check into your hotel in the city, then you can explore a bit on your own depending on your arrival time.

Amman is old enough that you feel the layers, but still modern enough to make it easy to settle in. If you want a low-pressure start, this day is your buffer: rest up, eat well, and get your bearings before the 7:30 am pickup and the longer drive toward Dana the next morning.

Dana Nature Reserve hiking days: 15–17 km trail time and wilderness camps

Days 2 through 4 are the heart of the “on foot Jordan” part. You’re picked up from your hotel in Amman around 7:30 am after breakfast, then you transfer about 2.5 hours to the Dana Nature Reserve start area. That ride is a good time to meet your group, ask any last questions, and mentally gear up for real trail walking.

Day 2: over Dana Valley, into al Khashasha, sleep under the stars

The hike starts by following a trail with views over Dana Valley, then you descend into al Khashasha Valley. Expect a full day outdoors: roughly 5–7 hours of hiking and about 15 km, with 260 m ascent and 690 m descent. That descent is a reminder that multi-day treks aren’t just about distance. They’re also about legs that work differently each day.

You’ll end in wilderness camping outside the valley, at Mansoura. The “wilderness” setup matters here: this isn’t a quick photo stop. It’s the kind of night where you can actually unwind.

Day 3: Sharah Mountains views and a tougher, brighter day

Day 3 pushes up and across terrain that feels more exposed. You hike through the mountains for about an hour, then you get views of the Sharah Mountains and the wide Wadi Araba Desert. That view payoff is the whole point of the effort.

The numbers are solid: around 5–7 hours, about 16 km, with 563 m ascent and 170 m descent. The climb is noticeable, but the descent is smaller, so the day feels more “up and look around” than “down and scramble.”

You camp in Furon. After a long day, having time for tea and simply sitting and looking is not a luxury. It’s part of the way this trek lands in your memory.

Day 4: canyon edges, Bedouin shepherd paths, and Ghbour Whedat

This is your longest-feeling day in terms of elevation changes. You contour the Sharah Mountains, moving along smaller connecting Bedouin shepherd paths. The terrain here is rougher in feel—black rugged mountain peeks, big canyon drops, and that sense of walking along edges.

Your hike time is again 5–7 hours, but the totals are higher: about 17.1 km with 750 m ascent and 920 m descent. In plain terms, plan for tired calves. This is also where having a local hiking guide for safety (and the group structure) matters.

You finish at the wilderness campsite in Ghbour Whedat, where the rock formations change character as you move toward camp. You’ll feel the environment soften near the end of the day, which makes the final approach feel less brutal.

A smart detail: donkey-guided safety on the early days

On days 2–4, you’re supported by a local hiking guide with a donkey for safety measures. The tour is still challenging, but that added support reduces the chaos that can happen on rough terrain. You’re not traveling alone.

Little Petra (Siq al-Barid): the quieter warm-up to the big Petra

After your remote trekking days, day 5 brings you into a more inhabited zone as you approach Little Petra. You pass Bedouin camps, sheep pens, and small agricultural plots. It’s one of those transitions that helps your brain come back from wilderness mode.

You’ll also walk through the archaeological approach: the route includes Nabataean ruins such as wine and olive presses, plus aqueducts and other ancient water infrastructure. This is a nice contrast to the pure scenic hiking. You’re not only seeing rocks. You’re also tracing how people lived and moved water here long ago.

Then comes the physical moment: you climb through a canyon with soft sandstone walls, then descend a narrow steep flight of stairs into Little Petra. Little Petra is also known as Siq al-Barid, the Cold Canyon, and it’s thought of as a kind of suburb of Petra. Translation: you get Petra-adjacent wonder without starting your day in the busiest place.

Entering Petra via the Back Door: Wadi Ghurab, a hidden plateau, and the Monastery

Day 6 is where this trip separates itself from the mass approach. You start with breakfast, then hike into Petra using the Back Door route designed to avoid most tourists.

The approach follows Wadi Ghurab. You walk down through sandstone mountains guarding Petra’s approaches, then you move along a Nabataean route that skirts around the final mountain. A natural rock terrace is improved for safety, but it still narrows at parts before you reach a hidden plateau high above the impressive chasm of Wadi Siyyagh.

This is the part I’d recommend you savor slowly. When you reach a cliffside view above the chasm, Petra stops feeling like a destination on a brochure and starts feeling like a system carved into rock. You’re high above where the crowd level is lower, which changes the whole mood.

And then, as you keep moving, the Monastery comes into view carved into the cliff face. There’s even a Bedouin café for refreshments there if you want to pause. That small break is a practical lifesaver after big walking days.

After Petra: shifting gears to Wadi Rum and a Bedouin camp night

Day 7 is the desert pivot. You leave Petra’s mountain walls behind and head to Wadi Rum for a different kind of exploration. You meet Bedouin hosts and set out on a 4×4 jeep safari through valleys and narrow gorges.

The safari includes rock inscriptions, climbing sand dunes, and rock bridges. You can hike, scramble, and explore at your own pace at each stop rather than staying locked in the vehicle the whole time. That mix is a good way to match the day to your energy level, especially after Petra.

Then you’re looking at one of the classic desert moments: sunset. After that, you return to camp for dinner, Bedouin hospitality, and a night under the starlit sky. The tour also highlights plenty of tea, and in this setting it’s more than a beverage. It’s the rhythm of the evening.

Day 8 at the Dead Sea: floating, mud, pool time, and sore-leg recovery

Day 8 is your comfort-day payoff. You leave the desert and head to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. You get time to float in salty water, try Dead Sea mud, relax by the pool, and even do spa-style treatments if you want.

This is also a practical recovery break. Your legs have been working for multiple hiking days, and the float-and-mud combo is a gentle way to ease tightness without turning the day into another workout.

In the late afternoon you take the bus back up to Amman. It’s your last transfer of the trip, ending back at the start city where you began.

Price and value: what $1,595 includes and where you’ll spend extra

At $1,595 per person, the headline price is not cheap. But for what you’re getting, it starts to make sense.

You’re paying for:

• a guided trek across multiple days (English-speaking licensed guide on days 2–8)
• accommodation for 8 nights (including pre-arranged tented lodging in wilderness areas and a Bedouin camp setup in Wadi Rum, plus hotels)
• most of your meals (8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 6 dinners)
• transportation and logistics across Amman to the trailheads and between regions
• luggage transfers handled by pickup truck
• the small-group structure (maximum 14)

That matters because multi-day hikes can turn into endless stress when you have to coordinate guides, beds, and food every day. Here, those pieces are already built in, which lets you focus on walking and enjoying the scenery.

Where you should budget extra:

• Jordan Pass for visa and entrance fees (listed as Jordan Wanderer)
• airport pickup and drop-off
• tips for drivers and guides and camping/hotel staff
• travel insurance and airfare
• personal expenses
• hiking gear (not included)

If you keep those add-ons in mind early, the trip’s value story stays clear. If you ignore them, the total cost can creep up fast.

Physical demands, weather, and the reality of “outdoors for days”

This trek is listed for travelers with a strong physical fitness level. That’s not marketing fluff. Look at the daily hiking pattern: roughly 15–17 km on multiple days, often with big elevation changes (for example 750 m ascent and 920 m descent on day 4). You’re not just walking. You’re climbing, dropping, and resetting your body repeatedly.

Weather also matters. The experience requires good weather, and if it can’t run because of conditions, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. In other words, don’t plan this as a last-minute hedge against bad weather.

What to do with your time in Petra, versus just seeing it

The big advantage of this route is how you arrive. Entering Petra using the Back Door approach helps you skip most of the mainstream crowd pattern. You’re walking in from a wilder angle, moving along Wadi Ghurab, reaching a hidden plateau, and then seeing major points like the Monastery with a different rhythm than the typical line-and-walk.

That has one key effect: your photos look better, but more importantly, your brain processes Petra differently. When you approach from above and from side routes, you understand how the city sits in the rock.

It also makes Petra feel less like a box you tick and more like a place you earn.

Who should book this trek (and who might want a different Jordan plan)

This fits you if:

• you want a real hiking journey, not just guided sightseeing
• you enjoy camping nights and can handle long days
• you like small groups and guided support on trail
• you want Petra with a quieter entry route and time to actually appreciate what you’re seeing
• you want a desert add-on (Wadi Rum) that’s active but not another day of constant hiking

This may not fit you if:

• you’re looking for an easy walking pace or lots of downtime between viewpoints
• your schedule is tight and you can’t tolerate weather-driven changes
• you don’t want to plan for trekking-grade gear since hiking gear is not included

Should you book this Dana to Petra + Wadi Rum + Dead Sea trip?

I’d book it if you’re the kind of traveler who likes earned views. The mix is strong: multi-day walking in Dana, Little Petra as a calmer warm-up, Petra from a quieter back-door route, then Wadi Rum by 4×4 with a Bedouin camp night, and finally a Dead Sea recovery day.

Just make sure you’re honest about your fitness. Look at the daily totals and elevation. If you feel confident, this is one of the better ways to see Jordan without spending your days stuck in traffic.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and what time are you picked up?

It starts back in Amman, Jordan. The start time is listed as 7:00 am, and on day 2 you’re picked up from your hotel around 7:30 am.

How long is the trek, and how much walking happens each day?

The full experience is about 9 days. Walking happens on days 2 to 7 (and you have long moving days on days 5 and 6 as well). On hiking days 2–4, the day’s walking time is listed as about 5–7 hours with distances of 15 km, 16 km, and 17.1 km plus significant ascent and descent.

How big is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 14 travelers, keeping it a small-group experience.

Who provides guidance and safety support?

You have an English-speaking licensed guide on days 2–8. On days 2–4, there’s also a local hiking guide with a donkey for safety measures.

What kind of accommodation is included?

The tour includes 8 nights of accommodation, including pre-arranged tented accommodation during the camping parts of the trek, plus hotels in Amman and a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum.

How do you enter Petra to avoid the crowds?

You enter Petra using the Back Door approach and a hidden Nabataean route, which is designed to avoid most of the tourists.

What do you do at Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea?

In Wadi Rum, you meet Bedouin hosts and go on a 4×4 jeep safari exploring valleys and narrow gorges, including rock inscriptions and time to hike, scramble, and explore at your own pace, then you watch sunset and enjoy a Bedouin camp night with dinner and tea. At the Dead Sea, you spend time floating, trying the mud, relaxing by the pool, and you can also opt for spa-style treatments.

What’s not included in the price?

Not included items are the Jordan Pass (visa and entrance fees), airport pickup and drop-off, tips, travel insurance, airfare, personal expenses, and hiking gear.

What happens if bad weather forces changes or if I need to cancel?

The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. If you cancel, you can cancel up to 6 days in advance for a full refund, with smaller refund amounts if you cancel closer in.