Hiking in Jordan: Petra and Wadi Rum

Ahlan Wa Sahlan! Welcome to Jordan, cosmopolitan and contemporary, yet steeped in biblical history. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm this evening. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place. As there's not much time spent in Amman on this itinerary, it's worth arriving a day or two early to explore the sights. Highlights include the citadel, the Jordan Museum and the Roman Theatre. At any rate, perhaps try an ara’yes while you're here – a toastie filled with spicy mincemeat.

After breakfast, head out for the first trek of your adventure. Journey to the Dana Biosphere Reserve, the largest nature reserve in Jordan. Covering 320 square kilometres, the reserve is made up of mountains, Wadis and sand dunes, and is home to an incredibly diverse display of flora and fauna. The reserve was created to protect the natural environment while generating jobs for the local community. Your trek today takes you in and around this protected area, exploring with the expertise of a local guide. Keep an eye out for the varied wildlife you’ll find here, including falcons, chameleons, foxes, porcupines and more than 700 species of plants. After your trek, transfer to Little Petra. Believed by archaeologists to have housed visiting traders on the Silk Road, Little Petra is every bit as fascinating as its larger counterpart (just a lot quieter!). Take some time to explore the site with your local leader this afternoon, then settle in at your camp for dinner and stargazing.

This morning after breakfast, start your hike directly from the camp, following a back-trail and leading to Petra. The landscape today is ever changing – sandy plateaus, bedouin campsites, goat herds and stone staircases. Your guided tour culminates at The Monastery, a seriously impressive seven-storey structure with a doorway that's eight metres high. Though less ornate than the Treasury, the sheer scale of this building makes it an amazing sight. Reportedly it was used as a temple by Christians in the Byzantine period. Trace your way back to the camp in early afternoon and enjoy the rest of the day as you please.