Self-Launched Hiking Adventure in Jordan
6 days · Jordan
Much Better Adventures charges £1,295
No-markup version: ~£415 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Climb Jordan's highest peak, sneak into Petra through the backdoor, sleep under Bedouin stars in Wadi Rum, and float in the Dead Sea — all independently, at a fraction of the guided tour price. This self-launched route follows the same epic arc as the Much Better Adventures group trip, swapping included guides and transfers for local buses, self-booked Bedouin camps, and GetYourGuide-bookable tours. Jordan is highly accessible for independent travellers and the savings are significant. All costs are approximate estimates per person.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Amman — Explore Madaba
Madaba
Fly into Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) and make your own way to Madaba, about 30km south. The JETT public bus from the airport to Madaba costs around £2–3 and drops you near the town centre, or shared taxis run for around £5. Check into a budget guesthouse or hotel in central Madaba from early afternoon. Spend the evening wandering the Byzantine mosaic streets, visiting the famous 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land at St George's Church (free entry or small donation), and grabbing dinner at a local restaurant. Hop in a local taxi to Mount Nebo for panoramic views over the Jordan Valley — taxis charge roughly £5–8 for the short trip.
🚌JETT bus or shared taxi from Queen Alia Airport to Madaba (~£3–5). Local taxis for Mount Nebo (~£5–8 return).
🛏Mariam Hotel or Mosaic City Hotel, Madaba — both are well-regarded budget-friendly hotels in the town centre, approximately £25–35/night for a twin room
- →Visit St George's Church and the ancient Byzantine mosaic map of the Holy Land
- →Explore Madaba's old town streets and local markets
- →Optional: taxi to Mount Nebo for sweeping Jordan Valley views (£5–8 return by local taxi)
Dana Nature Reserve — Hike Shaq Al Reesh Trail
Dana / Little Petra
After breakfast at your guesthouse, take a local minibus or JETT bus south towards Aqaba and ask to be dropped at the Dana/Qadisiyya junction (roughly £6–8). From there, a short local taxi into Dana village costs around £3. Dana Biosphere Reserve is managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN); pay the entry fee at the visitor centre (around £5) and hike the Shaq Al Reesh trail independently — it's well-marked. The trail drops dramatically from Al-Barrah through a sandstone siq past natural springs and ancient ruins, eventually linking with the Nawatef area. At the end of the day, arrange a local taxi or pre-booked transfer (~£15) to Little Petra Bedouin Camp (Beit Ali or similar), where a night in a Bedouin tent including dinner costs around £30–45 per person.
🚌JETT/local minibus from Madaba southbound (~£7). Local taxi to Dana village (~£3). Taxi/arranged transfer to Little Petra camp (~£15).
🛏Little Petra Bedouin Camp (Beit Ali or Seven Wonders Bedouin Camp) — fixed tents with beds, shared showers/toilets, dinner included, ~£35–45/night per person
- →Hike the Shaq Al Reesh trail in Dana Nature Reserve (5hrs, ~7 miles, dramatic siq and mountain scenery)
- →Pay entry at RSCN Dana visitor centre (~£5)
- →Stargazing and sunset views from the Bedouin camp near Little Petra
Backdoor Hike into Petra
Petra / Wadi Musa
Rise early for breakfast at camp and set off on foot from Little Petra through Wadi Ghurab — this is a self-navigable Nabataean trail using apps like Maps.me or AllTrails (search 'Little Petra to Petra back route'). The route crosses the desert plateau, climbs gently through the sandstone mountains and descends to reveal the Monastery (Al-Deir) from above, well away from the crowds. Factor in the Petra entry ticket (~£50 for a one-day pass) at the main gate — buy online in advance via the Jordan Pass (which bundles the visa fee and Petra entry, saving money if you haven't bought a visa separately). Explore the Monastery, Royal Tombs, Street of Facades and the iconic Treasury at your own pace before exiting through the Siq into Wadi Musa. Check into a budget hotel in Wadi Musa for the night.
🚌On foot from Little Petra camp to Petra (trail-based). Local taxi from Petra exit (Siq/Wadi Musa end) to hotel if needed (~£3).
🛏Rocky Mountain Hotel or Petra Moon Hotel, Wadi Musa — reliable budget options, ~£20–30/night twin
- →Self-navigate the backdoor Nabataean trail from Little Petra through Wadi Ghurab to the Monastery (6hrs, ~9 miles)
- →Explore Petra independently: Monastery, Royal Tombs, Street of Facades, Treasury, the Siq
- →Consider the Jordan Pass for combined visa + Petra entry savings (from ~£80 total, covering 1–3 day Petra access)
Drive to Wadi Rum — Climb Um Ad Dami
Wadi Rum
Take the JETT bus or a shared service taxi from Wadi Musa (Petra) southbound towards Aqaba, alighting at the Wadi Rum junction (roughly £5–8). From the junction, local pick-up trucks and jeeps run the short distance into the Wadi Rum Visitor Centre (~£2–3). At the visitor centre, arrange a Bedouin jeep tour to the base of Um Ad Dami — Jordan's highest peak at 1,854m (5,906ft). Book a combined jeep + Um Ad Dami guided hike through a local Wadi Rum operator directly at the visitor centre or in advance via GetYourGuide; typical cost is £25–40 per person. The hike to the summit (4hrs return, ~2 miles, 400m ascent) rewards with views into Saudi Arabia and across Wadi Rum. Descend to your Bedouin camp for a traditional zarb dinner (slow-cooked underground on hot coals), included with many camp bookings.
🚌JETT bus or shared taxi from Wadi Musa to Wadi Rum junction (~£6). Local pickup to visitor centre (~£3). Jeep included in Um Ad Dami tour package.
🛏Wadi Rum Night Luxury Camp, Rahayeb Desert Camp, or similar Bedouin fixed tent camp — beds, shared facilities, dinner often included, ~£30–45/night per person
- →Jeep transfer through Wadi Rum dunes to the base of Um Ad Dami (~£10–15 per person)
- →Hike to the summit of Um Ad Dami — Jordan's highest peak (4hrs, spectacular Saudi Arabia and Wadi Rum views)
- →Traditional zarb dinner at the Bedouin camp
- →Stargazing in the clear desert night sky
Wadi Rum Sunrise — Dead Sea Float — Amman
Wadi Rum → Dead Sea → Amman
Wake early for sunrise over the red dunes — your camp host can point you to the nearest dune for the best view. After breakfast, arrange a jeep transfer back to the Wadi Rum junction (~£5), then catch the JETT bus northbound via Aqaba towards Amman (~£10–12). Ask to be dropped at the Dead Sea Resort area (Al-Suwaymah) — local minibuses and taxis can cover the last stretch (~£5). Pay entry to the Dead Sea public beach at Amman Beach or O Beach (~£15–20 per person, includes sun lounger and shower). Float in the hyper-saline water, smear on the mineral-rich mud, and soak up the unique experience. Afterwards, continue north by taxi or minibus to Amman (~£10–15) and check in to a hostel or budget hotel for your final night.
🚌Jeep to Wadi Rum junction (~£5). JETT bus north towards Amman (~£10). Local taxi/minibus to Dead Sea (~£5). Taxi Amman (~£12).
🛏Cliff Hotel, Jordan Tower Hotel, or Nomads Hostel in Amman — central, sociable budget options, ~£15–30/night
- →Sunrise from a Wadi Rum sand dune — guided by your camp host
- →Float in the Dead Sea at Amman Beach or O Beach public resort (~£15–20 entry)
- →Explore Amman's Rainbow Street or downtown markets on arrival if time allows
Final Morning in Amman — Fly Home
Amman
After breakfast at your hotel, store luggage and take a final wander through central Amman. Explore the Roman Theatre, the colourful downtown Al-Husseini souq, or browse Al-Balad's spice and sweet stalls for last-minute gifts. When it's time, take a taxi from Amman city centre to Queen Alia International Airport (45–60 mins, ~£18–25 by metered taxi or Uber/Careem). Book in advance if you have an early flight.
🚌Taxi or Careem/Uber from downtown Amman to Queen Alia Airport (~£18–25, 45–60 mins).
🛏Check out of previous night's hotel
- →Visit Amman's Roman Theatre and downtown Al-Husseini Mosque area
- →Browse the Al-Balad souq for spices, sweets and souvenirs
- →Taxi or Careem/Uber to Queen Alia International Airport (~£18–25)
Self-launched vs. Much Better Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Much Better Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£415 | £1,295 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £880 per person (68%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Much Better Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£415
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Hiking Adventure in Jordan cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £415 per person for 6 days in Jordan. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Much Better Adventures?+
Yes — Much Better Adventures charges around £1,295 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £415 — a saving of roughly £880 (68%) per person.
How long is the Jordan trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Jordan.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a hiking, adventure, culture trip through Jordan, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.