Self-Launched Jordan: Petra Backdoor, Wadi Rum & the Red Sea
8 days · Jordan
Much Better Adventures charges £1,695
No-markup version: ~£760 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 8-day version of the classic Jordan hiking-and-snorkelling adventure — trekking the Dana Nature Reserve, entering Petra via the remote backdoor route, summiting Jordan's highest peak in Wadi Rum, snorkelling the coral reefs of the Red Sea in Aqaba, and floating in the Dead Sea. This is a DIY version of Much Better Adventures' guided group trip: you book your own guesthouses and Bedouin camps, arrange shared transport or hire a driver, and use local guides where genuinely useful. Expect moderate hiking of up to 6 hours a day on uneven desert terrain. Costs are approximate per person, based on backpacker/budget-traveller rates, and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Amman → Madaba
Madaba
Land at Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) and make your own way to Madaba, the 'city of mosaics', about 30-40 minutes south. The cheapest option is the Airport Express bus to Amman's Tabarbour/7th Circle, then a local bus or service taxi to Madaba; a private airport taxi to Madaba runs around 25-30 JOD (£28-33), which is worth it if you land late. Check into a budget guesthouse or the Mosaic City Hotel area and spend the afternoon wandering the mosaic-filled St George's Church. Rest up — the hiking starts tomorrow.
🚌Airport Express bus to Amman (~5 JOD) or private taxi to Madaba (~25-30 JOD)
🛏Budget guesthouse/hotel in Madaba (e.g. Mosaic City Hotel area), twin/double room
- →Explore Madaba's mosaic map at St George's Church
- →Walk the old town and grab dinner at a local falafel/hummus spot
Dana Nature Reserve hike
Dana / Little Petra
Head south to Dana Nature Reserve (about 3.5 hrs by road). Arrange a shared taxi or hire a private driver for the day, or join a minibus to Tafilah/Karak. Hike the Shaq al Reesh Trail (or a similar route) from Al-Barrah — a circular path through a narrow siq opening into rugged cliffs, scattered springs and traces of ancient settlement. A local Bedouin guide for the trail costs roughly 40-60 JOD and is genuinely worth it for navigation. In the evening, transfer to a Bedouin camp tucked near Little Petra and watch the stars come out over the sandstone peaks.
🚌Shared/private vehicle south to Dana and Little Petra
🛏Bedouin camp near Little Petra (twin-share tent)
- →Hike the Shaq al Reesh Trail in Dana Nature Reserve (~5 hrs)
- →Overnight at a Bedouin camp near Little Petra
- →Sunset and stargazing over the desert
The backdoor to Petra
Petra / Wadi Musa
Start early and hike into Petra from the remote backdoor route. From Little Petra, cross the desert through Wadi Ghurab and follow a Nabataean path that skirts the final mountain on a natural rock terrace, arriving at a hidden plateau above Wadi Siyyagh. The Monastery suddenly appears, then steps lead down into ancient Petra itself. This is a serious full-day walk (roughly 6 hrs, 9 mi) and hiring a local guide is strongly recommended for the unmarked backdoor trail (around 50-80 JOD, or join a small group). Petra entry is covered by the Jordan Pass (see visas). Stay overnight in Wadi Musa.
🚌Short transfer from Little Petra to the trailhead
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse in Wadi Musa
- →Hike Petra's backdoor route from Little Petra
- →Explore the Monastery and the ancient Nabataean site of Petra
- →Mosaic-making and Bedouin tea stops in Wadi Musa
Wadi Rum & climb Um Ad Dami
Wadi Rum
Head to Wadi Rum (about 4.5 hrs by road from Wadi Musa; arrange a shared vehicle or driver). At the visitor centre, hop into a desert jeep/truck for the drive to the foot of Um Ad Dami (5,900 ft), Jordan's highest peak. Hike up to the summit for a panorama stretching to the Saudi border in the south and Jebel Rum in the north (about 4 hrs, 2 mi, exposed in places). Descend to a remote Bedouin camp for a night under the stars, and enjoy zarb — meat and vegetables cooked for hours on hot coals underground.
🚌Shared/private vehicle Wadi Musa → Wadi Rum; desert jeep in the reserve
🛏Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum (twin-share tent)
- →Desert jeep/truck ride into Wadi Rum
- →Summit Um Ad Dami, Jordan's highest peak
- →Bedouin camp overnight with zarb dinner and stargazing
Wadi Rum canyons → Aqaba & the Red Sea
Aqaba
After breakfast and farewells to your Bedouin hosts, do two short canyon walks through Wadi Rum's most beautiful valleys — Um Ishreen and Barrah — with multi-coloured cliffs, towers, green plant-rich sections and dunes (about 2 hrs). Then head to the coast at Aqaba, reaching it by early afternoon. Take a well-earned dip in the Red Sea, then spend the afternoon at the Berenice Beach Club with full use of pools and beach, swimming straight off the shore. Your guesthouse or hotel reception can point you to the best restaurants for dinner in lively Aqaba.
🚌Shared/private vehicle Wadi Rum → Aqaba
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse in Aqaba
- →Canyon hikes at Um Ishreen and Barrah
- →Swim at the Berenice Beach Club
- →Evening exploring Aqaba's restaurants
Snorkelling the Red Sea reefs
Aqaba
Head to Aqaba's marina and join a dive-and-snorkel day boat. Book directly with one of Aqaba's specialist dive centres (many operate via GetYourGuide or their own websites) — a full-day snorkel trip with equipment, lunch and multiple reef stops is roughly 45-60 JOD. Cruise out to several of the Red Sea's world-renowned coral reefs, with an array of marine life; lunch is served on deck, with more snorkelling and swimming in the afternoon and time to sunbathe on the sun deck. Free evening back in Aqaba.
🚌Local taxi to the marina; boat trip included in the day's activity
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse in Aqaba
- →Full-day Red Sea snorkelling boat trip over coral reefs
- →Lunch on deck and sun-deck relaxation
- →Optional try-dive with a local dive centre
Road trip to the Dead Sea
Dead Sea / Amman
One last breakfast overlooking the Red Sea, then hop in a shared or private vehicle for the long drive north to the Dead Sea (around 5 hrs), the lowest point on Earth. Spend the afternoon floating in the super-saline water, trying an invigorating mud bath, or booking a spa treatment at one of the day-access beach resorts or a public beach. Afterwards, continue the final stretch to Amman (roughly 1 hr) for your last night. Toast the week with a great dinner in the capital.
🚌Shared/private vehicle Aqaba → Dead Sea → Amman
🛏Budget hotel/hostel in Amman
- →Float and swim in the Dead Sea
- →Dead Sea mud bath / optional spa treatment
- →Final evening dinner in Amman
Transfer to Amman airport
Amman
After breakfast and goodbyes, make your way to Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) in time for your flight home. The Airport Express bus from Amman runs regularly and is the cheapest option (around 5 JOD); a private taxi is roughly 20-25 JOD. Allow extra buffer for Amman traffic.
🚌Airport Express bus (~5 JOD) or private taxi (~20-25 JOD) to AMM
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Departure transfer to Queen Alia International Airport
Self-launched vs. Much Better Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Much Better Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£760 | £1,695 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £935 per person (55%) | |
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.~£760
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.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Jordan: Petra Backdoor, Wadi Rum & the Red Sea cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £760 per person for 8 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 £1,695 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £760 — a saving of roughly £935 (55%) per person.
How long is the Jordan trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 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 adventure, hiking, 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?
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