Petra to Wadi Rum Trek – 6 Days

Petra to Wadi Rum is not a sightseeing trip with a few walks added. It is a remote six-day crossing through southern Jordan, linking two famous UNESCO sites by foot rather than by road. You leave Petra’s main route near the Sabra Amphitheatre, pass through empty valleys and sandstone country, and reach Wadi Rum by way of the Jordan Trail.

I like the solitude and the variety. One day brings rocky mountain paths, another opens into sandy expanses, and another winds through colorful canyons and dunes. I also like that the package handles the hard-to-arrange parts, including five nights of camp accommodation, meals, local guiding, and the transfer into Wadi Rum. The catch is the physical demand: day one covers 24 kilometers, and the route is remote, mostly unwaymarked, and not suited to casual walkers.

Key points to know before booking

• A true Petra to Wadi Rum crossing: You walk between the sites instead of simply touring them by vehicle.
• Day one is the test: Expect 24 kilometers, six to eight hours, and a difficult rating with 740 meters of descent.
• Remote desert camps: Five nights of accommodation and all breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are included.
• Unmarked sections: The route is not waymarked, so your English-speaking hiking guide matters.
• A jeep finish: From the Bedouin village of Abassiya, a transfer carries you into Wadi Rum Protected Area.
• Small-group scale: The maximum group size is 14 people, with pickup from your Wadi Musa hotel offered.

Why this trek is different from a standard Jordan tour

Most Jordan itineraries connect Petra, Wadi Rum, Aqaba, and Amman by car. That is efficient, but it gives you only short tastes of the country between the major sights. This trek takes the slower route, crossing the southern desert mountain range, Wadi Araba, and the high desert around Wadi Rum.

That change of pace matters. You are not simply arriving at a viewpoint, taking a photo, and moving on. You spend long hours watching the ground change beneath your feet: rock, gravel, dry riverbeds, sand, and mountain slopes. The quiet is part of the attraction.

You also see a less visited side of the Petra area. The first morning begins within the wider Nabatean settlement, but you soon turn away from the main tourist trail. Passing the Sabra Amphitheatre gives the opening day a historical note without turning the trek into a standard ruin tour.

The route is described as new and off the beaten path. That brings real appeal, but it also means fewer obvious signs, less infrastructure, and greater reliance on the guide and support crew. If you want a polished path with frequent cafés and marked junctions, choose a different Jordan walk.

Day one from Petra to the first remote camp

The trek starts at 7:30 a.m. from the Petra Museum area in Wadi Musa. A transfer from your hotel takes you to the trail start, a useful detail because the route does not simply begin at the main entrance gate.

This is the longest and hardest day. The distance is 24 kilometers, the walking time is listed as six to eight hours, and the route includes 380 meters of ascent and 740 meters of descent. The numbers tell you what kind of effort to expect: the day is not dominated by climbing, but the long downhill sections can be tough on knees and feet.

You leave the busy Petra route and head south past the Sabra Amphitheatre. From there, the path moves through the southern part of the old Nabatean settlement before opening into more remote country. Much of the day is downhill, though the trail rating remains difficult because of the distance, rough ground, and isolation.

I would treat this as a serious hiking day, not a warm-up. You need to be comfortable walking for most of a day with limited services. Pack water, sun protection, sturdy footwear, and anything you may need during the hours between camps. The operator asks for a strong fitness level, and this is the clearest reason why.

The reward comes at the end: a remote campsite far from the main Petra crowd. Five nights of accommodation are included across the trek, but the supplied details do not specify the exact camp style or facilities for each night. Expect a wilderness setup rather than a conventional hotel experience, and check the accommodation information before paying if bedding, showers, or luggage arrangements matter to you.

Day two through rural desert mountains

Day two is shorter, at 15 kilometers and about four to five hours. It is rated easy for physical challenge but moderate for trail challenge, with 290 meters of ascent and 320 meters of descent.

That difference between physical and trail ratings is worth noticing. The distance should feel more manageable after day one, but the ground may still be uneven and the route is not waymarked. You continue south through rural desert mountains and rocky valleys, with oleander plants appearing along the way.

The plant life is a small but welcome surprise in an environment that can look completely bare. It also helps show that these valleys are not simply empty stretches of rock. The route has a more varied feel than a pure sand desert walk, with mountain folds, dry channels, and changing colors under the sun.

Because the trail is unmarked, stay with the guide rather than assuming you can walk ahead and rejoin the group later. This is one of the main practical differences between a guided crossing and an independent hike. The guide is not just there to point out scenery. Route-finding is part of the job.

Day three toward the Jordan Valley

The third day continues south through wild desert mountains and broad desert valleys. The published details do not give a distance, walking time, or ascent and descent figures, so you should ask for the current day-by-day mileage if you need to plan around a particular fitness level.

The route passes a cluster of mountains before dropping toward camp near the Jordan Valley. This should be one of the trek’s big visual transitions. You move from enclosed mountain country toward a broader, more open area, where the scale of the desert becomes easier to grasp.

The lack of detailed statistics for this day is a minor weakness in the trip description. A strong hiker can still judge the overall trek from the 24-kilometer opening and the long fifth day, but exact distances help with pacing and preparation. Ask the operator how the walking is divided and where the camps are located before departure.

At this stage, the camp rhythm becomes important. Breakfast starts the day, lunch is provided along the route, and dinner comes after the walk. All five breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are included. That makes the remote setting far easier to manage than arranging food on your own.

Day four adds canyons, formations, and sand

Day four brings some of the route’s most varied scenery. You walk among colorful canyons, unusual rock formations, broad views, and sand dunes. The day includes both uphill and downhill sections before ending at another attractive campsite.

This is the sort of terrain that makes a long crossing worthwhile. The scenery is not one repeated desert view. Canyons change the light and scale, rock formations create landmarks, and sandy sections offer a different rhythm underfoot. You should still expect exposed conditions, but the mix keeps the walking interesting.

The description does not list a distance or walking time for day four. That makes it hard to compare the effort with days one, two, and five. Use the known figures as a guide to the trip’s overall character: demanding, remote, and built around full days outside.

The campsite location is part of the experience, but it also means comfort will be simple. You are paying for access to a route that is difficult to organize independently, not for resort-style amenities. If you enjoy sitting outside after a long walk and seeing the desert change at sunset, the basic camp setting should fit. If you need a private room each night, this may not be the right purchase.

Day five climbs out toward Wadi Rum

The final hiking day begins with a long, gradual ascent out of the Jordan Valley. You climb toward the mountain and later reach the desert plateau around Wadi Rum. The walking time is listed at about six hours.

A gradual ascent can sound gentle, but after four days on foot it may feel substantial. This is another reason to build fitness before the trip rather than relying on the easy rating for day two. The route asks for steady effort over time, not just the ability to handle one steep hill.

The setting changes again as you gain height. The Jordan Valley gives way to a higher desert plateau, and the terrain begins to resemble the sandstone country associated with Wadi Rum. Reaching the plateau on foot gives you a stronger sense of arrival than a direct vehicle transfer from Petra.

The walking portion ends near the Bedouin village of Abassiya. From there, a jeep transfer takes you into Wadi Rum Protected Area. This transfer is included and is a practical finish to the trek. It avoids extending the final hiking day with a long road connection while still bringing you into the protected desert.

Day six in Wadi Rum Protected Area

You wake in Wadi Rum after the trek, surrounded by red sand dunes, sandstone mountains, and rock formations. The tour ends here, at the Wadi Rum campsite, the morning after the hike.

The stated duration for this final stop is 11 hours, but the supplied schedule does not describe an 11-hour guided activity. Think of day six as a morning in Wadi Rum and the end point of the package rather than another full walking day.

This arrangement gives you options. You can continue to Aqaba and the Red Sea, arrange a private extension, head toward the Dead Sea, or return to Amman. Those onward plans are not included, so sort out transport before you arrive if you do not want to make decisions at the campsite.

Wadi Rum is a fitting end because its scenery is easy to recognize but hard to appreciate in a quick roadside stop. After five days of walking through southern Jordan, you reach the red sand and sandstone formations with a better sense of the region’s size and character.

The Jordan Pass is not included in the price, though it covers the entry fee to Wadi Rum. Check whether the pass suits your wider Jordan itinerary. Tips, insurance, airfare, personal expenses, and airport transfers are also separate.

What the $995 price really covers

At $995 per person, this is not a budget hike. The value comes from the logistics rather than from luxury. You receive five nights of accommodation, an English-speaking local hiking guide, the day one transfer from your Wadi Musa hotel, the day five jeep transfer from Abassiya or Hummeima into Wadi Rum, and 15 included meals.

In a remote desert, transport and food planning can become a major task. The package removes much of that work, while the guide handles a route that is not waymarked. That is where the price makes the most sense.

The cost is less attractive if you mainly want to see Petra and Wadi Rum. You can visit both sites more cheaply by road and spend your money on shorter walks or other excursions. This package is for the crossing itself, the nights in remote camps, and the chance to move through the country on foot.

The group maximum of 14 keeps the scale reasonably small. It is not a private trek, but it should be more personal than a large coach tour. Private arrangements may be possible, though the price and exact setup would need to be confirmed directly.

Guides, camp support, and the human side

The operator uses local English-speaking hiking guides, and guide assignments can vary. Names associated with the company’s Jordan hiking trips include Furat Mai, Habu el Bedul, Mahmood Attal, Raja, Sayel, and Motaz. If a particular guide matters to you, ask before booking rather than assuming that person will lead your departure.

The strongest human element in the trip is the local support. Guides such as Habu el Bedul have been praised for route leadership, while camp support from people including Hussain, also called Abu Thayir, and Eid has been singled out for keeping remote nights running well. Those details matter on a trek where meals, camp setup, and navigation shape the whole day.

Motaz has been described as bringing extensive regional knowledge and a warm, humorous manner. Mahmood has also been praised for energy and company on longer trips. These comments point to the value of having a guide who can explain more than the route, including the plants, ridges, monuments, and local setting around you.

Still, guide quality can differ by departure. The safest approach is to confirm the guide, group size, camp arrangements, and daily distances with Experience Jordan Adventures before you go.

Who should book this Petra to Wadi Rum trek

I would recommend it to fit hikers who want a demanding, slow journey between Jordan’s two major desert attractions. It suits people who enjoy remote camps, long days outside, uncertain trail surfaces, and scenery that changes gradually rather than arriving in quick highlights.

It can also work for families with strong, active older children. A 13-year-old has completed a comparable family trek with the operator, but that does not make this route easy. The 24-kilometer first day and remote conditions require careful judgment about each person’s fitness.

I would not choose it if you have limited walking experience, dislike camping, need daily private facilities, or want a flexible schedule. The route is far from services, several days lack published distance figures, and the weather can affect departures.

Book as early as you can if your dates are fixed. Confirmation is normally immediate, but bookings made within nine days of departure may take up to 48 hours and remain subject to availability. Cancellation is generous at six full days before the start, but the refund drops for later cancellations. Bad weather or failure to reach the minimum group size can also lead to a new date, another experience, or a full refund.

Should you book it?

Book this trek if the thought of walking from Petra to Wadi Rum sounds better than simply being driven between them. The route offers solitude, striking desert scenery, local guides, remote camps, and a real sense of crossing southern Jordan under your own power.

Skip it if you want a light walking holiday. The first day is long, the route is not marked, and the desert offers little room for casual preparation. Before paying, confirm the missing day three and day four distances, the exact accommodation, luggage arrangements, and your onward transport from Wadi Rum.

For the right hiker, $995 buys more than six days on a calendar. It buys a difficult route that would be hard to organize alone, with the practical support needed to make the crossing possible.

FAQ

How long is the Petra to Wadi Rum trek?

The experience lasts approximately six days. The hiking takes place over five days, and the tour ends in Wadi Rum the morning after the final hiking day.

Where does the trek start?

The meeting point is Petra Museum in Wadi Musa, Jordan. The stated start time is 7:30 a.m., and a transfer from your Wadi Musa hotel to the trailhead is included.

How difficult is the route?

You should have a strong physical fitness level. Day one covers 24 kilometers in six to eight hours and is rated difficult for both physical and trail challenge. Day five includes a long, gradual ascent and takes about six hours.

Is the route marked?

No. Day two is specifically listed as not waymarked. A local English-speaking hiking guide is included to lead the group through the remote route.

Are meals included?

Yes. Five breakfasts, five lunches, and five dinners are included.

Is accommodation included?

Yes. The price includes five nights of accommodation. The supplied details do not specify the facilities or exact style of every camp, so confirm those points before booking if they are important to you.

What is included after reaching Wadi Rum?

A jeep transfer from the Bedouin village of Abassiya into Wadi Rum is included. The tour ends at the Wadi Rum campsite the following morning. Transport onward to Aqaba, the Dead Sea, or Amman is not included, though a private extension can be arranged.

Is the Jordan Pass included?

No. The Jordan Pass is separate, but it covers the entry fee to Wadi Rum. Tips, insurance, airfare, airport transfers, and personal expenses are also not included.