En route to the Red Sea

Jordan & Red Sea holiday

Are you an adventurous culture-minded traveller who wouldn't mind spending a few days at the beach as well? If so, this short Jordan Red Sea tour offers the perfect mix of sight-seeing and snorkelling. The journey begins in Jordan where you'll visit the magical city of Petra. Wander till your heart's content through the rock-cut temples and also visit the less well-known Small Petra.

Get your fix of adventure in Wadi Rum, a whimsical desert area that you'll cross through by jeep. Spend the night in a tent in the shadow of steep rocky walls. The final days of this Jordan Red Sea tour are spent on the Egyptian side of the Red Sea. The intimate coastal town of Dahab has sunkissed beaches and a sea full of coral just waiting to be explored... the tropical icing on your cake.

Duration	8 days/ 7 nights Departs daily (except on Tuesdays)	Accommodation	Small, comfortable hotels. Comfort level 3. 1 night of camping at Wadi Rum. Comfort level 1 (see accommodation)
Price	Please see our Contact Us page for more details	Includes	Airport transfer, accommodation with breakfast, excursions and transprt as described below.
Transport	Private transport by minibus, 4x4 and fast ferry across the Red Sea	Excludes	International and domestic flights. Tips and other meals, harbour or airport transfer and departure charge for Aqaba harbour if applicable, ENTRANCE FEES and GUIDE for Petra (55JD/£48) for 2 day pass.

Day 1: Arrival in Jordan - Aqaba

After a flight of approximately 6 hours you'll step out onto Jordan soil. Our local representative will be waiting for you at the airport and will welcome you to the land of Petra and the Dead Sea. He/she will help you arrange your visa and take you on the short drive to your hotel.

Your hotel will be ideally located on the coast, not far from the centre of Aqaba. After you've checked in and freshened up, you could go for a walk past the bazaars of Aqaba or you could simply enjoy the beach. If you have enough time today, you can hire snorkelling equipment and explore the wondrous submarine world of the Red Sea. The most exquisite coral can be found just beyond the surf. As the evening draws in, the sky will turn red and you'll the lights go on in both Egypt and Israel in the mountains surrounding the sea. Find a bunch of comfortable lounge cushions at one of the local restaurants and watch the sunset sky while enjoying a fruit cocktail and fresh seafood -a great start to your Jordan and Red Sea holiday.

Jordan Red Sea holiday - sunset in Aqaba

Day 2: Aqaba - Wadi Rum

You can begin Day 2 of your Jordan and Read Sea holiday at a leisurely pace with a lengthy breakfast. After lunch, you'll be collected from your hotel for your desert adventure. As you leave Aqaba you'll drive through dusty sand plains, but after a while the scenery will become rockier. After about an hour the towering rock walls of Wadi Rum will start to appear. The bizarre rock formations, high sand dunes and small oases make Wadi Rum one of the most spectacular desert areas in the Middle East. It's mentioned in the Koran and described by Lawrence of Arabia. There's plenty to explore you'll spend this afternoon doing just that by 4x4 vehicle. Your driver will take you on a journey across natural rock bridges and deep gorges. With the warm desert wind blowing through your hair, you'll experience the vast desert in an unforgettable way. Early in the evening you'll arrive at tonight's camp - in the beautiful village of Disi. A tasty Bedouin meal will be prepared for you at the camp's cooking area and when night falls, the most unbelievably bright stars will appear in the clear sky.

Day 3: Wadi Rum - Siq Al-Barid (Small Petra)

If you wake up early this morning, you're likely to catch a wonderful sunrise. The mountain bordering your camp will give you a stunning view of the sun slowly rising above the horizon. Back at camp a hearty breakfast will be prepared and a Bedouin guide will then collect you for a nature walk through Wadi Rum. It's surprising to see how many plants and animals can survive in the harsh conditions of the desert. After two hours of hiking, you'll say goodbye to your guide, continuing your Jorden and Red Sea holiday on towards Siq Al-Barid. This place is also known as Small Petra, as it was once a suburb of nearby Petra. With a guide, you'll ramble past the rock-carved temples and halls with lively frescoes as well as incredible views of the surrounding area. Siq Al-Barid is a lot less touristy than Petra, so you'll feel like an explorer discovering this place for the first time. Your guide will share fascinating stories about the area, making it all come to life even more. We consider a guide a must in Petra, especially if you plan on venturing out on your own tomorrow. In the evening you'll be dropped off at your hotel in Wadi Musa - a touristy town on Petra's access road.

Jordan Red Sea holiday - meet the locals

Day 4: Petra

On Day 4 of your Jordan and Red Sea holiday, you can explore Petra at your own pace. This vast secluded city has countless points of interest, so you can easily spend a day here. We recommend pulling on your walking shoes extra early in the morning, giving you plenty of time to roam through Petra before the crowds arrive. The entrance to Petra, the Siq, lies near your hotel. The path through this wavy rock crevice is like a magical gate to another world.

Petra is an unbelievably large treasure chamber. As you wander through the corridors and squares of the city you'll constantly wonder how human hands were able to create all of this. We recommend taking your time and using a map to plan a route through the city. If you take alternate between the well-known and lesser-known attractions of Petra instead of rushing to the most popular sights, you'll get the very best out of your trip. In the afternoon, you can look up a shady spot for a picnic between ancient monuments - a once in a lifetime experience. After a long day of walking through Petra, you'll enjoy resting up at your hotel or at one of the terraces in town. If you'd like some pampering and relaxation, visit one of the hammams or steam baths in town.

Day 5: Petra - Aqaba - Dahab, Egypt

This morning you'll be collected from your hotel in Wadi Musa and you'll travel from Petra back to the harbour town of Aqaba. At 12:00 a fast ferry will take you to the Egyptian town of Nuweiba. Whilst aboard, you can enjoy lunch at one of the many restaurants while enjoying the view (prices may be a little higher than you're accustomed to by now). After an hour, of you'll reach the harbour at Nuweiba. It may take a little while before you can can leave the ferry, as customs will need to check the ferry's entry documents. Once you leave the ferry, you'll clear customs and purchase a visa for Egypt.

Outside the arrivals hall, our local Egyptian representative will be waiting to take you on a 2-hour drive to the coastal town of Dahab. This will be your place of relaxation for the remainder of your Jordan and Red Sea holiday. We've selected the most memorable accommodation options in and right outside of Dahab. In the evening, visit the boulevard where the scent of grilled jumbo shrimp will certainly stir up an appetite or try a fruit cocktail at one of the Bedouin restaurants. If you have some space left for dessert, check out Shark Restaurant. The thick floor cushions offer a great place to watch the moon rise above the Saudi mountains on the other side of the sea and listen to the surf softly hit the shore.

Jordan Red Sea holiday - Snorkelling in Dahab

Day 6: Snorkelling in Dahab

After breakfast this morning, a jeep will take you to a great snorkelling spot where you'll be able float through Dahab's Red Sea underwater paradise. Depending on the current and the number of people booked on the trip, you'll visit the famous 'The Blue Hole', a diving spot more than 100m deep. When the water is clear you can see down to a depth of 35m. On the nearby coral reef, you'll see incredible colour combinations of coral and brilliantly coloured fish - a real highlight of this Jordan and Red Sea holiday. Once you've spent enough time in the water, you can settle into one of the thick cushions beneath the palm trees on the beach for a cup of Bedouin tea. Your snorkelling trip will probably give you a hearty appetite and there's a huge variety available on the beach, from shish kebab and grilled chicken to omelettes or falafel.

After you've returned to the hotel you can spend the afternoon on a sunset camel trek or horseback ride in the desert. Alternatively, you can take it easy this afternoon and relax by the water's edge.

Day 7: Dahab

If you can't get enough of Dahab's coral and colourful Red Sea fish, there are plenty of diving and snorkelling spots in the area to explore. Each spot is unique and interesting to visit. If you're not much of a water person, try a watching sunrise at 2285m on Mount Sinai. You can reach the top of this holy mountain after a 3 hour hike along camel paths or by climbing the 6666 steps on the Stairway to Heaven. According to the Bible, this is where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. If you want to look out over the golden Sinai desert sunset, you'll need to begin climbing the mountain at night. Be sure to bring along a torch. In the midst of this rugged landscape, at the foot of the mountain, lies St. Catharine's Monastery which dates back to the 6th century and is renowned for its Byzantine architecture. It's certainly worth a visit if you're in the area. This excursion can be planned as a day trip.

Day 8: Dahab - End of Jordan Red Sea holiday

If you would like to spend more time relaxing, diving, snorkelling or sightseeing, then you can extend your stay in Dahab by one or more days. It's also quite affordable for novice divers to get their diving certification in Dahab. Intermediate divers can dive down to the remains of the SS Thislegorm. Diving down to this well preserved World War II shipwreck is an unforgettable experience. Army jeeps, motor cycles and even army shoes still rest in their watery grave at a depth of 30m.

If you decide not to book an extension, you'll go home today. You'll be collected from your hotel in Dahab by our local representative. He/ she will take you the airport at Sharm el Sheikh, a 1-hour drive away from Dahab. From here you'll fly back to the UK.