|
|
Walks
from Dana,
Mansoura to Petra
Day 1
Welcome to Jordan and the start of your holiday! Arrive Amman, included
transfer to hotel and overnight.
Day 2: Amman , Dana Nature Reserve
, breakfast
Today, we descend from the elevation of Amman to the Dead Sea for a
chance to take a dip in the mineral-rich waters, before continuing to our
drive through Wadi Araba to Faynan at the lower, western end of the Dana
Nature Reserve. Unique in the Middle East region, Dana NR is a protected
region overseen by Jordan's RSCN (Royal Society for the Protection of
Nature) combining scientific research, social reconstruction and sustainable
tourism. Offering a dizzying array of resident flora and fauna, Dana NR is
the start point for our trek to the Rose City of Petra. Various kinds of
eagles, kestrels, falcons, cultures, wildcats, hyenas, foxes, badgers,
jackals, wolves and hares inhabit the region. Our base this evening is the
RSCN-run Faynan Wilderness Lodge. Blending perfectly with the environment,
our base this evening is the RSCN-run Faynan Wilderness Lodge, from where we
can explore the surrounding area and relish the solitude of this isolated
and beautiful location. In antiquity, Faynan was an extensive
copper-smelting settlement. Archaeological digs have unearthed remains of
Bronze and Iron Age copper mines, remains of Byzantine churches, a Roman
tower and more, which can be explored.
Lunch, dinner and overnight , Faynan Wilderness Lodge.
Wadi , a term used throughout, is a valley or watercourse and can
also refer to a dry or seasonal riverbed.
Day 3: Dana Nature Reserve , breakfast
Today, we hike along the upward sloping floor of the colourful Wadi Dana
through wild and desolate terrain which changes to lush, green gardens as
the upper reaches closer to Dana Village are approached. Our destination is
RSCN's Dana Guest House. the Guest House offers a skilful and attractive
blend of traditional Jordanian style against a minimalist backdrop of stone
and iron. As for the views, check out magnificent panoramas over Dana NR
encompassing Wadi Dana and Wadi Araba. There will be free time to explore
the old Bedouin village, long abandoned though slowly but surely being
brought back to life as the tribes of the area begin to enjoy the benefits
of ecotourism which the Nature Reserve and the associated handicraft
projects have brought to the area. Organically produced preserves and herbs,
olive-oil soap, textiles and other nick-knacks make authentic souvenirs of a
stay at Dana NR.
Lunch, dinner and overnight , Dana Guest House
Day 4: Dana Nature Reserve , Mansura
, breakfast
Today, we begin the trek to Petra, hiking past the area's reforestation
project and the upland wadis.
Lunch, dinner and overnight camping , Mansura
 
Day 5: Trekking from Mansura , Petra
, breakfast
Continuing our trek through valleys overlooking Wadi Araba there is
a small Bedouin track which runs through the valley where there are still
families living in their characteristic nomadic black tents. Along the way
we will pass unexcavated remains from the Iron Age, Nabatean and Roman eras.
Lunch, dinner and overnight camping
Day 6: Trekking to Petra - breakfast
Today's route passes a number of Roman watchtowers and several
small wadis where waterfalls and date palms flourish even in the driest
seasons. We arrive at an area dotted with Neolithic remains, where we camp
for the night.
Lunch, dinner and overnight camping
Day 7: Trekking to Petra , breakfast
Approaching from Ammareen territory, our trek takes us to Siq al Barid
(Little Petra) and the Baidha Neolithic village. Continue cross-country on a
little-used trail, which circumnavigates the main entry routes into the
ancient city of Petra, we trek on a back route up to Ad-Deir. Better known
as the Monastery, Ad-Deir has a similar rock-hewn facade to that of
Petra's famous Monastery (reached through the legendary Siq and which we
will
visit on Day 8) but is the largest of all ancient Petra's monuments. The
sight of the Ad-Deir will really rate on everyone's top five experiences
during this trek. From the nearby cliff-tops, the views are simply stunning.
Exiting via Wadi Turkomanieh, we transfer to our hotel in Petra's modern-day
town – Wadi Musa for a well-earned rest and overnight stay.
Lunch and overnight , Petra (Wadi Musa)
 
Day 8: Petra (Wadi Musa) , breakfast
Chief among Jordan's many archaeological riches is the UNESCO World
Heritage Site of the Rose City of Petra. The city was first settled around
6th century BC by the Nabatean tribe from Western Arabia. A succession of
habitation, leadership and further development followed, but as the caravan
routes were gradually displaced by the advent of sea trade routes, the
city's importance gradually declined and Petra passed into obscurity.
Rediscovered in 1812, it remain on the list of many travellers. We access
the hidden archaeological treasures of the Rose City on a walk through a
narrow, deep siq, where the rocks finally give way to reveal the famous
façade of Al-Khazneh (the Treasury). Continuing our walk, we will then go on
to explore chunks of this fantastic once-lost city, which is full of tombs,
temples, an impressive amphitheatre and a Roman colonnaded street. Camels
and donkeys offer a novel way of getting around, for those that might want
to take the weight off their feet.
Overnight , Petra (Wadi Musa)
Day 9: Petra (Wadi Musa)
Hotel checkout and included onward to transfer north to Amman and
Queen Alia International Airport.
 |
