Jordan Bike Trail Expedition
30 March - 6 April 2024
SOLD OUT - New date added (30 Nov 2024)
Register interest below:
Home to Petra, one of the seven wonders of the world, and iconic landscapes like the Wadi Rum Desert, the Dead Sea and the Red Sea, the Middle-Eastern country of Jordan has been on our radar for a while.
Earlier ths year we went out to reccy the Jordan Bike Trail, a bikepacking route that traces the length of the country, and instantly knew we had to come back with a group of SITW riders.
We’ve teamed up with the designers of the Jordan Bike Trail - local experts Experience Jordan - to offer a specially curated, fully-supported 7 day trip along the best parts of the trail.
Beginning in the central highlands, we’ll head south to cycle 280km towards the southern coast, floating in the salty waters of the lowest point on earth, visiting the UNESCO site of Petra, sleeping under the stars, riding through the majestic Wadi Rum, and finishing with a snorkel in the crystal clear Red Sea.
This is more than a cycling trip, it’s a real cultural experience, and what we do off the bikes will be as important as what we do on it. We fell in love with Jordan and its people on our visit, and we can’t wait to share this place with our community.
As well as creating an adventure we think our community will love, we see this as the start of a journey with Experience Jordan to help financially support, encourage, train and qualify the country’s first licenced female cycling guide. Whilst that means our early trips will be hosted by a male guide (a wonderful ally who we’ve worked closely with to develop the trip), we’re excited to play a part in creating a pathway for change.
This is a little different that SITW trips we’ve run before, so we recommend reading all the info below to make sure it’s right for you. It’s going to be special.
£1445 - final spot
Bike hire included.
£300 (non-refundable) deposit via Ticket Tailor. Remaining balance of £1145 due 60 days before.
Full T&C’s here.
Update October 18th 2023: Israel/Palestine conflicts. Read here.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive to Madaba
Arrive to Queen Alia (amman) International Airport, and transfer to the city of Madaba to our hotel for the evening. Get a good night sleep and get ready to meet your guides and hosts at the hotel the next morning.
Transfer time from Airport to Madaba: 45min - 1hr depending on traffic. We can arrange a transfer for you £40 to meet you at the airport, or if you have plans before our trip starts, feel free to make your own way to the hotel.
Cycling Info: No riding today
Overnight: 3* Hotel in Madaba (Grand Madaba Hotel)
Day 2 - To the Dead Sea
After breakfast at the hotel we’ll start the day by meeting your Sisters in the Wild host, and Experience Jordan team. We’ll talk about the week ahead, say goodbye to our luggage until the evening, then we’re off!
We’ll begin with a short transfer to the village of Fayha to avoid the busy traffic of Madaba, then getting our bikes fitted and ready to roll. The cycling route starts by heading south on quiet roads across the plains of the Madaba plateau, before we start the breathtaking descent to the Dead Sea. Sitting at 430 meters BELOW sea level, this is a downhill that goes on and on, with a mix of tarmac and gravel tracks.
Eventually we’ll be riding alongside it’s salt encrusted coast line, with the opportunity to float in its saline waters or relax by the pool of the lovely hotel we’ll be stopping at for lunch.
After lunch and our Dead Sea experience, we’ll transfer up to Dana Nature Reserve to our guesthouse for the night.
Cycling Info: 38km, Gain +412m, Loss -1570m.
Overnight: 3* Guesthouse in Dana (Dana Tower Hotel)
Day 3 - Dana to Ras al Feid
Starting at Wadi Dana view point, we’ll pass the 500-year-old village of Dana, travel along the ancient trade route of the King’s Highway, before cutting through the desert and climbing to the Crusader castle in Shobak. We’ll be high in the central highlands, hopping between tarmac and challenging gravel tracks that see snow in the winter time.
After completing our challenging climb just past Shobak Castle, we’ll celebrate our efforts to begin an incredible downhill. We’ll continue on from here to our first wilderness camp, hosted by a local Bedouin family. The family will prepare dinner for us underneath the desert stars, and we’ll get a real insight into Bedouin life.
Cycling Info: 48km, Gain + 980m, Loss -1000m
Overnight: Wilderness Bedouin Camp
Day 4 - Cycle to Petra
We’ll have a pre-dawn breakfast, hitting the trail with the sunrise for our ride all the way to the “back door” of Petra, one of the seven wonders of the world.
We’ll continue along dirt tracks, crossing dry streams, and some challenging tracks where you’ll be grateful of your mountain bikes! Our ride will peak at a viewpoint of Petra, finishing with a fun descent to the entrance.
We’ll grab a quick lunch, and say goodbye to the bikes for the afternoon to begin our hike into Petra via ‘The Back Door’ avoiding most of the tourists. Our walk will be around 14km, with a local expert guide taking us around the site. We’ll send most of the afternoon there, before heading to our hotel for the night in Little Petra.
Cycling Info: 30Km, +750m, -1420m. Hiking Info: 14Km, +470m, -480m.
Overnight: Glamping in Little Petra Camp
Day 5 Cycle Petra to Abbasiya Bedouin Camp
We’ll dodge the busy traffic of Petra, with a short transfer to a dirt road just out of town. From here, we’ll hop on our bikes and follow little used dirt road tracks through desert hills as we climb above the Kings Highway. We’ll briefly hop onto to the highway before rejoining gravel tracks fo a lovely long descent into the valley below. We’ll soon feel miles away from any civilisation, as we head lower into the desert, eventually feeling the first sandy tracks beneath our wheels.
Stopping for an al fresco lunch on the way, we’ll finish our ride in the wide open desert around Abbasiya, where we’ll spend our second night with another Bedouin family. Sleep under canvas or under the stars,
Cycling Info: 55,1 km, Gain: 1,092 m, Loss: 1,130 m,
Overnight: Wilderness Bedouin Camp
Day 6 Abbasiya to Wadi Rum
With the big climbs behind us, now it’s time for a new challenge - the desert! With the mercury rising and our tracks getting sandier, we’ll ride across open desert terrain with the sandstone buttes of Wadi Rum in the distance.
We’ll feel truly in the wild as we follow faint caravan tracks in the sand across the vast desert landscapes. After som fun and challenging pushing through sand, we’ll be glad to finally rejoin the tarmac for our last stretch to the edge of the iconic Wadi Rum desert.
On reaching Wadi Rum, we’ll hop in a desert Jeep to explore the myriad of desert valleys and butes, hopefully timing our exploration for sunset. There’ll be plenty of time to jump out and hike around for the best views. Our night will be spent glamping in the desert, with cosy camping huts. Be prepared for some of the best stars of your life.
Cycling info: 59,8 km, Gain: 358 m, Loss: 395 m
Overnight: Glamping at Wadi Rum Rainbow Camp
Day 7: Cycle from Wadi Rum to the end of the desert.
We’ll head straight out from camp, onto the sand caravan tracks and mud flats that criss cross the desert. It’s a challenging day,and we’ll be glad of our local guide as we choose the best tracks that weave through the vast desert wilderness.
Meeting the tarmac for our last few miles, we’ll say a fond farewell to the off-road trail, and enjoy some smoother miles towards our final point on the ride. We’ll skip the hazadordous final stretch on the Desert Highway down to Aqaba, jumping on a 1.5 hour bus to the Red Sea where we’ll dip our toes in the clear ocean and celebrate the journey.
We’ll have time to relax in the modern Bernice Beach Club down the coast from traditional middle-eastern town, with access to the pools and beach, and a chance to hire a snorkel and explore the multi-coloured coral reefs. We’ll spend our final night together in Aqaba, with dinner together in the bustling town.
Cycling Info: 41Km; +140m; -680m.
Overnight: Hotel in Aqaba (My Luxury Hotel or similar)
Day 8: Transfer to QAI Airport or Amman.
Today you can choose to stay extra time in Aqaba, or transfer back to Queen Alia International (Amman) Airport. Our trip transfer will leave in the morning after breakfast, offering drop off either at QAI airport, or in central Amman (Toledo Hotel).
If you prefer to fly directly from Aqaba, transfers can be arranged through the hotel at whatever time suits (not included).
Cycling Info: No cycling today
Overnight: Not included. Our trip ends with your drop off.
What’s included
Included
Bike hire for all cycling days (Scott Aspect MTB or similar)
A Sisters in the Wild host, and an experienced local cycling guide and support team from Experience Jordan
7 nights accommodation (3 x 3 or 4* hotel/guesthouse, 2 nights glamping, 2 nights wilderness camping)
All camping equipment
Most meals Included = seven breakfasts (D2 - D8), five dinners (D2 - D6) and six lunches (D2 - D7) are included.
Entrance to Petra, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea and Red Sea Beach Club
Tour Guide for Petra
Support vehicle on cycling days, with space to hop in if you need it
Lugagge transfer (no need to carry your stuff!)
Water and snacks on cycling days
Drop off at either QAI (Amman) Airport or Amman Centre (Toledo Hotel)
Main stuff not included
Jordan Visa (40JOD/£50).
Alcohol
Air fair
Transfer from QAI airport to Madaba Hotel on day one (available for supplement of £40)
Travel Insurance (mandatory)
Meals on D1 (Madaba) and lunch and dinner on D7/D8
Tips
Accommodation
Our hotels in Madaba (night 1) and Aqaba (night 7) will be comfortable 3* hotels, in good central locations. Exact hotel will be confirmed in your final joining info closer to your departure date.
We’ll spend two nights in incredible glamping Bedouin camps, in Little Petra (night 4) and Wadi Rum (night 6). The location, the sunsets, sunrises and star-gazing are incredible, all just a thin layer of canvas away. Each glamping tet is equipped with 2 or 3 beds, a mattress and plenty of blankets, and their are showers and toilets at both sites.
Two of our nights will be spent in the hospitality of local Bedouin family. Our support crew will set our tents up for us, with any solo travellers having their own tent for the night. There will be basic camp toilet and access to water for washing, but no plumbed loos or showers.
Single Supplement
For our two camping nights, travellers will be given a tent to themselves. A limited number of Single Upgrades may be available for £250. Please request at time of booking and we’ll confirm asap (subject to availability).
How does this trip differ from other SITW trips?
If you’ve joined a SITW trip before, you’ll feel at home with our approach of supportive rides, communal meals, and an all women and non-binary riding group. There are a few differences to our other trips that we want to point out:
Male guide & driver
Whilst you’ll have one of our wonderful SITW hosts on trip, Jordanian regulations mean we must partner with a local company to run the trip. We’re really happy with the local team we’ve partnered with, but it does mean your main local guide and support crew will be male. Read on to understand more about our thought process here.
Higher level of support
This is our first fully-supported trip, which means a support vehicle to hop in if you need, mechanical support, and lugagge transer! No need to carry your stuff.
Bike Hire Included
We’ll be including bike hire on this trip, and mechanical support to sort our any issues. Unfortunately we can’t accommodate folks bringing their own bikes for this trip, but we’d encourage folks to bring their own saddle and pedals If they wish.
Guided and group pace
Unlike other Sisters in the Wild events, there is one route that we will all follow every day. We’ll be as a group, with a guide leading the way and regrouping at key turns. It is not possible to ride the route self-navigated due to local tourism regulations.
If you’re someone who prefers very big days and riding self-supported, this may not be the right trip for you. You may prefer our Slovenia Bikepacking Trip or Gravel Camps. Or consider tackling the Jordan Bike Trail yourself!
Male guide? Doesn’t that go against SITW principles?
We grappled with this one for a while. Here’s our thought process.
Jordan has a complex set of regulations governing tourist activities, and foreigners must team up with a local company and use certified guides for trips. We get this, and are over the moon to have found Anton at Experience Jordan. However, when Anton told us there were currently no female cycling guides in Jordan, our first thought was “well, this isn’t going to work then”, and we sadly put dreams of a Jordan trip to bed.
After more thought thought, we took a different approach. We talked with locals to understand a bit more about the reasons underlying the lack of female guides. As often is the case, the reasons were more complex than we first thought. We decided that rather than accepting the status quo, maybe we could play an active part in creating change. What if we started to bring all women and non-binary cycling groups to Jordan, and young girls could see us? Could we perhaps do a little to help change the image of what a “cyclist” looks like? Could we help to inspire women considering tourism as a career, to see the Cycle Tour Guide as a good option? if we could combine this with a bursary to financially support somebody in choosing this path, could we actually help change things?
We’ll be donating 5% of profits from our Jordan trips to this bursary, and work with Experience Jordan to create an opportunity for a future female guide to access it.
FAQ
Payment & Cancellation Terms
You can secure your spot by paying a non-refundable £300 deposit via Ticket Tailor. We’ll confirm when we reach the minimum trip numbers, at which point the deposit is non-refundable. You may cancel before we confirm the trip minimum has been reached, and get your deposit back less any booking fees we cannot refund.
We’ll ask for the remaining balance to be paid 60 days before the event by bank transfer. Cancellation between 60 days and 28 days, you’ll get 50% of any balance paid back. Cancellation within 28 days is non-refundable, but you can transfer your booking to another person should you find one. View the full booking terms and conditions here.
Minimum/maximum number
This trip has a minimum of 8 to run. We’ll confirm when this number has been reached, please do not book flights until this is confirmed. The maximum number is 16.
What’s the riding like
This is a mixed terrain route, with about 50/50 tarmac and off-road tracks that weave through the hills and desert. There are some fairly hilly days, with some long uphills and downhills, with a mix of flat and undulating in between.
Though the rides will feel wild and challenging, we’ve intentionally chosen a route that is within the reach of most riders.
You’ll need a reasonable level of fitness, and to be able to cover up to 50km of hilly terrain for 6 days on the run. Expect to spend 3 -5 hours each day riding. You won’t need any special technical skill, but a bit of confidence in riding off-road is a good idea. Some sections are a little rougher and hiller, but unlike other SITW trips, we’ll have a support vehicle to hop in if you need a break. Hurrah!
Ride support approach
This is our first fully-supported trip, which means a support vehicle to hop in if you need, mechanical support, and lugagge transer! No need to carry your stuff. You'll have an experienced local guide and support team, along with a Sisters in the Wild guide. Water and snacks will be available in the support vehicle, and most meals on cycling days are included.
Bikes/Bike Hire
Bike hire (Scott Aspect Hardtail Mountain Bikes) are included in your trip price. For this trip, we are not able to accommodate bringing your own bike.
Arrival & Departure Info
Start: Madaba Hotel (name to be confirmed) on Day 1 of our trip
QAI Airport Amman is the closest airport to our meeting hotel, and our recommended airport. A transfer from Queen Alia International Airport, Amman (45 min drive) can be added at booking (£40). Or it’s an easy hour long bus or taxi from Amman if you want to spend some time there before our trip.
Check in is available from 2pm on day 1. We’ll formally meet on the morning of day 2, but your SITW host will be around to say hello.
Flights are also available to/from Aqaba aiport, where we’ll finish our trip. There is no direct bus between Aqaba and Madaba, you would need to transfer in Amman.
End: Queena Alia International Airport or Amman Central on Day 8 of our trip.
We aim to drop guests at airport by 3pm on Day 8, with a drop in Amman an hour later. Therefore we advise to not book flights from Amman earlier than 5pm.
If you prefer to fly home from Aqaba and not transfer back to Amman, taxis Aqaba Airport can be arranged with our hotel (around £15).
Vaccinations , Visas and Travel Advice
It’s always best to check the latest government advice for vaccinations here and FCO travel advice here.
A visa is required for entry to Jordan, but are available on arrival at the aiport for most European citizens.
LQBTQIA+ travellers in Jordan
Jordan is a Muslim country and as such has a fairly conservative culture, though not as conservative as most other Middle Eastern countries. Jordan is one of the most progressive countries in the Middle East in relation to LGBTQIA+ rights, and homosexuality has been decriminalised since 1951. However, there is still a social stigma attached, with many choosing to hide their sexuality from their families. We found a good article from Intrepid Travel which goes more into the situation for queer travellers in Jordan, which you can read here. We absolutely welcome and encourage LQBTQIA+ travellers to join us, and your SITW host for the week will be a member of the community too. We would advise couples of all types, regardless of sexual orientation and identity, to display discretion in public, as public displays of affection are highly frowned up on. However, we do recognise the extra effort of discretion to adapt to local conservative customs might not be something everybody feels is right for them. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions, we’re happy to chat.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory and we will ask you to share your policy information before departing.
Insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and specifically cover Jordan and off-road cycling as an activity. We also recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness. Yellow Jersey can be worth talking to.
Tipping
Tips are not included, and though optional are expected for good service. We’ll share local tipping guidelines in our pre-trip info, but roughly $10 per person per day is about right
Food
Seven breakfasts (D2 - D8), five dinners (D2 - D6) and six lunches (D2 - D6) are included. On our final day in Aqaba, we’ll book a place for us to share dinner, with each person free to order what they want and pay their own bill.
Breakfasts in our traditional guesthouses and with our bedouin host will be a traditional arabic affair, with humous, fresh bread and fresh fruit or vegetables. In hotels, this will be mixed with the more typical buffet style you may expect in western hotels.
Luches will either be buffet style in a local cafe or with a bedouin family, or a packed lunch box for days where we stop mid-ride for a scenic al fresco lunch spot.
Dinnertime will provide some of our best opportunities to experience traditional Jordian and Arabic food like Mansaf, Zarb, and Magloobah. Rice, hummus, eggplant and roasted veggies feature heavily. Don’t miss a chance to grab a falafel wrap from a street vendor!
Meals often come with a steady supply of tea and water. Alcohol or additional soft drinks drinks aren’t included, but occasionally available.
Vegetarian, vegan and most other dietary requirements can be catered for, but unfortunately we may not be able to cater for severe allergies or restrictions. Feel free to drop us an email if you have any concerns.
Insurance
It is mandatory that you get personal travel/health insurance for this trip, that includes cycling on it’s policy and personal liability cycling insurance. E.g. with Yellow Jersey.
Weather
Jordan has a generally hot, dry climate with by long, hot, dry summers and short, cool winters. Snow can hit the higher areas around Amman in mid-winter, though the lower desserts stay warm year around. Temperature varies with elevation, with our days the hills being slightly, and our time by the Dead Sea and in the deserts being hotter.
March to April or September to early December are the best times for cycling in Jordan. Expect temps of 23 to 30 degrees, with cooler night time temps.
Packing List
For this trip, luggage will be transferred between our accommodation so no need to carry on your bike! We’d still recommend travelling as light as possible.
Cycling
Helmet (Mandatory)
Pedals and saddle if you prefer to bring your own
Water bottle for bike
Sun cap/sunglasses for under helmet
Cycling gloves (optional)
Buff (good for dusty roads!)
Clothes
Cycling Stuff
Padded cycling shorts/other shorts you’re comfortable riding in
Cycling/sports t-shirts. Consider long sleeve if sensitive to sun
Rain jacket
Windproof/warmer cycling layer
Shoes for cycling
Off the bike clothes
Shorts and tee’s
A more modest loose outfit for towns/off the bikes (covering knees and shoulders)
Sandals
Hiking shoes/sandals for Petra and Wadi Rum
Something to sleep in
Trousers/leggings and a warmer jacket for cooler evenings
Underwear/socks
Sun hat/cap
Other Stuff
A sleeping bag liner for our nights camping (to use under the blankets provided). You may prefer to also bring your own sleeping bag.
Toiletteries
Earplugs
Travel towel
Travel plug adapter
Power bank
Passport
Travel Insurance Docs
Suncream
First Aid Kit
Any personal medication
Hand sanitiser
Back up snacks
Book/headphones/journal etc