100% customisable travel idea
Jordan and Saudi Arabia Across the Arab kingdoms
Jordan - Petra - Wadi Rum - Saudi Arabia - Al-Ula - Medina
100% customisable travel idea
Jordan - Petra - Wadi Rum - Saudi Arabia - Al-Ula - Medina
100% customisable for you
Upon arrival, personalised assistance will be provided by our local representative, who will help with your luggage and entry formalities. You’ll then depart in an air-conditioned vehicle with a driver and head for Petra. From the capital to the most famous of the Nabataean cities, it is 250 km (155 miles), or about 3 hours and 30 minutes by road. Upon arrival, you’ll settle in for three nights 3 km (2 miles) from the entrance to the site, away from the hustle and bustle. The old village (19th century) has been completely redesigned to welcome passing travellers. Charming stone buildings, the houses have been brought up to date without altering their original style. As for the modern buildings added during the renovation, they reflect local traditional architecture and materials to preserve the harmony of the site. For relaxation, there are not just one but two swimming pools - one indoor, the other outdoor. A perfect way to recover from the flight and prepare for the next day's explorations.
Optional - A first glimpse of Petra by night, lit by candlelight.
Scheduled - Hike between “Little Petra” and the monastery. About 10 km (6 miles) north of the main site, “Little Petra” was built in the 1st century BC, when “Greater” Petra was already flourishing. The buildings here, carved into the rock, had a more practical function. They served mainly to accommodate merchants on their way to the capital of the Nabataean empire with their caravans loaded with incense, spices and other precious cargo. Several “tricliniums” and “bicliniums” (banquet halls) have survived - one still displays its original period paintings, a rarity. It’s a perfect introduction to the site as a whole. With your guide, you’ll then take the path that connects Little Petra to the El Deir Monastery, the second most popular monument after the Treasury. The walk, which follows a little-used path, reveals magnificent mineral and semi-mountainous panoramas. Upon arrival, you’ll need to climb the ancient Nabataean steps that lead up to the plateau to reach the monastery. Set aside a full day for this unique hike - it will allow you to approach the capital just as merchants did in the past.
Already included - Your tickets for the Petra site. Carved from the sandstone of Edom, the caravan city - one of the New Seven Wonders of the World - is a millefeuille. Layered here are the histories of architecture and urban planning, irrigation, international trade, the biblical world, the Arab world (notably the famous Nabataeans), the Roman and Byzantine eras, exploration and archaeology, and tourism… certainly quite a bit! The main trail - the most popular one - starts at the visitor centre before winding into the Siq, the legendary 1.2 km (0.75 miles) canyon. Like water, visitors move between the high walls of this narrow gorge. Suddenly, around a bend, the Treasury appears. A few more steps, and it appears completely. No matter how many times you have seen it in photos, you pause for a moment before the majesty of this tomb carved directly into the rock. This is only the beginning of the city, which continues with the Roman theatre, the royal tombs, the colonnaded street, the great temple, the Pharaoh’s Daughter’s Castle… There’s no doubt: the troglodyte city and its necropolises live up to all the promises conjured by the imagination and dreams of travellers.
Private transfer to Wadi Rum via the Aqaba Desert Road.
Scheduled - Wadi Rum by pick-up truck. It is best to avoid venturing alone into the desert. A Bedouin will pick you up and expertly guide you through this authentic wadi, patiently carved by water into the sandstone and granite. Erosion has worked with all its might here to create caves, cliffs, natural arches and spirals. The rock has often taken on strange shapes - pillars or clouds. An inspired Lawrence of Arabia described these formations as “vast, echoing, godlike”. Along with this, there is the imposing calm of rock formations stretching as far as the eye can see, the canyons, the gueltas where water gathers and people have decorated the walls. The numerous petroglyphs bear witness to ten thousand years of human presence.
Settle in for the night in the heart of nature, beneath a starry sky, after watching the ground glow with a thousand warm hues at sunset. Many travellers are willing to give up a bit of comfort for this extraordinary experience. With only about fifteen tents, your camp is intimate. Cooked in the traditional way using a zarb - improvised underground ovens - the meal is enjoyed under the main tent in a warm atmosphere. When it's time to return to your tent for the night, you’ll be lulled to sleep by the silence and calm of the surroundings.
You’ll wake up in the morning to the silence of Wadi Rum. Between mountains and sandy valleys, the magnificent red desert needs no introduction - the most stunning scenes from “Lawrence of Arabia” (David Lean, 1962) were filmed here, as well as, more recently, “The Martian” (Ridley Scott, 2015), “Star Wars episode IX” (J. J. Abrams, 2019) and “Dune” (Denis Villeneuve, 2021). Emerging from the tent, the dreamlike landscapes will make you wonder whether you have dozed off again.
Optional - Hot air balloon flight over Wadi Rum.
After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia via the Al-Mudawwara border crossing. The journey takes about three hours and is made on both sides of the border in private vehicles with drivers.
You’ll spend one night in an accommodation set slightly back from a shopping avenue, with perfect geometry. A small café welcomes guests at the entrance, followed by a large lounge with comfortable armchairs. The rooms are spacious and comfortable. Modern and practical facilities ensure a certain level of independence. On site you’ll also find a restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool and a small gym.
After the rental car is delivered to the hotel, you’ll drive to Al-Ula. Three hundred kilometres (186 miles) of rocky desert accompany you to the valley, a small oasis nestled in the west of Saudi Arabia. The area contains several archaeological sites, including one very close to the city of the same name, known in the Bible as Dadan. Here we reach the southern border of the Nabataean kingdom, where the oldest remains date back 7,000 years. Sanctuaries carved into the sandstone, necropolises, hydraulic installations, inscriptions in pre-Arabic languages: the richness and scale of these sites are simply astonishing.
To see and do independently - Follow the Heritage Oasis Trail. Stretching for 6 km (4 miles) through palm and date trees and passing farms and brick houses, the trail allows visitors to soak in the unique setting of the Al-Ula oasis. Set on the ancient incense route and the road to Mecca, it prospered and endured through the centuries thanks to ingenious water management. Prefer cities to nature? Nestled at the foot of imposing rocky mountains, the old town of Al-Ula is a maze of narrow alleyways where mudbrick houses stand side by side. Over the centuries, it has seen pilgrims and travellers, both curious and hoping to sell, pass through - so many lives that have shaped the city. A labyrinthine journey through a cluster of around 900 houses.
Settle in for three nights in the heart of the old town, just two minutes’ walk from a lively pedestrian shopping street that buzzes in the evenings. The address transports you to the golden age of silk, spice and incense trading. The doors of the rooms are true works of art in wood, carved with complex patterns. Inside, organic shapes and textures abound, from the grain of the earthen brick walls to the wooden beams on the ceilings. No television, no electric lighting, and at most two sockets in the room - the facilities are minimalist in the best sense. In the restaurant, the Michelin-starred chef brings local cuisine to life, while on the rooftop, an infinity pool awaits guests.
Scheduled - Explore ancient Hegra in a vintage Jeep. The Nabataean city was the first site in Saudi Arabia to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008. Inhabited since the Neolithic period, this city on the caravan route became an important stop during Antiquity. It remained so until the Roman conquest. It was the British poet Charles Montagu Doughty who, in 1876, was the first to draw a parallel with the neighbouring country's famous site and nicknamed it the “Petra of Saudi Arabia”. The hundred or so tombs with decorated façades carved directly into the sandstone certainly recall the structures previously admired in Jordan. But Hegra is more than that. Your guide for the day helps you uncover the secrets of this site, which impresses at first sight.
Our suggestion - Sunset at Jebel Al Fil. It took several million years for wind and water to shape what is known as Elephant Rock - you’ll soon see why. At dusk, the monolith rising 52 metres above the landscape takes on the iridescent colours of sunset, while a few tables and seats - some carved directly into the sand - invite you to pause and take in the view.
Optional - Hike along the ridges; Dadan and Jabal Ikmah in private.
Already planned - Sharaan Reserve with a ranger, by 4x4. A local ranger will pick you up from your hotel. You’ll set off to explore the area near Al-Ula in your air-conditioned vehicle. With its rocky canyons echoing the arches sculpted by the wind, and stretches of sand following steep ravines, the reserve is a beautiful playground. Drawn to the décor, the wildlife is ever-present. The local wolf’s grey-golden coat blends with the colours of the rocks. The ostrich wanders across a vast mineral plain. As for the gazelle, its muscles are tense and its senses are on high alert - the Arabian leopard, a critically endangered species, prowls in this part of the country. You can imitate it, hoping to catch a glimpse of the elusive feline.
You’ll head south through mineral landscapes in ochre tones to reach Medina. The second holiest city in Islam after Mecca, the former Yathrib attracts millions of pilgrims each year. The city has grown around the famous Masjid al-Nabawi, or the Prophet’s Mosque. Now the burial place of Muhammad, the building is a jewel of Ottoman architecture that took no less than thirteen centuries to complete (from the 7th to the 20th century). To the north of the city, Mount Uhud also attracts its share of visitors.
One-night stay in the heart of the city. Masjid al-Nabawi is very close. That works out well: it's the mosque that inspired your visit. Next to the religious building, the hotel extends over several floors with its pink and white stone façade. Guests are welcomed in a dignified manner by staff who are both friendly and helpful. They’ll escort you to the room, a spacious area where classic yet comfortable furnishings have been placed over a royal blue carpet. The bathroom, with its gleaming brown marble, complements the whole. And the breakfast is more than satisfying.
Our suggestion for the evening - The end of the day in Medina is marked by the calls to prayer, answered by crowds of pilgrims heading to the Prophet’s Mosque. While the interiors are reserved for Muslims, the atmosphere on the vast esplanade surrounding the mosque and in the nearby area is striking. It is well worth joining in the activity.
Private transfer to the airport, flight to Amman, then international flight home.
This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.
Every day, our travel specialists craft bespoke experiences shaped around each traveller's profile, desires and budget. These passionate experts design experiences delivered on the ground by a local network of Concierges and trusted contacts. These fully customisable, made-to-measure trips are complemented by a wide range of high-end services (lounges, 24/7 assistance, travel booklet, app, Wi-Fi, restaurant booking, etc.)
Let us create your trip
Every day, our travel specialists craft bespoke experiences shaped around each traveller's profile, desires and budget. These passionate experts design experiences delivered on the ground by a local network of Concierges and trusted contacts. These fully customisable, made-to-measure trips are complemented by a wide range of high-end services (lounges, 24/7 assistance, travel booklet, app, Wi-Fi, restaurant booking, etc.)
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