Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Jordan - Petra - Wadi Rum - Saudi Arabia - Al Ula - Medina
100% customisable for you
Your adventure into the past begins today. Head to the airport, breeze through security and board your five-and-a-half-hour flight to Amman, Jordan’s capital.
Upon arrival, take a three-and-a-half-hour private transfer to the ancient city of Petra, where you'll spend the next three nights in a charming restored village, away from the hustle and bustle.
Unpack, kick back and relax. Once you’ve settled in, explore your new surroundings or take a refreshing dip in the hotel pool.
Start your day bright and early with a hearty breakfast. Then, lace up your hiking boots and prepare to walk from Little Petra to El Deir Monastery with a private guide. Located about six miles north of Petra, Little Petra was built in the first century BC to house merchants who brought incense and spices to the capital. Here, you can explore the surviving tricliniums (dining rooms) and bicliniums (banquet halls).
From there, the trail follows a quiet path, winding through craggy, mountainous landscapes. To reach the monastery, climb the ancient Nabataean steps up to the plateau. Allow a full day for this hike – it's a rare chance to approach Petra just as the merchants did centuries ago.
Today, take a step back in time at Petra, one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites that was ‘rediscovered’ by explorers in 1812. Carved into the pink sandstone cliffs, this Nabataean caravan city was once a thriving trade hub and boasts a fascinating, rich history.
From the visitor centre, follow the main trail (Petra’s most popular route) as it winds through the mythical Siq canyon. Walk between the narrow gorge’s towering walls until you spot the Treasury – trust us, photos don’t do this mighty structure justice. There’s plenty more to discover, from the Roman Theatre and royal tombs to the Colonnaded Street and the Qasr Al Bint (Castle of the Pharaoh's Daughter).
Wave goodbye to Petra, as today you’ll be driven along the Aqaba road to Wadi Rum. On arrival, your Bedouin guide will take you on a desert adventure past sandstone and granite valleys. Explore the caves, cliffs and natural spirals that comprise the UNESCO World Heritage site, which gained fame after the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia was filmed here. The imposing rock formations stretch out as far as the eye can see and are inscribed with ancient petroglyphs, documenting over ten thousand years of human presence.
After capturing photos of craggy canyons and fiery dunes, settle in for the night in a cosy tent beneath the starry sky. Watch the ground ripple with the sunset’s warm hues, then tuck into a delicious Zarb, a tasty Bedouin meal cooked in a traditional firepit oven in the ground.
Wake up to the silence of the Wadi Rum wilderness. Tucked between muscular mountains and sandy valleys, morning views don’t get much better than this; it’s no wonder that films such as The Martian and Dune were filmed here.
After breakfast, capture your last shots of the dreamlike landscape before taking a private transfer to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, via the Al-Mudawwara border crossing. The journey takes about three hours, so why not tune into our destination-specific playlist to make time fly by?
On arrival, check into your cosy hotel, not too far from the buzz of the city. Settle into your spacious room and explore the on-site facilities before savouring a delicious dinner at the hotel restaurant.
For a new sense of freedom, collect your hire car and hit the road bound for Al Ula, in the northwest of Saudi Arabia. After a four-hour journey through rocky desert landscapes, check in for a three-night stay at a charming property in the old town.
Once you’ve settled in, follow the aroma of incense and spices to a busy shopping street nearby, where you can wander the maze of narrow alleys, following in the footsteps of pilgrims, traders and other curious travellers.
Fancy exploring the area’s archaeological sites? Head to the ancient burial sites near the city of Dadan, mentioned in the Bible. Carved into rock, these tombs and pre-Arabic inscriptions offer a rare glimpse into the region’s past. If you’d rather stretch your legs, the Heritage Oasis Trail is a must-do. Follow this scenic route as it winds past towering palms, date trees, working farms and mud-brick houses.
Rise and shine, as today, you’re off on a private 4x4 tour of Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site, designated in 2008.
Once a thriving Nabataean city before the Roman conquest, Hegra was second in importance only to Petra. As you explore its intricately carved tombs dug into the sandstone, you’ll spot some similarities to Jordan’s ancient sites. But your knowledgeable guide will reveal that there’s more to Hegra than meets the eye…
Come evening, we recommend heading to Jabal AlFil to catch the sunset. Nicknamed Elephant Rock, this 171ft monolith has been sculpted by wind and water over millions of years. Settle into the chairs at the base and watch as the rock glows with orange hues. Don't forget to capture the moment with a few photos.
After a hearty breakfast, grab your hiking boots and prepare for a busy day ahead. A local ranger will pick you up from your hotel for an exciting 4x4 tour of Sharaan Nature Reserve, in which you'll drive past rocky canyons, wind-sculpted arches and vast stretches of sand that follow the steep ravines.
Wildlife enthusiasts, you’re in luck. During your tour, keep an eye out for grey-coated wolves blending into the rocky landscape or ostriches stretching their long necks above the mineral plains. You might even spot gazelles and Arabian oryx roaming around this wild corner of the country.
Wave goodbye to Al Ula and head south, passing ochre-tinted landscapes to reach Medina, the second holiest city in Islam after Mecca. Once known as ancient Yathrib, Medina attracts millions of pilgrims each year, drawn to the famous Masjid al-Nabawi (the Prophet’s Mosque), home to the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad.
You’ll stay overnight in the heart of the city, just a short walk from the mosque. This evening, join the bustling crowds as the call to prayer fills the air, guiding pilgrims towards the mosque. While its interior is reserved for Muslims, the lively atmosphere outside the mosque is a mesmerising experience in itself – the perfect way to end your trip.
Sadly, your trip has come to an end. After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, take a private transfer to the airport, whizz through security and catch a two-hour flight to Amman. From there, board your five-and-a-half-hour flight back to the UK, touching down full of stories from your epic adventure.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
ENQUIRE NOW
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
ENQUIRE NOW
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
