Highlights
- Exploring Petra – The Rose Red City
- Cycling Jordan’s forests, deserts & dramatic canyons
- Desert star gazing in the dramatic Wadi Rum
- Dead Sea dipping and your very own DIY spa treatment
- Bedouin hospitality and feasting on delicious local food
- Crusader Castles & the historic cities of Amman & Jersah
Itinerary
From your chosen departure airport you’ll be arriving into Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) – often late in the evening. On arrival you’ll be met by the Saddle Skedaddle guide/representative who will transfer you to your accommodation in Amman. (Transfer approx 30 Minutes – 1 Hour, depending on arrival time and traffic)
Amman is one of the oldest cities in the world, inhabited since the bronze age and is growing into a modern city, while retaining its character and history. Depending on your flight arrival time, you may have free time to explore a little on your own.
Overnight in Amman
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
- Ascent: 260 Metres Approx.
Suitably rested and following breakfast we enjoy a tour of the old city of Amman, visiting the ancient Citadel and Roman Amphitheatre, two of the most important archaeological sites in the city. After the city tour we leave Amman and head north to one of Jordan’s National Parks on the border of Balqa and Jerash. This is a quiet, isolated area but the array of wide dirt roads is well worth a visit. Well maintained trails sweeping through hills covered by pine trees makes it a perfect introduction to riding in Jordan and whilst not long in duration, the ride will give you a chance to familiarise yourself with the bikes and get ready for the days ahead.
After sampling some tasty local delicacies over lunch we continue our journey north to Jerash, the best example of a Roman provincial city in the whole of the Middle East. Here we’ll see the spectacular Forum, Roman colonnaded street and the temples of Nymphaeum and Artemis. Later this afternoon we’ll travel the 1 hour journey back to our hotel in Amman.
Overnight: Amman
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Ascent: 410 Metres Approx.
Our transfer for the first part of the day (1hr) takes us to Mount Nebo. It’s here on the windswept summit that Moses is said to have viewed the Promised Land of Canaan – a land he was himself forbidden to enter and where now on a clear day you can see the very same panorama: The Dead Sea, the Jordan River Valley, Jericho, Bethlehem and the distant hills of Jerusalem.
The Moses Memorial Church is perched on the summit and well worth a quick visit for its magnificent mosaics. It is the centre piece of a small hilltop complex dominated by the Brazen Serpent Monument, an enigmatic serpentine cross created by Italian artist Giovanni Fantoni.
After the visit and so as to avoid the busy traffic of Madaba we have another short transfer (20 minutes) to Fayha from where we begin cycling.
Heading south we are soon on quiet roads as we head across the Madaba plateau on a mix of on-road and off-road with the terrain including well-packed dirt tracks, rocky paths and gravel roads. Our lunch today is pre-prepared picnic boxes made by a local family and we’ll stop enroute at a wonderful viewpoint that affords us superb views down to the shimmering waters of the Dead Sea and Israel to the West.
After lunch we’ve a fun road descent down the ‘Mukakir Bends’ all the way down to the Dead Sea Highway. From here it’s an undulating ride beside the Dead Sea (the world’s lowest point) to one of the waterfront resorts. Here it’s time to switch from your cycle shorts to your swimmers for the unforgettable experience of floating in the super salty waters of the Dead Sea. It’s a relaxed end to the day with plenty of time to give yourself a spa treatment and cover yourself head to toe in reinvigorating Dead Sea mud and then chill-out by the pool.
Overnight: Dead Sea
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Ascent: 540 Metres Approx.
We start the day with a transfer south to Karak where we visit its impressive Crusader Castle. Due of its position east of the Dead Sea, Karak Castle was able to control bedouin herders as well as the trade routes from Damascus to Egypt and Mecca and stands as a testament to these times as well as providing an impressive insight into the architectural and military skills of the Crusaders.
Our cycling starts today on the outskirts of Karak and we are soon passing through rural countryside areas with great views all around. It’s an undulating off-road route that ends with a superb downhill to the ‘King’s Highway’ (the ancient route linking Madaba with Petra and nowadays a little-used road) via Tanour Dam. Lunch today is a specially prepared picnic spread where we can sample an array of home-coooked favourites. We end our ride at Wadi Hasa, an area that is intensely used by farmers who use the water from the Wadi for irrigation. Our final destination today is in Shobak which we reach by support vehicle (1.5hrs) with our lovely accommodation situated a short distance from Shobak Castle.
Overnight: Shobak
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Ascent: 600 Metres Approx.
Cycling straight from the hotel our first port of call is the impressive Shobak Castle, the first of the series of Crusader Castles built in Jordan. Sitting atop Royal Mountain and despite being less complete than its sister fortification at Karak it is especially imposing.
From the castle we cycle on-road following King’s Highway all the way to Siq Al Barid; colloquially known as Little Petra. This whole area was once a thriving community in Nabatean times and is thought to have served as a trading suburb and re-supply post for camel caravans visiting Petra. It’s a great place to wander around at the end of the day and gives a nice insight and introduction to your time at Petra tomorrow.
Our accommodation is a few pedal strokes away at our Bedouin Camp. Set amongst huge red rock formations our time here gives you a chance to taste a way of life that is centuries old. In the evening we’ll be treated to a real Bedouin feast cooked the traditional way, hear a tale or two from our hosts and be able to do a spot of campfire stargazing.
Overnight: Little Petra
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
No trip to Jordan would be complete without a visit to one of the Modern Seven Wonders of the World; the Red Rose city of Petra. With this in mind we take an early breakfast in order to make the very most of our time in this incredible place. Tickets collected and accompanied by our knowledgeable English-speaking guide we set off. The narrow Siq leads us to the beating heart of this ancient site and you’ll be astounded as you reach the magnificent Treasury with its intricately carved façade and the entrance guarding this ancient Nabatean city.
The site is vast and contains hundreds of elaborated rock-cut tombs, a treasury, Roman-style theatres, temples, sacrificial altars and colonnaded streets with amazing sights appearing around each and every corner. Lunch is taken at a restaurant in the site and in the afternoon there is time to explore off the beaten path where many tourists don’t tread and visit some of the hidden treasures of Petra, such as the Monastery (reached by way of around 800 steps) or take a walk to Jebel Khubtha to take in an incredible view overlooking the Treasury.
Later in the day we return to our accommodation in Little Petra for another delicious evening meal.
Overnight: Little Petra
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Ascent: 350 Metres Approx.
Back on our bikes our cycling today starts from the small town of Rajif. Situated at 1575m (5,160ft) this is the high point of the area and ensures a downward emphasis for the majority of the ride. It’s a wonderful day on the bike as we ride through an incredible desert landscape towards Wadi Rum.
At Rum Village we will meet our Bedouin host and transfer by 4WD into the heart of the Wadi Rum. Our accommodation (as with Little Petra) is a Bedouin camp set in a beautifully tranquil location in this World Heritage Site. Once settled in and refreshed with some local tea and lunch we set off on a sunset jeep safari (2hrs) around Wadi Rum’s valleys, canyons, dunes and deserts. It’s a place of ancient rock inscriptions, majestic mountain views, narrow gorges and breathtaking desert scenery. At each stop you have the opportunity to hike and scramble and explore these amazing sites. Back at camp it’s time to enjoy a desert sunset and to enjoy a well-deserved Zarb – a traditional Bedouin dish of vegetables and meat cooked beneath a campfire. The starscape above Wadi Rum is particularly special and there’s no better way to end what will have been an incredible day with some star gazing
Overnight: Wadi Rum
- Meals: Breakfast
Depart from Wadi Rum and transfer north to Amman and its Queen Alia International Airport (3.5 hours) for onward departures.
Gallery
The Cycling
Terrain
The cycling on this trip will be on a mix of 4×4 width dirt roads and tarmac roads (with little traffic).
Due to the natural nature of Jordan there will be sections of soft sand along the way. This is especially true on Day 7 when we head to Wadi Rum but there is very little that should be considered as technical.
There may also be sections on trails, unpaved/gravel and rocky roads. With this in mind some experience of riding a mountain bike is recommended.
Although the cycling distances are not too lengthy you may be cycling in hot conditions and the terrain is undulating and there will be some ascents / ‘cheeky climbs’ and decent descents most days.
Cycling Adventures Grade
Distances generally between 20-45 miles / 32-72 kms per day
For the leisure cyclist with a good level of physical fitness
May include some steeper, cheeky climbs
Possibly sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc)
Our grading guidelines have been carefully created based on our many years of cycling experience, as well as customer feedback from our trips. Of course, if you're still struggling to figure out where you fit on the scale, do feel free to give us a quick call and we'll be more than happy to help!
For more information about our grading system click here.
Is this suitable for you?
Although you may not cycle everyday, you do keep yourself relatively fit and maybe enjoy an afternoon out on your bike at the weekend. Your preference is perhaps for flatter terrain but you don’t mind tackling some hills, and the occasional steep climb if you can take it at your own pace. For those happy to tackle some ups and downs, and possibly some sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc) we’d recommend our grade 3 trips. We’d generally expect those on a Grade 3 holiday to have a decent level of physical fitness and be comfortable with some longer days in the saddle.
For more information about the grading of this holiday in particular, please check out the terrain section which will give you some specifics of what to expect on this tour.
Dates & Prices
Secure Your Holiday With A Deposit
Book now with a $500 deposit and nothing more to pay until 60 days before departure. Choose a date to start your booking and see all prices, including bike hire and single room supplements.
Late Availability
We want you to know which tours are coming up soon, so you don’t miss out! If a trip has this symbol beside it, it means you don’t have long to snap up your place.
SAVE ON 2025 EARLY SEASON ESCAPES! Book before 17 November 2024 to get $125 off your tour departing on 15/03/2025. Apply the promo code FYR2025 when you book. Your discount will be applied once your booking is confirmed.SAVE ON 2025 EARLY SEASON ESCAPES! Book before 17 November 2024 to get $125 off your tour departing on 26/04/2025. Apply the promo code FYR2025 when you book. Your discount will be applied once your booking is confirmed.Whats Included
A) Hotel accommodation Twin/double rooms, ensuite – Days 1, 2, 3 and 4
B) Bedouin Camp Two person tents with 2 single beds, ensuite – Days 5, 6 and 7
C) Meals as itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
D) Water and snacks on cycling and non cycling days
E) Full tour service – guides, support vehicle(s) etc.
F) Group airport transfer on scheduled arrival and departure days – Amman Airport (AMM)
G) Entry to all sites mentioned in the itinerary
H) Petra Full Day visit including English speaking guide (Day 6)
I) Sunset Jeep Safari Wadi Rum (Day 7)
J) Financial Protection through ABTOT
What's not Included
A) Flights and associated costs for travelling with a bike
B) Bike rental (available if required)
C) Bar bills/alcoholic drinks, hotel refreshments etc.
D) Tips for guides
E) Entry Visa
F) Travel insurance
G) Personal clothing and equipment
H) Airport transfers on days other than the scheduled arrival and departure days
Private Departures
Are you keen to only travel with your family or friends? Struggling to find the right date? Well, we can organise a private departure for this tour and tailor aspects to suit your group's specific needs. Contact our friendly team and we'll help you turn your dream into reality.
The Essentials
News, Reviews & Stories
Reviews
Mark, Edinburgh, UKBrilliant guides...Mahmoud, Anton and Sari were brilliant. Fun, generous with their time and hugely knowledgeable on the history and culture of Jordan. I can not rate them any higher.
Philip, Kent, UKExceptional from start to finishThe whole process from landing at Amman airport to departure was excellently managed and smooth. The guides we had both tour and cycling, were not only professional and knowledgable but also thoughtful and willing to go the extra mile for the group.