Best of
the Jordan Bike Trail
(Group)

Arrive to Queen Alia International Airport (own arrangments). Later on meeting at your hotel in Amman for welcome dinner and trip briefing, at 18:00.

Depending on your flight arrival time, you may have free time to explore on your own.

Overnight in Amman.

After breakfast enjoy an Amman City Tour, visiting the ancient Citadel and Roman Amphitheatre. Then head north to the cycling start point. Enjoy the dirt track to yourselves as you start the long descent to the Zarqa River. Along the descent, witness breathtaking views. In biblical times, the river was known as the Jabbok River, where Jacob wrestled with God. The beautiful long descent caps off one of the best sections of the Jordan Bike Trail. Upon crossing the river, a take a transfer to the Dead Sea and have a boxed lunch on the ride. At the Dead Sea time to relax and float in the salty waters at the lowest point on earth.

Overnight at the Dead Sea

We start with a transfer up the mountainside to the plateau for a visit to Mount Nebo, where Moses looked across at the Promised Land before he died, and on to the Christian town of Madaba, with its mosaic map of the Holy Land. A short transfer out of Madaba, and the route starts by heading south on quiet roads across the plains of the Madaba plateau and through the village of Ma’in. The route then starts a long descent following Wadi Zarqa Ma’in on smooth roads passing the Zarqa Ma’in dam and continues following the river. This portion of the Jordan Bike Trail is another scenic highlight with brown-rocky mountains on one side and lush green mountains on the other. The terrain includes road, dirt track, rocky paths and gravel roads, some off-road biking experience is recommended. Later on this day you will be transferred to Dana.

Distance 28 Km, Asscent 327m, Descent 945m.

Overnight in Dana Nature Reserve.

This morning, we drive the short distance to visit Shobak Castle. The first of the series of Crusader Castles built in Jordan; which was constructed by Baldwin I in 1115 and only surrendered in 1189 to the Great Salahdin. Start this cycling section with an incline on city roads, curling around the castle, until reaching the top of the hill. At the top, the trail begins a beautiful section traversing the side of the mountain on dirt tracks, overlooking the mountains of Ras Al-Feid and Mount Safaha, and Gbour Wahdat with the Jordan valley in the distance.
The trail continues along dirt tracks, crossing dry streams, and then climbs to a nice higher elevation track. On this route there is a lookout over Petra, Wadi Musa, and the small town of Um Sayhoun, with Aaron’s Shrine barely visible in the distance on top of Jebel Haroun. Finish with a descent to the entrance of Petra then loop back around to the entrence of Little Petra. Visit Little Petra and then cycle to your Bedouin camp for the night.

Distance: 48Km, Ascent: 1278m, Descent: 1712m.

Overnight in Little Petra.

A full day to explore Petra where you will leave your camp in Little Petra and head to the Petra visitors center,enter the city through 1KM long narrow gorge which is flanked either side by 80m high cliffs! Notice the dazzling colors and formations of the rocks. The site is massive, and contains hundreds of elaborated rock-cut tombs, a treasury, Roman-style theatres, temples, sacrificial altars and colonnaded streets. Then continue into the city, viewing the amphitheater, exploring its many caves and tombs. If you feel courageous, want to avoid the crowds and discover some less visited monuments in Petra you can visit sites such as the Monastery, the Khubtha Mountain or the High Place of sacrifice. You will follow a steep climb up ancient Nabataean steps to near the summit of Al Khubtha to enjoy the magnificent panorama overlooking the Treasury, then descending to Petra main entrance.

Alternatively, You can continue on and hike up to the High Place of Sacrifice, enjoy spectacular views over the rocky, desert terrain,where breathtaking panoramic views await, or mule up the 800+ steep steps which lead to the "The Monastery‟ Ad Deir. It is one of the largest monuments in Petra, measuring 47m wide by 48.3m high. It was built on the model of the Khazna but here the bas- reliefs are replaced by niches to house sculptures there is also a Bedouin café for refreshments if you would like.

Overnight in Petra.

We start with a short transfer out of Petra, heading south and up hill to the small town of Rajif. From Rajif, we start cycling for a short section on the King’s Highway until turning right after a old cemetary. From here the rest of the trail is mostly downhill. The next portion goes quite quickly on mostly dirt tracks and roads through the countryside. Then around Abbasiya, get a true taste of the quintessential middle-eastern desert landscape as you cycle through isolated desert on caravan tracks on a long gradual downhill. On reaching the desert highway, we transfer to Wadi Rum, where you enjoy the hospitality of the Bedouin, Take a sunset jeep tour for 2-3 hours and experience a beautiful night under the stars in the desert.

Cycling Distance: 49K, Ascent: 325m, Descent: 1925m.

Overnight at Wadi Rum Camp.

Spend a couple of hours cycling on the dessert salt flats around Wadi Rum. Then take a transfer to Aqaba, Jordan's window of the Sea. While in Aqaba, relax and enjoy a well-deserved Red Sea. Later enjoy farewell dinner and the last night of your tour.

Overnight in Aqaba.

Pick-up from your hotel in Aqaba and transfer to Queen Alia International Airport to catch your flight.

End of services.