Category: Travel & Adventure

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Petra – An Ancient City Carved into the Mountains

a hike into the ancient civilisation!

Like the Giza Pyramid in Egypt and Machu Picchu in Peru, Petra is the evidence of great ancient civilisation in the present-day Jordan. Carving the city into the mountains in such a massive scale, for centuries, most of the monuments are still beautifully preserved today. Petra remains one of the most impressive historical ruins to see.  

I have seen great photos of this world wonder long before visiting it, but being there to see it with my own eyes is just astounding. I’ve always loved hiking and the idea of combining hiking and admiring the historical ancient ruins is just perfect for me.

About Petra

The city of Petra, capital of the Nabataean Arabs, is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, it is Located 240 km south of the capital Amman and 120 km north of the red sea town of Aqaba, Petra the world wonder, is undoubtedly Jordan’s most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction, and it is visited by tourists from all over the world.

It is not known precisely when Petra was built, but the city began to prosper as the capital of the Nabataean Empire from the 1st century BC, which grew rich through trade in frankincense, myrrh, and spices. 

Petra was later annexed to the Roman Empire and continued to thrive until a large earthquake in 363 AD destroyed much of the city in the 4th century AD. 
 
The earthquake combined with changes in trade routes, eventually led to the downfall of the city which was ultimately abandoned.
 
By the middle of the 7th century Petra appears to have been largely deserted and it was then lost to all except local Bedouin from the area.
 
In 1812 a Swiss explorer named Johannes Burckhardt set out to ‘rediscover’ Petra; he dressed up as an Arab and convinced his Bedouin guide to take him to the lost city, After this, Petra became increasingly known in the West as a fascinating and beautiful ancient city, and it began attracting visitors and  continues to do so today.
 
Petra is also known as the rose-red city, a name it gets from the wonderful colour of the rock from which many of the city’s structures were carved. 
 
The Nabataeans buried their dead in intricate tombs that were cut out of the mountain sides and the city also had temples, a theatre, and following the Roman annexation and later the Byzantine influence, a colonnaded street and churches.  
 

In addition to the magnificent remains of the Nabataean city, human settlement and land use for over 10,000 years can be traced in Petra, where great natural, cultural, archaeological and geological features merge.

On December 6, 1985, Petra was designated a World Heritage Site, also Petra was chosen by the Smithsonian Magazine as one of the 28 places you should visit them before you die.

(abstracted from https://visitpetra.jo/)

How to Get There?

The distance to Petra from Amman, the capital of Jordan is about 231 kms, getting there can never be easier.

JETT buses operate once per day and return to Amman in the evening. If you want to see Petra in one day and return to Amman, this is your best option. The bus departs at 0630 from the Abdali JETT Bus Station in Amman and you can either buy a round trip ticket or buy a one way ticket to Petra (if your journey continues somewhere). It returns to Amman at 1700 during Summer & 1600 during Winter, OR you can stay the night in Petra. Ensure you arrive 30 minutes before departure to pay for your ticket. The ticket costs JOD 11 (USD 15.50) one way to Petra.

Book your ticket in advance to secure your seats as it’s usually selling off fast, especially during high season from March to June. 

  • By Car Rental: 
    Jordan is not a big country, that makes driving a good option to explore all the beautiful attractions, like Petra, Wadi Rum Desert, Aqaba, Dead Sea and Mujib Biosphere Reserve. While driving in Amman can be chaotic, once you are on the highway and out of the city, the drive to Petra is quite easy. It takes about 3.5 – 4 hours with the distance of 231 km.The best thing about driving is the freedom, sometimes you may wish to spend 1 or 2 days more at one place after getting there, you can also leave for your next stop as early as you want or as late as you want.    
    I was renting a Kia Picanto from my accommodation in Amman, paying USD 120 for 6 days plus USD 42 (USD 7 for 6 days) for insurance covering theft, damages and accidents. I think it’s a pretty good deal, the gas in Jordan is very cheap, per litre is about JOD 0.98 (USD 1.38).
  • By Tours:
    You’ll find a lot of tour operators in Amman offering variety of packages, I am sure you will find something that suit you, with your own preference, budget and schedule. What I always do, is to get inspired by the their itinerary and then I create my own.Taking a tour is my least favourite option when I go travelling, unless for places that is only possible to go by tour. I like to take my time to truly admire the place I visit, taking nice photos does require some patience and time, and I am also taking footage for my travel video.I always love to find a nice cafe to sit down, preferably around the attractions, where I can still feel the atmosphere, unwind myself, enjoying a good cup of coffee, checking my photos and I have the habit of writing postcards to my friends and family, when I go travel. 
  • By Private Transfer or Taxi:
    You can check online or directly from the tour operators for private transfer, another option. Taking a taxi could cost you easily over USD100 one way to Petra, but if you have a group of 3 to 4, that could be an option worth considering. Do remember to negotiate for the price that works for both you and the driver! 

Where to Stay?

There are plenty of accommodation choices around Petra, Wadi Musa is the closest town and you will find anything from luxury hotel to as humble as homestay. 

Mövenpick Resort Petra, located just right opposite of the Petra Visitor Centre, is a 5 star hotel. Others like Petra Boutique Hotel, Petra Palace Hotel, Sun Set Hotel & Silk Road Hotel received good ratings too, and they are on the Tourism St. and within walking distance to Petra. There are restaurants, bar, cafe, souvenir shops, tour agencies around. Staying around this area is very convenient if you don’t have a car.

You may check booking.com for more accommodation choices around Petra.

Petra & the Trails

There are 4 common trails in Petra which you can complete all in one day visit, plus visiting all the monuments and viewpoints. The Visitor Centre opens daily from 6am to 6pm during Summer and 6am to 4pm in the Winter (November through April). Start your day as early as possible to avoid crowd, especially at the iconic Treasury, it usually gets extremely packed after 9am. Get your instagram shots before the place becomes busy.

Let me share with you how I did it!

Petra Trails Map!

  • The Main Trail:

    Distance : 4 km (one way, from Visitor Centre to Basin Restaurant)
    Difficulty Level : Easy

    After purchasing the ticket at the Visitor Centre, remember to get a trail map, with it you can easily navigate through Petra. The Main Trail starts as soon as the Visitor Centre, this trail is very easy, it’s flat all the way until you reach Ad-Deir Trail. 

    An extra JOD10-20 (USD14-28) for a horse ride into the Siq!

    You’ll soon be approached by the local people, we call them Bedouin, asking if you would like to take a horse ride into the Siq. A horse ride should be included in the ticket as told when you purchase it. However, they will still ask for JOD 10-20 (USD 14-28), depending on your negotiation skills. It is a fun way to start the day, if you don’t bother to pay, it’s just a short distance away before you get to entrance of the Siq. 

    The Siq, the main road that leads to the ancient city of Petra!

    The iconic Treasury!

  • The Al-Madras Trail:

    Distance : less than 1 km (one way, from Treasury to viewpoint)
    Difficulty Level : Moderate (a Bedouin guide is required)

As soon as you get to the Treasury, more Bedouins will come talk to you, selling you the guide to a nice Treasury viewpoint from above. For this short trail, you must have a local Bedouin to bring you, you are not allowed to go up by yourself. The path is not clear and some part can be dangerous. Exercise your negotiation skill again here, they will ask for at least JOD 10 (USD 14), but I managed to seal the deal at JOD 5 (USD 7), good thing to arrive early when you are their only business. Good luck!

After the “Viewpoint from Above I”, you will go back to the Treasury, take all your time to admire this iconic monument. If you start early at 6-7am, by the time you get back here, you should see groups of tourist start flooding in, and you are ready to move on to the next stop. You will then continue on the Main Trail, passing by the Theatre, Royal Tombs, Great Temple and Temenos Gate, spend some time to look at the wonderful monuments. For Royal Tombs, you may leave it to the end, when you do the Al-Khubtha Trail.

At the “Viewpoint from Above I” taking the Al-Madras Trail from Treasury!
The Theatre!
The Great Temple!

  • The Ad-Deir Trail:

    Distance : 2 km (one way, from Basin Restaurant to Monastery)
    Difficulty Level : Moderate

    At the end of the Main Trail, you will see Basin Restaurant, follow the path to start ascending the mountain, that’s Ad-Deir Trail, or you can call it the Monastery Trail. Be prepared as this trail is more challenging because of the steps all the way to the Monastery. You will find stalls selling beverages and souvenirs half way through, take some breaks.  

    If you are struggling with the steps going up, there are Bedouins riding donkeys offering rides on that trail, you can pay for the ride. I don’t encourage this to be honest, I have seen the poor donkeys got beaten.

    After hundreds of steps and you will finally arrive at the Monastery, you must not miss visiting this monument because it is as impressive as the Treasury. All your great efforts will repay you here, right opposite of the Monastery, there is a cafe, I believe at this time you are desperately in need of a refreshing drink. Go quench yourself!

    You will take the same way back to the Main Trail. When you get back to Basin Restaurant, it should be lunch time, you can grab some bites there. You should expect paying much higher price than outside of Petra, I’d suggest you to pack some snacks or sandwiches with you.

    The Monastery!

  • The Al-Khubtha Trail:

    Distance : 1.75 km (one way, from Royal Tomb to viewpoint)
    Difficulty Level : Moderate

    The Al-Khubtha Trail branches off from the Mail Trail, coming down from Ad-Deir Trail, you will see the Royal Tombs on your left. It’s now that you turn left and go explore the tombs, after exploring, follow the Al-Khubtha Trail all the way up and until the end, it will lead you to the “Viewpoint from Above II”. This trail is slightly challenging with the steps, but hang in there, you are about to complete all 4 trails, and this Treasury viewpoint is definitely worth all the effort, it’s your big reward! 

    When you get to the “Viewpoint from Above II”, you will find a store selling cold drinks, coffee and tea, there’s a minimum purchase of one drink to go to the picture spot. With one drink and you can spend time and relax for as long as you want. That’s no doubt the best way to finish your long day!

    For return, take the same way back to the Main Trail and go back to the Visitor Centre. 

    I would say, it should easily takes 8-9 hours completing all 4 trails and exploring all the spectacular monuments with the 2 beautiful viewpoints from above.

    It’s a long day but extremely rewarding! 

    At the “Viewpoint from Above II” taking the Al-Khubtha Trail.

The “Little Petra” (Siq Al Barid)

An easy ten-minutes drive north of Petra is Siq Al-Barid, which is also referred to as “Little Petra” due to similarities with the main site. It is thought to have been an important suburb of Petra and is entered through a narrow opening, similar to Siq but of a much smaller scale. The site includes tombs, temples, water channels and cisterns carved out of the rock as well as the remains of frescoes on plaster.

I’d highly recommend you to check it out, “Little Petra” will amaze you!

There are less tourists visiting “Little Petra”, making your exploration very pleasant and relaxing. 

I arrived Wadi Musa in the afternoon by driving, we were first looking for a nice restaurant to eat, then we went check-in at our accommodation. After settling down, we drove to “Little Petra” and it took us about 2 hours to visit the place. We got back to our room before sunset, took a hot shower, had dinner and rested early for the next day at Petra. 

“ History is merely a list of surprises. It can only prepare us to be surprised yet again.”

– Kurt Vonnegut

Amazing view of the valley at “Little Petra”!


Petra by Night

You may complete your Petra experience with a visit of Petra Night Show, you’ll start by walking the entire Siq to the Treasury, lit with over 1,500 candles. This event is a magical way to see part of the rock city by candlelight.

Petra by Night runs every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, it starts at 2030 from Petra Visitor Centre and delivers you back by licensed guide to the Visitor Centre around 2230.

This is my little regret not seeing Petra Night Show as I didn’t match the day. For such a magnificent historical attraction, that’s without question I would go back and revisit.

If you have a “Jordan Pass”, the Petra Night Show is NOT included, you have to buy a separate ticket to the show. The price is JOD 17 (USD 24).

Entrance Ticket to Petra

  • Fees for the accommodated visitor: Visitor who stays at least one night in Jordan.

1-Day Ticket is at JOD 50 (USD 71)
2-Day Ticket is at JOD 55 (USD 78)
3-Day Ticket is at JOD 60 (USD 85)

  • Fees for non-accommodated visitor:  JOD 90 (USD 127) 

Get your “Jordan Pass”

The Jordan pass is the ultimate sightseeing package that has been specially tailor-made for visitors to the country. It gives pass holders the ability to make the most out of their trip visiting top sights and attractions whilst saving time, money and efforts.

  • Hassle-free prepaid entry to over 40 attractions in Jordan, including Petra and Wadi Rum Desert.
  • Free downloadable digital brochures covering all of Jordan’s tourist attractions.
  • Waiving of tourist entry visa fees if you purchase the Jordan Pass before arrival to Jordan and stay a minimum of three nights (4 days).

Click here to buy your “Jordan Pass”

For most nationality visiting Jordan, the visa on arrival costs JOD 40, and if you are visiting Petra, one day ticket is at JOD 50, that makes a total JOD 90. The 1-Day Petra Jordan Pass is just JOD 70, and you get your tourist entry visa fee waived. It is actually a good deal!  

My Jordan Travel Video

Check out my wonderful trip to this beautiful country:

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Lençóis Maranhenses – the Natural Film Setting

SAND DUNES with LAGOONS
create WONDER!

Viva Brazil !!!
“What else I can see in this dynamic country apart from Christ the Redeemer, Copacabana Beach, the Amazon Rainforest, etc.?”, I asked myself while I was planning for the trip. 

I was searching and searching, then the image of this place caught my eyes! I was completely drawn to it, I knew there’s no way I was going to miss it.

Lençóis Maranhenses is the place, it means the “Bedsheets of Maranhão”. Maranhão is a state in northeastern Brazil, comprises dense Amazon Rainforest and beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. It is far lesser known, and visited, than Brazil’s other big natural wonder, Iguaçú Falls, yet it is in many ways more dramatic and extraordinary.

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is a protected area, known for its vast desert landscape of tall, white sand dunes and seasonal rainwater lagoons, extending as far as the eye can see, is one of the most exhilarating masterpieces of nature. This scenic richness gives you the feeling of being in a film setting. Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Bonita are two of the largest lagoons. 

The blazing sun hits the dunes which appear white during day and turn yellow when it sets. This national park stretches 70 km along the coast and up to 50 km inland. It’s a spectacular place, especially from May to September when rain filtered through the sand forms thousands of crystal-clear pools and lakes between the dunes. The park also includes beaches, mangroves and some interesting fauna, especially turtles and migratory birds. 

How to Get There?

First of all, you have to fly to São Luís (SLZ), there are direct flights to São Luís from big cities in Brazil like São Paulo (GRU), Salvador (SSA), Brasilia (BSB) and Fortaleza (FOR). 

Search for your flights in Skyscanner , or you can check the two main carriers website LATAM airlines & GOL Linhas Aéreas for comparing the price. 

Once you land in São Luís (SLZ) airport, there are 3 ways to go to Barreirinhas, the gateway to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, with the distance of 248 km:

  • The most economical way is by bus, you can take a taxi to the Central Bus Station of São Luís and then catch a bus to Barreirinhas. The cost is around BRL 50 (USD 9) one-way, and the ride takes about 4-5 hours depending on stops. Daily departures available at 6:00 am, 8:45 am, 2:00 pm, 7:30 pm! 

Bus ticket can be purchased through the website of the company Cisne Branco.

  • The most convenient way is by taxi, but this is also the most expensive way.
  • The best way giving you the total freedom is definitely renting a car, that’s always my favourite option, it takes about 3.5 to 4 hours. Approach the car rental at the airport and they will make arrangement for you. I paid about BRL 350 (USD 65) for 48 hours plus BRL 75 (USD 14) per day for full insurance coverage.

Driving on this route is very easy and straight forward, the road signs are very clear. Do be careful that there are many speed bumps and traffic cameras along the way. So please respect the speed limit at all times. I received a speed ticket charged to my credit card 3 months after my trip, paying around USD34. If I remember well, the overall speed limit is about 65km/h, and for such a long straight road, it’s a challenge to stay within the limit. I hope you don’t make my mistake! Ha!

I have to admit I love the experience of driving in different country, being able to stop anywhere and anytime I like when I see places worth exploring. It is by driving and it makes me a bigger & better explorer, seeing places normal tourist don’t. 

Staying in Barreirinhas

The town has a decent selection of all standards of accommodation, and from here it is easy to organise almost every kind of tour into the park, plus it is on the Rio Preguiças, a river named after sloths, which is good for paddle-boarding, kayaking and exploring the mangrove swamps. There is a good selection of restaurants and a few bars.

I booked 2 nights at Gran Lençóis Flat Residence, paying USD 45 per night, the price includes a breakfast buffet. It is a very good deal, this “flat residence” is more like a hotel to me, with a front desk performing check-in & out, porter service, restaurant, gym, tour operator and a big swimming pool with a poolside bar. Going there without much expectations because of the title, we were so impressed by the facilities and the room cleanliness! On top of that, it is located right on the banks of the Preguiças River and surrounded by native vegetation in the region, it is very peaceful and relaxing spending your holiday there. 

If you are planning of visiting Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, I’d highly recommend you staying at Gran Lençóis Flat Residence, click here to check out their website for more details.

Gran Lençóis Flat Residence, our accommodation in Barreirinhas.

In fact, there are many great accommodation choices in Barreirinhas, you can check it out. I always use booking.com.

The Tours

Since Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is a protected area and it’s closed to tourist vehicles, taking a tour is the only option to visit it. Spend at least 2 nights in Barreirinhas, because you’ll need one full day for the tour. 

Most tours are half day tours and ranging from BRL 70-100 (USD 13-18) per person, including transportation and admission to the national park. These are the more cost-effective ways of visiting the dunes, and well worth doing. It’s perfect for experiencing the park and meeting travellers from all over Brazil and the world. The most popular ones are the tours to the Lagoa Azul (Blue Lagoon) and Lagoa Bonita (Pretty Lagoon). These are both great “intro” tours to the Lençóis, where you can see incredible dunes, lagoons, and get a taste of what the park has to offer.

Viva Brazil!!!

The full day tour I took costs around BRL 150 (USD 27), the tour operator came to pick us up at our accommodation in the morning at around 0830 and brought us to the town centre, meeting the other travellers, we were reminded to buy our sunscreen, hat and water at the local store if we’d forgotten to bring.

We then hopped on the 4×4 jeep and headed to the national park. 

The tour takes you on a 4×4 jeep with other travellers to go visit Lençóis Maranhenses National Park!

It’s an hour journey from the town centre to the park, not long after leaving the town we arrived at the Preguiças River where we had to get on the small ferry with the vehicle to cross over to the other side. 

Along the way, we saw many small villages, kids playing happily at the yard, women washing the clothes in the basket, living a simple rustic life. They were giving us big welcoming smiles waving at us when they saw our jeep passing by their villages. They reminded me that happiness is very simple. 

An hour later, we arrived at the big and tall sand dune, and there we are, at the incredible “Bedsheets of Maranhão”. The tour came with a guide, speaking in both Portuguese and English, he explained us about the place and the itinerary of the day, a wonderful guide. 

Getting off the truck, with the support of the rope, we had to climb up the sand dune to start exploring the national park. Once I got up there, my jaw dropped! It is SPECTACULAR!!! I have never seen anything like this …

Drone shot of the magnificent Lençóis Maranhenses!

We were trekking on the sand dunes, from one, to another, and to another. The sand is so soft, I took off my shoe and walked barefoot enjoying the sensation, feeling so close to the nature. It feels exhilarating to be there, a place I would call paradise, seeing the endless sand dunes and blue lagoons. I was completely charged by the great energy of the nature.

The guide then led us to Lagoa Azul (Blue Lagoon) where we were given ample time to take a dip and relax. At 1300, we went back to our truck and being taken to a nearby village for a buffet lunch, which is included in our full day tour. The food was really good, there were char-grilled chicken, vegetables, fried rice, spaghetti, fruits, etc. I had good time over the lunch mingling with my tour mates. 

Taking a dip in the lagoon with my new Brazilian friends!

The 2nd part of the tour after lunch is Lagoa Bonita (Pretty Lagoon), a big and beautiful lagoon as you can already tell by the name. It was there we had our complete freedom to explore around the lençóis and staying until sunset before returning to town centre. 

It’s a long day, and we enjoyed every second of it.

Waiting for sunset!

Alternately, if you prefer an easy and more relaxing option, without having to travel by yourself to Barreirinhas after arriving at São Luís, you can stay at the city centre of São Luís, and then take a 3 days 2 nights tour package to visit Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. This is a very common & popular tour for most visitors in São Luís.

When is the Best Time to Go? 

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is a year-round destination, but the lagoons are at their best in June, July and August after the raining season earlier in the year, making it perfect for visitors to enjoy the otherworldly beauty, and taking a swim. Apart from that, the sun is less intense, you will enjoy the dunes better.

It’s PARADISE here!

What to Prepare? 

Remember to pack your sunscreen and water, a hat and sunglasses. To trek on the sand dunes, you may wear trainers or Brazilian flip-flop, sometimes it is easier to walk barefoot. Do not forget your swimming costume. After trekking across the sand there is nothing quite like stripping off, careering down a dune and throwing yourself into the cool clear water. It really is an exceptional experience.

“ To walk into nature is to witness a thousand miracles. ”

– Mary Davis

 

Lençóis Maranhenses is no doubt a natural treasure of Brazil, its charm on such massive scale leaves you breathless. If you are planning a trip to Brazil, I do recommend you to include this gem to your itinerary. If you have been there before, do share with me what you think about the place and your travel tips.

My Travel Video

This is the travel video of my trip to Brazil, you can see some nice footages of Lençóis Maranhenses, feel free to check it out: 

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Wadi Mujib Canyoning – A Fun-Filled Adult Playground

one of the most EXCITING things I have done! 
I was like a CHILD, wanting for MORE!

In my opinion, a travel is not complete without seeing and experiencing a country’s unique landscape and its nature. Hot and desert are often the 2 words you think of when you talk about Middle East. Never would I have imagined Jordan, a country in the Middle East has such beautiful gorge, where you can go inside, get wet, and have an adventure of a lifetime. 

Canyoning is the perfect way for thrill seekers to experience the challenges and beauty of Jordan’s best and most spectacular canyons. Explore hidden gorges, rappel, jump and slide down waterfalls. Adventurers will hike, scramble, wade, abseil, climb and swim through the breathtaking sandstone canyons of Wadi Mujib.

It’s just SPECTACULAR!!!

Mujib Biosphere Reserve

Located at 410 meters below sea level, the Mujib Biosphere Reserve is the lowest nature reserve on Earth. Its rugged and spectacular mountains border the Dead Sea coast and are dissected by several river-filled canyons that offer the best river and adventure hikes in Jordan. The breathtaking scenery and the challenge of negotiating Mujib’s fast-flowing rivers make the Reserve one of Jordan’s most popular natural attractions.

Mujib’s complex river system and all-year water flow enable it to support a rich biodiversity. To date, over 300 species of plants, 10 species of carnivores and numerous species of resident and migratory birds have been recorded. Some of the mountain and valley areas are difficult to reach and offer safe havens for rare species of cats, mountain goats (Ibex) and other mountain animals.        

The Trails at Mujib Biosphere Reserve

There are 3 wet trails & 1 dry trail at the reserve with different hike duration, level of difficulty and scenery you can choose from: 

  • SIQ Trail [WET Trail]

(April 1st – October 31st)

With or Without Guide
Grade: Easy to Moderate, depending on the season
Time: 2-3 hours
Starting times: 0800 to 1500 
Group size: 1-80 people
Requirements: Must be at least 18 years old, know how to swim, have a reasonable level of fitness.

 

  • CANYON Trail [WET Trail]

(April 1st – October 31st, except during Ramadan)

Guided only
Grade: Moderate to Difficult
Time: 4 hours
Starting time: 0830
Group size: 5-25 people
Requirements: Visitors must be at least 18 years old, know how to swim, have a reasonable level of fitness, and no fear of heights.

 

  • MALAQI Trail [WET Trail]

(April 1st – October 31st, except during Ramadan)

Guided only
Grade: Moderate to Difficult
Time: 7 hours
Starting time: 0800
Group Size: 5-25 people
Requirements: Visitors must be at least 18 years old, know how to swim, have a reasonable level of fitness and no fear of heights.

 

  • IBEX Trail [DRY Trail]

(Year-round, except during Ramadan and according to weather conditions)

Guided only
Grade: Moderate
Time: 4 hours
Starting time: 0830
Group size: 5-25 people
Requirements: Visitors must be at least 18 years old.

The SIQ trail is full of fun all the way!

SIQ Trail is the most popular trail, and arriving at the Mujib Adventures Centre after lunch time, that was our only choice, definitely a good one to start if you haven’t done canyoning before, and test your level. 

After parking our car at the car park, we walked to the front desk and purchased our ticket for SIQ Trail, there are changing rooms and also lockers for you to store your valuables. Wearing a canyoning shoe is a MUST for doing the trail, as you will be walking in the water the whole way and climbing waterfalls, you need a shoe to prevent you from slipping and injury. Buy it from the front desk if you don’t have one, like us. 

After getting changed and have your waterproof camera with you, the staff will give you a life-jacket, and your adventure begins!

You’ll walk along the bridge and then get down a ladder to the river. The moment you step down from the ladder you can already feel the water running pretty fast, you will walk against the current into the gorge. You know at that time, it’s going to be a wet journey. I couldn’t help screaming: “This is going to be so much fun!” 

As you walk deep into the gorge, the water gets gradually deeper reaching your knees, then your waist. Look around you, and you soon realise you are in a magical place. The whole place is so breathtaking, leaving you WOW after WOW!!!

In the blazing heat of the Dead Sea area, Wadi Mujib is so refreshing, the temperature is so much cooler than outside.

There are parts you have to hold onto the fixed ropes to help you walk further, as the water current gets stronger. They are your life saver, preventing you from washing away! So, hold on tight!

Climbing up the waterfall is challenging with the water cascading down, adding a lot of weights on you but it’s so thrilling. On the way back, there’s even a natural slide to slide down the waterfall into the pool, giving you adrenaline rush. There are staff at some points to give you a hand and ensure your safety.

The water current is strong, hold on tight and don’t get washed away!

On the way back, it feels magical to lay back and take in the incredible surroundings whilst floating down the stream. It was at this moment that the beauty and uniqueness of Wadi Mujib really sunk in. This canyon which has been carved out by centuries of rain and flowing water is spectacular, with its orange walls, bright blue water and enormous scale.

I’d say SIQ Trail is generally safe for everyone to have fun, even you don’t have any experience in canyoning, as long as you can swim and not afraid of water. 

“ Jobs fill your pockets, but adventures fill your soul. ”

– Jaime Lyn

Entrance Ticket of Wadi Mujib

SIQ Trail: JOD 21 (USD 30)
CANYON Trail: JOD 31 (USD 44)
MALAQI Trail: JOD 44 (USD 62)
IBEX Trail: JOD 21 (USD 30)

Canyoning shoe is selling at the Mujib Adventure Centre at JOD 5 (USD 7). You can also rent a locker for your valuables. 

What to Bring? 

  • Comfortable Clothing (T-shirt & Shorts)
  • GoPro / Waterproof Camera
  • Waterproof Bag (optional)
  • Clean Clothes to Change
  • Towels
  • Life Jacket (will be provided)
  • Canyoning Shoe (you can buy it there) 
  • Water 

How to Get There & Travelling Around Jordan?

There are day tours from Amman to Dead Sea & Mujib Biosphere Reserve, but I think the best way of travelling around Jordan is definitely renting a car in Amman for about a week, and you can visit all the spectacular attractions in the country such as Petra, Wadi Rum Desert, Aqaba, Dead Sea and Mujib Biosphere Reserve. On top of that, it is definitely more budget friendly, apart from having a total freedom to your itinerary. 

Driving in Jordan is easy, the roads are easy to navigate.

From Amman to Mujib Adventures Center, the distance is around 91 km and driving time is about 1.5 hours. If you are staying at the Dead Sea Resorts Area like us, it’s just 30 minutes away with the distance of 30 km. 

Driving on Jordan Valley Highway, when you see the Mujib Bridge, you are already there, turn into the Mujib Adventure Centre.

I was renting a Kia Picanto from my accommodation in Amman, paying USD 120 for 6 days plus USD 42 (USD7 for 6 days) for insurance covering theft, damages and accidents. I think it’s a pretty good deal, the gas in Jordan is very cheap, per litre is about JOD 0.98 (USD 1.38).

Where to Stay?

  • Mujib Chalets, the only accommodation at the Mujib Biosphere Reserve, located just few meters away from the Mujib Adventures Center across the road facing the Dead Sea. Each chalet has an uninterrupted sea view, shaded sun terrace, air conditioning, private shower, and toilet. 

 

  • Dead Sea Resorts Area, located 30 kms away, which I think is a better choice to spend your night as there are many hotel choices in the area, like Hilton, Marriott, Mövenpick, Kempinski, Dead Sea Spa, etc. Most importantly, there’s a small shopping mall within walking distance with a few restaurants inside. If you are running out of local currency, there’s a bank in the mall for you to exchange some money too. 

Remember, you can only do the wet trails between April 1st – October 31st, if you would like to include this fun & thrilling activity in your Jordan trip, you know which month to go.

Trust me, it is going to be an adventure you will never forget!

My Video at Mujib Biosphere Reserve

Check out my video and you can feel the fun we had!