We have put
together a programme which avoids most of the crowds here in Wadi Rum and
which takes you far from the usual tourist routes. It is a four day
programme, but deliberately designed so that you can choose do do just
three, two or even only one day if you do not have the time for all of it.
We warn you that you might have difficulty in deciding which day or days you
would like!
It is a hiking
and easy scrambling progamme that shows you some spectacular views.
You do need to be in reasonable physical condition, but it is neither
difficult nor too demanding. The day consists of something adventurous in
the morning and an easier trek in the afternoon, usually after a rest midday. You will walk or scramble between four and six hours total in one
day. Hiking boots and cotton socks are always
preferable for this kind of programme, but you can perfectly well manage
with trekking sandals or even trainers.
We shall
sleep every night in our camp close to Jebel Raqa.
Day One
: We head off straight away to the Rakebat Canyon through the
massif
of Jebel Um Ishrin. The beginning involves scrambling up a big slab, before
descending steeply into a narrow ravine – this is “Goat Gully”. When we come
out from here, you will realise just how much of a labyrinth exists inside
the imposing mountain. Canyons start off in every direction, and you need
either a sharp eye for terrain or a good guide with you.
The sandstone walls are very
impressive, towering above you.
After lunch in Wadi Um Ishrin,
we have an easy hike to the Barragh Canyon.
The Barragh canyon
leads between magnificent cliffs, with high sand dunes heaped up against
them. These cliffs are the site of many world class climbing routes, and
perhaps a team will be climbing here.
Day Two
:
The next day,
we make our way to
Jebel Burdah and a
climb
to the famous Arch. This is easy scrambling, but as in the Rakebat Canyon,
the guide will have a rope with him for safety,
and
the climb should provide no difficulty for active scramblers.
Although Jebel Burdah is not
very far from Rum Village, the view from the Arch is among the finest to be
seen in the whole of the Wadi Rum area.
To go up and down again
usually takes about 4 or 5 hours. In the afternoon we hike towards the
"Middle Arch" of Um Fruth. This is very simple climbing compared to the
Burdah Arch.
Day Three
: we drive south to the Khasch Ridge. This is a long ridge
stretching
from east to west across the desert. There is no particular difficulty about
this walk, although perhaps you might need to use hands to go up and to come
down again at the end. We shall take a picnic lunch with us and stop
somewhere to eat. Be sure to cover up against the sun here, there is little
shade around, but the views to the north over Wadi Rum and to the south
towards Saudi Arabia are magnificent.
In the afternoon we shall do a shorter hike.
Day Four : the views
are even better. We are heading to Jebel Um
Adaami,
the highest mountain in Jordan, right on the Saudi border. This is a
difficult drive for the 4x4, but as passengers you should enjoy it,
especially the wide and lonely Wadi Saabit
in the far south.
When
we reach the mountain we shall start up through a gully: this is the only
difficulty in the ascent. The rest of the path is a stony one, leading to
the cairn marking the summit. Here we are right on the border and can see
far into the Saudi mountains. Make sure you have plenty of film with you!
Like all tours
lasting more than one day, this trip will end at about 4pm on the last day
when we bring you back to Rum Village.
Price :
for 2-3 people 75JD
per person for one
day, 70JD/person for more than one day. This includes all meals and sleeping equipment.
Please see the
page about "Private tours". People
travelling alone should look a the page for "Solo
travellers".
