DANA TO PETRA TREK

You will be looked after by accredited, English speaking local guides along with an Endeavours Adventures rep.

Average group sizes vary, but will be between 8 - 30 participants depending on the number of sign ups.

You will stay in hotel accommodation before and after the challenge, and a mixture of wild and camp site tented camping during the trek.

The tents are equipped with simple mattresses, sheets and blankets. A basic toilet is provided at the camp.

This trek is rated 3.5-4/5 on its challenge level of difficulty. This is an intense challenge as you will be trekking 14-17km per day for 5 days in a row at high temperatures. There are some steep climbs, loose rocks, exposed edges and easy scrambling sections during the trek.

We recommend you have a minimum moderate fitness level and be able to walk several days over uneven terrain and manage partly steep passages and should not be sensitive to warm weather.

Don't let this stop you though! You will supported throughout the challenge by your guide and fellow team-mates.

A typical day on our Dana to Petra trek sees you getting up around 7am to prepare for the day, including packing your bag and having breakfast.

You then start trekking along the route to your next camping place, including a lovely lunch break. You will be walking for most of the day, taking in the breath-taking views of Jordan. When arriving to the campsite you can relax with your teammates! Dinner is served at a campfire at about 7pm. 

Jordan is characterised by a Mediterranean climate and the best travel time is spring and autumn, March until May, September until November. Summer is hot and sunny, especially in Aqaba and at the Dead Sea. Jordan is a very sunny country with average daily sunshine hours ranging from six to seven in winter and twelve to thirteen in summer. Nights are rather cool. 

The culture of Jordan is based on Arabic and Islamic elements. Jordan stands at the intersection of the three continents of the ancient world, lending it geographic and population diversity. Notable aspects of the culture include the traditional music and clothing of Jordan and interest in sports. One of the key aspects of Jordanian culture is the hospitality shown by hosts to their guests. This is felt even while walking around the streets of Jordan, where the phrase "ahlan wa sahlan" ("I welcome you") is heard nearly everywhere you go.  

English is widely spoken in Jordan, most especially in the cities. However, learning some basic Arabic words or phrases can help you with your cultural experience and interactions to the locals. 

Below are the few words and phrases that you can take down notes before travelling to Jordan.

• Hello = Salam / Marahaba 
• Please = Min Fadlik 
• Thank you = Shukran 
• Do you speak English? = Hal tatahaddath al’ingiliiziyya? 

Jordan is a Muslim country, so dress codes do apply in order to respect the faith of Jordanian people.

Please ensure you always have covered your shoulders, knees, and cleavage. Please also ensure to wear loose clothing that is not figure hugging. 

At the bottom of this page is the kit list that includes respectable clothing suitable for the challenge.

Following this dress code shows respect for Jordanian culture and local people will respect you for doing so. Jordanian people are friendly and as long as you follow the dress codes, you will feel very welcome.

Food is important to us. Good and nourishing food makes a good trip even better. All meals and snacks whilst on trek are included in the tour price, unless stated otherwise. 

Endeavours Adventures can cater for all dietary options. At 8 weeks before your challenge start date, a form will be sent to you to request this information. Through this, we will ensure that you are catered for, and will keep you updated on any issues regarding your dietary requests. 

A common appetiser is hummus, which is a puree of chick peas blended with tahini, lemon, and garlic. Ful medames is another well-known appetiser. 

The most distinctive Jordanian dish is mansaf, the national dish of Jordan. It consists of a plate of rice with meat that was boiled in thick yogurt, sprayed with pine nuts and sometimes herbs. As an old tradition, the dish is eaten using one's hands, but the tradition is not always used.

Simple fresh fruit is often served towards the end of a Jordanian meal, but there is also dessert.

Even though a lot of Jordanian dishes today can be meat-heavy, there are also plenty of options for vegans traveling to Jordan. 

In Jordanian cuisine, drinking coffee and tea flavoured with na'na or meramiyyeh is almost a ritual. 

There is no Wi-Fi during the trek or at the campsites along the trek. Wi-Fi is available at the Little Petra Camp on day 5. During most of the trail there will be no phone signal. 

At Endeavours Adventures we place safety at the heart of what we do. Whilst an element of risk always exists within each challenge, we have worked with our partners in country and implemented our own procedures to minimise risk whilst still ensuring you have an incredible challenge experience! 

All our challenges are risked assessed in line with BS8848 British Standards of Trekking.

Please make sure to ask your guide whether it is safe to drink the water available in both the urban and rural areas.

Bringing re-usable 1L or 2L water bottles on your challenge is compulsory, as you need to have enough water to keep hydrated and well throughout your trek.

The recommended travel vaccinations for Jordan are below.

Courses or booster typically advised:

• Hepatitis A
• Tetanus

Other vaccines to consider:

• Hepatitis B
• Rabies 
• Typhoid

Please consult an appointment with a travel nurse and get the required vaccines for Jordan. Some of these vaccines require multiple doses so please book an appointment as soon as possible.

You can find a travel nurse at a pharmacy, or at a travel clinic at Superdrug & Boots. You can also speak to your GP beforehand if you are unsure where to start.

We strongly recommend that you bring certain medication as a precaution for your challenge. This includes: anti-sickness and diarrhoea medication, water purification tablets, plasters, blister treatment, antiseptic wipes, throat lozenges, painkillers, and re-hydration salts or sachets. 

We also recommend bringing insect spray. 

It is unlikely that you will get altitude sickness on the Dana to Petra trek.

However, if you are concerned about this, you can bring altitude sickness medication if you wish. You must speak to your GP about this first. 

The best way to combat the symptoms of altitude sickness is to pause your ascent, or to descent from your current point. It is also recommended to drink plenty of water, eat enough food, and get enough rest. 

Many people of different abilities take on the Dana to Petra trek. 

We strongly recommend that you practice some form of hiking and start training around 16-18 weeks before the challenge date. If this is not possible for you to do, we would recommend going on regular walks with different types of ground, steepness, and even practice walking with the bag you will wear on the challenge, as well as your walking boots. 

All of this will help prepare your body for the day. Also, committing yourself to enough fitness training beforehand will make the trek more comfortable for you.

A typical trek at this level will include trekking for 5 to 8 hours per day over consecutive days, so it is important to get your body adjusted to this level of activity.

There are no specific exercise routines that you must follow, as everyone is different. However, doing squats regularly as well as step-up exercises, such as the stair master at the gym, is recommended.

The team at Endeavours Adventures do not offer training sessions. However, this may be something that your challenge leader or team could organise throughout the year with you. 

Yes! If you scroll down to the bottom of this page, you will be able to see our training plan guide for you. 

Please be aware that this is just a recommendation - this is for inspiration rather than a requirement.

Flights are not included in the registration fee, and must be arranged by participants themselves. This is because it is cheaper and provides you with more flexibility in terms of when you arrive and depart from the country, should you wish to stay for longer before or after. 

For this challenge, you will need a 20-35L day backpack, which you will be using as your backpack throughout the trek.

You will also need a 60-75L large rucksack to bring all your belongings in. Avoid bringing a suitcase! Please do not exceed 18 kg per person if possible.

In the rare possibility that your large rucksack doesn’t arrive at your destination with you on time, please can you ensure that you pack enough clothing and items for a couple of days in your day bag.

You can find the kit list at the bottom of this page! 

Outlets accept mostly the two-pin plug C. 

Type C plug: Two round prongs (used in much of Europe, but not in the UK or Ireland).

Electricity is not always available during the challenge, so please bring portable batteries if you require electricity. 

The unit of currency in Jordan is Jordanian Dinar (JOD). We recommend bringing 

£200-£250 worth of currency.

To consider would be:

• A tip for the guides and porters during the trek between £30-60 worth of JOD each
• Cash for souvenirs
• Emergency cash
• Money for group dinner and drinks on the last night
• Money for any meals not included in the itinerary and for coffee / snacks you may want on free days 
• JOD / GBP to buy food during the airport journeys there and back

If you want to bring a card, you could also bring your Monzo or Revolut card as extra cash. However, please be aware that there are no banks or ATMs available during the trek and in Wadi Rum.

For Jordan, a visa is required for UK citizens. However, the visa can be bought upon arrival. 

This visa on arrival is covered by Endeavours Adventures, as it is included in the challenge price. 

If you are an international citizen, it is your responsibility to check whether you need a visa for Jordan, and to arrange your own visa to cover the duration of your challenge. You can contact the team at Endeavours Adventures should you need support in this process.

For our Jordan trek, it is your responsibility to arrange your own travel insurance for the whole duration of your challenge. 

It is important that you get cover that is specific to your challenge, as they all have different requirements. If you have any questions regarding this, please email isabelle.skelly@endeavoursadventures.com.

You are welcome to source your own insurance, but we recommend booking through our suppliers. 

The 2023/24 standard fundraising target is £1,695. 

With a variety of options available, you can choose to pay our standard registration and fundraising target, or alter the total amount paid at sign up in order to receive a proportionate change of the total amount you will have to fundraise. No matter the registration fee chosen, each can be split across different payment plans. 

2023/24 options available for the Dana to Petra Trek:

• STANDARD - Standard Registration Fee (£295) and Fundraising Target (£1,695)
• FLEXI 1 - Lower Registration Fee (£125) and Higher Fundraising Target (£1,995)
• FLEXI 2 - Max Registration Fee (£600) and Low Fundraising Target (£995)

Yes! In signing up and paying the registration fee for this challenge, you are given the option to either be SELF-FUNDED, or choose from one of 3 FUNDRAISE options for a chosen charity. If a FUNDRAISE option is selected, after completing your registration payment (s) you must also reach your fundraising target to guarantee your place on the challenge. 

But fear not! We have an expert team of fundraising guides and support available to help you alongside the incredible support you shall receive directly from the charity.

In most cases, you are able to change your fundraising option for your challenge, provided that it is before your final fundraising deadline. 

Your charity representative must approve this change, and you must email your charity rep AND a member of the Endeavours Adventures' team about this before this can be confirmed. 

A change in your fundraising option will incur a £25 administration fee.

NOTE: If you are fundraising for Dig Deep, you CANNOT request to lower your fundraising target.

Endeavours Adventures have a lot to offer you in terms of fundraising support! Once you sign up to your challenge, you will receive a welcome email which will include the different ways the team will support you. 

This support will include a monthly fundraising newsletter, monthly fundraising support sessions, an online fundraising resources pack, and regular communication with the Endeavours Adventures’ team.

Charity challenges are usually split 50:50, where 50% of your fundraising goes straight to the charity, and the remaining 50% goes towards the costs of running the challenge. At Endeavours Adventures, we want to go above and beyond and ensure that we are giving as much to the charity as possible. 

For the Dana to Petra Trek, 51% of the fundraising goes to the charity, and 49% goes towards the costs of the challenge. 

On top of this, 100% of the money that you raise above your fundraising target goes directly to the charity to support the incredible work they do.

Your fundraising deadline will usually be between 6-8 weeks before your challenge start date, which is dependent on the charity you are fundraising for.