Travelling in Jordan

General Notes

The Customs Officials at Aqaba Airport advised that nowadays they are allowing diving equipment as long as they are being registered upon arrival.
The regulations regarding diving equipment are subject to change without prior notice
Winter in Jordan covers the same period as the UK winter. Petra, which is located in mountains, can be very cold and you should prepare accordingly. Conversely in Aqaba, which is at sea level, and the Dead Sea, which is lower than sea level, the climate in winter is temperate.
Petra is a large site which, in parts, is uneven and rocky and therefore requires appropriate walking shoes and a degree of fitness and mobility. The walk from the Visitors’ Center to Qasr el Bint / Basin is 4 kms and the return is another 4 kms, the total walking distance is 8 kms, including the siq.
At Petra, you may be ‘invited’ to make the journey from the Visitors’ Center to beginning of the siq by horse or donkey. These services are unregulated and uninsured and we therefore strongly advise against taking this option.
Transport in Wadi Rum is regulated by the local Bedouin and it is their vehicles that are used for exploring the area. These are by modern standards antiquated open jeeps that are tackling rugged terrain and visitors should therefore not expect a smooth ride. Please be advised that the jeeps have no seatbelts and are not suitable for anyone with a bad back. It is nevertheless an awe-inspiring experience.
Entry fees into Petra are not included on some of our tours because you will have the choice of how many times you wish to visit the site dependent on which tour you book, which optional excursions you decide to take and how much independent exploration you wish to make. These factors will determine whether you will need a 1-day pass (JD21 - approx. £15), a 2-day pass (JD26 - approx. £18) or a 3-day pass (JD31 - approx. £22). These are current prices as at 01 June 2007 which are subject to change.
The boat service between Aqaba and Taba takes just over an hour sailing time although there may be some waiting time for the completion of passport formalities. The service does not have regular departure times and it can therefore operate as early as 7am or as late as 7pm.