Jordan and Mount Sinai booked. All advice welcome

[Twodogsonthecouch]

We have just booked flights to Amman for the 28th March and returning from Sharm el Sheik on 11th April. We are going to travel around Jordan for about 9-10 days and then go to St Catherine’s to climb Mount Sinai. I’m so excited but need to work out the exact itinerary now. All advice welcome. Trekking, history and essential sights. We are both 60. Love walking, culture, history and nature. Last holiday was a through hike over the alps from Bavaria to Austria and into northern Italy so not afraid of something challenging but our first trip to the Middle East Thanks in advance.

Bump.
anyone any experience?

Driving in Jordan is pretty easy and i would think one way rentals between Amman and Aqaba are available. Amman is a great city to explore, and its a short trip to the dead sea resorts (top tip, dont shave your legs just before going in the water, ouch!).

There's a driving loop out to the east of Amman that takes you to Azraq and back past forts. There are a couple of bio reserves that are stunning for hiking or biking and of course Wadi Rum and Petra. Walking into Petra the back way is a great experience, but also going from the front by candle light if you can. Aqaba is a nice holiday town, and there are some cool diving spots in the Red Sea.

Sorry this lacks specifics but its a few years ago since I was there. I found the usual trip advising websites and search engines pretty good.

Mount sinai made me cry and not in a good way.

There was a thread about it recently on here.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5406598-ever-climbed-up-mount-sinai

I went to Jordan a very long time ago (probably 15yrs plus now!) on an Intrepid tour, but we did Amman, Jerash, Petra, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea, Aqaba and Madaba if I remember rightly? In Wadi Rum, we did a night camping under the stars and ive never seen such a night sky before. It was amazing.

At the time, we were due to climb Mount Sinai but the security situation deteriorated and that part of the tour was cancelled. I was gutted at the time. You'll have a fantastic trip.

I thought Foreign Office advice was not to travel to Jordan at present. Does that impact on insurance?

Thanks a mill for the responses. Really appreciate first hand experience and advice.
@YesNoMaybeWhat very helpful, thank you
@SalmonOnFinnCrisp that’s very depressing, I still want to do it but will be definitely on foot with no camels. I’ve walked the Camino for 800km even though I’m not religious at all and found it very moving, even the crowded more commercial parts so I’m hoping it will be similar.
@cornflourblue currently not restricted but with caution and advice re increased tension in the area. I’m very keep explore the area. Will stay away from border areas and assume we will be fine. It’s interesting that I would not travel to US but that’s not because I’m scared.. it’s just that I hate the atmosphere around it at the moment. We’ll see. My son was there 1 month ago and said the people were really lovely and such a welcoming beautiful place so hopefully it will go well 🥰

We went about 7 years ago (just to Jordan) and it was hands down about the best trip I’ve ever done (and I got engaged one night when camping in the Wadi Rum 🥰)

Jerash is definitely definitely worth the trip as are the Crusader forts (Kerak) was great. We did a lovely hike in the Dana reserve and stayed in an amazing hotel there if you want a recommendation. Umm ar Rasas was our hidden gem - we loved it. It’s mostly unexcavated, but amazing as you can see what an archeological dig site might look like before it gets all cleaned up. We found it absolutely fascinating.

Amman is worth a couple of days, the national museum was good.

We also did 2 days and nights hiking and camping in the Wadi Rum and that was also fabulous.

In short - pretty much everything is great.

I went in September and was my favourite trip I’ve done!
Itinerary was Amman - Jerash - Petra - Aqaba - Dead Sea - Madaba.
My tips would be don’t just go through the front entrance to Petra, start at little Petra and do the hike through the back corridor, it was my highlight over the Treasury. Also, Madaba or Amman are a good base for the mosaics, Wadi Mujib (another highlight for me) and Mount Nebo.
Because of the war we basically had Petra to ourself, Madaba was a ghost town too. Their tourism industry has been wiped.

Oh how did I forget the desert camp in Wadi Rum! Another highlight! No phone signal and a beautiful sky of stars. A Bedouin told me not to go during the full moon because the sky is better when there’s no moon.

I can't comment on Jordan, but DH and I walked up Mt Sinai about 18yrs ago. We were there either in Spring or Autumn. It was an organised tour option from our hotel and we arrived at the base about 1am. There were lots of stalls selling beanies, gloves etc. 1 man told me people were skiing on the hill! I thought to myself 'well that's absolute rubbish'.

We just took it slow and steady and arrived before sunrise. People selling hot drinks, snacks and renting out pillows and blankets. It was freezing. To my surprise, when the sunrose, we were surrounded by snow and ice!!! As the sun came out, each hill, one my one was revealed by sunshine. There were several Coptic monks praying, nuns and other religious people, along with lots of tourists like us. 2 Israeli men had carried a large pitta bread up and shared it out with people. I'm not religious but it was quite emotional and moving.

If I did it again, I'd take:
-Head torch or hand held torch
-Layers. Its freezing at night but hot walking back down
-I would recommend a beanie, scarf and possibly gloves along with a jacket. Plus a cap or wide brimmed hat and sunglasses for the walk down
-Water and snacks. A flask of something hot if you could be bothered carrying it
-I wish I'd read up beforehand about St Katherines, the burning bush, the artefacts in the museum along with info about Mt Sinai. We only booked the tour the night before and would have appreciated knowing more about what I was looking at. Its one of our most memorable trips and I have photos of the mountain views framed in our house.

I loved Jordan. One of my favourite ever places. I hope you have a great trip Op.
We went on an organised tour, and did similar places to other posters on here : Amman - Jerash - Madaba - Mount Nebo - Little Petra & Petra - Wadi Rum - Aquaba - Desert Castles - Dead Sea. I loved it all. Such a fascinating interesting place with lovely, friendly people.

Thanks so much for all the information. All hotel/ camping/itinerary recommendations are welcome.
how many days to you need in the different places mentioned.
I can’t believe how overwhelming positive everyone is… there usually someone with a negative perspective

there usually someone with a negative perspective

I already made a mahoosive post up thread about walking up Sinai. Walking down, the only sad thing was seeing lots of small children partly begging and trying to sell things to tourists. I recall smooth gemstones in the shape of eggs for some reason!

DH had a pen visible in his pocket and the kids went crazy wanting to have it. I don't know if they planned to sell it to someone else, or use it at school (if allowed to attend?). It just felt uncomfortable.

That's good to know, following this threasd with interest as Jordan is definitely on my list.

I would so encourage anyone to go. It really is an amazing place. The food is also amazing. I’ve been raving about it to everyone since we got back.

We’re booked for just over a week in April. I’m hoping that our itinerary works.

We arrive late on Saturday night so we have 2 nights in Amman then Jerash, Ajloun Castle and overnight in Madaba. Kings highway to Petra for 3 nights then overnight in Wadi Rum. Finally 2 nights at a Dead Sea resort so we can walk the canyon in Wadi Mujib. We will be exhausted at the end of it but unfortunately that is the maximum time we could take off. I could easily have filled 2 weeks or more.

How are ye planning to get around @whiteroseredrose?
I wonder about renting a car

We’re going to rent a car. Not sure from who yet. We prefer the freedom of self driving.