How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Mo could not have been more helpful , friendly and informative he really new his subject , and in no small way made the tour brilliant .  

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

I would suggest that you do some walking beforehand as this will make Petra more manageable.

Do you have anything else to add?

More trips in Jordan

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

I can't say enough about our tour leader.  Awad was such a friendly,  approachable character.  He tended to each persons individual need.  He created a great atmosphere and always had a smile on his face,  always ready to listen and especially answer questions!  I was beginning to wonder by the end of the tour whether ha had a built in search engine in his brain as there was no question he didn't have the answer to.  He was extremely intuitive and he really made my holiday and the rest of the group's so enjoyable.  

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

I would advise them to try to sleep out under the stars in the desert.  I did and it was unforgettable!

Do you have anything else to add?

Would've preferred another nights stay camping in the desert.  I plan to go back to Jordan and do a trekking tour as I enjoyed the camping and walking parts of the holiday so much.  The local people are very friendly and very polite.  Everything went without a hitch and is like to thank all the team at explore especially Awad Hajara Fir making my holiday to Jordan an unforgettable experience!

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Mohammed was an absolute star. His knowledge of the history of the whole area was unbelievable. I don't think there was a single question that he couldn't answer. His command of the English language was superb which added to his already high inter personal skills. Mohammed allowed the group plenty of time to take photos and generally enjoy the ambiance of the places that we visited. I cannot speak highly enough of him, and I know the whole group felt the same.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Make sure that you bring clothing that covers at least the shoulders if you are a woman to prevent unneccessary attentention when in Amman. Walking around petra and Jerash can be hard underfoot so make sure you have a good pair of comfortable walking shoes or trainers. Plenty of sun cream too!

Do you have anything else to add?

Nothing other than I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. The tour itself was pitched just right, and the people in the group were lovely. Thanks.

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Mohammed was fantastic,very knowledgeable,excellent English and very organised,he involved everybody during the tour and made it a truly memorable experience.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

I would advise that you should take in all you see,the Jordanian people seem genuinely pleased to see you , their is a lot of history to take in and it is worth reading up a bit beforehand. Jordan is a relatively small country and this tour pretty much covers all the main places to see and is well paced,though when in Petra there is a fair bit of walking and climbing if you want it.

Do you have anything else to add?

The first day of the itinerary implies you can see Amman,but the group flight gets in after midnight ,we actually got to hotel at 4 am, so day one is already gone - rather misleading.

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Our tour leader was excellent and coped well with the different and sometimes difficult personalities!

Do you have anything else to add?

This is our second Explore trip and we would always look at travelling with you again if you go to the destination.

 

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

 

A bit disappointing to be honest - left us to fend for ourselves in the evenings in both Amman and Aquaba - in fact on the last afternoon he seemed in a rush to get away (at about 4pm) after giving us very rough (and as it happened inaccurate) directions on how to walk into central Amman from our hotel.

 

 

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

 

"Get a good & up-to-date guide book and/or make use of Trip-Advisor to find good restaurants - use taxis in Amman, but make sure the driver knows where he's going! Our driver set off confidently only to later decide he didn't know our hotel!!!

Get at least some currency before you go as its hard to exchange currency when you first get to Jordan (due to flight arriving after mid-night)."

 

 

Do you have anything else to add?

 

Be prepared for a busy week with something new for every day, although quite a relaxed pace with no really early starts and even though there's quite a bit of travelling it passes quite quickly as there's always something interesting to look at.  The afternoon in Wadi-Rum is a bit of a waste of time & we didn't expect to have all of our luggage in the tent with us - this took up half the space available, so we slept outside under the stars!

 

 

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

 

I'd say he was a good guide but not a tour leader - He knew his history etc and ran the visits well, but other than this left us to ourselves.  Most notably in Amman there was no group meal organised either at the start or end of the tour, in fact virtually no help was given as to where to eat in either Amman or Aquaba - we did have two group meals in Petra.  We got a taxi to a restaurant (from guide book) in Amman - got ripped off on the way and on the return the driver got lost & had to ring someone for directions to our hotel - not a pleasant start to the week!

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

 

 

Get your currency before you go, we didn't (as per trip notes) and due to very late night arrival & early start the next day we had no local money for water, snacks, souvenirs etc until late afternoon on day 2.  Also please note that Jordan is an expensive destination (£1 = 1 Dinar) expect to pay £5/£7 for a beer and £30+ for a bottle of local wine - meals can easily cost £20-£30/head. Even our tips kitty cost me £50 (£25/each) and we didn't even get our bags taken/collected from our room!

Do you have anything else to add?

 

 

This is a very nice trip with something new every day, quite a bit of travelling but we had plenty of stops and the bus was comfortable (and not full thankfully).  Our group had quite a high average age and quite a few weren't fit enough for touring the sights (especially Petra) - this together with the lack of group meals lead to a very fragmented group experience.

 

 

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Superb. Heather encouraged me to challenge my fears and do things that I wouldn't normally do, like running up and down dunes in the Wadi Rum, or snorkelling in the Red Sea. She was extremely knowledgeable about the area, and encouraged everyone to get involved. She made sure that no-one was left on their own, unless they wanted to be on their own, and was great fun to be with. She led an optional walk on our free day in Petra that was one of my highlights of the tour.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Pack conservatively; long sleeved tops that aren't too low-cut and full length trousers. Don't bother with the Petra by Night tour, but do opt for the camel trek in the Wadi Rum, do sleep outside in the Wadi Rum, and do opt for the snorkelling from the boat in Aqaba. And try the mint and lemon drink - it's delicious.

Do you have anything else to add?

I felt the first couple of days were a bit rushed; I would have liked to spend more time in Madaba in particular, and in Kerak, perhaps fitting in the other crusader castle in the district. I understand that since I did this trip, it has added an extra day which I would have appreciated!

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Our tour leader was not only helpful and accommodating, but also great fun to be with.  Thank you Saleh for the best Christmas ever.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

A full-on week in the Middle East.  Jordan is surely the role model for this region - peaceful, friendly and safe.  Go soon.

Do you have anything else to add?

Travel broadens the mind - and the waistline!!

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Brilliant, organised, and knew exactly what an Explore group would want from a holiday like this one.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Don't dash through the Siq (the long gorge leading into Petra) in your desire to reach the Treasury.  Whilst the Treasury is very beautiful, the Siq itself is also fantastic, and well worth going through at different times of day to appreciate how the light changes.  Long-sleeved clothing is best to keep the sun off in a dry-heat country like Jordan.  And the locals approve of you more that way, too.  Plus it helps when you're on camelback...  That fur isn't all that soft...

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Superb

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

If you want culture, history and a great and varied time this one is for you.

An absorbing trip with a fun group of people. Mandy was a super leader and our local guides were all brilliant. This trip allowed plenty of time for relaxation with plenty of optional activities. The historic sights are awesome. The only change I would make is to start a separate tour covering the sights of northern Jordan. A terrific country to visit with a deep culture.  The Jordanians are very welcoming and kindly. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to experience the Middle East in a fun manner. (JD - 11th June 2011)

Had an overall fab time, great group, Jordanian people exceptionally friendly. Initial trip to Jerash is stunning. Petra was amazing as expected and lunar eclipse at Wadi Rum just topped an amazing trip off. Dont forget insect repellant at Wadi Rum - repellant not necessary at other stops. Make sure walking sandles/shoes are well broken in as Petra is big. Enjoy. (JD - 18th June 2011)

If you are looking for a memorable holiday then this is the one for you, visit one of the 7 wonders – prepare to be amazed!! Petra is BREATH taking – we spent 2 full days here and it still wasn’t long enough! Jordan has something for everyone,
Relax and read your Explore brochure while floating on the dead sea
Keep fit by snorkelling in the red sea followed by a wonderful lunch and a cold drink – HEAVEN !! (JD - 5th May 2011)

I've wanted to go to Jordan, especially Petra half my life and it certainly didn't disappoint. It's a beautiful, diverse country with lovely people and some fantastic food. The hotels were all of a very high standard, and as usual in very good locations. We travelled mostly by bus but the 4x4 through Wadi Rum was great fun. There unfortunatly wasn't much time in Amman so we didn't see what it had to offer, an extra day there would have been nice. Other than that the trip is well formed and takes in the highlights for just about the right length of time I'd say. The highlight for me was Petra by night, a quiet walk through over 2000 candles towards the Treasury, then some story telling and music before you head home. It's optional at about £12.00pp but well worth it, lovely. (JD - 19th March 2011)

The start of the trip was very relaxed especially as I was on a land only deal and met the group at a different time. The timings of the excursions was very well planned given the full ininerary. Aquaba could have been given another day, possibly. The highlight was Petra. I rented a horse with 3 other members of the group and had a guide take us on the second day on a 2 1/2 hour ride showing us differing views of the site. I have his details and could thoroughly recommend Explore using him.  The camel ride and the night and sunrise in the desert was magical. I would love to do a week camping and travelling through the desert, camp to camp. The scenery and colours were amazing.  Thankfully nothing unpleasantly unexpected, Petra again just kept on giving more and more to see- beautiful. I would not however recommend Petra by night. I did take all other extra trips including the baths and enjoyed them all. (JD - 24th October 2010)

A great trip if you only have a week free - Jordan is small enough to cover the main attractions in that time. Good mixture of culture and nature, busy days and relaxation. I enjoyed every aspect of it even if the hotel in Petra was not the best and the group size (20) (JD - 21st October 2010)

The main highlight for me was the incredible archaeological site of Petra.  I’d also highly recommend the option of snorkelling above the beautiful coral and fish in the Red Sea.  We didn't expect cloud cover and a thunderstorm in Wadi Rum, but it added to the experience!  The poor standard of 4WD driving was disappointing, but overall this is a fantastic ‘must do’ trip! (JD -September 16th 2010)

An excellent week long tour of Jordan's many highlights taking in the magnificent ruins at Jerash and Petra to the camel trek to Wadi Rum and snorkelling at Aqaba. Seeing Jordan during Ramadan and the explosion of activity at night was a bonus rather than a hindrance. The varied and busy schedule made for a number of real highlights. The very early morning walks to the best viewing sites at Petra (as recommended by our guide) gave the group wonderful views of the ruins and the mountain secenery as we felt we had the site to just ourselves. If you part the hard work into these morning walks then you can relax and enjoy the rest of Petra during the intense heat of the day. The first view of the Monastery was the best moment of the trip. The journey to Wadi Rum via Lawrence's Pillars of Wisdom, a great camel ride and the fast dune driving was a terrific experience and sleeping out under the stars is a must. I would certainly recommend the snorkelling trip to Aqaba - good snorkelling & swimming in warm seas, the fact that the local Aqaba boat company provided a huge and handsome boat just for our group when they could have put the Explore family trip on board with us to save themselves costs was a particularly good touch. I have been on a dozen snorkelling trips all over the world and this was a luxourious boat ride compared to most. The food on board was excellent too.    In future I would recommend that the tour stays for a couple of hours more at the Dead Sea site than we had - after a busy week and swimming in the salty water it would have been good to have had a bit of extra time at the super swimming pool at the resort. Other than that the itinirary, organisation and tour leader (s) were excellent. Recommendations for good eating sites were spot on. (JD - 22nd August 2010)

We celebrated New Year's Eve in Petra, singing and dancing courtesy of the Jordanian men, amazed other tourists as we rode camels into Wadi Rum where we watched the sun sink over the mountains before sleeping overnight in a traditional bedouin tent, a luxury boat trip on the Red Sea with wonderful snorkeling contrasted with floating in the Dead Sea, visited the baptismal site on the Jordan river, saw ancient pilgram routes and wonderful mosaics, clambered around forts that hide tales of historic battles fought, and did I mention the delicious foods - Jordan was a surprise and a delight in every way. (JD- 27th December 2009)