Explore Pella’s biblical ruins spanning 6,000 years of settlement
12-Day Jordan Grand Explorer: Explore Jordan’s hidden trails in 12 days. Dana Biosphere, Feynan, Pella, Umm Qais, plus all iconic sites.
Continue planning with our Jordan tours, and consult the official Jordan Tourism Board for current destination information.
Twelve days opens doors that shorter tours never reach. Beyond Petra and Wadi Rum lie landscapes most travelers never know exist: the forested highlands of Ajloun, the biblical ruins of Pella, the Greco-Roman Decapolis of Umm Qais overlooking the Sea of Galilee, and the wild cliffs of Dana Biosphere where wolves still roam at dawn. This grand explorer adds these hidden treasures to Jordan’s iconic circuit, creating a journey that satisfies both the checklist traveler and the curious wanderer. With four nights at Petra and boutique lodges throughout, this is the tour for travelers who have read the guidebooks and want to go further.
Twelve days allows Jordan’s complete circuit plus genuine off-path exploration. Four nights at Petra means every trail is possible, including the less-visited High Place of Sacrifice at sunrise and the challenging Al-Khubtha trail. Dana and Feynan add two nights of wilderness and sustainability education. Pella and Umm Qais bring biblical and Hellenistic dimensions that most tours skip. The Dead Sea gets two full days for spa treatments and genuine therapeutic benefit. If you want to explore, not just visit, twelve days is the sweet spot.
Key details for planning this private journey experience.
Explore Pella’s biblical ruins spanning 6,000 years of settlement
Stand at Umm Qais with views of Jordan, Israel, and Syria
Trek Dana Biosphere’s Wadi Dana trail with a local ranger
Experience Feynan Eco Lodge’s candlelit, off-grid hospitality
Climb Petra’s High Place of Sacrifice at sunrise for golden light
Discover Little Petra’s painted Nabataean ceilings
Enjoy two full Dead Sea days with spa treatments and mud therapy
A simple view of what is covered in this journey and what should be planned separately.
Arrival at Queen Alia International Airport. Transfer to hotel, welcome dinner, and overnight Amman.
Citadel and Roman Theater, downtown souks and spice market, traditional Jordanian lunch, Rainbow Street arts walk, cooking class, dinner, and overnight Amman.
Depart for Jerash, full Roman city exploration, lunch, Ajloun Castle and forest reserve, and overnight Ajloun or Amman.
Drive north to Pella archaeological site, lunch, Umm Qais basilica, theater, Ottoman village, and return to Amman.
Depart for Dana, Dana Village walk, lunch at Dana Lodge, guided Wadi Dana trail hike, and overnight Dana Lodge.
Morning hike or village visit, transfer to Feynan Eco Lodge, eco activities, bread making, archaeological site visit, candlelit dinner, and overnight Feynan.
Breakfast, transfer to Petra, hotel check-in, lunch, first Petra visit through the Siq to the Treasury, and overnight Petra.
High Place of Sacrifice sunrise hike, Royal Tombs, Colonnaded Street, lunch, Byzantine Church mosaics, Garden Tomb, and overnight Petra.
Monastery trail, lunch, Little Petra visit, depart for Wadi Rum, camp arrival, sunset, dinner, stargazing, and overnight Bedouin camp.
Breakfast, jeep safari continuation, transfer to Aqaba, lunch, snorkeling excursion, and overnight Aqaba.
Morning beach time, transfer to the Dead Sea, resort arrival, float, mud therapy, and overnight Dead Sea.
Breakfast, spa treatment, final float, lunch, transfer to Queen Alia International Airport, and departure.
Everything important for planning, comfort, access, timing, and on-the-ground expectations.
Pickup: airport arrival.
Drop-off: airport Day 12 at 16:30.
Accommodation: boutique 4-star hotels and eco-lodges.
Routing: complete Jordan circuit with additional hidden northern and wilderness sites.
12 days, 11 nights.
Total driving: 20 hours.
Activity time: 55 hours.
Leisure time: 30 hours.
Private: 2 to 8 guests.
Group: 9 to 16 guests.
Vehicle: premium vehicles.
Wadi Rum: local 4×4 trucks.
Level: Moderate to high.
Dana involves 3 to 5 mile hikes. Petra requires significant walking and stairs. Good fitness enhances the experience, but easier alternatives are available where possible.
2 guests: From $1,485 per person.
4 guests: From $1,320 per person.
6 guests: From $1,215 per person.
8 guests: From $1,140 per person.
Jordan Pass holders: deduct $110 per person.
Children under 12: 50% of adult price.
March-May and September-November: best overall conditions.
June-August: hot but manageable with early starts.
December-February: cool but pleasant.
Booking: 25% deposit.
Balance: due 21 days before departure.
Cancellation: full refund more than 21 days out, 50% refund 14 to 21 days, no refund under 14 days.
Not wheelchair accessible. Dana and Petra involve hiking and stairs. Pella and Umm Qais have uneven terrain. Alternative options are available for guests with limited mobility.
Dana/Feynan: limited rooms, book well ahead.
Pella and Umm Qais: open year-round.
Petra by Night: available Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Ramadan: modified dining hours may apply.
Useful labels that help compare this journey with other Jordan Journey experiences.
Clear answers before you reserve your journey.
Two extra days: Pella and Umm Qais in the north, plus an extra night at Petra and Aqaba. This tour includes sites most visitors never reach.
The Wadi Dana trail is moderate: about 5 miles with a 1,000-foot descent. It is guided by a local ranger and suitable for most active travelers.
One of the Decapolis cities, occupied for 6,000 years. It has biblical associations, Bronze Age temples, Byzantine churches, and remarkably few tourists.
Basic but beautiful. Solar-powered, candlelit, and rooted in authentic Bedouin experiences. It is one of National Geographic’s top eco-lodges.
Yes. Add extra nights anywhere, swap Aqaba for more Dead Sea time, or extend to Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
Moderate fitness. If you can walk 5 miles and climb stairs comfortably, you will manage. Dana and Petra have easier alternatives.
Yes. Umm Qais and Pella are extraordinary and different from the south. The views from Umm Qais alone justify the drive.
Premium Toyota Land Cruisers or Mercedes Vito vans. All are air-conditioned and equipped for long-distance touring.
