FAQ Category: Jordan

October is the most ideal time to visit Jordan, being especially kind for hikers!  The country will typically experience its first rainfall during this time and the place starts to bloom up. Temperatures can run between a minimum of 20 degrees Celsius (68F) and upwards of 30 degrees Celsius (89F) in some parts of the desert. We would expect mostly clear skies, but it could rain (though usually this is for a short time only). Sunscreen, a sun hat and reliable rain gear are important.

It is helpful to know that a large number of solo female travellers visit Jordan each year! And most of these visits are problem-free. However, to increase your personal confidence, we recommend spending some time understanding the country’s culture, religion and traditions prior to arrival. This includes having an awareness of appropriate attire, potential challenges you may face while visiting and attitudes in general towards women.

The question we get most often is about what to wear! And generally speaking, when compared to neighbouring countries, Jordan is fairly relaxed when it comes to clothing. That said the dress codes are still considered strict when you compare them to many Western countries. Jordan is a very religious country and the majority of citizens are Muslim. With that in mind, we’ll be providing a “Jordan-101” Webinar in advance of our G’WA to address your questions.

The currency in Jordan is the Jordanian dinar. It is the official legal tender in Jordan, which means it is officially recognized by the Jordanian government. No other currency is officially accepted in Jordan. Major credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard, and Amex are accepted in Jordan, especially at shops and restaurants. Debit cards linked to your bank account are also widely accepted. We recommend converting some of your local currency to smaller JOD prior to departure (must usually be ordered well in advance with your bank) or on arrival at the airport. (Though conversion fees tend to be high there.)

Here’s some interesting monetary mambo-jumbo that may surprise you. As far as conversion goes, the dinar is considered to be one of the strongest currencies in the Middle East. For one, the dinar is pegged against the USD! And the country benefits from a low inflation rate, a supportive banking sector, and a well-managed foreign exchange system. Jordan is typically considered one of the more “expensive” countries in the Middle East.

During our 8-Day Jordan Trail trek, you should not expect to have much access to electronic charging. After leaving Amman on Day 3 with your fully charged devices, our next decent charging opportunity will be at the Bedouin Camp in Little Petra on Day 7. You can charge your devices there until around 10pm when the camp turns the generator off for the night.

If you want extended access to electronic devices, we recommend bringing a reliable battery pack or solar recharging device.

Your expedition bag will be transferred from camp-to-camp each day, and it should not weigh more than 30lbs.  You should be prepared to carry a daypack that weighs anywhere from 8-12 pounds. Your daypack will contain drinking water (bear in mind that every litre of water weighs 2.2lbs, and you will be carrying a minimum of 3Ls/water at a time), sun protection and your lunch, along with any photography equipment you wish to carry.

This is a proper adventure where you’ll be required to go a number of days without a shower!

And while we will have access to more basic shower facilities on the trek (at our Rummana camp there are shared showers and toilets), the water may not always be hot and we’ll be asking you to keep your shower time to a minimum (Jordan has a severe water crisis on its hands). When sleeping in any of our wilderness camps, a ‘wash room’ tent and toilet tent will be set up at each overnight location. These are basic facilities, but allow privacy to wash and use the bathroom. In Little Petra, our camping will be notched up to more deluxe style tents with private showers and toilets.

Visitors from all countries require a passport (valid for a minimum of six months following departure date) and visa to enter Jordan. However, we will provide our group with a collective travel visa as part of our Manifest. Note that this is subject to change and requires all participant passport information a minimum 14-days in advance of arrival.

Jordanian food is sure to satisfy… Think hummus, falafel and shawarma! Along the Jordan Trail, our camp cooks prepare fresh meals with an emphasis on healthy, local cuisine with locally sourced ingredients. Lunches are usually packed and carried with us. You are welcome to bring any of your own favourite snacks but rest assured, you will be well-fed on this adventure!

Jordan has a simultaneous dual crisis unfolding: a rampant plastic pollution alongside a critical shortage of water. SWTW is extremely concerned! During our scouting expedition in the fall of 2022, we were shocked at the volume of bottled water we saw in circulation, driven mainly by the tourism and out-of-home sector. The problems here are aggravated by a structural lack of recycling options. The kingdom is struggling. Plastic is strewn all over the country, even in the most remote corners of the desert.

As we do not recommend you drink the tap water, we’ll be supplying all your water needs throughout the adventure. We will require you to bring your own purification tablets. Part of our mission is to work with organizations who share our values when it comes to limiting the carbon footprint. We’ll be providing more detailed information on this as our adventure draws closer.

This is an 8-day trek with multiple days covering substantial kilometers (22-24kms, or 13-14 miles).  That is eight days in a row with 5-7 hour hikes. You should be reasonably fit to be able to enjoy this hike. Prior trekking experience is unnecessary, but I always recommend that you feel confident in your abilities to put in this kind of mileage. Build up your hiking endurance in advance of this adventure. You can always Contact Me with any questions you have.

Arabic is the primary language spoken in Jordan, with English widely known in the larger cities like Amman. We’ll have an English-speaking licensed guide with us throughout our Trek, but our local “navigation guide” is likely to speak more basic English. We’ll provide you with an Arabic “Cheat Sheet” on arrival so that you’re armed with some useful phrases.

Evacuation from the Jordan Trail is a possibility you should consider. Broken legs, bee stings, you name it — sometimes life will throw you a curveball! We do not take risks lightly, which is why all participants are required to carry Emergency Travel Insurance. We can assist you to ensure you purchase appropriate and reliable protection, just in case. This is Sam’s area of expertise, and while we don’t anticipate any issues, insurance is a hard requirement.

Our expedition is designed with double occupancy in mind. This is to your benefit… There is nothing quite like the camaraderie of sharing a tent with a new friend after hiking miles and miles each day! Our tents are spacious enough to accommodate two people quite easily. Of course, if you’d like your own tent, and also your own hotel room on the adventure, we offer this (subject to availability and with notice) for our Single Supplementary rate of $475.

Ahh, this famous question. I understand, as I am the turtle! Do not be concerned with your pacing or speed. Everyone moves at their own rhythm. Sufficient rest stops and breaks are built into our program; and this is by no means a race, nor a death march! The entire point of the G’WA is to slow down, take note of the varying landscape, to breathe in the fresh air, and to turn inward. There is no hurrying required. Chances are, I will be the one bringing up the rear!

Jet lag is a real thing! It can wipe you out both mentally and physically. Fortunately, the real challenge for this adventure doesn’t begin until Day 4. By this time, you should be more than adjusted to the clock in Jordan. Some clients will build in an extra day on the front end just to be fresh, but the way our Itinerary is designed, it is unnecessary. Note that Jordan is currently +7 hours ahead of the Eastern Time Zone.