FAST RIDING IN HISTORICAL WADI RUM
OVERVIEW
Discover the south of Jordan where nature us breathtakingly beautiful and rugged. Your adventure begins in Petra, the rose-red city carved into stone. After exploring its hidden monuments, you meet your horse and ride into the surrounding mountains, where rocky trails and sweeping views set the stage for the journey ahead.
From the mountains, the trail leads into the vast desert of Wadi Rum. Here the pace quickens with thrilling canters across open sands, past towering cliffs, winding canyons, and Bedouin camps. Evenings are spent in desert camps under a sky filled with stars, sharing freshly cooked Arabic meals.
LET’S RIDE
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
Explore the hidden wonders of Petra
Long desert canters
Ride alongside dramatic natural rock formations
Amazing sunrise & sunset views in the desert plains
Ride through Jordans most famous desert - Wadi Rum
Camping under the stars
Relax at the Dead Sea
Bedouin tent encounters
Comfortable desert camps and exceptional hospitality
OVERVIEW
RIDE GUIDE
Duration: 10 Days / 9 Nights / 6 Days Riding
Cost: US$1,950 + US$150 for your own room
Operator: Horse Riding Tours Jordan
Guide languages: English
Max Riders: 10
Min Riders: 3
Age: Most of our riders are aged 28+. We don’t accept children on our rides.
Non Riders:
Where: Amman, Jordan
Riding Level: Advanced. Many years riding with a natural seat. Comfortable riding at speed for up to 15 minutes at a time
Pace: Varied depending on the terrain, chances for long canters when the terrain allows
Weight Limit: Maximum of 85kg / 188lbs / 13.4 stone
Time in the saddle: 2 to 7 hours a day
HORSES
The horses are local horses mainly Arabs, Anglo Arabs and Thoroughbreds. They are not tall but are extremely strong, sturdy and well suited to the harsh conditions of the desert.
Riders must be fit, able to trot, canter and gallop and have experience with trail riding.
All saddles are English style and every horse has a bit and English style bridle according to its temperament.
The saddle blankets have pockets for a water bottle, camera, sun cream, etc. so this can be taken along during riding.
ACCOMMODATION
You will spend four nights in hotels and five nights camping.
You’ll stay in the 3* Mosaic City Hotel in Madaba on nights one and nine.
Two nights at a 3* hotel in Petra on nights two and eight.
While out on the trail in the desert, accommodation is in dome tents. Mattresses are provided and you put up and take down your own tent every day, the team can help you if needed. You can also sleep outside under the stars if you’d like to.
Sanitary facilities in the desert are basic. Mobile camps have minimal toilet facilities, and you may need to dig a small hole in the sand and bring your toilet paper to a garbage bag for disposal later.
Water is limited but is provided for washing face and hands, and a wash tent may be erected on some nights with warm water supplied for you to wash with.
The camp is generally mobile and moved every day, if there is particularly bad weather then you may stay two nights in the same place, riding out in different directions from camp each day.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
All meals excluding dinners on day one and nine and lunch on day two, accommodation, horses, guides, airport transfers before midnight on day one.
WHAT’S EXCLUDED
The price does not include international or domestic flights, mandatory travel insurance, visa at the airport and entry to Petra and Wadi Rum (Jordan Pass), staff tips (which are optional but appreciated) or dinner on day one & day nine in Madaba, lunch on day two in Petra
RIDING
You will be riding fit and forward horses and therefore need to be confident and capable. If you have ridden in Africa, hunt regularly, or own and event your own horse you will enjoy the riding in Jordan. If you are not sure if you are up to it please ask and we will help you discern so.
Not suitable for beginner or intermediate riders or those that exclusively ride in arenas / schools.
There is a strict weight limit of 85kg / 188lbs / 13.4 stone in your riding gear.
TRAVEL & VISAS
You will need a visa to travel to Jordan. If you buy a Jordan Pass online before travelling you can get your visa for free on arrival at the airport. The Jordan Pass also gives you entry to Petra and Wadi Rum.
TRANSFERS
Individual transfers from the airport are included for flights arriving before midnight. For flights arriving after midnight there is a US$50 transfer supplement. It is about a 25 minute drive from the airport to Madaba.
DEPARTURE
You can leave anytime on day ten. Check out from your hotel is at 11am but you are welcome to leave your bags at the hotel and explore the city of Madaba if you have an evening flight.
You are also welcome to take an evening flight after 6pm on day nine.
Your transfer will be 2.5 hours before your flight departure.
MEALS
Daily you will enjoy delicious Arabic dishes. Tea is served at every break and water and soft drinks are available at all times in the cool box.
Vegetarians can be easily catered for. Gluten free is possible too but there is limited gluten free bread available in Jordan so if you want bread at breakfast we recommend to bring your own.
WHAT TO PACK
Refer to our FAQ for what to pack on a horse riding holiday.
Sleeping bags are not provided, please bring your own.
As facilities in the desert are basic we recommend bringing disposable wipes for the five nights camping.
You’ll have pockets on the saddle pads for your water bottle, sunscreen, camera etc. A jeep will take the rest of your luggage and will meet you at each lunch and camping spot.
Riding boots / Chaps, Sun hat, Riding helmet, Trainers / walking shoes, Warm jumper / Jacket (evenings and early mornings will be cold), Light waterproof, Water bottle, Rucksack, Casual wear, Personal medication, Sunglasses, Mosquito repellent, Sun hat and glasses, Head torch, Portable phone Charger
INTERNET
Download an e-sim from Airalo and install before you arrive to be connected at all times.
Use our code BLACKS3976 to receive $3 off your e-sim credit.
DEPARTURE DATES
The season is open from March to May and from September to November.
Join an exclusive Black Saddle departure or as a private group with a minimum of six guests.
US$1,950 per person for nine nights. You can have your own room for US$150
DEPARTURES
2025 Autumn Dates
September: 05 - 14, 12 - 21, 19 - 28, 26 Sep - 05 Oct 2025
October: 26 Sep - 05 Oct, 03 - 12, 17 - 26, 24 Oct - 02 Nov, 31 Oct - 09 Nov 2025
November: 24 Oct - 02 Nov, 31 Oct - 09 Nov, 07 - 16, 14 - 23, 21 - 30.
2026 Spring Dates
March: 13 – 22, 20 - 29, 27 Mar - 05 Apr 2026
April: 03 - 12, 10 - 19, 24 Apr - 03 May 2026
May: 01 - 10, 08 - 17, 15 - 24, 22 - 31
2026 Autumn Dates
September: 04 - 13, 11 - 20, 18 - 27, 25 Sept - 04 Oct 2026
October: 25 Sep -04 Oct, 02 - 11, 09 - 18, 16 - 25, 23 Oct - 1 Nov 2026, 30 Oct - 08 Nov 2026
November: 30 Oct - 08 Nov, 06 - 15, 13 - 22, 20 - 29
Fill in an obligation-free Rider Form with your preferred dates and we will get back to you with availability.
Jordan
Currency + cash: The local currency is the Jordanian Dinar (JOD). . Bring USD, GBP, or EUR in cash, as they are easy to exchange. ATMs are widely available in cities, but for smaller towns or rural areas, carrying some local currency is useful.
Time Zone: Jordan Standard Time (GMT +3)
Climate: October: Pleasant, highs 25–30°C, lows 13–18°C
Nov–Dec: Cooler, highs 13–20°C, lows 5–10°C
Jan–Feb: Coldest months, highs 10–15°C, lows 2–5°C (nights can be close to 0°C, especially in the desert)
March: Warming up, highs 15–22°C, lows 6–12°C
Attire: Jordan is a muslim country, so care should be taken to dress respectfully by wearing loose fitting clothing and keeping hair and shoulders covered in public places. Ladies should avoid wearing ‘clingy, tight or suggestive’ attire, and will sometimes need to cover their hair.
FAQ
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Jordan is considered one of the safest and most stable countries in the Middle East, with a long tradition of welcoming visitors. The areas you’ll visit—Petra, Wadi Rum, Madaba, and the Dead Sea—are well-established tourist destinations and far from regional trouble spots.
From your arrival at Queen Alia International Airport to your departure, all transfers and logistics are arranged by trusted local partners. Your guides and support team are highly experienced in looking after both riders and horses, ensuring you can focus on enjoying the adventure.
You should check the travel advice for your countries foreign office. You can find the UK’s advice here and the USA advice here
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You’ll fly in and out of Queen Alia International Airport in Amman (AMM). Most flights arrive in the evening and we recommend flights before midnight. There is a US$50 supplement on transfers for flights arriving after midnight.
We create WhatsApp groups for our safaris so guests can align travel plans before the rides.
ITINERARY
This itinerary is intended as a guide only. Your hosts may change the itinerary to take advantage of weather conditions. Those not interested in hunting will instead enjoy countryside hacks and beach polo.
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Transfer to a 3* hotel in Madaba; a mostly Christian town. If time allows you can visit the St. George church and the mosaics at the archaeological museum. We can recommend you a very nice Jordanian dinner at a nice local restaurant: Haret Djoudna.
No riding today, 25 minutes driving
Overnight at the 3* Mosaic City Hotel in Madaba
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08.00 AM: transfer to Petra (3 hrs). You will be taken to your 3* hotel where you can leave your luggage (Early check-in if possible). A short walk takes you to the visitor center of Petra where they scan your Jordan Pass and you start your (non guided) visit via the Siq, the Treasury, the street of façades and the colonnaded street. You can climb up to the monastery or the high place of Sacrifice. Today you will have dinner and a pre-ride meeting at Petra B&B with your guide for the horse ride.
No riding today, three hours driving
Overnight at a 3* hotel in Petra
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After breakfast: transfer to the starting point of the ride (25 minutes). In the mountains you start your adventure. We always recommend wearing a riding helmet on the first day as the area is very rocky. the morning ride is 2,5 hrs with amazing views over Petra and Wadi Araba. After lunch we continue for another 2.5 hours, you ride through some small villages and past Bedouin tents while the area slowly changes from mountains to desert. Your enjoy your first night under the stars.
Five hours riding
Overnight at tent camp
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After breakfast you take down your tent, our team prepares your horse and the ride can start!
We ride about 2 hours towards the village of Humayma, where we lead the horses across the Desert Highway into the north part of Wadi Rum, the Kharaza area. We enjoy our first real long canter before we stop for our lunch break. In the afternoon we ride 2,5 hours through dry river beds and through valleys to the camp location. Be quick to take the saddle off your horse, he can’t wait to take a good sand-bath. It’s a beautiful spot with great views.Four - five hours riding
Overnight at tent camp
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After breakfast, the third day of riding begins in a stunning part of the desert, you cross into the protected area of Wadi Rum. The morning ride is 2,5 to 3 hours depending on how much the group enjoys looooong canters :-) Lunch is near Umm Ishrin. As always there is plenty of time to relax, enjoy lunch, maybe take a little nap, make pictures and enjoy the scenery. After lunch we continue for another 2,5 hrs on endless sand roads, in this area the sand has many colors so keep those cameras ready!
Five - six hours riding
Overnight at tent camp
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Today our morning ride is between 2 and 2,5 hours with beautiful views, mountains and valleys. After a well deserved lunch break we ride another 2,5 hours via Burdah Bridge to the 5 kilometer long Barrah Canyon where we camp. Enjoy the silence...
Four - five hours riding
Overnight at tent camp
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This morning after breakfast continue our ride through Barrah canyon, we ride for about 3 hours with more amazing views, colors and nice long canters along the way. After our lunch break we continue for another 2 hours. Our camping spot is near a beautiful dune, great for sunset and sunrise pictures, if you’re lucky you can even snap a few hot air balloons very early in the morning.
Five hours riding
Overnight at tent camp
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After breakfast we ride for 2,5 hours in a beautiful area where you will see natural rock bridges and a “mushroom” rock along the way and you will enjoy more good canters. After lunch we ride for about 1 hour via a mud flat, where we can enjoy our last short canter. This afternoon you say goodbye to your horse and to the team, you’ll be transferred back to a 3* hotel in Petra where you can wash away all the dust of this week. Dinner at Petra B&B.
Three - four hours riding
Overnight at 3* hotel in Petra
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8.00 AM: transfer to the Dead Sea (3 hrs). You spend the afternoon at the 5* Holiday Inn Resort, where you have access to the beach, Dead Sea mud, pools and other facilities of the resort and where you enjoy lunch at their buffet restaurant (drinks are not included). Around 5 PM: Transfer to your 3* hotel in Madaba via the scenic Mt. Nebo way through the hills (45 minutes)
No riding today, around four hours driving
Overnight at 3* Mosaic City Hotel in Madaba
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Pick up 2,5 hours before the departure time of your flight.
PRICES & AVAILABILITY
US$1,950 per person for nine nights.
2025 Autumn Dates
September: 05 - 14, 12 - 21, 19 - 28, 26 Sep - 05 Oct 2025
October: 26 Sep - 05 Oct, 03 - 12, 17 - 26, 24 Oct - 02 Nov, 31 Oct - 09 Nov 2025
November: 24 Oct - 02 Nov, 31 Oct - 09 Nov, 07 - 16, 14 - 23, 21 - 30.
2026 Spring Dates
March: 13 – 22, 20 - 29, 27 Mar - 05 Apr 2026
April: 03 - 12, 10 - 19, 24 Apr - 03 May 2026
May: 01 - 10, 08 - 17, 15 - 24, 22 - 31
2026 Autumn Dates
September: 04 - 13, 11 - 20, 18 - 27, 25 Sept - 04 Oct 2026
October: 25 Sep -04 Oct, 02 - 11, 09 - 18, 16 - 25, 23 Oct - 1 Nov 2026, 30 Oct - 08 Nov 2026
November: 30 Oct - 08 Nov, 06 - 15, 13 - 22, 20 - 29
Fill in an obligation-free Rider Form with your preferred dates and we will get back to you with availability.
HOW TO BOOK
Saddles are reserved with a 25% deposit. The balance is due 90 days before departure.
Cancellation Terms
Your deposit is non refundable
90 - 61 days in advance the deposit or 50% of the full amount is forfeited.
60 – 0 days in advance 100% of the full amount is forfeited.
YOUR GUIDE
Your guide is Eid Alhasanat. He was born and raised in Wadi Rum and started working in Petra as a young boy, bringing guests from the entrance to the Treasury.
He has been guiding in the mountains around Petra and Wadi Rum for the last 20 years. With deeps roots in the region he a vast knowledge of the mountains, desert and local culture.
ACCOMODATION
MADEBA HOTEL
Nights one and nine are spent at the 3* Mosaic City Hotel in Madaba. A family owned hotel right in the centre of town, a short walk to Madaba’s mosaics and churches.
DESERT CAMPING
Nights three to seven are spent camping in the desert in basic dome tents. Mattresses are provided but you’ll need to bring your own sleeping bags. You can sleep outside if its not too cold and enjoy the amazing night skies of the desert.
PETRA HOTEL
Nights two and eight are spent at a 3* hotel in Petra. A short walk to the centre of Petra where you can explore the breath taking ancient city.
