Cycle Jordan: Self-Launched Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea Ride
9 days · Jordan
Explore! charges £1,900
No-markup version: ~£705 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Explore!'s 9-day Cycle Jordan trip: ride from Madaba over Mount Nebo to the Dead Sea, along the King's Highway to Shobak and Petra, out to Little Petra, then across the desert highways into Wadi Rum and down to the Red Sea at Aqaba. Instead of a guided group with a support van, you'll hire a hybrid bike locally, use JETT and local buses plus shared taxis between stages, sleep in budget hotels and a Bedouin camp, and book guides and experiences individually (Petra guide, Wadi Rum jeep tour, cooking class, Dead Sea beach access). Roughly 190 km of moderate riding over five days — mostly tarmac with some climbs and heat to manage. All costs are approximate per person, excluding international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Madaba — mosaics and trip prep
Madaba
Fly into Queen Alia International Airport (many nationalities can get the Jordan Pass online in advance, which covers the visa fee and Petra entry — buy it before you fly). Take the airport shuttle or a shared taxi to Madaba (~£10-15, 25 mins). Check into a budget hotel near the centre, then spend the late afternoon wandering the Byzantine mosaic churches — St George's Church with its famous Madaba Map is a 10-minute walk from most guesthouses and entry is a couple of dinars. In the evening, sort your bike: local operators such as Jordan Bike Trail-affiliated shops and Madaba/Ammam cycle shops rent hybrid bikes for around £15-22/day, or ask your guesthouse to arrange one. Confirm your route south and pick up a local SIM (Umniah/Orange, ~£8 for data). Eat at a falafel/hummus spot in town (~£5-7).
🚌Airport shuttle/shared taxi to Madaba (~£12); walking in town
🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Madaba (private twin/dorm, ~£20-28)
- →St George's Church & Madaba Map mosaics
- →Madaba Archaeological Park mosaics
- →Bike hire and route briefing
- →Buy Jordan Pass online in advance
Cycle Madaba to Mount Nebo and float in the Dead Sea
Madaba – Mount Nebo – Dead Sea – Shobak
Ride out early (before the heat) on the quiet climb up to Mount Nebo (~10 km, steady ascent) for the Moses memorial church and the view across the Jordan Valley — a great warm-up ride. Descend towards the Dead Sea on the winding road, then head to a public/spa beach such as Amman Beach or a hotel day pass (~£15-20) for showers, mud and the float. Carry plenty of water — there's little shade. In the afternoon, put the bike on a local bus or shared taxi down the Dead Sea Highway towards Karak/Shobak (ask at your hotel; minibuses from Madaba to Karak run regularly, ~£5-8, then a shared taxi onward). Overnight in Shobak village near the castle in a simple guesthouse — a picnic lunch from a Madaba bakery keeps costs low.
🚌Cycling ~35-45 km Madaba–Nebo–Dead Sea; local minibus/shared taxi Dead Sea–Karak–Shobak (~£8-12)
🛏Simple guesthouse in Shobak (~£18-25)
- →Cycling to Mount Nebo
- →Mount Nebo memorial church & viewpoint
- →Dead Sea swim, mud and shower facilities (day pass)
- →Sunset at Shobak
Shobak Castle and the King's Highway ride to Petra
Shobak – Petra (Wadi Musa)
Start with an hour exploring Shobak (Montreal) Castle — Crusader ruins with free-ish entry (Jordan Pass covers it). Then ride the King's Highway south towards Wadi Musa: rolling tarmac with long descents and a few climbs, roughly 40-50 km. It's exposed, so start by 7am and take a picnic lunch. Alternatively, ride a shorter section and hop a local minibus for the rest if the heat bites. Arrive in Wadi Musa (Petra's town), check into a budget hotel, and buy/activate your Jordan Pass for Petra entry. Evening: eat cheaply at a local restaurant (~£6-8) and, if it's a Monday/Wednesday/Thursday, book Petra by Night (~£14) via your hotel.
🚌Cycling ~40-50 km King's Highway; minibus back-up option ~£4
🛏Budget hotel in Wadi Musa, 2-3* equivalent (~£22-30)
- →Shobak Castle
- →King's Highway cycling
- →Petra by Night (optional, ~£14)
Full day in Petra with a local guide
Petra
Be at the visitor centre for opening (6-6.30am) to walk the Siq before the crowds and heat. Book a licensed local guide for a half-day highlights tour through GetYourGuide or directly at the visitor centre (~£35-50 shared, or ~£60-70 private) — they cover the Siq, Treasury, Street of Facades, Royal Tombs and the basics of the Monastery route. Spend the afternoon on your own: the climb to the Monastery (800 steps) is the big one; carry 2L+ of water. In the evening, join a small-group Bedouin cooking experience in Wadi Musa — maklouba (upside-down rice and meat dish) and Um Ali dessert — bookable via GetYourGuide or your hotel for ~£25-35 including dinner.
🚌Walking; Petra site is 2 km from town centre (local shuttle ~£1)
🛏Budget hotel in Wadi Musa (~£22-30)
- →Guided Petra highlights tour (Siq, Treasury, Royal Tombs)
- →Monastery hike (self-led)
- →Bedouin cooking class with maklouba & Um Ali (~£30)
Little Petra and El Beidha by bike
Petra – Little Petra – Wadi Musa
Ride north out of Wadi Musa to Little Petra (Siq al-Barid, ~10 km) — free entry with the Jordan Pass and far quieter than the main site, with rock-cut facades and a painted Neolithic ceiling. Continue to El Beidha, the excavated Stone Age village and Nabataean settlement a short walk away. Grab a simple Bedouin lunch at one of the small roadside tents near Little Petra (~£6-8) or picnic. Ride back to Wadi Musa in the afternoon, and if you have energy, treat yourself to a traditional hammam/Ottoman bath in town (~£12-15).
🚌Cycling ~25-30 km round trip
🛏Budget hotel in Wadi Musa (~£22-30)
- →Little Petra (Siq al-Barid)
- →El Beidha Stone-Age village
- →Optional Turkish bath/hammam
Desert highways to Wadi Rum — Bedouin camp night
Petra – Wadi Rum
Ride out early on the road from Wadi Musa towards the desert highway (the original tour uses the King's Highway then the Old Desert Highway). Do a 30-40 km stretch on quiet tarmac before it gets hot, then load the bike onto a local bus or shared taxi towards Wadi Rum Village (~£8-12; buses leave from Wadi Musa in the morning, otherwise a shared taxi). Check into a Bedouin camp — budget camps around £25-45 per person half board, including a Zarb dinner (meat and vegetables cooked in the sand) and breakfast; book direct or via Booking.com. Afternoon: join a shared 4WD jeep tour at sunset (~£25-35 for 2-3 hours, booked through your camp) or a short camel ride (~£15-20). Evening around the fire with tea.
🚌Cycling ~30-40 km; local bus/shared taxi to Wadi Rum Village (~£10); camp pickup
🛏Bedouin tent camp in Wadi Rum, shared tent (~£30-40 incl. dinner & breakfast)
- →Desert highway cycling
- →Wadi Rum sunset jeep tour (~£30)
- →Optional camel ride
- →Zarb dinner and Bedouin hospitality
Ride the Wadi Rum plains and on to Aqaba
Wadi Rum – Aqaba
After breakfast, cycle a flattish loop across Wadi Rum's gravel plains and dried mud-flat tracks near the village (25-35 km) — check with your camp on the best hard-packed routes, as sand gets deep quickly. Alternatively, add a morning jeep leg and ride the easier stretches. Pack up, then take the local bus or a shared taxi from Wadi Rum Village to Aqaba (~£5-8, 1 hour; several departures daily, or a minibus via Rashidiyah). Check into a budget-to-mid-range hotel near the beach or downtown, then head to the Red Sea for a swim and fresh fish dinner at the fish market (~£8-10).
🚌Cycling ~30 km; local bus/shared taxi Wadi Rum–Aqaba (~£7)
🛏Budget hotel in Aqaba (3* equivalent, ~£28-38)
- →Wadi Rum desert plains cycling
- →Wadi Rum jelada mud tracks
- →Aqaba beach and fish market dinner
Red Sea snorkelling or a lazy Aqaba day
Aqaba
Book a shared boat or shore-based snorkelling trip from Aqaba's South Beach or the Japanese Garden / Aqaba Marine Park area — GetYourGuide and local dive shops both sell half-day snorkel trips for ~£25-35 including gear and transfers; a full-day boat with lunch runs ~£40-50. Alternatively, rent a kayak or just swim off the public beaches (free) and explore Aqaba's old town, fort and beach promenade. Keep the evening easy — dinner downtown for ~£8-12.
🚌Local taxi to South Beach (~£4-6 each way) or free public beach
🛏Budget hotel in Aqaba (~£28-38)
- →Snorkelling trip in the Red Sea (~£30)
- →Aqaba Fort and old town
- →Beach and promenade time
Bus to Amman and fly out
Aqaba – Amman
Take the JETT coach from Aqaba to Amman (~£10-14, 4 hours, book online in advance) or a local minibus to Amman's Abdali station for less (~£6). If you have time before your flight, drop your bags and walk the downtown — the Roman Theatre, the Citadel and the Rainbow Street cafes are all doable on foot or by cheap local taxi (~£2-3). Return your hired bike (if you haven't already dropped it in Aqaba with the hire shop) and head to Queen Alia International Airport by airport bus (~£4) or taxi (~£20-25). Most travellers book this as a late-evening flight.
🚌JETT coach Aqaba–Amman (~£12); airport bus (~£4)
🛏None (fly out) or a budget hotel in Amman (~£25) if you add a night
- →Roman Theatre and Amman Citadel (Jordan Pass)
- →Rainbow Street cafes
- →Return bike hire
Self-launched vs. Explore!
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Explore! | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£705 | £1,900 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,195 per person (63%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Explore!-style trips? Check them out here.~£705
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Cycle Jordan: Self-Launched Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea Ride cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £705 per person for 9 days in Jordan. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Explore!?+
Yes — Explore! charges around £1,900 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £705 — a saving of roughly £1,195 (63%) per person.
How long is the Jordan trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Jordan.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Jordan, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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