Jordan Cycling Adventure — Self-Launched Edition
8 days · Jordan
G Adventures charges £1,010
No-markup version: ~£500 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, budget-friendly take on G Adventures' 8-day Jordan Cycling Adventure: cycle the forest trails of Wasfi Al Tal, spin the backroads from Madaba to Mukawir, ride into Petra via the Dana mountains, hike the back door to the Monastery, 4x4 and camp with Bedouins in Wadi Rum, then finish with a float in the Dead Sea. Instead of a private van and a tour leader, you'll use JETT coaches, minibuses and shared taxis, book local guides and bike hire direct, and stay in hostels and budget guesthouses. Costs are rough estimates for a solo traveller in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Amman — settle into downtown
Amman
Land at Queen Alia International Airport and take the Airport Express shuttle bus (Sariyah) into Amman's Tabarbour bus station for around 3.30 JOD (~£3.70), or split an airport taxi (~20-25 JOD). Check into a hostel in downtown Amman near Rainbow Street or the Hashemite Plaza. Spend the afternoon wandering the Citadel and Roman Theatre (Jordan Pass covers both), eating falafel and knafeh in Hashem, and get an early night. Buy or confirm your Jordan Pass online before arrival — the 2-day Petra option (~70 JOD) waives the 40 JOD visa-on-arrival fee and covers Petra, Jerash and Wadi Rum entry.
🚌Airport Express bus ~£3.70, or shared taxi ~£4-6 if split
🛏Downtown Amman hostel dorm (~£12-15/night)
- →Sariyah airport shuttle to Amman
- →Citadel and Roman Theatre with Jordan Pass
- →Falafel and knafeh dinner in downtown
Jerash by bus + first ride in Wasfi Al Tal Forest
Jerash / Amman
Take a local bus or shared taxi from Amman's Tabarbour bus station to Jerash (~1 JOD, 1 hour). Explore the Roman site on a self-guided audio tour or join a GetYourGuide small-group Jerash tour if you want a licensed local guide (~£25-35). Optional: pre-book a home-cooked Jordanian meal with a women's cooperative (Beit Khayrat Souf is the G Adventures partner — bookable direct or via local guesthouse networks). In the afternoon, hire a mountain bike in Amman (check with local operators like Bike Jordan or ask your hostel; expect ~15-25 JOD/day) and ride the trail network in Wasfi Al Tal Forest Reserve for 2-3 hours. Return to Amman by bus in the evening.
🚌Local bus Amman–Jerash ~£1 each way; shared taxi ~£8 split
🛏Downtown Amman hostel dorm (~£12-15/night)
- →Jerash Roman ruins (Jordan Pass)
- →Optional licensed guide at Jerash
- →Community cooking lunch
- →Mountain bike hire and ride in Wasfi Al Tal Forest
Mt Nebo, Madaba mosaics and cycle to Dana
Madaba / Dana
Take a minibus from Amman's Muhajireen station to Madaba (~1 JOD, 45 mins). Drop your bag, then take a taxi or shared taxi up to Mt Nebo to see the Moses memorial and the view across the Jordan Valley (~5-8 JOD return). Back in Madaba, visit St George's Church for the famous 6th-century mosaic map on your own or with a short local guide walk, plus the Madaba Archaeological Park. Hire a bike locally or arrange one through your Madaba guesthouse and cycle the King's Highway stretch toward Mukawir fortress (Herod's Machaerus), ~25km of rolling hills. Late afternoon, take a minibus/taxi south to Dana village (~15-20 JOD shared) and stay in the Dana Eco-Lodge or a small guesthouse on the rim of the gorge.
🚌Minibus Amman–Madaba ~£1; shared taxi to Dana ~£15-20
🛏Dana village guesthouse or eco-lodge (~£18-25/night)
- →Mt Nebo viewpoint and Moses memorial
- →Madaba mosaic map at St George's Church
- →Cycling Madaba to Mukawir
- →Mukawir / Machaerus fortress
- →Sunset over Dana Biosphere Reserve
Ride the Dana mountains to Petra
Dana / Petra
This is the big day. Leave early and cycle the spectacular descent from Dana through the mountains toward Petra — a strenuous 40-55km route with big climbs and exposed heat. Pack plenty of water and a picnic lunch from Dana village. If you'd rather not self-navigate, local operators in Dana run supported one-day mountain bike transfers to Petra (~£45-70 including bike and luggage transfer) — book a few days ahead. Arrive in Wadi Musa in the late afternoon, check into a budget guesthouse near the Petra visitor centre, and eat a well-earned mansaf. Optional evening: Petra by Night (candlelit Siq walk, ~17 JOD, runs Mondays/Wednesdays/Thursdays — check current schedule).
🚌Bike day (or supported bike transfer); luggage carried by taxi ~£15-20
🛏Wadi Musa budget guesthouse (~£15-20/night)
- →Full-day cycle Dana to Petra
- →Optional Petra by Night candle walk
- →Mansaf dinner in Wadi Musa
Petra — the back door, Little Petra and the Monastery
Petra
Get to the visitor centre for opening (6am in summer). Option A: take a taxi to Little Petra (~10 JOD, 20 mins), explore the Siq al-Barid and Painted House, then hike the back door trail over the ridge down to Petra's Monastery (Ad-Deir) — 3-4 hours, no guide needed but start early and carry water. Option B: walk the classic Siq into Petra and self-guide the Treasury, Royal Tombs and Monastery. Either way, the Jordan Pass covers entry. Rest in the afternoon, or book an optional Turkish bath in Wadi Musa (~25-35 JOD).
🚌Taxi to Little Petra ~£10; rest on foot
🛏Wadi Musa budget guesthouse (~£15-20/night)
- →Little Petra and Siq al-Barid
- →Back door hike to the Monastery
- →Petra Treasury, Royal Tombs and Monastery
- →Optional Turkish bath
Cycle Rajif to Dlagha, then 4x4 into Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum
Take a taxi (or ride out) to Rajif and cycle the quiet desert road across to Dlagha (~25-30km, rolling and exposed). Return your rented bike or arrange a drop-off in Wadi Musa before you leave. Grab lunch in Wadi Musa, then take a minibus or shared taxi to Wadi Rum Visitor Centre (~10-15 JOD, 1.5 hours). Book a Bedouin camp direct — most camps include a 2-hour 4x4 sunset tour in their overnight rate (~40-60 JOD for jeep tour, dinner, breakfast and tent). Ride out to see the Nabataean inscriptions, red dunes and rock bridges, then eat zarb (sand-baked meat) under the stars.
🚌Bike morning; shared taxi to Wadi Rum ~£12-15; 4x4 included in camp package
🛏Bedouin desert camp, Wadi Rum (~£30-40 including jeep tour, dinner and breakfast)
- →Cycle Rajif to Dlagha
- →Wadi Rum 4x4 jeep tour
- →Rock art and inscriptions
- →Bedouin camp dinner under the stars
Wadi Rum by bike to Disi, then on to the Dead Sea
Wadi Rum / Dead Sea
Arranged through your camp, hire a bike or join a local cycling guide to ride from Wadi Rum Visitor Centre out to Disi village across the mudflats and open desert (~20-30km) — book bikes via your camp or Wadi Rum operators a day ahead. Back at the Visitor Centre, take a shared taxi or minibus north to the Dead Sea (shared ~15-20 JOD; a private taxi ~50-60 JOD). Check into a budget hotel or guesthouse in Sweimeh (the public Amman Beach / Dead Sea beach is the cheapest option — around 25 JOD entry with towel and showers; the big resort day passes cost 45-70 JOD). Float, mud up, then watch the sun set over the West Bank.
🚌Bike morning; shared taxi Wadi Rum–Dead Sea ~£15-20
🛏Sweimeh budget hotel/guesthouse (~£25-35/night)
- →Cycle Wadi Rum to Disi village
- →Dead Sea float and mud bath
- →Sunset over the Dead Sea
Dead Sea morning and departure
Dead Sea / Amman
Squeeze in a final early-morning float if you have time, then take the Dead Sea–Amman bus or shared taxi back toward the airport or city (~3-5 JOD to Amman, then the Airport Express ~3.30 JOD, or a direct taxi ~35 JOD). Depart any time. If your flight is late, stash your bag in Amman and hit the Jordan Museum or Rainbow Street for a last coffee.
🚌Dead Sea–Amman bus/shared taxi ~£4; Airport Express ~£3.70
🛏None (departure day)
- →Optional morning Dead Sea float
- →Transit to Queen Alia Airport
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£500 | £1,010 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £510 per person (50%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£500
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 Jordan Cycling Adventure — Self-Launched Edition cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £500 per person for 8 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,010 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £500 — a saving of roughly £510 (50%) per person.
How long is the Jordan trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 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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