Intrepid Travel’s Jordan Discovery Tour: My Review as a Solo Female Traveler

/

Jordan had been on my bucket list for a long time, and a combination of factors led me to finally make the decision to go. Now a few years into the pandemic, I was especially motivated to travel to a destination that could be visited safely, and would offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see its famous archaeological sites before the crowds returned to their pre-pandemic levels. Having met all the entry requirements and having found great airfare from cities in Europe that I was already planning to visit, I had every reason to go and was happy to find the perfect itinerary with Intrepid Travel.

Because Intrepid offers multiple departures for various tours in Jordan (including the Jordan Discovery tour that I chose), it was easy to find a trip that worked seamlessly with my schedule. For most all Intrepid trips I would say that any departure is a good departure, but specifically for Jordan, in my opinion it was important to choose one that stopped in Petra on a Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday to be able to visit Petra by Night- which I’ll detail further on below.

Carina Otero at the Monastery at Petra, Jordan

Jordan Discovery Itinerary and Travel Dates

Amman – Wadi Rum – Aqaba – Petra – Madaba – Jerash – Dead Sea – Amman

The Jordan Discovery tour is considered an 8 Day trip – But Day 1 (the first day) and Day 8 (the last day) don’t have activities scheduled other than the welcome meeting, so the trip really has 6 full days of organized activities. This is standard for all of the Intrepid trips I’ve joined, and seems to be the case for all the others I’ve perused on their website. Most travelers will schedule their flight arrivals and departures for the first and last days of the itinerary, but Intrepid also makes it easy to secure additional nights at the joining and departing hotels if you wish to arrive early or depart later.

I traveled to Jordan in November 2021, which is a time of year I would definitely recommend because the climate was comfortable- especially on strenuous days while hiking in Petra. We had sunshine every day, but the nights were quite chilly as was expected. Also keep in mind that when traveling at this time of year (closer to winter), the daylight hours are fewer which could cut into your time for sightseeing and activities if you wish to do so in your free time before or after scheduled activities. All things considered, I still thought it was a perfect time of year to visit.

Trip Highlights

Sunrise in Wadi Rum, Jordan

Wadi Rum –  Most known for its history as a filming location for movies such as The Martian, Star Wars, and Dune, Wadi Rum truly feels like another planet. The journey to enter the protected area is unforgettable, and the vastness of the red sand desert is surprising, even for someone who had an idea of what to expect. We only spent one beautiful, starry night in a desert camp in Wadi Rum, and had one afternoon and the following morning to experience the landscape. Though we did visit a number of viewpoints and natural landmarks within Wadi Rum while on the back of an exciting yet bumpy truck ride, considering how large the area is, I know what we saw was only a tiny percentage of it. If I were to return to Jordan one day, it would be to spend an extended amount of time exploring every corner of Wadi Rum.

Wadi Musa – We stayed two nights in Wadi Musa, which is the village nearest Petra, while exploring the archaeological sites. What was most memorable during our stay in Wadi Musa was the home visit and delicious home cooked dinner we were treated to by a local Jordanian family. Being able to connect with locals in their homes, beyond the usual interactions one would have while traveling, is deeply insightful and at the core of Intrepid’s mission to think globally, act locally, and engage personally.

Petra by Night

Petra – Petra is undoubtedly the highlight of any trip to Jordan. Though you have likely come across countless photos of the sites, being able to see the façades with your own eyes is something I hope everyone would be able to experience personally. Beyond that, I found that what was most memorable about my experience in Petra was not only standing in front of and setting my sights upon the façades, but rather when I would catch the first small glimpses of the intricate carvings while nearing the end of each hike to reach them. The entire site of Petra is very large and one could easily spend a week exploring its many trails and viewpoints, but the itinerary for the Jordan Discovery tour allows plenty of time to see the highlights in one day. I definitely recommend hiking to the Monastery- though the trail is long and uphill, the view at the end is worth it.

The evening prior to the daytime visit to Petra which was part of our scheduled itinerary, we were given the optional opportunity to visit Petra at Night. I had heard mixed reviews about the experience, but I was decidedly very excited about going, and I would definitely recommend it to see the façade under the glow of candle light. The program itself (the “light show”, speech, and musical performance) was not particularly impressive, but it was still 100% worth the entry fee and the hike in the dark through the Siq (the canyons to enter the archaeological site) to see the Treasury at night. If you intend to go to photograph it, I would recommend doing so before the show starts by arriving early to be the first in line to enter, and hiking quickly to reach the site before others fill the seating areas. When the show is over, there are no opportunities to capture the magical candlelight, as the façade is then lit up with colorful flood lights and the staff is ready to quickly extinguish the candles and close the area for the night. Petra by Night only takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, so in order to have the option to go, your Intrepid itinerary will need its Petra dates to coincide with one of these days.

The Dead Sea – There is a reason why the Dead Sea has a reputation for its healing properties, and as I arrived, I immediately felt a sense of calm and release. The itinerary for the Jordan Discovery tour allowed for only an afternoon at the Dead Sea, and in retrospect I would have extended my stay in Jordan to return to the Dead Sea for a few more days to relax after the planned itinerary ended in Amman. Nevertheless, it was a wonderful experience to have visited this bucket-list destination and to be able to float in its salty waters.  

Amman – Amman is a bustling city with friendly people, great restaurants, incredible views, and a number of archaeological sites and museums. You could easily enjoy a few active days seeing more of what Amman has to offer if you decide to arrive early or stay longer after the organized tour with Intrepid. Getting around Amman via Uber is easy and inexpensive, and if you choose to experience other hotels than the option that Intrepid provides, you can get a great deal on five-star properties such as the W Amman or the Four Seasons on Expedia.   

The Amman Citadel, Jordan

The View from the Amman Citadel at Dusk

Our Local Guide

With Our Local Guide Nuwar, in Petra, Jordan

Upon arriving at our hotel in Amman on the first day of the trip to meet the group and our local guide, I was delighted to learn we would be led by Nuwar. She was immediately warm and welcoming, and eased the group into getting to know each other and getting us excited for our journey ahead. Nuwar thoroughly explained what we were to expect, and throughout our journey was our primary resource for learning about our surroundings. I was especially honored to have been led through Jordan by Nuwar when I learned how rare female tour guides are in the country. I was told that of the 1300 official tour guides in Jordan, only 80 are women (that’s less than 1%!). Nuwar took notice that I was very impressed by this fact and during our travels pointed out another female guide that we crossed paths with that she knew from the industry, and we offered her a friendly greeting. Learning from Nuwar’s perspective as a local, as a woman, and as Palestinian was very valuable and gave us great insight of her experience living and working in the region. I am sure that Nuwar’s guidance positively impacted my experience traveling in Jordan, and am very grateful to have met her.

Pace

SunSet in Wadi Rum, Jordan

I have developed a deep affinity for slow travel thanks to my flexibility as a digital nomad, so in all honesty the pace of this Intrepid trip was faster than what I had grown accustomed to over the past few years. (Though it was completely on par with what I’ve experienced with Intrepid on multiple prior trips, and was very clearly communicated to me and explained on the pre-departure details available on their website- so I knew exactly what to expect!) I personally would have loved to spend a few more days in each of the destinations where we stopped on our trip, but I know most other travelers love a quicker pace to be able to maximize their time and see as much as they can, comfortably, within each day. 

Despite the pace being a bit faster of a trip than what I would have planned for myself, the biggest benefit of joining this Intrepid Tour in Jordan was that I really did not have to plan anything other than my arrival and departure from the country. After several months of extensive solo traveling that I planned by myself down to every detail, joining a trip where I didn’t have to make many decisions made me feel like I was truly on a vacation.

Free time vs Scheduled time

One of my favorite aspects of Intrepid’s itineraries is the balance of free time and scheduled time built into the trip- with each day well-structured and optimized for efficiency while still allowing for time to rest, shop, eat, etc. Of course, free time is yours to choose how you’d like for it to be spent, but if you are similar to me and like to have the option of spending your free time alone to decompress from a lot of socializing, I would suggest opting for a single-supplement for your trip. For my trip to Jordan, I added the single supplement so I could have my own room- and my free time was truly my own. I’ve had roommates on past Intrepid trips and have had great experiences, but post-pandemic I have grown much more accustomed to having my own space so it was what I was comfortable with on this tour and it was well-worth the additional cost.

Group Dynamic

Our group comprised of 12 travelers, which is the maximum for this particular Jordan Discovery tour (though most Intrepid tours have a max of 16 travelers). Of the 12 travelers in our group, 9 were women and 10 were solo travelers, mostly from the US and UK. Though we all came from various backgrounds, ages, and levels of travel history, we were all rooted in a shared experience of choosing to be in the same foreign destination at the same time, and a shared excitement of exploring a place that was new to us, and we all got along quickly. I’ve noticed this happen on each Intrepid trip I’ve been on- where other travelers come with a positive attitude and a willingness to respectfully explore a new destination, and naturally find that we have more in common than we do differences.

Over the years, I have found that joining group tours as a solo traveler has led me to incredibly rewarding experiences that would have otherwise been much more difficult to coordinate on my own. Jordan was my fourth destination with Intrepid as solo traveler- the others being Morocco, Sri Lanka, and Peru- and I would gladly recommend it to others considering doing the same. My group in Jordan was certainly the highest concentration of solo travelers I have experienced on any of my Intrepid tours, and I imagine for good reason, the trend is accelerating. There are many ways solo travelers can benefit from joining group tours, especially if they are hesitant to travel alone or are just getting started on their solo travel journey. I’ve written more on the benefits of joining a group tour as a solo traveler and things to consider when choosing a tour company, which you can read by clicking here.

View of the Treasury at Petra, Jordan

In front of the Treasury at Petra, Jordan

Are you considering joining a group tour or visiting Jordan with Intrepid Travel and have any questions? Let me know in the comments below!   

 

This post contains affiliate links and at no cost to you, I may earn a commission which allows me to keep this site free for all readers. I only recommend products, brands, and services that I personally use and believe in.