Horse Riding in Jordan

Jordan is the jewel of a destination in the Middle East with spectacular scenery, diverse culture and wonderful hospitality. Follow in the footsteps of Laurence of Arabia on horseback. Based in a permanent tented camp, Al Jalilah is located in the stunning Wadi Rum next to an area known as Dreamland (the tribal homeland of the Huweitat family). Dreamland lives up to its name, a beautiful tranquil place, totally private and only accessed by members of the tribe and guests at Al Jalilah. On this holiday you will learn the horsemanship of the Bedouin, riding beautiful Arabian horses through the stunning and varied desert, mountain and canyon scenery.

Outline Intinerary (10days)
Day 1
Arrive at Amman (midnight), where you will be taken to a comfortable local hotel for the night.
Day 2
After breakfast you will be picked and taken to Al-Jalilah in Wadi Rum Desert (Approx. 4 hour drive). The rest of the day is spent exploring the camp meeting the horses and choosing the best for you. This first riding day is for you to get used to your Arabian horse and riding in the desert.
Day 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7
Every day will be different, we ride the horses for about 4-6 hours a day with a rest at lunch time. The lunch will either be prepared in the desert or delivered from the camp, depending on your location that day. The rides track old caravan and pilgrim trails, following in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia and include many varied landscapes, such as; wonderfully coloured rock formations, sand dunes, mountains and canyons. There are huge stretches of open space for galloping and you will visit some ancient inscriptions carved in the rocks by old civilisations and take a look at the water-systems. You will live and breathe the life of a Bedouin, unchanged for centuries.
Depending on the desires of the group – a night or two can be spent sleeping on a bed roll under the stars out in the desert or you can return to camp each evening for the comfort of your bed and a hot shower. Each day you will take care of your own horse morning and evening, so you can build a rapport, but there is always help on hand.
The evenings in the camp are spent around the camp fire, lolling on rugs and cushions, telling stories, listening to music and sometimes even dancing. You will soon feel you are becoming part of the Huweitat tribe, a special guest of this family no longer a tourist.
Day 8
We travel to Aqaba, on the Red Sea for a free day to spend swimming in the crystal clear water or snorkelling observing the rich underwater life of tropical fish and incredibly beautiful coral. Other activities in Aqaba include trips in a glass-bottomed boat or shopping. At the end of the day you will depart for Petra.
Day 9
The whole day is spent exploring the magic of Petra, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.
Day 10
Transfer to Amman airport for your return flight home.

The 7 day itinerary will consist of days 1- 6 with 4 days riding and day 7 you would transfer back to Amman airport.

TRIP INFORMATION

Climate
The temperatures in the day will be 20 –25°C and there may be a chance of some showers. The nights will be cooler so you will need to bring some warmer clothes especially the nights that you will be camping.

The best time to come is spring and Autumn when it is a pleasant temperature.

Guides
All rides are guided by Jafar, who was raised with horses in the Wadi Rum. He not only guides the guests but also teaches them the ways of Bedouin horsemanship.

Horses & Tack
There are 5 Arabian horses which are stabled permanently at the camp. For larger groups we use local Bedouin tribes horses. You will be carefully selected a horse for the week that is suitable to your level of riding. The hired in horses always arrive in advance of the group’s arrival, so they are sure that they have settled in well and are suitable.
The horses average heights are 14.3 to 16.3 hands and the maximum weight allowance is 70kg.
The style of riding is English and Arabian (about the same, but Arabian horses are more sensitive and react faster on your instructions). The tack is English.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RIDE
The ride will follow old pilgrim’s trails and the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia. It will include beautiful landscapes, wonderful rock formations with ancient inscriptions carved into the rocks by old civilisation as well as sand dunes, mountains and canyons. You will ride for approximately 4-6 hours a day with a rest at lunch time. 10 days/9 nights or 7 days / 6 nights.