What you need to know before you go!
PRE-TRIP PREPARATIONS CHECKLIST
PACKING CHECKLIST
PRINTABLE ITINERARY
WEBSITE TRIP PAGE
RECOMMENDED PRE-TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS
RECOMMENDED POST-TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS
ARRIVALS INTO AMMAN
We recommend you plan your travel to Jordan as follows:
- Please aim to arrive into Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) – Amman, Jordan on Day 1 before 3pm. We recommend you arrive 1-2 days early to account for jet lag, and the time change.
Notes about Pick-up
- A transfer to your hotel will be provided whenever you land in Amman (based on your travel details provided).
- You will be met by a representative at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Look for a sign with Wild Women Expeditions, or your name.
Group Rendezvous Point:
- Date: Day 1
- Time: 5:00 p.m.
- Location: Front lobby of the Ambassador Hotel – Amman
RECOMMENDED PRE-TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS
- Ambassador Hotel – Amman
- Corp Amman Hotel – Amman
- Canary Boutique Hotel – Amman
DEPARTURES FROM AMMAN
We recommend staying an extra night at the dead sea, as there will not necessarily be sufficient time on Day 9 to spend at the Dead Sea.
If you are booked on the Egypt extension we recommend booking a flight later in the afternoon, so you can enjoy the morning at the Dead Sea.
Drop-Off Point:
- Date: Day 10
- Time: Early afternoon – exact time TBC
- Location: Queen Alia International Airport
RECOMMENDED POST-TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS
TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENTS
You are responsible for booking your own flights or other transport arrangements to the trip start location. These arrangements and any other independent arrangements that you may make are not a part of the trip booked with Wild Women Expeditions and are entirely at your own risk. Wild Women Expeditions accepts no responsibility, directly or indirectly, for any loss, damage or injury to property or person in connection with such arrangements. Should you require assistance with your travel arrangements, please contact:
Megan and Zale | Now Boarding Travel, Travel Specialists
Email: wildwomen@nowboarding.travel
Note: Now Boarding Travel only provides services of 3-star quality or greater. For budget alternatives, please refer to the Lonely Planet guide for your destination.
Important: For international and remote destinations, there is always the risk of flight delays, baggage delays and flight schedule changes which may cause late arrivals, which may, in return, result in you missing the group tour departure. We encourage you to consider arriving one or two days early, which will help you overcome any jet lag from traveling!
PASSPORTS & VISAS
You are fully responsible for your own visa requirements, permits, and certificates for your trip. It is the sole prerogative of each country or region to determine who is allowed to enter. It is your responsibility to check with the country's Consulate and your country's travel website such as Canada’s for up-to-date information about traveling internationally.
- Passport:
Most countries and airlines recommend passports be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected return to your home country. Before you leave, ask your transportation company about its requirements related to passport validity, which may be more stringent than the country's entry rules.
- Visa:
Most tourists can get a visa on arrival in Jordan depending on your nationality. In 2022, the tourist visa was 40JOD payable upon arrival by credit card or cash.
Some nationalities need prior permission. Please find the countries that need permission here.
If you would like additional assistance in securing your visa, we recommend you consider using the services of CIBTVisas: https://cibtvisas.com/?login=WildWomenExp
Note: As fees and policies can change, we highly recommend that you contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent.
TIPPING
Tipping (also widely referred to by its Arabic term as “baksheesh”) is a way of life in the Middle East. Locals themselves will usually tip anyone who provides them with services. In many cases, people depend on the tips they receive to supplement the incredibly low salary and wages of the Middle East region. While on tour in the Middle East, it is customary and even expected to tip small service providers such as restaurant and bar waiters, hotel staff, reception, cleaning personnel, bell boys, taxis and van drivers. Tips are regarded as an essential means of supplementing income for those working in the tourism industry.
Tips for your minivan drivers, hotel porters, airport porters restaurant servers, are included in your trip price.
Tips for your Tour Leader are not included. We recommend $10USD per person per day. Tour Leader tips can be paid in local currency, the Jordanian dinar. “Per person per day” means each wild women in the group contributes this amount.
ACCOMMODATION DETAILS
- Rooming Arrangements:
Our trip prices are based on a twin share (minimum of two people per room/tent), so we’ll team you up with another solo wild woman to share with if you’re on your own, or of course, you can share with your travel companion. Single accommodations are available. Please email support@wildwomenexpeditions.com for your request.
- Electricity / Internet / WiFi / Cell Coverage
Most accommodations have WiFi, but some are not as reliable, depending on the remoteness of the location. Cellular coverage is fairly good.
Read this helpful article to learn about what electricity adaptors you need in Jordan.
- Potable Water
In general, the tap water in Jordan is not safe to drink. Filtered potable water is provided in the van and in your hotel rooms (bottled) during the trip.
If you would like to join Wild Women Expeditions in its commitment to reducing single-use plastic, you can travel prepared with your own water treatment system!
GRAYL Canada | OnePress™ Global Protection
Travelers Against Plastic | Take the TAP pledge
- Overnight Arrangements During Your Stay
Dana Guest House
Feynan Ecolodge
Petra Moon
Memories Aicha Camp
Mōvenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea Resort
QUICK FACTS ABOUT JORDAN
- About
-
- Population: 11.2 Million (2021)
- Size: 89,342km2
- Official Language: Arabic
- Time Zone: GMT+03:00
- Electricity: 220-volt, 50-cycle AC with European-style sockets for two round pins
- Currency: Jordanian Dinar (JOD)
- Climate & Weather:
- Safety and Security
Example: Jordan Travel Advice
- Valuables – We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while traveling, for the safekeeping of your passport, air tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewelry at home – you won’t need it while traveling. Many of the hotels we use have safes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage.
- Traveling – A security presence is observable throughout Jordan. Visitors and residents alike are requested to cooperate with authorities.
- Activities – When traveling on a group trip, please note that your guide has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Your guide will accompany you on all included activities. While your guide will assist you with options available in a given location please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and we offer no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgment when selecting an activity in your free time. Although the cities visited on tour are generally safe during the day, there can be risks to wandering throughout any major city at night. It is our recommendation to stay in small groups and to take taxis to and from restaurants, or during night time excursions.
- Protests and Demonstrations – Protests and demonstrations, even those that are well intended, have the potential to turn violent with no warning. Counter protests can also turn violent. Action by security forces to disperse demonstrators and protesters may occur at any time. If you are in an area where demonstrators or protesters are gathering, avoid the temptation of staying for a good photo opportunity and leave the area immediately.
- Water – Water based activities have an element of danger and excitement built into them. We recommend only participating in water based activities when accompanied by a guide(s). We make every reasonable effort to ensure the fun and adventurous element of any water based activities (in countries with varying degrees of operating standards) have a balanced approach to safety. It is our policy not to allow our guides to make arrangements on your behalf for water-based activities that are not accompanied by guide(s). Swimming, including snorkelling, is always at your own risk.
MONEY MATTERS
Wild Women Expeditions recommends that each participant should bring enough cash in local currency or available credit/debit funds to cover their meals during travel to and from their destination. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, meals not included in the trip package, shopping, etc., and we also suggest you have access to emergency funds.
- Currency Exchange Offices & Banks:
The official unit of currency in Jordanian Dinar (JOD)
Please check online for current exchange rates. Wild Women Expeditions likes XE Currency Converter
We highly suggest you read this article: Where to Exchange Currency Without Paying Huge Fees for more information about this for your trip.
- Automated Teller Machine (ATM)
ATMs are found within main cities in Jordan.
- Credit Cards
Institutions will generally accept cards on the Visa and Mastercard. It is a great idea to travel with both a Visa and Mastercard if at all possible as while there is no hard and fast rule, some banks seem to only work with one brand of card. Please note, your bank will charge a fee for overseas withdrawals.
Increasingly, shops and restaurants accept credit cards and often prefer them to cash. The banks charge between 3% -5% as commission for using credit cards. American Express credit cards are not very popular as the commission charge on it is 6%.
- Cash
Cash is recommended for times when ATMs are not accessible. Euros and US Dollars are all easy to exchange for the local currency. Please note that you should bring some cash with you for emergency situations but carrying only cash is a high safety risk. ATM card/s and some cash is the ideal mix.
If you are bringing US Dollars, please make sure that the notes are new and in good condition. Notes older than 1996, or with any tears or blemishes may not be accepted. Be fussy with your bank when buying cash!
Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional $500 USD (or equivalent) as an ’emergency’ fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (ex. a natural disaster) require a change of our planned route. This is a rare occurrence!
GETTING FIT
Please be sure to provide complete, accurate, and up-to-date information about your health & fitness level and keep us updated if there are changes. Wild Women Expeditions trips travel to remote areas where limited or no sophisticated medical facilities exist.
A medical emergency situation is extremely unlikely; however, should it arise we need to be prepared with the necessary information to help you.
Important Note: If you choose not to disclose a condition, infirmity, injury, or ailment herein and are subsequently deemed to be unfit for expedition travel due in whole or in part to such condition, infirmity, injury or ailment, Wild Women Expeditions guides, and partners shall have the right to remove you from the trip with no refund or compensation payable. Any evacuation expenses incurred are payable by the evacuee via their medical travel insurance or personal expense. Generally, our expeditions are intended for travelers in reasonably good health for their safety, along with that of their fellow travelers.
Tips:
You don't have to be a professional athlete to enjoy your Wild Women expedition. Not by a long shot! You'll be surprised at what you can achieve with our experienced guides at your side and a little camaraderie.
That said, you’ll definitely enjoy yourself far more if you do some preparation so your body is conditioned and ready to enjoy and make the most of the outdoors.
Here are a few ideas to help you get ready:
- Take every opportunity you can to be active.
You can improve your fitness a lot just by adopting some new habits; take the stairs at work, go for a walk at lunchtime, park your car away from work and walk. Aim for 30 minutes a day and keep a diary so you can look back on it and feel proud. These may sound trivial but they’re all building blocks!
- Rev up your ticker!
Think ‘interval training’, which means doing short bursts of high-intensity work with recovery time in between. Depending on how fit you are this can mean strolling with bursts of power walking, or jogging with sprints. Either way, the aim is to get your heart rate up.
- Hill Training.
The most spectacular views aren’t from the bottom of a valley – so the places we go on our trips aren’t flat. A little time training on hills and stairs is an investment that’ll pay off big-time when you’re on your trip. When it comes to hills there’s no hurry – get into a slow steady rhythm and you’ll be at the top before you know it.
- Join a local walking or running group.
This is a great way to get fit and you’ll also see new places, meet great people… and make them all jealous when they find out what you’re about to go on your travels.
- Warm up, cool down and stretch.
If you’re doing a workout then make sure you start and finish gently and stretch any tight muscles – this will help you avoid any aches, pains and pulled muscles. If you’re a member of a gym try some yoga, tai chi or pilates classes to build up your flexibility, stability and balance.
- Hydration.
When you suddenly ask your body to walk or be active, it needs a bit more fuel than it needs when, say, sitting at a desk all day! The main thing your body needs is water, so stay hydrated and practice sipping water often. Getting a water bottle or hydration bladder is a great way to make sure you have it on hand at all times. Make a habit out of taking a bottle of water with you wherever you go.
- Nutrition.
Eating little and often will keep your body well fuelled for outdoor exercise, especially food like nuts, dried fruit and bread. The odd bit of chocolate and a few boiled lollies are good for keeping your blood sugar levels up while you’re hiking as well!
- Have fun!
The most important point of all! You are about to embark on the trip of a lifetime. You’re going to meet some amazing people, see some wonderful places and create memories that will stay with you for life. The more prepared you are to tackle the various challenges, the more fun you will have. Also, with all the endorphins you create from all this training, you’ll be smiling from ear to ear! It’s a great way to boost your happy vibes.
GENERAL FAQ'S
For general Wild Women Expeditions FAQs please click [HERE].