Jordan Luxury Group Trip

Is this trip right for you?

• We found some of the best scenery in Petra and Wadi Rum. While this trip doesn’t require a high level of fitness, it’s essential to be at least moderately fit if you want to take part in all activities.

• At most of the historical sites in Jordan there is no shade. Bring a hat, sun protection, and sturdy, comfortable walking shoes. Winters can get quite cool, so if you’re visiting at this time, don’t forget to pack some warmer layers too.

• In Wadi Rum you will stay in a permanent tented camp with shared bathroom facilities. While the desert may be very hot during the day, it will still be cold at night and we highly recommended warm clothes when travelling in April.

• Ramadan is an annual month-long festival, during which travel can be a rewarding cultural experience, however some regular services may not be available during the day, such as restaurants or cafes, and occasionally travel can be disrupted by events. Your lead will adjust the itinerary but please consider this when selecting your travel dates. 

Passports, visas and entry requirements

• PASSPORT
  You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and check the expiry date, most countries require a minimum of 6 months validity. We also need your passport information to get everything ready for your trip so it’s important that the information on your booking matches your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details.
  We also recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport and leave a copy at home with family or friends too.
• VISAS
  Many countries require a visa and getting the right visa is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. That way, you’ll have plenty of time to get your documents ready and time for the application process. Entry requirements can change, and are different depending on your nationality so please refer to your governments foreign travel advisories, along with the consular website for the countries you’re travelling to as well as those you may transit through. Always follow visa advice from official websites; not all visa information found on-line may be valid.
• JORDAN VISA
  Many nationalities are eligible for a visa on arrival, including UK, Australia, New Zealand, China, USA, Canada and most European nations, certain nationalities are exempt from visa fees including Turkey and the UAE, while others require Visa prior to arrival. We recommend you check this information before arrival with the relevant embassy or consulate in your destination.
• Please note that there are ATM’s available in Amman airport and also currency exchange facilities. Visa fees can also be paid by EFTPOS.
• JORDAN COVID-19 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
  For the latest update of what is required in order to enter Jordan, please check your government’s foreign travel advice.
• You’ll be required to register and get a QR code from the below site.
  https://www.gateway2jordan.gov.jo/index.html
• If you fly from Egypt to Amman, you’ll still be subject to the entry requirements for arriving from Egypt and please check the above website for more details.

Medical and health information

GENERAL HEALTH
All travellers need to be in good physical health in order to take part fully on this trip. When selecting your trip please make sure you have read through the itinerary carefully and assess your ability to manage and enjoy our style of travel. Please note that if in the opinion of our group leader or local guide any traveller cannot complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, we reserve the right to exclude them from all or part of a trip without refund.

You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information or for any necessary vaccinations before departure. We recommend you carry a first aid kit and any personal medical requirements as they may not easily be obtained while travelling.

DRINKING WATER
As a rule we recommend you don’t drink tap water, even in hotels, as it may contain much higher levels of different minerals than the water you are used to at home. For local people this is not a problem as their bodies are used to this and can cope, but for visitors drinking the tap water can result in illness. Generally this isn’t serious, an upset stomach being the only symptom, but it’s enough to spoil a day or two of your holiday. Many hotels and lodges provide safe drinking water, while bottled water is another alternative. Water consumption should be about two litres a day. Rehydration salts, motion sickness tablets, and diarrhoea blockers are available from many pharmacies.

Money matters

SPENDING MONEY
For spending money on the trip, every traveller is a little different. You know your spending habits better than we do, so please budget an appropriate amount for things like optional meals, drinks, shopping, optional activities, and laundry. Make sure you have read the itinerary and inclusions thoroughly so you know what is included in the trip price and what you may need to pay for while travelling.

CREDIT CARD, ATMS AND MONEY EXCHANGE
ATMs are widely available in major towns and cities throughout the Middle East. Credit and debit cards are the best way to access money throughout most trips (note though that charges are made for each transaction). Credit cards are available in tourist shops and restaurants. Visa and Mastercard are generally preferred over American Express, Diners, etc. Smaller venues take cash only. 

Check with your bank before departure that your card is accepted in the countries you are travelling to. Also ensure your bank is aware of your travel plans as – suspecting fraud – they may cancel your cards after the first few international transactions.

Be aware that your withdrawing limit may vary from country to country (regardless of your withdrawing limit in your home country) and it can be as low as the equivalent to USD100 per day.

TIPPING
Known as ‘baksheesh’ in the Middle East, tipping is a part of everyday life and is more than just a reward for services rendered. This practice is not merely reserved for foreigners, locals have to constantly hand out ‘Baksheesh’ as well – to park their cars, ensure fresh produce and pick up their mail. If you are satisfied with the services provided, a tip – though not compulsory – is appropriate and always appreciated. While it may not be customary to you, it’s of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels.

Usually the equivalent of around USD5 to USD10 per person, per day to cover tips is fine. Over the years we have found that many of our travellers find the need for tipping to be both tiresome and embarrassing, especially if they don’t have the correct small change. To overcome this, your lead might raise the idea of a group tipping kitty. At your group meeting, your tour leader may discuss the idea of running this kitty, whereby everybody contributes an equal amount and then your tour lead pays the tips as you go. The lead will keep a running record of all monies spent (except restaurant tips). We can check the record and any money remaining at the end of the tour returned to group members. This kitty does not include tips for your lead and crew.

TIPPING GUIDE
To give you a bit of guidance, we’ve put together the following tipping notes. These are just suggestions, based on feedback from past travellers and our staff on the ground. Please don’t tip with coins, very small denomination notes, or dirty and ripped notes. This is regarded culturally as an insult.

Restaurants: round up to the nearest figure or leaving the loose change is generally fine; Upmarket restaurants, when checking the bill, if there’s an addition of 10% service charge, there’s no requirement for tipping. Otherwise, 10% of the total bill amount is appropriate.

Drivers: You may have a range of private drivers on your trip. Some may be with you for a short journey while others may be with you for several days. We would suggest a higher tip for those more involved with the group however USD2 to USD3 per person per day is appropriate.

CURRENCY – Jordan
The Official currency of Jordan is the Dinar referred to as the (JD). It is made up of 1000 fils. Try to change larger notes as often as possible. Most goods and services can be paid for using the local currency. The USD is also acceptable for souvenir type products. For the supply of everyday services like meals and general shopping we recommend the local currency.

CONTINGENCY FUNDS
We try to plan for every eventuality, but there are still some things beyond our control. We reserve the right to change an itinerary after departure due to local circumstances or a Force Majeure Event. In such emergency circumstances, the additional cost of any necessary itinerary alterations will be covered by you. Please note we are not responsible for any incidental expenses that may be incurred as a result of the change of itineraries including but not limited to visas, vaccinations or non-refundable flights. Make sure you have access to an extra US$500 for emergencies (e.g. severe weather, natural disasters, civil unrest) or other events that result in unavoidable changes to the itinerary (e.g. transport strikes or cancellations, airport closures). Sometimes these things necessitate last-minute changes to enable our trips to continue to run, and as a result, there may be some extra costs involved. The recommended amount is listed in USD for the relatability of universal travellers, however, local currency may be needed once in the country to cover these costs.

Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those travelling internationally. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are travelling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you may not join the group until evidence of travel insurance and your lead has sighted the insurance company’s 24-hour emergency contact number.