1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

As I can’t swim it has to be floating in the Dead Sea. It was an unbelievable experience. I did not believe I would be able to as I did not think it would work if you cant relax to float but the sea just lifted me up and held me in the water.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

To make sure you have the right shoes to walk up, down and around mountains. Very hard work but the guide took the group at the right pace for everyone and made the whole experience a joy. Try not to go in August if you can as it was very hot but did not spoil the holiday although we felt as though we were melting at times.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Yes all guides were local and knew their areas so explained the ways and cultures of their country.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

It was packed will new experiences each as good as the others but all different.

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Exiting the Siq to view the enormity and beauty of the Treasury at Petra during the "Petra by Night" tour.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Take a separate pair of old trainers, deck shoes or flip-flops to wear when entering the Dead Sea. Don't forget a good hat to protect you from the sun and don't forget a decent torch for camping at Wadi Rum.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Yes, members of the group were asked to personally hand over tips that came out of the local payment to Bedouin and other locals following excursions etc. This added to our personal "feel good" factor in knowing that Jordanians actually benefited; it's a superb touch knowing they directly benefit from tourism.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

Extremely good - and anyone considering the holiday who may be "sitting on the fence" about whether or not they should book should definitely go for it. After only arriving back in the UK yesterday, we both have that horrible feeling of being very out of sorts now we are back and miss Jordan and the Jordanian people immensely. This I feel is testament to just how much we enjoyed it.

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Wadi Rum followed by Petra. Would have loved to stayed longer in the desert it was magical.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

You don’t need to take a hairdryer!! and if you don’t like hummus and salad for breakfast take some cereal bars with you. Tell the local guide you really would like to see some local shops and not the tourist ones. There is a lot of walking but you can opt out if you want to and relax. The toilet facilities in the desert camp were better than some British toilets.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Not sure about this one, didn’t meet a lot of local people. Petra was well impacted, coach after coach.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

Different, interesting and suitable for all ages (not young children though) our group ranged from 30 to 70 yrs.

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Arriving in Petra after the walk through the gorge to get there. Staying at Wadi Rum, dancing to authentic local music, travelling through the desert rocky landscape, riding a camel through the desert while wearing one's newly acquired Bedouin headdress!

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

If you go in January/February it can be cold and wet. At least one warm jumper needed. (It snowed in Amman) Further south much warmer. Still managed a sun tan. Try to get out of the Dead Sea hotel and see the museum at the viewpoint. Very interesting and a good, fairly cheap restaurant. Use a local taxi to get there as the hotel charges the earth. If too rough to swim in the Dead Sea, hotel spa has a small warm indoor pool of Dead Sea water (charges £10). The cost of living has gone up since the Iraq war, so you need to budget a little more than the prices mentioned in the trip notes. 3 course dinners were more like £10/12 and beer £4/5. Dead Sea Hotel buffet £22!

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

We stayed in family hotels mainly and used some local restaurants. Some money to stalls etc we didn't have a vast amount of contact with local people.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

Very enjoyable. First time we had tried a group holiday. There were 9 of us of varying ages and backgrounds and we all got on very well. Really appreciated having a knowledgeable local guide with us- this made the holiday.

All of the Lacey family really enjoyed our recent holiday to Petra/Wadi Rum. From the time we were met at Amman Airport, and during the whole holiday we were really looked after. I must particularly praise our guide, Samir Saleh. He was very informative and knowledgeable, about his country Jordan, without being boring or political. Nothing was too much trouble and tried in every way to please us. He was a very pleasant person to talk to, easy to get on with and a great guy. The holiday exceeded my expectations, and I would recommend it to anyone. I would definitely go back to Jordan. The people seem to be really friendly. I enjoyed every minute of the holiday and didn't want it to end.

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

All of it!!! Our guide Osama was excellent so knowledgeable and he put his whole heart into making the trip memorable for us, the people of Jordan are so welcoming (I went alone and felt totally safe), and the group were all so like minded we had such a fun trip! But highlights have to be the Monastery at Petra (very worth the 800 steps - don't give up half way) plus walking back out of Petra to find the Treasury turned rose in colour and was totally free from tourists, just the camels and donkeys were milling around (plus the climb our guide took us on away from the touristy parts to see beautiful views of Petra). Dana was incredible, the hostel was stunning, with the most amazing views and so peaceful, would have loved to stay there another night. The nature climb was pretty special too - particularly when our walking guide pulled out his tea pot and made us all fresh tea in the middle of nowhere. The night at Wadi Rum... there are no real words to describe this just breath-taking! All the ancient ruins and sites... Jordan is an amazing destination. Sorry it was all so great I can't just give one highlight.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Take ear plugs as morning call to prayer is very loud at 4am! A torch is essential for the desert (and wet wipes!). Take some fresh water into the Dead Sea with you to rinse your eyes should they get splashed - its very painful. If you are going to walk to the Monastery take at least 2 bottles of water up with you and cover for your head!
Small backpack for the day is also a very good idea, water gets heavy and it’s good to have both hands free.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Our guide was very aware of littering and even removed rubbish we came across as we walked through the nature reserve and desert. He pulled over a rubbish truck one morning to tell them to go back and clean up properly which I was very impressed with. He was also very good to point out which shops helped the local people and explained how they helped so we could make informed choices. We also went to very local restaurants and even a cave to eat which definitely benefited the local people directly.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

Amazing, would highly recommend it to anyone that asks. The company were very organised, took great care of us and I will definitely return to Jordan. The only thing I would change is to have less time at the Dead Sea, was very hot with very little to do and all the group expressed the same feelings, think we all would have preferred and extra night at Dana or in the Desert. (Fortunately our very lovely guide helped us all to go visit the Baptism site while we were there as we told him we were a bit bored and asked his advise, which was a great bonus - would be nice if this was in the itinerary for future guests should they want it too!)

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Camping in the desert and having tea under the stars. Wadi Rum was amazing and it was fantastic to be able to trek between sights.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Get a polarising filter if you have an SLR camera as the sun is really intense. Bring a torch, flip flops and some funny stories for around the camp fire. Read up on Petra and watch Indian Jones & the last crusade. Have a picnic - it is really easy to get barbecue chicken, fresh vegetables, freshly baked bread and yoghurt for an alfresco lunch.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Our guide and driver were local and we ate in local restaurants & cafes and were encouraged to support local businesses. The emphasis on this holiday was trekking so we were able to escape the bus a lot. One of the Bedouin camps had an eco-toilet but the other had portaloos which were not only unpleasant on the landscape but very smelly. We felt that in that particular camp, more care could have been taken over the local area ensuring litter was removed. Our group was conscious of litter and ensure this was disposed of as best we could but there was no place for recycling. Some more work could be done in this area by the tour company to encourage this.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

We had a fantastic time. The trekking was great and we felt we were able to appreciate Jordan much more than being brought from place to place in a coach. We really enjoyed the food and atmosphere and found Jordanians very friendly.

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

It's hard to pick just one highlight, but the time we spend in the desert was just amazing. From sitting to watch the sunset over the extraordinary scenery, watching a thousand starts light up the sky to climbing sand dunes and having the best nights sleep in the Bedouin camp.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Definitely! Our guide was very focused on how our trip and activities were impacting and helping the local people and made sure we were aware of this all the time.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

A brilliant holiday, full of highlights. Jordan is a wonderful country and the people are very friendly. Our tour guides were extremely efficient and were always going that extra mile to make sure we enjoyed every aspect of the holiday. Highly recommended!

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Wadi Rum was stunning; Petra is huge (much bigger than we expected) and the Dana Nature reserve must be one of the most beautiful places on earth. Also the Jordanian people are so friendly and welcoming.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Don't bother with sleeping bags or a sleeping inner. We had individual tents with sheets at Wadi Rum. There is one long day in the mini-bus but stick with it. Arriving at Dana makes it all worthwhile.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Used local guides and companies wherever possible.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

Excellent - and extremely good value for money. Only issue would be quality of the first hotel in Amman.

The holiday was fantastic. It was so varied, it is impossible to Pick out one thing. Petra was everything one could have hoped, Dana was beautiful and was led by a local guide whose stories kept us entertained and to sleep under the stars in the desert was amazing.

The tour guide was an expert in history and archaeology and was able to bring Jerash and Petra alive. Although not a trekking holiday, trail boots or similar are advisable if you want to make the most of Petra and Dana.

I would rate the holiday as **** . I have already recommended it to friends.

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Our tour leader positioned us, eyes closed, at the approach to the Treasury at Petra and then told us to open our eyes. It made for a most memorable impression since there was no unintentional spoiling of the dramatic view, truly a Wow! moment.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Summer is low season and there are far fewer people at the attractions, therefore if you don't mind the high temperatures it can be a less crowded experience at Petra. Take a water bladder/day sack combo - it is more convenient than carrying bottles of water. Also, if visiting the Dead Sea, take care to avoid getting the water in your eyes. It really stings and spoils the view (since you can't open your eyes for ages!).

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

The tour certainly avoided the big names in the hotel business, favouring indigenous hotels instead which provided excellent accommodation - not that there was much time spent in the rooms. Local restaurants and shops were used for all meals and shopping.

4. Any other comments?

Overall a **** holiday. Thank you

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

This is a tie between my first glimpse of the Treasury at Petra and floating in the Dead Sea watching the sun set over Israel.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Take plenty of money, big hotels out in the boonies are expensive, even when the room is paid for. Don't expect a variety of food or much contact with local people or culture. Be prepared to be dumped at the a joining hotel which is miles from downtown Amman without any idea of where it is located, where, outside of the hotel you might eat (we did find a place without difficulty) and not to be met by your local guide until the next morning, two hours after the designated time. (The guide apologized profusely and explained his tardiness and we did not hold it against him; but for a while we wondered if the whole trip had been a scam. The fact is that he forgot that 4 of us were "land only" when he informed the group flying in together of a change in schedule.) Be prepared to be dumped at the departure hotel a day and a half before departure without any idea of how to arrange a trip to local sites or where a meal could be purchased for a half way reasonable price.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

No. 4 of 7 nights were spent in 4 or 5 star hotels not usually known for minimizing environmental impacts or particularly benefiting local people beyond providing menial jobs. It is my guess that the preceding comment also applies to our stay in Wadi Rum after racing across the desert for 3+ hours in 4-wheel drive vehicles. (It was a blast and a memorable highlight, but not an experience of which I am necessarily proud.)

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

It was a memorable experience; and I am glad to have seen and done much of it. On the other hand I have not felt more like a typical tourist for years. At the end I felt almost like I had spent a week at a theme park carefully separated from the real world. I would rate it as an enjoyable disappointment.

Read the operator's response here:

The food in Jordan, whilst comprising many different dishes in the style of a meze, does tend to be the same in most establishments. Buffets are the norm and they provide the opportunity to pick and choose according to personal prefernce.
Having checked about the changed meeting time, a message was left with the hotel reception which they failed to pass on. We have advised that in future a note be put under clients’ doors as hotel receptions can be notoriously unreliable for passing on messages. Any affected clients were provided with a complimentary lunch by way of an apology.
Our clients should not have been left at the end of the trip, the Group Leader is supposed to stay with the group until departure. This has arisen due to a misunderstanding over the service expected from our local agent and has been resolved for future trips.
Jordan is a well developed tourist destination and we realise that some of the hotels and attractions are not necessarily compatible with our aim to interact with and contribute to the local community. However, we are pleased to be able to include the stay at Dana National Park, where the guest house is owned by one of the village families and the park run by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature. Despite the overall benefit of tourism bringing much needed investment and employment into the country, we are always looking to improve on this aspect of our trips.
The four wheel drive vehicles used in Wadi Rum are, we agree not the most eco friendly aspect of the trip. Nevertheless, we ensure that the vehicles used are well maintained and as new as possible, rendering the pollution caused lower than many other vehicles used in the desert.
Finally, we have passed these comments to our Product team who are currently planning our trips for next year.