Jordan cultural tour, Petra and Wadi Rum

Planet

We have incorporated a desert camp (Wadi Rum) into the itinerary which is a low impact accommodation due to the fact they are not large, opposing buildings which disturb the wonderful landscape and nature. They also use less water and electricity due to more basic facilities. The Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum ensures the protection of the Bedouin community through activities with Bedouin guides, cooking demonstrations and Bedouin musicians playing the traditional Rababah.
By keeping the group size to a maximum of 12, we can also minimise the human impact on the fragile sites and ecosystems we visit.
We attempt to reduce plastic bottle use wherever possible by promoting use of reusable and filtered water bottles. Our partnership with Water-To-Go provides a discount on filtered water bottles to our clients. We do not provide water from plastic bottles to our clients in country but always ensure there is regular access to drinking water on our tours.
We are promoting the ancient heritage and natural landscape of Jordan through visiting Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sites are chosen by the UNESCO committee and must "bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to civilisation", "an important interchange of human values" or be outstanding examples of major stages of Earth's history or ecological and biological processes in evolution.

People

On this tour we stop at the Women’s Co-operative centre in Ajloun which forms part of the Wild Jordan Project. Workshops have been set up by Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) managed nature reserves to promote the use the natural assets of protected areas. This in turn creates sustainable economic and social benefits for the local communities. Over 60 local women have been empowered through the workshops by providing them with employment and are helping to alleviate poverty in areas that offer few other employment opportunities. One example is Nehal Fayez, who states ‘’It’s the best job ever!” Nehal believes that being financially independent is really important in order not to be a burden on society. The Soap House is in the remote mountain village of Orjan and is reliant mostly on agriculture from its orchards that produce olives, grapes and other fruit. During our tour you will be given a tour of the workshops in Orjan including the soap house, cookie shop and calligraphy centre.
On Day 3 we will stay in a village homestay in Orjan for a unique glimpse into the traditions and customs of local life. We will also stay in a Wild Jordan run guesthouse and eco-lodge in Dana Nature Reserve. The homestay/guesthouse market helps them to provide good, clean and interesting accommodation which in turn allows them to educate their children, improve their standard of living and look after their ill. The wonderful thing about this kind of interactive tourism is that everyone gains – the families financially and us with the wonderful welcome and experience they give us. Wherever possible we stay in locally owned accommodation, eat in locally owned establishments and purchase supplies from the local nomads.
On each Group tour we use local ground handlers. This means that all operational costs go directly into the local economy and help improve employment opportunities in remote regions. Such support can also be seen in our incorporation of homestays, locally owned hotels, family run restaurants and the services of local guides and drivers into our itineraries, which ensures that the money you spend with us goes directly into the local economy and local community.