WADI RUM AND PETRA CLIMBING RETREAT
How would you like to go on a climbing expedition to Mars? Wadi Rum is about as close to the Red Planet as you can get without jumping on a rocket. Wadi Rum Reserve is an expansive protected area, just north of the Red Sea port of Aqaba. Massive red sand valleys (Wadis) and huge sandstone monoliths define the area. It is one of the most underappreciated climbing areas in the world. The rock is wild, sculpted, eroded and contorted into mushrooms, hoodoos, flakes and cracks. The climbing is unlike anything, anywhere else. One moment you will feel like your in Red Rock, then you'll suddenly transport to Zion, then Moab! This trip is low ration trip with a max of 2 climbers per guide meaning we can tailor the trip to your goals and experience.
The locals of Wadi Rum, Bedouins, are some of the original climbers, and some of the nicest people you will ever meet. This is a great opportunity to experience another culture and cuisine through climbing.
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All guides are AMGA certified Rock Guides
Dates:
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March 1st - 9th 2024 (FULL)
Nov 9th - 17th 2024
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Prerequisite
This is an Intermediate - Advanced trip. It is recommended to have some experience climbing outside on routes up to 5.8. You do not need experience leading trad to join this trip. Please reach out if you have any questions if this is the right trip for you!
Course Ratio
Max 2:1
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Trip Length
9 Days
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Cost
$3250 for a shared room with another participant.
$3550 for a private room for the duration of the trip
TRIP ITINERARY
DAY 1 (TRAVEL DAY)
Plan to arrive at the Aqaba sometime in the afternoon on the first day. We will have a hotel booked and you will be able to take a quick taxi from the airport straight to the hotel. Once everyone arrives, we will meet up for our first group dinner at one of the restaurants in Aqaba. Depending on your experience and tolerance with jet lag, we recommend arriving one full day before the trip. Lounging on the beach at the Red Sea is a great way to burn off jet lag. Let us know in the booking process if you would like us to book an extra night for you in Aqaba.
DAYÂ 2
We will start the second day by driving 1 hour north to Wadi Rum Village. Here we will get established at the Oryx Hostel. The Oryx Hostel is beautiful facility at the edge of town, perfectly situated for climbing access. Once we unload our stuff we will head out for our first climb. It is likely we will head out for a short mellow multi pitch route or crag at one of the cliffs close to town.
DAYS 3 AND 4
For days 3 and 4 we will aim to climb a couple longer routes on the peaks above Rum Village. Depending on your goals for the trip, these days could potentially be quite long and adventurous. Each day after our climb, we will return to Oryx for an amazing buffet style dinner.
DAY 5 (PETRA!!!)
Petra has got to be one of the coolest places in the world. This is not a well kept secret as it is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. However, most people don't realize how expansive Petra really is. The ancient Nabateen city holds thousands of years of history and is an amazing display of architecture and mathematics. We will head out with a local Bedouin guide on a tour of the park. The Bedouin's are the original inhabitants of the region and are super knowledgeable of the history. Seeing most of the larger features involves about 6 miles of mostly flat walking. This will be a relatively action packed day with a decent amount of driving and should be considered an "active rest day".
DAY 6
By this point in the trip, we fully expect people to be a little tired. The tentative plan for this day is to try and climb one of the short multi pitch routes near town.
DAY 7 AND 8
For the last two climbing days, we will have the option to head into nearby Barrah Canyon where we will have the opportunity to get on super classic routes like "Merlin's Wand" or "The Star of Abu Judaidah" or go on a canyoneering adventure if our fingers are tired. Depending on interest, it is possible to stay at an open air camp in Barrah Canyon on the 7th night.
DAY 9 (TRAVEL DAY)
Its been a grand adventure on mars, but we all have to fly back home at some point. After breakfast, we will arrange a taxi for you back to the Aqaba airport.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
INCLUSIONS
6 days of professional guiding/instruction by AMGA certified Rock Guides
1 Day tour of Petra with a Local Guide
9 nights of lodging in a shared room. Rooms will be shared with 1 other participant. If you would like a private room or are concerned about sharing a room, please reach out in the booking process.
Breakfast every day of the trip, except for the first travel day.
Dinner every day, including a welcome dinner on the first travel day (does not include dinner on the final travel day).
Transportation from Aqaba to Wadi Rum and Petra and back to Aqaba.
Use of group technical equipment such as ropes, rack and quickdraws.
Jordan Pass, which includes entrance to Petra, Wadi Rum as well as your Tourist Visa for Jordan.
EXCLUSIONS
Airfare/flight to and from Aqaba
Transportation to and from the airport. There are always tons of local taxis waiting at the airport and are very reasonably priced.
Lunch each day, we will provide transportation to a large grocery store in Aqaba before we leave. There are also a couple reasonably sized markets in Wadi Rum village within walking distance of our Hostel.
Personal Climbing Equipment (harness, helmet, climbing shoes, we can supply some rentals and are happy to work with you to make recommendations on what/where to buy)
Trip Insurance (Trip Insurance and Rescue Insurance are required for this trip, we will ask for proof during the registration process)
Guide Gratuity
FOOD AND HOUSING
The food of Jordan takes all of the best attributes of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food. Falafel, hummus, barbeque, fresh cucumbers and tomatoes and all the Pitas you could ever imagine! For our welcome dinner in Aqaba, we will all go out to eat at a local restaurant, and you will have the opportunity to sample some fresh seafood straight out of the red sea. At our Hotel in Rum Village, we will receive nightly catering from a local cook.
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Our Lodging in Rum will be at the Oryx Hostel. The Oryx has a series of Bedouin "tents" that we will be staying in. Mind you that this is the farthest thing from camping you could imagine. The tents are more like Yurts with a raised floor. Each tent has a private bathroom and good access to power receptacles. The WiFi at the Oryx is quite good and reliable. There is also good 4G coverage in Rum Village.
FAQS
DO PEOPLE USUALLY SIGN UP SOLO OR IN GROUPS?
A lot of people sign up alone. It can be intimidating to travel to a new place alone with a bunch of strangers, be assured a lot of folks are in the same boat. It is a great way to network and meet new friends and climbing partners. This trip requires a lot of compatibility between individuals' goals, if you sign up solo we will do our best to coordinate and pair with someone who will be like minded.
HOW MANY PEOPLE SIGN UP? WHAT IS THE TYPICAL DEMOGRAPHIC?
This is a small, low ratio trip. Group size will be quite small, we can accommodate up to 4 people. We usually get a relatively even split of men and women. As far as age is concerned, the average age for trips like this has been mid 20's through mid 40's. Minimum age for this trip is 18.
WHAT IS THE TYPICAL EXPERIENCE LEVEL PEOPLE WHO SIGN UP HAVE?
This is an Intermediate/Advanced trip. We require that you have some experience following multi pitch trad routes before joining this trip. We are happy to work with you prior to the trip if there are any skills or techniques you would like to work on before flying in.
HOW MUCH WILL I GET TO LEAD?
Wadi Rum is "out there". It is firmly established as a global climbing destination, but it is still a small rural village in southern Jordan. The town and park don't have the same kind of rescue resources as most areas in the US do. Because of this, our first line of defense in rescue is our Co-Guides, our Bedouin hosts, local volunteers and other climbers who are in town. We firmly take a conservative stance on trips like this and will very rarely let students/participants lead.
HOW HARD DO I NEED TO CLIMB TO GET THE MOST OF THIS TRIP?
Wadi Rum is a trad, adventure climbing playground. The walls tend to be both steep and featured. To get the most out of the trip, we recommend that people have some experience following 5.9 trad routes. Reach out if you have any concerns about whether this is the right trip for you. We are happy to set up some prep days in the States to help set you up for sucess.
WHAT IF I'VE NEVER BEEN TO THE MIDDLE EAST? ISN'T THE MIDDLE EAST SCARY? I DON'T KNOW ARABIC!?
Tourism is one of Jordan's largest industries. Because of this, they have adopted a much friendlier stance towards the west than most other Middle Eastern countries. Despite being in an epicenter of conflict, Jordan has remained largely unscathed, choosing to house refugees and maintain trade relations rather than participate in the conflicts.
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Jordanians are calm, respectful and have an immense sense of hospitality. Because of tourism, a lot of the locals speak English. Plus, the Bedouins have been climbing in Rum for centuries and are incredibly enthusiastic when they see western climbers!
WHAT GEAR DO I NEED TO BRING?
We will have all the necessary rack and ropes for the trip, but you will be responsible for your own "personal kit". We have a basic gear list to get you started Here. We will send out a more robust equipment list and information on travel strategies during the booking process.
WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY
We have a strict cancellation policy. See our Terms and Conditions page for a more detailed outline on what this looks like. Trip Insurance and Rescue Insurance are Required for this trip.
HOW DO IÂ GET TO AQABA?
Aqaba has a small international airport. It is easy to book a flight from the US to Aqaba, which usually involves a layover somewhere in Europe. Cost varies a lot on dates and departure city. Here are a few other options if those flights are looking pricy. Flying to Amman is often cheaper. Domestic flights within Jordan are relatively cheap, so you can book a separate flight from Amman to Aqaba. You can take a taxi or bus from Amman to Aqaba which will take around 4-5 hours.  Direct flights from some European cities can also be cheaper if you want to plan spend some time in Europe before or after the trip and book your flights separately. Feel free to reach out if you need help or advice when planning your itinerary.
