The Trek to Petra challenge is an exhilarating 5-day trek along part of the beautiful Jordan Trail, leading toward the ancient hidden ‘rose city’ of Petra. From start to finish, it’s an experience you’ll remember forever!
What is the Trek to Petra challenge?
Embark on a journey that see’s you trek across deserts, ascend mountains, traverse up high ridges and down into wadis. You’ll camp under the desert stars, Bedouin-style, and delight in the reward of seeing Petra for the first time – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World!
Highlights include:
- Visit one of the New 7 Modern Wonders of the World.
- Discover the ancient ‘rose city’ of Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Float in the iconic Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth!
- Witness a blanket of stars as you camp Bedouin-style in the desert.
- From Wadi Feynan Reserve, the path along the edge of the desert is surprisingly rich in flora and fauna. Enjoy the rich multitude of ever-changing views on your journey!
What will I achieve?
This 8-day expedition is graded as ‘tough’ and involves 5 days of trekking in the heat across a variety of undulating terrains. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll accomplish (and can proudly share with your sponsors):
- Trekking an average of 6-9 hours per day.
- Trekking in high temperatures of 25°C – 35°C approx. (dependant on month of departure).
- Ascending and descending around 2500m in total over the 5 days of trekking.
- Reaching a maximum altitude of 1200 metres above sea level.
- Trekking through and camping in remote areas where facilities are basic.
I’m thinking of booking, what do I need to know?
For a quick overview of what to expect, we’ve pulled together some advice below – including top tips from our experienced team and past participants. For full details, please visit our Trek to Petra webpage.
1. Equipping Yourself For The Desert
Packing smart is essential for the Trek to Petra, where temperatures swing from hot desert days to cool mountain nights and your comfort depends on choosing the right layers, quality kit and day pack. For a full breakdown always refer to the official challenge Kit List. Below are some further insightful tips from our experienced leaders!
Top Tips:
- Carry a spare pair of dry socks to put on at lunch time each day (this reduces the friction caused by sweat!). Quality sunglasses are a must and a wide brimmed breathable sun hat. – Duncan Turnbull, Challenge Leader
- A lightweight down jacket (or synthetic equivalent) is a good warmth boost for the chilly desert nights. At night on the high camps, temperatures can drop down to near 0°C. Great for star gazing! – Phil Nelson, Challenge Leader
- Opt for trekking-style sandals for wearing around camp (rather than flip flops or sliders), as it’s often still rocky around the camp sites and these provide better stability. – Ian Morton, Challenge Leader
- I recommend a sleeping bag liner, as it catches any sand and sweat from your body after a day’s trekking, keeping your sleeping bag cleaner and in good condition for longer! For a desert trip, a cotton or silk one is best. – Phil Nelson, Challenge Leader
2. Essential Footcare For Desert Trekking
As a former outdoor footwear fitter, Charity Challenge Leader, Phil Nelson, knows a thing or two about keeping your feet happy when trekking. Make sure to check out our main blog on footcare (Taking Care of Your Feet on Challenges) – to learn even more from his wise advice!
Top Tips from Phil:
- Choosing your shoe – Cushioning and grip are key; waterproofing less so. Trail runners, hiking boots, desert boots, or walking shoes are all fine – stick to what you know and avoid old, worn-out shoes as these can fall apart quickly during desert trekking.
- Sand Gaiters – These are not the same as the gaiters you wear in the rain. These typically have zero waterproofing, are ankle height and simply stop sand, stones and spiky desert plants getting into your footwear. Stops you having to empty your footwear out of debris every few miles!
- Socks – Wear good quality hiking socks of light to mid thickness, made of merino wool or synthetic material. One of the most effective ways of reducing sweat, swelling and blisters is to take your shoes and socks off during lunch breaks. Letting your feet air out during breaks, at campsite and when sleeping (if possible) is an effective way of letting your feet recover.
- Blister Prevention – If you follow the above, your chances of blisters drastically drops, but to enhance protection even further, then pre-taping hot spot areas (heels, ball of feet, previous blister areas) with Kinesiology Tape and packing some Hydrocolloid plasters, means you should have a blister free trek! We recommend our partners at SportTape for quality tapes!
3. Preparation and Maintenance for a Successful Challenge
The vast, varied desert landscapes and otherworldly scenery of this trek mean that you’re quickly taken out of your normal comfort zone and into some challenging conditions. Whilst pre-challenge training is vital for getting the best our of your trekking experience, it’s just as important to maintain your physical health during the challenge. Follow the useful advice below to keep yourself in tip-top condition whilst out in the desert.
Top Tips:
- Make sure you train properly beforehand, in order to fully embrace the experience. – Duncan Turnbull, Challenge Leader
- Rehydration Sachets vs Electrolytes – one of the most important and used items in my kit are rehydration sachets (like Dioralyte). Being de-hydrated on a challenge lowers energy levels, increases risk of cramps and headaches and reduces enjoyment! They also help with replacing lost fluids and salts if you get an upset stomach. You typically take them with around 200ml of water and drink them fairly quickly! Electrolytes, on the other hand, are designed to be added to your water bottle throughout the day to maintain hydration and mineral balance during exercise, rather than as a rapid fix for dehydration or fluid-loss. – Phil Nelson, Challenge Leader
- Throughout your trek you will be provided with clean, safe drinking water each day. However, I recommend carrying a filter bottle in addition to your water bladder. Charity Challenge recommends the brand Water-to-go (view our participant discount here), as they filter out viruses and everything else unsafe to drink. – Phil Nelson, Challenge Leader
- I would suggest packing a trekking umbrella for instant shade, as it can get fiercely hot! Take plenty of SPF50 sun cream to apply regularly and opt for lightweight, loose fitting clothing to protect your skin from sunburn. – Ian Morton, Challenge Leader
- Personal hygiene is a key consideration during trekking. Our expert ground team always ensure your water and food is handled safely. So, to prevent any illness, it’s your responsibility to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and to use hand sanitiser after toilet stops and always before food. It’s good practise not to lick fingers, bite nails or pass food between each other by hand. Although it seems obvious, maintaining these hygiene practises really reduces the chance of illness in the group! – Phil Nelson, Challenge Leader
- During the Trek to Petra, we walk at a much, much slower pace compared to a typical UK trek. We take smaller steps to keep heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rates low. All of this is to help reduce sweating, dehydration and muscle fatigue. Embrace the relaxed Bedouin way of life, amazing views and company of your group! – Phil Nelson, Challenge Leader
4. Embrace The Experience!
Now you know the serious advice – get ready to be amazed by the landscapes, culture, sunsets and magical moments that make this trek a truly unique adventure.
Top Tips:
- Be prepared to be astonished by the scenery throughout the trek! – Ian Morton, Challenge Leader
- Every day is different and the scenery changes a lot. So don’t think “I’ll get photos later” – take them and create memories every day! Also, read up a little about Petra in advance, so you can appreciate where you’re trekking to. It will enhance your overall experience. – Simon Albert, Charity Challenge Co-Founder and Director
- Enjoy the adventure! You will be visiting Petra, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, as well as floating in the Dead Sea (the lowest point on the surface of the earth), walking through 5 different ecosystems, and experiencing Arabic and Bedouin culture in the desert. It’s such a good trip and I cannot recommend it highly enough! – Phil Nelson, Challenge Leader
Why should I book Trek to Petra with Charity Challenge?
Over the years Charity Challenge has built up a wealth of experience that has enabled us to create an exhilarating and responsibly-led Trek to Petra itinerary; combining a variety of views, traditional experiences, and epic end-goals!
- Your local challenge leader will be a highly trained and knowledgeable professional, fluent in English. All our leaders for this challenge are either native or long-term residents of Jordan. This ensures that you will have a much higher level of engagement with the local culture, as well as knowledge of the environment, local ways of living, history and experiences from the locals. You will also be supported by a UK leader throughout.
- We support local communities by having our ground handlers employ local staff, like Bedouin chefs, ensuring money goes back into the community while giving you a chance to learn about their culture and support sustainable businesses.
- Your five days’ trekking are rewarded with a distant view of the Monastery, which gradually comes into view. Entering Petra here, as if through the city’s back door, you’ll pose for the first of many photographs against the backdrop of this magnificent façade. Your guides will bring the history of this vast site to life as you trek back in time, past the Royal Tombs, the Church and finally the Treasury, Petra’s most iconic site!
Fundraising – Since 1999, we have specialised in operating challenges for charity fundraisers. We partner with 1000’s of UK and Irish charities already – and our team is happy to reach out to a charity of your choice to make your dream fundraising challenge happen. (Or, if you don’t fancy fundraising, the good news is you can simply self-fund and join us anyway!).
To conclude… start prepping!
If you are now seriously considering taking on the Trek to Petra challenge, we recommend heading over to our website to read through our full Itinerary, Costs, Kit List and extensive Essential Information tabs. You’ll find everything you need to know here in detail, from timings, locations, accommodation, difficulty level breakdowns, training advice, group safety and much, much more (including answers to those all-important ‘what if?’ questions).
Our blog also hosts a wealth of resources to help prepare you for your fundraising challenge.
Remember, Trek to Petra is graded as ‘Tough’, and so with the right training and forward-planning, it’s a highly memorable way to push yourself for a good cause. An excellent choice for an Overseas Charity Challenge!
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