WELLBEING IN THE WILDERNESS Trek Wadi Rum and Petra

Emergencies

We will provide an experienced team of first aid qualified mountainleaders, and a number of doctors to follow you on this trek with a full emergency medical kit if required.  If you are unable to continue the challenge, you will be transferred either to a hotel to rest or to medical facilities if required.  We have vehicle back up during the entire challenge for emergencies.

Medical Support

First Aid qualified staff will be provided with the medical details that you give on your booking form but please note that they are on the challenge to support with medical matters related to the challenge environment and terrain itself, i.e. heat/cold, high altitude and so on. They will deal with any incidents and accidents (cuts, sprains, breaks and so on). They are not intended to continue any ongoing specialist medical care that you receive in the UK for pre-exiting medical conditions, and should not be assumed to have any professional experience of your specific medical condition.

If you have any specific needs around pre-existing medical conditions, you should discuss with your family doctor or specialist in advance and can discuss any advice given by them with the challenge leader or doctor.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

We do not professionally vet your medical details. Please assess for yourself whether you are fit and able to take on the challenge. Please review the detailed Trip Notes and itinerary to get a better idea of what is involved. Please speak to your doctor or specialist if you have any concerns about taking part. If you suffer from a severe allergy, you are required to contact us to discuss any requirements. If you think that there are things we can do to make the challenge more accessible/comfortable for you, it is your responsibility to let us know, and we will then let you know if we can accommodate your request. Whilst we will do our best to put in place appropriate measures we cannot guarantee that this will be possible.

Clothing and Equipment

Good quality, durable kit could mean the difference between a fantastic challenge experience and an uncomfortable one. For this challenge, well-worn in boots will be indispensable, particularly coupled with some quality walking socks. The benefits of a comfortable day sack cannot be underestimated, so make sure that you train with this. Other essentials are a lightweight waterproof jacket and technical/wicking t-shirts rather than cotton shirts. Walking poles are also highly recommended, however we would recommend training with these prior to your trek. A full kit list for this challenge can be found here.

Group Size

The group is intended to be a minimum of 80 people in order to run and a maximum of 120 people. The overal group will be split into four smaller treking groups, each with their own support and leadership team.

Leadership

We employ several challenge leaders, all of whom speak fluent English. They each carry first aid kits will be ultimately responsible for the running of the itinerary and the safety of your group. They will be supported by guides form the local area.

Baggage

As no formal clothes are needed, luggage should be kept to the absolute minimum – details of what to pack are provided in your Kit List. Your main kit bag, or rucksack, must not exceed 20 kgs in weight. The packing information for Jordan is different for other challenges, so please read carefully! When you set off on your trek, you are expected to carry a day pack with your daily essentials in (Sun block, water, camera etc.) whist a support vehicle transfers your main bags from camp to camp. While we will do everything to provide adequate safety for the group and security for your possessions, the general rule is that if you don’t need it, don’t bring it. This includes jewellery, necklaces and rings.

Training

This challenge is graded ‘Challenging’, which means that a good level of fitness is definitely required! Anyone who leads a fairly active and moderately healthy lifestyle and has previous trekking and mountain walking experience should be able to complete the trek, as long as they train regularly over a period of at least three months leading up to the challenge. Don’t forget that the temperature is likely to be different from what you are used to! Whilst no altitude is involved, there are several steep rocky sections which will test you physically along with the heat!

While strength is important, endurance training should be your primary focus. Walking up hills and climbing stairs are both ways to condition your lower body. Begin slowly, without the weight of a pack, eventually adding weight as you increase your training pace. Take long hikes (6-8 hours) with a weighted pack, up and down hills or mountains (weigh your pack with water containers and pour out the water before your descent to minimise knee stress).

Vaccinations and Medicines

Vaccinations - For up to date vaccination information please check the Travel Health Pro page:  https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/115/jordan

Charity Challenge are not medical experts and we would encourage you to visit your doctor or travel nurse to discuss vaccination requirements. Your doctor may ask questions about the specific locations that you are visiting, and as such it may be useful to take a copy of your itinerary with you.

Medication

• Carry medicines (including those bought over the counter) in their correctly labelled original packaging, as issued by the pharmacist. These should be carried in your hand luggage.
• Consider packing a spare supply of medication in the hold luggage in case of loss of hand luggage
• A letter from the prescriber detailing the medicines with the generic names for the medications can be helpful for border control checks, and in case medicines have to be replaced or medical help is required
• Carry a note from the prescribing physician on letterhead stationery for controlled substances and injection medications

N.B.  Some medications are banned abroad so please check. You can find further information at https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheet/43/medicines-abroad

Insurance

Your safety when travelling with Charity Challenges is our main concern which is why it is a booking condition that you have a suitable travel insurance policy that will cover you for the adventurous nature of your challenge. For more travel insurance questions, please refer to our main FAQs page or for any specific queries, please contact us at bookings@charitychallenge.com.

Flights

This challenge is Ground Only. That means that you need to organise your flights in to and out of Amman to meet the itinerary. We will confirm the hotel meeting place in Amman closer to departure.

Level of difficulty

The Wadi Rum and Petra Trek is graded as Challenging. This is the perfect challenge for participants who are of an adventurous spirit and an open mind. You will need a good level of fitness in order to undertake this challenge.You can tell your supporters that on your Wadi Rum Trek you will be:

• Trekking an average of 8-9 hours per day
• Trekking in high temperatures of around 30°C
• The maximum altitude reached is 1200-1300 metres above sea level
• Trekking through and camping in remote areas where facilities are basic

Phone & Wi-fi

During your stay in Amman you will have good wi-fi access and phone signal. On camping days there will be no wi-fi and virtually no phone signal. We recommend that you enjoy the opportunity to disconnect and really experience the desert lifestyle.

Money

Currency: Jordan uses the Dinar as its currency. For up to date currency exchange, go to www.xe.com. You should ideally bring a combination of Dinars and Sterling, or Sterling that you can change into Dinars on arrival in Jordan.

Credit Cards: Credit cards are welcomed in Amman (Visa, MasterCard, Diners and American Express), but take cash for small towns and villages. Major credit cards are accepted in most hotels, shops and restaurants.

ATMs: You will find ATMs in Amman and Petra, located in the airport, the city center or near banks.

How much to bring: You will not need a large amount of money during this trip, as most services are included. You should only need money for tips, food & drink (additional to what is included and detailed in the itinerary), gifts and souvenirs. There are a wide range of souvenirs to buy including rugs and jewelry. On average around £150-£200 and a credit card in case of an emergency, should suffice. Keep in mind that, other than at the start and end of the trip, you will be in the desert away from any foreign exchanges or banks. We therefore recommend that you carry some cash. You will mainly need Dinars in small denominations for the staff tips for this trip.

Tipping: Tipping is personal and at your sole discretion. You should only tip if you feel that you have received good service. We recommend £16 per person per day for the 5 days of activity in country, (£80 total) in Jordanian Dinar (ideally in small denominations), and this should be given to the challenge leader during the trek who will distribute it among the support team, including guides, assistant guides, cooks, drivers, camp crew and hotel staff.

Food & drink

The meals we provide are nutritionally balanced and well suited to the environment. Breakfast will usually include cereals, bread, fresh fruit, juice and coffee. Lunches will be in the form of a packed lunch given out at breakfast to be carried in the daypack, along with hot stews and bread cooked fresh on the trail at lunchtime. Dinner always includes a soup/starter, main course and a dessert served as buffet to participants seated out under the stars whenever possible. The vegetarian food is excellent. Water will be provided during the trekking at campsites. Soft / alcoholic beverages and water either side of the trek will be at your own expense, please bear in mind Jordan has varying limitations to alcohol availability depending on where you are located. Please let Charity Challenge know prior to departure if you have any dietary requirements or allergies.

Accommodation & toilets

Accommodation - In Amman and Aqaba, the accommodation will be in 3 or 4 star hotels, with rooms for two people sharing. During the trek you will camp in spacious two-person dome tents with foam mattresses that we provide. In Little Petra, the accommodation will be in a permanent campsite with shared facilities. If you would like your own room/tent, this can be arranged if there is availability but there will be a single room supplement. There are showers in the hotels, but no showers whilst camping, washing facilities are basic. There will be an opportunity to shower after the Dead Sea float. Please let Charity Challenge know if you are travelling with a friend or partner who you wish to share with.

Toilets - Portable toilets are available at each camping spot. When out trekking, you will need to wild toilet (use nature to provide a secluded spot for privacy).

Climate & Terrain

Climate

Jordan's climate is sub-tropic – hot to very hot summers and warm to cool winters. Most of Jordan is covered by desert, summers are extremely hot. Although, always remember the nights will be cold, and could be below freezing between December to February. The north-west experiences most of the country's annual rainfall, in January especially. Cooler temperatures in Jordan are between March and May. Day time temperatures between September and November are between 28°C and 19°C and nights are cold. Amman reaches a comfortable 32°C between June and September. On our challenge you can expect temperatures of roughly 25°C by day and 5°C by night.

Terrain

The route is mostly flat or undulating on the trek. There is no climbing during the challenge.

Visa

You must hold a full ten-year passport with at least six months to run from the end of your challenge, and at least one blank page for your visa and entry/exit stamps. Many nationalities require a visa to visit Jordan. Please check with the Jordanian Embassy in your country to see what the requirements are.

Responsible Tourism

At Charity Challenge we are committed to sustainable and responsible tourism, and work closely with bodies such as the International Porter Protection Group and Climate Care to ensure that our challenges benefit the local environments and communities in which they take place. We ensure that all rubbish is disposed of responsibly, and following local guidelines on cultural and environmental protection and respect, we aim to limit our impact on the natural environment. In addition to taking these practical steps to ensure that our challenges are sustainable, we also make a contribution each year to a number of local community projects, so as to give something back directly to the communities that we visit. Since 2000 we have donated almost £200,000 to such projects, supporting a range of initiatives, including schooling for children in Africa, shelter for street children in Brazil, and Orang-utan conservation in Indonesia. We recommend that any gifts brought over for children are given to the UK challenge leader and distributed where needed by them and our local Ground Agent. If you wish to do more, you should consider buying drinks, postcards and souvenirs from the local vendors. For many, it is their sole source of income. For more information, please visit our Responsible Tourism pages, where you will be able to view a list of the projects that we currently support.

On your Trek Wadi Rum and Petra we commit to the following: Wherever possible using local leaders and support staff:

• Your challenge leader for your trek in Wadi Rum will be a local, well trained and knowledgeable professional leader. All our leaders for this challenge are either native from or long-term residents of Jordan. This will ensure that you not only will have a much higher level of engagement with the local culture, but also knowledge of the environment, local ways of living, history and experiences from the locals.
• During your trek you may pass through local communities. We support these communities by asking our ground handlers to employ support staff from them, for example, the local chefs that will be providing you with delicious meals after your hard day of trekking.  Not only does this ensure that the money is going straight back into the community, but it also means you can learn so much more from them about their culture and lives and therefore support local sustainable businesses.
• The support of our local staff does not stop after your challenge has finished.  Our ground handler provides annual training on safety, group management, environmental protection management, and First Aid. This continued support throughout the year empowers our local leaders and helps to keep them up to date with best practice.

Using local produce and reducing our plastic footprint:

• Our ground handler sources local produce to ensure fresh food and provides water for you to refill your water bottles at the beginning and end of the day which cuts down our use of plastic bottles, and of course all this fresh water will help you to stay hydrated.

Safety

Charity Challenge considers the safety of all of its participants and staff to be a top priority, and as such we have set up a thorough safety management system. Our Challenge Safe brand formalises our ethos when it comes to safety and brings together the procedures and risk management strategies that we use to audit all aspects of our challenges, from vehicles to accommodation to the activity itself. Your welfare is paramount!

In terms of your Trek to Petra Challenge, there are a couple of important points that you should be aware of:

• Trekking in the heat of Jordan is a significant challenge in itself, so make sure you are well hydrated throughout.
• There is one day of acclimatisation to the new surroundings built into this itinerary
• You will be trekking in hot conditions in the day and sleeping in much cooler conditions at night
• The terrain can be quite steep rocky and sandy so please make sure that you have suitable boots, not trainers, and make sure that you are comfortable walking on loose sand and steep rocky terrain, often on narrow paths
• You will be trekking through, and camping in, remote areas where facilities are basic

Typical day

During the trekking days you rise early and prepare to leave camp after breakfast, then trek carrying only daypacks for 8 to 9 hours, stopping for lunch en route. You will have plenty of time to stop and view the remarkable scenery. The trek zone is remote. The evenings are spent in beautifully located camps situated among sandstone outcrops shaped by wind and sand and under the stars.