Travelling in Jordan

General Notes

• The Customs Officials at Aqaba Airport advise that nowadays they are allowing diving equipment (excluding oxygen tanks and knives) as long as they are being registered upon arrival. The regulations regarding diving equipment are subject to change without prior notice.

• Winter in Jordan covers the same period as the UK winter. Petra, which is located in mountains, can be very cold and you should prepare accordingly. Conversely in Aqaba, which is at sea level, and the Dead Sea, which is lower than sea level, the climate in winter is temperate.
• Petra is a large site which, in parts, is uneven and rocky and therefore requires appropriate walking shoes and a degree of fitness and mobility. The walk from the Visitors’ Center to Qasr el-Bint / Basin is 4 kms and the return is another 4 kms, the total walking distance is 8 kms, including the Siq (gorge).
• At Petra, you may be ‘invited’ to make the journey from the Visitors’ Center to beginning of the Siq (or vice-versa) by horse or donkey and camel rides are also offered inside Petra, near the Basin area. These services are unregulated and uninsured and we therefore strongly advise against taking this option.
• Transport in Wadi Rum is regulated by the local Bedouin and it is their vehicles that are used for exploring the area. These are, by modern standards, antiquated open jeeps that are tackling rugged terrain and visitors should therefore not expect a smooth ride. Please be advised that the jeeps have no seatbelts and are not suitable for anyone with a bad back. It is nevertheless an awe-inspiring experience.

• During 2010 entry fees into Petra are not included on some of our tours as you have the choice of how many times you wish to visit the site. These factors determine whether you need a 1-day pass approx. £31 (from Nov £38), a 2-day pass approx. £36 (from Nov £43) or a 3-day pass approx. £41 (from Nov £47). These tickets are bookable with our local agent on arrival. In 2011 entry fees into Petra are included for most tours, as indicated on the relevant tour.
  
• Jordan departure tax is not included.
  

• As indicated in our World of Wonders brochure, gratuities or tips are not included in the holiday price and are at your discretion (we suggested budgeting £2-£5 per day), depending on the tour. Tipping is standard procedure in Jordan and is an important source of income for people working in the tourism sector. The normal practice is to dispense small sums to all sorts of people along the way (it is good to have a small supply of JD1 notes for tipping and our local representatives will be able to change large notes into smaller notes). On tour an envelope may be passed round for drivers and porters.
  In response to customer requests, we have compiled the following as a tipping guideline (per person): GUIDES: It is customary to show your appreciation at the end of the week by handing an envelope to your tour guide personally. Recommended: JD 2-3 per day. In Aqaba your guide may vary on different excursions, therefore we suggest tipping your local Aqaba guide after each excursion. Recommended: JD 2-3 per day. BUS DRIVERS: We suggest JD 0.5-1 per half day and JD 1-2 per full day. OTHER: For other services we suggested JD 0.5-1 (hotel porters, restaurants, boat crew, boat entertainers, Wadi Rum camp staff or jeep driver, ‘Petra by Night’ storyteller or folkloric group). For Hotel Housekeeping we suggest leaving in the room JD 0.5 per night per room .