Jordan

Jordan shore excursions with Bakadi Dreams all start from the port of Aqaba on the Red Sea. Indeed, Aqaba is the only seaport in the country and lies within reach of two world-famous destinations. Moreover, every tour runs in a small group with a friendly English-speaking guide and a guaranteed return to your ship.

Petra, the Rose-Red City

Petra was carved directly into the rock by the Nabataeans more than two thousand years ago and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The only practical way in leads through the Siq, a gorge some 1.5 kilometres long and up to 200 metres deep, narrowing to a few metres at its tightest point. At its end the Treasury appears suddenly between the rock walls. Above all, that first view is what makes Petra one of the new seven wonders of the world.

Wadi Rum, the Desert of Lawrence

The Wadi Rum is a protected area of 740 square kilometres, listed by UNESCO in 2011. Its walls are sandstone and granite, weathered into towers and arches above red sand. Bedouin drivers take you out into it by four-wheel drive, away from the marked routes. Therefore, the desert can be visited either in the morning light or in the late afternoon, when the rock turns deep orange before sunset.

Your Day Ashore in Aqaba

Four tours are available here. Petra lies about two and a half hours inland, so that excursion fills a long day. The Wadi Rum is closer, roughly an hour away, and can be combined with Petra on a single very full day. Finally, sturdy shoes, a hat and plenty of water are essential for all of them.