Horseback riding with Bedouins, Jordan

Arabian desert horses

Arabian desert horses trained by Bedouins are animals of character: passionate, obedient, curious and graceful. The herd of horses lives in the desert and is accustomed to the local climate. The remarkable Arabian desert horses give an unforgettable equestrian experience. Sand plains, mountains, rocks and gorges, nothing is strange to these horses, they love the desert. You ride twice a day, 4-6 hours each day: in the morning and after lunch. In between, you can shelter from the sun in the camp we make for you while the Bedouins prepare lunch. A guide on horseback will accompany you on each trek. For the route, for company and for the horses. The guide knows all the horses and what manners which horse needs to have a nice ride. Riding Arabian desert horses is slightly different from western horses, along the way you will start to feel the difference but also how to understand your horse better. After each ride, you will have the possibility to take care of your horse. You will have every opportunity to build this special bond for more connection with your horse.

The Wadi Rum, the scenery

The Wadi Rum desert is so diverse, every day a new landscape through canyons, open plains with a small elevation of vast desert landscape with lots of sand. Wadi Rum, also called the ‘Valley of the Moon’ or Mars. Sometimes you travel past rocks of all natural colours, sometimes through the red or white sand. Sometimes over the rocks, under the natural bridges (arches). More than 10,000 petroglyphs can be found in the Wadi Rum and its surroundings, you will see some of them. And then you have the sandstone rocks, just dropped somewhere in the sand, and the impressive granite mountains or a combination of both. Most people think the desert is just sand dunes and yes, you will find beautiful and high sand dunes, gathered in some areas but also blown up against a rock. In the Wadi Rum, you enjoy the vegetation of acacia trees, even olive and palm trees and lots of green bushes. Animals also choose to live in the Wadi Rum. Many species of birds, lizards, beetles and the fox, wild dogs, desert mice, hares, hedgehogs and the gazelle. In a large enclosed area even the oryx. Some animals you will see, others will hide during the day. For centuries, pilgrims, nomads and traders have been passing through Wadi Rum with their caravans of camels and precious goods because there is water. You will pass some of these reservoirs from which, if there is water after the rain, the horses will also drink from.

Do you travel in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia or opt for the silent desert, the desert of the Bedouins?

We have these 2 tours that the group can choose from:

- The soul of Bedouin life

Most groups choose to ride in the quiet, peaceful areas where you hardly encounter a tourist. Where you might encounter a Bedouin looking for his camels grazing somewhere in the vast desert. There, you are more likely to find wildlife of overwhelming beauty. You get there with the idea that you are the only one in the desert, which is not so because there are Bedouins. There you can still find the soul of Bedouin life with Bedouin names for the rock formations and viewpoints. Where your horse will not be jostled by all the factors that tourism brings, where they can be themselves.

- In the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia

A tour of the highlights of Wadi Rum, the Lawrence of Arabia tour. Many names of highlights in Wadi Rum are linked to this English officer in World War I. And yes, Lawrence of Arabia was in Wadi Rum but many stories around him have gone on to live their own lives, sometimes differently as we recognise from history. Nowadays, many tourists flock to the highlights where you are never alone. Many jeeps take the same route with sometimes yelling and photographing tourists, on top of the jeep, which makes me feel like being in an amusement park. This was once a nice tour with a clear route. With the increase in tourism, though, this has changed.

Accompanied by a jeep with facilities

During the horse journey, you will be accompanied by a jeep transporting your luggage, everything for camping in the desert, food and water for people and horses. Along with the local Bedouins who take care of everything in the desert, both camping, cooking, horses, campfire. They live the Bedouin life and love to take you into their lives while you are their special guest.

Accommodation in the desert

On arrival in the desert, you will spend the night in a comfortable desert camp with tents, beds and bathrooms with running water. Expect basic accommodation on a trip deep in the desert. Where you do get the unique opportunity to sleep under the stars in the most idyllic places in the desert. Small 2-person tents are available on request but the experience is that almost everyone chooses to sleep outside even in winter. The camps the Bedouins make during the tour are Bedouin-style, sitting on mattresses, eating as they do, from a large bowl on the ground, of course plates and cutlery are available if you choose.

Petra & Aqaba

After experiencing the desert and completing the horse-riding adventure, you will visit Petra, Jordan's long-hidden treasure, and enjoy Aqaba at a resort on the Red Sea.