Footsteps of Lawrence - Jordan

Anna who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. Be honest about your riding skills for your own sake. The horses are forwardgoing and strong so if you want a calmer horse, be specific about it when you book. I had to switch horse on day 2 (luckily it was possible to switch with another participant, since we were in the middle of the desert) as the first horse was too strong for me, and only "jogged" at a half trot, so after no walking two days, my back was done). So an extra star for sweet Lucy from "In the saddle", who was on the ride, and wanted to switch with me. After that I rode the most beautiful little gelding, which I had a fantastic rides on, where I enjoyed every minute.

In general, the horses are not classic tourist horses that just follow the horse in front. They are more independent, and each has their own pace. This also makes the horses something very special and fun to ride, and they are not afraid of anything.

They are Arabians, so they go fast at a canter, and they can be difficult to stop, they want to race, so you have to keep your speed down.

I would say that as a rider you should be at least at an intermediate riding level and like forward going horses to get the best out of the ride. The horses are therefore best suited to experienced, not nervous riders because of their speed and strength. It was super exciting to try riding a different type of horse than I am used to.

The horses are looked after really well and it is clear to see that the horses are highly valued by the guide and the team around them.

We probably walked about 90% of the time (we also had the misfortune of a horse in the group going lame on the last day, which can't happen) which was completely fair, as the sand can be heavy for the horses. The canters are fantastic with lots of speed.

Do you have any comments about the accommodation and food?

We had two nights of camping in tents, and 3 nights where we slept in a Bedouin base camp with permanent tents and real beds. This is because the experience was that most participants think two days of camping is enough. However, I chose to sleep on a mattress out under the stars most nights.

Although it is possible to bring your own sleeping pad, the mattresses that you sleep on at the campsite are really good, so I don't think it was necessary to bring your own.

The hotels in Madaba and Petra are of a really good standard.

Do you have any other feedback for us?

I enjoyed every minute of the trip! Everyone did everything they could to make us feel as good as possible along the way.

The Jordanians are very friendly, everywhere you go you are greeted with "Welcome to Jordan, where are you from?"

You don't notice the conflict in Israel/Palestine. You feel very safe and secure in Jordan, so the conflict really shouldn't stop you from booking the trip if you want to go - so just go! You can also easily move around alone as a woman, if there are any, there are only friendly inquiries.
Jordan is a really interesting country, with a lot of history, which you also gain insight into on the trip.

A little tip about money: 150 JOD for the trip is more than enough for paying for both tips and lunches, on the days where it’s not included.

Consider using the exchange office at the airport/Madaba to withdraw money instead of an ATM, as you will need a lot of small notes and coins for tips, which you cannot get from the ATM.