Footsteps of Lawrence - Jordan

Joanna who has been on 5 In The Saddle rides. Incredible riding with a rich cultural experience | The riding was incredible. The horses were so agile, clambering up rocks like mountain goats and then navigating steep sand dunes - you only realise how tough that is on the legs when you try to walk through the sand yourself!

The horses are bred for endurance riding and are so well atune to their environment. My horse was young, but very calm in the walk and a lot of fun during the canters and gallops (where terrain permitted). I felt safe and in control the whole time. She was a lovely mare who had her ears pricked the whole time and was clearly enjoying her job.

It is hot riding towards the end of the morning so I really recommend wearing a buff or similar so you can pull it up over your face as it gets hot, long sleeved shirts for sun protection and factor 50 are a must in the desert climate. I also took electrolyte tablets to pop in my water to prevent dehydration which was really helpful.

[Abbie from ITS replies: Thank you for your wonderful feedback. We are so pleased that you had such a fantastic time in Jordan].

Do you have any comments about the accommodation and food?

The semi permanent camp was great - comfortable beds and a clean shower block with warm showers. I took a sleeping bag liner which was useful as it was warm for the first part of the night and you didn't need a sleeping bag or blanket until later. The wild camping was really enjoyable and relaxing - there were plenty of large rocks to walk off behind to find a "bathroom". It's worth taking a pair of flip flops in your day bag on the jeep as you get a long lunch break so its nice to take your riding boots off. You are provided with a mattress to sit or lie on so you can take a nap or read a book during the break.

The food was lovely and I was well catered for as a vegetarian. We had freshly baked arabic flatbread every day. Breakfast was usually sheeps cheese, flatbread and omelettes. Lunches and dinners as a vegetarian were lovely Middle Eastern style stews (chick peas or lentils) plus salads, yoghurt, hummus and flat bread. It was all delicious. We had bedouin tea all the time which I loved.

How could we improve the quality of pre-holiday information that we send?

I cannot fault the service from In The Saddle. I ended up being the only guest on this holiday due to a last minute cancellation. Abbie ensured I had all the information I needed to make the decision to still go as the solo guest. I also had the opportunity to speak with Lucy who had been on the same ride earlier in the year and was able to answer any questions I had which reassured me to go ahead with the holiday.

How could we improve the way we handled your booking and payment?

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Do you have any other feedback for us?

This was an incredible holiday - the landscape of Wadi Rum is unlike anything I have experienced before. I felt like I was riding in a different world! The echos reverberating across the giant rock formations were so cool - especially when you heard the call of the camels reaching across the area. The vast rift valleys seemed to go on for ever. The best thing about being in the desert was the stillness and tranquilty. It was such a lovely week of calm, mindful riding. The guide and I would sometimes ride in silence for an hour at a time, each of us fully relaxed and at one with our thoughts; just us, the horses and his greyhounds enjoying the peace. It felt a world away from modern life.

The visit to Petra before starting the riding was fantastic - Petra blew my mind with the sheer scale and history of the site - it truly is one of the wonders of the world and everyone should go and see it. I learnt so much about Bedouin culture by spending time with the team from Jordan Tracks. Their hospitality was legendary; I was so well looked after and felt safe throughout my holiday. Jordanians are very welcoming and friendly. I can't wait to return!