Wander Women Jordan:
A Yoga + Ancient Adventures Retreat
Petra + Beyond
June 20-30, 2025
Join us for a ten-night retreat in Jordan to explore the unique and enchanted city of Petra, the amazing desert landscape at Wadi Rum, the healing powers of the Dead Sea, the modern capital of Amman, and — new update for 2025 — all the way down to the hip beach town of Aqaba on the Red Sea!
Jordan is a small country bursting with diverse landscapes, cultures and climates. Though it is home to a World Wonder and on the bucket list of many, it can be a challenging destination in which to carve a unique path. Enter Wander Women Retreats! We’ve scoured the country for off-the-beaten path experiences, boutique hotels, and magical moments you simply won’t find anywhere else — think hip non-profit cafes and a street art tour in Amman, Jordanian wine tastings and a cave dinner in Petra, desert dune rides and uninterrupted star views in Wadi Rum, and an awe-inspiring canyon hike and sunrise floating in the Dead Sea.
New to our 2025 retreat, we have added a stop to the King of Jordan’s go-to getaway — the shimmering Red Sea beach town of Aqaba.
We’ve squeezed just about everything imaginable into this trip, and as always, Wander Women Retreats is focusing on lifting up local women along the way; partnering with a women-owned cooking class in Amman, a women’s co-op restaurant in Jerash, and a sea-glass workshop led by female artists, among other stops.
Bonus? A beloved Wander Women photographer will be behind the lens every step of the way, ensuring everyone leaves with profile-picture worthy shots of themselves in their favorite asanas and in front of ancient wonders. Plus, we’ll go all out on a welcome bag full of goods from local NGOs and artisans.
The Details
The retreat will be held from Friday, June 20th to Monday, June 30th of 2025. The cost, including all of the below, starts at $5,600 for a shared room or $6,600 for a private room.
What’s Included
• Ten nights of unique + boutique accommodation
• Two meals a day
• Daily yoga
• All outlined activities — see below!
• Entrance fees and tours of all historic sites with our favorite expert guide
• VIP airport transfers + all local transport
• Entry visa to Jordan
• A custom welcome bag
• All gratuities for included meals, activities and guides (we generously tip hundreds of dollars on your behalf, removing the stress and anxiety of when and how much to tip!)
• Professional photos of the trip
• Donation to local charities
What’s Not Included
• Flights
• Optional hot air balloon upgrades
• Optional spa treatment upgrades
• Additional meals or activities not specified in the itinerary
• Mandatory travel insurance + dive insurance, if diving
The Itinerary
Subject to change, and expect surprises, but here’s the general idea.
Day 1: Say hello to Jordan! We’ll gather in Amman at the vivid and contemporary W Amman, where we’ll admire the city from the rooftop pool. Enjoy a slow flow yoga class to work out the travel kinks before heading to get our first taste of Jordanian cuisine at one of our favorite cooking schools in the world, owned and operated by a local female entrepreneur.
Day 2: Rise and shine, today we explore vibrant Amman! We will start with an intention setting yoga class and scrumptious breakfast at our hotel. We’ll then immerse in the city’s architecture past and present with a guided tour of Amman Citadel, the King Abdullah I Mosque and bustling local markets. We’ll break for lunch at a wildlife charity cafe overlooking the citadel you just explored and have time to wander the nearby shops. Before the day is over we will see a different side of Amman with a street art tour of the city’s best art installations! Enjoy dinner at your leisure in this Middle Eastern capital with everything on the menu from local night markets to hip rooftop bars to room service back in your robe.
Day 3: We’ll welcome the day with an energetic yoga class before heading to Jerash, the second major site in Jordan after Petra, considered one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world. Our lunch stop is a women-run restaurant and co-op which aims to provide financial independence for its community (and is delicious!). Back at the hotel, we will chill out with some free time before dinner downtown at our favorite Jordanian restaurant set in a gorgeous garden.
Day 4: After breakfast, it’s time to bid Amman farewell and head south to the ancient wonder that is Petra! Our hotel and home-away-from-home in Wadi Musa is a beautiful resort compound dating from the 1800’s and overlooking the Shahara Mountains, which we’ll gaze at while we stretch out post bus-ride for a yoga flow. This afternoon we’ll visit the Petra Museum and Visitor Center to get oriented, or enjoying a glass of Petra beer at Cave Bar, one of the world’s oldest watering holes. Dinner will be an unforgettable experience eating traditional Zarb meal (cooked underground!) in a Bedouin cave home. End the night with a highlight of the trip — a first peek of Petra, by the glow of candlelight.
Day 5: An early morning will see us depart for a full day exploring Petra. Through the winding gorge we will find a magnificent city carved out of red rock 2,000 years ago by the Nabataean Arabs. Petra is a treasure of the ancient world, hidden behind an almost impenetrable barrier of rugged mountains, and one of the world’s most majestic and imposing ancient sites still standing today. They made it one of the Seven World Wonders for a reason! Tonight, we’ll soothe our tired bodies with a relaxing yin yoga class before a special sunset wine tasting — we’re big fans of the sparkling rosé! — and dinner. A magical ending to a day you’ll never forget.
Day 6: Today we continue our journey south to Jordan’s tiny slice of the Red Sea. Aqaba has been intentionally developed as a chic playground for lovers of all things sun, sand and sea. Start out by making your own souvenir with a sustainable seaglass jewelry workshop led by local women before checking into our modern hotel. We love it here! Spend the afternoon splashing around at one of the nearby beach clubs, relaxing with a to-die-for spa experience, or checking out the walkable marina filled with shops, restaurants, and yes, bars! Tonight we come together for a crowd favorite event — a sip + stretch yoga class on our balcony, followed by a Wander Women PJ party!
Day 7: Enjoy sunrise water salutations from our rooftop this morning before we head off for a day to dive or snorkel to our heart’s content! We’ll wave to the nearby shores of Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia as we cruise this norther nook of the Red Sea where neighboring countries all intersect. Certified divers will be able to double dive two amazing sites in the Red Sea, while those curious of the underwater world will have the opportunity to blow bubbles on a discovery dive — no experience required — or squeal into snorkels from the surface! After blissing out underwater, we’ll enjoy lunch on the top deck with great music, company and memories to last a lifetime. Back on land you’ll have an afternoon of free time before we head to dinner at a chic poolside hotspot that will have you feeling like you’ve been teleported to Tulum. Or if you feel like something more adventurous, we’ll also offer an optional night dive!
Day 8: Step outside our resort paradise and start the day with a walking tour of Aqaba Old Town before we swap sandy beaches for the sandy desert because it’s time for a change of planetary scenery — we’re heading to Mars! Well, not the real Mars of course, but pretty close. We’re heading into the desert and into Wadi Rum to check into giant geodesic domes with panoramic views of the night sky. We’ll embark on a thrilling Bedouin Jeep tour to view the inscriptions and amazing rock formations known as Jebels that rise from the desert floor. Then swap four wheels, for four legs with an optional camel ride! This evening we’ll take in the sunset from our yoga mats with a partner yoga session, before a camp dinner feast and optional stargazing experience into the desert.
Day 9: Take in this remarkable landscape from a new viewpoint with an optional sunrise hot air balloon ride this morning — or sleep in and watch the morning camel commute past your tent! After a leisurely breakfast, we’re off to the lowest point on earth (but a definite highlight of this trip!) — the Dead Sea! Here we’ll mud, float and soak our bodies to enjoy its highly salinated healing properties. Spend the afternoon unwinding with optional spa appointments at our award-winning resort, famed for its luxurious onsite facilities including an sprawling spa which offers twenty beautifully designed treatment rooms, six outdoor relaxation areas, hydro-facilities, heated lounges, and the largest pool in the Dead Sea. We’ll cap the day off with a starlight yin meditation, before you choose from seven onsite restaurants for dinner.
Day 10: A meaningful final yoga flow will start our day before breakfast to prepare us for the adventure ahead. We’ll visit a crystallized salt beach and lend a hand with a cleanup along its shores, before venturing on to the breathtaking canyons of Wadi Mujib — one of the biggest highlights of last year’s Jordan trip! The Mujib Biosphere Reserve is the lowest nature reserve in the world, boasting a spectacular array of scenery near the east coast of the Dead Sea. We will canyon up the Siq Trail, following the course of the river between towering sandstone cliffs to the base of a large waterfall. Exhilarated, we’ll return for a restful afternoon around the resort before a beautiful goodbye dinner and closing circle.
Day 11: Rise and shine early for one last Dead Sea float as the sun rises over Jordan. It’s time to pack up and say ma’a salama — but not before a VIP transfer returns you to the airport at your leisure. Have a later flight? Enjoy a few final hours of a long and leisurely breakfast (did we mention there’s a complimentary mimosa bar here?) spa treatments, pool hopping, self-journaling or catching up on sleep until it’s time to hug goodbye — and start planning your next Wander Women adventure.
The Adventure
Why sightsee when you can sight do! We’re going to enjoy Jordan the way we fell in love with it — in motion. Here’s what’s included, but of course, expect some surprises.
Jordanian cooking class
Jerash guided tour
Amman Citadel + King Abdullah I Mosque tour
Jordanian street art tour
Petra by Night tickets
Petra guided tour
Jordanian wine tasting
Bedouin cave dinner
Scuba diving or snorkeling in the Red Sea
Optional night dive in the Red Sea
Seaglass jewelery workshop
Wander Women PJ party
Desert jeep tour in Wadi Rum
Optional camel ride
Optional desert star gazing experience
Optional hot air balloon ride
Siq Trail canyoning
Salt crystal beach visit + clean up
Dead Sea mudding
Optional hammam spa experience
We get that you don’t want to end your trip needing a vacation from a vacation — while we’re offering a lot of fun and many activities, always feel free to opt out to rest and recharge.
Where We’ll Stay and What We’ll Eat
Our journey will take us to three nights at a design-forward Amman hotel, two nights at a traditional cultural village hotel in Petra, two nights at a chic seaside apartment oasis in Aqaba, one night in a bubble tent under the stars of Wadi Rum, and two nights at a sustainable luxury hotel and spa at the Dead Sea. While many guided trips of Jordan include accommodation in bland chain hotels, we have carefully selected accommodation that blend both comfort and culture!
In Amman, we will be staying at the effortlessly cool W Amman, which features local art installations, a swish spa, extensive fitness facilities, a heated pool, and the best breakfast buffet in Jordan. In Petra, we will stay in the preserved archaeological site that is The Old Village Resort — all of the buildings on the site are the originals built in the 1800s, brought up-to-date to reflect the needs of today’ traveler. In Aqaba, we’ll make ourselves at home in luxury apartments in the adult playground that is Ayala Oasis with it’s many shops, bars and beach clubs. These trendy apartment suites boast cozy living rooms, kitchens, and in-room laundry; a true luxury half-way through a long trip! In Wadi Rum we will sleep at our favorite Bedouin camp in our very own geodesic dome tents that include private bathrooms and air conditioning. At the lowest point on Earth, the Kempinski Ishtar Resort is famed for its unique design inspired by the hanging gardens of Babylon and its luxury spa facilities aided by the healing properties of the Dead Sea. We saved the best for last. This is widely considered the best place to stay surrounding the Dead Sea, and our guests loved it so much last year, they demanded we add a second night. Your wish is our command!
Private rooms have one bed while shared rooms feature two twin beds — in most cases — unless otherwise requested. While you can of course room with a friend, if you’re traveling solo, fear not, so are many of our guests! We’ll do our best to pair you with someone we think you’ll click with — and we’ll all be one big family by the end anyway.
Every day, two meals will be included; breakfast and lunch or dinner. For the non-included meal of the day, we’ll bring you to a favorite spot where you can order at your own expense, or give recommendations for you to branch off and do your own thing. Jordanian food is generally healthy and delicious, and all special diets can be accommodated!
Getting There and Away
International flights will arrive and depart from Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) in Amman. The retreat begins in the city of Amman, and your airport transfer is included on Day One with a VIP meet + greet to whisk you through immigration and baggage claim. The retreat finishes just outside of Amman by the Dead Sea, only one hour’s drive from the airport, and your return transfer is included if departing on the final day of the retreat.
We are happy to help with an hour of free consultation when booking your travel. Get in touch!
Health + Safety
Jordan is historically one of the most stable and peaceful countries in the Middle East; an ally of the US and holder of a longstanding peace treaty with Israel. At this time, travel in Jordan is underway as normal, outside of sporadic and temporary closings of the overland borders between Israel and Syria. Throughout the last fourteen months there have been no disruptions to the ground operations of our vendors and other friends in the industry within Jordan; only heightened visibility of safety precautions as would be expected. At this time, there is no reason travel to Jordan this year should not go ahead as planned. We closely monitor the situation and have connected with government officials and local tourism partners throughout the country for the most insider of scoops.
The Middle East is an incredibly resilient place. Needless to say, we would never compromise your safety and should the situation escalate, we will of course reschedule. Our 2024 retreat went off without a hitch and we were heartwarmed to contribute to the struggling tourism sector.
Travel With Us
On this trip, you’ll be traveling with Nik Turnbull as your host and Jenny Lord as your private photographer.
Nik Turnbull, our Wander Women Retreats Manager, originally hails from Australia and these days calls Thailand home. She has over ten years experience working in the travel industry, from tour guiding in the Greek Islands, to running a busy backpacker hostel in Italy, to managing international volunteer programs, and deck handing a party boat on Sydney Harbour! Nik has lovingly co-hosted our Maldives, Jordan and Koh Tao retreats alongside Alex, and she can’t wait to share the joy she discovered for Jordan with all of you. Ask her how to say I love you in Jordanian Arabic!
Jenny Lord is an accomplished photographer originally from the United Kingdom who has shot many a Wander Women retreat on the Red Sea, in Egypt, in Lebanon, and yes, in Jordan! She lives and works in Egypt as a tech dive instructor, speaks an impressive amount of Arabic, and loves to welcome travelers to the Middle East. Jenny cannot wait to capture your best angle from both above and below water!
Join Us
This retreat has limited space and a large amount of interest — book soon to avoid disappointment! Your deposit will be the first of four total payments for this trip, spread into convenient monthly installments.
That said, this trip requires a minimum number of guests to run. We will notify you when it is a guaranteed departure! Until then, please do not book non-refundable airfare.
Can’t make this one? Don’t sweat — sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when enrollment opens on future retreats. Don’t hesitate to email us at retreats@alexinwanderland.com with any and all questions or concerns over if this is the right retreat for you. We’d love to chat!
Wander Women Jordan: A Yoga + Ancient Adventures Retreat, 2025
$5,600.00 – $6,600.00
F.A.Q.
So does non-refundable really mean non-refundable?
Yes, all payments are non-refundable. If the trip must be postponed or cancelled due to events beyond our control, you will be offered the choice between a full refund and applying your payments to a future trip.
The reason payments are non-refundable is that we start incurring costs from the moment someone presses “book” — from credit card fees to high hourly wages for our team who correspond with guests, manage trip inventory and our e-commerce platform, analyze forms to create room assignments, coordinate with our local vendors, and beyond.
There’s nothing we want more than for our guests to take and enjoy the travel they have worked hard and paid for. Thank you so much for your understanding and respect of our need to enforce this policy strictly. We want to be here to travel with you for years to come!
Will I need travel and dive insurance?
Yes, it is mandatory for all Wander Women Retreat guests to have personal travel insurance for the duration of the trip. If you opt to scuba dive while we are in the Red Sea you will also need dive insurance. Our affiliate, World Nomads offers coverage for both at affordable rates. We recommend you book your travel insurance immediately upon making your retreat deposit to protect your investment.
Do I need to be good at yoga?
Absolutely not. (And frankly, we don’t believe in the idea of being “good” at yoga!) We have a range of yogis from brand-new beginners to talented instructors join us on our trips. You’ll get the opportunity to sample a wide range of yoga styles, and you can opt in or out of as many classes as you wish.
Will I have time to do my own thing?
This is your retreat and we want you to make it exactly what you want! There’s a lot to see and experience, so we’ve tried to design an itinerary that balances the best of activity and downtime. But any time you want to bow out to have some “me-time” or do your own thing, we’re going to cheer you on.
How much money will I need to bring?
Jordan has a healthy economy — we love to see it! — and prices may seem comparable to some US and European destinations. For meals at the local spots we’ll bring you to, you can expect to spend roughly $20USD for lunch or $30USD for dinner depending on where you go and what you order. Alcohol is not readily available throughout the country and when it is it can be up to $20USD for a cocktail or simple glass of wine (lucky for you, we know all the best places for a drink and will even be bringing you to a winery where you can buy by the bottle!).
There will be plenty of shopping opportunities in Jordan, from local markets and co-ops to trendy galleries and cultural centers. Each of our hotels will also feature a luxurious spa (which we have thoroughly researched of course). We will share spa menu’s ahead of time and recommend ideal booking times which we can facilitate.
What about visas?
Visas are required for travel to Jordan from the US, Canada, UK, and many other countries. Your visa application and costs are included in the retreat price so that you will have a hassle free arrival to the country.
What will the weather be like?
We think we’ve selected the perfect time of year to visit Jordan. June is the beginning of summer so think sunshine, sunshine, sunshine! Expect warm temperatures and long days perfect for exploring ancient ruins in a flowy dress or loose linen pants. We’ll have a pool at every hotel, along with swims in the Red Sea and Dead Sea on the itinerary — so don’t forget to pack swimmers!
Temperatures will vary from cities, to desert, to seaside with average highs around 86-95°F (30-35°C). Evenings spent star gazing and early morning yoga sessions can still be cooler though, especially in the desert, so layers will be your friend! Amman’s altitude also means that summers there are cooler than other parts of Jordan.
Is there an age requirement?
You must be 18 years old or older.
Is there a waiting list?
There will be a waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis in case spaces open up. If the retreat is full, email us at retreats@alexinwanderland.com to be added to the waiting list.
I still have questions, or cute photos of my dog. Can I contact you?
Um, yes please! Our email is retreats@alexinwanderland.com.
