Day 1 - Travel Day. Depart Edinburgh at 12.30 and arrive in Amman at 23.25. Staying at the Mariam Hotel in Madaba for two nights.
Day 2 - Acclimate, explore Madaba and assemble bikes. Could go to Mount Nebu or to the hot springs of Ma´in or a tour to the Dead Sea.
Day 3 - The journey begins as we cycle from Madaba to Karak - a distance of about 85 kms or so. Not bad except for the 1700 'Total Altitude Gained' or TAG. See map below.
All find and dandy except for that gorge in the middle - or a 'Wadi' in the local dialect. We start at 750m, drop down to 150m and then the ascent on the other side up to 900 metres or so. I'm dreading it already - but thanks to the interweb, we know what it looks like:
I'm the one in the back. Anyways, we will finally make it to Karak that evening where we will be staying at the Al-Mujib Hotel.
Day 4 - We cycle from Karak to Tafila. Approximately 61kms of hills, hills, and more hills. I won't calculate the TAG because I don't want to know. Our plans are to stay in a drab, flea-ridden hotet called the Afra Hotel. No website.
Day 5 - Tafila to Dana Nature Reserve. Short day of 30kms. More hills but we'll be used it. Should be fascinating and staying at the Dana Hotel. No website. We'll have time to explore the Dana Nature Reserve that afternoon.
Day 6 - Dana to Wadi Musa/Petra. 52 kms. Because we have to descend more than 350 metres just to get to Dana from the King's Highway the previous day, the plan is hitch a ride up to the Highway. From there we continue on our southbound journey until we arrive in the village of Wadi Musa located within close proximity to Petra. We'll be staying two nights at the Cleopetra Hotel.
Day 7 - A rest from cycling and catch up with laundry. Sadly, we will not have time to visit Petra so we can visit back another time with our significant others.
Day 8 - Cycle from Wadi Musa to Wadi Rum. 103 kms / 1200 TAG. We have arranged to meet Mohammed who will be our guide for a bedouin camp that evening. Below is a picture of Mohammed:
Day 9 - We wake up refreshed and then after breakfast take a 3 hour jeep tour around Wadi Rum. In the afternoon we arrange to be picked up and back to the Mariam Hotel where we pack our bikes, shower, have a meal and then take a 4.00am flight back to Scotland
Day 10 - Arrive at Edinburgh Airport at 11.30am and back to the bosoms of our loved ones.
