We can’t wait to tackle one of the Seven Wonders of the World together.
If you’re interested in taking on a different international trek for Acorns, please get in touch with our events team.
This stunning and remote trek takes you on an adventure following an ancient Bedouin migration route to Petra, experiencing some of the most spectacular natural scenery in Jordan along your journey. This trek is voted by National Geographic as one of the world’s best hikes and it is growing a reputation as the ‘Inca Trail of the Middle East’.
You will be covering up to 10 miles a day over 5 consecutive days of walking. Besides the stony desert landscape, there are sections of narrow trail across rocky terrain including some easy scrambling.
This is an Open Challenge and you will be joined by fellow travellers who may be supporting other charities.
Sign ups are now closed. If you’re interested in taking on an international trek for Acorns, please get in touch with our events team.
Flights will depart from London and you will need to organise your own transport to the airport.
Date: 23rd November – 30th November 2024
Location: Petra, Jordan
Review payment options that explain fundraising targets.
Please read the information brochure and the full terms and conditions before signing up.
Email: events@acorns.org.uk
Telephone: 01564 825 037
Sign ups are now closed.
Pay a registration fee of £345, then a final payment of £1,850 no less than 10 weeks before departure. You can set your own fundraising target to support Acorns.
Pay a registration fee of £345, then fundraise £3,700. By signing up, you are committing to raising a minimum of £3,700.
Your fundraising will help fund our vital care for local children and families. Part of this amount is used to cover the cost of your trip. Our expert events team will be on hand to support you with your fundraising to help you achieve this target.
By taking part in this incredible challenge and joining #TeamAcorns, you will be raising money for life limited and life threatened babies, children and young people across the West Midlands.
We’re here to support you all the way! By signing up for the event you will receive an Acorns running vest, support from our Events team to help with your training and fundraising and the amazing feeling you’ll get from knowing you’re making a real difference to local children! Here are some simple ways to give your fundraising a boost, if you need more support we’d be happy to help. Just get in touch at events@acorns.org.uk.
Please be aware that flights will depart from London. Different Travel seek the cheapest possible flights in order to ensure that as much fundraising as possible goes towards funding our vital care and support for local children and families at Acorns Children’s Hospice. You will need to organise your own transport to the airport.
Exact flight times will be confirmed by Different Travel.
You will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide and a local trek guide who have an excellent knowledge of the culture and trekking in the region. The guides are first aid trained and will support you throughout your journey. You will also be accompanied by a team of support staff including cook, donkey handlers, Jeep driver (transporting luggage) and a Different Travel Company UK tour manager.
The trek is rated moderate to challenging for someone of a good fitness level. You will be trekking for 5 consecutive days, averaging 6 hours each day. The terrain is largely rocky, dry and uneven. Although some of the days trekking have a very gentle increase in elevation some days have very challenging sections with steep uphill and downhill gradients.
Temperatures pose a specific challenge with temperatures historically reaching up to 30°C. You must be of a good fitness level before departure, to ensure fast recovery each day.
Temperatures in November can range from 22°C to 30°C during the day and drop to around 0°C at night however you must be prepared for variations to this which are out of our control. Loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful to the local culture and cooler in the heat than having exposed skin. Weather during the trek will be dry but there may be some strong winds. Rain, although very rare, is not impossible.
Please note: the temperatures and conditions above are historically accurate but climate change can impact the seasons so you may experience uncharacteristic conditions during the trip which are out of our control. The guides will assess the situation and make decisions to ensure the best enjoyment and safety of the group.
Your meals during the trek are cooked by a chef who will prepare simple but nutritious dishes. Typical breakfasts may include cheese, eggs, jam, butter, tomatoes, cucumber, fruit, tea and black coffee.
For lunch each day you will prepare your own sandwiches to carry with you, and dinner will comprise of dishes such as soup, chicken, rice, vegetarian dishes and salad. Plates, mugs, cutlery and other equipment are provided.
While staying in cities, meals will be at the hotel or at local restaurants.
Please inform Different Travel in advance if you have any dietary requirements or preferences.
You must be 18+ to join this trek. It may be possible for you to participate if you are 16 or 17 years old if accompanied by a parent or guardian. There is no upper age limit.
An ideal candidate for the trek would be someone who enjoys being out of their comfort zone and trying something new. Adventure travel involves an element of the unexpected so do not expect standards to be the same as you are used to at home. Remote areas are sometimes unpredictable (be it because of group pace, weather conditions, local bureaucracy, or other factors) and itineraries may be altered to allow for this. For you to get the most out of your challenge it is important that you are flexible, positive, and eager to take on all the challenges that arise. Suitable fitness preparation before departure forms part of this.
You will stay in a hotel with en-suite facilities while in Amman or Aqaba (location dependent on flight schedules), a guesthouse in Wadi Musa and you will camp in tents during the trek (two to a tent). Foam sleeping mats are provided but you will need to bring a sleeping bag.
Toilet facilities during the trek consist of a small toilet ‘tent’ covering a hole in the ground. There may be very basic shower facilities at camp but this is not guaranteed and water must be used sparingly, so we advise that you don’t rely on this, and bring a pack of baby wipes. A small bowl of water is provided to wash your hands before meals.
A good level of fitness is required for all participants.
You must engage in training (including plenty of walking up and down hills) before departure to ensure your best chance of enjoyment on the trip. This could include hill walking, running, cycling, gym workouts, boot camps, etc. You can download several free apps to help you train and track your progress, e.g. MapMyWalk, C25K, MyFitnessPal, etc.
Attempting to complete the trek without training will make it more challenging than necessary and will be detrimental to your experience, and the experience of your teammates.
The hotels have en-suite facilities with flushing toilets and hot showers. Toilet paper should always be placed in the bin, not flushed. At camp there will be a toilet tent which offers privacy over a pit in the sand. Please put used toilet paper into a sealable nappy bag or sanitary disposal bag and put into the main trek bin bag.
After you have used the toilet, please cover your waste with sand to avoid smells and flies for the next person who visits the toilet tent. You should not rely on shower facilities being available during the trek so please bring a small pack of baby wipes and a bottle of hand sanitizer for personal hygiene.
If you need to use the toilet during the trek day you must find a private area off the trail. You must never leave used toilet paper on the ground; this must be packed up into a nappy bag or sanitary disposal bag, pop it in your daypack and dispose of it properly at camp (please bring your own nappy sacks with you). You should bring one to two rolls of toilet paper for your own use.
