Details

Frequently Asked Questions

Please read our general FAQs, where you can find essential information that applies to all of our programs.

Resources to Learn & Teach about Jordan

Visit our recommended reading page to see the list of books GEEO recommends reading before your program (this is not required reading). We also have lesson plans and Pinterest boards that may be useful for you as you learn about your destination and prepare to bring lessons back to your classroom.

Terms and Conditions

It is very important for you to visit our Terms and Conditions page before signing up for this program.

GEEO Program Confirmation Process

We require a minimum of 6 participants for most GEEO programs. We officially confirm that a program will run once at least 8 people have signed up, which provides a margin for individual cancellations. Nearly all GEEO programs ultimately meet this enrollment quota, and in the rare event that a program does not meet the minimum requirement and GEEO cancels the program, we will work with you to find a suitable alternative or provide a refund of your deposit if you prefer. We encourage you to sign up for any program that interests you, and we will notify the entire group once 6 people are booked and again once 8 people are booked. We always emphasize the importance of exercising caution when making non-refundable travel arrangements, especially given the unpredictable nature of travel. For example, we typically recommend booking flights with flexible change/cancellation policies.

Cancellation Policy

All cancellations must be submitted to GEEO in written form by emailing your request for cancellation to travel@geeo.org. If you do not receive a confirmation that we have received your written cancellation request, please call us at 1-877-600-0105. Verbal cancellation requests will not be honored.

• If you cancel 60 days or more prior to the start of your program, all payments will be refunded excluding your $350 deposit, which is kept on file for future use and never expires. (Exception for participants who receive grants from our university partners: To address disruption caused by cancellation from grant recipients, deposits paid by grant recipients are forfeited upon cancellation.)
• If you cancel between 30 and 59 days prior to the start of your program, you will receive a 50% refund and your deposit will be kept on file for future use and will never expire.
• If you cancel within 30 days prior to the start of your program, you will receive no refund, but your deposit will be kept on file for future use and will never expire.

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Trip Notes & Expectations

Before you decide to travel with GEEO, it is important that you read all of the information about the program contained on this page. Our programs are quite adventurous, and we find that clients who read the trip details in full are happier with their experiences.

1. ACCOMMODATION: The purpose of the accommodation is to provide a safe place for you to sleep. We upgraded the hotels on this trip, so you may be pleasantly surprised, but do not expect luxury.
2. TRANSPORTATION: We use a mix of transportation that gets our guests from location to location safely. Sometimes you will have full days and/or nights of transportation as our trips tend to cover a lot of ground. Transportation will often be an adventure in itself.
3. LUGGAGE: You must be able to easily carry or roll your luggage, so do not over-pack. The carrying of your luggage remains your responsibility at all times.
4. ACTIVITY LEVEL & PACE: This trip includes light walking and hiking that is suitable for most fitness levels. The hiking in Petra can be exhausting in the heat. Keep hydrated and know your limits! Your tour leader will set a meeting place and time so that you can hike as much as you want, from a little to a lot. We recommend always carrying snacks with you. Meals can sometimes be far apart.
5. GROUP LEADER: Please make sure you understand the role of your tour leader on this trip. All GEEO/G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of G Adventure's group leaders, which they refer to as Chief Experience Officers (CEO). The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are traveling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues, and introduce you to our local friends. Our itineraries often have plenty of free time to explore on your own. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting – we think it’s the best of both worlds.

Single Travelers

Half of GEEO’s participants travel by themselves, so please don’t worry if you do not have a travel companion for your trip. Our program fee is for one traveler in double-occupancy accommodation, and GEEO can find you a roommate of the same gender if you do not have a travel companion. Most of our programs have a “My Own Room” option, also known as a “Single Supplement,” which is an extra fee that you can pay to have a room to yourself. You will only incur an additional charge if you specifically request a single room. To see the price for the “My Own Room” option, please find your program on our extra services page. If you want to room alone, please email travel@geeo.org to request a single room. Please note that, if you have booked the “My Own Room” option for this tour, you will receive your own single accommodation for all night stops except Day 5 in the Bedouin camp.

Joining Instructions

Day 1 is an arrival day, and no activities have been planned. Upon arrival to the city on Day 1, or earlier if you have booked pre-accommodation with us, please make your way to the joining hotel. Please note: Check-in time will be in the afternoon. Once you arrive at the hotel, look for a note at reception from your tour leader. This note will give the details of your Welcome Meeting on Day 1, usually between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., during which you will get a chance to meet your tour leader and other travelers, as well as learn more about how the tour will run. If you don’t see a note, please ask reception for details. If you miss the Welcome Meeting, your tour leader will leave a note at reception for you with any information you may need and with instructions for the next morning. Official airport taxis cost around 20 Jordanian Dinar (JOD). The drive can take between 20 minutes and 1 hour depending on the time of day and traffic conditions. You should fix a price with your driver before you get into the car and set off. If you have paid in advance for an arrival transfer, a G Adventures representative will be at the airport to meet you. The transfer driver will be outside the arrival hall, not in the immigration area where other drivers may be located. If for any reason you are not met at the airport, please call our local support line. If you are unable to make contact for whatever reason, please make your way to the hotel via taxi.

Emergency Contacts

Should you need to contact G Adventures during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call their local G Adventures office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible. EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS G Adventures Local Representative (Amman, Jordan) Local Contact Emergency Phone Number: +962 7 9806 0551 Regional Office Emergency Contact Number: +44 1858378000 If you are unable for any reason to contact G Adventures’ local office, they have a toll-free line which will connect you directly with their Toronto office: Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100 Calls from UK: 0344 272 0000 Calls from Germany: 0800 365 1000 Calls from Australia: 1 300 796 618 Calls from New Zealand: 0800 333 307 Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999 AIRPORT TRANSFER If your call is specifically concerning Amman airport transfer complications, please call the local G Adventures transfer provider directly at +962 79 5535879. If you have purchased an arrival transfer, it will be arranged based on flight information provided to G Adventures. If you are advised of a flight schedule change within 48 hours of your scheduled arrival time, they will do their best to rearrange your arrival transfer, but they cannot guarantee this. If your arrival transfer does not arrive within 30 minutes after you have exited the arrivals area, please take a taxi to your hotel.

Packing List

Please read this article on GEEO’s blog for our staff’s suggestions on the best gear to pack for your upcoming travels. You must be prepared to carry your own bags and be comfortable carrying them up and down stairs, on and off transportation, and to hotels. As a rule, we try not to have to walk more than 15-20 minutes with your bags, which is why we recommend keeping the weight of your bags between 22-30 lb. Most travelers carry a backpack or rolling bag of small to medium size. No XXL bags please! A daypack is also essential for carrying everyday items. Space is limited on transportation, so there is a limit of one main piece of luggage per person plus a daypack per person. Suggested Checklist

• Light windproof/waterproof jacket – chances are it won’t rain
• Sun hat
• Personal clothing for hot weather (t-shirts, shorts, etc.)
• Daypack
• Sturdy walking shoes
• Sport sandals or flip-flops
• Sunblock
• Sunglasses
• Watch or alarm clock (or use your phone)
• Flashlight or headlamp (or use your phone)
• Small flashlight
• Toiletries – your hotels will have soap and shampoo
• Camera (or use your phone)
• First-aid kit, including: lip salve, Aspirin, bandaids, anti-histamine, Dramamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, electrolyte powder, insect repellent, extra prescription drugs you may be taking

Optional Checklist

• A lightweight silk sleep sheet
• Travel pillow
• Swim suit (women at the beach in Aqaba are expected to be fully covered)
• Money belt
• Water bottle
• Phone/tablet for internet – most hotels have WiFi
• Chargers for electronics as well as converters/adapters, if needed
• AirTags or Tile trackers
• Packing cubes
• Earplugs
• Snacks – packing a few granola bars is a good idea; you can buy snacks when you get there too, so don’t go crazy here
• Ziplock bags for wet clothing
• Reading/writing material
• Hand sanitizer/baby wipes

Document Checklist

• Passport (with photocopies)
• Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
• Travel insurance ID card
• Flight itinerary/boarding pass(es)
• USD/EUR cash
• Credit/debit card
• G Adventures vouchers
• GEEO Classroom action plans for your group – this is sent a few days before departure

Laundry

Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge. You can also use a local laundromat, if necessary. If you want to do your own laundry, we suggest you bring your own non-polluting/biodegradable soap.

Passports and Visas

All GEEO programs require that the participant have a valid passport. Please see our general FAQ for information on obtaining a passport. As with all of our trips, we try to provide the most accurate information we can, but governments sometimes change visa rules. It is your responsibility to double check the information we provide below by searching the U.S. State Department's website. U.S. passports must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended entry date into Jordan. For U.S. citizens, a Jordanian visa is issued upon arrival at the airport or at major land borders. The cost is 40 JOD (approximately $56 USD) for a single-entry visa, valid for one month. Payment can be made using credit cards or Jordanian dinars (JOD). Note that USD cash is not accepted, so you may want to exchange currency at the airport before getting in line for your visa. Non-American participants should check with their government to find out if they need a visa.

Money Exchange

The local currency in Jordan is the Jordanian Dinar (JOD). As currency exchange rates fluctuate, we ask that you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com. We recommend that you obtain cash from ATMs while traveling; they will dispense the local currency. We do, however, recommend that you bring at least $200 USD in cash for emergency use or in case you have trouble with the ATMs. Major credit cards are accepted in most shops, but you may be charged an international transaction fee; ask your financial institution about their international fees. Please note that if you are carrying U.S. dollars, the bills should be in good condition (i.e., not torn, wrinkled, or marked on in any way) and dated recently.

Tipping

Tipping (also widely referred to by its Arabic term, “baksheesh”) is a way of life in the Middle East. It is customary and even expected to tip small service providers such as restaurant and bar waiters, hotel staff, cleaning staff, luggage porters, and taxi drivers. In many cases, people depend on the tips they receive to supplement low salaries/wages. A guideline for budgeting for tips is approximately $5-10 USD per day. To make things as easy as possible and avoid awkward situations, G Adventures utilized a tipping kitty system in which your tour leader will collect a contribution from each traveler at the start of the program and use these funds to tip anybody who provides services to the entire group. On Day 1 of your tour, the tour leader will be able to advise on the amount to contribute to the tipping kitty. You can contribute USD or the equivalent local currency, but the local currency is typically preferred. At the end of your program, if you felt your G Adventures tour leader did an outstanding job, a tip would be appreciated. The amount is entirely your personal preference, but as a guideline, $11-13 USD per person per day would be appropriate.

Vaccinations

GEEO cannot provide any medical advice, so it is very important to consult your doctor or a travel clinic about which vaccinations you will need for your trip. We recommend contacting Passport Health, which has travel clinics located throughout the United States. You can also check the CDC's recommended vaccinations for your destination. Please take this seriously!

Flights

We find the best prices for flights are often available around 90-120 days before departure, but of course this varies greatly from route to route and year to year. You should wait until this trip is confirmed before you book non-refundable flights. GEEO and G Adventures bear no responsibility for any flights purchased before the trip is confirmed. This program begins and ends in Amman. Please double-check our itinerary for the date by which you must arrive in Amman. You may want to arrive in Jordan one or more days early in case you have flight disruptions. You can arrive at any time you choose, but try to make it in time for our 6:00 p.m. Welcome Meeting on Day 1. You can depart from Amman any time on the final day of the program.

Plugs and Converters

There are two components to provide external power to your device: adapters and transformers (also called electrical converters). The adapter is for your device's plug, adapting the prongs on a standard U.S. two- to three-pronged power cord to fit the local outlets. The transformer/converter changes the local voltage to the voltage used in the U.S. British-style square three-pin plugs (Type G) are most prevalent in Jordan, but European-style round two- and three-pin plugs are also sometimes used. The voltage is 220-240V. (Standard U.S. electrical outlets are 120V.) Most new devices, including phones and laptops, are made to work with the different voltage rates, but some devices, like hair dryers, may only work on the U.S. standard of 120V. Check your device's plug or manual to see what voltage range it requires. Most transformer blocks will have an “Input” line that defines its voltage capacity; for example, “Input: 100-240V” means that it will work with voltages between 100V to 240V. If your device can’t handle the higher voltage, you’ll need to purchase a transformer/converter. You can find world transformers/converters online or at many retail stores in the travel section.

🗣️ Advice From Past Participants

“Bring lightweight, light-colored, long sleeve shirts for the desert.” “Pack your Dramamine for the bus ride to Wadi Rum. I would also highly recommend packing rehydration tablets."

Expectations

Before you decide to travel with GEEO, it is important that you read all of the information about the program you are considering. Remember, our programs are quite adventurous.

• The purpose of the accommodation is to provide a safe place for you to sleep. We upgraded the hotels on this trip, so you may be pleasantly surprised, but do not expect luxury.
• You must be able to easily carry or roll your luggage, so do not over-pack.
• Many of our programs occur in locations where it is very hot during the day. Please make sure you have thoroughly read the itinerary and can handle the group activities, which sometimes include day hikes with your daypacks.
• We recommend always carrying snacks with you. Meals can sometimes be far apart.
• Please make sure you understand the role of your tour leader on this trip, as they are not the traditional guide you may be expecting. While our trips are educational, they aren’t study/lecture trips. We want you to learn through exploring, and much of your experience will be based on how active you choose to be in acquiring knowledge and interacting with locals.

Hopefully this is the kind of adventure you are interested in!

Weather

It is very hot in Jordan during the summer, with highs often in the 100s. In general, it is a dry heat and isn’t as bad as you might think.