About The Retreat

8 Day Yoga and Hiking Trip in Jordan

Contact for 2021 dates.

Expand and deepen your awareness in an ancient land: An eight day retreat in Jordan where you will enjoy hiking, horse sessions, meditation and yoga with magnificent views in the world heritage sites Petra and Wadi Rum.

The vastness, beauty and stillness of the desert allow for a courageous and gentle unfolding of your heart’s truth. Yogini, artist and horse soul coach Sandra Jelly invites you to connect with the stillness and beauty of the desert, the sacred wisdom of the elements, and the expanded energy of yoga and meditation. Expanding your awareness and integrating more of your self is gently supported by interacting with horses.

They reflect our state of being in the moment and allow us to transform limiting beliefs in order to become fully present.  Your hiking guide, Brenda van den Brink, has been living and roaming around like a nomad in the deserts of Jordan for the past ten years and will take you to live in their footsteps temporarily: gathering wood for the fire, discovering stones and herbs.

Be moved by the wild, harsh and lovely desert, listen to the sounds of the universe and explore within during guided meditations. When you leave, the desert will remain in your heart as a treasure to unfold again and again.

The amazing rock-cut city of the ancient Nabateans, Petra, is inspiring to behold. You will have a day to explore this fantastic UNESCO World Heritage site: visit The Royal Tombs and make the climb to the viewpoint to look down onto the Treasury as the sun hits it. Experience the treasures Jordan has to offer to your mind, body, soul, and spirit.

Retreat schedule

27 Nov 2019: Aqaba Airport – Wadi Rum
Upon arrival to the Aqaba Airport, your driver will take you directly to the Panorama Camp in Wadi Rum. Overnight stay at the Panorama Camp.

28 Nov 2019 (B,D): Pink Spirit Wadi Rum
In the morning you will meet your private yoga instructor, Sandra, and have a sunrise yoga session with view over the valley and mountains. After breakfast we head to the nearby paddock for a horse soul session.

We have the morning to engage with horses in the paddock, find out what they mirror back to us, connect to our authentic selves and find inspiration for our life journeys. In the afternoon we explore the area for a meditative treasure walk. Sharing circle then yoga at sunset. Bedouin dinner. Desert dance at the fire and spirit wander under the desert stars or in a genuine Bedouin tent. Courageous Heart chant on the rocks, then overnight stay at the Panorama Camp.

29 Nov 2019 (B, L, D): Hiking Wadi Rum
In the early morning fresh air and stillness you will be guided through an energizing yoga session. After breakfast, start hiking with Brenda in the protected area of Wadi Rum. For the next 3 days you will hike in this awe inspiring World Heritage Site – also called valley of the moon.

The daily hike is about 4-5 hours. Sometimes we have a meditative walk to let the silence sink deep into our souls. Sometimes we look for stones, plants or forms that resonate and share a story. At times we gather wood together and together with the Bedouin guide we share stories about Bedouin desert life around the fire.

If the Bedouins are in the area there will be a visit included. Brenda invites you to open all your senses and expand your awareness in the vastness of the valley of the Moon (Wadi Rum). In the evening we will be camping in the desert. We provide an eco toilet and bucket shower.

30 Nov 2019 (B, L, D): Wadi Rum
After breakfast at our campsite, another day of hiking and meditation with Brenda. Dinner and overnight camping in the desert.

1 Dec 2019 (B, L, D): Wadi Rum
Your yoga instructor will meet you on your camping location for an unforgettable yoga session against the magnificent back drop. We gather wood for our fire ceremony, enjoy a Bedouin dinner. Then gather in circle to send our wishes to the stars. Last night sleeping out in the desert!

2 Dec 2019 (B, L, D):
We start the day again with a creative flowing yoga session. After breakfast we have another horse soul session to further explore the wisdom horses have to share with us. After spending our reflective time in the desert. We enjoy a beautiful buffet lunch then we head to Little Petra— a small yet impressive Wadi or valley offering an impression of things to come. Dinner and overnight stay in Ammarin Bedouin Camp.

3 Dec 2019 (B, D): Petra
After a last morning flow yoga session, breakfast and farewell to Sandra  you can choose to either take the main entry or the back road into Petra. You have all day to explore this fantastic UNESCO and World Heritage site. You can visit The Royal Tombs and make the climb to the viewpoint to look down onto the Treasury as the sun hits it. Dinner and overnight stay in Ammarin Bedouin camp in Little Petra.

4 Dec 2019 Day 7 (B): Petra – Aqaba Airport
The driver will collect you early this morning to go the Aqaba airport for your flight, depending on your travel plans. Note: As an optional supplement you can also be taken instead to the Wadi Araba/Eilat border crossing in order to return to Israel or even to Queen Alia Airport, Amman. Prices for various departure options are given below.

Teacher

Sandra Jelly is an artist, yogini, and Equus coach. She started exploring yoga in 2001 in Amsterdam. In 2009, following her inner wish of living her passions, she packed her brushes and her yoga mat and put on her horse boots to go for a sabbatical to Petra, Jordan. It was the beginning of her adventure of discovering and expressing herself in the most authentic way.

Cuisine

Vegetarian / pescaterian /gluten free available on request.

Retreat Price

1190 JOD per person

Includes

• Private instructor for 7 yoga sessions and 2 horse sessions
• Three days of guided hiking
• Diverse meditations and sound healing sessions
• Private transfers with English speaking driver in AC vehicle
• 2 nights accommodation at Panorama Camp – Wadi Rum
• 2 nights at Ammarin Bedouin Camp in Little Petra
• 7 x breakfasts, 4 x lunch and 6 x dinners

Does not include

• Transfers between Little Petra and Petra
• Flights
• Visa for Jordan & Entry tickets (see jordanpass.com.jo)
• Travel Insurance
• Tipping

Optional activities

• Camel ride
• Thai massage
• Bedouin cupping massage
• Yoga in Petra

What past guests have said

“I’m so grateful I chose to visit Jordan with Sandra as my guide! The retreat exceeded all my expectations. Through yoga and meditation, desert treks and mountain hikes, as well as her powerful coaching work with horses, Sandra created a supportive environment that allowed me to open my heart and mind to healing and transformation. For me, the trip started out as an adventure to discover a new country and became a pilgrimage to discover myself. I returned home feeling peaceful, strong and inspired, with new friends and new energy. I highly recommend Sandra and her retreats.” Christina M. , Switzerland

“Being with Sandra, her horses and dogs was a very special time. I loved Sandra’s yoga-sessions on the rocks and especially her direct involvement and support for everyone present. It was a stunning and peaceful location and Sandra’s flexible approach made sure we got what we needed individually and as a group.  Being able to meet Sandra’s animal-friends offered a lot of personal insights and learnings, which still accompany me throughout my days even two months later.  I can only recommend a retreat with Sandra and am sure you will get what you need – in both, expected and unexpected ways, as long as you are open for it and willing to receive whatever is being offered to you” – Julia from Austria

“Not enough words to describe the experience I had with Sandra in Little Petra. It was such a special retreat! A combination of full immersion in the local culture, sunset and sunrise yoga on the rocks, intended and unintended coaching sessions, hiking in the amazing surroundings, and lots of laughter. In the end I stayed longer in Little Petra because it felt so good.

The connection I felt during the retreat was exactly what I needed. Sandra is a lovely woman with an open heart and lots of personal attention to give. She easily combines her yoga lessons with her passion for horses. The horse session went straight to the core and now, months later, I still feel its insightful effects. Sandra is very flexible and easy-going, and will do everything in her power to make your stay as memorable and comfortable as possible. It surely was a week of connection and adventure!” – Sonja from Amsterdam

What to pack

• Travel yoga mat or towel.
• Refillable water bottle
• Sun protection (cream and hat)
• Dehydration salts
• Hand sanitiser
• Closed shoes for hiking and in paddock
• Clothes that cover shoulders and knees
• Sleeping bag liner
• Torch (flashlight)
• Warmer clothing and jacket for chilly desert nights
• Rain poncho (just in case)

Location and how to get there

The retreat begins in Wadi Rum, and proceeds to Little Petra. Travelers can arrive to Jordan via either of the airports in Amman or Aqaba, or cross into Jordan via the border crossing from Israel at Eilat/ Wadi Arabah border.

Booking

To book or enquire about this 8 Day Yoga and Hiking Trip in Jordan, fill in the form below. You can also email the team directly at retreats@soulseedmedia.com who will get back to you within 24 hours.

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