Petra Desert Marathon & Half 2024

Adventure Extension – 4-7 September| 4 Days

Visit the vast and echoing Wadi Rum desert, also known as Valley of the Moon for a night under the stars at a Bedouin Camp. Over days 2 and 3, you will enjoy some hiking, beginning in the Dana Valley on the White Dome Trail taking in canyon-like valleys and terraced gardens. Followed by a two hour hike along a river the following day to reach the Wadi Mujib on the Siq trail. This trail involves climbing up small waterfalls with fixed ropes and ladders where you’ll have the opportunity to swim. There will be time to visit the famous Dead Sea, one of the lowest places in the world. You’ll spend your final night in Amman, before departing the next day.

From £632pp

Cultural Extension – 4-7 September | 4 Days

Amman will be your base for your four-day guided tour, as you set out on day trips to enjoy some of Jordan’s best cultural wonders. You’ll visit the historic city of Madaba, famous for the ancient “Mosaic of Jerusalem”, the Jordan Valley and Baptism Site, the As-Salt the living museum encapsulating the Ottoman period, lunch at the Castle of Ajloun and entrance to the excavated city of Jerash to see the well preserved ruins.

From £632pp

Petra Kitchen – 3 September | 2.5 Hours

In this cooking class, a chef will teach us how to cook a traditional Jordanian meal. Using fresh ingredients and local spices, we will chop, cut, slice, and mix to create a tasty array of soup, salads, appetizers and a main course. Of course, we will all sit down at the end of the class and enjoy our cooking while the chef hands out the full recipes, so we can impress our friends and family at home.

£36

Petra By Night – 3 September| 2 Hours

Starting from the Petra Visitors Center after dark, we walk 2 km through the Siq to the Treasury on the path lit by candles. Nothing matches this special atmosphere where the candles throw flickering shadows on the rock walls and the Treasury stands mythical and awe-inspiring as we exit the Siq. A local musician will play the pipe and a storyteller will share a magical tale of Petra and the Nabateans.

£50

Marathon Tours & Travel 2023 Petra Desert Marathon Package

This year we are offering 2 accommodation packages to choose from starting at £1179 per person based on sharing a twin (2 beds) or double room (1 double bed).

Each package includes the following:

• 5 nights’ accommodation
• English-speaking tour leader
• 4 scheduled departure transfers
• 3-days entry to Petra
• Celebration dinner including transportation

Also Available:

• Marathon or Half Marathon entry – £229
• Additional tours and excursions – See more details under “Extensions”

Race Entry Includes:

• English-speaking race officials
• Medical team
• Time keeping
• Transport to the starting point
• Manned drink stations including safety equipment
• Start number and medal

Why Book with Marathon Tours & Travel?

Choice of Hotels

Choose between a comfort level hotel (based on location) and a deluxe hotel option. In general, guests should expect the standard hotels to be clean and basic, with no added amenities. The comfort hotels will have limited amenities, while the deluxe hotels are more similar to name-brand Western hotels.

Logistics Covered

We take care of all of the logistics for you, so you can focus on the event and your trip. Book our 5 night package and in addition, book one of our optional excursions or extension tour.

You’re in Safe Hands

Whether you are running or supporting, we have an expert team on the ground to ensure your trip runs smoothly.

Race Date: September 2, 2023

Start Time:

The race starts at 6:30AM, which means runners need to meet at the Visitor Center at 5:15AM.

Time Limit:

All runners have seven (7) hours to complete the race. Runners still on the route after the cut-off time will be picked up by a race official or medical car and driven back to the finish area. Five hours after the start however, the route closes at the 31 KM mark (10 KM for the half marathon) meaning that runners who haven’t passed this point by 11:30 AM will not be allowed to finish the race.

Start / Finish

For the start, all runners must meet at the Petra Visitor Centre from where we walk the 2.5 kilometres through the Siq and past the Treasury to the start line at the Street of Facades.

The finish line is located near the Petra Visitor Centre within walking distance of the Mövenpick Resort, Petra Palace, Petra Guest House, and Edom hotels.

All runners who complete the marathon or half-marathon within the time limit will receive a medal after crossing the finish line. Water and a sandwich lunch pack are given to all participants. Checked-in bags can be picked up at the bag check-out area.

Route Description

From the start line in the Street of Facades, the route goes through the ancient city of Petra and right away you will find yourself surrounded with tombs, caves, and monasteries carved in the mountainsides. A 2 km uphill section on a paved road leads runners out of the Petra Archaeological Park boundaries and, via the main road, towards the desert on hilly tarmac road.

After 6 kilometres, the route leaves the asphalt road and continues into the desert. Half-marathon runners take the direct way to the river bed gorge “Siq Al Bard,” while marathon runners have to do a loop around the hilltop “Al Musirh.” Leaving Siq al Bard at Little Petra, the route goes back on the tarmac road heading towards the village of Ammarine.

Half-marathon runners continue straight through the village while marathon runners, just before the village, turn left on the road leading to Wadi Araba to do a 8 km back-tracking stretch that will take you past incredible rock formations that only a few tourists visit.

When passing the 30 km mark, full marathon runners find themselves back at Ammarine village and merge again with the half marathon course. From here, the route goes uphill to a mountain ridge for the next 5 kilometres, but the strenuous efforts are rewarded with an astonishing view over most of the marathon route, the mountains covering Petra and on clear days even Israel can be seen. On this mountain ridge the surface becomes gravel for the next 3 km. The final 4 km is steep downhill running on paved roads towards the finish line.

There will be no race pacers at this event.

Weather:

It is very hot in Jordan. Be prepared for temperatures to be in the high range of 90F.

Eligibility:

Marathon runners must be 18 years of age or older on race day. Half-Marathon runners must be 16 years of age or older on race day.

Awards:

All finishers receive a medal. A small, symbolic prize is given to the winners of both distances for men and women. There is no prize money.

Difficulty:

Difficult. Hilly course with an ascent of roughly 1,200 meters and a descent of 1,100 meters. Be prepared for unrelenting heat with temps between 85-103F.