Jordan emerges as great destination for school trips after successful tour

Jordan is firmly on the agenda for educational visits after a successful fam trip involving tour operators and a school head of year.

Highlights of the tour, organised by the Jordan Tourism Board, included a camel ride in Wadi Rum, floating in the Dead Sea and learning about local traditions such as Bedouin Culture. 

The group also visited the ancient city of Petra to learn about the legacy of the Nabataeans who settled in southern Jordan more than 2,000 years ago.   

Exploring the incredible landscapes, and being immersed in the rich history and culture, those on the trip are now keen on organising school visits to the country. 

The fam trip was the result of conversations following a one-off event organised by School Travel Organiser, for the Jordan Tourism Board, in March this year. 

Held in London, the purpose of the showcase event was to inspire teachers, EVCs, senior leaders and tour operators about Jordan as a fantastic destination for schools. 

Natasha De Souza, Head of Year 7 at Winchmore School in London, was at the event and subsequently went on the fam trip. She told us: “The tour unequivocally confirmed the country’s suitability for secondary school trips, offering an unparalleled mix of history, adventure, and cultural immersion. 

“Jordan’s sites have so many educational applications e.g. geography, history, physics, biology, economics, commerce, travel & tourism, art, religious studies.”

Sharon Palmer, Camps International

Natasha continued: “Highlights like the Roman ruins of Jerash provided a tangible link to ancient civilisation, while the breath-taking Treasury at Petra, the lost city, offered an unforgettable history and geography lesson carved right into the rose-red stone.

“The adventure continued with a 4x4 excursion through the dramatic, moon-like desert of Wadi Rum, culminating in a stunning Bedouin camp overnight under a starry sky. The chance to float effortlessly in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth, was a unique scientific experience.

“Crucially, the renowned great food and warmth of the Jordanian people provided a memorable experience, ensuring that this diverse itinerary would be both highly educational and deeply engaging for young people.”

“Everyone was warm and very hospitable, we saw so much wonder as we travelled nearly the whole length of the country, and we felt safe the entire time we were there.” 

James Heath, Hellene School Travel

A number of tour operators also attended. Sharon Palmer, managing director of Camps International, said the trip gave an amazing opportunity to connect with Jordanians and dispel any misconceptions. She added: “Jordan is proud of its heritage, but also progressive and passionate.

“After the event in March, I kind of thought Jordan sounds too good to be true, but they weren’t boasting, it really is a country with so many incredible places packed into it. Jordan’s sites have so many educational applications e.g. geography, history, physics, biology, economics, commerce, travel & tourism, art, religious studies.

“We were treated to so many wonderful things while we were there. Learning to tie keffiyeh (traditional Bedouin headwear), eating traditional dishes such as Sayadieh in Aqaba and Zarb in Wadi Rum. Wadi Rum was otherworldly and at times when you look across the landscape you could forget that humans exist because there was no sign of them.”

Watch a video to hear more from those who took part in the fam trip…

Sharon added: “A highlight for me was the walking tour of Amman with Underground Amman. We visited various graffiti artworks and learnt about the influences on the area and the people of Jordan.

“On a personal note, I was very excited to see Gertrude Bell mentioned in the Heritage Museum in Aqaba. She’s an amazing figure few people have heard of.”

James Heath from tour operator Hellene School Travel said they were working on an itinerary for Jordan, following the fam trip. He described it as a “once in a lifetime experience”. He added: “Everyone was warm and very hospitable, we saw so much wonder as we travelled nearly the whole length of the country, and we felt safe the entire time we were there. 

“As a destination for school groups, it would be a great place for so many different syllabi - history, classics, religious studies, geography and the opportunity for more adventure-based trips.

“In relation to Hellene School Travel, the ancient sites would have a lot of appeal to the schools that travel with us. From the Decapolis cities of Jerash, Umm Qais, and Pella in the north, to Petra further south, there is so much to see! Schools could base themselves in Amman for a few days and run day trips to these sites, returning to the capital city to discover its Roman Theatre, Odeon, Nymphaeum, and museums.

“In addition, schools could really immerse themselves in a breadth of cultural activities - mosaic making in Madaba, cooking classes in Souf, or dinner in the Bedouin style in Wadi-Rum.”

A great opportunity to showcase Jordan for school groups

Abdullah Krayshan, head of the educational unit at Jordan Tourism Board, said: “The trip was really important to showcase Jordan as a safe destination and to highlight its diverse opportunities (history, culture, faith and diverse landscapes).

“It was essential for the group to come to Jordan and see the country, engage with Jordanian people and to engage with local DMCs to explore business opportunities.”