How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Excellent, as always. Nothing was too much trouble and he was always available if needed for anything.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

"There was no trouble in Jordan, it's a very peaceful country. It's a good time to go as there are very few tourists around.

It can be chilly. The April holiday was perfect as it's not too hot and, on the whole, not cold. I recommend a chunky fleece for early mornings especially in the desert."

Do you have anything else to add?

Be aware that food and, especially, drinks are quite expensive in tourist areas. There were almost always options of where to eat so if you are on a tight budget check out the options. It's easy to rack up a big bill when a soft drink is £3 a pop and you don't notice. Pizzas and salads are cheap. The pizzas weren't very good (but handy for fussy kids) but the salads were excellent

Our first family Explore trip, with our 6 year old daughter. It was great to be on an adventurous holiday again and see a different culture. This is an excellent all round trip, with great highlights. The Roman city of Jerash was fascinating, Petra exceeded our (very high) expectations, the desert was great fun, as were the last few days by the Red Sea. The highlights for our daughter were riding (the biggest!) camel and snorkeling. I found the Dead Sea experience far more interesting and weird than expected. Spring was a great time to go as the land was green and the flowers blooming. The tour guide and local guides and drivers were excellent. The couple of long days of travel passed easily, helped by the presence of other children. The food was great. Only one gripe/word of advice - there are quite a few meals that are not included but effectively you have no choice where to eat and they are JD10 per head. (FJD- 3rd April 2010)