Make Your Next Trip Extraordinary

JORDAN: At Petra...we traversed the trails and canyons that the locals use to navigate the site without seeing any tourists
Milinda Martin | May 13, 2023

A friend and I recently traveled to Jordan with assistance from Dan Waters, one of Wendy Perrin’s expert planners. We especially wanted to spend some time in Amman, have at least three days hiking throughout the country, visit Petra and Wadi Rum, and end up with a soak in the Dead Sea. Dan planned the perfect itinerary for April 2023.

As two women traveling alone, we always felt secure with our amazing driver, Monther, and our local guides in each location, but especially Abdulrahman in Petra, Madaba, and Dana. My favorite part was when we were off the beaten path, hiking Wadi Dana to the Feynan Ecolodge. We never would have known about this wonderful place if not for Dan.

At Petra, we were able to avoid the crowds and were treated to an outstanding hike led by both our English-speaking guide and a local Bedouin friend. We traversed the trails and canyons that the locals use to navigate the site without seeing any tourists. One day, we came to a spot that overlooked the Treasury and had it all to ourselves.

For the entire journey, the hotels were perfect, that activities just right for us, and best of all, the driver and guide worked hard to ensure we met locals all along the way. This is the part we will treasure the most, learning about the local customs and meeting friendly people. This is my fourth trip planned by Wendy’s roster of experts, and I’ll be looking to Dan Waters again when I visit Oman in 2025. Thanks so much.

ISRAEL, JORDAN, EGYPT: He made all our requests happen despite Passover, Ramadan, and Easter all taking place during our travel
Amy Johnston | April 21, 2023

We recently travelled to Israel, Jordan, and Egypt with extended family on a trip planned by Dan Waters. It was an amazing trip, and he made all our requests happen despite Passover, Ramadan, and Easter all taking place during our travel. With great planning, we were able to see all the major sites and packed many interesting experiences into our two weeks. Having a private guide and driver took the stress out of managing travel during our family vacation and created an experience where we were able to do and see a lot more than a typical tour. Our guides were truly experts in each region and connected us with friendly locals and great restaurants.

With the situation changing in Israel shortly before our trip, Dan was in contact with the local guides right up to our departure, and proposed alternative locations and timing to ensure we did not experience any disruption. Dan and our guides made sure every border crossing was smooth, airport transfers were easy, and had people waiting for us in each location to ensure we never had to worry.

Highlights of our trip included traveling from Tel Aviv to the Sea of Galilee (Cesarea, Akko, Haifa, Tiberias), time exploring Jerusalem, and time in Bethlehem. We visited Amman and Jerash, stayed in Bubble tents in Wadi Rum, and experienced the wonder of Petra. Finally, we travelled to Egypt where we visited the Pyramids of Giza and Saqqara, and visited Islamic and Coptic Cairo. Our guides timed each experience so that we missed the crowds, and used their expertise to bring each site to life. I highly recommend working with Dan and his office.

OMAN: Balanced immersion in a completely different culture with enough outdoor adventure for us while not daunting our 7 year old
Katherine Sanders | April 7, 2023

We can’t say enough good things about the two-week Oman trip Dan and his team planned for us over spring break. Dan was responsive and thoughtful, putting together a trip that balanced immersion in a completely different culture with enough outdoor adventure for us while not daunting our 7 year old. From bustling Muscat, with an incredible homestay dinner where our kid spent the night playing and laughing with our hosts’ children, to being way off the grid climbing sand dunes for a technicolor sunset in the desert, and walking through ancient villages in the mountains, it was an unforgettable adventure. Our guides on the ground were flawless: knowledgeable, kind, and adaptable with real substantive contacts and knowledge. They set up coffee and dates with a Bedouin family, showed our kiddo how to pet and meet camels, and adjusted plans seamlessly when a sandstorm blew up. Our Wow Moment from Wendy was a special surprise: a glorious five-course dinner under the stars looking over an enormous mountainside canyon. It was an amazing trip and wouldn’t have happened without Dan’s team.

OMAN: A definite bucket-list destination for the adventurous traveler
Joanne Henton | March 31, 2023

Our trip to Oman (March 9 – 20) was an amazing experience. Dan Waters did an amazing job of putting a diverse itinerary together using his knowledge of traveling in the country years ago. He truly nailed it!

Highlight of the trip was immersion into Omani culture through being welcomed into private homes for lunch, dinner and a pre-wedding women’s gathering. A real treat! The Omani folks are welcoming, gracious, a peaceful people and accepting of all cultures and faiths.

The country is beautiful — from the amazingly pristine capital of Muscat with souks, fish, fruit and vegetable markets, to the Grand Mosque and Sultan’s Palace, along with glimpses of his two mega yachts at the Marina, to the mountains with donkeys and goats freely roaming, to the desert with camels — to name just a few of the unique experiences. Always something new to see and locals to meet. And the boat excursion to the Daymaniyat Islands is not to be missed!

Fahad was a wonderful, “all-inclusive” guide. Couldn’t have been more pleasant, respectful and interesting with a willingness to share about his culture, religion and love of Oman, as much as he was interested in our life in America.

Oman is called “The Pearl of Arabia.” So true! A definite bucket-list destination for the adventurous traveler.

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