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Breathing Life into the Desert
Join Plastic Free Onlus on a volunteer mission in the Wadi Rum desert and the ancient sites of Jordan.We’ll explore on the front lines and actively take part in the fight against waste left behind by illegal tourism in one of the most fragile ecosystems on Earth.Our goal: to raise funds for the construction of a water purification plant in the village at the edge of the desert.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Witness the Fragile Beauty of Petra and Wadi Rum
Experience the breathtaking landscapes and ancient wonders of Jordan while learning how to protect them from plastic pollution. From Petra’s iconic rose-colored city to the vast desert of Wadi Rum, you’ll witness firsthand the endangered beauty of these places—and discover practical ways to make a difference. - Real Impact Through Volunteering: Join the Action
Join Silvia Pettinicchio and Luisa Alesso, representatives of Plastic Free, to help safeguard a protected UNESCO heritage site from wild plastic pollution and its consequences. In recent years, due to increased tourism and the widespread use of plastic water bottles among locals, the desert has become sick... with plastic. - Live the Change Up Close: Become an Activist with Plastic Free
Discover how a real-impact non-profit works. Part of the funds from this trip will support the construction of a water purification plant in the village at the edge of the protected area, allowing locals, guides, and tourists to refill reusable containers instead of relying on disposable plastic bottles. Anyone who has seen the desert with their own eyes will understand our mission.
TRIP PURPOSE
Supporting a transformative travel initiative - beyond sustainability. This mission-driven journey has a threefold goal: to clean the environment from waste caused by illegal tourism, which periodically accumulates into actual dumpsites; to raise funds for the construction of a water purification plant; and to empower travelers to become ambassadors for a cleaner and more sustainable planet.
This trip has been designed based on the following principles:
Non-Profit commitment
Zero-Waste
Sustainable Education
Flight Info
If a direct flight to or from Amman is not available from your city, we recommend choosing a flight with a layover in Italy or another European country.
We understand that organizing the departure might be tricky, so to make things easier, we’re offering one extra night for free at the beginning of the trip.
Although the official start of the trip is October 24th, we are including the night of October 23rd at no extra cost. This gives you more flexibility when booking your outbound flight and makes travel planning more practical.
For the return on November 2nd, we will be back in Amman by 2:30–3:00 PM, so please make sure your return flight is scheduled after that time.
Flight prices may vary depending on the airline, the number of layovers, and your departure city, but they generally range between €300 and €600.
We recommend checking flights with Royal Jordanian, Lufthansa, or Aegean Airlines.
What's included
- Food: 3 lunches, and 4 dinners.
- Accomodation: 9 nights in 2–3 star hotels/hostels and traditional tents with Wadi Rum Eco Tours
- Transportation: All transportation, including the internal flight from Aqaba to Amman. Transfers to and from Amman city and Amman airport included.
- Other: Support from a Plastic Free coordinator throughout the entire trip.
- Insurance: Medical and baggage insurance.
What's not included
- Food: All meals not listed in the 'What's Included' section.
- Accomodation: Any applicable tourist taxes are not included.
- Transporation: Round-trip flight to and from Amman not included.
- Other: Trip cancellation insurance.
- Anything not specified under "What's included".
Payment Terms
30% down payment at the time of booking and the remaining 70% due 30 days prior to departure.
If the booking is made within 30 days of departure, the full amount is due at checkout.
Bank transfers or credit cards can be used to make payments.
However, if the trip status is marked as "Confirmed" or "Last tickets", there's no need to worry - it means the minimum number of participants has already been met.
ITINERARY
Day 1 - Welcome to Amman: A First Glimpse of Jordan
We arrive in Amman around lunchtime and immediately begin immersing ourselves in the atmosphere of the Jordanian capital. After transferring to the hotel and taking some time to rest, we’ll dive into an introduction to the purpose of our journey and Plastic Free's mission in the Middle East. In the evening, a group dinner will be the perfect chance to get to know each other, share what brought us here, and prepare for the experience ahead.
Day 2-3 - Nature and Activism in the Ajloun Forest Reserve
We leave Amman and head north to the Ajloun Forest Reserve, known for its rolling hills, olive groves, and ancient oak trees. Here, the journey takes an active turn: we’ll explore the protected area, learn to identify local species, and take part in a clean-up operation to remove plastic waste from the reserve's trails. Working side by side with the local community, we’ll rediscover the value of caring for nature through small but impactful actions.
Day 4-5 - Petra: A Journey Through Time to Inspire the Future
We travel south to discover one of the world’s most iconic treasures: Petra. We walk through the Siq, pass by rock-carved tombs, and stand in awe before the Treasury. Beyond the archaeological marvel, these days are also about reflection-on how ancient civilizations lived in harmony with nature. Among ruins and desert landscapes, we find inspiration for our own modern challenges.
Day 6 - Wadi Rum: Embraced by the Desert
We arrive in Wadi Rum, one of the most spectacular deserts in the world, and settle into a Bedouin camp where we’ll spend the next nights. Today, we explore the red valley with a local guide, discovering canyons, stone arches, and ancient petroglyphs. Our connection to nature deepens, and the desert’s silence prepares us for the environmental action ahead.
Day 7-8 - Clean-Up in Wadi Rum: Protecting What Matters
We dedicate these two days to environmental action. Together with the Bedouin community, we join a large-scale clean-up effort to remove plastic waste from some of the desert’s most sensitive areas. This is more than symbolic-it’s a concrete gesture that restores dignity to the landscape and raises awareness about the fragile balance of these ecosystems. Evenings under starry skies become moments of collective reflection and sharing.
Day 9 - From Sand to Sea: Wadi Rum and Aqaba
After one last morning excursion in Wadi Rum, we travel to the coast and arrive in Aqaba, on the shores of the Red Sea. Here we relax, swim, visit the local markets, or simply enjoy a seaside sunset. It's our way of closing the journey, celebrating Jordan’s natural beauty-between desert and sea.
Day 10 - Flight from Aqaba to Amman and Return to Italy
Our journey ends with a domestic flight from Aqaba back to Amman, followed by our return home. But we take with us much more than memories-we’ve made an impact, met extraordinary people, and discovered just how much we can do, together, for the future of our planet.
Plastic Free is a volunteer-based organization that has been fighting plastic pollution since 2019 through clean-up actions, awareness campaigns, and partnerships. It has removed over 4.5 million kg of waste and involved more than 300,000 students in its initiatives.
Silvia Pettinicchio is the Global Strategy Director of Plastic Free and an environmental activist who has long been dedicated to finding concrete solutions to the major ecological challenges of our time. With an international profile and experience across dozens of countries, Silvia combines on-the-ground action — from plastic collection to expeditions in remote areas — with tireless awareness efforts, especially aimed at younger generations. She loves telling stories, sharing experiences, and inspiring students and communities to make more sustainable choices. As a Plastic Free delegate, she will take part in the INC 5.2 international negotiations in Geneva, bringing the voice of Italian activism to the heart of global decision-making processes.
Luisa Alesso, deeply committed to environmental protection, holds a special connection to the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During her travels in recent years, she has witnessed the growing environmental impact of tourism and human activity, especially the damage caused by plastic waste to local wildlife. Camels are known to ingest plastic strands caught in desert shrubs, which can cause fatal intestinal blockages. Determined to make a difference, Luisa turned to Plastic Free, and was appointed Wadi Rum coordinator. Every year, she travels to Jordan with the organization and works closely with local partners and young volunteers to lead multiple plastic clean-up missions. Her next goal is an ambitious one: the installation of a public water purification station at the entrance of Wadi Rum.
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