L.O.S.T.
Ready to get lost, ladies?
A bunch of Finnish women. 7 days in one wild desert.
2.5-9.5.2027 (Language: FIN)
Maybe you’ve followed my adventures from Jordan, caught one of my lives or heard some of the stories along the way. Or maybe you’ve just stumbled across a post somewhere, found your way here and are now wondering what on earth this is all about.
Either way… you probably ended up here for a reason.
What if you came to Wadi Rum and experienced a little (or a lot) of that desert magic for yourself?
Well… now you can.
For seven days, the desert becomes our home. We leave familiar routines behind and step into a completely different rhythm of life — one shaped by vast landscapes, Bedouin hospitality, shared meals, firelight, endless cups of tea and the strange freedom of having absolutely nowhere else you need to be.
And we’re not coming all this way just to stand at a viewpoint, take a few photos and head back to the hotel. We’re going in. Together with local Bedouins who know this desert as home, we’ll explore Wadi Rum by jeep, camel and foot. We’ll venture beyond the usual tourist trails, climb into the mountains, head deep into the remote south and spend two nights sleeping out in the wild with nothing but mattresses, blankets and a ridiculous number of stars above us.
There will be adventure. There will also be days when doing absolutely nothing seems like an excellent plan. There will be camels, canyon hikes, sandboarding, music, dancing beneath the full moon, fires in the middle of nowhere and enough Bedouin tea to keep an entire Finnish village awake. And then there will be all the things we haven’t planned. Because if there’s one thing I learned from living in Wadi Rum, it’s that the desert doesn’t always care about your schedule. It’s wild, free and wonderfully uncontrollable.
And who knows — maybe somewhere out there, you’ll find a little more of that side of yourself too.
So come curious. Come open-minded. Pack your adventure pants and and be ready for the unexpected.
You don’t have to experience Wadi Rum through someone else’s stories or a phone screen anymore.
This time, you get to LIVE IT YOURSELF.
Just one small warning:
Be careful how much you fall in love with this place.
As some of you might know, I came to visit Wadi Rum once too.
And I ended up staying for years...
Consider yourselves warned. ♡
With Love,
Marianne
Retreat Program
One week immersed in the landscapes, culture and rhythm of Wadi Rum.
LOST. combines adventure with the freedom to slow down. We explore by jeep, camel and foot, experience Bedouin traditions, venture deep into the mountains, spend two nights sleeping beneath the stars in the wild desert and celebrate together under the full moon.
Day 1 — Welcome to Wadi Rum:
Into the Desert
Our adventure begins the moment we arrive in Wadi Rum.
We head straight into the desert for a full-day jeep adventure, exploring some of Wadi Rum’s most iconic landscapes, mountains, canyons and ancient sites.
By evening, we arrive at our Bedouin camp — our home in the desert for the days ahead.
Experience: Arrival in Wadi Rum • Full-day jeep adventure • Classic Wadi Rum • Bedouin camp
Day 2 — Discover Wadi Rum:
Canyon Hike & Sunset Camels
Today we slow things down and experience the desert on foot — and on camelback.
We explore one of Wadi Rum’s canyons before setting off on camels as the sun begins to sink over the desert.
Back at camp, the evening unfolds around the fire with Bedouin music, singing and, inevitably, plenty of tea.
Experience: Canyon hike • Sunset camel ride • Bedouin music • Evening around the fire
Day 3 — Desert is your playground:
Relaxed, fun day
No rushing today.
This is a day to relax, play and simply enjoy being in the desert — with time for sandboarding, desert games, wandering, talking or doing absolutely nothing at all.
Lets invite Bedouins to join us for a night of food, music, dancing, games and fun.
Experience: Slow desert day • Sandboarding • Desert games • Music & dancing
Day 4 — Beyond the Tourist Trails:
Into the Wild
Today we leave our camp behind and head south.
Our jeeps take us deeper into Wadi Rum, beyond the familiar tourist routes and into the remote desert stretching towards Saudi Arabia.
Tonight there is no permanent camp. Just mattresses, blankets, fire, food, tea — and the open desert around us.
Experience: Full-day jeep adventure • Remote Wadi Rum • Off-the-beaten-path desert • Wild desert living • Sleeping beneath the stars
Day 5 — Above the Desert:
Jabal Umm ad Dami
We wake up in the wild and continue our adventure in the remote south of Wadi Rum.
Today we take on Jabal Umm ad Dami, the highest mountain in Jordan, with experienced local guidance and extraordinary views across the desert towards Saudi Arabia.
After the hike, we return to our place in the wild for food, fire and another night sleeping beneath the stars.
Experience: Jabal Umm ad Dami • Full-day mountain adventure • Panoramic views • Wild desert living • Sleeping beneath the stars
The mountain adventure is weather and conditions dependent. The final activity will be chosen according to local conditions and the overall ability of the group.
Day 6 — The Slow Way Home:
Back to Camp
After two nights in the wild, we take our time this morning.
Depending on what feels right and what is possible locally, we may spend some time with our Bedouin friends, explore somewhere new or simply enjoy a slow morning in the desert.
Eventually, we make our way back to camp — where showers, tea and a well-earned afternoon of doing very little are waiting for us.
Experience: Slow desert morning • Possible local encounters • Return to camp • Time to relax
Day 7 — Let the Desert Decide:
One Last Day in Wadi Rum
For our final day, there is no itinerary.
By now, we have explored, climbed, travelled, slept beneath the stars and begun to settle into the rhythm of desert life.
So today, we leave some space for Wadi Rum to surprise us.
Maybe we wander. Maybe we discover somewhere new. Maybe we sit around drinking tea for far too long. Maybe we visit the Wadi Rum village or perhaps someone has an idea and we follow it. No rushing to fit in one last attraction. No boxes left to tick. Just one final day to be here, together, and enjoy the desert.
Experience: No fixed plans • Desert time • Spontaneous adventures • Final gathering • Farewell evening
Day 8 — Following Morning:
Departure
One last breakfast, one last cup of Bedouin tea, and then it’s time to say goodbye to Wadi Rum.
Until next time. ♡
A Note About the Program
This itinerary is a guideline rather than a fixed schedule.
Life in the desert moves with nature, and we move with it. The order of the days and activities may change depending on weather, wind, local conditions or simply what makes the most sense at the time. Occasionally, an activity may also need to be adapted or replaced.
We respect the desert and never force a plan when nature tells us otherwise.
Come with an open mind, a little flexibility and a sense of adventure. Part of the experience is letting go of rigid schedules, trusting the journey and allowing the days to unfold as they are meant to.
Sometimes the unexpected becomes the best part of the story.
Meet Our Host and Facilitator
Experience. Culture. Connection.
Our adventure is brought to life by two very different perspectives. One comes from a lifetime spent in Wadi Rum, knowing its mountains, traditions and desert ways. The other comes from having arrived from a completely different world and, over the years, learning to understand and live within Bedouin culture.
Together with an experienced local Bedouin team, we bring these perspectives together to create a retreat that goes beyond simply visiting Wadi Rum — giving you the chance to experience the desert, understand a little more of the culture behind it, and feel at home along the way.
Meet the people who will be sharing this journey with you.
Your Bedouin Host - Hussein Salman
I’m Hussein, born and raised in Wadi Rum, and I’ve been welcoming travellers to the desert for more than 20 years. I know Wadi Rum far beyond the familiar tourist routes — from its mountains and hidden valleys to the remote desert stretching towards the Saudi border. Sharing our culture, traditions and desert way of life with visitors has been part of my work for decades.
I’m also an official climbing guide in Wadi Rum, with extensive experience organising and guiding climbing adventures, including for professional climbers. Over the years, I’ve hosted everything from small private groups to large expeditions.
During Heart of the Desert, my team and I take care of the desert side of your experience. We host you at our Bedouin camp, prepare your meals and lead the local activities throughout the retreat — from jeep safaris and camel riding to hiking, and our nights sleeping out in the wild.
And then there are the things that don't appear on an itinerary: making tea around the fire, finding the perfect place to stop in the desert, changing plans when the wind has other ideas, and sharing some of the traditions and stories of the place we call home.
I work alongside a trusted team of experienced local Bedouins, each bringing their own knowledge and skills to our journey.
Our job is to take care of everything out here in the desert. Yours is simply to enjoy it.
Welcome to Wadi Rum.
Your Retreat Facilitator —
Marianne Stelin
I’m Marianne, a Finn with a deeply personal connection to Jordan and the Bedouin community of Wadi Rum.
I lived in Jordan from 2011 to 2016, married to a local Bedouin and becoming part of a world very different from the one I had grown up in. I experienced Bedouin culture not as a visitor, but as a wife, mother and member of a local family — learning its traditions, religion, relationships and everyday rhythms from within. My connection to this world continues today through our daughter, her family and the relationships that remain part of my life.
I also worked alongside my former husband in Wadi Rum tourism. Together we ran a Bedouin camp and tourism business, and I worked as a desert guide — giving me an intimate familiarity with Wadi Rum, Bedouin life and travelling throughout Jordan. And if you're planning to explore more of Jordan before or after the retreat, I'll be happy to share my personal tips and suggestions for places like Petra and beyond.
A Bridge Between Two Worlds
When I first arrived in Wadi Rum, it took me nearly a year to begin understanding how everything really worked.
There are so many little things beneath the surface — traditions, social rules, gestures, expectations and wonderfully confusing quirks that nobody thinks to explain to you. For the Bedouins, many of them are simply obvious. Others might go unmentioned out of hospitality or politeness.
During our time together, I'll help you read between those lines. I'll share the little things I learned along the way: what is customary, what might be better avoided, why certain things happen the way they do, and what may be going on behind moments that can seem completely puzzling through Western eyes. You can ask the questions you might not know who else to ask — including the awkward, funny and seemingly silly ones.
And our journey begins before we even arrive in Jordan. I'll facilitate our group beforehand, helping you prepare for Wadi Rum not only practically, but culturally — especially from the perspective of arriving there as a Western woman. I certainly won't have every answer, and I don't speak for an entire culture. But I can share what took me years of living within it to learn.
Think of me as your cultural bridge — helping you notice, understand and enjoy the little things that might otherwise remain hidden in plain sight.
One week Lost in The Heart of the Desert
Price Breakdown
Two Services, Two Providers
L.O.S.T. brings together services provided by two independent service providers: Local Bedouin services and Retreat Facilitation. Each provider is responsible for their own services and receives payment separately. If Wadi Rum is already calling you, there’s a little extra reason to say yes early.
Retreat Price
Super Early Bird —
1,390 € total
SAVE €500
€240 — Retreat Facilitation
€1,150 — Local Bedouin Services
First 5 spots only · Available until 31 October 2026
Early Bird —
1,590 € total
SAVE €300
€440 — Retreat Facilitation
€1,150 — Local Bedouin Services
Next 5 spots only · Available until 31 December 2026
Advance Rate —
1,740 € total
SAVE €150
€590 — Retreat Facilitation
€1,150 — Local Bedouin Services
Next 5 spots · Available until 28 February 2027
Regular Rate —
1,890 € total
€740 — Retreat Facilitation
€1,150 — Local Bedouin Services
Remaining spots · Available until 31 March 2027 or until the retreat is full
The prices above show the combined cost of participating in the retreat for clarity, but the services are booked and paid for separately:
Local Bedouin Services — €1,150 per person
Accommodation, meals and the local desert experiences and activities included in the program. Provided by the local Bedouin hosts in Wadi Rum. The 1 150 € local service fee is paid directly to the local provider upon arrival in Wadi Rum.
Retreat Facilitation — €240–€740 per person
The facilitator fee covers the retreat program with Marianne Stelin, including the pre-retreat preparation and facilitation throughout the 7-day experience. Early bird fees apply to the Retreat Facilitation fee only: the earlier our group comes together, the better we can prepare for the journey ahead. Our retreat begins before we ever set foot in Jordan, with practical guidance, cultural preparation and a chance to get to know each other before Wadi Rum. As they say, the early bird catches the worm. ♡
Retreat Facilitation is provided independently by Marianne Stelin, and paid directly to the facilitator in advance. Please note that the facilitator fee is non-refundable in the event of cancellation by the participant, subject to applicable consumer law. If, however, the retreat is cancelled by us, all payments you have made — including your reservation deposit — will be refunded in full. Full booking and cancellation terms are provided before payment. The remaining balance can be paid [PAYMENT TERMS].
The retreat requires a minimum number of participants to go ahead. Should we not reach this number, we reserve the right to cancel the retreat and will notify you accordingly.
What's Included in the Local Bedouin Services
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Accommodation at our Bedouin camp inside the Wadi Rum Protected Area
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Breakfast, lunch and dinner — both at camp and during our desert adventures
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Plenty of Bedouin whisky (don't worry, it's tea!)
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Transportation between the Wadi Rum Visitor Centre and our desert camp
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Jeep adventures — the classic Wadi Rum highlights and an off-the-beaten-path desert experience
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Camel riding
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Guided hikes, canyon explorations and mountain adventures
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The guided Burdah Rock Bridge adventure
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Two nights sleeping out in the wild desert
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Local Bedouin guides during our desert activities
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Wadi Rum entrance fees and activities included in the program
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And a few things we haven't planned yet — because some of the best desert moments happen by surprise
What’s Not Included
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Visa to Jordan — Visa and entry requirements vary depending on nationality. Please check the requirements applicable to you well in advance. Each participant is responsible for having the correct travel documents and meeting Jordan’s entry requirements.
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International flights to and from Jordan — Each participant books their own flights and is responsible for arriving at the agreed meeting point on the specified date and time.
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Airport transfers — Transfers outside Wadi Rum are not included, but we’ll be happy to connect participants arriving at similar times so you can arrange and share transportation where possible.
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Travel insurance — All participants are required to have valid comprehensive travel insurance for the entire retreat, including appropriate cover for the activities included in the program and personal belongings.
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Alcoholic beverages — Heart of the Desert is an alcohol- and substance-free retreat. ♡
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Snacks and extras — Snacks and additional food or drinks outside the included meals are not included. Before heading into the desert, there will be an opportunity to stock up on any little extras you’d like to bring with you.
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Optional extras — Any optional activities, treatments or services chosen outside the retreat program.
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The facilitator fee. To be paid separately. Prices above.
Getting to Jordan
Each participant is responsible for arranging and booking her own travel to Jordan. We’ll let you know where and when our journey together begins, and you simply need to make sure you’re there to meet us.
Of course, you won’t have to figure everything out alone. We’re happy to help with flight options, arrival plans and practical questions, and we can connect women who would like to coordinate their journey and travel to Jordan together.
Ready to Get LOST?
If getting lost is calling you, we’d love to hear from you. ♡
The retreat is intentionally intimate, with limited spaces available. Fill in the short application below to tell us a little about yourself and take the first step towards securing your spot. Once submitted, you’ll receive the next steps.
Submit Your Application:
