Experience Jordan's Dana to Petra trek was recommended to us by travellers we met whilst hiking in Iceland and we have zero regrets in taking their recommendation. We only joined the trip for the 5 days hiking and missed out on Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea - so can only speak for the hike itself.
Doing any sort of organised group hike is always going to be more expensive than doing a DIY version. However, having spent the week on the trail, I am fairly confident that we would have had no hope of finding our way on the trail without our incredibly knowledgeable guide Mahmood and the support of our local guide and his donkey who carried extra water each day,
Beyond guiding us from A to B, the value added by Experience Jordan was second to none. Mahmood would stop us at relevant points in shaded areas to share fascinating geological, cultural and historical facts about the landscape around us and it really felt like there were no stupid questions. At lunchtime, our local guide would brew a pot of tea which would be shared amongst the group - with whom we made fast friends. Not only this, but upon arriving at camp each day we would be treated to cold drinks and, in the evening, a feast of local food (which we were not able to match in quality even on our return to Amman).
In terms of difficulty: days 1 and 2 were relatively 'easy'. Day three was much more of a challenge with most of the morning spent ascending up a well defined ridge in the sunshine. DEFINITELY recommend to travellers considering this hike to bring some sort of scarf/buff and some lip balm. My lips were so chapped following this day due to the warm wind and the unrelenting sun with little shade. Day 4 had some ascent but the challenge came in the form of some scrambles as we descended into Little Petra. Day 5 was not difficult in terrain, but stopping and starting at all of the historic sites seemed to be hardest on my legs!
This really was the experience of a lifetime and we can't recommend it - and Mahmood in particular - enough. The whole team did such an amazing job of looking after us and we are now already planning to come back in a year or two to complete the hike from Petra to Wadi Rum.