If you are planning a trip to Jordan and looking where to start, this guide has got you covered! Here’s how we planned our 7-day trip to Jordan. We had a 2-day layover in Doha and started our journey from there. Read our guide to know more! You can also read our insider guide to Petra here.
Pro tip:
- Depending on how long you have in Jordan, you could skip visiting the capital city of Amman and head straight to a resort at the Dead Sea or the city of Petra to start your trip
- The best way to get around the country would be to hire a car from either the airport or Amman city (depending on where you start your trip)
- Do get a Jordan Pass before you arrive in Jordan as it will save you a lot of money on buying individual tickets
- The itinerary below is how we planned our trip. You could do it the complete opposite way i.e. start from Dead Sea and end at Petra. It all depends on your travel dates and how long you have
Day 1 – Arrive in Amman, Jordan
Flying from Doha to Amman was about 3 hours. We landed in Amman quite late in the day and headed to a hotel in Amman city. Amman city is about an hour away from the airport. We recommend arriving in Amman as it is the perfect starting point for your trip.
Pro tip: If you have not pre-booked a taxi, Make sure you call an Uber as it is safe and reliable. You will have a lot of cab drivers outside the airport giving you a cheaper price but do not engage with them! It costs approximately 35JOD ($50/£39) from AMM airport to the city centre.
Day 2 – Explore Amman
After breakfast, we checked out and used part of the morning to explore the Roman Citadel in Amman (included in the Jordan Pass) and take in the panoramic views of the city and the Amphitheatre. We then hired a car from the city and headed straight to Petra. Petra is about a 3-and-a-half-hour drive from Amman.
You have to options to stay in Petra. One option is to stay in the city. The second option is to stay outside (about 10 mins drive) like we did and drive into the city.
Day 3 – Explore Petra
Petra by Day
One of the new seven wonders of the world, I would recommend not rushing this part of the trip!
The best time to visit Petra would be early in the morning before all the tourist buses arrive. We recommend arriving there before sunrise. There is ample free parking. It is important that you plan your trip tp Petra well ahead of arriving to Jordan. You can read our detailed guide on Petra here.
If you fancy a bit of a walk/hike, I would definitely recommend going past the Al Khazneh through the ruins of the city to The Monastery. The hike to the Monastery (Ad-Deir Trail) is long and involves a lot of steps but it is SO worth it. Whilst everyone goes to the Al Khazneh, not many go all the way to The Monastery as it is about a 2.5-3 hour hike one-way. It is much more quieter at The Monastery than at The Treasury.
Pro tip: You have the option of riding a horse or donkey if you do not want to walk to The Monastery. Riding a donkey is free of charge but the guides expect a good tip!
Along the way, you can enjoy some freshly brewed tea and even grab some local souvenirs.
Jordanian food and Petra by Night
After a long hike in the morning, we went straight for lunch into Wadi Musa town where we ate local Jordanian food and sipped more tea! We then headed back to our hotel for a much needed rest and to replenish our energy for Petra by Night.
Before our Petra by Night show, we went for a local Jordanian cooking food experience at a Jordanian family’s house. We had an amazing time as our hosts were just so warm and welcoming. We got to know so much about Jordanian food culture and also saw how the locals live.
Following dinner, we did the 2km walk through The Siq again in the evening to explore Petra by night. It is really beautiful as you walk through the candlelit Siq and watch the Al Khazneh change colours alongside enjoying some local music!
Pro tip: Petra by night only 3 times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Make sure you plan your trip to visit Petra on one of these days to not miss it! The ticket is NOT included in the Jordan Pass so make sure you buy it in the morning!
Day 4 – Explore Petra and head to Wadi Rum
We had a 2-day pass for visiting Petra (when we bought our Jordan Pass, we selected this for 2 days). We headed again the next day to do another hike amidst the rocks and tombs (Petra High Place of Sacrifice trail). It was one of the less touristy trails but definitely a great experience to go deep into the rocks of the city of Petra!
After an adventurous morning, we had lunch, checked-out and headed to the famous Martian desert of Wadi Rum. From Petra, Wadi Rum is about a 1.5 hours drive.
Pro tip: If you decide to stay in Wadi Rum, you will have to park your car in the hotel’s dedicated parking space and be driven to the hotel in a jeep. Make sure you arrive whilst it is still daylight to make the transfer easy!
All hotels in Wadi Rum are half board (including Breakfast and Dinner) with lunch at nominal charges.
Pro tip: Wadi Rum is famous for its Bubble hotels and if you are up for a unique experience, we would recommend booking one of those! We stayed at Bubble Luxotel which was such a great experience. You can read our review of the hotel here.
Day 5 – Explore Wadi Rum
A trip to Jordan is incomplete without visiting Wadi Rum. We had the full day in Wadi and hence we booked a 6-hour private tour with our hotel. The tour included a full-day hire of a jeep and driver. Lunch (they cater to vegetarians) was added on at a small extra charge.
All tours in Wadi Rum more or less take you to famous locations including the Martian movie shoot location, Lawrence’s House, Umm Fruth Rock Bridge, Mushroom Rock, Khazali Canyon, and a sunset viewpoint.
As we had a full-day tour, our guide prepared for us a hot traditional Bedouin lunch in the middle of the desert which was indeed a memorable meal!
Day 6 – Depart Wadi Rum to Dead Sea
We departed our hotel in Wadi post breakfast and headed our way to the Dead Sea. Wadi Rum to Dead Sea is about a 4-hour drive passing through the industrial city of Aqaba.
We reached Dead Sea post lunch. After check-in to our hotel, Hilton Dead Sea Resort and Spa, we headed straight to the hotel’s beach to experience floating in the salty waters 401 metres below sea level, apply the Dead Sea mask and relax on the sunbeds. Our evening ended with a relaxing spa before enjoying snacks at sunset!
Day 7 – Depart Jordan
We checked-out of our hotel early in the morning and headed straight to the airport. Amman airport was an hour away from our hotel where we dropped off our car. The flight time from Jordan to London was about 5 hours.
Are you planning a trip to Jordan?
Jordan has a number of hotel options to choose from in Petra, Wadi Rum and Dead Sea. If you are planning a trip to Jordan, we can help you select the best hotels for your perfect stay.
We can also help build your custom itinerary for the duration of your trip.
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