Welcome to our ultimate guide for your Jordan itinerary! Discover the ancient wonders of Petra, the stunning landscapes of Wadi Rum, the vibrant streets of Amman, and the serene waters of the Dead Sea. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or an adventure seeker, our itinerary covers all the must-see spots and hidden gems. Dive in and explore the best of Jordan with us!
Table of Contents
1. ORGANIZE YOUR TRIP TO JORDAN
→ WHEN TO VISIT?
- The best months to visit Jordan are March/April/May. The weather is ideal throughout the country. The days are warm and the nights are pleasant.
- You can also visit Jordan in September/October. Prices are cheaper and there are fewer tourists. It is also a good opportunity to get a good dose of vitamin D before winter.
- On the other hand, we do not recommend going to Jordan during the summer (July / August) because the temperatures are stifling throughout the country. This will inevitably have an impact on your trip when hiking, and visiting Petra and the desert. We also do not recommend visiting the country in winter (from November to March) because the nights can be freezing in the desert. In addition, many sites close or have reduced hours. There may also be a risk of flooding in the “wadis” (canyons).
→ BOOK YOUR FLIGHT
The best way to get to Jordan is to book a flight to Amman, the capital of the country. In your research, we also invite you to check the prices of a flight to Aqaba, the second-largest city in Jordan.
A tip, if you have time to travel (15 days for example), you can combine your trip to Jordan with a trip to Israel (the countries are bordering and the distances are not very great). You can then look at flights to Tel Aviv.
Ryanair very often offers promotional offers to Jordan. You have to be quick in making decisions and be quite flexible.
→ CAR RENTAL
- In Jordan, it is best to rent a car. Car rentals are cheap (30€ per day) and we felt that it was the best way to visit the country in a limited time. We do not regret this choice and we recommend that you do the same. This will allow you to be completely free in your itinerary, to stop whenever you want (the road is magnificent!) and to arrive at the tourist sites earlier than the others.
- Driving in Jordan is not difficult (except for the traffic in Amman). The roads are free (no tolls) and well-maintained. The Jordanian government seems to love speed bumps because there are often. So you have to be careful because they are not marked so sometimes you can get a bit off track.
- There are many military checkpoints near the Dead Sea where you will have to slow down or stop to greet the officer and say that you are a tourist discovering Jordan. You have to keep in mind that we are in a very monitored region of the world. We will tell you more about it a little further down in the “security” section.
- Another piece of information, petrol is not very expensive. To give you an idea, a liter of petrol costs on average 2 euros.
Important note: traffic in Amman can be complicated. It is the capital of the country. You can quickly find yourself stuck in traffic jams. The highway code does not exist in Jordan. So be careful! If you are driving, book a hotel with parking.
If you want to compare the prices of all car rental companies in Jordan (Sixt, Dollar, Thrifty, Europcar, Avis, Budget, etc…) you can do it on the Rentalcars website. It is a search engine that will compare the prices of the different rental companies to be sure to pay the least possible.
→ VISA AND JORDAN PASS
- Before leaving for Jordan, we especially recommend that you buy your “Jordan Pass” online, on the official website of the Jordanian Ministry of Tourism ( jordanpass.jo/ ). The Jordan Pass is a combined ticket for almost all the tourist sites visited in Jordan (including Petra, Wadi Rum, Jerash, etc.). Once purchased online, you will receive an email with your Jordan Pass attached. Purchasing a Jordan Pass online before arrival exempts you from the visa fee, which costs 40 JOD (50€). There is no visa procedure to be done in France before leaving. You can print your Jordan pass or save it on your phone. It will be presented to Jordanian customs upon arrival, then at the entrance to each tourist site you visit.
- Price-wise it’s very interesting. It pays for itself when you visit Petra, which is the case for almost 100% of tourists in Jordan.
- There are 3 different packages, which vary depending on the number of days you want to spend in Petra: Jordan Pass with 1 day in Petra: 70 JOD (90€), Jordan Pass with 2 days in Petra: 75 JOD (97€),
Jordan Pass with 3 days in Petra: 80 JOD (103€) - For your information, the ticket to Petra without the Jordan Pass costs 50 JOD (61€), 55 JOD (68€), or 60 JOD (74€). If we add to this price the cost of the visa (50€), the calculations are quickly done…
Namely, some sites are not included in the Jordan Pass such for example Wadi Mujib (21 JOD), the Dana Reserve (8 JOD), and the National Museum in Amman (5 JOD).
We recommend booking the Jordan Pass with 2 days in Petra (see itinerary section below)
→ SECURITY IN JORDAN
Many of you are wondering about security in Jordan and that is normal. As a reminder, the country is in the middle of an unstable and sometimes dangerous area. To the north, Jordan shares its border with Syria, to the south with Saudi Arabia, to the east with Iraq, and the west with Israel and the West Bank.
In this area of the world where geopolitical relations are very tense, Jordan plays a “buffer” role. It is the only stable country in the region and the countries surrounding it are interested in keeping it that way. At no time did we feel unsafe despite the presence of the military. The Jordanians and Bedouins are very welcoming. They need tourism to keep the country’s economy going. However, we recommend that you do not go near the Syrian and Iraqi border.
→ HOW TO DRESS IN JORDAN AS A WOMAN?
- I recommend that you bring long dresses in your suitcase or backpack. This will cover your legs (and keep you from getting too hot!). In cities, avoid tops that are too low-cut and opt for dresses or t-shirts that cover your shoulders a little. Plan B is to always have a small shawl to cover your shoulders.
- I brought a pair of shorts that I only wore at the hotel near the Dead Sea.
- To avoid sunstroke, don’t forget to bring a hat/cap/turban to cover your head in the desert and Petra. The sun can be very strong!
- In terms of shoes: a small pair of sneakers is mandatory to visit Petra. If you want to go hiking, you can also take your trekking shoes. Finally, if you have water shoes, take them because they are essential in Wadi Mujib.
→ HOW LONG TO VISIT?
We visited Jordan in 8 days. We explain our itinerary in detail below. Even if we had time to see what we wanted to see, 10 days seems to be the perfect time to discover this country.
2. JORDAN ITINERARY 8 DAYS
DAY 1: MOUNT NEBO AND DEAD SEA
- We arrived in Amman late in the morning. We picked up our rental car and immediately set off for our first destination: The Dead Sea.
- We made our first stop on the road at Mount Nebo. This is the place from where Moses is said to have seen the promised land. This place is marked by a monumental bronze sculpture made by an Italian artist. The statue is located next to the Moses Memorial Church. The panorama of the Dead Sea, Israel, and the Palestinian territories is magnificent! (2 JOD).
- If you have more time, you can also go to the city of ” Bethany beyond Jordan “. It is in this high place of Christianity that Jesus is said to have received baptism.
- After this first discovery, we take the road to the Dead Sea. The lowest point on the planet (408 meters below the sea), the Dead Sea offers us a unique experience. The density of its waters is such that we float in it! Moreover, it is not a sea, but a lake fed by the Jordan. The sea is called “dead” because no ecosystem lives there. Aged 3 million years, the Dead Sea is drying up visibly. Its level drops by one meter each year because not only is the overexploited Jordan struggling to reach its mouth, but the exploitation of the mineral salts of the Dead Sea consumes enormous quantities of water. Specialists fear that this salt lake will disappear before 2050.
- Although you can technically swim anywhere on the Dead Sea coastline, it can be surprisingly difficult to get to the sea (cliffs, difficult access to the beach edges, presence of fences, etc.). In addition, after a swim in the Dead Sea, a shower is mandatory to get rid of salt deposits on the skin because it is very tight.
- There are 2 public beaches on the coast but the entrance is paid. It costs about 24 euros (20 JOD) per person… We therefore advise you to opt for a resort where you can swim easily and enjoy a pleasant setting.
We booked a night at the Movenpick Resort & Spa . We are not used to staying in this kind of establishment (especially during our world tour) so we took advantage of it and it was great! This hotel is a little paradise and has the air of a small village with its rustic houses. We were able to swim in the Dead Sea, take mud baths (very good for the skin!), relax in the pool, and eat very good meals. The view of the Dead Sea is magnificent. We found an offer on booking.com (100€ per night for 2 people in a superb room with a bathroom and private balcony). A little enchanted interlude to start our trip off right.
DAY 2: WADI MUJIB AND DANA RESERVE
- After eating and sleeping like kings, we hit the road again towards Wadi Mujib , the deepest canyon in Jordan. This reserve was created to preserve the 400 species of plants, 186 species of birds, and 250 animal species that live there. The Wadi Mujib Gorges are an exceptional place to discover the reserve and go on a very unusual hike! The Ibex Trail is a must-do experience when visiting Jordan! I loved it and highly recommend adding it to your itinerary. This trail is best tackled on your way from Petra to the Dead Sea. Make sure to bring water shoes and a water bag. While these items are sold at the trail, they are usually more expensive than if you bring your own. If you want to take pictures, we recommend that you only bring a mobile phone and a waterproof bag because you will spend 40% of the time in the water. The entrance fee is 21 JOD (it’s expensive but the experience is worth it!)
- After this adventure, we drive towards the Dana Biosphere Reserve. We have booked a tent in a Bedouin camp for the night. The road to get to our camp is breathtaking. We take our time and make many photo stops.
- We will arrive in the middle of the afternoon at Al Nawatef Camp , a Bedouin camp where we will enjoy a magnificent sunset over the Dana Valley. It costs about 25 JOD per night for 2 people and 7 JOD per person for the meal.
DAY 3 AND 4: PETRA
1 DAY
- There are “cities” whose name alone makes you dream. Petra is one of them! It’s hard to believe your eyes. After a half-hour walk between two steep walls, a treasure carved in stone thousands of years ago stands before us! Petra is not only the jewel of a country but also one of the 7 wonders of the world! Forgotten by everyone for centuries, except the Bedouins, it was “rediscovered” by a Swiss explorer in 1812! Instead of trying to see all the city’s flagship monuments in one go, take the time to appreciate the site. This is why we recommend at least 2 days in Petra for exploration to discover this exceptional place.
- The best advice we can give you to visit Petra in optimal conditions is the following: get up early to arrive at the opening of the site! (6:30/7 am on site). You will then have the chance to have the Nabataean treasure ( Al-Khazneh ) almost to yourself.
- Next, make sure to discover the Monastery (Al-Deir) nestled at the top of the hills. It takes about 2 to 2.5 hours or 6 kilometers to reach this “gem of Petra”! While its architecture is similar to the Treasury’s, the Monastery is much more imposing. We’ll leave some surprises unspoiled, but this spot is unmissable!
- After your trek, relax at the small tea room opposite the Monastery, where you can enjoy excellent mint lemonades. Worth a taste!
- After this well-deserved break, you can take the path behind the small teahouse which will lead you to breathtaking views of Wadi Araba, Israel, and the Palestinian territories.
We choose to stop there for today. It is 2 p.m., the heat is overwhelming and the groups with guides are starting to arrive in numbers. - You can return to Petra this evening to attend “Petra by Night“.
2 DAY
- 5 am… the alarm goes off! Today is our second day of exploration in Petra.
- After crossing the Siq for the third time, we arrive again in front of the treasure. Like yesterday, there are very few people. Our goal was to gain height to admire the Khazneh “from above”.
- We take the “ Al-Khubtha Trail ”, a free hiking trail that takes us, after 45 minutes of fairly intense effort, to a magnificent viewpoint. A Bedouin has set up a cozy tea room at the top of the cliff where, in exchange for a drink, you can admire the stunning view of the Treasury.
- Be careful, as you’ll often be offered a shorter path for a fee. Remember, the Al-Khubtha Trail is free. The choice is yours!
- We devoted this second day to visiting the royal tombs and the theater. We also took the opportunity to stroll around the site, finding places to rest in the shade of the flowering oleanders.
- We crossed the Siq one last time, got in the car, and headed to the Siq al-Bariq also known as ” Little Petra “. If you still have enough energy, the place is worth a visit (included in the Jordan Pass).
Where to stay in Petra?
- Petra Plaza Hotel : Simple and refined, Petra Plaza is a reliable choice for mid-range budgets. Perfect for those wanting to explore Wadi Musa, including cooking classes at Petra Kitchen, the hotel is conveniently located just over a mile from Petra’s main entrance.
Where to eat?
- Beit Al-Barakah restaurant : the falafels and hummus are very good! The quality/price ratio is excellent
DAY 5 AND 6: WADI RUM AND AQABA
- Made famous by the film Lawrence of Arabia, the Wadi Rum desert is the territory of the Bedouins, where nothing – or almost nothing – reminds us of civilization. The road stops after the Wadi Rum Village, and then the desert takes over again. On the horizon, you will only see the ochre sand and the cliffs sculpted by the wind that ignites at sunset! One of the most beautiful deserts in the world and an unforgettable experience that we lived with our Bedouin guide ( Wadirum stillness ). We advise you to book your “excursion” in the Wadi Rum desert in advance to choose what you want to do. There are a lot of guides and they all offer more or less the same thing. It is the accommodation, the location of the campsite, and the meals that vary the most from one agency to another. We wanted to sleep under the stars (not in a luxury camp) and live the most authentic experience possible. If you are looking for the same thing as us, we recommend the Wadirum Stillness agency with our eyes closed. You can contact Habis on What’s App to book your tour (it is more responsive than on the internet / +962 7 7893 7527)
- We spent the day discovering the desert with our guide. We followed a classic circuit without feeling like we were too many on the spot. After sunset, we prepared the bivouac, had dinner with stories of desert Bedouins, and then fell asleep under the stars with the Milky Way as a backdrop! It was our best night in Jordan and an experience we will never forget! We paid 60 JOD (74€) per person including the day in the desert, the delicious meals (lunch and dinner), and the guide. We were a small group of 4 people.
- The next morning, we took the road back to Aqaba to swim in the Red Sea and rest a little before leaving for Amman, the capital of the country. Aqaba is known for being a good diving spot. We can’t give you an opinion because we just enjoyed a nice refreshing swim in the sea. The beaches are not very beautiful, however.
- We booked a hotel ( Luciana Hotel ) in the city center and went to enjoy the sea on a public beach. We had dinner in a great little restaurant, the Khubbza & Seneya where everything was delicious (Chicken lemon with garlic, hummus, arayes…). We paid 8.8 JOD (11€) for 2 and ate like kings! The city of Aqaba does not have any particular attractions except for a very beautiful view of the Israeli and Egyptian coasts.
Note: Aqaba is a fairly conservative city and you must keep that in mind. Don’t go and wear a swimsuit if all the women on the beach are dressed! If you don’t want to worry, plan B is to go to a “beach club”. The Berenice Beach Club is nice!
DAY 7 and 8: AMMAN
- We ended this trip to Jordan in Amman. It took us 4 hours of driving to reach the capital of the country from Aqaba. The road was magnificent, it did not bother us and allowed us to see the Dead Sea one last time.
- We stayed in the city center in a superb little hotel with parking, the “ Al Midan “, which we highly recommend. You can visit the city on foot very easily. We recommend visiting the citadel and its Roman ruins, the theater, the downtown district and its markets. If you have time you can take your rental car and go discover the city of Jeras, 1 hour from Amman.
- We also have a restaurant address that is very well-known to locals to try: Hashem! The prices are ridiculously low, and the menu is unique and delicious!
3. THE BUDGET TO PLAN FOR A TRIP TO JORDAN
We found Jordan to be quite expensive compared to the other countries on our world tour. During our 8-day trip for two people, we spent around 1200 euros. This covered everything from the plane, car rental, and accommodation to food and excursions. We didn’t deprive ourselves but were still mindful of our spending.
The major expenses to budget for include:
- Excursions: Jordan Pass, Wadi Rum, Wadi Mujib, Petra by night
- Accommodation: on average 25JOD per night (30 euros) excluding our night at the Dead Sea
