Jordan travel itinerary

Jordan is one of the most interesting places to visit in the Middle East. A compact country with a rich history which offers plenty of things to see and do, and still considered by many as a safe-haven in a somewhat problematic region.

Petra is a symbol of the country and the place everyone wants to visit. It attracts countless tourists that rush to see this wonder of the world. But rest assured, there’s a lot more to explore there! We decided to put together this Jordan travel itinerary to give you a better idea of what to expect for your trip and hopefully to inspire you to visit.

What this guide includes

• Essential itinerary and extras
• Planning tips
• Map with points of interest

About Jordan

A bit of context about Jordan. The country is officially known as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and it borders Israel, Palestine, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. It’s almost landlocked except for a small strip of 26 km along the Red Sea. Jordan has a population of under 10 million.

Trip duration

The most common Jordan travel itinerary takes around a week and it gives time and freedom to check out all the highlights of the country. It is by far the most popular option and we refer to it as the “Essential Jordan travel itinerary”.

For those in a hurry, shortening things from a week to 4 or 5 days allows seeing the main and most important things of the country. Albeit a bit more rushed.

If you have time,  you can take advantage of some of the least visited places in Jordan, making 10 days a great option for a trip duration.

We’ll see how to put together an itinerary for these trip durations.

When to go

The best seasons to go to Jordan are Spring and Autumn. This is because the temperatures are not as hot as in the Summer (it gets quite hot!) and it is not rainy like during some Winter months.

Part of the country is on higher ground and it is not uncommon to see snow in Amman and in the north of the country. In the desert, even on warm days, the nights are cold and this needs to be taken into account.

Down south in Aqaba, the weather tends to be good all year round and extremely hot during the Summer.

Essential Jordan travel itinerary

Day 1 – Amman

Amman is the capital and largest city of Jordan. As the gateway to the country, virtually everyone starts and ends their trip here using Queen Alia international airport, located south of the city. Amman is a fast growing city and a hub for everything happening in Jordan.

A few things make a trip to hilly Amman an enjoyable one. Ancient sites, like the 6,000-seat Roman Theater from the 2nd century, or the Citadel, which has traces of different civilizations.

If you want to know more about the country, consider visiting the new national museum known as The Jordan Museum.

Amman is also a great base to explore the north and eastern parts of the country.

Day 2 – Jerash

The number one destination in northern Jordan is Jerash, the location of one of the most well-preserved Greco-Roman sites outside Rome. It’s a place very much worth visiting and easy to reach in under an hour from Amman. The highlights of Jerash include many monuments: the Hadrian Arch, the Hippodrome, both Theaters, the Forum, among others.

Northwest of Jerash, some 30 km away, is Ajloun, a place known for its castle at the top of a hill overlooking the city. The Ajloun Castle is an Islamic fortress from the 12th century. Close by is the Ajloun Forest Reserve, a nature reserve which offers some hiking trails.

Day 3 – Desert castles & Dead sea

Scattered in the desert, east of Amman, the desert castles are a group of different early-Islamic structures. Most, in fact, are not even castles as they were not built for such purpose! They date as early as the 7th century. The half a day loop from Amman usually passes by the 3 most popular ones: Qasr Kharana, Qasr Amra, and Qasr Azraq.

Qasr Amra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Everyone has heard about the Dead Sea, a saline lake and earth’s lowest elevation on land at -429 m. It’s so salty that the only thing one can do there is to float. Quite the experience! The best beaches are part of the resorts along the shoreline, but other beaches exist. Once there, you can also try the therapeutic mineral mud.

The Dead Sea is a special place and it’s important to observe the rules while bathing there.

Day 4 – Madaba & Petra

Madaba is a small town with its fair share of history. The reason people travel to Madaba is to see the 6th century Madaba Mosaic, which depicts the map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. The mosaic is located at the Greek Orthodox St George’s church.

There is also an archeological park and a museum.

Halfway between the Dead Sea and Madaba, there is a place worth stopping for. We’re talking about Mount Nebo, the place where Moses saw the “promised land”. It boasts amazing views over to the Dead Sea and the Holy Land.

On the afternoon, it’s time to head in the direction of Petra, but not without stopping North of it first. Also part of Petra’s archeological park, Little Petra is a great introduction to the area and, despite being way smaller than its main counterpart, it also deserves a visit. The majority of Little Petra lies inside a canyon and includes some buildings carved on the rock’s facade. They can be explored by using many of the rock-stairs found to the sides.

It’s worth making this evening coincide with a special event held at Petra known as Petra by Night. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday for 2 hours a candlelight show is organized there and gives a whole different perspective of the place. A must-do! This is an excellent teaser for what’s to come the next day.

Day 5 – Petra

Petra is… Petra and needs no formal introduction! It’s both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the 7 Wonders of the World. At least a full day is recommended to visit Petra and its Nabatean monuments carved on the rock. This once lost in time city has a number of things to keep you busy and, of course, two of its most spectacular monuments: the Treasury and the Monastery. And much more!

Petra archeological park is a place everyone should visit!

Day 6 – Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum is, simply put, stunning. This desert in the south of Jordan is known as the valley of the moon due to its landscape with red sand dunes and mountains. Some Bedouin tribes still live in the area and provide guidance and activities for tourists like camel riding, 4×4 tours, hiking and there’s even the possibility of sleeping at one of their camps. It’s remote and unique!

Wadi Rum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 7 – Aqaba

Aqaba is the Red Sea resort at the gulf with the same name. It has a number of hotels and some private and public beaches. It’s a very popular destination for diving, with many great diving sites available.

From Aqaba, you can see Israel, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. All very close by.

What can be changed

The essential Jordan travel itinerary can be slightly changed to accommodate a different schedule. For example:

• Do Amman at the end of your trip
• Do the Dead Sea as a day trip from Amman

If you don’t have a week’s time to spend in Jordan, here’s what you can do:

• Skip Aqaba and end your trip at Wadi Rum before returning to Amman
• Do Amman on the same day as Jerash
• Skip Madaba

This means the trip can be shortened to a minimum of 4 days.

Extra days

Do you have extra days? Let’s look at some ideas.

Northern Jordan

Further Northwest of Jerash and Ajloun, Umm Qais and Pella are two off the beaten path locations to visit. Umm Qais is the location of the ancient city of Gandara and its Roman ruins on the hills of the Jordan Valley. Pella is also the location of an impressive set of ruins from ancient civilizations like the Greek and the Romans.

More desert castles

You may wish to extend your desert castles tour with a few more stops:

• Umm el-Jimal
• Qasr Hallabat
• Qasr Mshatta

Baptism Site

The historical place of the Baptism of Jesus on the east bank of the River Jordan, close to the Dead Sea. The Baptism site is one of the most important religious places in the Middle East and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nature

Dana and Mujib nature reserves are the places worth going to in Jordan if you’re a nature lover. Dana is Jordan’s largest nature reserve and is located close to the small 15th-century village of Dana. Mujib is the lowest nature reserve on earth and well-known due to its canyon.

Both offer interesting outdoor activities such as wildlife watching, hiking, and even canyoning in Mujib if you’re into an adventure.

For relaxation, Ma’In Hot Springs are located very close to the Dead Sea.

Crusader castles

Along King’s Highway (now road 35) south of Amman, Karak and Shobak are two crusader castles from the 12th century. These are important fortresses built in strategic locations for the region that can now be visited en route to Petra.

More Petra

If you have extra time, there’s more to explore in Petra. You can see things in more detail and check out places you didn’t have time to, like the High Place of Sacrifice, see the Treasury from above or hike to the Mountain of Aaron.

Mapping your Jordan travel itinerary

We’ve mentioned quite a few places throughout this itinerary. To make it easier for you, they’re all on this map.

Accommodation

Jordan offers accommodation for all ranges, from cheap hostels or basic hotels to high-end hotels and resorts. Amman, Petra, Aqaba, and the Dead Sea are the places where you’ll find more and diverse options.

Search for accommodation in Jordan.

Useful things to know

Safety

From our experience, Jordan is a very safe country. Compared to the other countries in the region, it really is trouble-free. Security screenings at the hotels are common, though. There’s a Tourist Police force.

Currency

The currency in Jordan is the Jordanian Dinar (JOD or JD). It’s pegged to the US Dollar at approximately 1 Dinar to 1.4 USD. This also means it’s worth more than the Euro.

Costs

Jordan is not the cheapest country in the region. The strong currency certainly doesn’t help but there are options to cater for different budgets.

Jordan Pass

The Jordan Pass is a new and great idea to travel in Jordan. It gives you great value for money with entry included for almost everything you’d want to see in Jordan (Petra included!) and can even waive your tourist visa fee.

How to get around Jordan

Organized tours are by far the most popular option for those visiting Jordan. For independent travelers wishing to use public transit, buses are available but usually only connect main areas and are not very useful for tourists. Taxis provide a better alternative to buses.

There are no trains in Jordan.

By car

Renting a car is possible and easily doable in Jordan. Most of the international car rental companies operate in Jordan.

Roads are mostly of a good standard and the two main ones are the Desert Highway (15), the King’s Highway (35), and the Dead Sea Highway (65).

By plane

The only internal flight is between Amman and Aqaba. Only useful at the end or start of your trip.

Ready to go to Jordan? What do you think about this travel itinerary?