Ultimate Jordan Itinerary: The Best In Five Days
Visit Petra, Wadi Rum, Jerash, and Madaba with my tested Jordan 5-day itinerary. Have a glimpse at the Dead Sea and the Red Sea, Amman, and Aqaba. Follow my Jordan itinerary and spending only five nights in the country, you will visit all of its highlights.
This page may contain affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I will never recommend products and services I don’t trust or haven’t used. For more information, please read my disclosure.
I love helping you plan your dream trips. If you need any of these services, please consider booking them through my affiliate links. It won’t cost you anything extra but will help me keep the website running.
🏠 Find the perfect place to stay with Booking.com or Hotels.com
✈️ Get the cheapest flights with Skyscanner
🚣 Book your favorite activities with Viator or Get Your Guide
📱Stay connected with an eSIM from Airalo
Thank you very much for your support!
Basic Facts to Know Before You Start Your Jordan Itinerary
Jordan is a kingdom in the Middle East. It is a small country with an area of less than 90, 000 sq. km. Jordan has 11 million inhabitants and 35% of them live in the capital. Almost the entire population is Muslim.
The capital of Jordan is Amman. Despite being the capital and the largest city, Amman is also the economic, financial, and cultural center of the country.
The currency of Jordan is the Jordanian Dinar (JOD). The dinar exchange rate is pegged to the dollar as 1 USD = 0.708 JOD. I only exchanged dollars once, at a bank, and the rate was equal to the official rate, without any commission.
Arabic is the official language of Jordan. People employed in the tourism industry have some knowledge of English.
Why Visit Jordan?
Jordan is a fascinating country, rich in history, archaeology, and nature.
The main attractions are Petra, a UNESCO heritage site, and the Wadi Rum desert. Though not so famous, Jerash is not to be missed.
Jordan Visa Requirements
To do this Jordan 5-day itinerary you will most likely need a visa. Almost all tourists entering Jordan have to obtain a visa. Travelers from some nationalities (restricted countries) require prior approval. All the others, coming from non-restricted countries may apply for an e-visa.
Check the list of restricted and non-restricted countries to know where your passport belongs. The tourist visa costs 40 JOD.
What Is Jordan Pass and Is It Worth It?
The most cost-effective way to enter the country and to accomplish the Jordan 5-day itinerary is by buying a Jordan Pass. It includes the entry visa cost and free entry to over 40 attractions throughout the country, including Petra.
The price of a Jordan Pass is 70, 75, or 80 JOD. The only difference between the three types of Jordan Pass, apart from the price, is the number of consecutive days (1, 2, or 3) you can visit Petra.
Petra entry fee alone is 50, 55, and 60 JOD for one, two, or three-day entry respectively. That being said, the Jordan pass is well worth the money even if you are only going to Petra.
How to Waive the Visa Fee in Jordan?
If you are flying in and out of Aqaba airport and staying in Jordan for up to 30 days, the entry visa is free. Some low-cost carriers, like Ryanair, provide connections between Aqaba and many cities throughout Europe.
The Best Time to Visit Jordan
The best time to visit Jordan for a 5-day itinerary is from late autumn through early spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Temperatures are pleasant and the heat is tolerable.
Most of the low-cost carriers do not fly to Jordan in the summer.
The Best Jordan 5-day Itinerary: Jerash – Amman – Madaba – Petra – Wadi Rum – Aqaba
Five days is not enough time to visit, try, taste, and see everything Jordan has to offer its visitors. In case you have more time and suitable flights, spend in Jordan a week or even more.
If you only have five days in Jordan, which was my case, follow this is the best 5-day itinerary for Jordan.
Following the suggested itinerary, I drove about 920 km. The traffic was a bit chaotic at times, but I got used to it quickly and driving was not a problem.
The roads are in a pretty good condition. Google Maps offline navigation didn’t let me down once.
Day 1 of Jordan Itinerary: Fly to Aqaba And Explore the City
I flew in and out of Aqaba airport with Ryan Air, so my itinerary starts and ends in Aqaba. It is a circle itinerary throughout Jordan.
If you fly in and out of Amman, start your five days in Jordan in Amman and end it there.
Where to Buy a SIM card in Aqaba?
If you want to stay connected, buy a local SIM card at the airport. Alternatively, you can buy an
How to Get a Rental Car in Jordan?
You will need a
Check in to your
Where to Stay in Aqaba?
I stayed in two different hotels in Aqaba. I chose Nairoukh Hotel Aqaba for my first night. It is a nice hotel, clean and reasonably priced. I had I high-floor room with a beautiful view of the promenade and Red Sea.
For my last night in Jordan, I was in the mood for a splurge and booked a room at Kempinski Hotel Aqaba. It is a luxury hotel with a private beach, which is a valuable asset in Aqaba. The food and drinks were exquisite and the service was impeccable. My one-night splurge was worth every penny.
🏨 Click on the map to book your accommodation in Aqaba at the best price.
Are you enjoying this article so far? If you’d like to show your appreciation, feel free to book your accommodation, tickets, tours, and more through my affiliate links. You can find them at the top of the page or in my Travel Resources section. It won’t cost you anything extra but will greatly help me keep the website running. Thank you for your support!
What to Do in Aqaba?
Take a boat trip around the Gulf of Aqaba. The boats are small and old, with glass bottoms to see underwater. You will find them at the public beach of Aqaba. The whole experience takes about an hour.
Bargain for the price. It’s reasonable to pay 2/3 of the originally advertised price. The price is for the whole boat, not per person!
Where to Eat in Aqaba?
The best place to enjoy local food in Aqaba is the Al-Sofara/Ambassadors Restaurant. It is a locals’ favorite. The food is delicious and plentiful, and the prices are affordable. You can eat for 5-6 JOD per person. They don’t serve alcohol. Address: G2F3+327, Aqaba.
Day 2 of Jordan 5-Day Itinerary: Aqaba – Jerash – Amman
The distance you’ll travel on the second day of the Jordan itinerary is just over 400 km. You should be prepared to spend about five and a half hours on the road. Don’t worry, you’ll be traveling less in the following days.
Have an early breakfast and take the Jordan Valley Highway towards Jerash.
Despite the name, the Jordan Valley Highway is not a highway, but a two-way road with one lane in each direction and an emergency lane here and there.
There are checkpoints at many places along the highways. We were stopped 3-4 times a day. Sometimes the military asked for passports, sometimes just for the driver’s license, and most of the time they just asked where we were from and politely sent us on our way with “Welcome to Jordan!”.
This route passes by the Dead Sea. Stop for photos at the Dead Sea and Wadi al Mujib.
You’d better arrive in Jerash not later than 2 pm. Jerash archaeological site closes at 4 pm during the winter season.
Two hours is quite enough time to explore the Archaeological Site of Jerash. The entrance fee is included in the Jordan Pass.
Drive back to Amman for the night. The distance between Jerash and Amman is about 40-50 km, but it may take more than an hour if you hit rush hour.
Where to Stay in Amman?
I stayed in Khan Khediwe Hotel. It is a recently renovated hotel. It is clean, perfectly located and really good value for money.
🏨 Click on the map to find the best hotel deals in Amman.
Where to Eat in Amman?
Try Mawwal Restaurant. Wonderful food, great service, and a slightly eclectic interior. Address: Mawwal Restaurant, Zahran St 241, Amman.
Jordan 5-day Itinerary, Day 3: Amman – Madaba – Petra
On the third day of the Jordan itinerary, you will drive from Amman to Petra along the Desert Highway, with a short stop to explore Madaba. The distance is approximately 250 km and takes three and a half hours to drive.
You will need about an hour and a half to explore Madaba.
Visit the Church of St. George. It is not included in the Jordan Pass. The entrance fee is 1 JOD.
Head to Madaba Archaeological Park and the Church of the Martyrs to visit the stunning floor mosaics. It is included in the Jordan Pass.
Have lunch and continue your trip towards Petra.
If you arrive in time, you can make your first visit to Petra via the second entrance, which is closer to the Monastery.
Where to Stay in Petra?
I chose the
🏨 The best hotels in Petra at a glance:
Petra luxury hotel ➡️ Petra Moon Luxury Hotel
Petra luxury hotel ➡️Mövenpick Resort Petra
Petra luxury hotel ➡️Petra Marriott Hotel
Petra budget hotel ➡️Petra Plaza Hotel
You can find many other accommodation options in Petra to satisfy every need and budget. Click on the map to book!
Where to Eat in Petra?
For dinner, I recommend the restaurant at Petra Marriott Hotel. The food is excellent. They also have a great selection of Jordanian wines.
In general, alcohol in Jordan is easiest to find at international chain hotels.
Day 4 of Jordan 5-day Itinerary: Petra – Wadi Rum
Enter Petra early in the morning when the site opens. This will give you more time to explore the site.
Remember that it is very cold in the morning and gets very hot around noon. The sun is very strong. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses.
Around 2 pm, continue your Jordan itinerary towards the Wadi Rum desert. The distance is 100 km and you will need an hour and a half to get there.
Once there, go to the Wadi Rum visitor center first to pay a small entrance fee. Then you’ll be ready to enter Wadi Rum.
You will have to leave your car in a parking lot where an SUV from the
Take a sunset desert tour before dinner. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Where to Eat in Wadi Rum?
Most of the Wadi Rum camps offer half-board accommodation. Breakfast and dinner are included in the price.
Where to Stay in Wadi Rum?
You’d better choose accommodation in a bubble. You’ll have more amenities than in a tent, like your own bathroom, for example. And the pleasure of sleeping under the stars is incomparable.
Though bubble accommodation is considerably more expensive, budget options can still be found.
I booked at
Day 5, the Last One of the Jordan 5-day Itinerary: Return to Aqaba
Today you will drive back to Aqaba. Wadi Rum is just a mere 70 km and one hour drive away from Aqaba.
Depending on your preferences you can take another tour in the desert or enjoy a day at the beach in Aqaba.
I chose the beach. It was winter in Europe, where I live, and I longed for a day at the beach.
I checked in at
Conclusion
In just five days, you can experience the best of Jordan’s history, culture, and natural beauty. This Jordan 5-day itinerary takes you from the capital of Amman to the ancient city of Jerash, the stunning mosaics of Madaba, the unforgettable ruins of Petra, the breathtaking desert of Wadi Rum, and the relaxing shores of Aqaba.
This itinerary is perfect if you want to make the most of your time while still enjoying the highlights of Jordan. Pack your camera, and get ready for an incredible adventure. Follow this guide, and your Jordan 5-day itinerary will be one you’ll never forget!
Was this article helpful? If you’d like to say “thanks”, please consider using my affiliate links to book your accommodation, tickets, tours, and more. It won’t cost you anything extra but helps me keep the website running. Thank you so much!
📌Pin for later
You may also be interested in:
Amazing Places To Visit In Tunisia
I’m planning on doing this in a couple of weeks time. What is the driving like? I’m used to driving on the left, so unsure whether I should try a car or use a driver?
Hi, Tracy. The driving is on the left. Traffic is a bit chaotic, especially in Amman, though it’s not difficult to get used to it. If you can drive in a big European city, you will have no problem at all. And they tend to park wherever they find an empty spot, even at crossroads! Enjoy your trip!
The Jordan is a place I’ve wanted to visit for a long time! Your photos are beautiful – thank you for the inspo!
Thank you, Kate! Maybe the time has come to visit Jordan. You’ll love it.
Thanks for the tip about the Jordan pass! I’m going to keep that in mind for my next trip.
Thank you, Rachel! Hope you’ll have a great time in Jordan.
Wow thanks for the detailed Jordon itinerary.I wish I could see larger versions of these gorgeous pictures.
The Dead Sea is on my bucket list, but now so is the rest of Jordan. Thanks!
Thank you, Ashlea. Yes, there are many places throughout Jordan that deserve visiting. I wouldn’t miss anyone of those described in the post. And I will add more to my itinerary for my next visit.
I have not been to Jordan yet, but the itinerary looks awesome. I would love to visit the Dead sea and Jerard columns. Is it true that you can float on the dead sea? Aladdin camp in Wadi Rum looks great!. I enjoyed your blog post.
Thank you, Jan. I’m really happy you liked the post and found it helpful. I didn’t swim in the Dead Sea, but I saw people floating on the surface. So, yes, it’s true.