Jordan Travel Itinerary: The Best In 7 Days
With this 1 week Jordan travel itinerary, you will visit all Jordan landmarks: Petra, Wadi Rum desert, Dead Sea, Jerash, Madaba, Red Sea, Amman, and Aqaba. It’s up to you to extend the 7 day Jordan itinerary to 10 days or even more.
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The Best Time To Visit Jordan
The best time to visit Jordan is from late autumn through early spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Temperatures are pleasant and heat is tolerable. Some of the low-cost carriers stop flying to Jordan in the summer.
Worst Time To Visit Jordan
The worst time to visit Jordan is from May to September. It could be unbearably hot and visiting Jordan landmarks would be a challenge for your health.
Tourist Visa For Jordan
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 for Jordan costs 40 JOD (app. 56$).
Jordan Pass Visa
The most cost-effective way to get a tourist visa for Jordan is by buying a Jordan Pass. The Jordan Pass price is 70, 75, or 80 JOD (99, 106, or 113$). It includes the Jordan tourist entry visa cost and free entry to over 40 attractions throughout the country. Petra is among the Jordan Pass included attractions.
The three types of Jordan Pass are called Jordan Wanderer Pass (70 JOD), Jordan Explores Pass (75 JOD), and Jordan Expert Pass (80 JOD). The only difference between them is the number of consecutive days (1, 2, or 3) you can visit Petra.
Petra entry fee 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 visiting Petra.
TIP: If you are flying in and out of Aqaba airport and staying in Jordan for up to 30 days, the tourist entry visa for Jordan is free. Many low-cost carriers connect Aqaba with cities throughout Europe.
Jordan Travel Itinerary Day 1: Fly To Aqaba
Fly to Aqaba (see the tip above for the reason why). You can, of course, fly to Amman and end the 1 week itinerary in Amman. The Jordan travel itinerary makes a circle, so if landing and departing in/from Amman, start from day 3 and finish with day 2.
The best way to visit the historical sites in Jordan, and its famous landmarks, and to travel to Petra, is by renting a car.
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Make sure to book your rental car in advance. Picking up the rental car at Aqaba Airport went smoothly and quickly for me.
Following the suggested Jordan itinerary, you will drive 900-1000 km. The traffic can be a bit chaotic at times, but you get used to it quickly and driving is not a problem. The roads are in pretty good condition. Google Maps offline navigation has never let me down and I’m pretty sure it will work for you as well.
If you want to buy a local SIM card, you can do so at Aqaba Airport. Alternatively, you can buy an e-SIM.
Buy your e-SIM for Jordan here ➡️ airalo.com
Make sure your phone is compatible with e-SIM cards before you buy one.
Check into your accommodation and spend the rest of the day exploring Aqaba.
Aqaba is a resort city on the Red Sea coast and offers plenty of accommodation options from luxury resorts to budget hotels. You will find even the luxury hotels from renowned hotel chains are affordable in Jordan. So why not pamper yourself?
🏨 Click on the map to book your accommodation in Aqaba at the best price
There is not much to do in Aqaba. You may 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 Aqaba public beach. The whole experience takes about an hour.
TIP: Bargain for the price. It’s reasonable to pay 2/3 of the originally advertised price. And note: the price is for the whole boat, not per person.
Or spend the day on the beach. Aqaba luxury hotels have a private beach where ladies in bikinis will be fine. It is not advisable for women to wear bikinis to Aqaba public beach.
Where to eat in Aqaba? A good place to enjoy local food in Aqaba is the Al-Sofara/Ambassadors Restaurant. It is the locals’ favorite, the food is delicious, and plentiful, and cheap. You can eat for 5-6 JOD (7-8 $) per person. They don’t serve alcohol. Address: G2F3+327, Aqaba.
Day 2: Aqaba To Dead Sea
After breakfast take the Jordan Valley Highway towards the Dead Sea.
Despite the name, it is not a highway, but a two-way road with one lane in each direction and an emergency lane here and there. There are many checkpoints along the highway. You can be stopped 3-4 times a day. Sometimes the military will ask for passports, sometimes just for a driver’s license, and most of the time they will just politely send you on your way with a “Welcome to Jordan!”
Spend the rest of the day floating over the waters of the Dead Sea. Or pamper yourself with a SPA treatment.
🏨 Click on the map and book the best accommodation at the Dead Sea
Day 3 of Jordan Travel Itinerary: From Dead Sea To Jerash To Amman
After breakfast, continue your journey on Jordan Valley Highway towards Jerash. You will travel to Jerash around 90 km and the drive will take you around an hour and a half to two hours.
Is Jerash worth visiting? Jerash ruins are one of the historical sites in Jordan that should be on your Jordan bucket list. Jerash archaeological site closes at 4 pm in the winter season, so try to arrive at Jerash visitor center no later than 2 pm.
If wondering how long to spend in Jerash, I would say two to three hours is enough. The archaeological site of Jerash is one of Jordan Pass included attractions.
Return 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.
If you start the day earlier, you will have time for some sightseeing in Amman.
Amman also offers plenty of accommodation to choose from.
🏨 Click on the map to find the best hotel deals in Amman
Where to eat in Amman? I can recommend Mawwal Restaurant. Wonderful food, great service, and a slightly eclectic interior. Address: Mawwal Restaurant, Zahran St 241, Amman.
Day 4: Amman To Madaba To Petra
The fourth day of the Jordan travel itinerary includes a drive from Amman to Petra with a short stop to explore Madaba. The distance you will travel is approximately 250 km and will take you three and a half hours to drive.
Exploring Madaba will take you around an hour and a half to two hours. Visit the Madaba Archaeological Park to admire several Byzantine-era mosaics. Madaba Archaeological Park is among the Jordan Pass included attractions.
Next, visit the famous Madaba Map in the Church of St. George. The Madaba Mosaic Map is a 6th-century floor mosaic depicting the Holy Land and Jerusalem. The Church of St. George is not included in the Jordan Pass. The entrance fee is 1 JOD.
Continue your journey to Petra. Take the Desert Highway. You will travel to Petra Jordan approximately 3 hours and you will drive around 220 km.
If you arrive in time, you could fit in your first visit to Petra via the second entrance, which is closer to the monastery.
Where To Stay In Petra?
The best hotels in Petra Jordan are Petra Moon Luxury Hotel and Mövenpick Resort Petra are just in front of the Petra entrance. Not far away is another one of Petra luxury hotels: Petra Marriott Hotel. All of Petra luxury hotels offer excellent accommodations and impeccable service.
For budget accommodation in Petra, I can recommend Petra Plaza Hotel. It is a relatively new hotel, opened in 2020, clean and comfortable.
🏨 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
CLICK ON THE NAME TO CHECK PRICES AND RESERVE
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? 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.
Jordan Travel Itinerary Day 5: Petra
The fifth day of the Jordan itinerary is dedicated to visiting Petra.
It’s a good idea to get to the Petra Visitor Center early in the morning when it opens. This will give you more time to explore the site.
The best time to visit Petra is in the morning. It can be very cold in the morning and hot by midday. Petra is one of Jordan landmarks and attractions included in Jordan Pass.
TIP: The sun is very strong. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses.
Day 6: Petra To Wadi Rum Desert
After breakfast, continue your journey towards the Wadi Rum desert. The distance from Petra to Wadi Rum is 100 km and you will need an hour and a half to get there.
Upon arriving at Wadi Rum, 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 need to leave your rental car at the parking lot of Wadi Rum protected area where an SUV from the accommodation you have booked will be waiting to take you to your chosen campsite. The next day you will be brought back to your car.
Important: Please make sure that you have booked your accommodation in Wadi Rum in advance. Find below tips on how to choose a Wadi Rum camp.
Use the rest of the day to explore the desert. There are plenty of things to see and do in Wadi Rum. Climb sand dunes and natural arches, discover ancient inscriptions, and see canyons. You can go sandboarding, hiking, or camel riding.
Of all the things to do in the Wadi Rum desert, the sunset tour is a must.
How To Choose The Best Wadi Rum Hotel
Choosing where to stay in Wadi Rum can be overwhelming.
All Wadi Rum hotels within the Wadi Rum protected area are actually campsites. They offer different types of accommodation and varying levels of comfort. So, staying in Wadi Rum depends entirely on your preferences regarding comfort and the price you are willing to pay.
Wadi Rum accommodation options vary from basic shared tents to panoramic bubbles. In most cases, breakfast and dinner are included in the price.
Compared to accommodation prices in Jordan, Wadi Rum bubbles may seem expensive. However, I would advise you to choose to stay in a bubble during your stay in Wadi Rum. It is worth every penny. Nothing compares to the experience of lying in bed looking through the bubble at the star-studded Wadi Rum night sky.
In a Wadi Rum bubble, you’ll have more amenities than in a tent, like your own private bathroom. And the pleasure of sleeping under the stars is incomparable. Wadi Rum bubbles are more expensive than tent accommodations, but you can find some affordable ones.
🏨 Find the best Wadi Rum accommodation by clicking ➡️ here
Day 7 of Jordan Travel Itinerary: Wadi Rum To Aqaba
Depending on the time of your departure flight, you may have time for another Wadi Rum desert tour.
You will need an hour to get from Wadi Rum to Aqaba. The distance between Aqaba and Wadi Rum is just 70 km.
To Wrap it up: Follow the Jordan travel itinerary to visit all the famous landmarks in Jordan in just one week.
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