In short
- 4 days: Amman → Petra → Wadi Rum → Dead Sea — the essentials, fast.
- 7 days: add Jerash, Madaba and a second Petra day.
- 10 days: drive the King's Highway with Dana, and finish in Aqaba.
- 14 days: everything plus the north, the desert castles and hiking.
4 days: the essentials
Tight but doable. Without a car, the 2-day loop tour covers days 2–4 from Amman.
| Day | Route | Night |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive; Amman Citadel and downtown | Amman (or Madaba) |
| 2 | Drive/JETT to Petra (≈ 3 h); afternoon in Petra; Petra by Night (Sun–Thu) | Wadi Musa |
| 3 | Petra at 6 AM → Monastery; afternoon to Wadi Rum (≈ 1.5 h); sunset jeep tour | Wadi Rum camp |
| 4 | Drive to the Dead Sea (≈ 4 h); float; airport (≈ 1 h) | — |
7 days: the classic Jordan
| Day | Route | Night |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive; Madaba (30 min from the airport) | Madaba |
| 2 | Mount Nebo, Baptism Site, Dead Sea float | Dead Sea or Madaba |
| 3 | Jerash day trip; Amman food evening | Amman |
| 4 | Drive to Petra (Desert Highway, ≈ 3 h); Little Petra; Petra by Night (Sun–Thu) | Wadi Musa |
| 5 | Full day in Petra: Siq, Treasury, Monastery | Wadi Musa |
| 6 | High Place of Sacrifice; afternoon to Wadi Rum; sunset | Wadi Rum camp |
| 7 | Morning jeep tour; Aqaba (1 h) for a flight, or back to Amman (4 h) | — |
10 days: King's Highway road trip
See the King's Highway guide for the drive.
| Day | Route | Night |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Amman: Citadel, downtown, Jordan Museum; Jerash day trip | Amman |
| 3 | Madaba, Mount Nebo; afternoon at the Dead Sea | Dead Sea |
| 4 | Wadi Mujib Siq (Apr–Oct) or Baptism Site; up to Madaba | Madaba |
| 5 | King's Highway: Mujib canyon, Karak Castle, Dana | Dana |
| 6 | Hike Dana → Feynan (or rim walks) | Feynan / Dana |
| 7 | Shobak; Little Petra; Petra by Night (Sun–Thu) | Wadi Musa |
| 8 | Full day in Petra | Wadi Musa |
| 9 | Wadi Rum: full-day jeep tour | Wadi Rum camp |
| 10 | Aqaba: snorkel, then fly home or back to Amman | Aqaba |
2 weeks: Jordan in depth
Take the 10-day route and add: the desert castles loop from Amman, Ajloun and Umm Qais with a farm stay, a third day in Petra (the back trail to the Monastery or Jabal Haroun), a second night in Wadi Rum and two days of diving or beach in Aqaba.
Getting the route right
Jordan's highlights lie on a long north–south line, so the main decision is whether to go down and back (fly into and out of Amman) or to do a one-way route (fly into Amman and out of Aqaba, or the reverse). One-way saves a 4-hour drive. If you return to Amman, use the King's Highway one way and the Desert Highway the other.
Petra deserves two nights in almost every itinerary; Wadi Rum at least one. The Dead Sea works well at the start or end because it is under an hour from the airport. Amman is best for a day or two of city life and day trips — or skip it and stay in Madaba, which is closer to the airport.
Without a car
All four itineraries work with public transport and a few taxis or tours: JETT coaches link Amman with Petra and Aqaba; minibuses serve Madaba, Jerash and Karak; Wadi Rum camps arrange transfers; and tours or drivers fill the gaps (Dead Sea, Baptism Site, King's Highway). Expect slower days and less flexibility.
Which itinerary suits you?
| You have… | Choose | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 4–5 days | The essentials | Petra, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea, a taste of Amman |
| 7 days | The classic | Adds Jerash, Madaba and Aqaba or a second Petra day |
| 10 days | King's Highway road trip | Adds Karak, Dana and Wadi Mujib |
| 2 weeks | Jordan in depth | Adds the north, desert castles, hikes and Feynan |
5 days without a car
| Day | Plan | Night |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive; Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre and downtown | Amman |
| 2 | Day trip to Jerash in the morning; Rainbow Street in the evening | Amman |
| 3 | JETT coach to Petra; afternoon at the Treasury; Petra by Night (Sun–Thu) | Wadi Musa |
| 4 | Full day in Petra: Royal Tombs and the Monastery | Wadi Musa |
| 5 | Minibus or taxi to Wadi Rum; jeep tour; camp night — or tour back to Amman via the Dead Sea | Wadi Rum |
A family-friendly week
- Day 1: arrive and rest in Madaba (30 minutes from the airport).
- Day 2: Mount Nebo and the Dead Sea — floating is the children's favourite.
- Day 3: drive the Desert Highway to Petra; afternoon in the Siq and at the Treasury.
- Day 4: Petra main trail with a midday hotel break; Little Petra in the afternoon.
- Day 5: Wadi Rum with a short jeep tour and a camp night.
- Day 6: Aqaba: glass-bottom boat and beach.
- Day 7: fly from Aqaba or drive back to Amman.
Keep driving days short, plan pool time and travel with snacks and water; children under 12 enter Petra free.
Hiker's 10 days
Start with a day in Amman, then hike in the Ajloun Forest Reserve. Drive south via Madaba to Dana for two nights and walk down to Feynan; continue to Petra with three days for the High Place of Sacrifice, Al-Khubtha and the Little Petra–Monastery trail; finish with two nights in Wadi Rum including a guided scramble or a climb of Jabal Umm ad Dami, and the Wadi Mujib Siq Trail in season on the way back north. See the Jordan Trail for multi-day treks.
3 days: the bare minimum
With only three days, focus on the south: Amman to Petra on day one (arrive by early afternoon for the Siq and the Treasury), a full Petra day on day two, and Wadi Rum on day three with an afternoon jeep tour before driving back to Amman or on to Aqaba. Alternatively, base yourself in Amman for a Petra day trip, a Dead Sea and Madaba day and a Jerash morning. Either way it is rushed; four or five days are much better.
A winter itinerary
From December to February, follow the sun: start in Amman for a day, then head down to the Dead Sea, where it is often 20–23 °C while the capital is cold. Drive south via the Desert Highway to Petra — crisp mornings, empty trails, possible rain or snow — and continue to Aqaba for warm days by the Red Sea, with Wadi Rum in between if you have warm clothes for the cold nights. Wadi Mujib's wet trails are closed in winter, and the King's Highway can be closed by snow.
Jordan with Egypt or Israel
Jordan combines well with its neighbours. From Aqaba, ferries cross the Gulf to Taba Heights and Nuweiba in Egypt's Sinai, making a Jordan–Sinai trip easy; check schedules and Egypt's entry rules first. Travellers combining Jordan with Jerusalem usually cross at the Sheikh Hussein (north) or King Hussein (Allenby) bridges; remember that the Allenby Bridge requires a Jordanian visa in advance and that crossings can close at short notice. If you leave Jordan and return, you need a multiple-entry visa. Given the tense regional situation since early 2026, check the latest travel advice for every country on your route and keep plans flexible.
Tips for planning
- Buy the Jordan Pass before you fly — it pays for itself on all these routes.
- Do the south first if you fly into Aqaba, or fly out of Aqaba to avoid the 4-hour drive back.
- Avoid driving after dark; plan arrivals before sunset.
- Leave a buffer day in winter for rain or snow and in summer for rest.
- Book Wadi Rum camps and Petra hotels early in spring and autumn.
Amman: Petra, Wadi Rum and Dead Sea 2-day tour
The classic short loop from Amman: a guided day in Petra, a night in a Wadi Rum camp and a float in the Dead Sea on the way back. Rated 4.9/5 from about 1,570 reviews on GetYourGuide (as of November 2026).
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From Amman: Petra, Wadi Rum and Dead Sea 3-day trip
A slower version of the classic loop with more time in Petra and a night in Wadi Rum before the Dead Sea.
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Frequently asked questions
Is 5 days enough for Jordan?
Yes for the highlights — Amman, Petra (1–2 days), Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea — at a brisk pace.
Should I rent a car in Jordan?
If you are comfortable driving, yes — it is the best way to see the King's Highway and stop where you like. Otherwise, a private driver is affordable.
Is Jordan easy to combine with Egypt or Israel?
Yes — ferries link Aqaba with Sinai, and land crossings connect Jordan with Israel and the West Bank. Check visa rules (some crossings need a visa in advance) and current travel advice before planning.
What is the best order to visit Jordan?
North to south (Amman → Dead Sea/Madaba → Petra → Wadi Rum → Aqaba) works well, especially if you fly out of Aqaba; otherwise loop back to Amman on the Desert Highway.
Is 10 days in Jordan too much?
Not at all — it lets you add the King's Highway, Dana, Jerash and Aqaba to the classic route at a relaxed pace.
Can I do Jordan in a week without a car?
Yes — JETT coaches, camp transfers, a few taxis and one or two day tours cover the classic Amman–Petra–Wadi Rum–Aqaba route.
Sources and official information
Facts were checked against these official sources in November 2026. Opening hours, prices and timetables change, so confirm before you go.
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