Petra at opening time, a night under the stars in Wadi Rum and a float in the Dead Sea, five hours from London.
Jordan is small, which is what makes it work. In a week you can walk through the Siq to the Treasury at Petra, sleep in a Bedouin-style camp in Wadi Rum, float in the Dead Sea and wander the colonnaded streets of Roman Jerash, with no drive much longer than four hours.
We plan it with a private driver and specialist guides at each site, running from north to south along the King's Highway. Two full days at Petra is the minimum.
The trade-offs are the seasons and the crowds. Summer is hot in the south and winter can bring snow to Petra, so spring and autumn are best, when Petra is also busiest. The FCDO advises against travel close to the Syrian border, well away from the usual route.
The experiences we plan most often, with the months they are at their best.
The Nabataean city of Petra is reached through the Siq, a narrow sandstone gorge that opens onto the Treasury. Beyond it lie royal tombs, a theatre and colonnaded street, and a climb of several hundred rock-cut steps to the Monastery. Spend two days: one on the main trail, one on the quieter High Place of Sacrifice route. Start at opening time.
Wadi Rum is a protected desert of red sand and sandstone mountains, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore by four-wheel drive with a Bedouin guide to rock bridges, canyons and ancient inscriptions, then watch sunset from a dune. Winter nights are cold, so pack layers.
The Dead Sea lies at the lowest point on land, and its water is so salty you float without effort. The resorts on the Jordanian shore have private beaches, freshwater pools and spas using its mud. Float for 15 minutes at most and keep the water out of your eyes.
Jerash, an hour north of Amman, was a Roman provincial city, and much of it is still standing. Walk the colonnaded Cardo, the oval plaza and the theatres, and look for the chariot ruts in the paving stones. Go early, then carry on to the castle at Ajloun.
The Dana Biosphere Reserve, managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, drops from highland village to desert along a deep wadi. The day walk down to Feynan Ecolodge takes most of a day and needs a guide. Feynan runs on solar power and lights its rooms with candles at night.
Aqaba is Jordan's only stretch of coast, a short drive from Wadi Rum. Fringing coral reefs lie just offshore, so you can snorkel from the beach among parrotfish and soft corals. The water stays warm well into the winter.
Stay in Wadi Musa close to the Petra gate so you can be there at opening time. In Wadi Rum, choose a small camp away from the main clusters. The Dead Sea resorts are larger, with good spas. Amman has smart city hotels, and Feynan Ecolodge suits anyone who walks.
We match each trip in Jordan to hotels, lodges and villas chosen for the way you travel. Tell us what matters and a specialist will suggest two or three that fit.
Ask for hotel suggestionsSample routes to start from. Every one can be changed.
Seven nights with a private guide and driver: Roman Jerash from Amman, two full days in Petra, a night under the stars in the Wadi Rum desert, and two slow days floating in the Dead Sea to finish.
Jordan has four real seasons. Spring, from March to May, is the best time, with warm days and wildflowers in the north. Autumn, from late September to November, is almost as good and a little quieter.
Summer is hot in Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea, and winter brings cold nights, rain in Amman and the odd snowfall at Petra, although the Dead Sea and Aqaba stay mild. Ramadan falls across February and March in 2027.
Amman and Jerash, two nights at the Dead Sea, a hike in Dana, two full days at Petra and a final night under the stars in Wadi Rum. 7 nights.
Fly direct from Heathrow and settle in. Walk up to the Citadel for sunset if time allows.
Visit Jerash early, then drive down to the Dead Sea for two nights of floating, spa time and sunsets over the hills.
Drive south along the King's Highway to Dana and walk the rim of the wadi, or hike down to Feynan for a candlelit night.
Enter at opening time on both days: the Siq, the Treasury and the Monastery first, then the High Place of Sacrifice and Little Petra.
Explore Wadi Rum by four-wheel drive and sleep in a desert camp, then drive about four hours to Amman airport for your flight on day eight.
Practical notes checked against their sources. For entry and safety, the FCDO advice for Jordan (opens in a new tab) is always the authority.
British Airways and Royal Jordanian fly direct from Heathrow to Amman in about five hours. Touring is then by road with a driver.
UK passport holders need a visa, which you can buy on arrival or get with a Jordan Pass (opens in a new tab), which also covers entry to Petra, Jerash, Wadi Rum and other sites. Read the FCDO entry requirements (opens in a new tab) before you book.
The FCDO travel advice (opens in a new tab) advises against all travel within 3km of the Syrian border and covers regional tensions. Check it again before you fly.
Read the FCDO entry requirements for Jordan (opens in a new tab)
Medical facilities outside Amman and Aqaba are basic, so good travel insurance matters. See TravelHealthPro (opens in a new tab) and the FCDO health page (opens in a new tab). Petra involves a lot of walking in strong sun: bring good shoes, a hat and water.
The currency is the Jordanian dinar. Cash machines are widely available only in Amman and larger towns, so carry cash for Wadi Rum, small shops and tips.
Zain sells dedicated visitor lines, including a weekly visitors line. Coverage is good along the main routes, weaker deep in Wadi Rum and at Feynan.
Tipping is customary but not mandatory. If a service charge is already on the bill, no more is needed. Site guides at Petra and Wadi Rum expect a small tip, and rounding up taxi fares is normal.
Two full days, ideally with a night either side in Wadi Musa. One day covers the Siq, the Treasury and the Monastery, but it is a long, tiring walk. A second lets you take the quieter trails, such as the High Place of Sacrifice, and visit Little Petra.
For most visitors staying several nights, yes. It combines the tourist visa with entry to Petra and many other sites, so it usually saves money and time at the border. Check the current conditions on the FCDO entry page and the Jordan Pass site before you buy.
The FCDO advises against all travel within 3km of the Syrian border, which is well away from Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea. It also covers regional tensions, so read it before booking and again before you fly.
Yes. Jordan pairs well with a beach stay in [Dubai](/destinations/middle-east/dubai) or [Abu Dhabi](/destinations/middle-east/abu-dhabi), which are short flights from Amman. For people drawn to the Nabataeans, AlUla in [Saudi Arabia](/destinations/middle-east/saudi-arabia) makes a strong second chapter.
Tell us a little and a specialist will reply with ideas, dates that work and a price. Best months: April, May, October and November.
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