Jordan 7-day itinerary

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Jordan 7-day itinerary

Discover Jordan’s highlights in an unforgettable week 

Day 1 - Jerash & the Dead Sea, where it all begins

We (and probably you) arrived in Amman the day before, just in time to go to sleep. In this itinerary, we will visit the capital on our last day. It was late for us, and we just slept in a hotel outside the airport. It is very easy to drive in Jordan, with roads that are very well maintained. Booking a car is the best economical logistics hack. Rent the car from the airport so you can be ready for the next day.

On the morning of Day 1, we drove directly to Jerash, where we spent half a day. This trip starts with the history of the ruins of the walled Greco-Roman settlement of Gerasa. The main attractions include the 2nd-century Hadrian’s Arch, the Corinthian columns of the Temple of Artemis, and the huge oval colonnade of the Forum.

Jerash is also a modern city, and it is easy to experience local Jordanian food for the first time.

After lunch, we drove to the Dead Sea, just an hour and a half away. This part of the Dead Sea is made up entirely of resorts, each with its own private beaches. We stayed at the Dead Sea Spa Resort, which has five outdoor pools, a private beach with mud, and a couple of restaurants. We relaxed all afternoon, experiencing the feeling of floating on the salty sea and smoothing our skin with mineral-rich black silt mud from the shores. The mud has several benefits: it is widely used to deeply cleanse, detoxify, and exfoliate the skin. The sunset can be very dramatic.

Day 2 - Mujib River Canyon to Kerak Castle

After a great breakfast, we drove south in the direction of Wadi Mujib and the Siq Trail. But before arriving at the canyon, we stopped again at a nice rocky shore on the Dead Sea. The Siq Trail is a 2 km, two-to three-hour self-guided water hiking adventure. It is a narrow sandstone gorge that includes swimming, wading, and climbing waterfalls, ending at an 18-meter waterfall.

Visitors must be 18+. It costs around $30–$35. Wear water shoes or water sandals. Bring a dry bag with you, although one can also be rented at the ticket counter. Have a towel to dry off after the hike. Visitors must be 18+. It is around $30-$35. Wear water shoes or water sandals. Bring with you a dry bag, although one can rent it at the ticket counter. Have a towel to dry off after the hike. 

Before driving to Kerak Castle, we did another hike in Wadi Assal, a dry and unique canyon. It starts wide, with quite a bit of plastic trash, and then narrows into a great canyon. It is an easy and flat hike, and you can walk as much as you want. We spent around two hours inside. From the main road, drive to the beginning. We parked on the side of the unpaved road. There are no signs indicating the way, but it is pretty straightforward. 

After that, we drove to Kerak, parked the car at the hotel, and went to visit Kerak Castle.

The Castle closes at 5 pm. Make sure to leave Wadi Assal early enough to give                      yourself enough time. The castle can be visited in one hour.

Kerak Castle is an off-the-beaten-path tourist site. It is also a vitally important part of both Christian and Muslim history. With this itinerary, you will start your drive along the King’s Highway from here.

Day 3 - Petra, the Nabatean capital 

In the morning, before leaving, you have to make a decision: either drive on King’s Highway 35 or take the Desert Highway 15, which is faster. King’s Highway is more scenic but curvy. Either way, you will stop at Dana Biosphere Reserve for a quick stretch of your legs. You could add an extra day in this area, but we decided to drive directly to Wadi Musa.

Once you arrive in Wadi Musa, relax at your hotel and follow the suggestions we have for you.

Day 4 - Little Petra and Petra 

In the morning of your second day, visit Little Petra. It is an archaeological Nabataean site, with buildings carved into the walls of the sandstone. The total walk is 450 meters (1,480 ft). The whole complex was a suburb of Petra meant to house visiting traders.

Have lunch in Wadi Musa, relax a few hours in the hotel, and follow the suggestions for Day 2 in Petra.

Day 5 - Desert and sandstone mountains of Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum can only be visited on an organized tour. There is an entry fee to the protected area. If you have a Jordan Pass, the entrance fee is already included. Even if you have the Jordan Pass, you still need to stop at the Visitor Centre on your way into the village.

We met with our guide just outside and followed him to the camp. We then drove in the back of a 4x4 truck. If the truck does not have a cover, ask the guide to put one on before leaving. We chose not to have it; you get better views, but the sun was strong. The tours are all similar, visiting the most famous attractions. Our guide stopped in a few places that he personally loved, telling us his stories from when he was young. The lunch we had with him in the desert was the best lunch we had. He also chose a place for the sunset away from other cars.

There were no other tourists in the camp, and after dinner, we were able to enjoy the stars for ourselves.

Day 6 - The Red Sea, Aqaba

Aqaba is a two-hour drive from Wadi Rum. The city is much more active at night, when the heat does not bother anyone anymore. During the day, we opted to go to Aqaba South Beach (public). Even if there is a closer beach in the city, we were planning to go snorkeling. Over there, you will find locals renting snorkeling gear, but also diving people. At night, the city is lively, and we had fun walking around and having dinner in the street.

Day 7 - Amman with a stop in Madaba 

The drive to Amman is long, but it is easier with a stop in Madaba. Madaba is best known for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics. The Madaba Archaeological Park preserves the mosaic-rich Church of the Virgin Mary and artifacts from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic eras. Madaba is a historic Christian hub with deep roots in viticulture, linked to ancient regional wine production dating back to the Byzantine era. This is the best place to taste Jordanian wine.

After lunch, drive to Amman. Driving in the city can sound intimidating, but we easily found parking and left the car parked the whole time. With the hotel in the city center, we then walked around the city. We started with the Roman Theater, followed by the Citadel. In the evening, we went to eat on Rainbow Street, a popular tourist street filled with restaurants and cafes.

Know before you go

Jordan Pass

The Jordan Pass is a hassle-free entry to over 40 of Jordan's tourist attractions, including Petra, Jerash, Wadi Rum, Amman Citadel, the Roman Theater, Karak Castle, and many more. The cost of the tourist entry visa is included. For this itinerary, you need to pick the Jordan Explorer, since it allows two days in Petra.

Places to stay

Dead Sea

Dead Sea Spa Resort, with private beach, mud, and swimming pools. Breakfast is great. 

Kerak

Bubble Castle house. We stayed in the Luxury Triple Room, which is a large dome tent with a private bathroom inside. It is especially enjoyable at night since it has views of the illuminated castle. 

Kerak

P Quattro Relax Hotel. This is a few minutes away from the center, but the rooms are nice and perfect to relax in the afternoons.

Wadi Rum

1 Day & 1 Night Jeep Tour. This tour is private and can be tailor-made if you wish. The guides are native Bedouins. 

Aqaba

Luciana hotel By FHM. It is a modern hotel, within walking distance of the heart of the city, with parking. 

Amman 

Sandra Hotel. It is within walking distance of all the attractions. Parking is on the street.  

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