Relive ancient history and marvel at the ancient city of Petra on this one week road trip itinerary through the Middle Eastern country of Jordan.
Practicalities
Currency: Jordanian dinar (JOD)
Recommended length of stay: 1 week (highlights could be done in as little as 4-5 days)
Month of our visit: July (Note: this is one of the hottest times to visit Jordan, but it worked best with our world trip itinerary. It was also EXTREMELY hot during our visit, so we recommend trying to go during a cooler month!)
Languages: Arabic
CDC’s Recommended Vaccinations: click here!
Packing List
- Light, loose tee shirts
- Light, loose long pants
- Lightweight dress
- Cotton overshirt or wrap to protect from the sun and for modesty (Jordan is a predominantly Islamic country)
- Sunglasses
- Large sun hat
- Bathing suit only if your hotel has a pool or jacuzzi
- Hiking shoes
- Adaptor
- Passport and cash
- Sweater or jacket depending on the season
Day 1: Arrive in Amman
This is a great day to get your bearings upon arriving in Jordan. You’ll likely need to purchase a Visa on Arrival. Security at the Jordan airport were friendly, but asked us more questions than we’ve been asked in any country we’ve visited so far before giving us our visa! It’s also one of the pricier visas we’ve had to purchase.
We suggest renting a car from the airport – we went with Budget and had no problems. This will allow you to easily visit all the hot spots in Jordan, starting with The Citadel and Al Madinah. Check out the House Boutique Suites and get some rest before hitting the road the next day.
Day 2-4: Hit the road to the Dead Sea
The Dead Sea should definitely be on any Jordan itinerary. Here are a couple of awesome facts about this unique geographic formation:
- The Dead Sea is the LOWEST place on Earth
- One of the saltiest places on earth! (4th saltiest, to be precise)
- Our bodies can’t process this level of salinity so the water tastes bitter
- Because it’s so salty, it’s easy to float in the Dead Sea!
- The water is thought to alleviate a variety of medical conditions such as acne, joint pains and psoriasis
- Lots of Biblical references to the Dead Sea
- Sadly the Dead Sea has receding water levels for a variety of reasons
To enjoy the Dead Sea, we’d recommend checking into a hotel that has access to the shore. There is also a public beach, but we didn’t check this out (research before-hand warned us away). We personally stayed at the Hilton Dead Sea, which is one of the most affordable 5 star hotels we have ever stayed in. We booked a sea view room which did not disappoint, and were even able to check in early!
The first thing we did upon checking in was head down to the beach, where we spent some time floating in the Dead Sea. After this, we were able to have a complimentary spa treatment on the beach during which Dead Sea clay was applied to our bodies – definitely a fun and unique experience! Our skin felt great afterwards. The Hilton also has a beautiful sea view infinity pool and a really great Lebanese restaurant on site. There’s also a rooftop lounge with spectacular views all the way to Israel.
Day 4-7: Head to the Rose City of Petra!
Time to experience one of the wonders of the world! On the first day, make the two hour drive from the Dead Sea to your hotel (be sure to take the scenic route along the coast of the Dead Sea and on to the King’s Highway, stopping for viewpoints along the way). There are lots of hotels in Wadi Musa which is about a 15 minute drive from the entrance to Petra. The hotel we stayed at, Petra Bubble Luxotel, was one of our all time favorite hotels! The hotel rooms are insulated bubbles with jaw dropping views of the desert landscape, and our room had a private hot tub which was perfect for sunset views! The AC worked really well inside the bubble and the free dinner buffet spread every night was fabulous, and allowed us to try a variety of Jordanian cuisine. You’ll want an early night on your first night in Wadi Musa because you’re in for an early start the next morning!
Now on to Wadi Rum, or the Valley of the Moon, and Petra – one of the seven wonders of the world! You should start your day EARLY (like 6 am, opening time) for a couple of reasons. One – the park gets busy later in the day, and heading in early allows moments alone in front of these ancient structures which is a surreal experience. Two – the heat gets a lot worse later in the day (we were already drenched in sweat by around 9 am).
There is a parking lot and ample street parking in front of the park. You can buy either a one, two or three day ticket at the door but need to bring your passport with you. Maps of the trails are also available at the front but we downloaded maps online in advance to make sure we wouldn’t get lost, and knew where to go first. If you’re not able to hike, there are also buggies available for transport (but if you can hike, you should – the buggies won’t get you everywhere). Along the way, you’ll find locals offering camel and donkey rides up the cliffs – take at your own risk! Animal abuse seems to be an issue in Petra though you can report injured/abused animals at the local PETA clinic. Food and drinks are also available at the numerous stalls dotted along the main pathways – we opted to stop at a Bedouin tea stall with phenomenal views over Petra. Toilets are readily available along the trails as well.
From the Visitor’s Center, head to the Siq which is a narrow pathway cut into the rock. Keep your eyes peeled for the iconic view of the Treasury through the Siq. After viewing the Treasury, we’d recommend high tailing it all the way to the end of the trail to the elevated Monastery to beat the crowds. It’s a bit of a strenuous hike in the sun, so make sure you have plenty of water with you and take breaks when you need to. Once you’re done at the Monastery, you can circle back and check out the Amphitheater, Qasr al-Bint, Royal Tombs and Street of Facades.
There are a couple of optional add-ons in the area such as Little Petra which actually offers a trail that leads to the “back entrance” of Petra (takes you directly to the Monastery). In the evening, consider checking out the Petra by Night tour where hundreds of candles light up the Siq and Treasury. We didn’t get to do this, but the photos of the event look stunning. Check out the Cave Bar near the entrance of Petra which is set in an ancient Nabatean tomb! Then, head back to Amman to drop off your car before your flight out.
By the way, consider watching Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, The Martian and Lawrence of Arabia prior to your Petra trip as these were all filmed in Wadi Rum!