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How to Spend 7 Days in Jordan – The Ultimate Travel Itinerary

How to Spend 7 Days in Jordan – The Ultimate Travel Itinerary

There are two ways to spend 7 days in Jordan. You can try to see everything and always be on the rush, or pick the absolute best, explore it more in-depth, and not spend a few hours per day on the road. While both options have their positives and negatives, I’m more of a fan of the second one, so this 7 day Jordan itinerary won’t take you around the whole country. Rest assured, though; I guarantee that the things you’re about to see will undoubtedly create some of the fondest memories in your life.

What You Can See With a Week in Jordan

Your 7-day Jordan itinerary will be centered around two attractions – the ancient city of Petra and the Wadi Rum desert area. Both of them are one-of-a-kind experiences that deserve more than a day. Depending on your starting point, a few other landmarks can be included in the journey.

Petra

7 days in Jordan - Petra

Probably, the main reason for your Jordan visit, Petra is one of the most impressive ancient sites in the entire world. Also known as the “Rose City”, Petra is a fantastic otherworldly place that is certain to capture your imagination. I see a lot of guides recommending to spend just a day there, which I find crazy. Petra has plenty to offer, and I can guarantee that three days exploring it would be three days well spent.

Wadi Rum

a man in front of the wadi rum desert panorama

People go to Jordan for Petra but fall in love with Wadi Rum. This is a common saying of the Beduins that live in Jordan’s most-popular desert area. And you know what, they are absolutely right. 

Wadi Rum caught me by surprise. I had high expectations for it, but the magical desert landscape blew them away right from the start. Wadi Rum is genuinely incredible and totally worth two of your 7 days in Jordan.

Aqaba

7 day jordan itinerary aqaba

If you come from Europe, chances are high you are flying via Ryanair to Aqaba. The small coastal town offers access to one of the most beautiful seas in the world – the Red Sea and is perfect for a beach vacation

Aqaba is also part of something called ASEZA (Aqaba Special Economic Zone) and requires no visa fee (40 JOD / 56 USD).

Amman

mosque in amman

Amman is the capital of Jordan, and if you’re coming from outside of Europe, your flight will probably land there. Once part of the Roman and the Byzantium empires, Amman has plenty of historical sights to see. Some of the popular city highlights are the impressive street art in Jabal Al Weibdeh, the Amman Citadel, and the Roman Amphitheatre.

If you’re landing in Amman, you have to pay a Jordan visa fee (40 JOD / 56 USD), so it’s worth considering getting the Jordan Pass instead (more on that later).

Jerash

roman-ruins-in-jerash

The ruins of Jerash are the most impressive ancient Roman site in Jordan. A vast, well-preserved archeological area that proud itself with the amazing blend of Greco-Roman and Oriental influences. If you visit during the summer, you will stumble upon the yearly Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts and enjoy local folk dance and theatrical performances.

Jerash is located in the northern part of the country, around 50 km away from Amman. It can be a part of your 7 days in Jordan only if your flight lands in the capital.

Dead Sea

7-day-jordan-itinerary---relax-in-the-dead-sea

The landlocked salt lake between Jordan and Israel is probably the most famous sea in the world. Due to its high level of salt (34% – 10 times more than the ocean water), it’s close to impossible to sink in the Dead Sea waters. The area is incredibly touristy, but the experience is indeed quite peculiar, so it’s definitely worth it. If your 7 days in Jordan starts from Amman, you may consider spending a day floating in the Dead Sea waters.

   See Also:  The Most Awesome Historical Places in The World

7-day Jordan Itinerary Starting in Aqaba

  • Day 1-2: Aqaba
sunset-in-aqaba

If you’re coming to Jordan via European budget carrier Ryanair, you will land in Aqaba. This is the better option, in my opinion. Not only you have a day and a half on the beach to charge your batteries, but you’re also closer to Wadi Rum and Petra, and you don’t have to pay for a Jordanian visa (more details about that in the FAQ).

underwater-life-in-the-red-sea

There are no significant attractions in Aqaba besides the Red Sea. My suggestion for having a good time is to try scuba diving (the Red Sea is one of the best seas in the world for that) or, if you prefer less adventurous activities, go on a glass-bottom boat trip.

Check Out the best hotels in Aqaba

  • Day 3-5: Petra
7 days in jordan - the Siq of Petra

Do I really need three days to see Petra? Absolutely yes!

You may not know this, but Petra is more than the beautiful rock structure featured in the Indiana Jones movie. Petra is a whole city that used to be home to 20,000 Nabateans. It’s also one of the most famous ancient sites in the world, so if you go for just a day, you’re guaranteed to be stuck in a thick crowd, and you won’t be able to appreciate the magic of Petra.

No, you’ve come to Jordan to see Petra, and I want you to have the best experience doing it.

7 day Jordan itinerary - Petra

On day 3, you should arrive in Petra around 10:00 AM. Go inside, see the Siq and the Treasury, get familiar with the landscape. You may even go and check the royal tombs. Since most of the groups arrive around the same time as you, you won’t experience the best of the ‘Rose City’ yet.

On the fourth day of your 7 day Jordan itinerary, you need to get early… very early. Petra opens at 6:00 AM, and you need to be at the gates no later than 7:00 AM. Why so? Because this is your chance to enjoy one of the most impressive ancient sites in the world free of people. Between 6 and 7 in the morning, the whole city belongs to you and the dozen other photo enthusiasts who managed to wake up on time.

Pssst! If you’re a photo enthusiast yourself and you want to take the best photos of Petra, I have a detailed photo-guide that will reveal every hidden spot of the ancient city.

Petra-the-Monastery

On your second Petra day, I also recommend going all the way to the end of the city, where you can marvel at the incredible Petra Monastery (that’s not really a monastery).

On your last day in Petra, you should’ve already checked all the notable sights so you can go for a trek. Yes, Petra hosts not only incredible ancient ruins but also a stunning natural landscape. Pick one of the several trails (My favorite is the Al Kubtha Trail) and enjoy Jordan’s astonishing scenery.

If any of your three days in Petra happens to be Monday, Wednesday or Thursday, check out the evening show ‘Petra by Night’ to see the already beautiful Treasury in (literally) whole other light.

I have a huge guide dedicated to Petra, where I give all kinds of details, information, transportation options, and recommendations. My opinion is that this is the best place on the web to prepare you for a Petra visit. Make sure to check it out!

   See Also:  The best Dubai itinerary

  • Day 6-7: Wadi Rum
exploring-wadi-rum

Wadi Rum is located in southern Jordan and is one of the most picturesque and easy-accessible deserts in the world. Being set for plenty of Holywood blockbusters such as Lawrance of Arabia, The Martian, Disney’s Alladin, Dune, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Star Wars: Rogue One (and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker which I like to pretend it doesn’t exist), Wadi Rum guarantees a great experience!

One of the best parts of Wadi Rum is that if you want to visit it, you can only do it by booking a tent in a Beduin camp. The Bedouins run everything in Wadi Rum, and they are extraordinary people. Incredibly smart and hospitable, the Bedouins love to share their culture and will make sure to show you the highlights of their desert home.

7 days in Jordan - Wadi Rum

On day 6, I recommend going on a 4×4 tour around the biggest attractions in Wadi Rum (make sure to book the trip with the chief Bedouin of your camp). On Day 7, you can either go for a guided hike or explore the desert on your own. If you go for the second option (like I did), make sure to mark the camp in your map app and have a fully charged phone and power bank. Wadi Rum has campsites everywhere, but still, you don’t want to get lost in the desert!

Like Petra, I have a detailed guide for Wadi Rum, where I list all the noticeable attractions and give my best recommendations. It’s also full of awesome pictures, so make sure to check it out!

And just like that, your 7 days in Jordan are over. Try to book a flight that leaves in the afternoon or the evening to make sure you don’t have to sacrifice a whole day.

7-day Jordan Itinerary Starting in Amman

  • Day 1: Amman
hercules-temple-in-amman

Its highly likely that your flight will land in the capital of Jordan – Amman. While Amman does have some attractions, if you’re too tired and decide to spend the rest of the day chilling, you won’t miss that much. My recommendation is to book a hotel in the Jabal Al Weibdeh area and have a relaxing walk admiring the fantastic street art. If you have more strength in you, you can book a highlights tour and basically see everything in Amman for a day (your flight needs to land pretty early to be able to go on this one).

Check out the best hotels in Amman

  • Day 2: Jerash or the Dead Sea
reading-a-book-in-the-dead-sea

On the second day of your 7 day Jordan itinerary, you have a choice to either explore the ancient ruins of Jerash or visit the lowest point on Earth – the Dead Sea. I prefer the ruins, but I assume the Dead Sea would be more entertaining for most people. If you pick the sea trip, make sure to take one of those pictures where you are reading a newspaper while floating in the water. I know it’s a cliche, but it’s also a great souvenir.

  • Day 3-5: Petra
jordan itinerary - Petra

Do I really need three days to see Petra? Absolutely yes!

You may not know this, but Petra is more than the beautiful rock structure featured in the Indiana Jones movie. Petra is a whole city that used to be home to 20,000 Nabateans. It’s also one of the most famous ancient attractions in the world, so if you go for just a day, you’re guaranteed to be stuck in a thick crowd, and you won’t be able to appreciate the magic of Petra.

No, you’ve come to Jordan to see Petra, and I want you to have the best experience doing it.

The Treasury of Petra

On day 3, you should arrive in Petra around 10:00 AM. Go inside, see the Siq and the Treasury, get familiar with the landscape. You may even go and check the royal tombs. Since most of the groups arrive around the same time as you, you won’t experience the best of the ‘Rose City’ yet.

On the fourth day of your 7 day Jordan itinerary, you need to get early…very early. Petra opens at 6:00 AM, and you need to be at the gates no later than 7:00 AM. Why so? Because this is your chance to enjoy one of the most impressive ancient sites in the world free of people. Between 6 and 7 in the morning, the whole city belongs to you and the dozen other photo enthusiasts who managed to wake up on time.

Pssst! If you’re a photo enthusiast yourself and you want to take the best photos of Petra, I have a detailed photo-guide that will reveal every hidden spot of the ancient city.

jordan-itinerary-the-monastery

On your second Petra day, I recommend going all the way to the end of the city, where you can marvel at the incredible Petra Monastery.

On your last day in Petra, you should’ve already checked all the notable sights so you can go for a trek. Yes, Petra hosts not only incredible ancient ruins but also a stunning natural landscape. Pick one of the several trekking trails (My favorite is the Al Kubtha Trail) and enjoy Jordan’s astonishing scenery.

If any of your three days in Petra happens to be Monday, Wednesday or Thursday, check out the evening show Petra by Night to see the already beautiful Treasury in (literally) whole other light.

I have a huge guide dedicated to Petra, where I give all kinds of details, information, transportation options, and recommendations. My opinion is that this is the best place on the web to prepare you for a Petra visit. Make sure to check it out!

  • Day 6-7: Wadi Rum
wadi-rum tents

Wadi Rum is located in southern Jordan and is one of the most picturesque and easy-accessible deserts in the world. Being set for plenty of Holywood blockbusters such as Lawrance of Arabia, The Martian, Disney’s Alladin, Dune, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Star Wars: Rogue One (and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker which I like to pretend it doesn’t exist), Wadi Rum guarantees a great experience!

One of the best parts of Wadi Rum is that if you want to visit it, you can only do it by booking a tent in a classical Beduin camp. The Bedouins run everything in Wadi Rum, and they are extraordinary people. Incredibly smart and hospitable, the Bedouins love to share their culture and will make sure to show you the highlights of their desert home.

7 days in jordan - wadi rum exploration

On day 6, I recommend going on a 4×4 tour around the biggest attractions in Wadi Rum (make sure to book the trip with the chief Bedouin of your camp). On Day 7, you can either go for a guided hike or explore the desert yourself. If you go for the second option (like I did), make sure to mark the camp in your map app and have a fully charged phone and power bank. Wadi Rum has campsites everywhere, but still, you don’t want to get lost in the desert!

Like Petra, I have a detailed guide for Wadi Rum, where I list all the noticeable attractions and give my best recommendations. It’s also full of awesome pictures, so make sure to check it out!

And just like that, your 7 days in Jordan are over. Try to book a flight that leaves in the afternoon or the evening to make sure you don’t have to sacrifice a whole day.

   See Also:  Top 20 Landmarks in Asia

More Than 7 Days in Jordan

If you have more than 7 days in Jordan, you can add a few other highlights to your itinerary.

Dead Sea / Jerash / Aqaba

jordan-itinerary-roman-column-in-jerash

Depending on where you start, you can add extra days to any of these three awesome places. Whether it’s the ancient ruins of Jerash or a few more days of a beach vacation, you won’t be disappointed.

Wadi Mujib

wadi-mujib-canyon-in-jordan

Wadi Mujib is a 70km long canyon that is strongly believed to be the biblical Arnon Stream. It’s a popular place to go hiking on your way to the Dead Sea or participate in action-packed canyoning and abseiling adventure tour.

It’s also home to the Ma’in hot spring waterfall resort and the Mujib Biosphere Reserve, which gives you a unique chance to see the Syrian Wolf and Caracal mountain cat.

Quseir Amra

desert-castle-in-jordan

Quseir Amra or Qusayr Amra is a small desert castle built in the early 8th century and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. A former residence of the Umayyad caliphs, this desert fortress pride itself with a richly decorated reception hall and hammam.

Jordan FAQ

Is Jordan Safe?

Even though it’s located in the unstable middle-eastern region, Jordan is incredibly safe to travel. According to a World Economic Forum Report, Jordan is even safer than Germany, France, and Italy. Since no country is safe from petty theft, though, you must stay vigilant around the crowded touristic places.

No matter how safe Jordan is, I highly recommend getting travel insurance. If anything, the latest events thaught us that something horrible can happen at any time. Having good travel insurance will help you get your mind off things and enjoy your adventure to the max. I currently use HeyMondo for my travels because they have proven themselves to me more than once over the years. The link above will give you a 5% discount, but If you have another favorite provider, that’s ok. Just make sure you have one because you never know what may happen.

treasury-from-above

How to get around Jordan?

The easiest way to navigate your 7 days in Jordan would be to rent a car. The country is not big, traffic is not that chaotic, and the roads offer stunning views. The best tool for finding good rent-a-car deals in Jordan is Discover Cars. I’ve used them in tons of places, and sometimes the prices they can find are really out of this world (35 EUR total for 7 days in Portugal, for example).

The locals way to travel around the country is via bus or shared minibus. Keep in mind that they are a bit chaotic and have no fixed timetables. The easiest way to get information about your transportation options is to check with your hotel.

Another popular option is intercity taxis. It’s more expensive than the minibusses but definitely not as expensive as a western tourist would expect. Just like most of the things in Jodan, it’s best to check this with your hotel and see if they can offer an affordable driver. My hotel managed to find me a taxi from Petra to Wadi Rum that cost less than the local bus.

Is Jordan expensive?

Jordan is a bit expensive, yes. In Amman and Aqaba, you can find hotels and food joints that fit every budget, but around the touristic sites and especially around Petra, everything costs twice as much. The Petra ticket is expensive too. The Jordanian Dinar is also one of the few currencies stronger than the US Dollar and the Euro, which makes it easier to go over your intended budget.

sunset-in-wadi-rum

When is the best time to visit Jordan?

The shoulder seasons (spring and autumn) are the best time to visit Jordan. If you are doing the Aqaba route, the best months are May and September. Weather is hot enough to enjoy the Red Sea but not as hot as in July and August.
If you’re doing the Amman route, March-April and October-November will give you pleasant temperatures and smaller crowds. Besides the summer months (when it’s hot all the time), there is a significant temperature difference trough the day, so I highly recommend packing layer clothing.

Do I need a visa for Jordan?

Jordan offers a visa on arrival for plenty of countries. The price is 40 JOD / 56 USD.
If you have the Jordan Pass, however, your visa is free, Petra is free, Wadi Rum is free, and over 30 other touristic attractions are also free. The pass is an absolute must if you arrive anywhere else than Aqaba, and you fancy seeing Petra.

What’s so different about Aqaba?

Aqaba is part of something called ASEZA (Aqaba Special Economic Zone) and has no visa fee, which devaluates the Jordan Pass quite a lot. 
See more about ASEZA.

7-days-in-jordan---wadi-rum-camp

What is the Jordan Pass, and is it worth it?

Costing between 100 USD to 113 USD, the Jordan Pass acts as a visa for the country and includes admission to Petra and around 30 of the other most popular tourist attractions in the Kingdom. If your flight is to Amman, the pass is a must. Between not paying the visa fee, the Petra ticket, and the Wadi Rum fee, you’ve already saved money. If you add Jerash to the list, the deal becomes even better.

If you land in Aqaba, though, you don’t need the Jordan Pass. By entering the country through Aqaba, you don’t have to pay a visa fee, and you won’t be able to visit Jerash. The Petra ticket and the Wadi Rum fee combined cost less than the Jordan Pass.

Can you buy beer in Jordan?

Jordan is a Muslim country, but finding beer or any kind of alcohol in the big cities is not really that hard. Be prepared to pay premium prices, though. A can of Amstel costs around 5 JOD (7 USD).

Do they speak English in Jordan?

Since tourism accounts for approximately 10 % of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), people in Jordan had to learn English. And they did it on a fairly good level, especially the Wadi Rum Bedouins. If your English level is good, you won’t have any communication problems in Jordan.

That’s all from me, I hope you enjoy your 7 days in Jordan.
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If you haven’t planned your trip there yet, find out how I plan my trips!
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I have 8 bucket list ideas for Jordan. See my impossible bucket list of 1700+ adventures!


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