In this post, we will give you a guide to tourism in Jordan, from the moment you arrive until the end of your trip. This is based on my personal experience this summer.
First, I contacted a travel company, and they gave me some suggestions for a trip plan, including hotel names and costs. They also recommended that I buy the Jordan Pass, which covers all entrance fees to tourist sites in Jordan. It also serves as a visa and saves you the visa fee. I booked a flight to Jordan, arriving at 1:00 AM. Upon arrival, the tourist police welcomed us, and the procedures were very easy. You can also ask the company to send a representative to meet you at the airport and help you with the passport process and show you the way to your car. After picking up our bags, we met our driver holding a sign with our family name. He welcomed us, helped with the luggage, and drove us to the hotel. On the way, we talked to the driver about the next day’s plan and exchanged WhatsApp numbers in case of any delays or important updates. The trip from the airport to the hotel in central Amman took about an hour, even though it’s only 20 kilometers. Amman is the capital of Jordan, so it’s quite busy.
Day 2:
We had a simple breakfast at the hotel, including hummus, mutabbal, and falafel, in the Jordanian style. Our driver arrived at 8:00 AM as planned, and we headed to Ajloun Castle, about an hour and a half away. On the way, we passed Jerash. The driver suggested we visit Ajloun Castle first and then return to Jerash, as it’s closer to Amman. In Jerash, we walked for about two hours, exploring the Roman city with a local guide who had lots of information about Jordan’s history and culture. You can find guides who speak your language. After walking for hours, we took a break at a restaurant for lunch. The restaurant had a buffet with about 30 different dishes, including the famous Jordanian dish, “Maqluba.”
Later, we returned to Amman and visited the Amman Citadel, where we saw the hand of Hercules and a museum. We also enjoyed a view of downtown Amman from the top and the Roman Theater. We took lots of beautiful photos there. Afterward, we walked through the local markets and visited a popular dessert shop called “Habiba” to try the famous “Kanafeh,” which was delicious! We returned to the hotel, tired but very happy.
Day 3:
We had breakfast as usual and headed to Madaba, known as the City of Mosaics, about an hour from Amman. We visited St. George’s Church and then went to Mount Nebo, believed to be the resting place of Prophet Moses, just 15 minutes away. From there, we drove to Petra, the famous rose-red city, which is about three and a half hours from Madaba. On the way, we stopped for lunch and tried “Mansaf,” a traditional Jordanian dish. We also visited Shobak Castle before reaching Wadi Musa, where Petra is located. We stayed the night in Wadi Musa.
Day 4:
We had an early breakfast at 6:00 AM and went to Petra’s Visitor Center, where a licensed guide was waiting for us. I recommend getting a guide from the Visitor Center. We walked about 15 kilometers through Petra, which is a long and tiring path, but every few kilometers, you see something more beautiful than before, making you forget the exhaustion. We saw the Treasury and many other sites in Petra. By 3:00 PM, we returned to the Visitor Center, where our driver was waiting to take us to Wadi Rum, about two hours away. We spent the night in a camp, which felt like a hotel, with internet, air conditioning, a restaurant, and more. But the best part was lying under the stars in the desert. After dinner, we watched a traditional Bedouin cooking technique called “Zarb,” where food is buried under the sand. It was delicious! We even danced the traditional “Dabke” dance before going to sleep in the camp.
Day 5:
We went on a jeep tour in Wadi Rum, which lasted two hours. The locals call it a jeep, but it was actually a 4×4 pickup truck with seats in the back. We visited several tourist spots in Wadi Rum and then met our driver again. After the tour, we headed to the Dead Sea, about four hours away. It was a long journey through the desert, but we passed through Aqaba and saw the Red Sea and Eilat in Israel. When we reached the Dead Sea, we had lunch at a restaurant because food at the hotel was expensive. Then we checked into a hotel by the Dead Sea and swam in the salty waters at sunset, which was breathtaking.
Day 6:
The driver came at 9:00 AM to take us to the airport, which was about an hour from the Dead Sea. We said goodbye to Jordan with beautiful memories and lots of photos.
