So…you’re wanting to go to Jordan. Whether through word of mouth, social media, or another travel blog, Jordan has become your next destination. Where do you start with planning? How do you pack effectively? How do you manage cost? And lastly but most importantly, what should you do and where should you eat? I’ve compiled my research and experience here so that you can have the most magical trip to Jordan.
In December 2022, my girlfriend and I decided to embark on a grand trip spanning 5 countries and 1 city-state. In a series of posts, I’ll take you through our 28-days trip across Jordan, Egypt, The Maldives, Malaysia, Singapore, and Dubai. I’ll share my research and how I planned every step, go over the packing list, recap the best things we did and ate, and touch upon cultural expectations and how it manifested on our trip.
Jordan was the first country on the grand trip and it was strategically chosen. First of all, flights were cheaper to The Maldives from Egypt than they were from Jordan. Second, our itinerary was more packed for Egypt so this gave us more time time to get acclimated – to the time difference and to the Middle Eastern.
This post covers the Jordan leg to be done in 5 days. I acknowledge that this is a bit of a lie – you really need 6 days for this itinerary as it takes a full day to get from the US to Jordan. Let me know in the comments whether travel days should be included in itineraries!
The Flight
It takes a minimum of 14 hours to fly from Washington D.C. to Amman, Jordan. To maximize time in Jordan, select a flight that arrives in the morning. Mine departed DC at noon and arrived 8:40am the next day. With the help of AwardHacker.com, I upgraded our tickets to business-class via Air Canada’s Aeroplan, spending $44 and 85,000 points per seat. The lay back seats and business-class upgrades charged our batteries for the trip ahead. Thanks #americanexpress!
The Magic of Jordan in 5 days: Itinerary
The top places to go in Jordan are, in no particular order:
- Petra – ancient city most well known for the Treasury.
- Dead Sea – salty lake allowing you to easily float
- Wadi Rum Desert – expansive Martian-landscape desert
- Jerash – Roman ruins north of Amman
- Amman – capital of Jordan and airport entry point
- Aqaba – seaside beach town on the southern tip of Jordan
- Wadi Mujib – picturesque canyon gorge hike (seasonal)
Petra and the Dead Sea are musts for anyone going to Jordan for the first time. Staying in a bubble tent overlooking a Martian-landscape was also unique enough to justify the 6 hour drive down from Amman. Wadi Mujib was something I wanted to do but was closed for the season. Lastly, I crossed off Aqaba because we would get plenty of beach-time on the upcoming leg in The Maldives.
Our Path
Driving in Jordan was easy-going. We encountered some traffic in the cities of Amman and Wadi Musa. In contrast, there were very few cars outside the cities. The rental car company charged a 350 JD deposit to be released upon safe return of the car.
We drove to the furthest point and double backed; it caused less stress to drive one hour from the Dead Sea to AMM airport than the 5 hours from Wadi Rum Desert to the airport.
Jordan Itinerary Overview
With the above travel path, I present to you your trip itinerary. I’ve included booking links to make it your one-stop shop.
Day 0
- 12pm: Depart Washington DC or home-base.
Day 1:
- 10am: arrive in Jordan and pick up the rental car
- 11am – 12:15pm: drive to Jerash Archaeological Site
- 12:15pm – 3pm: Optional lunch at Old Roman Restaurant and Explore Jerash
- 3-4pm: Drive to Amman lodging
- 4-9pm: Settle into lodging and nap
- 9pm – whenever: Wander downtown Amman
Day 2:
- 8am – 10am: Amman Citadel and Roman Temple of Hercules, check out of lodging
- 10am – 3pm: Drive to Wadi Rum desert (ran into some difficulty that turned a 4.5 hour drive into 6 hours)
- 4pm: Wadi Rum desert 4×4 jeep ride
- 7pm: Dinner at camp and night entertainment
Day 3:
- 7am: Breakfast at camp
- 10am-1pm: Drive to Petra
- 1pm-5pm: Petra
- 5pm: Cave Bar
- 8pm: Dinner in Wadi Musa
Day 4:
- 5am: Breakfast
- 6am-9am: Petra
- 9am-1:30pm: Drive to Dead Sea
- 2pm – whenever: Dead Sea Resort
Day 5:
- 8am-10am: breakfast, drive to airport, and return rental car
- 12pm: flight to next destination
What to Pre-Book
Lodging and the Jordan Pass. The Jordan Pass must be purchased outside Jordan. Bring a paper copy of the Jordan Pass to use at Jordan immigration and historical sites. We didn’t need to reserve any restaurants and were always seated right away. In Wadi Musa, the town next to Petra, I can see needing reservations during the busy season.
- Walked into all historical sites mentioned in this itinerary and flashed our Jordan Pass
- Wadi Rum 4×4 jeep tour – booked during check-in at Hasan Zawaideh camp
- Hilton Dead Sea mud experience – walked up
Where to Stay
Amman
I picked the Carob Hostel because of the location and private rooms, however bathrooms and showers are shared but have locks on the doors. Downtown Amman is a 10-min downhill walk, Amman Citadel is a 15 min walk, and the Roman Theater is an 18 min walk in the same direction as the Amman Citadel.
Wadi Rum Desert
The top bubble hotels that I found were:
- Memories Aicha Luxury Camp – $200+. Consistently rated as the best food place and prices. Unlike the next two camps, Memories Aicha is located inside the Wadi Rum Reserve. However, camps inside the Wadi Rum Reserve require you to park away from the camp and take a camp-provided 4×4 car to the final stop. This was my number one choice but they were fully booked.
- Hasan Zawaideh camp – $170 a night on the outskirt of the Wadi Rum Reserve boundaries. Easy to drive to and park on premise. Breakfast was included and upon check-in, the management upgraded our stay to include dinner. What drew me to this camp were the evening activities. There was a campfire with tea and live music, followed by a DJ and dancing. As for the bubble, the tops of the domes are covered but a third of the side is clear, allowing a nearly 180° view of the Wadi Rum landscape.
- Bubble Luxotel or UFO Luxotel – the priciest at nearly $400 a night located outside the Wadi Rum Reserve boundaries. Easy to drive to and park on premise. Easily the most luxurious with a personal hot tub on your porch and bubble tents with separate living and sleeping spaces. The ceiling above the bed is clear, allowing you to drift off to sleep under the night stars. Common areas like the mess hall are shared between the Bubble Luxotel and UFO Luxotel. I had originally booked this place but switched to Hasan Zawaideh camp due to cost.
Sun City camp was another that made my list but was also fully booked. For a more budget-friendly option, each camp listed has tent options. We stayed at the Hasan Zawaideh camp.
Where to Eat
Absolutely go to Hashem Restaurant Downtown and Habibah Sweets. Both are institutions frequented by locals and tourists, with a combined 24 thousand reviews on Google for these two locations alone.
Hashem Restaurant (left). Looking past the open-air alley space dotted with plastic tables and chairs, you’ll find the most satisfying and best-value food in Jordan. We were provided menus at this location and ordered the smoothest hummus with gamey [lamb] meat, stuffed falafels, oversized pita that stayed soft even cold, baba ganoush, and black tea with mint. This all came with a complementary plate of tomatoes, pickles, mint leaves, and raw onion.
Habibah Sweets (right). Get in line for kunafah – a cheese-based pastry with a crispy shell, soaked in syrup and topped with pistachios. Even though a small order of it can be shared by two people, you’ll want your own. This will set you back a measly 0.35 JD (~50 cents USD) per order.
About Jordan
The Weather
In December, the average high was 56°F and the average low was 41°F. During the daytime in the sun while walking, it felt like high 60’s.
Weatherspark has the average highs and lows by month as well as precipitation, sunrise/sunset, and humidity.
Packing List Considerations
Pack for the weather. I brought a light down jacket for the evening, a pair of jogger pants, a pair of jeans, and a few t-shirts on top of other necessities like toiletries and underwear. For ladies, Grace found that leggings, long sleeves, a light jacket, and a scarf were enough. Wear shoes that are versatile – comfortable enough to walk long distances on uneven terrain and stylish enough to wear on a casual night on the town.
Pop over to my travel essentials list for non-clothing items to pack for your next trip.
Costs
JD or the Jordanian Dinar is the currency in Jordan. At the time of writing $1 US is worth 0.71 JD
I’ve listed the actual amounts I spent for this trip so you can see how much things might cost. Coffees for two will typically run you 3-4 JD, local food will cost under 10 JD for two, whereas a sit-down restaurant in Wadi Musa touristy area will set you back 25 JD. With the Jordan Pass, all entrance fees to the sites on this itinerary are included, as well as the Jordan visa fees.
The Jordan Pass is a no-brainer. Between the 40 JD Visa fee for U.S. citizens and 55 JD two-day admission to Petra, the Jordan Pass already saves you money at 75 JD.
| Item | Cost (total for two people) in JD | Cost (total for two people) in USD |
| Flight: IAD to AMM | — | $88 and 170,000 points |
| Jordan Pass – Explorer (2 consecutive visit days to Petra) | 154 JD | $217 (plus fees) |
| Car Rental (5 days) | — | $75 |
| Gas | 71 JD in cash | $100 |
| Lodging Day 1: Hostel in Amman | — | $35 |
| Lodging Day 2: Hasan Zawaideh Camp (Bubble Tent) | 135 JD | $190 |
| Lodging Day 3: Wadi Musa Town Season Hotel | — | $69 |
| Lodging Day 4: Hilton Dead Sea Resort | — | $170 |
| Wadi Rum Jeep 4×4 2 hour tour | 35 JD | $50 |
| Food and drinks (coffees, teas, etc) | 94 JD | $133 (Cash and Credit) |
| Alcohol/bars | 67 JD | $95 |
| Various Tips | 42 JD in cash | $60 |
| Souvenirs/Shopping | 75 JD | $106 |
| Total | — | $1,388 |
Withdrew ~$390 USD (270 JD) in cash from various ATMs. *costs converted from JD to USD using exchange rate at time of trip Dec 2022.
In the above table, I consider these items as extra: lodging day 2, alcohol/bars, and souvenirs/shopping. In Wadi Rum desert, I opted for the much more expense bubble tent experience over the traditional Bedouin tent. It would have been easy to cut out alcohol completely, as the majority of the drinks were enjoyed while lounging at the Hilton Dead Sea Resort. As for the souvenirs that’ll be completely up to you. Lastly, I tipped 20 JD for the massage staff at the Hilton.
Cultural notes vs our experience of it
Outside of vendors who have ulterior motives to part you with your money, we found the Jordan people, or Jordanians, very hospitable and friendly. This is a story of that.
Leaving Petra, Grace wanted to grab coffee before the 3 hour drive to Dead Sea. I pulled halfway into street parking so that Grace can grab a quick coffee from Coffee on Fire, the first one leaving Petra. I look at the clock, 5 minutes. Okay. Then 7. Hmmm. Then 10 minutes, I’m starting to get worried. I properly parallel park the car and cross the street to the shop.
I found Grace behind the counter learning how to make a Turkish coffee. Grace wanted an off-menu Turkish coffee latte, which is a thing, but Tariq, the store [person], was trying to explain that it was not do-able. The compromise? Grace learns how to make a Turkish coffee and they work together to identify where in the process to add milk.
Grace proudly walks out with her latte and we made a friend.
Tipping
Tipping exists in Jordan. Here’s what I found online where and how much to tip:
- Restaurants: tip 10% unless a service charge is already included in the bill
- Taxis: round up to the nearest JD dollar
- Local tour guides: 1 to 5 JD
- Hotel housekeeping: 1 JD per day
Conclusion
I hope this all helps plan your magical vacation to Jordan! I’ll keep updating this post with relevant information as I write my day-to-day recaps. Start with Day 1 – Jerash and Amman.
Yummy Treks 
Very precise plan. Love it. Did you visit these places too?
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Yes I did! I wrote this plan based on how I wanted to travel. Certainly a lot of activities packed into 5 days but felt that I got the highlights and can plan my next trip with no regrets.
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