Interested in creating an itinerary that would allow you to visit the 5 top rated tourist attractions in Jordan? I’d like to make it easy for you by sharing our own 7 days-itinerary in Jordan.
When thinking of Jordan, people often only think of its most popular attraction, Petra. But it would be a shame to sum up this fabulous country in a single place, as in addition to being very safe and having a welcoming population, Jordan is full of cultural history and spectacular natural beauty.
The Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Jordan
Wadi Rum
After arriving in Wadi Rum Village, where our Bedouin host awaited us, we immediately set off in a Jeep to arrive at the camp. There we were welcomed with a hearty meal and a beautiful starry sky. The next day we went on a 6-hour excursion by Jeep through the desert. We felt like we were on another planet! The landscapes of Wadi Rum are enchanting and will always stay etched in our memories. This region is top of the list of our highlights, above Petra!
Starry Night at Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum – a Sand Dune
Petra
We traced the steps of Indiana Jones and the Transformers, in the most touristic region of Jordan. Petra, the mythical and supernatural place which in ancient times made the Nabateans prosper. The stunning site, with its buildings carved directly into the rock, is colossal and needs at least a week to visit all of its recesses. We chose to do it in two days and were only able to see the main attractions. We spent two nights in a rustic tent on the terrace of a building situated in a Bedouin village, overlooking the Petra valley. To add to the beauty of our experience, we slept a third night under the stars, Bedouin-style.
Petra – The Monastery
Petra – The Treasury from Above
Petra – View over Israel
Petra – Royal Tombs
Petra – The Treasury
Petra – The Roman Theater
Sunset at Petra
Madaba
Madaba is the town of mosaics and Moses, the famous prophet of Law. It’s on Mount Nebo that God showed Moses the Promised Land, onto which he never set foot. And in the neighboring town, Madaba, in the orthodox church of St George, we saw a masterpiece of the Byzantine era. A mosaic which depicts an incredibly precise cartography of the Holy Land with 157 towns and villages, spanning the region from Lebanon all the way to the Nile Delta, from the Mediterranean to the East, and which originally measured 21m x 7m. In Madaba you can also find the Shrine of St John the Baptist, which is the oldest church to have continued to hold services without interruption until the present day. That’s a record worth celebrating! And of course, John the Baptist lived and also died in the region.
Madaba Mosaic Map
Church of the Beheading of John the Baptist, Madaba
Mosaic on Mount Nebo
Amman
Amman, the capital of Jordan, is one of the most dynamic cities in the Arab world, and also one of the oldest cities worldwide which has been continuously inhabited. However, it appears in the Bible under the name Rhabbat Ammon, the capital of the Ammonites. During the Roman era, it was called Philadelphia. At the top of the hill, the citadel of Amman contains the temple of Hercules, which was built in Roman times.
Temple of Hercules – Amman Citadelle
Amman Citadelle
Amman from the Citadelle
Jerash
Jerash is a small town with an impressive archaeological site, which is considered the largest and most well preserved Roman architectural site outside of Italy. Endowed with temples and Roman theatres, as well as countless Roman pillars, it is known as the “Pompei of the Middle East”.
Jerash Ancient City
Temple of Artemis, Jerash
For a better preparation
Itinerary
Our trip in Jordan started out in Aqaba, in the south of the country, after having crossed the border by foot from Eilat, Israel. We rented two cars in Aqaba to get us to Wadi Rum for the night. The next day we traveled towards Petra where we spent three exceptional days before parting from our friends who had to return to Tel Aviv to get a plane. We then continued our journey to the north of the country where Madaba, Amman and Jerash were beckoning.
Accomodation
Our 4 nights in Wadi Rum and Petra with our friends from Quebec were fabulous. We slept in tents or under the stars in Bedouin fashion. It was rustic but well organised, and certainly very entertaining! In Amman, we rented an apartment for 3 nights, in order to reconnect with reality.
Our Camp in Wadi Rum
Tents in Wadi Rum
Sleeping under a tent in Petra
Sleeping in a cave in Petra
Sleeping under the stars in Petra
Our appartment in Amman
Transportation
To get around, we rented a little Kia Picanto in Aqaba, which we dropped off at Amman airport when we got our flight out of Jordan. They warned me about the driving in Jordan and I feel like I can safely say I’m able drive anywhere in the world after having driven there! But still, driving in Jordan is a treat in comparison with driving in Lebanon!
Our Rental Car
Food
Jordanian gastronomy is strongly influenced by the cuisine of its Lebanese and Turkish neighbors, with shwarma, hummus and meat dishes featuring mutton, chicken and lamb. Bedouin food was no exception. And the tea they serve was delicious!
Maqluba – a Jordan Specialty
Cooking Bedouin Food
Shawarma
Expenses
The Jordan Pass cost us 80 JOD (112.80 USD) per adult, but it actually saved us money because as well as giving us a free entry visa to Jordan, we were able to explore Wadi Rum, and the archaeological sites of Petra, Madaba, Amman and Jerash at no extra cost.
The price of our trip to Jordan for our family of 4 worked out to be:
- 947 JOD (1335 USD)
- 135.28 JOD (190.75 USD) per day
- 33.82 JOD (47.69 USD) per person per day.
In detail :
| Expense Category | Amount Spent |
|---|---|
| Visa | 160 JOD (226 USD) |
| Accomodation | 148 JOD (209 USD) |
| Transport (including gas) | 228 JOD (321 USD) |
| Eating out | 103 JOD (145 USD) |
| Groceries | 61 JOD (87 USD) |
| Activities | 15 JOD (20 USD) |
| Total | 947 JOD (1335 USD) |
In a nutshell
| Dates | 2018-10-11 to 2018-10-17 |
| Number of days | 7 |
| Cities we visited | Wadi Rum, Petra, Madaba, Amman, Jerash |
| Inbound | From Israel by foot |
| Outbound | To the United Arab Emirates by plane |
| Mode of transport | Rental car |
| Distance travelled (car & foot) | 799 km |
| Number of photos taken | 2660 (380 per day) |
| Currency | The Jordan Dinar (1 JOD = 1.41 USD) |
Conclusion
We had an extraordinary time in Jordan, the places we visited were amazing not just through the beauty of their landscapes but by the fascinating cultural history that they offer. Jordanians, and in particular the Bedouin, are extremely welcoming and this contributed greatly to our wonderful experience in Jordan. After leaving Jordan, we have our sights set on the United Arab Emirates!
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