Five days is enough to see Jordan's three headline places without rushing: one night in Amman, two nights in Petra, one night in a Wadi Rum desert camp and a final night at the Dead Sea before flying out. The route runs south down the Desert Highway and back north along the Dead Sea road, so you never repeat the same stretch. Most visitors should buy the Jordan Pass before landing, because it covers the tourist visa fee and Petra entry in one payment.
This plan assumes you land at Queen Alia International Airport near Amman and either rent a car or hire a driver. Bus options are covered further down for anyone travelling without a car. For flights into Amman, compare fares on our flight search, and see the wider Jordan guide for regions not covered here.
The route at a glance
The loop is roughly 800 km of driving across five days. The longest single drive is the last one, from Wadi Rum up to the Dead Sea, which takes about four hours with a stop. Every other day has two to three hours behind the wheel at most.
| Day | Base | Main activity | Approx. driving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amman | Citadel, Roman Theatre, downtown food | 40 min from airport |
| 2 | Wadi Musa (Petra) | Drive south, afternoon at Little Petra or Petra by Night | About 3 hours |
| 3 | Wadi Musa (Petra) | Full day inside Petra: Siq, Treasury, Monastery | None |
| 4 | Wadi Rum camp | Morning in Petra, afternoon jeep tour, desert night | About 1 hour 45 min |
| 5 | Dead Sea | Float, mud, then airport or overnight | About 4 hours |
Before you go: visa, Jordan Pass and money
Before flying to Jordan, buy the Jordan Pass at jordanpass.jo. It waives the tourist visa fee most nationalities would pay on arrival and includes Petra, Wadi Rum's protected area, Jerash and around 40 other sites, in three tiers that differ only in the number of Petra days. Then plan cash and decide between a hire car and a driver.
The Jordan Pass
Most nationalities can get a tourist visa on arrival; check the current fee on the official Jordan Pass or Ministry of Interior site. The Jordan Pass, sold through the government's official site at jordanpass.jo, waives that visa fee and includes entry to Petra plus around 40 other sites, among them Wadi Rum's protected area and Jerash. As of November 2026 it comes in three tiers that differ only in how many consecutive days of Petra entry you get: Jordan Wanderer (one day) at 70 JD, Jordan Explorer (two days) at 75 JD and Jordan Expert (three days) at 80 JD.
For this itinerary the two-day tier fits best, since you spend a full day and a morning inside Petra. The visa waiver only applies if you stay in Jordan for the minimum number of nights set out in the pass terms, which as of November 2026 is two nights (three days) and requires buying the pass before you arrive. A five-day trip clears that easily, but read the conditions on the official site before paying, because rules and prices can change.
Editor's Note: If you skip the pass, a standard two-day Petra ticket for overnight visitors costs 55 JD as of November 2026 according to the Jordan Tourism Board, and the visa is extra. Visitors who do not spend a night in Jordan pay a much higher Petra fee. Our visa section lists entry rules by passport.
Money and costs
The Jordanian dinar is pegged to the US dollar, and one dinar is worth a little over 1.40 USD. Card payments work in hotels, larger restaurants and petrol stations, but carry cash for taxis, Bedouin tea stops, tips and the smaller shops in Wadi Musa. ATMs are easy to find in Amman, Wadi Musa and Aqaba, and much harder to find on the road between them.
Car hire or driver
Driving in Jordan is manageable outside Amman. The Desert Highway is wide and straight, signs are in Arabic and English, and the main hazards are speed bumps at the edge of every town and police checkpoints where you should slow down and have your passport ready. Amman traffic is aggressive and confusing, so many visitors pick up the car on day two.
A private driver costs more but removes the parking and navigation stress, and drivers usually know which Wadi Rum camp operators meet guests at the visitor centre. If you prefer a fixed package, our tour listings include multi-day Jordan circuits.
Getting to Jordan and choosing your airport
Queen Alia International Airport, south of central Amman, is where most visitors land. It sits right on the Desert Highway, so if you collect a hire car at the airport you can head straight south without touching Amman traffic at all. The Jordan Tourism Board puts the airport about 209 km from Petra, roughly two and a half hours by road.
The second option is King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba, on the Red Sea. It handles fewer routes, many of them seasonal or budget flights from Europe, but it is the closest airport to Petra at about 129 km, or two hours by car. Landing in Aqaba makes sense if you want to run the loop backwards (Wadi Rum first) or finish with a few days of snorkelling.
Getting around: driving rules, taxis and apps
Jordan drives on the right. To hire a car, carry your national licence plus an International Driving Permit; rental desks do not always ask for the permit, but police at checkpoints can. Front-seat belts are compulsory, and using a phone while driving is illegal. Police hand out on-the-spot fines for speeding, so ask the rental desk about current limits and required safety kit before you leave.
In Amman, Uber and Careem both operate and are a simpler choice than flagging yellow taxis, since the fare is set in the app. If you do take a street taxi, sit in the back. Outside the capital, ride apps have few or no drivers, and your hotel or camp is the best place to arrange a car.
Connectivity
Zain, Orange and Umniah all sell tourist SIM cards at Queen Alia arrivals and in town shops; take your passport, since the card is registered to it. Coverage is good in Amman, Wadi Musa and along the highways, patchy in the deep parts of Petra, and limited in Wadi Rum, where most camps rely on their own Wi-Fi or a single good spot on a nearby rock. Download offline maps before you leave Amman.
Day 1: Amman
Land, collect your visa or show your Jordan Pass, and head into the city. Amman is spread over hills, so pick one area for the afternoon.
Amman Citadel
The Citadel sits on Jabal al-Qal'a, one of the city's highest points. The remains of the Temple of Hercules and the Umayyad Palace are the main sights, and the view is a big draw: you look straight down on the Roman Theatre and the white houses climbing the opposite hills. Go late in the afternoon when the light softens. Entry is included in the Jordan Pass.
Roman Theatre and downtown
Walk down from the Citadel to the Roman Theatre, carved into the hillside in the second century and still used for events. From there, the streets of downtown (Al-Balad) are full of spice sellers, juice stands and falafel counters. Eat dinner here, then get an early night, because day two starts with a long drive.
Day 2: Amman to Petra
Leave Amman by mid-morning and take the Desert Highway south. The drive to Wadi Musa, the town at the entrance to Petra, takes about three hours without stops. The faster road is plain and flat; the King's Highway is the slower, more scenic alternative and adds two or more hours, but it passes Madaba, Mount Nebo and the crusader castle at Karak. If you have the energy, take the King's Highway one way and save the Desert Highway for the return.
Little Petra
Siq al-Barid, usually called Little Petra, is about 15 minutes' drive north of Wadi Musa. It is a short canyon with carved facades and a painted ceiling in one of the chambers, and it gives a good preview of the main site without the crowds. Entry is free and an hour is enough.
Petra by Night
On selected evenings each week, the Siq and the Treasury are lit with candles for a short programme of music and storytelling. It requires a separate ticket and is not covered by the Jordan Pass. Check the schedule at your hotel or the visitor centre on arrival, since the nights it runs can change by season.
For somewhere to stay, Wadi Musa has everything from basic guesthouses to large hotels near the gate. Staying within walking distance of the entrance saves taxi fares on both Petra days. Compare options on our hotel search.
Day 3: A full day inside Petra
This is the day the trip is built around. Petra opens early in the morning, and arriving at opening time is the single best thing you can do: the Siq is quiet, the temperature is lower, and the Treasury is still in shade.
The Siq and the Treasury
From the visitor centre, a gravel path leads to the Siq, a narrow gorge more than a kilometre long with walls rising high on each side. It ends suddenly at Al-Khazneh, the Treasury, the facade most people know from photos. Spend a few minutes here, then keep walking; the site opens out past the Street of Facades and the theatre.
The Royal Tombs and Colonnaded Street
The Royal Tombs are cut into the cliff on your right as the valley widens. Climb up to the Urn Tomb for a view back over the city centre. Below, the Colonnaded Street runs past the Great Temple towards Qasr al-Bint, where there are toilets, a restaurant and shaded seating.
The Monastery
Ad-Deir, the Monastery, is reached by a long path of rock-cut steps that climbs from near Qasr al-Bint. Allow 45 minutes to an hour going up at a steady pace. The facade is larger than the Treasury, and the viewpoints beyond it look out towards Wadi Araba. Donkeys are offered for the climb; the animal welfare record has been criticised, so walking is the better choice if you are able.
A realistic full day covers the Siq, the Treasury, the Royal Tombs, the Colonnaded Street and the Monastery, with 15 to 20 km of walking. Wear shoes with grip, carry at least two litres of water each, and bring a hat. Shade is scarce in the afternoon.
Day 4: Petra morning, Wadi Rum afternoon
Use the second Petra day for the three-to-four-hour route to the High Place of Sacrifice, leave by early afternoon, and drive to the Wadi Rum visitor centre for a half-day jeep tour of rock bridges, dunes, springs and inscriptions before dinner and a night at a desert camp.
The High Place of Sacrifice
Use the second day on your ticket for a shorter, quieter route. The trail to the High Place of Sacrifice starts near the theatre and climbs to an altar platform with wide views over the site. You can return the same way or loop down past the Lion Fountain and the Garden Tomb to the city centre. Plan on three to four hours, then leave Petra by early afternoon.
Getting to Wadi Rum
The drive from Wadi Musa to the Wadi Rum visitor centre takes about one hour 45 minutes. Private cars normally stay at the visitor centre or in Rum village, and your camp collects you by 4x4. Wadi Rum is a protected area, and the entry fee is included in the Jordan Pass.
Jeep tour and the desert camp
Most camps sell a half-day jeep tour that stops at rock bridges, sand dunes, springs and Nabataean inscriptions, finishing at a viewpoint for sunset. Dinner is often zarb, meat and vegetables cooked in a pit under the sand. Camps range from simple tents with shared bathrooms to domes with private facilities. Desert nights get cold from November to March, so pack a warm layer even if the day was hot.
Day 5: Wadi Rum to the Dead Sea
Get up for sunrise if you can; the desert is at its quietest. After breakfast, drive north. Take the Desert Highway towards Amman and turn off for the Dead Sea, or follow the Dead Sea Highway along Wadi Araba, which is slower but lower and warmer in winter. Either way, budget around four hours including a fuel stop.
Floating in the Dead Sea
The resort area near Sweimeh on the northern shore has most of the hotels. A day pass at a resort gives you beach access, freshwater showers and pools, which you will want after the salt water. Public beaches exist but have fewer facilities.
Practical rules for the water: do not shave on the day you swim, keep your face out of the water, never dive or splash, and limit sessions to around 15 minutes. If salt gets into your eyes, rinse with fresh water immediately. Many resorts supply the black mud people cover themselves with.
The Dead Sea is roughly an hour from Queen Alia Airport, so you can fly out the same evening or stay one more night and leave the next morning.
Travelling without a car
JETT, the national bus company, runs a daily service between Amman and Wadi Musa, and there are minibuses linking Wadi Musa with Wadi Rum and Aqaba. Departures are limited, often just once a day in each direction, so check the current timetable and book in advance. Getting from Wadi Rum to the Dead Sea by public transport is difficult; most people without a car arrange a private transfer for that leg.
Best time to go
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most comfortable seasons for walking in Petra and sleeping in the desert. Summer is very hot in Petra and Wadi Rum and extremely hot at the Dead Sea, which sits more than 400 metres below sea level. Winter brings cool days, cold nights and occasional rain; flash floods can close the Siq for safety, so check the forecast.
What to pack for Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea
Five days in Jordan means sandstone steps, a cold desert night and a salty shore, so pack grippy walking shoes, a warm layer for Wadi Rum, at least two litres of water per person for each Petra day, water shoes for the Dead Sea and clothes that cover shoulders and knees.
- Walking shoes with good grip for Petra's sandstone steps
- A warm layer for the Wadi Rum night, in any season
- Sun hat, sunscreen and sunglasses
- Reusable water bottles (at least two litres per person per Petra day)
- Water shoes for the Dead Sea's salt-crusted shore
- Clothes that cover shoulders and knees for Amman and rural towns
- A printed or saved copy of your Jordan Pass
Safety and travel advice in 2026
Jordan receives large numbers of international visitors every year, and the places on this route (Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea resorts) see a steady flow of tour groups and independent travellers. Still, read your own government's travel advice before you book and again a few days before you fly. As of late October 2026, the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel within 3 km of the Syrian border, which is far north of this itinerary. It also reports a shooting at a church in Karak Governorate on 23 October 2026, and Karak castle sits on the King's Highway option for day two, so check the latest local news before taking that road.
Regional tension in the Middle East can also cause flight cancellations and airspace closures at short notice. Book flexible fares where you can, keep your airline's app installed, and buy travel insurance that covers disruption. Some policies become invalid if you travel against official advice, so read the terms. Keep clear of military and security sites, and do not photograph checkpoints.
Common mistakes on this route
The most expensive mistake is buying the Jordan Pass after arrival or leaving the country too soon: the visa waiver depends on buying in advance and meeting the minimum stay, and if you miss either condition you can be asked to pay the visa fee at departure. Petra by Night is a separate ticket, so do not expect your pass to cover it.
Taxis catch out a lot of first-time visitors. In Amman, ask the driver to run the meter before you set off, and if he refuses, agree a fare or take the next car. In Wadi Musa and Wadi Rum, fares are usually fixed by negotiation, so settle the price before you get in.
Inside Petra, stay on the marked paths and avoid climbing on or touching the carved facades; the sandstone is soft and wears away under millions of hands. At the Dead Sea, people often stay in the water too long. Keep each float short, get out if your skin starts to sting, and drink fresh water. Some resorts charge a cover fee or a minimum spend for day visitors, so ask what the day pass includes before you pay.
For Wadi Rum, pack a small overnight bag and leave the big suitcase in the car at the visitor centre. Jeeps have little space, and sand gets into everything. Register at the visitor centre if your camp asks you to, and confirm the pickup time the day before.
Where to stay on this route
In Wadi Musa, stay on the lower streets near the Petra gate to walk in at opening time, or higher up the hill for cheaper rooms and wider views. In Wadi Rum, choose one of the camps spread across the protected area for the desert night.
Wadi Musa
The town drops down a steep hill to the Petra visitor centre. Places on the lower streets near the gate let you walk in at opening time and come back for a rest at midday. Hotels higher up the hill are often cheaper and have wider views, but the walk back up after 15 km inside Petra is hard on tired legs, so budget for short taxi rides. Taybeh and the hills south of town have a handful of quieter lodges for drivers.
Wadi Rum
Camps are spread across the protected area and around Rum village and Disi. Those deep in the desert feel more remote and have darker skies, while those close to the village are faster to reach and easier if you arrive late. Read what is included: transfer from the visitor centre, dinner, breakfast and whether the jeep tour is part of the price.
Food, etiquette and Ramadan
Jordanian food is generous and good value. Mansaf, lamb cooked in a fermented yoghurt sauce and served over rice, is the national dish and a centrepiece at family events. Breakfast is often hummus, falafel and fresh bread from a downtown counter, and knafeh, a warm cheese pastry soaked in syrup, is the sweet most visitors remember. In Wadi Rum, dinner usually comes from the zarb pit described above, and sweet sage or cardamom tea is offered at almost every stop.
Jordan is a Muslim country with relaxed tourist areas. Dress covering shoulders and knees is expected in towns, mosques and rural villages, and women visiting mosques such as the King Abdullah I Mosque in Amman will need a headscarf, which is usually available at the door. Use your right hand for eating and passing things, and ask before photographing people, especially women. Public displays of affection draw stares outside resorts.
During Ramadan, eating, drinking and smoking in public during daylight are not acceptable, though hotels and tourist restaurants still serve guests. Opening hours shorten, JETT and other timetables change, and the evening iftar meal brings the streets to life. Travelling then is fine if you plan around the shorter day.
Flash floods and emergencies
Flash floods are a real risk in Jordan's wadis in the rainy season from November to March. Water can arrive from storms many kilometres away under a blue sky. Avoid canyon walks and narrow valleys for at least a day after heavy rain, and if you are ever caught out, move to high ground and never try to cross running water. The emergency number for police and Civil Defence is 911.
Jordan weather month by month
Spring, from March to May, is the busiest and most comfortable season on this route. Summer brings strong sun in Petra and extreme heat at the Dead Sea, autumn cools gradually, and winter has cold nights, rain and occasional snow in Amman and Petra while the Dead Sea stays warm and pleasant.
| Months | Amman and Petra | Wadi Rum | Dead Sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| December to February | Cool days, cold nights, rain and occasional snow | Mild days, nights near freezing | Warm and pleasant |
| March to May | Mild to warm, the busiest season | Warm days, cool nights | Warm, hot by May |
| June to August | Hot, with strong midday sun in Petra | Very hot by day | Extremely hot |
| September to November | Warm, cooling through autumn | Comfortable, nights cooling fast | Hot early, warm later |
Doing the route on a budget
Use the JETT bus between Amman and Wadi Musa, minibuses to Wadi Rum, and a simple camp that includes dinner. JETT runs a morning departure from Amman to Petra and an afternoon return, with times that change on holidays and during Ramadan, so check the current timetable on the JETT site. Skip resort day passes and use a public beach at the Dead Sea, bringing your own water for rinsing off.
Stretching the trip to seven days
Two extra days let you add the sights most five-day plans leave out. On the way south, spend a night in Madaba, known for the Byzantine mosaic map of the Holy Land in St George's Church, and stop at Mount Nebo, the hilltop where Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land. North of Amman, Jerash has some of the best-preserved Roman streets outside Italy, and Ajloun Castle is a short drive beyond it, so the two fit into one day trip.
The other popular extension is Aqaba on the Red Sea, about an hour south of Wadi Rum. A night there gives you time for snorkelling on the coral reefs south of town before driving north to the Dead Sea. Travellers who like hiking can also book a guided walk in Wadi Mujib, a canyon near the Dead Sea where the trails run through water. Its routes close in winter and after rain, so check whether they are open for your dates.
Changing the plan
If you have a sixth day, add Jerash, about an hour north of Amman, on day one or two. If you are flying into Aqaba, run the loop in reverse: Wadi Rum first, then Petra, the Dead Sea and Amman. Travellers combining Jordan with the Gulf often connect through Dubai or Qatar, and some continue to Saudi Arabia or Oman.
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