Nestled at the crossroads of the Middle East, Jordan beckons travellers with its diverse landscape, ancient history, and warm hospitality.
From the red-hued desert landscapes of Wadi Rum to the captivating ancient city of Petra, Jordan offers a unique blend of adventure, culture, and history that promises to leave a lifetime of memories.
Few things can prepare you for the jewels of Jordan. They have to be seen to be believed. However, if you only a short time to explore the country’s offerings, it’s essential to plan beforehand.
How to spend one-week in Jordan
To help with your planning, I have put together a one-week itinerary to ensure you don’t miss the country’s extraorindary highlights. This itinerary has a something for everyone, including culture, food, nature and hiking.
Day 1 | Amman - Jordan's Capital City (2 Nights)
International flights arrive into Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport, which is around 35km south of the city centre. Either hire a car or jump into a taxi (I travelled around the country via taxi which I found affordable since I was travelling with 4 other people).
Jordan’s capital, Amman, offers a modern contrast to its ancient wonders. The city’s vibrant markets, such as the lively Rainbow Street, present an opportunity to sample local cuisine, shop for traditional crafts, and immerse oneself in the daily life of Jordanians. At the same time, historic sites like the Amman Citadel and the Roman Theater remind visitors of the city’s storied past.
Amman is best explored by foot. It might be a capital city but it’s small enough to cover a lot of ground and see the main attractions in just a few days.
Attractions of Amman
- Explore Al-Balad and immerse yourself in the heart of Amman. Located just below the Citadel, Al-Balad is the old Downtown where you’ll find lots of shops selling traditional Jordanian delights like rugs, cloth, kunafeh (pudding with melted cheese and pistachios on top) and Hashem (hummus and falafel) and Zaatar which is a blend of dried thyme, sesame seeds and sumac – perfect for sprinkling over hummus or just toast with a knob of butter. If you want a perfect memento a reminder of your trip, go to one of the many perfumery stores. Tell the staff what perfume you like and they’ll be able to create a like-for-like imitation for a fraction of the price.
→ Read more: A Brief History of Falafel
- Perhaps Amman’s most spectacular attraction is the Citadel which sits on top of a large hill in the city centre. This area was occupied by different people and cultures over the years dating all the way back from 1650-1550 BC from the Stone Ages to the Romans and this is reflected in the ruins and various sites including the Roman Amphitheater. Due to its high location you’ll discover its stunning vantage point across the whole of Amman.
- King Abdullah Mosque is a truly a beautiful place of worship with amazing Middle Eastern architecture. As you enter through the gift shop you’ll be given an abaya (a black full length dress) to wear as you look around.
Dinner in Amman
We loved Sufra Restaurant located on Rainbow Street. The outdoor seating decorated with flowers and the warm glow of candles provided the perfect setting to enjoy the evening and delicious Jordanian food. The hummus was simply divine! Reserving a table is advised.
Address: Sufra Restaurant, Al Rainbow St 26, Amman, Jordan
Accommodation in Amman
We spent two nights at Khan Khediwe Hotel. It’s simple but comfort and had lots of charm due to the Egyptian-inspired decor. It offers good value for money considering the location which really couldn’t be any better.
Day 2 | The Ruins of Jerash
In the morning soak up more of the atmosphere in Amman, and see any other attractions you might have missed on your day of arrival yesterday.
In the late morning or early afternoon head 30-miles north of Amman to Jerash for a day trip. Back in the day, Jerash, then known as Gerasa, was a strategic trading point, with Damascus to the north, Amman to the south, and Jerusalem to the west.
It’s a huge Graeco-Roman settlement, with theatres, colonnades, a hippodrome, triumphal arches, squares and mosaics depicting scenes of daily life. Astonishing these are still well-preserved after an earthquake in 749 buried the ruins in sand for centuries.
Day 3 | Travel to Petra (2 Nights)
It’s now time to head out of Amman and start moving towards Petra. As there were four of us we decided to get a taxi and split the cost between ourselves to make it affordable. Alternatively you can catch a bus which you should enquire about at your hotel. Petra is about a 3.5 hours drive from Amman, passing lots and lots of beautiful desert scenery.
When we arrived in Petra we dumped our bags off and headed straight to the archeological site of Petra, entering through the Siq, its main gateway.
As we stepped inside the Siq, a mile-long meandering gorge of towering red sandstone rocks, we carried on walking until the rose coloured rock carving known to the world as the Treasury slowly begin to unveil itself.
The experience was so peaceful, there were no crowds, no people waving cameras around, only the occasional sound of a chariot bolting past. It felt like we were on a movie set, especially as we recognised some of the landmarks from Indiana Jones.
Since we knew we’d be coming back the following day we didn’t feel the pressure to cram everything in. We had time to meander around caves, take photos and simply revel in this one time forgotten land. After an earthquake in 363 AD that destroyed the majority of the city, changes were made in trade routes, so the once thriving city of Petra became abandoned, and ‘lost’ to all except local Bedouin from the area. It remained unknown to Europeans until it was rediscovered in 1812 by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.
Accommodation in Petra
Stay 2 nights at Petra Guest House Hotel, ideally located on the doorstep of the Petra’s entrance. The hotel offers a range of facilities including the Cave Bar, set in a restored 1st century Nabatean house, offering gorgeous al fresco setting dining to relax with a cocktail after days of exploration.
Day 4: Full-day Hike From Little Petra
Today see Petra from a different perspective. Hire a guide and begin your exploration in Little Petra which is also the back entrance of Petra. This trail is much less popular so expect even fewer crowds. The hike takes approximately 3.5 hours (one way) so wear good footwear – we didn’t and it made the hike feel very precarious at times!
Taking the back route through Petra is without doubt more adventurous than heading into Petra via the main entrance.
The lesser known entrance takes you first into Little Petra, a place where the local Bedouins claim “If you haven’t been to Little Petra, then you haven’t been to Petra at all”. It’s like a tiny microcosm of Petra filled with monuments, tombs, Nabatean wall murals, water cisterns and caves carved into grand canyons.
Following Little Petra, your guide will take you on a hike to Ad-Deir, popularly known as the Monastery. From there it’s easy to navigate your way out of Petra back to the Treasury, exiting through the Siq.
→ Read more: Adventure Through Little Petra & Beyond
Around the Monastery you’ll find a few little cafes where you can cool down, purchase a drink, and rest your legs.
Day 5 | Exploring the Wadi Rum Desert (1 Night)
After a leisurely breakfast, it’s time to head to your next eagerly anticipated destination, the inspiring desert of Wadi Rum. It’s about a 1 hour 45 minute drive from Petra, travelling through a mars-like red and dry scenery. Wadi Rum has been inhabited by a variety of different cultures since prehistoric times, and is where British officer, T.E. Lawrence passed through during the Arab Revolt in 1917-1918 and which was detailed in his book the Seven Pillars of Wisdom.
Today, Wadi Rum is home to Bedouin people who have opened their beautiful land up to tourism, offering a variety of different touristic adventures, such as camping, climbing, trekking, camel safaris and ATV tours.
As soon as we arrived we dived straight into the adventure and opted for a Jeep safari.
We stopped to roll down sand dunes and we explored the space between Khazali canyon, climbing into spaces and ridges to reach Petroglyphs etched into the rose-coloured walls over 4000 years ago.
We continued on, driving past the Seven Pillars of Wisdom, and bumped up and down to the natural waves of the desert until we approached the side of a mountain. Slowly emerging from underneath the cliff face were black rectangular objects, and as we came nearer and nearer, we soon realised that they were our cabins for the night.
The true highlight of being in Wadi Rum was watching the sunset followed by a traditional Bedouin dinner cooked in a zarb and making new friends around a camp fire. We stayed up late into the night looking up at the sky filled endlessly with stars.
Accommodation in Wadi Rum
Overnight stay in a tent cabin at Bedouin Lifestyle Camp. Located by a huge canyon in the middle of the Wadi Rum desert, it’s unlike nowhere else to spend the night.
Day 6: Mount Nebo & Dead Sea (2 Nights)
After a few days of hiking and non-stop adventure, what better time is there to relax your muscles in the Dead Sea?!
The drive takes a fews hours and beforehand ask your driver to stop off at Mount Nebo for a quick tour. Mount Nebo is mentioned in the Hebrew bible as the place where Moses was granted a view of the Promised Land. The view from the top provides incredible panoramic views where you can even see Jerusalem from on a clear day. This is also the spot that is said to be where Moses died and was buried.
The final stop of your trip is the Dead Sea. Sixty-seven kilometres long, eighteen kilometres at its widest point and boarding Jordan and Israel, the Dead Sea is vast and can be easily reached within both countries. Over eight times saltier than the Ocean, the salinity of the sea is too high for any fish or plants to live in and makes the water dense enough to make you to float like an inflatable rubber dingy!
The Dead Sea has a rich history – from Biblical writings, to how the Egyptians used the mud in their mummification process – but little has changed since the days of Cleopatra, who lusted after its healing properties and built the world’s first ever spa along its shores. It is difficult not to get caught up in its claim for beautification when you’re covered completely in mud.
Accommodation by the Dead Sea
After all the sightseeing I’m sure you’ll want to relax.If you’re after a touch of luxury, book yourself into Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea.
You can whittle away the hours by floating in the Dead Sea or relaxing in the spa’s hydro pool. A couple of days here will leave you feeling utterly rejuvenated.
Day 7: Return Home
Depending on your return flight home, you might have time to head back into Amman and buy some final souvenirs and spices to take home with you.
8 responses
Hi Shing. I’ve just forwarded your blog onto my husband because we are in the midst of looking for an adventure to go on with our two teenage kids before they decide they are too old to go on holiday with us! I am wondering how you went about booking your tours. Did you book before you went to Jordan or book through your hotel on the day? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Hello Laura! Great to hear that Jordan is a contender for a family adventure. It certainly offers the adventure and cultural immersion that you and your family can talk and reminisce about for years to come!
In regards to booking tours, we did all ours when we arrived. Our hike in Petra was arrange at our hotel and the Jeep Safari in Wadi Rum was sorted by our taxi driver who had a few friends working at Bedouin Lifestyle Camp. I would suggest booking all our accommodation beforehand and then your hotel can help arrange any tours you’d like to go on. However, it’s a good idea to read other guides for a second option. You may wish to have all this prep done before you arrive so ensure everything is arranged beforehand.
Happy travels!
Wow! I love this piece Shing!
‘Like Laura above, I haven’t yet been to Jordan, and would travel there with my German husband and teenage son! Right now, our son is happy to travel with us as long as the destinations are either exotic, or because he hasn’t been there before! And this is coming from a child who had already been to 28 countries, by the time he was 5 years old!
Jordan might just be the place!
Whaaaat?! 28 countries by the time he was 5 years old?! PLEASE adopt me Victoria!!
Jordan is an amazing destination to visit and I really love it. You shared a great itinerary to enjoy the areas of beautiful Jordan. So many historical things and stunning photos you shared of that beautiful place.
Hi Shing,
Lovely photos with required information… My husband and I are planning to visit Jordan in August and I must say I find your blog very useful.
Cheers!
Semanti
Hi Semanti! Glad you have found my post useful. Jordan is such a special place, home to wonderful people and endless opportunities for adventure. You and your husband will have an amazing time!
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