Amman, Petra & Wadi Rum Travel Guide: Where to Stay, What to Do and When to Go

Why visit Amman, Petra & Wadi Rum

Jordan packs an outsized share of the world's most famous ancient sites into a compact loop — Petra's Treasury, Wadi Rum's Martian dunes, Jerash's Roman colonnades and the buoyant Dead Sea, all bookended by hospitable Amman.

Jordan's compact loop pairs Amman — a hilly Levantine capital of Roman ruins and hip Rainbow Street cafés — with Petra, the UNESCO Nabataean Rose City, and Wadi Rum, the red-sand desert of Lawrence of Arabia. Add the Dead Sea and Jerash's Roman colonnades and you have one of the most rewarding week-long itineraries in the Middle East.

• Classic Jordan loop — Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea in a single week.

• March–May and September–November are peak; winter nights near freezing in Petra.

• Alcohol served in licensed hotel bars and restaurants throughout Jordan.

• Jordan Pass bundles the visa fee with Petra and 40+ sites — the best-value option for most visitors.

• Currency JOD; Type G 230V plugs; tap water safe in Amman hotels but bottled is standard.

Best time to visit Amman, Petra & Wadi Rum

March–May and September–November are peak with 18–28°C days and cool desert nights. December–February is cold (near freezing in Petra at night); June–August is hot (35°C+) but manageable for early-morning Petra visits and Aqaba beach breaks.

Where to stay in Amman, Petra & Wadi Rum

Choosing the right neighbourhood matters more than the hotel itself in Amman, Petra & Wadi Rum. These are the areas travelers book most.

• Amman — Downtown & Rainbow Street

  Roman Theatre, Citadel, souks and Jabal Amman cafés.

• Amman — Abdoun & Sweifieh

  Embassy district with Four Seasons, W Amman, malls and dining.

• Petra / Wadi Musa

  Gateway town to Petra — Mövenpick, Marriott Petra and boutique cave-style stays.

• Wadi Rum

  Bedouin camps — bubble domes and Martian-landscape 4x4 tours.

Top things to do in Amman, Petra & Wadi Rum

• Petra — The Treasury (Al-Khazneh)

  The iconic 40 m carved façade at the end of the Siq — arrive at opening for empty shots.

• Petra — The Monastery (Ad Deir)

  800 rock-cut steps above Petra — quieter and often more atmospheric than the Treasury.

• Wadi Rum

  Bedouin desert of red sand and rock arches — 4x4 tours and bubble-dome camps under Milky Way skies.

• Jerash

  One of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities in the world — colonnaded street and hippodrome.

• Dead Sea

  Lowest point on Earth (-430 m) — buoyant float and mineral mud on the Jordanian shore.

Getting around Amman, Petra & Wadi Rum

Rental car or private driver is the classic Jordan setup — the Desert Highway links Amman → Petra → Wadi Rum in 3–4 hours per leg. JETT intercity buses run Amman ↔ Petra and Amman ↔ Aqaba. Careem operates in Amman; in Petra and Wadi Rum, rely on hotel transfers.

• Private driver / rental car

  The classic Jordan setup — Desert Highway links Amman → Petra → Wadi Rum smoothly.

• JETT intercity bus

  Daily Amman ↔ Petra (JOD 11, ~4h) and Amman ↔ Aqaba services.

• Careem

  Operates in Amman only; in Petra and Wadi Rum use hotel drivers.

• Petra shuttle & horses

  Included Siq horse ride and paid carriages inside the Petra archaeological park.

What to eat in Amman, Petra & Wadi Rum

• Mansaf

  Jordan's national dish — lamb cooked in fermented dried yoghurt (jameed) served on rice.

• Maqluba

  'Upside-down' rice-and-meat casserole flipped onto a platter at the table.

• Knafeh Nabulsi

  Sweet cheese-and-syrup pastry — try Habibah in Amman Downtown.

Practical tips for Amman, Petra & Wadi Rum

• Buy the Jordan Pass online before arrival — it bundles the visa fee with Petra and 40+ sites.

• Petra requires 3–5 km of walking on uneven ground; bring sturdy shoes, a hat and plenty of water.

• Wadi Rum camps are remote — pack for cold nights (5–10°C in winter) and no phone reception in some sites.

How long to stay and what it costs

Most travelers spend 5–7 days in Amman, Petra & Wadi Rum. Compare live hotel rates for your exact dates before fixing the length of your trip — shoulder-season nights in Amman, Petra & Wadi Rum are often materially cheaper than peak weeks.