Petra & Wadi Rum: The Complete Jordan Guide
Jordan is one of the world's great compact adventures — Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea and Amman in five days, no long transfers, no visa hassle if you buy the Jordan Pass. Below is the itinerary we send friends, how to actually walk Petra without exhausting yourself, and how to book Wadi Rum camps and transfers through our existing partners.
5-day Jordan itinerary that works
Day 1 — arrive Amman (AMM), pick up a rental or pre-booked driver, sleep in Amman or drive 3h down to Petra via the Desert Highway.
Day 2 — Petra full day: enter early (6-7am), walk the Siq, Treasury, Street of Facades, Royal Tombs. Rest during heat. Petra by Night if it's Mon/Wed/Thu.
Day 3 — Petra Day 2: hike either the Monastery (Ad Deir, 850 steps, 3-4h round trip) OR the High Place of Sacrifice. Late-afternoon drive 90 min to Wadi Rum.
Day 4 — Wadi Rum: half-day jeep tour to Lawrence Spring, Khazali Canyon, Um Fruth arch, Anfashieh inscriptions, sunset from a big dune. Sleep in a bubble or luxury Bedouin camp.
Day 5 — drive 4h north to the Dead Sea, float, then transfer back to Amman for departure the next morning.
Petra — how to actually see it
Buy the Jordan Pass online before flying — it bundles the visa waiver and 1/2/3-day Petra entry, saves ~50 JOD, and you skip the arrival visa queue.
Enter at first light (6-7am summer, 7am winter). The Siq narrows for 1.2 km and the Treasury reveal is unforgettable when empty.
Petra by Night (Mon/Wed/Thu 20:30) is a 1,500-candle Bedouin music walk to the Treasury — book at the visitor centre same-day.
The Monastery (Ad Deir) is a 850-step climb (about 3-4 hours round-trip). Do it before 10 am or after 3 pm to avoid heat.
The 'Back Route' from Little Petra via Wadi Muthlim is a stunning 4-hour hike ending at the Monastery — book with a local guide via our tour partner.
Avoid the animal rides (donkeys, camels, horse carts) — well-documented welfare issues. Walk or bring good trail shoes.
Wadi Rum — which camp actually suits you
Traditional Bedouin camps (Rahayeb Desert Camp, Wadi Rum Night Luxury) — canvas tents, communal dinners, best cultural immersion, cheapest tier.
Bubble camps (Wadi Rum Bubble Luxotel, Memories Aicha Luxury Camp): transparent domes with wall AC and beds — the Milky Way from your pillow. Peak-season book 3-4 months out.
Ultra-luxury (Sun City Camp Martian Tents, Discovery Bedu): private-facility tents, spa, fine-dining — the honeymoon and multigen luxury pick.
Every camp includes at least one jeep tour and Bedouin dinner — extras (camel rides, hot-air balloon, sunset hike) book separately through our tour partner.
Amman and the Dead Sea
Amman: one full day is enough for the Citadel, Roman Theatre, Rainbow Street and the King Abdullah Mosque. Best hummus at Hashem, best knafeh at Habibah in Downtown.
The Dead Sea is 45 minutes from Amman — pick a resort on the northern shore (Kempinski Ishtar, Mövenpick Dead Sea, Hilton Dead Sea) for spa access and pool floats above the sea.
Combine Petra-Wadi Rum-Dead Sea in one loop rather than backtracking through Amman twice.
Extend with Wadi Mujib (canyoning), Umm Qais (Roman ruins with Golan Heights view), or Aqaba Red Sea diving if you have 8+ days.
Getting there and around
Amman (AMM) is the main international gateway; Aqaba (AQJ) is useful if you plan to start south. Pre-book a Kiwitaxi private transfer from either — Uber/Careem work in Amman only.
Driving Jordan is easy — well-signposted, cheap petrol, mostly single-carriageway. A driver-guide via our tour partner is the low-stress alternative if you don't want to drive the King's Highway solo.
Petra town (Wadi Musa) is walkable but hilly — pick a hotel close to the visitor centre gate. Wadi Rum has no phone signal at most camps.
JETT bus runs daily Amman ↔ Petra ↔ Aqaba if you're travelling solo without a car.
Check live hotel rates in Petra, Jordan
Real availability and prices from our licensed booking partner. No hidden fees.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Jordan?
March-May and September-November — warm days, cool evenings, best hiking weather. Summer (June-August) hits 40°C+ at Petra and Wadi Rum. Winter (December-February) is cold at night in the desert and snow occasionally closes Petra.
How many days do I need for Petra?
Two full days is right — Day 1 for the Siq/Treasury/Royal Tombs and Petra by Night, Day 2 for the Monastery hike or High Place of Sacrifice. A rushed one-day visit misses the two most rewarding hikes.
Is Jordan safe?
Yes. Jordan is one of the safest, most welcoming countries in the Middle East for tourists. Normal urban precautions in Amman, no issues in Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea or Aqaba.
Do I need the Jordan Pass?
Yes if you plan Petra at all — the pass waives the 40 JOD visa fee (when staying 3+ nights) and covers 1/2/3-day Petra entry plus 40 other sites. Buy online before flying.
How do I get from Amman airport?
Pre-book a Kiwitaxi private transfer — the airport is 35 km / 40 min from central Amman, longer at rush hour. If continuing straight to Petra, book a direct 3-hour transfer instead of overnighting in Amman.
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