Destination guide

Amman, Petra & Wadi Rum

Jordan · Middle East

Search all hotels in Amman, Petra & Wadi Rum 2026-08-28 → 2026-08-31 · 2 · 1

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.

At a glance

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.

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When to visit

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.

Getting around

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.

Where to stay

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.

Your Marhaba Trip Plan

Amman, Petra & Wadi Rum at a glance

Recommended trip: 5–7 days
Best time to visit: March–May and September–November are peak with 18–28°C days and cool desert nights.
Getting around: Rental car or private driver is the classic Jordan setup — the Desert Highway links Amman → Petra → Wadi Rum in 3–4 hours per leg.
Recommended areas: Amman — Downtown & Rainbow Street · Amman — Abdoun & Sweifieh · Petra / Wadi Musa

Top experiences

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.

Book your trip

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Do I need a visa for Amman, Petra & Wadi Rum?

Policy: Varies by nationality
Typical stay: 30 days

Most Western nationalities receive a visa on arrival at Queen Alia (AMM) or Aqaba (AQJ). The Jordan Pass (from JOD 70) waives the visa fee for stays of 3+ nights and includes Petra plus 40+ attractions.

Official government source

How do I get to Amman, Petra & Wadi Rum?

Airports

AMM · Queen Alia International (Amman) · 35 km
Airport Express bus JOD 3.5 to Amman North Terminal (~45 min); taxi ~JOD 25.
AQJ · King Hussein International (Aqaba) · 10 km
Southern gateway — best for Wadi Rum/Petra first, then work north to Amman.

Aqaba (AQJ) offers a fee-free special-economic-zone entry stamp — useful if not buying a Jordan Pass.

How do I get around Amman, Petra & Wadi Rum?

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.

Fridays are quieter — Jerash, Madaba and Petra are less crowded but some shops close in the morning.

What should I eat and know about food culture in Amman, Petra & Wadi Rum?

Signature dishes

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.

Etiquette

Modest public dress — shoulders and knees covered outside beach resorts.
Right hand for eating and greeting; mansaf is traditionally eaten by hand from a shared platter.
Tipping 10% is customary in restaurants; guides and drivers appreciate JOD 5–10/day per person.

Alcohol is available at licensed hotel bars and dedicated restaurants; local Jordanian wines (JR, Zumot) and Amstel beer are common.

Is Amman, Petra & Wadi Rum safe for travelers?

Overall risk: LowEmergency: 911

Jordan is one of the region's safest and most tourist-experienced countries.
Check government travel advisories before travel to border regions.
Petra involves 3–5 km of walking on uneven ground — sturdy shoes and sun protection essential.

Official travel advice

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Jordan?

Most Western nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival at Queen Alia International (AMM) or Aqaba (AQJ). The Jordan Pass (from JOD 70) bundles the visa fee with Petra and 40+ sites — the best-value option for most visitors.

What is the Jordan Pass?

An official pre-paid pass covering the tourist visa (waived for stays of 3+ nights) plus entry to Petra (1, 2 or 3 days), Wadi Rum, Jerash and 40+ sites. Buy at jordanpass.jo before travel.

How many days do I need in Petra?

Minimum one full day for the Treasury, Monastery and Royal Tombs; a Jordan Pass 2-day gives you Petra by Night (Mon/Wed/Thu) and a slower Monastery hike.

How do I get from Amman to Petra?

Rental car via the Desert Highway in ~3 hours, private driver (~JOD 80–120), or JETT daily bus (JOD 11, ~4 hours). Day trips are possible but overnight in Wadi Musa is strongly recommended.

Is Jordan safe for tourists?

Yes — Jordan is one of the region's safest and most tourist-experienced countries. Standard city awareness applies; the Foreign Office and US State Department maintain current travel advice.

What's the best area for a luxury stay?

Amman: Four Seasons Amman, W Amman, St. Regis Amman. Petra: Mövenpick Resort Petra (steps from the entrance). Wadi Rum: Memories Aicha, Hasan Zawaideh Luxury Camp.

Can I combine Petra with the Dead Sea?

Yes — the Dead Sea is 1h from Amman and 3h from Petra; most 7-day itineraries end (or start) with two nights at Kempinski Ishtar or Hilton Dead Sea for buoyant floats and spa mud.

Is Jordan family-friendly?

Very — Petra by donkey/camel, Wadi Rum 4x4 rides, Dead Sea floating and the Roman theatres of Jerash and Amman engage older kids and teens easily.

More ways to extend or combine your Amman, Petra & Wadi Rum trip.