Jordan Travel Planning & Itineraries
By Bobby Atwal, TICO-registered travel advisor (Fora Travel), Toronto · Updated
Jordan packs more into a week than almost anywhere: Petra's rose-red Treasury at the end of a canyon, the Martian desert of Wadi Rum from a luxury camp, floating in the Dead Sea, Roman Jerash, the Red Sea reefs at Aqaba, and Amman's hummus and hospitality. It's safe, welcoming, compact (everything is within four hours of the capital), and the luxury layer — Mövenpick and Kempinski on the Dead Sea, the bubble tents of Wadi Rum, the Petra hotels — makes it a genuinely comfortable bucket-list trip.
Free advisor planning includes Fora Reserve hotel perks at no extra cost — or use our AI planner to pace your Jordan days, pick the right neighbourhoods, and build a route that makes sense.
Jordan at a glance
- Best time to visit
- March to May and September to November are the windows — 20–28°C, clear skies, wildflowers in spring, comfortable hiking at Petra and Wadi Rum.
- How long to stay
- Seven nights covers Amman, the Dead Sea, Petra (two days), Wadi Rum and Aqaba without rushing.
- Budget
- $90–140 USD/day (a guesthouse in Wadi Musa, falafel and mansaf, JETT buses, the Jordan Pass).
- Getting there from Canada
- No nonstops from Canada.
Planning Your Jordan Trip
Best Time to Visit
March to May and September to November are the windows — 20–28°C, clear skies, wildflowers in spring, comfortable hiking at Petra and Wadi Rum. April and October are the sweet spots. June to August is very hot inland (38–42°C in Petra and the desert) though the Dead Sea and Aqaba are manageable early and late in the day. December to February is cool (10–15°C), occasionally rainy, with snow possible in Amman — quiet, cheap and atmospheric at Petra, but pack layers.
Budget Overview
Budget: $90–140 USD/day (a guesthouse in Wadi Musa, falafel and mansaf, JETT buses, the Jordan Pass). Mid-range: $250–400/day (a 4-star in Petra and Amman, a private driver, a standard Wadi Rum camp, a Dead Sea resort night). Luxury: $600–1,200+/day (Mövenpick Petra, Kempinski Ishtar Dead Sea, a Wadi Rum bubble-tent or Memories Aicha, a private guide throughout). The Jordan Pass (~$100) bundles the visa and Petra entry — buy it before you fly.
Getting There
No nonstops from Canada. Royal Jordanian flies Montreal (YUL) → Amman (AMM) nonstop (~11h, seasonal schedule — check); from Toronto connect via Montreal, or via Istanbul on Turkish Airlines, Frankfurt on Lufthansa, or Doha/Dubai on Qatar/Emirates. AMM is 30–40 min from downtown Amman. Many itineraries end in Aqaba (AQJ) with a flight back to Amman or onward.
Getting Around
A private driver is the standard — roads are good, distances short (Amman–Petra 3h, Petra–Wadi Rum 1.5h, Wadi Rum–Aqaba 1h, Dead Sea–Amman 1h), and drivers double as fixers. Rental cars are fine for confident drivers; signage is bilingual. JETT buses link the main stops cheaply. Inside Wadi Rum you’re in a Bedouin 4x4; inside Petra you walk (or take a horse-cart for the Siq).
Common Jordan planning mistakes
Giving Petra one day
The site is huge. Two days lets you see the Treasury empty at opening, do the Monastery climb, and come back for the back trail without the 2pm heat.
Skipping the Jordan Pass
For about $100 it covers your visa and 1–3 days at Petra plus 40 other sites — cheaper than paying separately. Buy it online before departure.
Choosing the cheapest Wadi Rum camp
Camps range from basic to extraordinary and the difference is huge in comfort, food and the sunset drive. This is a night to spend on.
Rushing the Dead Sea
Stay the night. A quick dip on a day trip misses the sunset over the Judean hills, the spa and the morning float.
Jordan Neighbourhoods
Amman
The capital: the Citadel and Roman theatre, Rainbow Street cafés, Jabal Amman’s galleries, Hashem’s falafel, the Four Seasons and Fairmont. One or two nights at either end. — best for: food, a soft landing, Jerash day trip
Petra (Wadi Musa)
The town at the gate of the ancient city — Mövenpick and the Petra Marriott are the comfortable bases, Petra Guest House is next to the entrance. Two nights minimum. — best for: the main event, early entries, Petra by Night
Wadi Rum
The protected desert of red dunes and sandstone mountains, slept in at Bedouin camps that range from goat-hair tents to glass bubble domes. One night is magical; two is better. — best for: stargazing, 4x4 days, honeymoons
Dead Sea
A resort strip on the northern shore — Kempinski Ishtar, Mövenpick, Hilton — with private beaches for floating and mud. One night, usually first or last. — best for: recovery, spa, the float
Aqaba
Jordan’s Red Sea town: reefs for snorkelling and diving, Tala Bay resorts, 1h from Wadi Rum. A beach finish. — best for: divers, families, a warm ending
Jordan Food & Drink
Hashem Restaurant
The falafel-and-hummus institution since 1952 — open 24 hours, royals and taxi drivers at the same plastic tables. ~$4–6/person.
Sufra
Jordanian classics in a restored 1920s villa — mansaf (lamb in fermented yoghurt, the national dish), maqluba, mezze on the garden terrace. ~$25–40/person.
Al Qantarah
Traditional Bedouin and Jordanian cooking near the Petra gate — zarb (meat cooked underground), galayet bandora. ~$20–30/person.
Zarb dinner at a Wadi Rum camp
Lamb, chicken and vegetables cooked for hours in a sand oven, unearthed at sunset and eaten under the stars. Included at most camps; the better camps do it properly.
Books@Café
Rooftop café-bar with a view over the old city, decent food and a rare drink license. ~$15–25/person. The evening hangout.
Day Trips from Jordan
Petra — two days
From Wadi Musa (on foot)Day one: the Siq, the Treasury at opening, the Street of Facades, the Royal Tombs, the 800-step climb to the Monastery. Day two: the back trail from Little Petra, or the High Place of Sacrifice. Petra by Night on a Monday, Wednesday or Thursday.
Wadi Rum 4x4 and sunset
Half day inside the protected areaA Bedouin pickup to Lawrence’s Spring, the Khazali canyon inscriptions, the red dunes, a natural rock bridge, and tea at sunset — then the camp, the fire and the Milky Way.
Jerash & Ajloun
50 min north of Amman (full day)One of the best-preserved Roman cities anywhere — colonnaded streets, a hippodrome, two theatres — plus the Crusader-era Ajloun castle in the hills. From Amman.
Dead Sea float & Wadi Mujib
1h from AmmanFloat at 430 m below sea level, mud up, then hike the Siq Trail up the Wadi Mujib river canyon (April–October) — a wet, narrow, beautiful scramble.
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A Sample Jordan Itinerary
Here’s a flavour of what our AI planner builds. Generate your own personalized Jordan itinerary in 60 seconds — free.
Amman
- •Arrive, settle in Jabal Amman
- •Citadel and Roman theatre
- •Falafel at Hashem
- •Mansaf dinner at Sufra
Dead Sea → Petra
- •Morning drive to the Dead Sea, float and mud
- •Lunch at the resort
- •King’s Highway to Petra via Kerak castle
- •Check in at Wadi Musa
Petra
- •Siq and Treasury at 6am opening
- •Royal Tombs and the Colonnaded Street
- •Climb to the Monastery
- •Petra by Night
Petra → Wadi Rum
- •Little Petra and the back trail (optional)
- •Drive to Wadi Rum
- •4x4 afternoon to the dunes and arches
- •Zarb dinner and stargazing at camp
Wadi Rum → Aqaba or Amman
- •Desert sunrise
- •Drive to Aqaba for a Red Sea snorkel
- •Afternoon flight or 4h drive to Amman
- •Departure
Jordan Travel FAQ
Is Jordan safe to visit?
Yes — it’s one of the most stable, welcoming countries in the region and tourism is a national priority. Standard precautions apply; the main tourist route is extremely well-travelled. Check the Government of Canada advisory before booking as regional events can change guidance.
How many days do I need?
Seven nights covers Amman, the Dead Sea, Petra (two days), Wadi Rum and Aqaba without rushing. Five is possible with a tight route; ten adds Jerash, Dana reserve or a longer Red Sea finish.
When should I go?
March–May or September–November. April and October are ideal — warm days, cool nights, perfect for Petra’s climbs and the desert. Summer is extremely hot inland.
Do I need a guide?
A private driver-guide for the whole trip is the comfortable way and not expensive. At Petra, a licensed local guide for the first morning adds a lot; Wadi Rum is always with a Bedouin guide.
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