# Jordan Travel Guide

> Plan Jordan with a travel advisor: Petra in two days, Wadi Rum luxury camps, Dead Sea resorts, best months, getting there from Canada, costs and a 5-day itinerary.

- Country: Jordan
- Canonical page: https://savvyjetsetter.ca/destinations/jordan
- Last updated: 2026-10-13
- Author: Bobby Atwal, TICO-registered travel advisor (Fora Travel), Toronto — https://savvyjetsetter.ca/inquiry

## Overview

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.

## 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.

## 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

**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).

## Quick facts

- **Airport:** Queen Alia, Amman (AMM); King Hussein, Aqaba (AQJ)
- **Currency:** JOD (Jordanian Dinar, ~1 JOD = 1.9 CAD)
- **Language:** Arabic; English widely spoken
- **Time zone:** GMT+3 (+8h from Toronto)
- **Plugs:** Type C/D/F/G/J, 230V (adapter needed)
- **Visa (Canadians):** Visa on arrival for Canadians, or included in the Jordan Pass
- **Tipping:** 10% at restaurants; $10–20/day for guides and drivers

## Where to stay

- **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

## Food and drink

- **Hashem Restaurant** (Downtown Amman) — The falafel-and-hummus institution since 1952 — open 24 hours, royals and taxi drivers at the same plastic tables. ~$4–6/person.
- **Sufra** (Rainbow Street, Amman) — 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** (Wadi Musa (Petra)) — 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** (Wadi Rum) — 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** (Jabal Amman) — 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

- **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 area) — A 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 Amman) — Float 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.

## Common 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.

## Sample itinerary

### Day 1: Amman

- Arrive, settle in Jabal Amman
- Citadel and Roman theatre
- Falafel at Hashem
- Mansaf dinner at Sufra

### Day 2: 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

### Day 3: Petra

- Siq and Treasury at 6am opening
- Royal Tombs and the Colonnaded Street
- Climb to the Monastery
- Petra by Night

### Day 4: 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

### Day 5: Wadi Rum → Aqaba or Amman

- Desert sunrise
- Drive to Aqaba for a Red Sea snorkel
- Afternoon flight or 4h drive to Amman
- Departure

## Frequently asked questions

### 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.

## Plan this trip

- Have a TICO-registered advisor plan Jordan (complimentary; the hotel pays the commission): https://savvyjetsetter.ca/inquiry?destination=Jordan
- Free AI itinerary for Jordan: https://savvyjetsetter.ca/plan?destination=Jordan
- All destinations: https://savvyjetsetter.ca/destinations · Site index for AI agents: https://savvyjetsetter.ca/llms.txt