7 Days in Jordan: Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea

A one-week Jordan itinerary blending ancient cities, desert adventures, and spa-level relaxation—think Petra’s rose-red facades, Wadi Rum’s star-strewn skies, and the silky float of the Dead Sea.
Daily life in Alexandria
Photo by Eslam Mohammed Abdelmaksoud on Pexels

Jordan sits at the crossroads of empires and faiths—Nabataeans, Romans, Byzantines, Umayyads—and you feel that layered history at every turn. Petra’s carved facades glow at sunrise, Jerash’s colonnades echo underfoot, and Wadi Rum’s sandstone towers have lured explorers from T.E. Lawrence to modern filmmakers.

Beyond the headliners, Jordan is deliciously hospitable. Expect velvety hummus, flaky-stuffed pastries, and mansaf, the national dish—lamb cooked in jameed yogurt and served over rice. Coffee is a ritual: cardamom-scented, poured with a smile, and often the start of a new friendship.

Practical notes: Consider the Jordan Pass (covers major attractions and waives the visa fee with a 3+ night stay). Dress modestly in towns and villages; Fridays are the main prayer day. Ramadan shifts annually—plan meal times accordingly. For flights, compare fares on Trip.com and Kiwi.com.

Amman

Amman is a lively capital built on seven hills (now many more), where Roman ruins meet café culture and mural-lined lanes. Downtown, the call to prayer drifts over spice stalls; in Jabal Al-Weibdeh and Rainbow Street, you’ll find design-forward cafés and galleries.

Top sights include the Amman Citadel (Temple of Hercules and the Umayyad Palace), the Roman Theater, and the Jordan Museum for Dead Sea Scrolls fragments and a crisp primer on Jordan’s past. Many travelers use Amman as a launchpad for Jerash, Madaba, and Mount Nebo.

Day 1: Arrive in Amman, Downtown Stroll, and Jordanian Comfort Food

Morning: In transit. If landing earlier, drop bags, freshen up, and grab a silky tahini-laced hummus with warm pita at Hashem; the line moves fast and the turnover keeps everything fresh.

Afternoon: Check in. Walk the Roman Theater (climb to the top for skyline views) and the nearby Folklore Museum. Coffee at Rumi Café—try the cardamom latte—or a mint lemonade at Turtle Green.

Evening: Dinner at Sufra: order mansaf or maqluba (rice “turned over” with eggplant and lamb). End with knafeh at Habibah Sweets, the classic gooey-cheesy dessert soaked in syrup. Turn in early to reset your time zone.

Day 2: Citadel, Museums, and an Amman Food Tour

Morning: The Amman Citadel opens in quiet light—browse the Archaeological Museum, then soak up the panorama from the Umayyad Palace. Brunch at Shams El Balad: labneh, za’atar-dusted flatbreads, and seasonal salads.

Afternoon: Explore Jabal Al-Weibdeh galleries and the leafy Paris Circle. Pop into Wild Jordan Center for crafts and Dead Sea products. Quick bite: Shawarma Reem’s perfectly charred, garlicky roll.

Evening: Join a guided tasting through downtown—perfect for first-timers to decode street-food favorites and sweets. Amman Food Tours: 3-Hours Guided Walking Food Tour in Amman

Amman Food Tours: 3-Hours Guided Walking Food Tour in Amman on Viator
Wrap up with tea at Jafra Café and a stroll along Rainbow Street’s evening buzz.

Day 3: Roman North—Jerash, Ajloun, and Umm Qais

Morning: Depart at 8:00 a.m. for Jerash (approx. 50–60 minutes; entry covered by Jordan Pass or ~10 JOD). Walk the Oval Plaza, the Cardo Maximus, and the well-preserved theaters whose acoustics still impress.

Afternoon: Continue to Ajloun Castle (30–40 minutes) for Crusader-era views over forested hills, then to Umm Qais (1 hour) overlooking the Golan and Sea of Galilee. Lunch options near Jerash: Lebanese House (spreads, grilled meats) or Green Valley (mezze with garden views).

Evening: Return to Amman (1.5–2 hours). Dinner at Fakhr El-Din, a refined spot for lamb chops, fattoush, and kibbeh nayeh. If you’d like a driver/guide, this full-day option is efficient: Jerash, Ajloun, Umm Qais Day Trip.

Jerash, Ajloun, Umm Qais Day Trip on Viator

Petra

Petra, the “rose-red city half as old as time,” was the Nabataean capital and trading hub carved into sandstone cliffs. The entry siq, a natural gorge, heightens the reveal of the Treasury like a drawn curtain.

Allow a day and a half if you can: beyond the famous facade are tomb-lined canyons, Byzantine mosaics, and the Monastery, reached by a stairway of views. If your dates align, Petra by Night (Mon/Wed/Thu) lights the siq and Treasury with candles—magical, if you can handle the crowds.

Day 4: Amman to Petra, the Siq and Treasury, and Petra by Night

Morning: Depart Amman around 7:00 a.m., arriving in Wadi Musa by late morning. Drop bags, pick up snacks and water near the visitor center, and enter Petra by noon.

Afternoon: Walk the Siq to the Treasury, then continue to the Street of Facades, the Theater, and Royal Tombs. For a quieter route with dramatic viewpoints, consider the “back door” approach led by a licensed guide: Petra Back Door Easy Access Tour – See More, Walk Less.

Petra Back Door Easy Access Tour – See More, Walk Less on Viator
Refuel with a lemon-mint and mezze at the Basin Restaurant inside the site.

Evening: If it’s running on your dates, return for Petra by Night (about 17 JOD). Otherwise, dinner at Al-Wadi Restaurant (mixed grill, smoky baba ghanoush) and a nightcap at the Cave Bar carved into rock.

Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum’s otherworldly desert—sandstone mesas, natural arches, and copper sands—has starred in films from Lawrence of Arabia to The Martian. By day, take a 4x4 to hidden canyons and petroglyphs; by night, watch the Milky Way spill across the sky.

Pair a sunset jeep tour with Bedouin hospitality and a zarb dinner—a feast slow-cooked in an underground sand oven. In cooler months (Oct–Apr), sunrise hot-air balloons are unforgettable.

Day 5: Petra Monastery Hike, Transfer to Wadi Rum, Sunset Jeep Tour

Morning: Re-enter Petra early to climb the 800+ steps to the Monastery (Ad-Deir). The trail is well-marked; allow 2.5–3 hours round-trip with photo stops and a coffee at a cliffside kiosk.

Afternoon: Drive to Wadi Rum Village and check in. Begin a 2–3 hour 4x4 tour: Lawrence Spring, Khazali Canyon petroglyphs, and the Um Frouth rock bridge. Typical jeep tours cost ~25–40 JOD per person.

Evening: Watch sunset from a dune ridge, then feast on zarb at camp (tender lamb/chicken, rice, salads). Stargazing after dinner is superb—ask to dim camp lights for better Milky Way views. Prefer a packaged plan that bundles transport and overnight logistics? Consider 2-Day Private Tour from Amman: Petra, Wadi Rum Camp & Dead Sea.

2-Day Private Tour from Amman: Petra, Wadi Rum Camp & Dead Sea. on Viator

Dead Sea

At Earth’s lowest point, the Dead Sea is famous for effortless floating and mineral-rich mud. The water’s salinity makes skin silky but stings cuts—rinse off and avoid getting it in your eyes.

Resorts here add spa indulgence to desert adventure; it’s a perfect last stop after hiking and sand. En route from Wadi Rum or Petra, many travelers detour to Mount Nebo and mosaic-filled Madaba.

Day 6: Wadi Rum Sunrise, Float the Dead Sea, Spa Time

Morning: Optional sunrise camel ride (1 hour; ~15–25 JOD) or hot-air balloon (seasonal; ask camp to arrange). Depart mid-morning for the Dead Sea; grab lunch en route in Madaba (try oven-baked musakhan or saj).

Afternoon: Check in and head straight to the beach. Float for 10–15 minutes at a time, slather on mineral mud, then rinse and repeat. Day-pass rates at resorts run ~25–50 JOD if you’re not overnighting.

Evening: Sunset is spectacular as the light gilds the Jordan Rift Valley. Dinner at Kempinski’s Obelisk (Levantine buffet with seasonal salads), Burj Al Hamam (classic Lebanese), or Holiday Inn’s Al Deera by the water.

Day 7: Nebo and Madaba Mosaics, then Depart

Morning: After breakfast, visit Mount Nebo (Moses’ memorial) for wide views across the Jordan Valley, then Madaba’s St. George Church to see the famed 6th-century Holy Land mosaic map. If you prefer a guided route—including the Baptism Site—book: Private or Group tour to Dead Sea, baptism site, Nebo and Madaba.

Private or Group tour to Dead Sea, baptism site, Nebo and Madaba on Viator
Allow 45–60 minutes back to the airport (QAIA) from Madaba.

Afternoon: Depart Jordan with salt-softened skin and a camera roll full of canyons and columns. For flights, compare options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com, and consider booking a private transfer to keep the morning relaxed: Amman Airport private Transfers From/To multi destinations.

Optional: Bundle Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea

If you prefer a driver-led multi-day package from Amman that hits the highlights with minimal planning, these are popular, well-reviewed picks:

Practical Tips and Budget Notes

  • Transport costs (estimates): Private driver between cities ~150–240 USD/day depending on distance and vehicle; fuel is affordable, roads are good. JETT bus Amman–Petra ~12–15 JOD each way.
  • Entrance fees (if not using Jordan Pass): Petra ~50 JOD (1 day), Jerash ~10 JOD, Wadi Rum ~5 JOD, Mount Nebo ~2 JOD. Petra by Night ~17 JOD. The Jordan Pass (70–80 JOD) usually pays for itself.
  • Food: Breakfast 3–7 JOD; mezze lunch 6–12 JOD; sit-down dinners 10–25 JOD; upscale dining more.
  • What to pack: Layers for desert nights, sun protection, comfy walking shoes for Petra’s stone steps, a dry bag and sandals for the Dead Sea.

Where to stay at a glance (quick links):

Summary: In one week you’ll taste Amman’s modern pulse, wander Petra’s canyons, sleep under Wadi Rum’s constellations, and drift in the Dead Sea. With smart routing, a Jordan Pass, and a few prebooked tours, this itinerary balances history, nature, and delicious downtime.

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