Incredible 7 Day Jordan Itinerary For A First Visit!
If you’re looking to explore the Middle East for the first time Jordan is an excellent choice. Our exciting 7 Day Jordan itinerary offers a relaxed pace but includes top Jordan highlights to make your trip awesome.
Explore ancient historical sites, overnight in the desert, and discover Petra and don’t miss a bob in the Dead Sea.
Living in Azerbaijan we made many trips to this part of the world and so created this article to help you create your Incredible 7 Day Jordan Itinerary.
Jordan Overview
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, to give the country its full name, is a jewel for visitors because it truly does offer something for everyone.
Imagine a week where you explore ancient treasures, tick off bucket list places like Petra, float in the Dead Sea and enjoy relaxing in Aquaba.
Head inland and stay overnight in the Wadi Rum desert with the brightest stars ever. Maybe even take a hot air balloon ride here too for incredible views. Travel on to Mount Nebo, believed to be the burial site of Moses. Don’t miss the capital city of Amman.
1 Week In Jordan Itinerary
- ➡️Day 1: Amman (Old City), Citadel & Traditional Markets
- ➡️Day 2: Day Trip to Madaba (city of mosaics)
- ➡️Day 3: Travel to Petra via Mount Nebo & Karak Castle
- ➡️Day 4: City of Petra
- ➡️Day 5: Wadi Rum Desert Camp Overnight Adventure
- ➡️Day 6/7: Coastal Resort of Aqaba
How to Get to Jordan
Queen Alia International Airport is the main gateway you will use if coming by air.
You can drive anywhere in the country from Amman in 4 hours so it’s easy to loop back here to fly home after your visit. The airport is around 30km from the city.
It’s about 40 minutes drive (by taxi) to downtown or there is the option of a bus. If you want to drive, pick up a car from Amman Airport too and use Amman Airport Car Rental to check out how to do this..
Getting around Jordan
We booked with Jordan Direct Tours to arrange our in country transport and they were fantastic. Our driver took us everywhere we wanted and was courteous and safe.
Where to Stay In Jordan
We stayed in some lovely places, some fancier than others. As always, we suggest booking.com to research what fits your own needs.
A highlight was the Rahayeb Desert Camp which I would recommend for a retreat Bedouin style.
Amman – cenrally located Amman Intercontinental Hotel
Petra – for great desert views try the Movenpick Hotel
Incredible 7 Day Jordan Itinerary
1. Explore Jordan’s Capital City Amman
Located on a hill between the Jordan valley and the desert expanse, the city sprawls over 19 hills. It has 7 districts and can be dated to the Ammonites who lived here during the Iron Age.
Start by heading to the Jebel Al Qala’a hill and the Citadel which has a rich archeological history. Originally constructed in the Bronze Age, it was rebuilt by subsequent rulers. Amazingly the Iron Age, Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad eras all had a hand in what you see today.
Don’t worry about remembering these different eras because a good tour guide brings the history to life. As you stand on this city’s peak, absorbing the legacy from centuries before, it’s incredible so much is still standing.
Take time to explore the Roman Theatre which had capacity for 6000 people and the Umayyad Palace. The ruins of the Temple of Hercules are also evident.
Spend An Afternoon in Old Amman
It gets hot up here so head back downtown for a late lunch and refreshments. Maybe try a Falafel snack to boost your carbs!
The city center is bulging with commerce, each shop competing with its neighbour for that next sale. People are friendly! It’s easy to spend a few hours ambling around soaking up the atmosphere of daily life..
We love markets and like many Middle East cities, Amman has its share too. Al-Balad Market, Souk Jarah and Bukhariyeh Market all offer you the opportunity to bargain (don’t be shy, it’s expected!).
Check with your hotel to see which one is closest and for directions. For dinner, head to Rainbow Street in the Jebel Amman area of the city. It’s central and offers an incredible array of delicious ethnic dishes.
Day 2 – Madaba & Mount Nebo
Head 19 miles from Amman to Madaba, a “city of Mosaics” dating back to the Bystanztine and Umayyad eras. The mosaic of the holy land is a big draw but everywhere around the city are preserved images of historic life in tile form.
Take a couple of hours to wander around and absorb the scene.
After this, we visited the Madaba Institute famous for mosaic art. This is where disadvantaged youth are trained in the ancient art and there is an excellent retail shop on site. They ship worldwide and delivery is very reliable as we bought a small table and it arrived in the UK in perfect shape.
Visit Mount Nebo
Our next stop around 15 minutes away was the beautiful spot of Mount Nebo, believed to be the place where Moses was buried. The first church here was built in the late 4th century by Egyptian monks in memory of Moses.
A century later, the church was transformed into a basilica and it remains so today! It is possible to take a tour and it was worth the time to better understand the history of the area.
Regardless of your religious beliefs, it’s important to appreciate the importance of this site to Christians in the region. Also two popes have visited. Pope John Paul II gave a sermon at Mount Nebo in 2000. In 2009 Pope Benedict XVI visited and declared this a starting point for his pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Outside of the buildings, stop and soak in the views over the Jordan Valley, to the Dead Sea and Jericho and Jerusalem.
Then we were off to Karak Crusader Castle which sits 900m above sea level. Film fans may recognize it from the Kingdom of Heaven directed by Ridley Scott with Orlando Bloom and Eva Green. No Hollywood action was going on when we arrived.
Dating back to ancient trade routes, this city has seen its fair share of conflict but today is an excellent example of Crusader, Byzantine and European architecture. We took the tour because it brought the building to life and I always feel that these local guides appreciate the work!
After a busy but fascinating day, we headed to Petra and to our hotel, full of anticipation for the next couple of days. Ever since watching Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), it had been on my list.
Days 3 and 4 – Petra – The Rose City
Petra is an ancient Nabatean city, partially built and partially cut from red sandstone. Most importantly, it is protected by UNESCO. It’s also one of the New Modern Wonders of the World!
Located between the Red and Dead seas, it was a crossroads for trading from as far as China and India to Arabia, Egypt and Syria. The city was built with an incredible water management system, creatively designed for the desert environment.
I was intrigued to learn that the city was largely abandoned after an earthquake, in 363 AD, shifted major trade routes.
Luckily, a Swiss traveller called Johannes Burckhardt convinced a local guide to take him there in disguise (sounds like a line from Indiana Jones!). Word spread and so the regeneration of this world wonder began!
Ever climbed ancient staircases on a mule?
As we arrived, the rising sun poked through crevices of giant rocks to greet us. Entrance to the park was easy and we went to an office (hut) area where we were to get our guide for a horseback tour.
This had been recommended by our tour company because the area is so big ( 60 square km). Even for the fittest of us it’s impossible to cover more that highlights on foot in a couple of days.
My ‘horse’ was in reality a mule. Stocky and strong, it moved me up ancient staircases, round narrow bends (yikes). Throughout it seemed oblivious to passing tourists huffing and puffing around me. A little bit of me felt I was actually in an Indiana Jones movie:)
The iconic Petra sights including The Treasury, Bab Al Siq and Siq itself, Silk Tomb and Palace Tomb were awe-inspiring. Time after time we asked ourselves how on earth did they do this?
We got up early Day 2 to be here again for sunrise. The golden hour, when falling rays light up the sandstone, is just stunning! You have to see it for yourself to appreciate the raw natural beauty that is Petra.
If you have time, or are full up with history, why not squeeze in a cooking class. Petra Kitchen offers evening cooking classes which receive rave reviews.
Day 4 – Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum is Jordan’s largest desert and one of the most spectacular deserts in the world to explore. It is also another favourite spot for filming.
Next time you watch The Martian, the background of Mars might actually be Wadi Rum in Jordan. We took a Jeep Tour inside the Wadi in a 4×4 vehicle which was fun, stopping off on a dune to sip mint tea. We had an impromptu Arabic class with our friendly guides before a traditional dinner al fresco.
At night, we stayed up just staring up at the stars above as they twinkled brightly with no light pollution. Finally, we headed towards our well-equipped but basic tents for the night and fell into a deep sleep.
Having had a bad-tempered camel experience at Giza in Egypt, I decided to pass on the morning camel ride. But those who did it raved about the sunrise trek! All too soon, it was time to move out of our oasis to our last stop. Aqaba on the Dead Sea.
Days 4-5 – Coastal Aqaba
Jordanian friends recommended this hotel as a place to relax and enjoy the peaceful coastal area of the country. The resort had all the expected amenities and more with gorgeous views over the water as the sun slowly set.
Floating in the Dead Sea was another ‘bucket list’ experience. It was quite a weird sensation initially but honestly as someone who is not a natural water baby, I found myself very relaxed.
Bobbing gently, covered in black mud may not be the most sophisticated look but don’t leave Jordan without doing this! And I totally believe these nutrients are a tonic for the skin. Note: it takes a wee while to get it all off:)
Just relax by the pool for your final day. Or, if you desire to do something different, why not explore the short coastline on a snorkeling trip.
A Few Helpful Facts About Jordan
Population is around 11 million; half of that figure live in Amman
Currency is the Jordanian Dinar
4/5ths of the country is desert with only 16 miles (26km) of coastline
- Official language is Arabic and Main religion is Islam
FAQs
Expect a peak of 32 degrees centigrade in Amman (June to Sept) and the Dead Sea warms up to a toasty 40 degrees. In the deserts, it can drop to 4 degrees centigrade in the winter months.
The best time to visit for comfortable walking around is either March to May or September to November.
Although hotel prices can be on a par with major cities, there are plenty of mid budget options and overall Jordan is good value for money.
The desert camps were more expensive but as a ‘bucket list’ experience are so worth the extra spend.
There are entrance fees (pretty small) to most historical sites which goes towards essential maintenance and upkeep.
Why Stop at One Country
Jordan is small, diverse, historical and welcoming. Its natural wonders and archeological majesty combine to make this a fantastic Middle East holiday.
Fly to Amman either from Istanbul or Izmir. Additionally, for ideas on what to do in Istanbul, check out our 3 day itinerary guide. It’s very easy to combine for a wonderful week or 10 days adventure in this fascinating part of the planet.
