How many days in Jordan? 7 days from Amman to Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Jordan is about the size of Portugal, and its main sights lie on one north-south line, so seven days is a natural length. Start in Amman and the Roman city of Jerash, drive the ancient King's Highway south past mosaics and Crusader castles, spend two full days in Petra, sleep under the stars in Wadi Rum, and end floating in the Dead Sea. Buy the Jordan Pass before you fly; it is the single best money-saver of the trip.
Short answer
Five days covers Amman, one day in Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea. Seven adds Jerash, the King's Highway and a second day in Petra, which most visitors wish they had.
The 7-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Amman: the Citadel and downtown
Morning. Climb Jabal al-Qal'a, the Amman Citadel, for the Temple of Hercules, the Umayyad Palace and the small Jordan Archaeological Museum (about JD 3, included in the Jordan Pass). The view takes in the whole of the white city across its hills.
Afternoon. Walk 15 minutes down to the Roman Theatre, cut into the hillside for 6,000 people in the 2nd century, and the souks of downtown (Al-Balad) around the King Hussein Mosque.
Evening. Eat falafel and hummus at Hashem off King Faisal Street (about JD 2-4), then kunafa at Habibah. Walk up to Rainbow Street in Jabal Amman for cafés and the view.
The Jordan Pass (JD 70-80 depending on how many days in Petra) waives the JD 40 visa fee if you stay at least three nights, and covers Petra, Jerash, Wadi Rum and some 40 other sites.
Day 2: Jerash and Ajloun
Morning. Drive about 50 minutes north to Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman cities outside Italy. Enter through Hadrian's Arch, walk the Oval Plaza and the colonnaded Cardo, and climb to the Temple of Artemis. Allow 3 hours.
Afternoon. Continue 30 minutes to Ajloun Castle, built by a general of Saladin in 1184 to guard against the Crusaders, with views over the Jordan Valley.
Evening. Back in Amman, try mansaf, the national dish of lamb cooked in fermented dried yogurt (jameed) over rice, in a restaurant such as Sufra on Rainbow Street.
The Roman Army and Chariot Experience at Jerash's hippodrome runs some days; check times locally.
Day 3: The King's Highway: Madaba, Mount Nebo and Kerak
Morning. Drive 40 minutes to Madaba and see the 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land in the Church of St George. Continue 15 minutes to Mount Nebo, where Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land; on a clear day you see Jericho and the Dead Sea.
Afternoon. Follow the King's Highway south past the viewpoint over Wadi Mujib, a canyon about 1 km deep, to Kerak Castle, a 12th-century Crusader fortress with long vaulted halls.
Evening. Arrive in Wadi Musa, the town at the entrance to Petra, after about 5-6 hours in all with stops.
The King's Highway is slow and winding; the Desert Highway is faster but empty. A private driver for this day costs roughly JD 80-120 per car.
Day 4: Petra: the Siq, the Treasury and the Monastery
Morning. Enter at the 6:00 opening. Walk 1.2 km down the Siq, the narrow gorge, until it opens at the Treasury (Al-Khazneh). Continue past the Street of Facades and the Theatre to the Royal Tombs.
Afternoon. Lunch near the Great Temple, then climb about 800 rock steps (around 45 minutes) to Ad-Deir, the Monastery, larger than the Treasury. Rest at the café opposite.
Evening. On Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, Petra by Night lights the Siq and the Treasury with 1,500 candles (about JD 17, not in the Pass).
A one-day ticket costs about JD 50; two days JD 55; three JD 60. Carry 3 litres of water in summer.
Day 5: Petra: the High Place and Little Petra
Morning. Climb the High Place of Sacrifice trail from near the theatre, about 45 minutes up, and descend through Wadi Farasa past the Lion Fountain and the Garden Tomb.
Afternoon. Drive 15 minutes to Siq al-Barid, Little Petra, free and quiet, once a Nabataean caravan stop.
Evening. Take a cooking class in Wadi Musa, such as at Petra Kitchen, for maqluba, the 'upside-down' rice dish.
Fit walkers can hike from Little Petra to the Monastery and walk down into Petra the back way (about 2.5 hours); go with a guide.
Day 6: Wadi Rum
Morning. Drive 1h30-1h45 south to the Wadi Rum visitor centre (entry JD 5, in the Pass). Meet your Bedouin camp's jeep at Rum Village.
Afternoon. A 4-6-hour jeep tour visits Lawrence's Spring, the Khazali Canyon inscriptions, the red dunes and the Um Fruth rock bridge. Tours cost about JD 40-80 per person depending on the group.
Evening. Watch sunset from a dune, eat zarb, meat and vegetables cooked in an underground sand oven, and sleep at a camp (about JD 30-120 per person with meals).
Wadi Rum is cold at night from November to March, near freezing; bring a warm layer.
Day 7: The Dead Sea
Morning. Drive about 4 hours north on the Desert Highway to the Dead Sea, 430 metres below sea level, the lowest point on land.
Afternoon. Float at a resort day pass (about JD 40-70 with lunch) or at Amman Beach public beach (about JD 20-25). Cover yourself in mud, and rinse in the fresh-water showers.
Evening. Sunset over the West Bank hills, then a 50-minute drive to Queen Alia Airport.
Never shave the day before and keep the water out of your eyes; it stings badly.
Only have 5 days?
With 5 days, drive straight from Amman to Petra on the Desert Highway (about 3 hours), spend one day in Petra, then Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea.
Got extra days?
Add Aqaba on the Red Sea for snorkelling, the Dana Biosphere Reserve for the trek to Feynan Ecolodge, or wade the Siq Trail in Wadi Mujib (April to October).
Where to stay in Jordan
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Amman downtown / Wadi Musa | Simple hotels and hostels close to the sights. | JD 30-55 |
| Mid-range | Wadi Musa near the Petra gate | Walk to the entrance for the 6:00 opening. | JD 70-130 |
| Mid-range | Jabal Amman / Wadi Rum camps | Boutique hotels near Rainbow Street, or desert camps with dinner. | JD 60-140 |
| Comfort | Dead Sea resorts / Wadi Rum bubble tents | Spa resorts on the shore, or glass domes under the stars. | JD 180-400 |
Getting around
A rental car or a car with driver gives the most freedom; driving is on the right and the highways are good. JETT buses run from Amman to Petra (about 4 hours, roughly JD 10-12) and Aqaba. Taxis in Amman are cheap; use Careem or Uber. From Queen Alia Airport, the centre of Amman is about 45 minutes (taxi about JD 25-30).
What to eat in Jordan
Breakfast is hummus, ful (fava beans), falafel and fresh bread. Mansaf is the dish of hospitality, eaten from a shared platter. Try maqluba, musakhan (chicken with onions and sumac on taboon bread) and kunafa, warm cheese pastry soaked in syrup. Drink sweet mint or sage tea and cardamom coffee. Street food costs JD 1-4, a restaurant meal JD 10-20. Alcohol is available in hotels and some bars in Amman but costs JD 6-9 a beer.
Best time to visit
March to May and September to November, with highs of 20-28°C. Summer reaches 35-40°C in Petra and Wadi Rum. Winter can bring rain, cold and even snow in Amman and Petra. During Ramadan, sights stay open but restaurants keep reduced hours by day.
Month-by-month weather for Jordan →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | JD 20 | JD 50 | JD 120 |
| Food & drink | JD 12 | JD 25 | JD 50 |
| Sights & tickets | JD 15 | JD 25 | JD 40 |
| Local transport | JD 8 | JD 20 | JD 45 |
| Total per person, per day | about JD 55 | about JD 120 | about JD 255 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Jordanian dinars (JD 1 is about US$1.41); sights assume the Jordan Pass spread over the trip, and restaurants and hotels add 16% tax plus a 10% service charge.
Before you go
Common questions
Is the Jordan Pass worth it?
Almost always. It costs JD 70-80 and includes the JD 40 tourist visa (if you stay at least three nights) plus Petra, which alone costs JD 50-60. It also covers Jerash, Wadi Rum, the Amman Citadel and Kerak. Buy it online before arrival and show it at passport control.
How many days do I need in Petra?
Two full days. One day lets you see the Siq, the Treasury, the Royal Tombs and the Monastery, with tired legs. A second day adds the High Place of Sacrifice, Little Petra or the back trail. Stay in Wadi Musa to enter at 6:00, before the heat and the tour buses.
Is Jordan safe for tourists?
Jordan has long been one of the safest countries in the region for visitors, with police at main sites and checkpoints on highways. Check your government's travel advice before you go, as conditions in neighbouring countries change. Dress modestly away from resorts, covering shoulders and knees.
Can I visit Petra as a day trip?
From Aqaba, Amman or Eilat, yes, but it is long, and visitors who do not spend a night in Jordan pay JD 90. You arrive in the heat and leave before the evening light. If at all possible, sleep in Wadi Musa for one or two nights.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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