Jordan Itinerary 7 Days for Joy, Adventure, and Relaxation 2023
Jordan is where Jesus was baptized and Moses parted the Red Sea.
Petra: the ancient city where the spice trade flourished. Today, Jordan’s capital city Amman is one of the most progressive countries in the Middle East.
Jordanians are proud of their heritage, manifested in (over?)confident driving and a rich culture of coffee drinking and Fairouz-listening.
So spending 7 days traveling Jordan is highly recommended especially if you’re looking for a trip rich in history, culture, and nature.
Here’s what I did in Jordan for 7 days and what I would recommend for a trip offering joy, adventure, and relaxation.
Jordan itinerary 7 days in brief
Day 1–3: Amman and around
Fly to Amman and spend the first few days visiting galleries and outdoor cafes to soak up the rich Jordanian culture. Optional day trip up North on day 2.
Day 3: Petra
Drive 3 hours from Amman to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Petra, built into the red desert rock.
Day 3–4: Wadi Rum
Drive from Petra to Wadi Rum and spend the night camping in the desert bedouin-style.
Day 4: Aqaba
Drive to Aqaba to go snorkeling in the Dead Sea or simply enjoy the modern cafes and shopping of the port city.
Day 4–6: Dead Sea
Spend two evenings relaxing at a Dead Sea resort, floating in the water, and taking mud baths to recover from your adventurous trip.
Day 6–7: Amman
Last day in Amman, do what you couldn’t the first few days. Eat hummus, go to a museum, party on Rainbow Street, or simply refresh yourself in a nice hotel before your flight!
Traveling in Jordan Essentials: Safety, Female Solo Travel, and Budget
Is Jordan safe for solo female travelers?
First things first, let’s cover the basics. Is Jordan safe for solo female travelers?
The answer is: Yes.
Personally, I found Jordan to be safe and even liberating as I was able to walk the streets largely unaccosted or harassed. Those who did notice and talk to me on the street were always friendly and happy to help.
However, be wary of giving your personal number out to Uber or taxi drivers. They will message you asking for better job opportunities outside of the country.
In Wadi Rum, you may also hear stories about solo female travelers being wooed by handsome Bedouins who then ask for money.
Luckily, the latter didn’t happen to me and, like in every other country where patriarchy takes precedence, it helps to dress modestly and say ‘no’ with conviction. Jordanians are not pushy and will take no for an answer.
Here are some other tips:
- Be respectful of other women’s choice of hijab or burka by not wearing anything too tight or revealing
- Bring comfortable, loose clothing where you can cover up your shoulders
- Stay on touristy, well-lit streets if you are going out at night, and avoid unlit side streets
- Don’t ride in the front seat of a taxi
- Carry your bag on the side of the sidewalk to avoid motorbike thievery
When is the best time to visit Jordan?
May-June
The best time to visit Jordan is in May/June when it’s not too hot or cold. Jordan can actually get some really deep snow in the winter (yes — even in the desert!). If you’re visiting Petra and the Dead Sea, the summer heat can be dangerous.
I traveled to Jordan at the beginning of May. In Amman, I could cover up my shoulders and at night even needed a light jacket. In the South, May temperatures are perfect to spend the day by the sea or pool without getting too hot.
How much spending money in Jordan for a week?
The Jordanian currency (Dinar) is stronger than most, and don’t forget it! I was shocked by seeing 1–2 JOD for Ubers around Amman, omitting for a while that this is the equivalent of 5–8 euros.
Here’s a breakdown of how you could spend in Jordan over the week:
- Cheap: 300+ JOD
- Budget: 450+ JOD
- Comfortable: 650+ JOD
I spent 650 JOD in one week, including one four-star hotel.
This might seem steep, but I also included a tour in my budget. If you decide to drive yourself — and are two people or more — this will be significantly cheaper (maybe even bringing you in the ‘cheap’ range).
I also highly recommend getting a Jordan Pass. This covers entrance fees for Petra, Wadi Rum, and some museums in Amman. It also works as a Visa when you get into the country so is well worth the price.
Jordan Itinerary 7 Days for Joy, Adventure, and Relaxation
Day 1–3: Amman and Al-Salt
Day 3: Petra
Day 3–4: Wadi Rum
Day 4: Aqaba
Day 4–6: Dead Sea
Day 6–7: Back to Amman
Day 1–3: Amman and Al-Salt (Joy)
I spent the first few days of my trip exploring Amman by foot. Because of Amman’s undiluted history, you get a joyful balance between traditional Middle Eastern culture and contemporary life.
There are plenty of art galleries, museums, and street art to discover in Amman.
Walking down Rainbow Street, a Jordanian-American man even recited some poetry to me. I tipped him a few Dinar, although he made a point that this wasn’t obligatory.
*TIP FOR TIPPING: TIPS ARE MUCH APPRECIATED IN JORDAN so carry a few Dinar around with you always!*
The poet’s name was Sari, and he told me the best walking path to see Downtown Amman.
Here’s Sari’s walking tour of Downtown Amman:
- Walk through the Souk (bazaar/ marketplace)
- Visit the Amphitheater on your way out
- From there, take the stairs to the Citadel
- Circle back up to Rainbow Street for a break in a cafe or restaurant
The souk is Amman Downtown’s vibrant little market where spices are laid out in bags, and local delicacies can be bought for cheap.
I am an unabashed olive enthusiast so bought a whole bag of different spiced olives for only 1 dinar, and ate them on the steps of the Amphitheater, marveling at its near-intact structure.
I tried to go to the famous Hashem restaurant for falafel, but it was full and crowded with tourists so I opted to walk to the next recommended cafe and didn’t regret it.
Shams-El-Balad, a 10-minute walk from Hashem, has a beautiful garden, great natural wine selection, and you can choose to either sit on pillows on the floor or at a table.
I spent many hours at Shams-El-Balad writing and planning the next phase of my trip. When I finally left, a call to prayer resonated in the distance, vibrating holy scripture across the land. My belly full from beetroot-falafel, vinegary hummus, and olives, I felt absolute joy walking in a late afternoon high-20s heat, where the only thing I had to worry about was the next piece of street art I’d stumble upon.
Places to visit in Jordan Amman:
- Rainbow Street
- Shams-El-Balad
- Wild Jordan
- Paris Square
- Dar Al-Anda Art Gallery
- Hasehm Restaurant
- Fatari
- Books @ Cafe
- AlQuds Falafel
- The Good Bookshop
- Manara Arts and Culture
- Jordanian National Gallery of Fine Arts
- Jordan Museum
- Roman Theater
- Amman Citadel
- The Souk
“Lonely surrounded by a million people inside of a square mile.” — Sari, the poet
Bonus 1-day road trip north of Amman to Al-Salt
If you have more time on your hands and even a car, I would recommend a Friday trip out of Amman to Al-Salt.
I drove with some family friends who had the Friday off (in Jordan the weekend is Friday-Saturday so on Fridays the roads are pretty much free of people, a good time to drive across the city).
It’s about a 1-hour drive to Al-Salt where you can explore a small local souk and tea shops that feel more authentically Arab than in Amman.
Try a Turkish coffee for a strong caffeine kick before hopping in your car again and hitting the Tuscany-like roads of Northern Jordan.
We had lunch at Mountain View Restaurant overlooking Jordan on one side, and its neighboring countries on the other. This is a great place to have mezze, wine, mint juice, or just spend the day relaxing by the pool.
Day 3–4: Petra and Wadi Rum (Adventure)
I thought about renting a car to be independent on the next leg of my trip. However, after adding up the cost of fuel coupled with insurance, it seemed too steep a price to pay for a solo traveler.
So instead I booked a tour with Get Your Guide. Booking a tour helped me:
- Avoid dealing with military checkpoints (where they asked our driver for his license and other documents about three times)
- Avoid the unnerving speed of other cars (Jordanians drive very, very fast, and often above the speed limit)
- Avoid the road’s speedbumps which seem to come out of nowhere
- Make friends and share the experience with other solo travelers
I was lucky enough to be on a tour with only two other people, which actually made the whole experience feel very private. But you will see tour buses — so be prepared to share your day with 7–10 other strangers if you are booking through a tour.
Petra is a 3-hour drive from Amman. The rush hour traffic out of Amman in the morning is another good reason against self-driving.
But once you get out of the city, the roads are smooth and well-paved. You travel up and down hills until the Ancient (albeit touristy) city of Petra comes into view.
Day 3: Petra Jordan
With Derrick from the UK and Herve from Boston, we formed a solid mission: Get to the monastery and back by 15:30.
That gave us five full hours to explore Petra, which you will need if you want to get your money’s worth.
And it was worth it.
If you have the legs on you, the walk from one end of Petra to the monastery on the other end takes about 2:30 hours, although bear in mind there is a quite steep climb for the last 30 minutes.
“You want camel-ride?” — Bedouin hustlers in Petra
Along the way, Bedouin hustlers will say it takes 2 hours to walk up and try to sell you a donkey, horse, or camel ride. If you want to give back to the community, feel free to do so, but keep in mind it’s a steep climb and you’ll go at the same pace on foot as on camel.
Must-dos in Petra Jordan:
- Take a pic at the Treasury
- When you reach the Monastery, do one last viewpoint hike — your legs may hurt but it’s well worth the view!
- Take a pic next to a camel (not on, some camels in Petra are visibly badly treated)
- Buy some Bedouin jewelry (they are famous for silver, and will weigh the piece to give you an exact price)
- Run your hands over the ruins — here’s a part of largely unspoiled history for you to touch and experience!
Our tour didn’t include Petra by night, and I have to say I’m very happy with that choice.
It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, meaning once you’ve seen it it’s probably enough. I didn’t need an extra day to come back, although our legs did pay the price the day after.
Day 3–4: Wadi Rum
It’s only a 1-hour drive to Wadi Rum from Petra. If you’re self-driving, you’ll have to leave your car at the visitor’s center or inside the town so that you can get in a more appropriate vehicle for the desert — a 4x4 jeep.
The three of us hopped into the open back of our 4x4, loud local music playing in the front seat signaling it was time for our next adventure. Our Bedouin driver slung his hand out the car window, with the other on the wheel (so how he was smoking a cigarette is beyond me).
Being in the desert I couldn’t help but think how far away I was from home — and loved every minute of it!
The desert is expansive, stretching, and wild, although not as much ‘untouched’ anymore as little tourist camps like ours scatter the horizon. But you still understand how one can lose their sense of self in the desert, and why Bedouins still have so much spirit and soul.
What to do in Wadi Rum:
- Stay in a Bedouin-style camp and experience cooking, dancing, and tea the Bedouin way
- Stargaze
- Watch the sunrise over the desert from your camp
- 4x4 morning ride will take you to all the viewpoints
- 360-degree view of Wadi Rum (it’s a small uncomfortable hike up a sand dune but an absolute must! Ask your camp or driver to take you here)
Day 4: Aqaba
Aqaba, Jordan’s Southern city on the Red Sea, is only a 1-hour drive from Wadi Rum.
In Aqaba, you can spend the day snorkeling or going on a boat tour since it’s significantly warmer and catered toward water activities — the turquoise waters are a huge paradigm shift from the landscape of the desert!
We only spent a few hours in Aqaba, walking around and getting iced drinks before jumping back in our car to the Dead Sea.
(Jordanians start their lunch at around 14:00–15:00, so many things were actually closed in Aqaba in the morning, which is why we left so early).
What to do in Aqaba:
- Go snorkeling
- Do a boat tour from the marina (wave to Egypt from one side of the sea)
- Shop and eat in Ayala on the port
Day 4–6: The Dead Sea (Relaxation)
I believe the last leg of any trip — especially if you’re on holiday — should help you relax, in any way you know how.
My idea of relaxation is going to the Spa or the beach, and luckily visiting the Dead Sea in Jordan combines both these luxuries.
From Aqaba, the Dead Sea is about 3 hours and the drive takes you along the Israeli border (where you get the most military checkpoints).
At the lowest point on Earth, grab a book, towel, and lots of suncream to spend your day floating in the Dead Sea and coating yourself in natural mud baths.
I recommend staying two nights to really feel the healing effects of the water and mud on your skin. But note that apart from staying at the resort or hitting the Dead Sea beaches, there’s not much else to do in the area.
If you do get bored, you can always go visit Wadi Mujib, a canyon with waterfalls about a 30-minute drive from the Dead Sea resorts. I opted out of this because my trip was getting expensive and the canyoneering would have added another extra day of adventure to the trip!
Jordan dead sea hotels:
- Deal: Dead Sea Spa Hotel
- Mid-range: Hilston Dead Sea Resort
- Fancy: Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea
Day 6–7: Amman options before your flight home!
Option 1: Visit Jaresh and other biblical sites to the North of Amman. Book directly with a taxi driver to get a special price.
Option 2: Visit the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts in Amman and have a coffee/juice on the balcony cafe overlooking the blue mosque. Landmark Amman Hotel & Conference Center is a good place to stay if you want to visit the Fine Arts gallery (you can get there on foot from the hotel). The hotel also has a nice sushi restaurant on the top floor that overlooks the city and is only 30 mins from the airport if you have an early flight.
Option 3: Spend a few hours visiting the Jordan Museum to consolidate your cultural education. Here, I would recommend staying in Downtown Amman but note that traffic out of the city is dense if you have to get to the airport with haste the next day.
Option 4: Party on Paris Square or Rainbow Street to meet fellow travelers and go out with a bang! Carob Hostel is a good place to stay if you want to meet others and are on a backpacker’s budget.
Concluding remarks
Joy, adventure, and relaxation all wrapped into one: My Jordan experience was so full of life and learnings that I immediately wanted to share it with you. Jordanians are warm and welcoming, and I’m grateful that I got my first glimpse into Middle Eastern culture through them and their beautiful country.
Reach out if you have any more questions or queries! I’m happy to share more of what I learned traveling Jordan over 7 days.
