5 Days Discovering Jordan: Self-Launched Near East Adventure

Arrive at Queen Alia International Airport and make your own way into central Amman. The Airport Express bus (JD3.30, ~£4) runs regularly to Abdali Bus Station in downtown Amman — a far cheaper alternative to taxis. Check into your hostel in the lively Jabal Amman or Rainbow Street neighbourhood. Spend the evening exploring Rainbow Street, grabbing your first taste of Jordanian street food (falafel, shawarma, kunafa) and getting your bearings in the capital.

🚌Airport Express bus from Queen Alia Airport to Abdali, ~£4 per person

🛏The Nomads Hotel & Hostel or Jordan Tower Hotel — both well-reviewed budget options in central Amman (~£15-20/night)

• →Take the Airport Express bus to downtown Amman (~£4)
• →Check into hostel in Jabal Amman / Rainbow Street area
• →Explore Rainbow Street and nearby cafés
• →Dinner at a local restaurant — try mansaf or grilled meats

Take an early JETT bus or shared minibus from Amman's Wehdat bus station to Wadi Musa (the town next to Petra), a journey of around 3 hours (~£6-8). Purchase your Petra entrance ticket at the gate (1-day pass ~£45 for non-Jordan Pass holders — strongly consider buying the Jordan Pass online before travel, which bundles the visa fee and Petra entry and saves significant money). Explore Petra independently: walk the Siq, marvel at the Treasury (Al-Khazneh), wander the Street of Facades, the Royal Tombs, and the Colonnaded Street. Consider the optional Petra Museum near the main gate (free with entry). In the evening, transfer by shared taxi or arranged transport to your Wadi Rum camp (~1 hour, £10-15). Arrive in time for the traditional Zarb dinner cooked underground at your desert camp.

🚌JETT/public bus Amman to Wadi Musa ~£7; shared taxi Petra to Wadi Rum ~£12

🛏Wadi Rum desert camp (basic bedouin-style tents with dinner and breakfast included) — ~£25-35/night

• →JETT or public bus from Amman to Wadi Musa (~£7)
• →Self-guided exploration of Petra — the Siq, Treasury, Royal Tombs, Colonnaded Street (book via Jordan Pass or pay at gate ~£45)
• →Optional: Petra Museum visit (3-minute walk from main gate, free with entry ticket, 280 artefacts)
• →Shared taxi transfer to Wadi Rum camp (~£12)
• →Traditional Zarb (underground-cooked) dinner at desert camp (usually included in camp fee)

Rise early and join a shared 2-hour jeep safari in Wadi Rum, bookable directly through your camp or via GetYourGuide (~£20-30 per person for a shared tour). See Lawrence's Spring, Khazali Canyon, sand dunes, and dramatic sandstone landscapes that feel like another planet. After the safari, arrange transport north toward the Dead Sea — JETT buses or a combination of shared taxis via Aqaba and the King's Highway can get you there, though a shared private transfer is often most practical (~£15-20 per person if arranged through your camp or a local operator). Arrive at the Dead Sea in the afternoon in time to float in the famously salty water and cake yourself in mineral-rich mud. Check into a budget hotel near the shore.

🚌Shared jeep included in safari fee; shared taxi/transfer Wadi Rum to Dead Sea ~£18

🛏Budget guesthouse near the Dead Sea shore, e.g. Dead Sea Resthouse or local guesthouse (~£20-25/night)

• →2-hour shared jeep safari in Wadi Rum — book through camp or GetYourGuide (~£25)
• →Visit Khazali Canyon, Lawrence's Spring, and Wadi Rum sand dunes
• →Shared transport from Wadi Rum to Dead Sea (~£18)
• →Afternoon swim and mud session at the Dead Sea (public beach access free or via hotel beach ~£8-12)

Take a local bus or shared taxi from the Dead Sea area to Madaba (~£5-8), a charming town famous for its Byzantine-era mosaics. Visit the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, home to the extraordinary 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land (entrance ~£2). Browse Madaba's souvenir shops and mosaic workshops. From Madaba, take a short taxi to Mount Nebo (~£5 return), the biblical site where Moses is said to have viewed the Promised Land — stunning panoramic views over the Jordan Valley and, on a clear day, Jerusalem. Head back toward Amman and spend the afternoon exploring the city's vibrant street art scene around Jabal Al-Weibdeh and Jabal Amman. Stop for lunch at Al Quds Falafel on Rainbow Street — a legendary local spot. Enjoy a final dinner in Amman.

🚌Shared bus/taxi Dead Sea to Madaba ~£6; taxi to Mount Nebo ~£5; local taxi back to Amman ~£8

🛏Return to your Amman hostel from Day 1, or similar (~£15-20/night)

• →Shared bus/taxi from Dead Sea to Madaba (~£6)
• →Visit Greek Orthodox Church of St. George and the mosaic map (~£2 entry)
• →Taxi to Mount Nebo and back (~£5 return)
• →Self-guided graffiti and street art walk in Jabal Al-Weibdeh and Jabal Amman
• →Lunch at Al Quds Falafel on Rainbow Street (~£3-4)
• →Explore Amman Citadel and Roman Theatre if time allows (entry ~£3)

Enjoy a final breakfast at your hostel or a local café. If time allows before your flight, stroll through the old downtown (Al-Balad) area, visit the Amman Citadel for panoramic views, or browse the local souks. Take the Airport Express bus back to Queen Alia International Airport (~£4). Allow at least 2.5-3 hours before your departure.

🚌Airport Express bus to Queen Alia Airport ~£4

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final breakfast at hostel or local café
• →Optional: last-minute visit to Amman Citadel or downtown souks
• →Airport Express bus to Queen Alia International Airport (~£4)