A Week in Jordan: Self-Launched

Fly into Queen Alia International Airport (AMM). Pre-book an Airport Express Bus (JETbus) into central Amman for around £3, or a shared taxi (service taxi) for around £8-10. Check into your hostel or budget hotel in central Amman — the Rainbow Street / 1st Circle area is ideal. Get your bearings, grab a late bite of falafel or shawarma from a local street stall, and rest up ahead of a packed itinerary.

🚌Airport JETbus Express to central Amman (~£3) or shared taxi (~£8)

🛏Jordan Tower Hotel, Downtown Amman (or similar budget hotel ~£20-28/night)

• →Arrive at Queen Alia International Airport
• →Take the JETbus Express or shared taxi to central Amman (~£3-8)
• →Check in and explore Rainbow Street area at leisure

Head to the North Bus Station (Tabarbour) and catch a shared minibus to Jerash for around £1.50 each way. Spend the morning exploring the remarkably preserved Roman city — the oval forum, colonnaded streets, theatres and Temple of Zeus are unmissable. Entry to Jerash is included in the Jordan Pass (highly recommended — buy online before you travel for ~£90, covering visa + Petra entry). Return to Amman and walk the city's highlights independently: the Citadel (Jabal al-Qala'a), the Roman Amphitheatre, and the lively old city souks. Dinner at a local Arabic restaurant.

🚌Shared minibus Amman–Jerash–Amman (~£3 return)

🛏Jordan Tower Hotel, Downtown Amman (or similar ~£20-28/night)

• →Shared minibus to Jerash from Tabarbour Bus Station (~£1.50 each way)
• →Explore Jerash archaeological site (covered by Jordan Pass)
• →Self-guided Amman city walk: Citadel, Roman Amphitheatre, downtown souks
• →Dinner at a local restaurant in Amman (~£8-12)

The King's Highway is best done by hiring a private driver for the day — arrange this through your hotel or via a local agency for around £50-70 split between 2-4 travellers (so ~£15-35pp). Alternatively, take public buses with connections at Madaba and Karak, though this takes longer. Stop at St George's Church in Madaba to see the famous 6th-century mosaic map, then drive to Mount Nebo for sweeping views over the Dead Sea and beyond. Continue to the imposing Crusader castle at Kerak before heading south to Wadi Musa (the town for Petra). Check into your guesthouse.

🚌Shared taxi or private driver hire along the King's Highway (~£20-35pp depending on group size)

🛏Cleopetra Hotel or Rocky Mountain Hotel, Wadi Musa (budget guesthouse ~£18-25/night)

• →Visit St George's Church and Byzantine mosaic map in Madaba
• →Viewpoint at Mount Nebo (~£2 entry)
• →Explore Kerak Castle (~£3 entry)
• →Arrive in Wadi Musa / Petra and check in

An early start is essential — gates open at 6am and it's far quieter before 9am. Entry to Petra is included in the Jordan Pass (2-day Petra entry). Walk the Siq, the narrow 1.2km canyon gorge, to emerge at the iconic Treasury (El Khazneh). Spend the day exploring the Street of Facades, the Royal Tombs, the Great Temple, and the Colonnaded Street. Consider the optional climb up 800 steps to the Monastery (El Deir) — it's worth every step. Download the free PetraMap app before you go. Pack lunch or grab food from stalls inside the site.

🚌Walk to Petra gate from Wadi Musa hotels (~10-15 mins)

🛏Cleopetra Hotel or Rocky Mountain Hotel, Wadi Musa (~£18-25/night)

• →Early entry to Petra via the Siq (included in Jordan Pass)
• →El Khazneh (The Treasury)
• →Street of Facades and Royal Tombs
• →Hike to El Deir (the Monastery) via 800 steps
• →Colonnaded Street and Great Temple

Use your second day of Petra access (covered by Jordan Pass) to tackle the High Place of Sacrifice trail — a steep but rewarding climb offering panoramic views over the rose-red city. Alternatively, explore areas missed yesterday such as the Byzantine Church, the Qasr al-Bint temple, or simply wander freely. In the evening, consider dining at a family home in Wadi Musa — ask your guesthouse to arrange an authentic Jordanian home-cooked meal experience with a local family (~£15-20pp, bookable locally).

🚌Walk to Petra gate from Wadi Musa (~10-15 mins)

🛏Cleopetra Hotel or Rocky Mountain Hotel, Wadi Musa (~£18-25/night)

• →Return to Petra site (2nd day included in Jordan Pass)
• →Hike to the High Place of Sacrifice for panoramic views
• →Explore Qasr al-Bint and Byzantine Church
• →Optional: Traditional home-cooked dinner with a local family in Wadi Musa (~£15-20pp)

Optionally stop at Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) en route — free to enter and just a short detour. Take a shared taxi or arrange transport from Wadi Musa to Rum Village (~£10-15pp). From Rum Village, book a 2-hour 4x4 jeep tour with a local Bedouin operator directly (cost ~£20-30pp) — this is the most important thing to book in advance or on arrival at the visitor centre. Watch the sunset from a red sand dune or rock formation. Spend the night at a Bedouin camp, including a traditional zarb (underground-cooked) dinner. Book camps like Wadi Rum Night Luxury Camp or Rahayeb Desert Camp (~£35-55pp including dinner).

🚌Shared taxi or arranged transport Wadi Musa to Rum Village (~£10-15pp)

🛏Bedouin camp (e.g. Rahayeb Desert Camp or similar, dinner included ~£35-55/night)

• →Optional stop at Little Petra / Siq al-Barid (free entry)
• →Transfer to Rum Village via shared taxi (~£10-15pp)
• →2-hour 4x4 jeep tour of Wadi Rum protected area (~£20-30pp)
• →Sunset from a desert rock formation
• →Traditional zarb Bedouin dinner at camp
• →Stargazing in one of the world's best dark sky areas

Enjoy a sunrise over the desert from your camp before breakfast. Then arrange a minibus or shared taxi transfer to Aqaba (~1hr, ~£8-10pp) — your camp can usually help arrange this. In Aqaba, head to Berenice Beach or the public beach area for a few hours of relaxing by the Red Sea. In the afternoon, take a self-guided walk through the old souk and markets, then visit Aqaba Castle (entry ~£2). The Bait Al Sharif Hussein bin Ali Museum is free. For dinner, look for local restaurants around the old town — try fresh grilled fish by the waterfront.

🚌Shared taxi or minibus Wadi Rum to Aqaba (~£8-10pp)

🛏Lacosta Hotel Aqaba or Captain's Hotel (budget hotel ~£22-30/night)

• →Sunrise at Bedouin camp and breakfast
• →Transfer to Aqaba (~£8-10pp by shared taxi)
• →Beach time at Berenice Beach or public beach area (free)
• →Self-guided walk through Aqaba old souk and markets
• →Aqaba Castle guided or self-guided visit (~£2)
• →Bait Al Sharif Hussein bin Ali Museum (free)

Book a shared JETT bus or private transfer from Aqaba to the Dead Sea (~4.5hrs, JETT bus ~£12-15pp — book at the JETT office in Aqaba). En route, consider a stop at Bethany Beyond the Jordan, the baptism site of Jesus (~£5 entry, 15 mins from Dead Sea). Arrive at the Dead Sea and check into your hotel — budget options along the Dead Sea Highway include Dead Sea Spa Hotel or similar (~£55-70/night, often including pool access). Float in the famous salty water, cover yourself in mineral mud, and cool off in the pool. Celebrate your final evening with a group dinner at the hotel or a local restaurant.

🚌JETT bus Aqaba to Dead Sea (~£12-15pp) or shared taxi (~£15-20pp)

🛏Dead Sea Spa Hotel or Ramada Dead Sea (mid-budget option ~£55-70/night)

• →JETT bus or shared transfer Aqaba to Dead Sea (~£12-15pp)
• →Optional: Bethany Beyond the Jordan baptism site (~£5 entry)
• →Float in the Dead Sea (access via hotel beach ~included or £10-15 at public beach)
• →Dead Sea mud treatment
• →Group farewell dinner

Enjoy a final breakfast at the Dead Sea, take one last dip if you can, and then arrange a shared taxi or JETT bus transfer back to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman (~1hr 30mins, ~£12-18pp). Book this in advance or ask your hotel to arrange it. Allow at least 3 hours before your flight for check-in and security. Safe travels!

🚌Shared taxi or JETT bus Dead Sea to Amman Airport (~£12-18pp)

• →Final breakfast and last swim at the Dead Sea
• →Shared taxi or JETT bus transfer to Queen Alia International Airport, Amman (~£12-18pp)
• →Depart Jordan