Highlights of Jordan — Self-Launched: Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea

Land at Queen Alia International Airport and take the official airport taxi to downtown Amman (around 20–25 JOD, ~1 hour) or the cheaper Sariyah express bus to the Tabarbour/north bus station then a taxi or Careem ride in. Check into a hostel or budget hotel in the Downtown/Al-Weibdeh area. Spend the late afternoon wandering the Roman Theatre, the Citadel at sunset and the bustling Rainbow Street cafes. Buy a Jordan Pass online before you travel — it bundles your visa fee (40 JOD) with Petra entry and most sites and saves real money.

🚌Airport taxi ~20–25 JOD (~£22–28) or express bus + taxi ~£6–8

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Downtown Amman / Al-Weibdeh (dorm ~£10–14, private ~£22–30)

• →Citadel and Roman Theatre (included on Jordan Pass)
• →Rainbow Street food stalls and cafes
• →Buy Jordan Pass online before arrival

Take an early JETT or trusty local minibus from Amman's Tabarbour station north to Jerash (around 1.5 JOD, ~1 hour) and spend the morning exploring the colonnaded streets, Hadrian's Arch and the hippodrome — hire a local guide at the gate for around 15–20 JOD if you want the stories. Return to Amman and in the afternoon take a tour bus or shared taxi to a Dead Sea public/private beach (Amman Beach or a hotel day pass, ~20–25 JOD with towel and mud). Float, mud up, rinse off. Return to Amman in the evening.

🚌Local minibus Amman–Jerash ~1.5 JOD; shared taxi/tour bus to Dead Sea ~8–12 JOD return

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Downtown Amman

• →Jerash archaeological site (Jordan Pass)
• →Dead Sea swim and mud bath (beach entry ~20–25 JOD)
• →Optional local guide at Jerash ~15–20 JOD

Take a local bus or shared taxi south to Madaba (~1 JOD) and see St George's Church with its famous 6th-century mosaic map, plus the Archaeological Park. Hop a taxi or minibus to Mt Nebo for the panoramic views over the Jordan Valley (10–15 JOD return). Continue south by bus to Karak and explore the crusader castle (Jordan Pass). If public transport timing is tight, a shared taxi from Karak to Wadi Musa costs around 5–8 JOD; otherwise take the JETT/King Hussein route via Ma'an. Check into a guesthouse in Wadi Musa and prep for an early Petra start.

🚌Local buses/shared taxis Amman–Madaba–Karak–Wadi Musa, ~£12–16 total

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel in Wadi Musa (~£15–22)

• →St George's Church mosaic map, Madaba
• →Mt Nebo viewpoint
• →Karak Crusader Castle (Jordan Pass)

Be at the gate for opening (6–6:30am) to beat the crowds and heat. Walk the Siq, emerge at the Treasury, then continue to the Street of Facades, the Theatre, the Royal Tombs and the Monastery (850 steps, ~1 hour up). Consider hiring a local Bedouin guide for the first couple of hours (~30–50 JOD for a half-day, split if you team up with other travellers) or pick up an audio guide. Optional: the candlelit Petra by Night (Mon/Wed/Thu, ~17 JOD) or a Turkish bath in Wadi Musa in the evening (~20 JOD).

🚌Walking; Petra is a 10-minute walk from most Wadi Musa accommodation

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel in Wadi Musa

• →Petra full-day entry (included on Jordan Pass)
• →Optional local guide ~30–50 JOD half-day
• →Optional Petra by Night ~17 JOD
• →Optional Turkish bath ~20 JOD

Morning shared taxi to Little Petra (Siq al-Barid, free with Jordan Pass) for a quieter taste of Nabataean rock-cut architecture, then continue to Wadi Rum village by shared taxi or the local bus (~10–12 JOD total). Pick up a Bedouin-run camp package direct — most camps include a 2–4 hour 4x4 tour, dinner, breakfast and a night in a Bedouin tent, roughly 45–60 JOD per person depending on the camp and whether you want an en-suite bubble tent. Sunset from a dune, then dinner and tea around the fire.

🚌Shared taxi Wadi Musa–Little Petra–Wadi Rum ~£10–12

🛏Bedouin desert camp in Wadi Rum (~£45–60 incl. dinner, breakfast and 4x4)

• →Little Petra (Siq al-Barid)
• →Wadi Rum 4x4 jeep tour with Bedouin guide
• →Sunset dune walk and campfire evening

Sunrise in the desert, then catch the local minibus or shared taxi from Wadi Rum village to Aqaba (~5–8 JOD, ~1.5 hours). Check into a budget hotel or beach hostel near the South Beach or downtown. Spend the afternoon snorkelling or diving the coral reefs on a half-day boat trip (roughly 25–35 JOD including gear), or simply swim and relax on the public beach. Dinner on fresh seafood and falafel in downtown Aqaba.

🚌Shared taxi/minibus Wadi Rum–Aqaba ~5–8 JOD

🛏Budget hotel or beach hostel in Aqaba (~£18–28)

• →Aqaba reef snorkelling or boat trip ~25–35 JOD
• →Public beach time
• →Downtown Aqaba food crawl

Morning swim or a short snorkel before checking out. Take the JETT bus from Aqaba to Amman (~10–12 JOD, ~4 hours, book a day ahead) or the faster shared taxi (~12–15 JOD per seat). On the way north, hop off in the Jordan Valley for a community cafe lunch near Numeira if timing works, or simply stop in Madaba for a last slice of knafeh. Evening back in Amman — a farewell dinner of mansaf or a Rainbow Street mezze spread.

🚌JETT coach Aqaba–Amman ~10–12 JOD or shared taxi ~12–15 JOD

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Downtown Amman

• →Morning swim at Aqaba
• →Optional community cafe stop in Jordan Valley
• →Farewell dinner in Amman

Depending on your flight time, squeeze in a final wander through the Amman souk or a coffee and a last bit of baklava. Take the airport express bus or taxi to Queen Alia International and fly home. If you're continuing overland, budget the 10 JOD departure tax.

🚌Airport taxi ~20–25 JOD or express bus ~4 JOD

🛏—

• →Amman souk and coffee
• →Airport transfer