Jordan: Ancient Cities, Iconic Petra & Red Sea Swimming — Self-Launched
9 days · Jordan
G Adventures charges £750
No-markup version: ~£650 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 9-day self-launched version of G Adventures' 18-to-Thirtysomethings Jordan trip: Amman's citadel and Roman theatre, a food crawl in As-Salt, the Roman ruins of Jerash, the back-door hike from Little Petra into Petra, sunrise over the Treasury, a 4x4 night in a Wadi Rum desert camp, Red Sea beach time in Aqaba, and a float in the Dead Sea before finishing among Madaba's Byzantine mosaics. Everything can be booked independently — JETT and local minibuses cover the transport, Petra and Jerash tickets are bought direct, and Wadi Rum camps plus Aqaba dive/boat operators sell spaces online. Costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP; JOD is around £1.10–1.15. The Jordan Pass (JD 70–80 including visa) is the single best money-saver.
Day-by-day
Arrive Amman — settle into Downtown
Amman
Land at Queen Alia International Airport and take the Sariyah Airport Express bus (JD 3.30, roughly hourly, ~45 mins) or a shared/taxi ride (JD 20–25) into Downtown Amman. Check into a hostel in the Downtown/Al-Weibdeh area, then head out for your first falafel-and-hummus dinner at Hashem or a similar local spot (JD 3–5). Pick up a Jordan Pass online beforehand if you haven't — it covers your visa plus Petra and Jerash entry. Evening: mint tea and shisha on Rainbow Street or a rooftop with the city lit up below.
🚌Airport Express bus JD 3.30 (~£3), or shared taxi £18–22
🛏Budget hostel or guesthouse in Downtown Amman, dorm or private twin (£12–18)
- →Sariyah Airport Express into Downtown
- →Evening wander on Rainbow Street
- →Falafel dinner at Hashem
Amman citadel, Roman theatre and an As-Salt food crawl
Amman / As-Salt
Do Amman's big three on foot: the Citadel (Temple of Hercules, Umayyad Palace) and the Roman Amphitheatre, plus a look at King Abdullah Mosque (JD 2, modest dress — women cover hair). Buy the Jordan Pass or a JD 8 combo ticket for the Citadel/Amphitheatre. After lunch, take a servis minibus or Careem to As-Salt (30–40 mins, JD 2–3) and join a small-group food walk — Book through a local operator or As-Salt's visitor centre; 2–3 hours, JD 20–25, tasting falafel, mansaf, knafeh and tea in a local home. Return to Amman by late afternoon for a free evening.
🚌Local servis/minibus or Careem to As-Salt and back, ~£5 total
🛏Same Amman hostel or guesthouse (£12–18)
- →Amman Citadel and Roman Amphitheatre (Jordan Pass)
- →King Abdullah Mosque visit (JD 2)
- →As-Salt guided food tour (JD 20–25, book direct)
Roman Jerash, then south to Petra
Jerash / Wadi Musa (Petra)
Take an early JETT or local bus to Jerash (JD 3–5, ~1 hr), or a Careem/taxi for JD 15–20. Spend 3 hours exploring the colonnaded Cardo Maximus, Hadrian's Arch, the Oval Plaza and the hippodrome — a local guide at the gate costs JD 25–35 for the group, or plug into a free audio guide. Jerash entry is included on the Jordan Pass. In the afternoon, catch the JETT bus from Amman's Abdali station to Wadi Musa (JD 8–10, ~3.5 hrs, one daily departure, book a seat a day ahead) or a shared taxi (JD 10–15 per seat). Check into a Wadi Musa guesthouse and eat dinner near the entrance gate.
🚌Bus to Jerash ~£4; JETT Amman–Wadi Musa ~£8
🛏Wadi Musa guesthouse or budget hotel, twin share (£15–20)
- →Jerash archaeological site (Jordan Pass)
- →Optional local guide at Jerash (JD 25–35 split)
- →Evening in Wadi Musa
Little Petra and the back-door hike into Petra
Wadi Musa (Petra)
Grab a taxi or local minibus to Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) — about 15 mins, JD 5–8 each way, and free to enter. Walk the atmospheric siq with its Neolithic frescoes, then hike the ancient backdoor trail over the mountains into Petra (roughly 3–4 hours, moderate, bring 2L of water and sun protection). The trail drops you above the Monastery — one of the best arrivals in world travel. Descend to the main basin at your own pace, then walk out via the Siq past the Treasury. Alternatively, buy the official Little Petra–Petra guided hike from the Petra visitor centre (JD 25–40 including a guide) if you'd rather have company. Evening: rooftop dinner and an early night before sunrise.
🚌Taxi/minibus to Little Petra ~£10 return
🛏Same Wadi Musa guesthouse (£15–20)
- →Little Petra (free)
- →Backdoor hike to Petra and Monastery
- →Optional guided hike from visitor centre (JD 25–40)
Sunrise at the Treasury, then Wadi Rum desert camp
Petra / Wadi Rum
Enter Petra as it opens (6am in summer, 6.30am otherwise) — Jordan Pass covers your day entry — and walk the Siq in near-silence to the Treasury for sunrise, then climb to the High Place of Sacrifice or the Royal Tombs if your legs allow. Back to the guesthouse for breakfast and a shower. Midday: take a bus or shared taxi to Wadi Rum village (JD 7–10, ~2 hrs; minibuses leave from Wadi Musa's bus station — confirm times the day before). Your desert camp's jeep meets you in the village: most camps include a 2–4 hour 4x4 tour with the overnight (book online, JD 35–55 all-in with dinner and breakfast). Dinner at camp, then a guided night walk away from the lights for stargazing.
🚌Bus/shared taxi to Wadi Rum ~£8; camp 4x4 included
🛏Wadi Rum desert tented camp (included in camp package, ~£30–40 with 4x4 and meals)
- →Sunrise entry to Petra and the Treasury
- →4x4 jeep tour and desert camp
- →Guided stargazing night walk
Wadi Rum to the Red Sea at Aqaba
Wadi Rum / Aqaba
Sunrise over the dunes, breakfast at camp, then a jeep back to the village and onward transport to Aqaba — shared taxi or minibus JD 5–10, about 1 hour. Drop your bag at a beach-side hostel and spend the afternoon on the Red Sea. Book a late-afternoon or sunset snorkelling/dive boat trip direct with an Aqaba operator (JD 30–45, includes gear and usually lunch or snacks); Aqaba's coral and the Cedar Pride wreck are the highlights. Or simply walk to the public South Beach for a free swim, then eat fresh fish at the marina.
🚌Shared taxi Wadi Rum–Aqaba ~£7
🛏Aqaba hostel or budget hotel, twin share (£15–22)
- →Aqaba snorkelling or dive boat trip (JD 30–45, book direct)
- →South Beach swim
- →Marina fish dinner
Aqaba beach day and optional cooking class
Aqaba
Full free day. Either buy a day pass at a beach club on the South Beach strip (JD 10–25 including a sunbed and sometimes lunch), rent a snorkel and explore the reef from shore, or take a short trip to Aqaba Fort and the Aqaba Archaeological Museum (JD 3). In the afternoon, join a Jordanian home cooking class — Beit Al Ward and similar local hosts run 2–3 hour sessions around JD 20 including dinner, booked directly. Evening: live music and a cold drink in the marina area.
🚌Local taxis around town, ~£5
🛏Same Aqaba hostel (£15–22)
- →Beach club day pass (JD 10–25)
- →Aqaba Fort and museum (JD 3)
- →Beit Al Ward cooking class (JD 20)
Dead Sea float, then Byzantine Madaba
Dead Sea / Madaba
Take an early JETT or minibus north from Aqaba towards Madaba (JD 8–12, ~3.5–4 hrs; confirm the schedule the day before — some services route via Amman). Stop at a Dead Sea public/private beach (Amman Beach or a resort day pass JD 15–20, towel and locker included) and float in the salt — shower off straight after, and bring old swimwear for the mud. Eat lunch at Al Safi Kitchen near the Dead Sea (part of G Adventures' G for Good programme — it's open to independent visitors too, roughly JD 8–12). Continue to Madaba and visit St George's Church for the 6th-century mosaic map (JD 3), plus the Madaba Archaeological Park. Dinner in Madaba's old town.
🚌Bus Aqaba–Madaba ~£10; taxi to Dead Sea beach ~£8
🛏Madaba budget hotel or guesthouse, twin share (£15–20)
- →Dead Sea beach entry and float (JD 15–20)
- →Lunch at Al Safi Kitchen (JD 8–12)
- →St George's Church mosaics and Archaeological Park (JD 3–5)
Mount Nebo and departure
Madaba
If your flight is later in the day, take a taxi or minibus to Mount Nebo (JD 8–12 each way, JD 3 entry) for the view across the Jordan Valley, or wander Madaba's mosaic workshops for last-minute souvenirs. From Madaba, get to Queen Alia Airport by taxi (JD 15–20, 30 mins) or back to Amman for the airport bus. Allow 3 hours before your flight for check-in and security.
🚌Taxi Madaba–Airport ~£15; optional Mount Nebo return ~£15
🛏None (departure day)
- →Optional Mount Nebo visit
- →Madaba mosaic workshops
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£650 | £750 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £100 per person (13%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£650
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Jordan: Ancient Cities, Iconic Petra & Red Sea Swimming — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £650 per person for 9 days in Jordan. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £750 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £650 — a saving of roughly £100 (13%) per person.
How long is the Jordan trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Jordan.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Jordan, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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