Jordan Highlights — Self-Launched (Amman Loop: Jerash, Dead Sea, Petra & Wadi Rum)
8 days · Jordan
G Adventures charges £1,299
No-markup version: ~£475 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 8-day "Jordan Highlights" loop from Amman to Amman — same Roman ruins, Dead Sea float, Byzantine mosaics, Petra and Wadi Rum desert, but booked independently using the JETT bus network, local guides on GetYourGuide, and budget hotels/guesthouses. You'll do Jerash, the Dead Sea, Madaba, Mt Nebo, Kerak, two days in Petra (including Little Petra), a Wadi Rum 4x4 and desert camp night, and a local cooking class in Wadi Musa — all without a private minivan or group. Costs are approximate per-person estimates in GBP, excluding international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Amman — settle into downtown
Amman
Land at Queen Alia International Airport (AMM). Take the Sariyah airport shuttle bus to the Tabarbour/north bus station (~3.5 JOD, ~£4) or a shared/taxi into downtown Amman (~25-30 JOD split, ~£30 total — cheaper shared). Check into a budget hotel or guesthouse in downtown Amman near Rainbow Street or Al-Husseini Mosque. Spend the afternoon wandering the Citadel and Roman Theatre (Jordan Pass covers both), and grab your first falafel and knafeh on Hashem Street. Note: buying the Jordan Pass online before arrival (~70-80 JOD / ~£80-90 for the version including Petra + Wadi Rum) waives your visa-on-arrival fee and covers Jerash, Petra (2 days) and many sites.
🚌Airport shuttle bus ~£4, or shared taxi ~£8-10 per person
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse, downtown Amman (~£20-25/night)
- →Amman Citadel & Roman Theatre (Jordan Pass)
- →Rainbow Street & downtown souks
- →Street food: falafel, knafeh
Jerash Roman ruins & the Dead Sea
Amman / Dead Sea
Take a morning JETT bus or a shared minibus/service taxi (about 1 hour, ~5-8 JOD return by shared transport) north to Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman cities outside Italy — colonnaded streets, Hadrian's Arch, the Oval Plaza and two theatres. Book a 2-3 hour local guide via GetYourGuide or hire a licensed guide at the gate (~£15-20). Return to Amman in the afternoon, then take a bus or shared taxi (~4-6 JOD) to a Dead Sea public beach (Amman Beach or a hotel day pass). Float in the salty water, slather on the mineral mud, and catch sunset. Return to Amman for the night (or stay near the Dead Sea if you prefer).
🚌JETT/local bus to Jerash and Dead Sea buses ~£10-14 total
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse, Amman (~£20-25/night)
- →Jerash archaeological site with local guide
- →Dead Sea float & mud at public beach or hotel day pass
Madaba mosaics, Mt Nebo & Kerak Castle en route to Wadi Musa
Madaba / Wadi Musa
Take an early bus south to Madaba (~2 JOD) and visit St George's Church to see the famous 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land, plus the Madaba Archaeological Park mosaics (Jordan Pass). A short taxi or local bus to Mt Nebo lets you see the view across the Jordan Valley towards Israel/Palestine. Continue south to Kerak to explore the crusader castle perched above the valley (~£3 entry). From Kerak catch the onward bus/coach toward Wādī Mūsá (Petra), which takes about 2-3 hours; alternatively arrange a private driver for this leg (~£40-50 total, split if you team up with other travellers). Check into a guesthouse or budget hotel in Wadi Musa town.
🚌Local buses / shared minibus, plus optional private driver leg ~£15-25pp
🛏Guesthouse/budget hotel, Wadi Musa (~£18-22/night)
- →Madaba mosaic map of St George's Church
- →Mt Nebo viewpoint
- →Kerak Crusader Castle
Petra full day — Siq, Treasury & the Monastery
Wadi Musa (Petra)
An early start to beat the crowds and heat. Enter Petra (your 2-day Jordan Pass ticket is already paid) and walk the 1km Siq, a stunning narrow gorge with 80m walls, emerging in front of the Treasury. Book a local guide for a half-day via a Petra licensed guide at the visitor centre or GetYourGuide (~£25-35). Climb to the Monastery and walk to the Royal Tombs and the High Place of Sacrifice if you have the energy. Bring plenty of water, lunch and snacks rather than paying tourist-restaurant prices. Optional: Petra by Night on Monday/Wednesday/Thursday evenings (~12 JOD).
🚌Walk from town (uphill) or short local taxi ~£2-3
🛏Guesthouse/budget hotel, Wadi Musa (~£18-22/night)
- →Petra Siq & Treasury
- →Monastery climb
- →Royal Tombs & High Place of Sacrifice
- →Optional Petra by Night
Free morning in Petra + local cooking class
Wadi Musa (Petra)
Use the second day of your Petra ticket to return at your own pace — revisit the Treasury at sunrise or explore the far corners you missed. In the afternoon, join a local cooking class in Wadi Musa (book ahead via GetYourGuide or directly with a family-run kitchen), where you'll make a full meal of soup, mezze and a main (think maqluba or mansaf), then eat together with other travellers. An easy evening — get an early night ahead of the desert.
🚌Walking / local taxi ~£2-3
🛏Guesthouse/budget hotel, Wadi Musa (~£18-22/night)
- →Second-day Petra self-exploration
- →Local Jordanian cooking class & dinner
Little Petra & Wadi Rum 4x4 desert camp
Wadi Rum
Morning visit to Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) — quieter, smaller ruins cut into pink sandstone. Take a shared minibus or arrange transport from Wadi Musa to Wadi Rum village (~1.5-2 hours). Many Wadi Rum camps include pick-up. Join a 4x4 jeep tour (3-4 hours, ~£30-45 per person, often bundled with the camp) to see Lawrence's Spring, the Khazali Canyon inscriptions, red dunes and towering rock formations. Overnight in a desert camp with a Bedouin dinner and stargazing.
🚌Shared minibus Wadi Musa to Wadi Rum ~£8-10
🛏Wadi Rum desert camp — basic or bubble tent (~£25-40/night incl. dinner)
- →Little Petra visit
- →Wadi Rum 4x4 jeep tour
- →Bedouin desert camp & stargazing
Wadi Rum to Amman — farewell dinner
Amman
Sunrise in the desert, then breakfast at camp. Take a shared minibus/bus back to Amman (~3-4 hours, ~£10-12). Freshen up at your hotel and spend the late afternoon re-exploring Amman — the Jordan Museum, art galleries in Jabal Amman or a hamman. In the evening, treat yourself to a farewell dinner at a well-regarded local restaurant (Books@Cafe, Hashem or a Levantine favourite, ~£12-18), or hunt down a rooftop for sunset over the city.
🚌Shared minibus Wadi Rum to Amman ~£10-12
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse, Amman (~£20-25/night)
- →Desert sunrise
- →Jordan Museum / Jabal Amman wander
- →Farewell dinner
Depart Amman
Amman
Breakfast, then head back to the airport by shuttle bus or shared taxi to catch your flight. If time allows, pick up last-minute souvenirs — Dead Sea products, spices or a mosaic from Madaba.
🚌Airport shuttle bus ~£4 / shared taxi ~£8-10
🛏—
- →Last-minute souvenir shopping (optional)
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£475 | £1,299 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £824 per person (63%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£475
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.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Jordan Highlights — Self-Launched (Amman Loop: Jerash, Dead Sea, Petra & Wadi Rum) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £475 per person for 8 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 £1,299 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £475 — a saving of roughly £824 (63%) per person.
How long is the Jordan trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 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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