Petra & Wadi Rum by Bike: Self-Launched

Fly into Queen Alia International Airport (AMM). Take the Airport Express bus (Line 701) into central Amman for around £3 — much cheaper than a taxi. Check into your hostel or budget hotel in the lively Rainbow Street / Downtown area. Spend the evening exploring Amman's downtown souks, grabbing a falafel wrap and a glass of fresh juice from a street stall. The Jordan Pass (covering a visa-on-arrival fee + Petra entry) is worth buying online before you travel — approximately £85 and saves money overall.

🚌Airport Express bus Line 701 to Abdali station (~£3)

🛏Nomads Hotel & Rooftop Bar, or Cliff Hotel (budget options in Downtown Amman, ~£18-25/night)

• →Airport Express bus to central Amman (~£3)
• →Explore Downtown Amman and Rainbow Street
• →Purchase Jordan Pass online if not already done (~£85, covers visa + Petra entry)

Take an early shared minibus or JETT bus from Amman's North Bus Station to Jerash (~45 min, £1.50). Spend 2–3 hours exploring the spectacular Roman ruins of ancient Gerasa — colonnaded streets, the Oval Plaza and the Temple of Artemis. Return to Amman by minibus, then take a service taxi or JETT bus south towards Madaba (~1.5 hrs, £2–3). Alternatively, hire a road bike or hybrid in Amman for the day (local bike hire shops near 3rd Circle, ~£20/day) and ride the rolling foothills route to Madaba yourself — around 32 km with a mix of descents and one longer climb. Support yourself with snacks and water from village shops en route.

🚌Minibus Amman North Station → Jerash (~£1.50); service taxi Amman → Madaba (~£2.50)

🛏Mariam Hotel or Mosaic City Hotel, Madaba (~£20-28/night)

• →Minibus from Amman North Station to Jerash (~£1.50 each way)
• →Self-explore Jerash Roman ruins (entry ~£10, or free with Jordan Pass)
• →Hire hybrid/touring bike in Amman (~£20/day)
• →Cycle ~32 km through Jordan Rift Valley foothills to Madaba
• →Lunch at a local restaurant in a village en route (~£5)

Start the morning at Madaba's famous Greek Orthodox Church of St George to admire the 6th-century Byzantine mosaic map of Jerusalem (~£1.50 entry). Hire a local taxi for a half-day to ride up to Mount Nebo (reputedly Moses' burial site) for sweeping views over the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea — negotiate a return trip for around £15–20. From Mount Nebo, arrange onward transport down to the Dead Sea shore at Suwaima; several public beaches charge an entry fee (~£15–20) but include a shower and loungers. Float in the famous hyper-saline waters. In the afternoon, take a JETT or public bus south along the Kings Highway towards Wadi Musa (3–3.5 hrs, ~£8). The Kings Highway route passes through dramatic canyons and Nabataean landscapes.

🚌Local taxi to Mount Nebo (~£15-20 return); public bus/JETT Madaba → Wadi Musa (~£8)

🛏Petra Gate Hotel or Rocky Mountain Hotel, Wadi Musa (~£22-30/night)

• →Madaba mosaic map at St George's Church (~£1.50)
• →Taxi to Mount Nebo and back (~£15-20)
• →Dead Sea float at Suwaima public beach (~£15-20 entry)
• →JETT/public bus south along Kings Highway to Wadi Musa (~£8)

Dedicate a full day to Petra — budget at least 8 hours to do it justice. Walk the iconic narrow Siq chasm (rising 80 m either side) to the Treasury (El Khazneh), arguably the most dramatic reveal in travel. Continue past the Royal Tombs, the Roman Street, the Great Temple and the Colonnaded Street. Climb 800 steps to the Monastery (El Deir) for a spectacular panorama — go early to beat the heat. Petra entry is included in the Jordan Pass, otherwise tickets cost ~£60 for a 1-day pass. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen and snacks from the Wadi Musa supermarkets the evening before to save money inside the site.

🚌On foot within Petra site

🛏Rocky Mountain Hotel or Petra Gate Hotel, Wadi Musa (~£22-30/night)

• →Full day self-explore of Petra (included with Jordan Pass, or ~£60 standalone)
• →Walk the Siq to the Treasury (El Khazneh)
• →Climb to the High Place of Sacrifice for panoramic views
• →Hike 800 steps to El Deir (the Monastery)
• →Explore Royal Tombs and the Colonnaded Street

Hire a bike in Wadi Musa for the day (~£15–20 from local hire shops or your guesthouse) and cycle approximately 18.5 km north to Little Petra (Siq Al-Barid). This miniature sandstone canyon is free to enter and surprisingly crowd-free compared to the main site. Explore the narrow 350 m siq, carved triclinia, ancient water channels and the painted Nabataean frescoes. Return to Wadi Musa by bike or arrange a shared taxi back (~£5). Spend the afternoon relaxing or exploring the village of Wadi Musa.

🚌Hired bike (~£15-20); shared taxi return if needed (~£5)

🛏Rocky Mountain Hotel or Petra Gate Hotel, Wadi Musa (~£22-30/night)

• →Hire a bike in Wadi Musa (~£15-20/day)
• →Cycle ~18.5 km to Little Petra (Siq Al-Barid)
• →Self-explore Siq Al-Barid — carved triclinia, frescoes and water channels (free entry)
• →Return to Wadi Musa by bike or shared taxi (~£5)

An early start is essential to beat the desert heat. Arrange a taxi transfer to Tayba village as a starting point (~£10–15), then cycle approximately 48 km through traditional Bedouin territory, desert scrub and the dramatic Wadi Araba — this is the longest and most rewarding day of riding. The route passes Bedouin encampments where a roadside tea stop is very likely. Surfaces are mostly paved with some potholed and sandy sections — take care and carry 2–3 litres of water minimum. After the desert crossing, take a shared taxi or local bus the short distance into Aqaba (~£3). Spend the evening on the Red Sea waterfront.

🚌Taxi to Tayba start point (~£10-15); cycling; shared taxi/bus to Aqaba (~£3)

🛏Bedouin Garden Village or Al-Shula Hotel, Aqaba (~£20-28/night)

• →Taxi transfer to Tayba village start point (~£10-15)
• →Cycle ~48 km through Wadi Araba desert road to Ar-Rajif and Gharandal
• →Opportunistic Bedouin tea stop en route
• →Shared taxi/bus into Aqaba from road end (~£3)
• →Sunset stroll along Aqaba corniche

Spend the morning swimming or snorkelling on the Red Sea. Aqaba has a handful of free public beaches; for snorkelling gear hire, head to the South Beach area where several operators charge ~£8–12 for equipment rental. In the early afternoon, take a shared taxi or minibus from Aqaba to the Wadi Rum Visitor Centre (~45 min, £3–5). From the village, cycle the relatively flat desert road into Wadi Rum proper (~28 km) on your hired bike — the ochre-red sandstone massifs and vast silence make this a magical final ride. Book a Bedouin camp directly through operators in Wadi Rum village (many offer full-board tented camps for £30–50/night including dinner and breakfast). Sleep under an extraordinary star-lit sky.

🚌Shared taxi/minibus Aqaba → Wadi Rum (~£3-5); cycling into the desert

🛏Wadi Rum Night Luxury Camp or Rahayeb Desert Camp (budget Bedouin camps, ~£30-50/night full board including dinner)

• →Morning swim or snorkel at Aqaba South Beach (snorkel hire ~£8-12)
• →Shared taxi/minibus Aqaba → Wadi Rum Visitor Centre (~£3-5)
• →Cycle ~28 km into Wadi Rum desert on flat paved road
• →Bedouin camp overnight with traditional dinner and star-gazing

After a Bedouin breakfast, book a shared 4x4 jeep safari through your camp or the Wadi Rum Visitor Centre (~£20–30 for a 2-hour shared jeep tour). Jeep tours take you through towering sandstone canyons, past Lawrence of Arabia filming locations, sand dunes and ancient rock inscriptions. In the early afternoon, take a JETT bus or shared taxi back north to Amman (~4 hrs, £8–10). JETT buses from Wadi Rum/Aqaba to Amman are comfortable and reliable. Arrive in Amman in the evening — grab dinner in the Downtown area.

🚌Shared jeep safari; JETT bus Wadi Rum → Amman (~£8-10)

🛏Nomads Hotel or Cliff Hotel, Downtown Amman (~£18-25/night)

• →Bedouin breakfast at camp (included with accommodation)
• →Shared 4x4 jeep safari in Wadi Rum (~2 hours, ~£20-30 per person)
• →JETT bus or shared taxi Wadi Rum/Aqaba → Amman (~£8-10, ~4 hrs)

Enjoy a final Jordanian breakfast — hummus, ful medames, labneh and fresh bread — at a local Downtown café. If time allows before your flight, visit the Amman Citadel (Jabal al-Qal'a) for panoramic views over the city, and browse the Jordan Museum which offers excellent context on Nabataean and Roman history (~£3 entry each). Take the Airport Express bus (Line 701) back to Queen Alia International Airport (~£3). Check out by midday from your hotel.

🚌Airport Express bus to AMM (~£3)

🛏None (departure day)

• →Traditional Jordanian breakfast at a Downtown café (~£4)
• →Visit Amman Citadel and/or Jordan Museum (~£3 each)
• →Airport Express bus Line 701 to Queen Alia Airport (~£3)