The Ultimate Self-Launched Adventure in Jordan

Fly into Queen Alia International Airport (AMM). From the airport, take the Airport Express Bus (Line 701) to downtown Amman — it runs regularly and costs around £3, dropping you near 7th Circle. Alternatively, agree a fixed-rate taxi for around £15–20. Check into your guesthouse in the Jabal Amman or Rainbow Street area. In the evening, head to downtown Amman on foot to explore the street food scene yourself: try freshly grilled kebabs, falafel wraps, and the legendary knafeh (cheese pastry soaked in sweet syrup) from Habibah Sweets on Al-Malek Faisal Street. The whole evening can cost as little as £5–8 in food.

🚌Airport Express Bus 701 from AMM to central Amman (~£3) or fixed-rate taxi (~£15–20)

🛏Jordan Tower Hotel or Nomads Hostel, Jabal Amman — dorm from £12, private from £25

• →Airport Express Bus (Line 701) or fixed-rate taxi to central Amman (~£3–£20)
• →Self-guided street food wander in downtown Amman
• →Try knafeh at Habibah Sweets — a Jordanian institution

After breakfast at your guesthouse (usually included), head to the Amman Citadel (Jabal al-Qal'a) — entrance is around £3 — for panoramic views over the city and Roman ruins. Walk downhill to the Roman Theatre (£3 entry). Stroll through the souks and past Al-Husseini Mosque. For the afternoon, take a shared minibus (service taxi) from Muhajireen Bus Station south to Madaba (around £1.50) — a 45-minute ride. In Madaba, visit the famous Byzantine mosaic floor map at St George's Church (£2 entry). For a cooking experience similar to the tour, book a session with Beit Al Baraka or a local cooking class via Airbnb Experiences or GetYourGuide (~£30–40). Afterwards, grab a shared taxi to Mount Nebo (~£5 return with waiting time), enjoy the sweeping views over the Dead Sea and Jordan Valley, then return to Amman by shared minibus.

🚌Shared minibus (service taxi) Amman–Madaba (~£1.50 each way); shared taxi to Mount Nebo (~£5 return)

🛏Jordan Tower Hotel or Nomads Hostel, Amman — same as Day 1

• →Amman Citadel visit (~£3 entry)
• →Roman Theatre (~£3 entry)
• →Souk and Al-Husseini Mosque wander (free)
• →Shared minibus to Madaba (~£1.50)
• →St George's Church mosaic map (~£2)
• →Jordanian cooking class via GetYourGuide or Airbnb Experiences (~£30–40)
• →Shared taxi to Mount Nebo and back (~£5)

An early start today. Take a shared minibus from Muhajireen Station or a JETT bus towards Aqaba, disembarking at the Dana turnoff (~£6–8, 3 hours). From the main road, a local taxi to Dana village costs around £5. Hike the Shaq Al Reesh trail (circular, ~5km, 2.5 hours) through dramatic sandstone canyons — a permit or small trail fee (~£3) may apply at the Dana visitor centre. After the hike, arrange a local taxi onward to Little Petra / Beidha (~£10–15). Explore the Nabataean carved caves and passages for free (included in Jordan Pass — strongly recommended at ~£65 for the full trip, covering Petra and most sites). Check into a camp near Little Petra — several budget Bedouin camps offer overnight stays with dinner included.

🚌JETT bus or shared minibus from Amman to Dana turnoff (~£6–8, ~3hrs); local taxi to Dana and onward to Little Petra (~£15 total)

🛏Little Petra Bedouin Camp or Ammarin Camp — budget tent/cabin with dinner from £25–35 per person

• →JETT or shared minibus Amman to Dana (~£6–8)
• →Shaq Al Reesh trail hike in Dana Biosphere Reserve (~5km, 2.5hrs, small trail fee ~£3)
• →Taxi Dana to Little Petra (~£10–15)
• →Self-guided exploration of Little Petra / Beidha (free with Jordan Pass)

The 'backdoor' route into Petra (the Al-Beidha trail, also called the Wadi Muthlim or the High Place route from the north) is walkable with a map and clear signage. Download the Maps.me or AllTrails map for the Petra Backdoor trail the night before. Start early (07:00) from the Little Petra Visitor Centre area — the trail is approximately 11km one-way to the Monastery (Ad Deir), taking 4–5 hours. Carry plenty of water (2–3 litres minimum) and snacks. The trail follows old Nabataean routes and reaches the Monastery dramatically from above — one of Jordan's most rewarding hikes. From the Monastery, descend into Petra's core via ancient stone steps. Explore the Royal Tombs, Street of Facades, and the iconic Treasury (Al-Khazneh) at your own pace — all covered by Jordan Pass (~£65 total for all Petra days). Exit through the main Siq into Wadi Musa town. Book a budget guesthouse in Wadi Musa for the night.

🚌Walk from Little Petra camp to trailhead (~10 min); hike through to Petra (no transport needed); short walk into Wadi Musa town

🛏Rocky Mountain Hotel or Cleopetra Hotel, Wadi Musa — private room from £20–30/night

• →Self-launched backdoor trail hike to Petra Monastery (Ad Deir) — ~11km, 4–5hrs (free with Jordan Pass)
• →Explore Petra's Royal Tombs, Street of Facades, and Treasury (Jordan Pass)
• →Exit through the dramatic Siq into Wadi Musa

Optional: Wake at 06:00 and walk back into Petra via the main Siq entrance (included in your Jordan Pass multi-day ticket) to catch the Treasury in the early morning light before crowds arrive — truly magical. After breakfast in Wadi Musa, take a shared minibus or arrange a local taxi to Wadi Rum Village (~1.5 hours, £8–12). At Wadi Rum, you must pre-book a desert camp — dozens of legitimate Bedouin camps offer stays including dinner and breakfast. Book directly with a camp like Mohammed Mutlak Camp, Wadi Rum Night Luxury Camp (mid-range), or Rahayeb Desert Camp. Afternoon jeep tours of the desert (Um Ishreen Canyon, Barrah Canyon) can be arranged directly with your camp or at the Wadi Rum visitor centre — a 2-hour shared jeep tour costs around £15–25 per person. Sleep in a Bedouin tent or, for an upgrade, a bubble/dome tent (from ~£40–70/night including meals).

🚌Shared minibus or taxi from Wadi Musa to Wadi Rum Village (~1.5hrs, £8–12)

🛏Rahayeb Desert Camp or Wadi Rum Bedouin Camp — Bedouin tent with meals from £35; bubble dome upgrade from £65

• →Optional early return to Petra Treasury at sunrise (Jordan Pass)
• →Shared minibus or taxi Wadi Musa to Wadi Rum (~£8–12)
• →Shared 4x4 jeep tour of Wadi Rum: Um Ishreen Canyon + Barrah Canyon (~£15–25/person, book at visitor centre or via camp)
• →Bedouin dinner at camp under the stars

Book a full-day jeep and hiking tour through your camp or the Wadi Rum visitor centre — these are widely available and can be arranged on arrival the previous day. A full-day private jeep tour for 2–4 people covering Jebel Al-Hash costs approximately £40–60 per person (includes jeep transit and a Bedouin guide). The hike itself is 3–4 hours with manageable scrambling and offers 360-degree views deep into the desert. Lunch is typically provided by your Bedouin guide in the desert. Return to camp in the late afternoon for a lazy desert evening. With no light pollution, Wadi Rum is one of the world's best stargazing spots — simply step outside your tent after dark.

🚌4x4 jeep provided as part of tour (included in day rate)

🛏Wadi Rum desert camp — same as Day 5

• →Full-day jeep + Jebel Al-Hash hike (~6.5km, 3–4hrs, £40–60/person via camp or visitor centre)
• →Desert lunch with Bedouin guide
• →Afternoon free time at camp: reading, resting, exploring on foot
• →Stargazing from camp (no light pollution — exceptional sky views)

After breakfast at camp, arrange a shared taxi or JETT bus from Wadi Rum to Aqaba (~1 hour, £5–8). Check into a budget hotel in central Aqaba — the city is compact and walkable. Head to the marina to book a snorkelling boat trip directly with local operators (e.g. Sindbad Diving Centre, International Arab Divers Village) — a half-day snorkelling cruise with equipment and lunch costs around £25–40 per person, and is bookable on arrival or via GetYourGuide. Spend the afternoon floating over coral reefs teeming with tropical fish. In the evening, stroll Aqaba's seafront promenade and enjoy fresh grilled fish from a local restaurant (£8–12).

🚌Shared taxi or JETT bus from Wadi Rum to Aqaba (~1hr, £5–8)

🛏Aquamarina Hotel or Moon Beach Hotel, Aqaba — budget-mid double from £25–40/night

• →Shared taxi or JETT bus Wadi Rum to Aqaba (~£5–8)
• →Half-day Red Sea snorkelling boat trip with equipment and lunch (~£25–40, book via GetYourGuide or direct at marina)
• →Evening walk along Aqaba's seafront promenade
• →Dinner at a local seafood restaurant (~£8–12)

Take the morning JETT bus from Aqaba to Amman (~5 hours, £10–12) — book the day before at the JETT office or online. Ask to be dropped at the Dead Sea Highway exit, where a taxi can take you to a public beach section of the Dead Sea (~£5–10). Note: many Dead Sea resorts charge entrance fees for non-guests (~£20–35), which typically includes towel, shower, and locker use — worth it for the full experience including mud access. Float effortlessly in the hyper-saline water, slather on the famous mineral-rich mud, and soak up the surreal landscape at the lowest point on Earth. Continue by taxi to Amman (~45 min, £8–12) for your final night. Treat yourself to a farewell dinner in Amman — Rainbow Street is packed with excellent restaurants at all price points.

🚌JETT bus Aqaba → Amman (~5hrs, £10–12); taxi Dead Sea → Amman (~£8–12)

🛏Jordan Tower Hotel or Art Hotel, Amman — private room from £25–35/night

• →JETT bus Aqaba to Dead Sea / Amman (~£10–12, book ahead)
• →Floating and mud bathing at the Dead Sea — public beach or resort day pass (~£20–35)
• →Taxi onwards to Amman (~£8–12)
• →Farewell dinner on Rainbow Street or at a local rooftop restaurant (~£12–18)

After a final Jordanian breakfast (ful medames, hummus, fresh bread, and sweet tea), check out and make your way to Queen Alia International Airport. Take the Airport Express Bus 701 from 7th Circle (~£3) or arrange a taxi (£15–20 fixed rate). If your flight is later in the day, store your luggage at the hotel and spend a last hour in the souks of downtown Amman picking up spices, za'atar, rose water, or a handmade ceramic. Goodbye, Jordan — you'll be back.

🚌Airport Express Bus 701 to AMM (~£3) or fixed-rate taxi (~£15–20)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final Jordanian breakfast at guesthouse
• →Optional: souvenir shopping in downtown Amman souks (za'atar, ceramics, Dead Sea products)
• →Airport Express Bus 701 or taxi to AMM (~£3–20)