Jordan is a true gem of the Middle East and offers several wonders to marvel at. From Petra to the Dead Sea, this one-week Jordan Itinerary hits the highlights of this desert country. Jordan also has a ton of luxury hotels to stay at, which adds to how amazing your trip will be.
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Table of Contents
A Brief History of Jordan
This history of Jordan dates back over 200,000 years and has a lot of Paleolithic remains. Small towns first came to be during the Bronze Age and later grew into more urban centers. Throughout the years, various kingdoms rose up and spread out across Jordan.
The next thousand years brought Alexander the Great, the Roman Empire, the Crusades, and the Ottoman Empire. In the more modern era, control of Jordan switched over between the Arabs and the British until Jordan became an independent country in 1846.
Language in Jordan
Jordan has two National languages: Arabic and English. While the majority of the people speak Arabic, we never had any trouble communicating with people in English. In the hotels and main sites, plenty of people are fluent in English. The Jordanian people were also super friendly and would always want to practice their English with you (usually asking where you were from and how you were liking Jordan).
Currency in Jordan
The Jordanian currency is known as the Jordan Dinar. Most places took credit cards, but it is always good to have some cash on hand.
How to Get To Jordan
The main airport to fly into for your one-week Jordan itinerary is the Amman Queen Alia International Airport. You can catch flights here from pretty much anywhere in the world. I have not always seen a lot of flight deals into Amman, but you can opt to find a flight to somewhere in Europe and catch a cheaper flight to Jordan from there.
We opted to book airfare to Amman using points from our travel credit card. Our Austrian Airlines flight gave us a long layover in Vienna, so we got a bonus city to explore along the way. We then flew to Malta afterward, using RyanAir.
Rental Cars for a One Week Jordan Itinerary
For this one-week Jordan Itinerary, I highly recommend getting a rental car to get you around the country. This way, you can make stops along the way and are not held to local bus times or have to deal with taxis. My husband drove the entire trip and had no problems driving around. There are only three main highways in the country, so it is not difficult to navigate around.
I used Autoslash to book our rental car.
The Jordan Pass
Cost: 70-80 JD
If this is your first visit to Jordan, or if you plan on spending at least one day in Petra, like with this one-week Jordan Itinerary, you will want to invest in a Jordan Pass. This pass includes admission into many sites across Jordan, entrance into Petra (for one, two, or three consecutive days depending on the pass you choose), and your Jordanian Visa. A visa costs 40JD without the Jordan Pass and you can get it on arrival.
Where to Stay in Jordan
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Jordan hotels here!
Day 1: Arrival in Jordan, Drive to Wadi Musa
Drive Time: 2.5 hours
Hotel Option: Petra Corner Hotel
Today, to start off your one-week Jordan itinerary, arrive at the Queen Alia International Airport. Our flight arrived in in the afternoon, so after going through customs and getting our baggage, we opted to drive directly to Wadi Musa, the gateway to one of the 7 Wonders of the World: Petra. If your flight gets in earlier, you can always spend some time exploring Amman.
It will take about 2.5 hours to get to Wadi Musa from the airport. Upon arrival in Wadi Musa, it should be perfect timing to check into your hotel and get settled.
Tonight, grab dinner at Petra Night Restaurant. Here they have some delicious Middle Eastern and Arab cuisine. It has a nice terrace to eat on that overlooks Tourism Street, the main street in Wadi Musa. I recommend trying one of their lemon mint slushes.
You can also spend some time wandering Tourism Street and checking out the shops. Many are open pretty late as Wadi Musa has a lot of people out in the evening.
Depending on what day you arrive, tonight may be a good option for Petra by Night. This is every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 8:30pm. It costs $23 and enables visitors to see a light show and Petra lit up by lights.
Day 2: Petra
Cost: $15
Today, you will spend the entire day visiting Petra. This will be a long and exhausting day, but you can cram all the highlights into one day. There are so many things to see in Petra, and you can easily spend several days. However, in this one-week Jordan itinerary, I recommend spending just one day in Petra.
You will want to get there early in order to beat the crowds and the hot weather. The Jordan Pass will cover your entrance into Petra; you just have to get your actual ticket at the ticket office upon arrival. If you get there right when they open, there should not be much of a line. We were able to walk right up to the window to get our tickets. From there, you can enter the park.
The Monastery
Start off the morning with a hike to the Monastery. While you can opt to do the Little Petra hike through the backdoor to Petra, we decided to take the strenuous route to the monastery. This is a really cool spot and there are several unique views once you get there. It is a hike, so make sure to take plenty of water.
After the monastery, spend some time exploring more of Petra and whatever else you want to see there. Petra has a TON of things to see, and it can be hard to choose what to get to. We just wandered around taking it all in. All of the royal tombs were pretty cool to see. Of course, the treasury is the main point to view, so make sure to get your pictures there early.
Petra Museum
Once you have had your fill of Petra, stop at the Petra Museum. Many people bypass this museum, but it was well worth the stop. It is free and contains a ton of artifacts from the area. It also goes over the history of the area.
When you need lunch, opt to stop at My Mom’s Recipe Restaurant. They have a ton of Middle Eastern options, and it is a great way to fuel up after hiking around Petra. Later on, I also recommend hitting up the Cave Bar. They have a yummy dinner buffet and some awesome drinks.
Day 3: Wadi Musa to Aqaba
Drive Time: 2 hours
Hotel Option: InterContinental Aqaba
This morning, opt to get up early again to head into Petra or you can opt to relax a little bit before driving to Aqaba, the Jordanian gateway to the Red Sea as part of this one-week Jordan itinerary.
If you opt to head into Petra, complete any of the hikes or sections you might not have completed yesterday. You can also hire a guide to take you to some of the viewpoints above the treasury. This should cost about $15.
For those heading to Aqaba, plan to arrive by lunchtime. Then, head over to the Aqaba Castle/Fortress. This was built as a stop for those journeying on the Hajj and then later used as a military stronghold that helped to defend Aqaba. Not much is left of the fortress but the walls, but you can still spend some time wandering around. Admission is included with your Jordan pass.
Next, head nearby to the Aqaba Archeological Museum. Admission is also included with your Jordan Pass. Inside visitors can check out artifacts that have been found in the Aqaba area. Some of the artifacts date back to ancient times. Plan to spend about an hour here.
This afternoon, then spend some time relaxing on the beach of the resort. Most of the resort hotels have restaurants on the property you can eat at or grab a quick dinner in downtown Aqaba.
Day 4: Aqaba
Cost: 45 JD or $63
On day 4 of this one-week Jordan itinerary, you will spend time exploring Aqaba and getting out onto the Red Sea. There are many different options for getting out on the Red Sea, from a sailing cruise to snorkeling and scuba diving.
Snorkel the Red Sea
We opted to book a day long snorkel tour on the Red Sea through Sini Divers. It cost 45JD a person and came with all of the equipment (although we always opt to bring our own snorkel). Sini Divers has several locations throughout the Middle East and have been around since 2009.
They picked us up at our hotel and brought us to the docks to board the yacht. Once on the yacht, visitors have three decks to use. The number of guests onboard depends on the number of people who book each day. We ended up having 11 people, with 6 people diving and 5 people snorkeling.
Throughout the day, you will make two or three snorkel/dive stops depending on the conditions and timing. Each stop is about an hour depending on how tired people get.
The tour also includes a delicious lunch between two of the stops. This all-you-can-eat buffet had plenty of options for all dietary restrictions. This tour is a great way to pass the day, and it is lots of fun to be on the Red Sea.
Other Tour Options
If the tour above doesn’t sound like a good fit for you, check out these tour options.
Dinner at Alshinawi
After a day on the water, you will want a delicious meal to refuel. Alshinawi has a ton of fun Jordanian dishes, some that are unique to Aqaba. Make sure to grab a freshly blended juice beverage as well.
Day 5: Aqaba to the Dead Sea
Drive Time: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Hotel Option: Hilton Dead Sea Resort
After relaxing in Aqaba and enjoying all your resort has to offer, head out to the next landmark of this one-week Jordan itinerary: The Dead Sea! The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth and well worth the addition to the itinerary.
It will take a little over three hours to get from Aqaba to the Dead Sea. Along the way, stop at the Museum at the Lowest Point on Earth, which is included on your Jordan Pass. This museum goes over the history of the Dead Sea area and also talks about how it became the lowest point on earth.
When visiting the Dead Sea, you must stay at a resort that has access to the Dead Sea. It is pretty much the only way to access the Jordan side of the Dead Sea. You can check out some the best Dead Sea Resorts here, but we opted to stay at the Hilton Resort, which was well worth the price.
Day 6: Dead Sea to Bethany to Amman
Drive Time: 30 minutes and 1 hour
Cost: 8 JD or $11
Hotel Option: Jabal Amman Hotel
On day six of this one week Jordan itinerary, depart the Dead Sea in the morning, for Bethany, the baptismal site of Jesus Christ. This is said to be the place where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. It will take about 30 minutes to drive here.
Bethany Beyond Jordan
When you buy your Jordan pass, you can opt to pay a little extra and buy your entrance ticket then. This is what I recommend doing, as you get a discount and then do not have to worry about it upon arrival.
During your visit to Bethany, tours usually depart every 30 minutes. You are then loaded onto a small bus with a guide who will then walk you to the site, stopping to give a little information along the way. Visitors will also get to stop at a small church, a museum, a gift shop, and the Jordan River during this time.
At the small church, visitors have the opportunity to buy a small collection of baptismal goods that you can then dunk in the river. Overall, the tour takes about an hour and is well worth the stop.
Jerash
Once visiting Bethany, head another hour to Jerash, one of the largest former Roman settlements in Jordan. Your Jordan pass will get you admission into the site. Visitors can easily spend an hour or two exploring the ruins here.
When you enter, there are maps available so you can see the best places to visit. Make sure not to miss the Arch of Hadrian, the oval forum, the Hippodrome, the Temple of Artemis, and the North Theater. Make sure to bring a lot of water with you because it gets hot exploring the ruins.
After you have had your fill of Jerash, head across the street to Cheesy Grill to grab some lunch. They serve a variety of skewers and burgers which is the perfect thing to eat after spending time in the hot sun.
Explore Amman
Once you have satisfied your hunger, it is time to head to your last stop in Jordan: Amman. Upon arrival in Amman, first, stop at the Amman Citadel. This area is also included in your Jordan pass and offers you spectacular views of Amman.
At the Citadel, visitors can check out ruins from the Neolithic period and Roman times. It will take at least an hour to wander through the area and take in the views.
Next, head down to the Roman Theater. This theater held 6,000 people for performances during Roman times. You can opt to view it from above or wander through it.
Tonight, grab dinner at Sufra, one of the most popular restaurants in Amman. It serves a variety of Jordanian and Middle Eastern dishes. Make sure to make a reservation several weeks in advance as it does book up.
After dinner, take a walk along Rainbow Street, one of the most popular streets in Amman. It comes alive in the evening as many locals will head to the area after work. If you prefer a smaller dinner, you can always stop at AlQuds Falafel for some of the most delicious falafel you will ever have.
End your last day in Jordan with drinks at The Living Room, one of the best bars in Amman. This rooftop terrace overlooks Amman and has some really fun cocktails. It is a great place to take in the sunset. You can opt to make a reservation, or it is usually easy to walk in and grab a spot at the bar.
Day 7: Depart Jordan
For your final day on this one-week Jordan itinerary, opt to fly out at any time to depart Jordan. If you have time, you can spend the morning exploring more areas of Amman. After Jordan, I recommend adding another nearby country such as Israel or Egypt. We opted to head to Valletta, Malta then to Madrid, Spain. It was weirdly cheaper to stop in Malta than to fly directly to Madrid.
Total Costs for a One Week Jordan Itinerary
Note these totals are rounded. While there are ways we could have saved (like at the Aqaba and Dead Sea hotel), we opted to go with the nicer hotels since we used points for our airfare. You could also opt to buy the cheaper Jordan pass that gives you one day instead of two in Petra and not do some of the added on activities we did.
Airfare: $1200 total, $600/person (but we used points)
Hotels: $825 total, $412.50/person
Rental Car: $225 total, $112.50/person
Jordan Pass: $210 total, $105/person
Activities: $180 total, $90/person
Total: $2640 total or $1320/person
Other Things to do in Jordan
One thing we did not have enough time to do was visit the Wadi Rum desert. We opted to skip it since we had experienced camping in the Sahara Desert during our Morocco trip. However, there are some cool day tours you can do from Aqaba or Petra if you do not want to spend the night in Wadi Rum. We also could have spent another day in Amman to take more day trips from there.
