5-Day Jordan Itinerary: Amman, Jerash, Dead Sea, Petra & Wadi Rum

Jordan is compact enough that five days gets you through its greatest hits — ancient Roman columns at Jerash, the mineral-rich Dead Sea, the Nabataean wonder of Petra, and the silent red desert of Wadi Rum — without feeling like a blur. This itinerary is designed for first-time visitors who want to cover the essentials without cramming.

If you have more time, our 7-day Jordan itinerary adds Aqaba and a slower pace through Petra. Stretching to ten days? See 10 days in Jordan for Dana Biosphere Reserve and a second Wadi Rum night.

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Day 1: Amman — Settle In and Explore the Old City

Arrive in Amman and spend the afternoon walking the oldest parts of the capital. Start on the Roman Citadel (Jabal al-Qala’a) — free to wander, JOD 3 to enter the National Archaeological Museum inside, open 8am–5pm year-round. The Hercules Temple and the ruined Umayyad Palace give you a compressed view of two thousand years in one hilltop. From there, walk down into downtown and through the colonnaded Roman Theatre (entry approximately JOD 3, open 8am–7pm in summer, 8am–4pm in winter).

For dinner, Hashem Restaurant on King Faisal Street is a Amman institution — foul, falafel, and hummus plates cost JOD 2–5 and the queue is always worth it. For something more relaxed, Sufra Restaurant in Rainbow Street serves a full Jordanian spread (mansaf, maqluba, mezze) for JOD 12–18 per person.

Where to stay — Amman:

• Budget: Jordan Tower Hotel, near First Circle — clean, central, doubles from JOD 25–35/night
• Mid-range: Landmark Amman Hotel — rooftop pool, city views, doubles from JOD 70–95/night
• Luxury: Grand Hyatt Amman — indoor pool, multiple restaurants, doubles from JOD 150–240/night

Transport: Queen Alia International Airport to Amman city centre by JETT express bus is approximately JOD 3.5. Taxis run JOD 15–25 depending on meter and traffic.

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Day 2: Jerash and Ajloun — Roman Ruins and a Crusader Castle

Leave Amman by 8am to arrive at Jerash for opening (8am). The Oval Plaza, Cardo Maximus, and South Theatre are among the best-preserved Roman ruins in the Near East — Jerash entry is approximately JOD 10, or included with the Jordan Pass. Allow three to four hours minimum; a guide here adds genuine context (approximately JOD 20–25 for a 2-hour tour at the site entrance).

In the afternoon, drive 30 minutes west to Ajloun Castle (Qal’at ar-Rabad), a 12th-century Islamic fortress built by Saladin’s nephew. Entry is approximately JOD 3; views over the forested hills of northern Jordan are excellent. The castle is open 8am–5pm (winter) or 8am–7pm (summer).

Return to Amman by early evening — the drive takes roughly 90 minutes without traffic.

Transport — Day 2:

• Shared minibus from Amman North Bus Station (Tabarbour) to Jerash: approximately JOD 1.50 per person each way
• Jerash to Ajloun by taxi: approximately JOD 12–15 one way
• Returning to Amman from Ajloun: shared minibus to Irbid then onward, or taxi direct (~JOD 35–45)

Eat: The Jerash Gate Restaurant just outside the ruins entrance handles the volume of day-trippers reasonably well — shawarma plates and mezze around JOD 6–10.

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Day 3: Dead Sea and Baptism Site

Check out of your Amman hotel and head west. The Dead Sea is approximately 55km from downtown Amman — about 60–75 minutes by road. Your primary target: a float in the world’s saltiest body of water.

Dead Sea access options:

• Amman Beach (public beach, managed by the Greater Amman Municipality): entry approximately JOD 20 (includes sun lounger and fresh water shower)
• Private resort day pass: Mövenpick Resort Dead Sea day pass from approximately JOD 40–55 (includes full beach and pool facilities); Kempinski Hotel Ishtar day pass approximately JOD 50–65

In the afternoon, continue 10km north along the Dead Sea highway to Al-Maghtas (Baptism Site) — see our full Baptism Site guide for everything you need to know before visiting. Entry is approximately JOD 12 as of 2026, open 8am–5pm (8am–6pm in summer). Guided tours run continuously throughout the day.

Tonight, either stay at the Dead Sea or drive back to Amman to continue south the following morning.

Where to stay — Dead Sea:

• Budget: Most budget travellers stay in Amman and do the Dead Sea as a day trip
• Mid-range: Mövenpick Resort Dead Sea — doubles from approximately JOD 120–180/night, includes full beach access
• Luxury: Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea — doubles from approximately JOD 200–350/night, four pools

Transport: JETT runs a Dead Sea express bus from Amman’s 7th Circle departure point, approximately JOD 8–10 return. A private taxi costs JOD 30–40 one way.

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Day 4: Petra — The Rose-Red City

Rise early and travel south to Petra. The site opens at 6am, and being at the Treasury (Al-Khazneh) when the first light hits the canyon walls — before the tour buses arrive — is worth whatever early alarm it takes.

Allow a full day inside Petra. The Siq walk to the Treasury takes 20–25 minutes. From the Treasury, continue through the Street of Facades and Petra’s main valley to the Roman Theatre, the Colonnaded Street, and the Royal Tombs carved high into the cliffside. The Monastery (Ad Deir) is a 45-minute hike beyond — 800+ steps, but the structure is larger than the Treasury and crowds are thinner. Budget your energy accordingly.

Petra entry fee: approximately JOD 50 for one day (as of 2026). Jordan Pass holders enter free.

Where to stay — Petra (Wadi Musa town):

• Budget: Valentine Inn — popular with hikers, doubles from JOD 20–35/night, free breakfast
• Mid-range: Petra Moon Hotel — 5-minute walk from the Petra gate, doubles from JOD 60–90/night
• Luxury: Mövenpick Resort Petra — directly beside the Petra gate, doubles from JOD 120–200/night

Eat in Wadi Musa:

• Al-Arabi Restaurant: packed local spot, grills and mezze for JOD 5–10 per person
• My Mom’s Recipe: home-style Jordanian cooking, highly rated, mains JOD 7–14
• The Basin Restaurant: inside Petra itself, near the Colonnaded Street — convenient for lunch without leaving the site, approximately JOD 12–18 per person

For a faster trip, pair this day with 3 days in Petra and Wadi Rum for a focused south-Jordan loop.

Transport Amman → Petra:

• JETT coach from 7th Circle: approximately JOD 11 each way, 4–4.5 hours, one departure daily (~6:30am)
• Private taxi: approximately JOD 80–100 one way, 3 hours

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Day 5: Wadi Rum — The Valley of the Moon

Check out of your Petra hotel and travel 90–100km south to Wadi Rum. Most travellers arrive at the Wadi Rum Visitor Centre, where jeep tours and camp transfers are arranged. A standard 2-hour jeep tour costs approximately JOD 25–35 per person; a 4-hour sunset tour approximately JOD 45–60 per person.

Bedouin camps provide dinner and breakfast as part of the overnight package. The desert at night — no light pollution, the Milky Way directly overhead, temperature dropping sharply after sunset — is the reason you’re here.

Where to stay — Wadi Rum:

• Budget: Wadi Rum Bedouin Camp — basic tent with shared facilities, from JOD 30–45/night per person including dinner and breakfast
• Mid-range: Mohammed Mutlak Camp — private tents, good food, from JOD 70–90/night per person half-board
• Luxury: Memories Aicha Luxury Camp or Wadi Rum Night Luxury Camp — private bubble or dome tents, from JOD 130–200/night per person, full-board

Depart Wadi Rum the following morning: taxi to Aqaba for a beach finish (~JOD 20–30), or arrange a transfer back to Amman/Queen Alia Airport (~JOD 100–130 for a private car, 3.5–4 hours).

Transport Petra → Wadi Rum:

• Shared minibus from Wadi Musa: approximately JOD 10–12 per person, departure typically at 6am (book through your hotel the night before)
• Private taxi: approximately JOD 45–60 one way

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Budget Overview

Day	Budget (per person)	Mid-Range	Luxury
Day 1 — Amman	JOD 35–50	JOD 100–130	JOD 200–280
Day 2 — Jerash/Ajloun	JOD 30–40	JOD 50–70	JOD 90–130
Day 3 — Dead Sea + Baptism	JOD 45–65	JOD 130–180	JOD 260–380
Day 4 — Petra	JOD 70–90	JOD 130–170	JOD 220–320
Day 5 — Wadi Rum	JOD 60–80	JOD 110–150	JOD 200–280

Entry fees at budget tier assume Jordan Pass (purchased before travel, approximately JOD 70 as of 2026 for single-entry visa + unlimited Jordan sites including Petra). Without the Jordan Pass, add Petra entry (~JOD 50) and visa fee (~JOD 40) separately.

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Practical Notes

Best months: March–May and September–November give the most comfortable temperatures. June–August is scorching in Petra and the desert; December–February can be cold enough for snow in Petra overnight.

Jordan Pass: Buy before flying in. Without it, you pay the JOD 40 visa on arrival plus JOD 50 Petra entry separately — that’s JOD 90 versus roughly JOD 70 for the pass. The math is obvious.

Mobile data: Local SIM cards from Zain, Orange, or Umniah cost approximately JOD 5–10 for a data package and are available at the airport arrivals hall.

For a shorter southern-focused loop, our 3-day Amman guide covers the capital in depth if you’re arriving a day early or extending your stay.