Jordan in 5 Days: Petra, Wadi Rum and Dead Sea Itinerary

Why five days works well

Five days is a popular length for a first visit because it covers the country's best-known places with time to enjoy them. You travel south on one road and return on another, so each day brings new landscapes. Petra gets more than a quick visit, the desert gets a full night, and the trip ends close to the airport at the Dead Sea. The plan below assumes you arrive in Amman and fly home from Queen Alia International Airport.

The shape of the route

The route forms a loop. You head south along the King's Highway, which winds through highland towns, deep canyons and medieval castles, and you return north by a faster road. Two nights in Wadi Musa give you a day and a half in Petra. One night in a desert camp in Wadi Rum is followed by a long drive north to the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea lies only about an hour from the airport, so it makes a relaxing final stop.

Transport on this route

A rental car or a private driver suits this route best, because the King's Highway has many stops and little public transport. Driving yourself gives the most freedom, but the King's Highway is slow and winding, so keep plenty of daylight for it. In Wadi Rum, private cars stay at the visitor centre or in Rum village, and the desert is explored with local Bedouin guides in four-wheel-drive vehicles. Most desert camps arrange this transfer for their guests.

Adjusting the plan

If you prefer nature, replace the second morning in Petra with a walk in the Dana Biosphere Reserve on the way south, and spend a night in Dana. If you love history, visit the desert castles east of Amman on the first day instead of Jerash. In the warmer months, you could also add the water trail of Wadi Mujib near the Dead Sea, where you wade through a narrow gorge toward a waterfall. Check its seasonal conditions before you plan around it.

The plan

Day 1

Amman and Jerash

After arriving in Amman, drive about an hour north to Jerash and explore one of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities anywhere, from Hadrian's Arch to the Oval Plaza and the great Temple of Artemis. Back in Amman, visit the Citadel in the late afternoon light, then walk through downtown, where you can try local street food and freshly made sweets.

Amman Jerash

Day 2

The King's Highway to Petra

Leave early for Madaba to see its Byzantine mosaics, including the famous mosaic map, and visit nearby Mount Nebo. Continue south across the deep canyon of Wadi Mujib, with its dramatic viewpoints, to Kerak Castle. In the late afternoon, drive on to Wadi Musa near Petra. The journey involves about four to five hours of driving, so a full day is needed.

Madaba and Mount Nebo Wadi Mujib Kerak Castle Petra

Day 3

A full day in Petra

Enter Petra early and walk through the Siq to the Treasury. Continue past the Street of Facades and the theatre to the Royal Tombs, then along the colonnaded street to Qasr al-Bint. In the afternoon, climb the rock-cut steps to the Monastery and rest at the viewpoints near the top. On selected evenings, Petra by Night offers a quiet, candlelit walk to the Treasury.

Petra

Day 4

Petra trails, then Wadi Rum

Use the morning for a quieter Petra trail, such as the climb to the High Place of Sacrifice, or visit Little Petra, a short drive north of Wadi Musa. After lunch, drive to Wadi Rum, about one and a half to two hours away. Take an afternoon jeep tour among red dunes and sandstone mountains, watch the sunset, and spend the night in a desert camp.

Petra Wadi Rum

Day 5

Wadi Rum to the Dead Sea

Wake early to see the sunrise over the desert, then drive north to the Dead Sea. The journey takes about four hours, either on the Desert Highway or along the Dead Sea Highway through Wadi Araba. Spend the afternoon floating in the salty water and rinsing off in the freshwater showers. The airport is about an hour from the Dead Sea hotels.

Wadi Rum Dead Sea

Frequently asked questions

Is five days enough for Jordan?

Five days is enough to see Jordan's main highlights at a comfortable pace: Amman, Jerash, Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea. You will not have time for Aqaba, the northern hills or long hikes, but you will experience the country's great contrasts of city, ancient stone, desert and sea. Many visitors find five days a satisfying first trip.

Should I drive the King's Highway or the Desert Highway to Petra?

If you have time, take the King's Highway at least once. It is slower, but it passes Madaba, Wadi Mujib and Kerak Castle and shows the country's highland villages. The Desert Highway is faster, taking about three hours from Amman to Petra, and is better when you simply want to reach your next destination.

Do I need a guide in Petra?

A guide is not required, and the main path is easy to follow with a map. However, a licensed guide brings the history of the Nabataeans to life and points out details that are easy to miss. Many visitors take a guide for the first part of the site, through the Siq to the city centre, then explore the rest on their own.