Jordan in 7 Days: A One-Week Itinerary

A balanced week

With seven days you can travel at a gentler pace and include places that shorter trips leave out. The plan spends two days around Amman, travels south on the King's Highway with a night in Dana, gives Petra almost two full days, and finishes with a desert night and a final afternoon at the Dead Sea. Most days include no more than three or four hours of driving, which leaves time to walk, eat well and talk with the people you meet.

Where to stay

This route uses four bases: two nights in Amman, one night in Dana, two nights in Wadi Musa and one night in a desert camp in Wadi Rum. In Dana, simple guesthouses and lodges stand close to the edge of the valley, with wide views and very quiet nights. In Wadi Rum, desert camps range from traditional tents to comfortable cabins. If you prefer fewer changes of hotel, skip the night in Dana and spend three nights in Wadi Musa instead.

Travelling by car or with a driver

A rental car or a private driver is the easiest way to follow this itinerary, because Ajloun, Dana and the King's Highway have little public transport. Main roads are generally good, signposted in Arabic and English, and quiet outside the cities. Allow extra time on mountain roads, where curves, speed bumps and slow trucks are common. Avoid long desert drives after dark, when animals on the road are hard to see.

Making it your own

This plan is a framework rather than a rule. Divers and snorkellers can replace the last day with Aqaba, about an hour from Wadi Rum, and fly home from there or return north by road. Pilgrims may wish to add the Baptism Site on the final day, as it lies only a short drive from the Dead Sea hotels. Keen walkers can add a longer trail in Dana or Petra, and in the warmer months the water trail of Wadi Mujib makes an exciting addition near the Dead Sea.

The plan

Day 1

Amman, old and new

Begin at the Citadel, where Roman columns and an Umayyad palace overlook the city. Walk down to the Roman Theatre and explore the markets, spice shops and traditional sweet shops of downtown. In the afternoon, visit the Jordan Museum to see some of the country's most important archaeological finds, then spend the evening in the cafes of Jabal Amman and Rainbow Street.

Amman

Day 2

Jerash and Ajloun

Drive about an hour north to Jerash and spend the morning among its temples, theatres and long colonnaded streets. After lunch, continue about half an hour west into the wooded hills to Ajloun Castle, a medieval fortress with sweeping views over the Jordan Valley. If time allows, take a short walk in the nearby oak forest before returning to Amman for the night.

Jerash Ajloun

Day 3

The King's Highway to Dana

Head south to Madaba to see its Byzantine mosaics, then visit Mount Nebo nearby. Follow the King's Highway as it descends into the vast canyon of Wadi Mujib and climbs out again, then explore the halls and passages of Kerak Castle. Continue south through the hill town of Tafila to the village of Dana, perched above a deep valley, ideally in time for sunset.

Madaba and Mount Nebo Wadi Mujib Kerak Castle Dana

Day 4

From Dana to Petra

Spend the morning on one of Dana's shorter trails along the rim of the valley, watching for birds and wildlife. Then drive about one and a half hours south to Wadi Musa, stopping at the medieval castle of Shobak if you wish. In the afternoon, visit Little Petra, a short drive north of Wadi Musa, and rest well before your big day.

Dana Petra

Day 5

Petra: the main trail

Enter Petra early and walk through the Siq to the Treasury. Follow the main trail past the Street of Facades, the theatre and the Royal Tombs to the city centre and Qasr al-Bint. In the afternoon, climb the long stairway to the Monastery, one of the largest facades in Petra, and enjoy the views from the surrounding viewpoints. On selected evenings, return for Petra by Night.

Petra

Day 6

Petra trails and Wadi Rum

Return to Petra in the morning for a quieter route, such as the climb to the High Place of Sacrifice or the trail to the viewpoint above the Treasury. Around midday, drive about one and a half to two hours to Wadi Rum. Explore the desert by jeep in the afternoon, watch the sunset from a sand dune or a rock ridge, and spend the night in a desert camp.

Petra Wadi Rum

Day 7

Wadi Rum to the Dead Sea

After sunrise in the desert, drive north to the Dead Sea, a journey of about four hours. Spend the afternoon floating in the mineral-rich water, covering yourself in dark mud and resting by the shore as the mountains turn golden. The airport is about an hour away, so you can fly home that night or stay one more night by the sea.

Wadi Rum Dead Sea

Frequently asked questions

Is a week enough time in Jordan?

A week is enough to see most of Jordan's main sights at a relaxed pace, including Petra, Wadi Rum, Jerash and the Dead Sea, and to add quieter places such as Ajloun and Dana. You will still miss some regions, such as the desert castles, Umm Qais and the coral reefs of Aqaba, but you will gain a well-rounded picture of the country.

How many days do I need in Petra?

One full day covers the main sights, but two days are ideal. A second day lets you take quieter trails, such as the High Place of Sacrifice, and visit Little Petra without rushing. Tickets for more than one day are available, and the Jordan Pass also comes in versions that include one, two or three days in Petra.

Can I include Aqaba in a one-week trip?

Yes. The simplest way is to replace the final Dead Sea day with Aqaba, which lies about an hour from Wadi Rum. You can snorkel or dive among coral reefs, then fly from Aqaba or drive back to Amman, a journey of about four hours. You will miss the Dead Sea unless you return north along the Dead Sea Highway.