Jordan Itinerary 7 Days: A Travel Guide For One Week

To be honest, the Middle East wasn’t a place on top of my bucket list for a long time. It was just recently that I discovered so many photos of Jordan’s most famous spot: the old archaeological city of Petra. After doing some research, I started becoming curious about what else this country might have to offer. And one thing is sure: Jordan has so much more to show than its world heritage site Petra. Within one week, the trip was booked and so in early March, the adventure began. In my Jordan Itinerary for 7 Days, I will tell you everything you need to know when spending one week in Jordan.

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Quick Facts about Jordan

Capital	Amman
Population	10 million
Language	Arabic
Currency	Jordanian Dinar (1 JD = 1.4 USD)
Best time to visit	March-May and September-November

Jordan Itinerary 7 Days – Map

If you are interested in coming to Jordan, here are two valuable tips from me: First, buy the Jordan Pass. It’s an online ticket, which includes the visa costs, and the entry to Petra, and allows you to visit many attractions in Jordan for free. Even if you only use it for Petra, it is already worth the money. Second, I can absolutely recommend renting a car and self-driving in Jordan. It is not only more comfortable and allows you to be flexible on your trip, but also is affordable and offers good value for money. Driving in Amman can be exhausting due to the chaotic traffic but once you are leaving the capital, the streets are free, and you can get fast and safely to your next stop.

While I thought one week in Jordan was enough in the first place, it actually turned out to become a tough schedule when planning for the trip. So, if you have some more days available, I recommend ten days as the perfect number. However, assuming you’re an adventurous person like me who can easily do without several relaxing beach days, here’s my Jordan Itinerary for 7 Days.

Jordan Itinerary 7 Days

Day 1: Amman

Hands down, Amman is one of the messiest and most turbulent places I have been to. Chaotic traffic, historic ruins, hundreds of mosques – all wrapped into one city. Even though driving on your own is the easiest way to get from A to B, I’m going to warn you: It’s nerve-racking!

The best way to start is a visit to the city’s landmark: the historic citadel of the 8^th century with columns of a Roman temple. The entry is free for Jordan Pass owners! As the citadel is located relatively high, you will have a great view of the city and recognize the seven hills of Amman. Nearby, you can find the Roman Amphitheatre which is definitely worth a visit. There are simply so many things to do in Amman!

Other recommended places are the King Abdullah Mosque, a beautiful mosque in the city center that allows tourists to visit, as well as Rainbow Street. Latter is a popular street in the neighborhood of Jabal, with many restaurants offering amazing Jordanian food, cafés, and souvenir shops.

Day 2: Driving to Wadi Musa (Petra)

Wasting one day just for driving to the next spot? It sounds illogical, but I wouldn’t have done it any other way. You can enjoy breakfast in Amman without rushing and once you’ve arrived in Wadi Musa, I highly recommend you charge your batteries for the upcoming day in Petra! The way from Amman to Petra takes about 4 hours if you’re choosing the fastest way, but you can also take the King’s Highway (highway 35), which offers more beautiful landscapes and a few great photo spots.

Day 3: Petra

I am definitely not an early bird, but when it comes to exciting trips and good photo opportunities before the masses arrive, I am the first to be at the entrance. Petra opens its gates at 6 am, just in time for sunrise, and the earlier you come, the higher your chance to see the main attractions before the tourist groups show up. Although it can be quite chilly in the morning, be prepared to bring not only comfortable shoes, but also sunscreen, a lot of water, and something to protect your head from the sun.

There is one main path that leads you through the valley of Petra and passes by all the sights. These include the Siq, a narrow canyon, the Treasury (the stunning monument being portrayed in so many pictures), the Royal Tombs, the Theatre, and many more. Besides the main path, some other hiking trails lead to viewpoints or other, more hidden, sights. For instance, the High Place of Sacrifice. Consider planning your route before you go and don’t forget to take many breaks during your walk. Also, don’t overestimate your abilities. You will have to walk back the whole way after all.

If you have enough energy left at the end of the main path, you can walk up to the Monastery, one of the most impressive monuments in Petra. The view is definitely worth the many stairs!

Day 4: Wadi Rum Desert

After visiting Petra, I honestly thought the trip couldn’t get any better. Well, the desert Wadi Rum was proving me wrong. As for me, it was my first time being in a desert, and words can’t describe the inner peace and happiness you feel when sitting on a high rock in the middle of nowhere, watching the endless expanse and feeling a warm breeze on your skin. Our desert experience started with a Jeep Tour through the area, where we stopped at some points to see old stone inscriptions, perfect viewpoints, high dunes, landscapes from movie scenes (e.g. Indiana Jones), and a stunning rock formation called Little Bridge.

After the 3.5-hour tour, we arrived at our stay for the night, an authentic Bedouin camp in the middle of the desert. The camp owners did everything they could to offer their guests a perfect experience! A self-made, tasty dinner after watching the sunset completed the day. As we spotted some wild camels right in front of our tents, I couldn’t have been any happier at this moment!

Day 5: Aqaba

Aqaba is a harbor city in the Gulf of Aqaba, a bay of the Red Sea, that lives from international trade and tourism. After gathering a lot of impressions from the past few days, I was totally in need of a relaxing day at the beach. Here, in the south of Jordan, the temperatures are the highest. You can perfectly unwind while having a cool drink and some yummy falafels.   

Day 6: Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is totally living up to its name. Indeed, the sea, which is actually a big Salt Lake between Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan, makes living for plants and animals impossible. The high salinity is almost 10 times as salty as the ocean. Even for people, it can get dangerous if they swallow the water or spend too much time in it. However, the Dead Sea is known for its health treatments and cosmetical products as the minerals have many positive effects on the skin.

Except for some hotels and a few restaurants in the area, there was not that much to see at the Dead Sea, but I believe it is, nevertheless, worth a (short) visit once you are in Jordan.  

Day 7: Back to Amman

Having the busy traffic in Amman in mind, we left early for the airport to catch our flight back to Germany – leaving with thousands of good memories in our heads and hearts. Jordan has been a blast!

Final Words on this 7-Day Jordan Itinerary

Jordan is a country that will leave you in awe, from the ancient wonders of Petra to the breathtaking landscapes of Wadi Rum and the calming waters of the Dead Sea. If you found this Jordan itinerary for 7 days helpful, let me know in the comments, or share your own Jordan travel tips! Safe travels and happy exploring!

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