6-Day Jordan Tour: Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea Adventure

Summary

Jordan Highlights Tour: Petra, Jerash, Dead Sea & More

See ancient Petra, float in the Dead Sea, and sleep under Wadi Rum’s stars. This Jordan tour blends history, local flavors, and real moments you’ll remember.

What’s the experience like?

Landing at Queen Alia Airport after sunset, I felt that first warm rush of desert air. A friendly face from the team waved me over—he whisked me through the visa process (didn’t even need to pay, which was a nice surprise). The drive into Amman was quiet except for the city lights flickering in the distance. My hotel room overlooked a busy street where the call to prayer drifted up with the smell of cardamom from a nearby café. Sleep came easy after the flight.

Next morning, Amman woke up early. Our guide, Khaled, led us through the Citadel—bits of Roman columns poking out of the ground, kids playing soccer nearby. The Archaeological Museum had these ancient scrolls and coins; I lingered by a mosaic map that looked almost pixelated up close. We wandered the souq where vendors called out prices for pomegranates and spices. The Roman Theatre was massive—hard to imagine it packed with 6,000 people. After lunch (I grabbed a falafel wrap from Hashem’s), we drove north. Jerash was unreal: Hadrian’s Arch, the Hippodrome, those endless colonnades. You could hear birds echoing off the stone. Ajloun’s castle sat high above olive groves; the wind up there smelled like pine and dust. Back in Amman, I crashed early.

On day three, we hit the King’s Highway. Madaba’s St. George Church was quiet except for the soft shuffle of shoes on stone. The mosaic map inside—so many tiny colored tiles—showed ancient Jerusalem and the Nile. Mount Nebo felt peaceful; the view stretched all the way to the Dead Sea, haze blurring the horizon. We stopped at Wadi Mujib lookout—windy and a bit chilly even in spring. Karak Castle was a maze of tunnels and thick walls; our driver told stories about Crusaders and sieges. By dusk, we rolled into Petra. The town felt sleepy but the air buzzed with something I couldn’t quite name.

Petra’s Siq is narrow and cool in the morning. I walked alongside our guide, who pointed out Nabatean carvings I’d have missed. The first glimpse of the Treasury—pink stone glowing in the sun—hit different than any photo. We wandered past tombs and the old theatre; I could still smell horses and dust. Free time meant I could climb up to the Royal Tombs for a view over the valley. Later, we drove into Wadi Rum. The desert sunset painted everything orange and purple. Bedouin tea tasted smoky, and after dinner, I lay back and watched the stars—no city lights for miles.

Waking up in Wadi Rum, the silence was almost total except for a distant goat bell. The 4x4 jeep tour bounced us over sand dunes and into canyons; our Bedouin driver stopped at Lawrence Spring and let us scramble up a rock bridge (my shoes filled with red sand). We visited ancient inscriptions and a spot called Little Bridge—felt like standing on Mars. Camel rides were optional; I watched a few folks try it out while sipping sweet tea. By afternoon, we headed to the Dead Sea. The drive down felt endless—my ears popped as we dropped below sea level. Floating in the salty water was weirdly fun; you can’t sink even if you try. The hotel pool overlooked the water and the hills of Israel beyond.

Last morning, I took it slow—floated again, watched a group of locals laughing as they covered themselves in mud. The air felt heavy with salt. After checkout, our driver took us back to Amman airport. It felt like a week packed into six days—so many stories to bring home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and Transfer to Amman

• Arrival at Queen Alia Airport and transfer to hotel

Day 2 — Amman City, Jerash & Ajloun

• Visit Amman Citadel, Archaeological Museum, Souq, Roman Theatre
• Drive to Jerash and visit Roman ruins including Hadrian's Arch
• Visit Al-Rabid Castle in Ajloun
• Return to Amman for overnight

Day 3 — Kings Highway: Madaba to Petra

• Visit Madaba and Mosaic Map at St. George Church
• Visit Mount Nebo viewpoint
• Stop at Wadi Mujib viewpoint
• Visit Karak Castle
• Drive to Petra for overnight

Day 4 — Petra Tour and Transfer to Wadi Rum

• Guided tour of Petra including Treasury and Royal Tombs
• Transfer to Wadi Rum and enjoy sunset and Bedouin hospitality

Day 5 — Wadi Rum Jeep Tour and Dead Sea

• 4-5 hour jeep tour of Wadi Rum with optional camel ride
• Transfer to Dead Sea and check into hotel

Day 6 — Relax at Dead Sea and Departure

• Free time for floating and hotel facilities at Dead Sea
• Transfer to Amman Airport for departure

Top questions

Is the Petra horse ride included?

Yes, a 700-meter horse ride from Petra’s main gate is included. It’s optional and the handler will expect a tip.

Are meals provided during the tour?

Breakfast is included daily, plus dinner in Wadi Rum and at the Dead Sea. Lunches are not included except for a box lunch during the Wadi Rum jeep tour.

Is there a guide throughout the trip?

You’ll have an English-speaking driver for the whole tour and a licensed guide for 3 hours in Petra. Local guides are present at some sites.

Can infants join the tour?

Yes, infants are welcome. Specialized infant seats are available and infants must sit on an adult’s lap during transfers.

How much physical activity is involved?

You should have moderate fitness—there’s walking on uneven ground in Petra and Jerash, plus optional hikes or camel rides in Wadi Rum.

What’s included

This tour covers all entrance fees for Petra, Jerash, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Karak, Ajloun, Amman City sites, and Wadi Rum. You get 2 nights in Amman, 1 night each in Petra and Wadi Rum (with Bedouin hospitality), and 1 night at the Dead Sea—all with breakfast. Dinner is included in Wadi Rum and at the Dead Sea. There’s a 4-5 hour jeep tour in Wadi Rum with a box lunch, plus bottled water on board. Airport meet-and-assist with free visa is provided. All transfers are by modern A/C vehicle with an English-speaking driver. Optional camel ride in Wadi Rum is extra.