The perfect 14 day Jordan itinerary

Jordan is a country that left me speechless at every turn. From the ancient city of Petra to the vast desert of Wadi Rum, this small but mighty kingdom offers an incredible mix of history, culture, and natural beauty. Over this 14 day Jordan itinerary, we explore Amman’s vibrant streets, marvel at the Roman ruins in Jerash, float in the Dead Sea, and hike through the stunning landscapes of Dana. Whether you’re a history buff, an adventure seeker, or simply someone looking for a unique travel experience, Jordan has something to offer you.

Below, I’ll take you through my 14 day Jordan itinerary, sharing the highlights of each destination. I’ll show you the hidden gems I discovered along the way and tips to help you plan your own unforgettable trip to Jordan. Ready to explore one of the world’s most captivating countries? Let’s dive in!

Day 1: Arrival in Amman

Depending on where you come from, this day of the Jordan itinerary is a tough one. We were traveling during the Israel war and were prepared for a belated arrival due to flying over Israel and Lebanon. Take your time on day one to get settled in the hustle and bustle of the Jordanian capital. Beware that Queen Alia airport is still about a 1 hour drive from the capital. To me, as someone who is used to driving in busy cities, driving in Amman was still quite a shock. Rules don’t seem to apply in Amman traffic and honking seems to be the second language of native drivers.

As we arrived around noon, we still had lots of time to explore this vibrant city. To get a feel of the local life, we decided on a hotel in downtown Amman, close to all of the main attractions so we could do them by foot as much as possible. We even had a view of the Roman Theater from our balcony at Layaali Amman Hotel, and could climb up to the famous Citadel with a short (but steep!) hike.

The citadel is way bigger than you expect and without any explanation you can easily wander about an hour here. If you’re a history buff or interested in how everything must have looked, guides offering their services are available at the entrance. Don’t be afraid to haggle a little, as this is part of the Arabian culture. Taxi’s/Uber’s are also widely available at the entrance and throughout the city to take you to and from the main attractions, so don’t worry if you have a bad physique or are simply too tired for the steep trek.

End the day at Hashem Down Town where you’ll sit among tourists and locals alike (even the Jordanian King ate here). They’ll just put a simple plastic on your table and you order from a simple paper menu without prices. Prepare to enjoy all of the best classics Jordan has to offer for cheap prices. Dinner for 2 including drinks came up at about 5 JOD, after which we went to check for dessert at Habiba Sweets around the corner.

Day 2: Amman to Wadi Musa – while enjoying the mosaics at Madaba

Today we’re traveling from the north quite a way to the south to enjoy Petra, one of the 7 new wonders of the world and one of the highlights of any Jordan itinerary. Leaving from Amman, our first stop is Madaba – the city of mosaics. If your flight on day one lands in the afternoon, I would suggest spending your first night in Madaba. It’s a bit closer to the airport and you’ll ease into Jordan life a bit more in this quaint little town. In that case your perfect first meal of the Jordan itinerary would be at a restaurant called Haret Jdoudna.

If not, I suggest to start your journey at the visitor center. Sometimes the gate to the car park is closed, but there’s a guard who will happily open it for you. The best part? Parking your car here is safe and free! In the visitor center, you’ll be able to get a map to show you around the village and its many mosaics. The clue is to keep following the red lines embedded in the boardwalks. This path shows you the way from one place to another. Take some time to enjoy the historical center by foot, grab a bite for lunch and continue your journey towards Wadi Musa – the entryway into Petra.

I suggest to take the desert highway. Even though it’s a boring road, it is very straightforward and gives you a feel for driving in Jordan. If all goes well, the drive takes about 3 hours and you should arrive at your hotel right in time to rest a little before dinner. The days in Petra will be exhausting to say the least, and getting up early is the way to go to if you want to evade the heat at noon.

Tip: Get the Jordan Pass before you arrive in Jordan. This is easily the best budgeting tip I can give you for this Jordan itinerary. It includes your visa into Jordan as well as your entry into Petra and entry to most touristic attractions in the country.

I advise to spend at least 2 days in Petra to grasp some of the beauty this place has to offer. We went during the Israel war and hence there were very little tourists, but normally Petra is packed with tourists. To avoid a crowded and hot Petra, it’s better to arrive very early. On your first day in Petra, go the conventional way by the main entrance. This way you’ll see the treasury in all it’s glory for the first time, coming straight from the Siq. On our first day we did the main trail, had a break at the Nabatean restaurant and continued up to the monastery. We started our hike to the monastery at 2 pm, in the scorching heat. We unfortunately learned on the way down that the hike is in the shadow after 3pm.

On day 2 we hiked the High Place of Sacrifice trail, which gave us amazing views. This hike is straining, but very worth it! On this hike you’ll encounter multiple graves and buildings carved in stone, similar to the monastery and the Treasury. Along the way we found a rare board with explanation. Something that’s scarce thoughout Petra. Didn’t get to do the monastery on day 1? Avoid the crowd (and the stairs of hell) to the monastery by taking the backdoor route.

We splurged a bit on a private guide on our first day in Petra, but I can highly recommend this! Even though Petra can be visited without a guide, the extra info was priceless. I watched 2 documentaries before going to Petra, so it’s safe to say I was sceptic at first. Luckily I couldn’t have been more wrong! Neil told us the most interesting facts during our 3,5 hour long tour of the main trail. He also showed us so many details we would’ve missed, which made the whole experience one of the best of our Jordan itinerary. Want to know more? I wrote an extensive guide on visiting Petra.

On monday, wednesday and thursday it is totally worth it to take an extra ticket to Petra by night. After public hours the bedoins light up the Siq and the place in front of the treasury with hundreds of candles. In front of the treasury they perform some traditional songs and you get some bedoin tea to keep you warm. We really liked the experience, although some tourists were unfortunately putting on flashlights from their phone. I suggest going after the first day, so you’ll see the difference the starry night makes. We planned our Jordan itinerary so that we wouldn’t miss this and you shouldn’t either.

When you’re visiting Petra there are 2 locations to stay in Wadi Musa. Either you stay on tourism street or on the hill. If convenience is what you value most, Tourism Street is for you. It’s located next to the entrance of the visitor center, but is more expensive for what you get. For more luxury hotels I saw prices of 200 euro a night and more on Tourism Street. If you’re looking for a nice view and are willing to drive 5 minutes, on the hill is the best value for money. You’re walking distance from nice restaurants and can easily park your car in front of most hotels. When visiting Petra, you can park on the free car park next to the visitor center.

Needless to say we chose the second, above you’ll see the view from our room at Tetra Tree Hotel. We paid less for 3 nights than what we would’ve paid for one night at a luxury hotel on Tourism Street!

After 2 tiring days in Petra, you drive all the way South to Aqaba. This coastal town on the border of Jordan with Israel and Saudi Arabia you’ll find a lot of Arabic tourists. The town itself is not the prettiest, but the architecture’s not why you’re here. Check into your hotel by noon and head to the Aqaba Marine Reserve after. The reserve is a long strip along the coast with clear waters and lots of fish and corals. If you’re new to diving like us, go for a discovery dive in the crystal clear waters. Most dives can be performed from the coast, you don’t need to book a boat. We went with Aqaba Leaders Dive Center and had the best time! Our instructor took time to make us feel at ease and explain everything. The day after we got some pictures and video’s as a memory!

If you chose a hotel resort (which is a bit more expensive) take a rest day on day 6 at your hotel. If you chose a hotel in Aqaba city center like us, you can visit a private beach like Berenice. For an entrance fee you’ll get chairs, some entertainment and it’s on a nice place to snorkel from the beach. Some rest is well deserved if you’re going to have stamina for the rest of this Jordan itinerary.

Tip: As Western coffee lovers we didn’t like most coffee in Jordan. In Aqaba however we found the best coffee in Jordan, with a modern industrial vibe. If that’s what you’re looking for, definitely make a stop at Maria specialty coffee. Taste their cold brew, it was to die for! Bonus – it’s next to a nice restaurant of the same owner.

The initial reason why we went to Jordan? In COVID Rudy showed me a reel of bubble tents in Wadi Rum. On day 7 you leave Aqaba for the desert of Wadi Rum, to enjoy this iconic experience. Ironically this desert is also where Jordans scarse water reserves are stored. If you want to experience local life, you can sleep in a traditional tent with the bedouins. We did however want to splurge a bit here and chose for a bubble tent. It’s important to note that the prices of bubble tents can vary significantly! We saw bubble tents for 200-300 euro a night, but ended up staying in one that only costed about 100 euro.

This is where the fun starts! Take a jeep tour through the desert to view stunning sand dunes and rock formations. Your bedouin guide will take you on an adventurous but bumpy ride that ends with a great sunset view. A lot of camps also offer sandboarding and stargazing tours. We did a stargazing tour and went to a place without light pollution. Choose this tour when you’re close to the new moon and see the milkyway with your bare eyes. Talk the night away with the local bedouins or other guests, it’s going to be a night to never forget.

After enjoying your breakfast and the amazing views of Wadi Rum, leave for Dana nature reserve. Dana is a place most tourists skip and is therefor still quite a hidden gem. If you’re hiking or nature enthousiasts like us, Dana is the place to go. I’ll be honest here, this is still a tiny village and reception is often non existent. We decided to stay in a the fairly new Wild Dana Eco Lodge. This lodge is family owned: Hussam and his uncle are the best hosts and the view from the lodge is breathtaking. Meals are cooked by a Jordanian mom, and personal stories are shared freely with a cup of complimentary tea. The water in the lodge is from a nearby spring and the electricity is solar powered. From our room and the common spaces we had a breathtaking view of the valley and sunset.

The lodge has connections with local hiking guides in the nature reserve. The most popular hike in Dana is the hike from Dana to Feynan. However we chose to do the Wadi Ghuweir hike. Whereas the Dana to Feynan hike is something you can do alone, I don’t recommend doing the Wadi Ghuweir hike without a guide. We saw people starting the hike alone, but they had to return after a couple km along the same road. It’s further in the hike that we saw more water and nicer views so this is something to be aware about. The guide was super helpful to manage difficult terrain and arranged the transport. He used to be a ranger in the area and showed us footage of flash floods in the canyon during the shoulder season. The hike is largely in a canyon and surprises with an oasis halfway the hike.

On the road: Kerak Castle or Dead Sea beaches

On day 10 we’re leaving Dana for the Dead Sea. The road ahead takes us along Kerak and a long strip of the dead sea. I suggest taking a little stop along the way either in Kerak to visit Kerak Castle or along the Dead Sea to see the layers of built up salt on one of the public beaches. In Kerak you’ll undoubtly find more places to have lunch, while the layers of built up salt are unique in the world. Not feeling like visiting after some busy days? Go to your Dead Sea resort and chill on the beach or by the pool. The choice is yours!

In the end we decided to visit Kerak Castle. The castle has a nice view and shows part of the rich history of this country. We didn’t take a guide here, but regretted that afterwards. There is not a lot of explanation to be found on the property which made the experience a bit underwhelming. If we were to do this again, I would choose to stop at one of the beaches instead. Wondering where you could stop to see the salt buildup? I’ll show you on the card below!

Tip: If you decide on visiting Kerak Castle, you can still visit the salt beach tomorrow. The place I show you is very close to Wadi Mujib and can easily be combined.

It’s no secret that any dead resort will cost you a pretty penny. Spoiler alert: The dead sea resort was by far the most expensive thing during our trip. However there are some things that make it worthwhile to stay here. Almost all hotels have private access to the dead sea and free mud prepared for you. On the beach they have showers to clean you off as well which is a big plus as 15min is the maximum time to stay in the dead sea. The mud is known to have minerals that are good for your skin and the sea is supposed to have many healing properties. It is however also very high in salinity (about 10x more than the actual sea) and dries out the skin rapidly. Showering afterwards is therfor a must.

I chose to take the Hilton Resort because it looked modern, had multiple pools and restaurants and great amenities. The beach is only an evelator ride down and has great amenities. Normally they also don’t sell day passes, which was a pro for me. There were however some big mishaps that makes me not recommend the hotel. If you go, at least don’t go to the Italian restaurant on site. Other high rated hotels that I looked at were the Kempinski and the Marriot hotel.

During your time at the dead sea, a half day trip to Wadi Mujib is a total must! It’s located in the Mujib nature reserve and has multiple hikes and canyoning adventures. We chose for the Siq trail: a canyon with a river in it, the easiest and most popular trail here. A guide is not necessary, you just hike up the siq and float back down. You’ll find obstables to climb, currents to conquer and nice waterfalls. Anyone who’s a bit adventurous and has a reasonable fitness level will manage. In the water and in the shade of the canyon this was a welcome refresher in the heat. You get a life jacket included in the entrance fee and wearing it is mandatory. Water shoes are also mandatory but if you don’t have them you can buy some there. The ones for sale there didn’t look comfortable though.

Mount Nebo

On day 12 enjoy your last luxury breakfast at the dead sea resort and head back to Amman. On your way back it’s time to enjoy a break at mount Nebo. This is the place where Moses saw the beloved land and therefor a popular stop for almost every Jordan itinerary. On a clear day you can see al the way to Jerusalem, there’s a sign to help you with the direction. The site is well kept and has some old olive trees, a church that has been rebuild/restored and some ruins. In an on site museum you can learn a bit more about the history and significance of the place. We were genuinly impressed by how big this site was and we spent quite some time wandering around. There’s also a nice little café at the entrance to rest before resuming your trip.

Jerash and Ajloun

On day 13 it’s time to visit some more historical sites of Jordan. Our first stop is Jerash, one of the oldest Roman cities outside of Italy. It’s also one of the best kept Roman cities around the world. The site is big enough to wander around for a couple of hours and has multiple things to visit like Roman theaters, a racetrack and some amazing temples. To enter the site you’ll have to walk through some kind of bazaar where people will try to sell you things. They tell you that there’s no water once you’re inside, but this is wrong. There are multiple people selling water and sodas inside as well.

The second stop of the day is Ajloun castle. This castle is kind of the counterpart of Kerak castle that we talked about earlier. Kerak was inhabited by Christian cusaders, whereas Ajloun is kind of the anti-crusade castle if you will. The castle is better kept than the Kerak castle and had more explanation as well. It’s not too far from Jerash which makes it the perfect addition to visit.

If you didn’t have time to visit the citadel on day 1, I strongly suggest that you do this on your last day in Jordan. This really gives you some more insight in the rich history that Jordan has to offer. If museums are more your thing, a visit to the Jordan Museum is a great idea instead. Or if you’re more of a foodie like us, you can visit the Western part of the city. There are a lot of nicer restaurants with world cuisine.

We opted for a visit to JR The Wine Experience, owned by JRWines, a truly authentic Jordanian winery. After drinking almost no alcohol during this 2 week Jordan itinerary, it surprised us to see the long tradition involved. The sommelier told us all about the history of the winery and how they grew throughout the years. He explained how the grapes grow on basalt ground in the North of Jordan and how it affects the taste. We opted for a mixed flight of 6 glasses accompanied by a royal portion of different cheeses. It was the best end to this amazing holiday!

• Jordan Travel Tips: Essential Things to Know Before Your Trip
• Driving in Jordan: everything you need to knwo for a smooth journey
• Is the Jordan Pass worth it?
• Visit Petra: A Comprehensive Guide to Jordan’s Rose City
• What to wear in Jordan?
• Jordan Trip Budget Guide: How Much You’ll Really Spend in 1 or 2 Weeks

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