Middle East

Jordan

Cities carved from rock, valleys of red sand and the lowest point on land — history best discovered on foot.

Photo: Hongbin / Unsplash

Jordan is small but layered like its rock. In Amman, the columns of a Roman temple to Hercules stand on one hill while below, in the old town's lanes, cardamom coffee simmers and falafel and knafeh are made fresh. It's a lively, hilly city where the evening light turns the white stone pink.

South of the capital runs the King's Highway, an ancient trade route past the mosaics of Madaba, Crusader castles and the cliffs of the Dana Biosphere Reserve. At its end lies Petra, the Nabataean city you enter through the narrow gorge of the Siq. Many stop at the Treasury, but the real Petra opens further on — up the steps to the Monastery, along trails above the tombs and across quiet high ground.

Further still is Wadi Rum, a valley of red sand and sandstone massifs best explored both by 4x4 and on foot. A night at a camp under a clear sky, a morning floating in the salt water of the Dead Sea, a few days on the Jordan Trail — here it's easy to shape a journey where history and active discovery go hand in hand.

Why go

01
Petra, beyond the Treasury
Once through the Siq and past the Treasury, keep going: hundreds of rock-cut steps lead up to the Monastery, and the High Place of Sacrifice trail opens views over the whole valley. Give Petra at least two days and set out early, while it's still cool.
02
Wadi Rum
Wide valleys of red sand from which rise sandstone massifs, rock bridges and ancient inscriptions. By day, a 4x4 and walking routes with a local Bedouin guide; in the evening, sunset from a dune; at night, if the sky is clear, stars above the camp.
03
Amman, Jerash and Madaba
In Amman: the Citadel above the city, the Roman theatre and evenings in the old town's cafés. North of the capital, Jerash keeps colonnaded Roman streets and theatres, while to the south the churches of Madaba hold Byzantine mosaics, among them the famous map of the Holy Land.
04
The Dead Sea and Dana
At the Dead Sea, the lowest point on land, the water is so salty that floating comes easily. In the Dana Biosphere Reserve the landscape falls from highlands to desert, and this is where a multi-day walk along the Jordan Trail towards Petra can begin.

Ways to travel

Ways to experience it

Ways to travel aren't separate paths — the best journeys often bring several together.

Culture & discovery
Nabataean Petra, Roman Jerash, the mosaics of Madaba and Bedouin hospitality — history here is felt on the road as much as in museums.
Adventure & active travel
Sections of the Jordan Trail, the walk from Dana to Petra, guided scrambles in Wadi Rum or the water canyons near the Dead Sea — matched to your fitness and the season.
Exceptional stays & escapes
Camps in Wadi Rum, some with clear domes for stargazing, eco-lodges in Dana and hotels on the shore of the Dead Sea.
Small-group adventures
Small-group walks on the Jordan Trail, sharing the path with a few like-minded travellers and a local guide.
Family journeys
A 4x4 in the desert, camels, floating in the Dead Sea and snorkelling in the Red Sea at Aqaba — adventures children remember.
Tailor-made journeys
A driver and guides, a route along the King's Highway and time at Petra arranged so you reach the key places at the quietest hours.

Jordan

Journey inspiration

Illustrative ideas for how a tailor-made journey could look. Not bookable packages: no prices, dates or inclusions are implied.

018–10 days
Classic Jordan, unhurried
Amman and Jerash, the King's Highway via Madaba, two days in Petra, a night in Wadi Rum and a finish by the Dead Sea.
Culture & discovery · Tailor-made journeys
Plan something like this
0210–13 days
On foot from Dana to Wadi Rum
A few days on the Jordan Trail through the Dana reserve to Petra, arriving by the back route, then walks and nights in the Wadi Rum desert.
Adventure & active travel · Small-group adventures
Plan something like this
039–12 days
From desert to Red Sea
Petra, a Wadi Rum camp and camels, then a few days in Aqaba snorkelling in the Red Sea.
Family journeys · Adventure & active travel
Plan something like this

Planning your journey

When to go

Spring (roughly March to May) and autumn (usually late September to November) are generally best for walking and for Petra. Summer can be very hot, especially in the desert and by the Dead Sea. Winter days are often clear but nights are cold, and the highlands occasionally see snow. Conditions vary year to year.

How long to allow

7–9 days covers the main sights, but 10–14 days leaves room for longer walks or time by the sea. We'd suggest at least two days for Petra.

Natural combinations

Jordan pairs naturally with Egypt, across the Red Sea or by a short flight. Oman suits lovers of desert landscapes, and Morocco offers a different face of Arab culture.

Areas to explore

Amman and the north
The Citadel, old-town food, Jerash and the greener northern hills.
The King's Highway
Madaba's mosaics, Crusader castles and the Dana Biosphere Reserve.
Petra
The Nabataean city, Little Petra and trails to the high places.
Wadi Rum and Aqaba
Desert camps and the coral reefs of the Red Sea.
The Dead Sea
Floating in salt water and water canyons close by.

General guidance only. Weather, seasons and wildlife are never guaranteed, and travel requirements are always worth checking before you go.

Sample journey