8 Days in Jordan - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Classic Highlights of Jordan: Jerash, Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea

With a good balance of history, adventure, and relaxation, this Jordan highlights itinerary is perfect for first-time visitors. You'll tour ancient ruins in Amman, visit the well-preserved Greco-Roman city of Jerash, admire the mosaic map in Madaba, trek through the Nabataean city of Petra, ride a camel and stay overnight in a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum, enjoy a beach day in Aqaba, and float in the Dead Sea. Free time is included at each destination, so you'll also have the chance to explore at your own pace and book optional tours or spa treatments. 

Start your adventures in Amman, where you'll get your first taste of falafel and hummus at Hashem Restaurant and climb the steps of the second-century Roman Theatre. Then, your driver will take you north to Jerash to see one of the world's best-preserved Greco-Roman cities. Get an early start on Day 3 for your journey south to Petra, which includes a stop at St. George's Church in Madaba to see the ancient mosaic map of the Holy Land. You'll have a free evening in Wadi Musa (the village that borders the Petra archaeological site) to do as you please, perhaps booking a spa treatment in a traditional bath house. 

Lace up your hiking boots and wind your way through the canyon known as "The Siq" to reach Petra's cliff-carved Treasury, then continue along the dusty trails to visit other monuments such as the Monastery. After a good night's rest, your driver will transfer you to Wadi Rum, where you can ride a camel across the red-colored dunes and spend a night at a Bedouin camp. Then, you'll head to Aqaba and enjoy a refreshing dip in the Red Sea with the option to book a snorkeling or glass-bottom boat excursion. Finally, en route back to Amman, you'll have a chance to float in the mineral-rich Dead Sea. Learn more

Itinerary #2: History & Heritage Tour of Jordan: Amman, Azraq, Madaba & Petra

Dive into Jordan's archaeological treasures on this history and heritage tour. An excellent option for history and outdoor enthusiasts, activities include climbing the steps of Amman's Roman Theatre, a guided tour of Jerash's Greco-Roman ruins, a wildlife walk in the Azraq Wetland Reserve, a journey along the Desert Castles Loop, and a full day to visit the tombs and temples of the UNESCO-listed Petra archaeological site. 

Get acquainted with some of Amman's culture and cuisine on a guided tour that starts with a stroll through the downtown markets, takes you gallery and café-hopping along Rainbow Street, and ends with mansaf (the national dish made with lamb and rice) at a local restaurant. You'll also see the blue mosaic dome of the King Abdullah I Mosque and browse ancient artifacts at the Jordan Museum before touring the temple and theater ruins in Jerash. Next, your driver will take you to the Azraq Wetland Reserve, where you'll search for raptors, foxes, and other wildlife on a nature walk and cycling tour. 

Your journey continues on Day 4 to the Desert Castles Loop, which includes a stop at Quseir 'Amra to admire the frescoes depicting the eighth-century life. Then, you're off to Mount Nebo, the viewpoint believed to be where Moses saw the Promised Land. Following this, your driver will take you south to Petra, stopping to see traditional stone houses in Dana and a Crusader castle in Shobak en route. You'll also visit the tombs and other rock-cut structures of the Little Petra archaeological site before checking into your hotel to rest. Cap off your trip with a full day of hiking around Petra, followed by a Bedouin-inspired feast. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Cultural & Culinary Tour of Jordan

Travelers eager to get a bit off the beaten path and experience Jordan's culture and cuisine will appreciate this cultural and culinary tour. You'll learn about street art and hip-hop on an artist-led walking tour of Amman, forage for edible plants with a local expert in Umm Qais, make jam on a farm near As-Salt, observe artisans at a women's cooperative in Iraq al-Amir, dine with a local family in Dana, search for wildlife on a trek through Dana Biosphere Reserve, and learn about Bedouin traditions near Feynan Ecolodge. 

On arrival in Amman, you'll learn about the city's hip-hop and street art scene on a walking tour led by a local artist. The next day, your driver will take you to the Roman baths and Byzantine temples of Pella before driving farther north to Umm Qais. You'll forage for almonds, mushrooms, or other edible plants with a local expert here. On the morning of Day 3, you'll start the drive back toward Amman, stopping in Ajloun for a hike amid pistachio trees (and wildflowers, if you're visiting in the spring) and sit for an Arabic calligraphy lesson. You'll also make a stop at a farm near As-Salt to try your hand at making jam.

Next, you'll observe artisans making ceramics and textiles at the Iraq al-Amir Women's Cooperative before enjoying a tour and tasting at Jordan's first craft brewery, Carakale Brewery. You'll then head to the Ottoman village of Dana to dine in a local family's home. Then, on the morning of your last full day, you'll pass sandstone gorges and Bedouin camps on your hike through the Dana Biosphere Reserve to Feynan Ecolodge. You'll spend your final morning with local Bedouin families who'll share some of their traditions, such as how to brew Arabic coffee, bake bread on the fire, and weave goat hair tents. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Hike the Jordan Trail from Dana to Petra

This Dana to Petra hike is ideal for outdoorsy travelers keen on trekking a section of the Jordan Trail. After a tour of Amman's historic sites, you'll head to Dana, the starting point for your hike. Along the way, you'll traverse Jordan's varied landscapes—from verdant Dana to the rocky trails of Ras Al-Feid and the colorful canyons near Ghbour Whedat. Trekking in these remote areas gives you the opportunity to camp in the wilderness, stargaze, and pass by ancient sites, Bedouin communities, and petroglyphs. Your hike ends with a sound and light show in Petra and a full day to explore Petra's archaeological wonders. 

Before you hit the trails, you'll tour some of Amman's top sites, including Jabal al-Qal'a, where you'll find panoramic city views and Roman, Byzantine, and Umayyad ruins. Then, your driver will whisk you to the village of Dana, the starting point for your Jordan Trail hike. Your first trek takes you from verdant Dana to the rugged terrain of Wadi Feynan, where you'll refuel with a vegetarian feast and overnight at the remote Feynan Ecolodge. In the morning, you'll set off on an 11-mile (17 km) trek, traversing rocky terrain and passing ancient mines, to Ras al-Feid, where you'll enjoy stargazing and dinner around the campfire.

Then, hike amid red and orange rock formations (keep an eye out for petroglyphs) punctuated with the green of hardy shrubs on the way to your Ghbour Whedat campsite. After spending three days in remote areas, you'll see signs of civilization, such as sheep pens and Nabataean ruins, as you make your way along the trail toward Little Petra. You'll spend a night at a Bedouin camp before tackling the final leg of your hike: the backdoor trail that winds through canyons to Petra's Monastery. Celebrate your adventure as you experience the ruins illuminated by candlelight at the "Petra by Night" show. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Highlights of Egypt & Jordan: Cairo, Nile Cruise, Petra & Wadi Rum

Cover a lot of ground—and visit some of the region's top archaeological treasures—on this fast-paced Egypt and Jordan tour. While in Egypt, you'll dive into medieval Islamic architecture in Cairo, walk amid the pyramids of Giza, and visit ancient temples and monuments as you cruise along the Nile. Then, you'll wrap up your trip in Jordan with a self-guided tour of Petra and a Jeep excursion across the desert dunes of Wadi Rum.

Kick off your trip in Cairo, Egypt with an introduction to the city's medieval Islamic architecture along Al-Muizz Street and some souvenir shopping in the 14th-century Khan el-Khalili bazaar. The following day, you'll visit the pyramids of Giza and browse some of the 120,000 artifacts in the Egyptian Museum. You'll then fly to Aswan on Day 3 to board a three-night cruise that will take you to sites along the Nile, such as Luxor Temple (where you'll find colossal statues of Ramesses II) and the Temple of Khnum in Esna to stand in the presence of towering columns adorned with carvings of mythological scenes. 

After disembarking from the ship, you'll check out the murals and intricate hieroglyphs at the Valley of the Kings, a UNESCO-listed necropolis, and then catch a flight to Amman, Jordan. Your driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to Petra, where you'll visit the iconic rock-carved Treasury facade, the Royal Tombs, and other Nabataen monuments on a self-guided tour of the ancient "Rose City." Then, you'll continue to Wadi Rum for a Jeep tour across its Mars-like landscape, visiting dunes, rock formations, canyons, and natural springs before returning to Amman for your flight home. Learn more

More Great 8-Day Jordan Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Jordan? Check out these other eight-day Jordan itineraries, with outdoor adventures, cultural trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights.