Jordan 2-week itinerary – Video trip report

Jordan is one of the easiest destinations to travel to in the Middle East region. The people are welcoming and the country has many historical places to visit like Petra, one of the World’s Wonders, and the Wadi Rum desert, with its incredible landscapes. With its small size, the country can be visited in just 1 week or 10 days without missing out. The main sites are not more than 2-3 hours from each other what makes it an ideal destination for shorter holidays. We don’t like to rush so we designed this 2-week Jordan itinerary that left us with enough time to include some epic hiking.

Our 2-week itinerary in Jordan

  • Day 1: Arrival to Amman & drive to Madaba
  • Day 2: From Madaba to Dana
  • Day 3: Hiking in Dana
  • Day 4: Hiking from Dana to Feynan
  • Day 5: Hiking from Feynan to Dana – continue to Petra
  • Day 6: Petra, including Little Petra to Petra hike
  • Day 7: Petra
  • Day 8: Visit Little Petra – continue to Wadi Rum
  • Day 9-10-11: Wadi Rum
  • Day 12: Wadi Rum to Aqaba
  • Day 13: Aqaba to Dead Sea
  • Day 14: Dead Sea
  • Day 15: Dead Sea to Amman

Jordan can be easily discovered at your own pace with a rental car. The roads are fairly good, and outside Amman the traffic is doable. To connect the main destinations in the country, you do not need a 4×4.

Dana, Jordan’s hiking paradise

We started our Jordan roadtrip from Madaba over a scenic route to reach Dana, famous for its hiking opportunities. On our arrival day we visited Mount Nebo close to Madaba. The next day we made the following stops between Madaba and Dana: Mount Nebo & Dead sea viewpoint, Ma’in, Mukawir ruins, Wadi Mujib viewpoint, Wadi Mujib dam, Kerak castle and Dana Reserve Viewpoint. It was a full day on the road but a perfect start.

In Dana we hiked around Rumana campsite before setting on a 2-day journey. A car dropped us in Al Mansoura from where we started hiking in Wadi Ghuweir, a gorgeous canyon, to Feynan. Next day we returned via Wadi Dana, a beautiful valley, to Dana Village.

Magnificent Petra and Wadi Rum

We continued our roadtrip from Dana to Petra and were suprised with how big and beautiful the site is. There’s definitely more to Petra than the famous Treasury and Monastery. We filled 2 days exploring Petra and highly recommend you take the Little Petra to Petra walk as well, also knows als “the backdoor to Petra”. To see the Treasury from above we did not follow the bedouins who are charging ridiculous amounts of money to take you to a viewpoint. We took the long way passing the Royal Tombs and then climbing the stairs till you reach a little cute café. Entrance is free, but please be kind and order a drink. Freshly pressed orange-pomegranate juice highly recommended!

On our arrival night we went to Petra by night, but we would not consider this a must. It’s overpriced, the crowds are too loud and the show not worth it. It’s beautiful to see the Siq and the Treasury lit with candles but it’s not really a peaceful experience.

After this New Wonder of the World we moved on to Wadi Rum where we exchanged our rental car for a rusty 4×4 pick up truck. We stayed 4 nights in a bedouin tourist camp (Arabian Nights camp) and explored the Red Desert and White Desert. We climbed to the top of Jebel Um Adami, Jordan’s highest mountain, and to the Burdah Arch Bridge. Both highly recommended!

Floating in the Dead Sea & temple watching in Amman & Jerash

We left Wadi Rum desert and drove to Aqaba. It’s a logical stop along the way and – if you want to include some sea or beach time – that’s the only place in Jordan where this is possible. The main reason to spend some more time here would be if you want to go diving in the Red Sea. We have not taken the time to properly explore Aqaba, but it did not make the impression of a place where we wished to spend more time. Proof is that I have no footage at all. That means this third episode of our Jordan series starts with a fun stop between Aqaba and the Dead sea: sand buggy driving in Wadi Araba. Not all of it was fun though…. you’ll find out in the video.

We floated in the Dead Sea (what else!?) and took the obligatory mud bath. Our skin felt super soft afterwards! As I work in the travel industry, I took the opportunity to try out two different hotels: Mövenpick & Kempinski. If you can afford the splurge, definitely go for Kempinski. The swimming pools are more enjoyable and the access to the Dead Sea felt more relaxed.

Our holiday ended in the capital Amman where we visited the Citadel and the Roman Amphitheatre, before we settled in an AirBnB. After 1 week workation from our apartment in Amman we took a trip to the ancient city of Jerash, before we flew home to Belgium.

Jordan, you have pleasantly surprised us! We hope to visit again in the future.

If you like to explore a country on your own pace, why not consider a roadtrip in Uganda?

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