5 Day Jordan Travel Guide and Itinerary - Aqaba, Wadi Rum and Petra
Jordan is an incredibly diverse and fascinating country located in the Middle East, with a rich history and culture dating back millennia. From the ancient city complex of Petra, to the rugged beauty of Wadi Rum, to the crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea, Jordan has something for everyone. Whether you're interested in history, outdoor adventure, amazing food or just soaking up the local culture, you'll find plenty to love in this unique and captivating country.
This guide will provide an overview and itinerary of a 5-day trip I went on in early 2022 and hopefully help you form a basis for planning your own trip to this amazing country.
All photos used in this article were taken by myself during my trip.
Day 1 – Fly into Aqaba
Aqaba is a city found in the far southern region of Jordan, on the shores of the Red Sea. It is the only port in Jordan, and it is an important economic hub for the country. It is known for its warm, sunny weather and its beautiful beaches, which make it a popular destination for swimming, snorkelling, and diving. The waters of the Red Sea are known for their crystal-clear visibility, and the area is home to a wide variety of marine life, including colourful fish and coral reefs. The city is also home to several historical sites, including the Aqaba Castle, a Crusader-era fortification that now houses a museum.
in addition to its natural and historical attractions, Aqaba is also a gateway to other popular destinations in Jordan, such as Wadi Rum and Petra. The city is located just a short drive from these destinations, and it is a convenient base for exploring the surrounding area. Aqaba is also home to a number of restaurants, cafes, and shops, and it has a laid-back, relaxed atmosphere that makes it a popular spot for both locals and tourists.
Useful tip – If you fly into Aqaba, you do not need to apply for and pay for a Jordian visa as you will be issued one on arrival. This is in contrast to if you fly into Amman where you need to have a visa prepared. You will also get issued a Jordan Pass on arrival, something that is usually charged for at other locations such as the Wadi Rum Visitors Centre.
With hotels lining the coast, Aqaba is not short of great places to stay. For our trip, we stayed at the Kempinski for 1 night after we arrived.
Day 2 – Drive from Aqaba to Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum, also known as the Valley of the Moon, is a stunning desert landscape found in southern Jordan. It is known for its rugged, red-rock mountains, vast sand dunes, and unique rock formations. At times, the landscape can feel completely out of this world. It is no wonder it has been used as the backdrop for many films set on Mars and other alien planets.
The Wadi Rum area has a rich history, and it has been inhabited for thousands of years. It was once a hub for the Nabateans, an ancient civilization that carved out homes and structures from the sandstone cliffs. Today, Wadi Rum is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, who come to explore its rugged beauty on foot, by camel, or by jeep.
In addition to its natural beauty, Wadi Rum is also home to a number of cultural attractions. The area is inhabited by the Bedouin people, who have lived in the desert for generations and have a deep connection to the land. Visitors to Wadi Rum can learn about Bedouin culture and traditions, and they can even stay in a traditional Bedouin camp to experience life in the desert first-hand.
The drive from Aqaba to Wadi Rum is fairly easy as well. If your satnav cuts out or Google Maps loses signal, make your way to the Desert Highway and drive north towards Amman. Take the turn off the Desert Highway to Wadi Rum when you see the signs.
Where to stay in Wadi Rum?
Wadi Rum has some of the most unique hotels, motels, B&Bs and guesthouses I have ever seen. At one of them, you can stay in a room shaped like a UFO!
During our trip, we stayed at the Bubble Luxotel. This hotel is made up of several individual pod cabins with clear roofs (for stargazing from bed). Each Bubblesuite (as they are known) also has its own individual hot tub. Situated in the middle of the desert, you wake up to amazing views of the dunes and cliffs in all directions.
The Bubble Luxotel offers a number of excursions that you pay for separately. The best one we did was the stargazing experience. I can't recommend it enough! Our guide took us for a short walk into the desert where he had 3 enormous telescopes set up. Each one can be aimed at a specific object in the night sky, and it will continue to follow it as the earth rotates.
The night sky here is also brilliant for astrophotography. With little to no light pollution, you can take amazingly clear photos of the stars and Milky Way. I took the photo below after the stargazing experience had ended. Equipment used: Sony A7iii with a Sony 12-24mm F2.8 GM lens.
Day 3 – Desert Safari within the Wadi Rum Protected Area (WRPA)
When you arrive at the Wadi Rum Visitors Centre, you can take a 4x4 desert safari tour of the area. On this tour, our guide took us to sites such as Lawrence's Spring and the Seven Pillars of Wisdom as well as the rock bridges that the area is known for. Wadi Rum has three well known rock arches; Burdah Rock Bridge, Um Frouth Rock Bridge and Little Bridge.
Useful tip – you do not need to organise an official guide from the visitors centre. We met our guide, Mohammed, outside the centre. He was one of the local Bedoiun who live within the Wadi Rum Protected Area. For a private tour in his 4x4, he gave us a price that was far cheaper than that of the visitors centre itself.
During the tour, you will be dropped off at a number of sights where can go hiking, climbing, bouldering, scrambling, camel riding and sand boarding.
Another thing you can do in Wadi Rum is take a hot-air balloon. We have booked onto a dawn hot-air balloon ride but unfortunatly on the day we were meant to fly, the wind was too strong for the balloon to take off.
Day 4 – Travel to Petra and Petra by Night
Petra is an ancient city found in modern-day Jordan. It is known for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system. The city was established around the 6th century BC and was later abandoned in the early 8th century AD.
If you time your arrival for either a Monday, Wednesday or Thursday you can experience Petra by Night. During this experience, workers at the Petra Archaeological Park light up the path to the Treasury, the Siq, as well as the Treasury itself with 1500 candles. The candlelight and shadows the illuminate and flicker across the carved rock walls are a remarkable sight.
Useful tip – There is no need to pre-book Petra by Night as there is usually ample availability on the day. Additionally, you can buy tickets to Petra by Night from the concierge at most of the hotels near the Petra Archaeological Park,
Day 5 – Explore Petra and drive back to Aqaba
Petra is perhaps most famous for its stunning rock-cut architecture, including the Treasury (Al-Khazneh), which is carved into the sandstone cliffs and is one of the most recognizable symbols of Jordan. Other notable rock-cut structures in Petra include the Monastery (Al-Deir), the Royal Tombs, and the Roman Theatre.
You may recognise this location from the ending of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Since the movie contributed a decades long rise in tourism, you can buy a lot of Indiana Jones merchandise near the entrance to the park.
In addition to its rock-cut architecture, Petra is known for its complex water conduit system, which was used to channel water from a spring to the city. The system includes channels, dams, and reservoirs, and was an important part of the city's infrastructure.
Petra was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and is a popular tourist destination. Visitors to Petra can explore the ancient city on foot, by horse-drawn carriage, or by camel.
If you spend the day at Petra, be sure to wear comfortable hiking clothes as well as robust hiking shoes. Parts of the complex are paved with stone whilst most of it is sand and loose rocks. I would suggest hiring a tour guide for the day. We did and it made the day walking around the archaeological park incredibly interesting.
Most of the tour guides will leave you at the foot of the stairs that lead up to the Monastery. It may seem steep but the hike up the stairs to the Monastery is an absolute must. The views on the way up are amazing and the Monastery itself is extraordinary. It's amazing that people were able to carve intricate facades like the Monastery and the Treasury out of the rock.
Whilst walking around Petra, you can also hike back along the Royal Tombs. It adds an extra few hours onto to the walk and shows some more amazing stone carvings as well.
Once you finish at Petra, you can make your way back down south to Aqaba. We stayed 1 additional night at the Kempinski before flying back to London.
In conclusion, Jordan is a country rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. From the Red Sea resort town of Aqaba, to the stunning desert landscape of Wadi Rum, to the ancient city of Petra, Jordan has something to offer every type of traveller. A country as diverse as this cannot be missed!