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THE ITINERARY COLLECTION
MIDDLE EAST / JORDAN

A 5-Day Jordan Road Trip from Amman Airport to Aqaba

A float in the Dead Sea. A first look at Petra. Then a night in the desert, with a different kind of quiet.

Five days from Amman’s airport through Madaba, the Dead Sea, Petra, and Wadi Rum, finishing with an onward departure from Aqaba.

Explore the itinerary
Alisha and Matt together on a Bora Bora beach

A trip from Alisha & MattPlanned with couples in mind.

Two travelers together between the sandstone walls, with Petra’s Treasury behind them
Some places need a little more than a photograph.

YOUR TIME5 days · 4 nights

THE ROUTEMadaba → Dead Sea → Petra → Wadi Rum

TRAVEL STYLERoad trip + history + desert

START & FINISHAmman Airport → Aqaba Airport

THE TRIP, IN A FEW WORDS

A small country.
Some very big moments.

Begin with Madaba and Mount Nebo on the way to the Dead Sea. Give yourselves a morning by the water before driving to Petra, where the plan leaves a full day and an optional return visit.

Finish in Wadi Rum with a camp overnight and time for a desert outing. This is the Jordan portion of the trip only, with arrival into Amman’s airport and departure from Aqaba.

See how the route fits together ↘
A LITTLE ORIENTATION

From the Dead Sea
to the desert.

Travel south through three overnight bases. The first and final days include airport travel, so fit their activities to your actual flights.

ROUTE DIAGRAM · NOT TO SCALE
Madaba + Dead SeaArrival stops + first night
PetraTwo nights + a full exploring day
Wadi RumDesert outing + camp night
Aqaba AirportOnward departure
FIVE DAYS · FOUR NIGHTS · A SOUTHBOUND ROAD TRIP
BEFORE YOU CHOOSE

Planning your Jordan stay

Plan the arrival around the flight

This route starts at Amman’s airport, not with an Amman city stay. Madaba and Mount Nebo are the main arrival stops. Leave the baptism site out if immigration, the drive, or its tour timing would make the first day rushed.

Give Petra room

Two Petra nights allow one full day and a return morning. Decide whether the Monastery belongs on the main day or the next morning; Little Petra is an alternative to that return, rather than another compulsory stop before Wadi Rum.

THE ROUTE AT A GLANCE

Your Jordan route and overnight stays

DayRoute or focusOvernight
1AMMAN AIRPORT → MADABA → DEAD SEAHilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa.
2DEAD SEA → PETRAMövenpick Resort Petra.
3PETRA · THE SIQ · TREASURY · FURTHER EXPLORINGMövenpick Resort Petra.
4PETRA OR LITTLE PETRA → WADI RUMMemories Aicha Luxury Camp, Wadi Rum.
5WADI RUM → AQABA AIRPORTOnward travel, or an extra night arranged around your flights.
THE PLAN

Your Jordan itinerary, day by day

Open a day for the details. Keep the whole route close.

5 days · 4 nightsA ROUTE TO MAKE YOUR OWN
JORDAN · THE ROUTE
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DAY1

A first look at Jordan.

AMMAN AIRPORT → MADABA → DEAD SEA
A view across Madaba’s rooftops and domes

Collect the car, start with Madaba, and continue toward the Dead Sea. Keep the number of stops realistic for your arrival time.

  • Arrive at Queen Alia AirportCollect your rental car and leave room for the arrival formalities before starting the sightseeing.
  • Madaba’s churchesPair St George’s Greek Orthodox Church and its mosaic map with St John the Baptist Church.
  • Lunch at Haret JdoudnaThis is the Madaba lunch stop in this route. Check current opening and reservations.
  • Mount NeboMake room for the site and its views before continuing toward the coast.
  • Optional baptism-site visitOnly add this if your arrival and the current tour arrangements leave enough time.
  • Settle in at the Dead SeaCheck into the resort and let the first evening be easy.

WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa.

DAY2

A float, then the road to Petra.

DEAD SEA → PETRA
Travelers floating in the calm Dead Sea beneath an orange sunset

Leave the morning for the resort and the Dead Sea, then continue south to your Petra base.

  • Time by the Dead SeaPlan any floating or mud experience with the resort team and follow the instructions for the conditions.
  • An unhurried lunchKeep lunch at the resort or arrange a stop that fits your departure.
  • Drive to PetraFollow the Dead Sea side before continuing toward Petra. Check the full journey and plan arrival in daylight.
  • Arrange Petra entryConfirm the ticket or pass you need for the visits you want to make, rather than relying on unverified opening hours or prices.
  • Dinner and an early nightCheck in and keep the evening simple before the main exploring day.

WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
Mövenpick Resort Petra.

DAY3

Give Petra the day.

PETRA · THE SIQ · TREASURY · FURTHER EXPLORING
The Treasury seen through the narrow sandstone walls of the Siq

Make this the main Petra day. Begin with the approach through the Siq, then let your walking plan shape the rest.

  • The Siq and TreasuryAllow time for the approach and the first view, rather than treating them as a quick photo stop.
  • Explore beyond the TreasuryChoose the onward route for your interests and pace, with breaks and water along the way.
  • The Monastery, if it fitsDecide whether to include the longer walk today or save unfinished sights for the next morning. Check current trail information locally.
  • Return to your hotelLeave room to rest after the walking.
  • Optional Petra by NightThis was an idea in this route. Check current operation and separate entry arrangements before adding it.

WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
Mövenpick Resort Petra.

DAY4

From Petra to the desert.

PETRA OR LITTLE PETRA → WADI RUM
A traveler resting beside the geometric glass windows at Memories Aicha, looking over Wadi Rum

Use the morning for one more Petra-area outing, then give the afternoon and evening to Wadi Rum.

  • A return visit or Little PetraChoose unfinished Petra sights or Little Petra. You do not need to fit both into the morning.
  • Lunch before the moveLeave time to eat and collect your bags before driving south.
  • Travel to Wadi RumCoordinate the drive with the camp’s current check-in and transfer arrangements.
  • Meet your camp driverConfirm the parking and pickup location directly with Memories Aicha before arriving.
  • A desert outing, if timeDiscuss a jeep tour with the camp. This route mentions Lawrence’s Spring and the Seven Pillars of Wisdom; choose a route that fits the available time.
  • Dinner at campConfirm the meal arrangements and enjoy the overnight in the desert.

WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
Memories Aicha Luxury Camp, Wadi Rum.

DAY5

One more desert morning.

WADI RUM → AQABA AIRPORT
A pathway between glass domes in the Wadi Rum desert

Fit the last outing to your flight. This route leaves most of the day before an evening departure.

  • Sunrise or a slower startChoose an early desert experience if you want one, or keep the morning at camp.
  • Optional jeep outingUse this window for a tour if you did not go the previous afternoon. Agree on the return time before setting out.
  • Collect the car and drive to AqabaAllow a buffer for the camp transfer, road journey, and rental return.
  • Return the rental carFollow your current rental agreement and airport instructions.
  • Fly onwardThe Jordan route ends at King Hussein International Airport; arrange onward connections separately.

WHERE YOU’LL SLEEP
Onward travel, or an extra night arranged around your flights.

A traveler on a rock overlooking Wadi Rum’s red sand and sandstone cliffs
MAKE ROOM FOR THIS

After the stone city.
A night in the desert.

Leave the last stretch for Wadi Rum. Arrange the camp pickup, choose a desert outing, and keep a little time for doing very little at all.

A GOOD PLACE TO LAND

Where to put your feet up.

Places to stay along the route.

A PLACE TO LAND.
A BASE TO EXPLORE.
Travelers covered in Dead Sea mud beside the water at sunset
Dead Sea · destination photograph
DEAD SEA · ONE NIGHT

Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa

The opening overnight, with time by the Dead Sea before the drive to Petra.

Find it on the map
A Jordanian flag above Petra’s mountain landscape
Petra · destination photograph
PETRA · TWO NIGHTS

Mövenpick Resort Petra

A base for the full Petra day and a possible return visit before continuing to Wadi Rum.

Find it on the map
The blue glass domes of Memories Aicha Luxury Camp beneath a pink dusk sky
WADI RUM · ONE NIGHT

Memories Aicha Luxury Camp

The desert overnight in this route. Arrange the meeting point, transfer, dinner, and any outings directly with the camp.

Find it on the map

The four-night sequence is Dead Sea → Petra → Petra → Wadi Rum. Arrange accommodation separately if your flight times need an extra arrival or departure night.

A NOTE FROM ALISHA & MATT

Give Petra a day.
Keep the desert
for the finish.

The route has a clear rhythm: a few arrival stops, time by the water, a full day at Petra, then the desert. Keep enough breathing room to enjoy each change of scenery.

Alisha & Matt
01

Keep the first day realistic.

Madaba and Mount Nebo are the main arrival stops. The baptism site is an optional addition, rather than something to squeeze in after a delayed flight.

02

Choose your Petra walking plan.

A full day gives you room for the Siq, Treasury, and further exploring. Decide on the Monastery and any additional trails around current conditions, available time, and your group’s pace.

03

Arrange the Wadi Rum handoff.

Confirm where to leave the car and meet the camp driver. Book the desert outing with pickup and return times that fit the overnight and your final airport transfer.

BEFORE YOU GO

A few good questions.

Does five days include arrival and departure?

Yes. Day 1 begins at Amman’s Queen Alia Airport and Day 5 finishes at Aqaba’s King Hussein International Airport. The activities at either end depend on your flight times.

How much time is there for Petra?

Two nights, one full exploring day, and an optional return on the following morning. Use that extra morning for unfinished sights or choose Little Petra before driving to Wadi Rum.

Is Amman city included?

No. This route starts at the airport and continues to Madaba and the Dead Sea. Add a separate city stay if you want to explore Amman.

Are Petra by Night and the baptism site part of the core plan?

Both are optional. Check the baptism-site tour arrangements and Petra by Night’s current programme, then decide whether they fit without rushing the main visits.

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