Introduction
With its well-preserved archeological sites and out-of-this-world desert scenery, Jordan serves as a safe haven in a region filled with turmoil. Spend a few days in the country getting lost through the labyrinth that is Petra, stargazing in a hot tub in the middle of a desert, and floating in the what many consider to be the world's most famous salt lake.
The itinerary below was what we used for a three-day layover in the country after a visit to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Some members of our group opted to spend an extra day in Amman, and I know other people choose to spend two full days in Petra instead of one. You may want to consider these options if you have the flexibility to extend your stay in Jordan.
3-Day Itinerary
DAY 1: PETRA & WADI MUSA
Morning & Afternoon: Spend the entire day exploring the ancient Nabatean city of Petra. Hire a tour guide at the entrance who can tell you the history behind the city and its structures. Highlights include the Siq, Treasury, Monastery, and Roman Theater among several others. Try to go early in the morning to avoid crowds.
Evening: Feel free to check out Petra by Night. We skipped this because we heard mixed reviews and instead got massages at our hotel’s spa (Petra Marriott). For dinner, I recommend getting shawarma sandwiches from Al Afandi Restaurant— they are truly amazing. This is more of a small café with 1-2 tables than a restaurant, so plan on getting take out.
DAY 2: WADI RUM
Morning: After breakfast, drive to Wadi Rum.
Afternoon: Have your “bubble” hotel organize a jeep tour for your group — we stayed at the Wadi Rum Bubble Luxotel. The guides take you around the desert to view striking natural formations before taking you to a spot to watch the sunset. Be sure to pack snacks as the tour can last anywhere from 3-7 hours. You can decide how long of a tour you want in advance.
Evening: Check into the hotel and have dinner. Sign up for stargazing tour that takes place late at night. Afterwards, head back to your bubble to hang out in your personal hot tub under the Milky Way.
DAY 3: DEAD SEA & AMMAN
Morning: After breakfast, drive to the Dead Sea resort area. The Dead Sea Marriott Resort & Spa offers a day pass if you are not spending the night, but would like to use the hotel amenities during your visit. The price of the day pass ranges from JOD 30-60 depending on if you get an option that includes a lunch buffet.
Afternoon: Head down to the beach and do a mud mask. Once dry, head into the sea to wash off. Most people spend only 10 minutes in the water — try not to shave for a few days prior and be wary of open cuts as the high concentration of salt can be painful. Unfortunately for our group, the weather was really bad so we were not able to go to the water. After freshening up, drive to Amman to explore archeological sites such as the Citadel and Roman Amphitheater.
Evening: Try local Jordanian street food at Hashem Restaurant, walk around the surrounding area, and enjoy the nightlife. Some good hotel options include the W Amman and Amman Marriott Hotel. There are also a few hostels such as the Amman Pasha Hotel for those looking for more budget-friendly options.
Logistics
VISA REQUIREMENTS & JORDAN PASS
A passport and a visa are required for entry into Jordan. Jordan issues visas to US citizens for a fee at most international ports of entry and at most international land border crossings upon arrival. As of August 2020, the visa costs 40 JOD ($56.50) for a single entry, 60 JOD ($85) for two entries, and 120 JOD ($170) for a multiple entry visa. US citizens are typically given visas that are valid for 30 days. Note: Visas are not issued upon arrival at the King Hussein/Allenby Bridge land border crossing.
Everyone in our group purchased the Jordan Pass— something I would advise others to purchase before arriving in Jordan if they plan on visiting Petra. The pass comes at three different price points depending on how many days you want to spend in Petra - one, two, or three. Prices start at 70 JD ($98) for the Jordan Wanderer pass. This covers the cost of the single entry visa (40 JD), one day in Petra (50 JD), and the entrance fee for 40 other attractions.
LANGUAGE
The official language of Jordan is Arabic, but English is widely spoken in the cities and tourist hubs. You may find that French, German, Italian, and Spanish are also spoken in the tourist-heavy regions.
CURRENCY
Since 1950, the Jordanian dinar (JOD) has been the currency of Jordan. The Jordanian dinar is divided into 10 dirhams, 100 qirsh, or 1000 fulus. As of August 2020, $1 USD = 0.71 JOD and 1 JOD = $1.41 USD.
TRANSPORTATION
Getting around Jordan is fairly easy. Rent a car at the Queen Alia International Airport or hire a driver to take you around Jordan. We opted for the driver, but I know many people who rented a car and said that driving around the country was fairly easy — just be vigilant when driving in Amman as the traffic rules are different than what many US citizens are accustomed to.
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