Ultimate Jordan 10-Day Itinerary Self-Drive Tour

Looking for a Jordan 10-Day Itinerary?

If you are planning a Jordan road trip, we have lots of tips for you. Or maybe you are wondering if you can indeed drive in Jordan safely. Here is your comprehensive Jordan 10-day itinerary to make planning your self-driving adventure throughout Jordan a lot easier.

We were blown away by how simple it was to drive throughout Jordan. Of course, it takes some planning and that’s where we hope to help by sharing our experience. We realize not everyone has ten days, so we will provide options to adjust for shorter or longer stays.

Let the fun begin!

Best Places to Stay in Jordan

There are a lot of options for accommodations in Jordan. Here are our picks for the best places to stay. Hopefully, it makes your trip planning easier!

In the detailed itinerary, we discuss these places to stay in Jordan in more detail.

All of these hotels in Jordan fit our family of 5, which was a nice bonus and half the battle when looking for places to stay!

Jordan 10-Day Itinerary: Self Drive Jordan

Here is an itinerary overview when planning a trip to Jordan. Further down, you’ll find the details for each day, as well as options for your 10 days in Jordan. 

Note that the amount of rest time you need when you fly into Amman will vary depending on where you are arriving from and your jetlag needs. We needed the rest while traveling with a baby overseas. However, Amman is the first place I would cut back if you are looking for more time in Petra or Wadi Rum, The Dead Sea, or adding in Aqaba.

10 Days in Jordan Overview

Day 1:  Fly into Amman

Day 2: Amman

Day 3: Amman (you could also consider one less night in Amman if you don’t need to rest)

Day 4: Wadi Musa / Petra – (note: Petra By Night openings)

Day 5: Petra (aka Wadi Musa)

Day 6: Flex Day: Petra, Wadi Rum Desert or Aqaba Red Sea

Day 7: Wadi Rum (desert camp)

Day 8: Dead Sea

Day 9: Dead Sea

Day 10: Flight Home or Onward

Map Tip: Driving 10 Days in Jordan

Of course, you can rely on Google Maps for the most part during your 10 Days in Jordan. However, we have found it extremely useful to download Maps.me for offline maps in case you don’t have cell service.

As you’ll note, Jordan is not a very large country. It’s easy to get around and really doesn’t take much time to cover a lot of Jordan.

Jordan 10-Day Itinerary in Detail

Below, I’ll take you through a day-by-day itinerary for your trip to Jordan. You’ll also find some tips to make your self drive tour of Jordan a breeze!

Day 1: Amman

Fly into Amman, pick up your rental car at the airport, and let your Jordan road trip begin!  Depending on the time of day you arrive, you can stop for dinner in Amman on the way to your hotel.  

Make sure to check on the parking situation at your hotel. Ours had valet and made it really convenient to pull right up to the front of the hotel, unload, and get settled!

Where to Stay in Amman

There are many hotels to choose from in Amman, but this is the one I would highly recommend.

The House Boutique Review

After looking at a lot of hotels in Amman, I was really happy we choose The House Boutique and would definitely recommend it for so many reasons. It is a very convenient location, the rooms are updated and huge, and the breakfast buffet is large.

We booked a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom suite and it was absolutely worth it. Large, comfortable, great floors for a crawling baby, huge windows, and natural light but also the ability to black out the light when wanting to sleep!  

The downside of the hotel, like most places in Jordan, is the smoking everywhere. Though smoking is not technically allowed inside the hotel lobby, you can still smell it strongly.  

Where to Eat in Amman

Amman has a lot of restaurants and options for dining. Hashem and We Farm are restaurants that we visited in Amman, while Sufra and Wild Jordan Center came highly recommended by a friend!

Hashem Restaurant Down Town

Our favorite spot was a local gem called Hashem Restaurant Down Town.  We walked there for lunch to have local pita, falafel, hummus, etc. Our entire lunch cost us around $5-$10 USD—for all 4 of us to eat! 

We Farm

We also trekked a bit to check out We Farm, a mix between a market + takeaway food, juices, smoothies, homemade ice cream (without sugar, using dates, etc), and delicious soups and salads. It was worth it for the quality of food!

Sufra

A friend of my high recommended this place to eat in Amman for a higher end nice restaurant. She said it is some of the best foods she’s ever eaten!!

Wild Jordan Center

This place has a more relaxed atmosphere, an awesome souvenir shop with handmade local items, and a great cafe. 

Day 2: Amman

Today, venture out after filling up at the House Boutique hotel’s delicious breakfast buffet, to check out the Citadel and the 4,000-year-old ruins. There is a little museum on site with ancient relics that are included in the cost of your ticket to the Citadel.  

Afterward, walk to one of the restaurants listed above. We really liked Hashem Restaurant for a very budget-friendly local quick meal.

Day 3: Amman (Flex Day)

Free Day to rest, walk around, and choose a restaurant for some yummy food (see above for options). 

This is also an optional day to have some wiggle room to do what best fits your needs.  

👉 Do you think you’ll be jetlagged? Enjoy another rest day in Amman!

👉 Do you love hiking and being active?  You may want to add an extra day in Petra to do some of the other off-the-beaten-path hikes!

👉 Do you love the peace and quiet of the desert? Consider an extra night in Wadi Rum desert camp to enjoy a book, take a jeep tour, or relax.

👉 Do you love to relax poolside or at the spa? An extra day at The Dead Sea is perfect for you!

👉 Do you want some beach time or a snorkel adventure? Head to Aqaba to enjoy The Red Sea!

Day 4: Petra (aka Wadi Musa)

Driving from Amman to Petra is quite easy. You can run into traffic in Amman, but we found it wasn’t so bad. And once you are out of Amman, the roads open up and we never encountered any traffic after Amman.

To clear up the confusion about Petra: Petra is the historical park area with all the famous rock monuments (The Treasury, The Monastery), etc. It is located in Wadi Musa.

However, the entire town is referred to as Petra as well and has many shops, restaurants, hotels, etc. Given Petra’s magnitude of historical importance, we were surprised at how small the town felt. 

READ ALL ABOUT PETRA BY NIGHT HERE!

Where to Stay in Petra

Petra isn’t a large city. You’ll have a few really nice hotels to choose from and then a bunch of smaller bed and breakfast style hotels.

Budget Accommodation

For budget-friendly and family-friendly accommodations in Petra, stay at The Crystal House. 

The rooms are basic, but large and come equipped with a kitchen. Our 2 bedroom apartment was huge with 3 single beds in one room (and lots of extra space) + a King bed in the other room with space for a crib.  

The views at The Crystal House are really gorgeous, as you can see the sunset over Petra. A basic breakfast is included, but we recommend asking if you can add dinner (no need to preplan, ask in the morning or the night before).  The dinners are basic but delicious and so much food for a great price!

Upscale Accommodations

Two other upscale hotel options in Petra that I would recommend, as both are an extremely easy walk to the main entrance of Petra.

Movenpick Petra: 5-star hotel, literally across the street from the Main Entrance to Petra and right in town to walk to shops and restaurants. 

Petra Guest House: 4-star hotel, located exactly next door to the Main Entrance to Petra and Visitor’s Center. It is across the street from the Movenpick Petra. 

Where to Eat in Petra

Most places to eat in Petra are concentrated around the small town and entrance to Petra historical park. Here are some places we’d recommend checking out.

My Mom’s Recipe Restaurant

Located just a 5-minute walk from the Main Entrance to Petra, this was our stop after we got done with a full day of hiking the Ad Deir Trail / Monastery Trail. You walk through a shop and then go up the stairs to the restaurant, as you can see us doing here!  

The owner is really nice and passionate about his mom’s recipes. We tried a bit of everything and enjoyed the refreshing juice drinks! While it wasn’t necessarily the best meal we’ve ever had, it was really delicious and a perfect spot to fuel up on local food!

Juice & More

How do I begin to explain how excited I was when I found a decent smoothie & juice place in Petra? It was a bit confusing to get to from google maps, but it is located in a plaza area.  The owner was extremely nice and made smoothies exactly how I wanted.

Day 5: Petra

Today you wake up early and it’s worth it! Get ready for an incredibly memorable day!

It’s hiking day (well, to the level that you choose!). Whatever type of hike or walk you decide through Petra, you will surely be blown away by the magnitude of the rock city.

Even if you did Petra By Night the night before, as we did, it’s a whole different experience during the day.  Do both if you can!

We read through so many blogs and information about Petra and couldn’t figure out exactly how to best see Petra.  But it all worked out for us and I give a lot of details about how to park, transport to Little Petra, catch the shuttle to the entrance to the back route into The Monastery, and hike Ad Deir Trail.

Find all the information for hiking Petra here!

Day 6: Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum is infamous for desert stays in Jordan. It is also where the movie The Martian was filmed. It’s about 1h 45 mins from Petra and an easy drive.

You’ll have some great views of Wadi Musa/Petra as you drive to Wadi Rum. Note that there are a couple of gas stations on the way, but not many options in terms of food stops. The roads are smooth and large and not many cars. 

Our kids played all afternoon and evening in the sand and on the rocks and explored the area. They really had a blast world schooling in nature. We enjoyed the terrace porch area of our tent and then we all went for a family exploration during sunset. 

Dinner was at 7:00. Stargazing was amazing. 

Morning came with cool air. Breakfast, relaxed play time, and packing and we left by 10:30 to drive to The Dead Sea.

Where to Stay in Wadi Rum

The hardest part about visiting Wadi Rum is selecting a desert camp. There are literally hundreds to choose from. Not only that, but they all range in price, quality, and experience. It took us hours and hours, days and days to decide on one.

We asked locals, we researched every website. We had a hard time deciding if we wanted a cheap camp, a Bedouin experience, a bubble/dome/Martian tent, or a luxury experience (and luxury ranges here).

And finally, we booked a camp, the night before we arrived!

Hasan Zawaideh Luxury Camp 2

We choose Hasan Zawaideh Luxury Camp 2.  And I would absolutely recommend it! But here are things to know before you go:

Luxury Camp 2 is way different in our opinion than Hasan Zawaideh’s main camp, although both are in Wadi Rum. 

The Hasan main camp is off the road. It’s large with lots of tents, various tent options, and many areas for sitting, gathering, etc. The tents were packed together and being off the road didn’t quite have the desert atmosphere we were wanting. 

To be honest, the main camp wasn’t our vibe. 

But Hasan Luxury Camp 2 was different in our opinion! All Martian tents are spread out in the middle of the desert.

Hassan Zawaideh Luxury Camp 2 is a newer camp, open for less than a year. We loved the vibe of peaceful tranquility in the desert, away from other camps. There are only a dozen or so tents, all Martian Tents with beautiful views of the desert and massive rocks as a backdrop. 

It really is a beautiful setting!

Plus, it was one of the few dome/bubble/Martian tents that would fit our family!  They set up 1 King bed + 2 single beds and it felt spacious! The bathroom is big and nice with plenty of hot water, as well as great water pressure.  What more could you ask for in the desert?

How to Get to Hassan Zawaideh Luxury Camp 2

To get to Luxury Camp 2, you first check in at the Hassan Zawaideh main camp. You can park your car there and they will transfer you in a truck out to Luxury Camp 2. 

Since we had an SUV rental, they said we could drive out to Luxury Camp 2 and park our car there. This is super convenient in our opinion because we wouldn’t have to transfer our stuff.  If you have an SUV, you can then follow one of the staff from the main camp, who will guide you to Luxury Camp 2.  

The drive from the Main Camp to Luxury Camp 2 is short, only 10-15 mins. And it’s fun!  You are in the open desert and it really starts to feel like you are in Wadi Rum!

Food in Hassan Zawaideh Luxury Camp 2

Breakfast and Dinner are included in the price. At the Main Camp, they have a lunch option too. When we checked in at the main camp around 2:00, lunch was beginning and we were hungry, so perfect timing. We had lunch at the main camp before we headed to our room at Luxury Camp 2. 

Dinner at Luxury Camp 2 was decent. They did the traditional cooking in the ground and there was enough of a variety.  Nothing spectacular, but decent.

Breakfast could be a lot better. There was not much variety and what was there was mediocre at best. Hopefully, they improve their breakfast, but even with the mediocre breakfast, I would still recommend Hasan Zawaideh Luxury Camp 2!

Staff at Hassan Zawaideh Luxury Camp 2

The staff when we checked in at the main camp was very friendly. At Luxury Camp 2, we found a bit mixed. Some are nice enough. No one is overly friendly.

I think there is quite a language barrier for most of the staff. Most didn’t engage much or were on their phones and watching things that were too loud. Not very luxurious to be honest. And I think it would be a nicer presentation if they had a uniform or staff shirt.

Again, we are in the desert so luxury is relative but nonetheless, these are just things to be aware of before you go. We definitely had much better food, staff, and accommodations on Safari in Africa, but nonetheless had an amazing night in Wadi Rum and it was really due to the beautiful setting at Luxury Camp 2!

Final Thoughts on Hasan Zawaideh Luxury Camp 2

I think luxury is a bit of a relative term. When we researched all the desert camps, each of them (even the top rated) gets mixed reviews. 

Remember, you are in the desert. Go for the experience and the beauty and peacefulness of being in the desert. If you expect total Ritz service and amenities, Wadi Rum probably isn’t for you.

Where to Eat in Wadi Rum

There aren’t many options. I’ll just put that out there. While there is a town, we never ventured there because the options seemed limited.  

When staying at a desert camp in Wadi Rum, you will most likely be eating all your meals at the camp. 

Wadi Rum Jeep Tour

One of the more popular activities here in Wadi Rum is jeep tours.  We opted not to take one because we had recently done an open-air jeep in Colombia. The tours are done in trucks through the desert. We thought it would be too hot and beating sun for our baby.  And we just drove a bit through the desert to camp so we felt like we had some of that experience.

(link to Viator Tour)

Day 7: Wadi Rum (Flex Day)

Here is a flex day to stay an extra night in the area of Jordan that best suits your desires for a travel experience.

👉 If you want to veg out in the desert or have an extra day to do a Jeep Tour, stay in Wadi Rum.

👉 If you want to relax with a pool, and the sea and have a resort vibe, go to The Dead Sea for an extra night.

👉 If you prefer hiking and historical monuments, spend an extra night in Petra – there really are so many hikes and so much to see there!

Of course, the other option is to check out Aqaba & The Red Sea!  Or take a day trip to cross into Israel!

Day 8: The Dead Sea

Today you will continue your road trip through Jordan with another easy open road drive!  

From Wadi Rum to The Dead Sea, the drive is about 3.5 – 4 hrs. But it took us more like 5 with a detour for road closure and a quick stop for gas. 

There aren’t really food stops along the way from Wadi Rum to The Dead Sea Resorts. As you get closer to your destination there are more veggie/fruit stands and some places to pop in for water. 

Closer to the resorts, we marked a restaurant that got good reviews but we never ended up stopping: NEA Local Food

Day 9: The Dead Sea

If you drive from Wadi Rum, you’ll end up driving the entire length of the Dead Sea and be able to look over to Israel. All the hotels seem to be grouped in the northern top part of the Dead Sea. 

Tip: First and foremost, go now. The Dead Sea has shrunk/subsided over a mile. More and more sinkholes are appearing. This is very apparent because all the hotels have had to add a few more levels of stairs to get down to the sea.

It is really cool to experience The Dead Sea. The salt content is so high that you literally float without effort.

Where to Stay at The Dead Sea

After looking at all the hotels in the area to determine which would be the best experience for our family, we settled on the Movenpick Dead Sea Resort and it was perfect!

We booked 2 connecting rooms, their Family Room option.  It was perfect for us. One room at two large double beds, the other room had a King Bed and a crib. There was ample space in each room with a desk and other sitting chairs/areas. Plus, each room had a nice porch and large bathrooms with tubs. 

We opted for the Half Board option at the Movenpick and it was well worth it! Breakfast and Dinner buffets are included in the half-board option. There was so much variety and the food was actually delicious. 

The Movenpick also has a “Chocolate Hour” every day from 4-5pm with a small chocolate buffet with a variety of different treats each day. And the chocolate desserts didn’t disappoint! 

The Movenpick resort is quite big, with multiple pools, a jacuzzi, a spa, a kids area, adults-only areas, tennis courts, a small gym, and of course, the beach where you can go swimming in the Dead Sea.  

While it’s easy enough to walk around the resort, you can also opt to have a golf cart take you around as needed.

How to Access The Dead Sea

Note that there are a lot of stairs to get down to the Dead Sea. Again, because the Sea has receded so much. Each resort has had to build many more stairs down to reach the new beach.

Once down at the beach, there are so lounge chairs and benches. There are some Movenpick staff and lifeguards that can give you the rundown, which is actually quite helpful.

At the Movenpick beach, there are buckets of mud, which you can slather all over your body.  They advise not to stay in the water for more than 10 minutes (kids no more than 2 minutes, though mine stayed in longer and were fine).

What To Expect at The Dead Sea

Whatever you do, do not shave the day you plan to get into the Dead Sea and make sure you don’t have any open cuts, as they will sting!

There are showers right at the Movenpick beach to immediately rinse off the salt water from your skin. The staff down by the beach at the Movenpick is super friendly and there to help you take photos if you’d like as well.  

The whole process takes all of 30 minutes max, so this isn’t your typical all-day beach day. 

Day 10: Depart

Check-out at the Movenpick Dead Sea Resort is noon, which makes for a nice leisurely morning. From the Dead Sea to the airport takes approximately 1 hour. 

Best Time of Year to Visit Jordan

We visited Petra in early to mid-March. It was perfect weather-wise: mid/high 60s during the day, sometimes low 70s. Nights could get chilly down to the 40s. It was sunny every day we were there. 

March is the start of the busy season, but just before it really ramps up. It’s really the perfect time. The owner of our hotel apartment told us that come early April, there will be so many more people, especially on days with the cruise ships.

Sometimes 15k people are on a bus after bus after bus.  And the main parts of Petra’s historical sites are jam-packed. 

So, if you want to avoid crowds, opt for shoulder seasons in Jordan! 

Is Jordan Safe?

While we felt really safe in Jordan, we always hesitate to call anything safe. However, I think it pleasantly surprises people how safe Jordan is and you can feel confident to self-drive if you desire. 

Of course, the safety climate of any region can change, so please check with your country’s Department of State for the latest travel advisories. 

Self-Driving in Jordan

We opted to rent a car and drive ourselves through Jordan. It gave us a little more freedom and flexibility for our trip and we found driving in Jordan enjoyable and quite easy.

Renting a Car in Jordan

Renting a car in Jordan is easy to do at the Amman airport. Definitely book something in advance.

 We booked a small SUV, which was perfect and allowed us to drive ourselves into the desert in Wadi Rum (as opposed to taking the camp’s truck transportation for camps located inside the desert and not on the outskirts). 

When you exit customs at the airport, you’ll see the many car rental booths lining the inside of the airport.

Is Jordan Expensive for Travel?

Surprisingly it might be more expensive than you would think. It’s definitely not a super-budget travel destination. Then again, we found restaurants like Hashem Restaurant in Amman, where we ate lunch for around $5-$10 USD for our entire family!

Visa for Jordan

Get Jordan Pass online before you arrive in Jordan for anyone above 12 years old. It helps to print it out because you need to show it. There are three options: 70, 75 & 80 JD for 1 day, 2 days,s or 3 days…consecutive days to get into Petra (during the day).  You need a separate ticket by night for Petra.

When you arrive, you will immediately go to the Visa line/ Jordan Pass line for nonresidents and need to pay for your Visa upon arrival for everyone (including babies and children). 40JD per person, you can pay with a credit card.

Then you proceed to the customs line and wait again for them to stamp your passport.  After that, you’ll go to baggage claim and then through immigration. This is mostly you just bypass if you have nothing to declare.

You will then exit and can get your rental car.

Travel Tips for Jordan

✅ Just be aware that there is a lot of smoking in Jordan -in hotels, restaurants, etc. It’s hard to get away from the smell if you are sensitive to it.  

✅ Before you leave for your trip, download Maps.me for offline maps in case you don’t have service 

✅ We use Tmobile International Pass when we travel to get unlimited data, calls, and texts. We found the service to be great throughout Jordan.

FAQs: Jordan Itinerary

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions for travelers headed to Jordan.

Is the Jordan Pass worth it?

YES! If you plan to visit Petra, then absolutely get the Jordan Pass. See the visa information above. Jordan Pass and a visa into Jordan are two separate things.

How many days in Jordan is enough?

We spent 10 days in Jordan and felt like we had ample time to see everything we wanted to see. However, we could have extended our trip to include Aqaba and even a crossing into Israel.

If you are flying internationally and switching time zones, take into consideration that you may need a couple of days to relax and adjust, especially when traveling with kids.  This is why we decided to stay in Amman for a few days at the start of our trip. 

You can definitely see some highlights of Jordan in 7 days and we even met people that did Wadi Rum, Aqaba, and The Dead Sea in 3 days. But that seems really hectic to me!

The longer you have in a place, the more enjoyable it can be to relax and enjoy the sites, monuments, hikes, swims, and food.

Is it safe to self-drive in Jordan?

As you’ll find me saying over and over, we hesitate to recommend anything as safe. Everything has its risks.

However, we felt really safe driving in Jordan. The roads were really smooth and easy to travel on with great infrastructure. We didn’t encounter any traffic except for 1 day in Amman. 

Wrap-Up: Jordan 10-Day Itinerary

We can’t wait for you to experience Jordan. Hopefully, this Jordan 10-Day Itinerary helped make your planning a bit easier with self-drive information, accommodations and things to do.

Check out more on Jordan:

>> HOW TO HIKE PETRA

>> PETRA AT NIGHT