Days 1–2: Amman and Jerash
Arrive in Amman and settle into your hotel in Jabal Amman or Abdoun. On your first afternoon, walk the 7th to 1st Circles, stop at the Roman Theatre and Citadel, and eat at Hashem for your first falafel. Day two: drive north to Jerash for a morning in the Roman ruins, stopping at Ajloun Castle on the way back for an atmospheric Crusader fortress above pine forest.
If your flight arrives early on Day 1, the Jordan Museum in central Amman is worth a few hours — it houses some of the world's oldest human statues, found at Ain Ghazal and dating to 7,500 BC. It gives context to everything you are about to see.
Days 3–4: Dead Sea and Madaba
Day three descends west to the Dead Sea for floating, mud and a resort afternoon. Most itineraries include an overnight at one of the Sweimeh resort hotels for the full experience — sunset over the water and a relaxed morning before driving south. On day four, stop at Madaba for the stunning 6th-century floor mosaic map of the Holy Land in St George's Church, then continue to Mount Nebo where Moses, according to scripture, first saw the Promised Land.
The King's Highway from Madaba to Petra is one of the world's oldest continuously-used roads. We route our southern drive along this historic route when time allows, stopping at the Roman-era Dhiban and the spectacular Wadi Mujib gorge.
Days 5–7: Petra
Petra deserves three days. Day five: the classic route — Siq, Treasury, Street of Facades, Royal Tombs, and the climb to the High Place of Sacrifice. Day six: the Monastery trail (ad-Deir) — 800 steps to a facade even larger than the Treasury, with a viewpoint over an ocean of pink mountains. Day seven: Little Petra and the back route to the Monastery if you did not take it yet, plus the city centre Qasr al-Bint.
Three days in Petra lets you start at 6am when the light is extraordinary and the site is yours alone, return to the hotel for a midday rest, and head back out in the late afternoon when the tour groups have gone home and the light turns golden again. It is the correct way to do Petra.
Days 8–9: Wadi Rum
Transfer to Wadi Rum — two hours from Petra. Day eight is a full jeep safari covering the classic landscapes: Lawrence's Spring, Khazali Canyon, Burdah Rock Bridge, the red dunes, and sunset at the highest dune in the area. Night in your chosen desert camp under the stars.
Day nine: a sunrise shoot from a sandstone outcrop, breakfast in the camp, then a half-day of camel riding or a more leisurely jeep loop before an afternoon transfer to Aqaba. The evening in Aqaba is for seafood on the corniche and your first swim in the Red Sea.
Day 10: Aqaba and departure
A morning snorkel or dive on Aqaba's reefs before heading to the airport or driving back to Amman (3.5 hours) for a late departure. Those flying from Aqaba's King Hussein International Airport can go directly — it connects to several European hubs and Amman.
This 10-day route hits every major landmark in Jordan without feeling rushed. Al Maqsad designs and prices this itinerary as a complete package — private transport, accommodation, licensed guides at Petra and Jerash, and camp bookings in Wadi Rum. Contact us for a personalised quote.
