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Itineraries/Middle East/Jordan

10 Days in Jordan

Petra's Treasury glowing rose-gold at sunrise, camping under desert stars in Wadi Rum, floating in the Dead Sea without trying, and Roman ruins that rival Rome's. Ten nights through Jordan's iconic family route — the ancient kingdom that fits 4,000 years of history, desert adventure, and genuine Bedouin hospitality into a country the size of Tasmania.

10 nights
Family of 4
~A$15,700
4 stops
Amman2n
Petra2n
Wadi Rum2n
Dead Sea & Aqaba4n
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Your stop-by-stop itinerary

4 stops across 10 nights. Each one chosen so you experience a different side of Jordan.

1

Amman

2 nights
Fly into Amman Queen Alia (AMM) from Sydney via Dubai, Doha, or Abu Dhabi (18-22h total). Airport taxi to city centre ($30, 40 min) or Airport Express bus ($5/pp, 1h). Buy a Jordan Pass ($99/adult, includes Petra entry + visa fee) online before arrival — saves $100+ per adult.

Highlights

  • Jerash — the best-preserved Roman provincial city outside Italy. Colonnaded streets, temples, theatres, chariot arena. 45 min north of Amman ($8/adult, free with Jordan Pass). Kids love the gladiator re-enactment show
  • Amman Citadel — hilltop ruins spanning 7,000 years, Hercules Temple columns, panoramic city views. $3/adult (free with Jordan Pass). The archaeological museum has the Dead Sea Scrolls
  • Roman Theatre — 6,000-seat amphitheatre in downtown Amman, still used for events. Free to view from outside, $3 to enter. Kids test the acoustics from the stage
  • Rainbow Street — Amman''s hippest strip, cafés, juice bars, vintage shops, sunset views over the old city. Family-friendly walking street with the best falafel in the country ($1-2 per wrap)
  • Mount Nebo — where Moses saw the Promised Land. Panoramic view across the Dead Sea to Israel/Palestine. $3/adult. 30 min from Amman, combine with Dead Sea trip
  • Amman street food — mansaf (national dish, lamb in yoghurt sauce), falafel wraps, kunafa (sweet cheese pastry). Family dinner at Hashem Restaurant (famous, cheap, $3-5/person)

Local tips

  • 💡Buy the Jordan Pass online BEFORE you fly ($99/adult for the ''Jordain Wanderer'' tier) — it includes your visa fee ($56 saved), Petra entry ($70 saved), and 40+ attractions. Pays for itself immediately. Kids under 12 enter most sites free.
  • 💡Amman is hilly — wear comfortable shoes and don''t try to walk everywhere. Uber works perfectly and rides are $2-5 within the city. Friday is the holy day; many shops close but tourist sites are open.
  • 💡Start with Amman to adjust to the time zone and heat before heading to Petra and Wadi Rum. Two nights is enough — the real highlights are south.
Suggested stay: Family hotel or apartment near Rainbow Street or the Citadel
2

Petra

2 nights
Drive or JETT bus Amman → Wadi Musa/Petra (3h via the King''s Highway scenic route, or 2.5h via the Desert Highway). Private driver is $100-130 for the car. JETT bus is $15/pp. King''s Highway passes Dana Nature Reserve and Kerak Castle — worth the detour.

Highlights

  • The Siq + Treasury (Al-Khazneh) — walk the 1.2 km narrow canyon between towering sandstone walls, then it opens onto the rose-gold Treasury facade. The single most dramatic reveal in world travel. Included in Jordan Pass
  • The Monastery (Ad-Deir) — 800 steps up to a massive carved temple even bigger than the Treasury. The hike is the reward — buy the kids a Bedouin tea at the top ($2). Age 6+ can manage with rests
  • Petra by Night — the Siq and Treasury lit by 1,500 candles, Bedouin music echoing off the canyon walls. $22/person, Mon/Wed/Thu evenings. Book the day before at the Visitor Centre. Magical for families
  • Royal Tombs — carved facades along the cliff face opposite the Treasury, less crowded, equally impressive. Free to explore (included in Petra entry)
  • Donkey or camel rides — Bedouin guides offer rides through Petra on donkeys ($10-15) or camels ($20-30). Negotiate firmly. Kids love the camel ride from the Treasury to the restaurant area
  • High Place of Sacrifice — moderate climb to a sacrificial altar with panoramic views over Petra''s valleys. Age 8+, 45 min up. Free with entry

Local tips

  • 💡Enter Petra at 6am opening — you''ll have the Siq almost to yourself and the Treasury in golden morning light. By 9am, tour groups arrive and the magic reduces. Do the Treasury and main trail in the morning, rest midday, return for the Monastery in the cooler afternoon.
  • 💡Two days in Petra is essential — Day 1 for the Siq, Treasury, Royal Tombs, and main trail. Day 2 for the Monastery hike and the High Place of Sacrifice. One day is rushed and exhausting in the heat.
  • 💡Bring 2+ litres of water per person per day, wear a hat, and apply sunscreen constantly. Petra is in a desert canyon that traps heat (40°C+ in summer). Spring (Mar-May) and autumn (Sep-Nov) are the best seasons.
Suggested stay: Family hotel in Wadi Musa village (5 min walk from Petra entrance)
3

Wadi Rum

2 nights
Drive Wadi Musa → Wadi Rum (1.5h south via the Desert Highway). Private driver $60-80 for the car. Most desert camps arrange pickup from the Wadi Rum Visitor Centre (free with camp booking).

Highlights

  • 4x4 Jeep desert tour — Bedouin guides drive you through red sand valleys, past ancient petroglyphs, through narrow canyons. 4-6h tour included with most camp bookings ($40-50/person extra for full-day)
  • Camel ride at sunset — ride through the desert as the sandstone turns orange-red. $15-25/person, 1-2h. The pace is perfect for watching the light change
  • Desert stargazing — Wadi Rum has minimal light pollution. The Milky Way is visible to the naked eye. Most camps set up blankets and point out constellations. Free and unforgettable
  • Zarb dinner — traditional Bedouin feast cooked underground in a sand pit (chicken, lamb, vegetables). Included with camp stays. The theatrical reveal when they dig up the food is the highlight
  • Rock bridge climbing — natural sandstone arches you can climb and photograph on. Burdah Rock Bridge is the most dramatic. $5-10 for guide access. Some bridges are easy enough for kids 8+
  • Bedouin tea and bread — your hosts make sage tea on an open fire and bake flat bread in the coals. Included with camp stay. The hospitality is genuine and unhurried

Local tips

  • 💡Book a camp with ''bubble'' or ''dome'' tents — they have transparent ceilings so you can stargaze from bed. Kids rate this as the trip highlight. Prices are $50-100/person per night including dinner, breakfast, and a Jeep tour.
  • 💡Wadi Rum was the filming location for The Martian, Star Wars, Dune, and Lawrence of Arabia — the red desert genuinely looks like another planet. Show the kids clips before the trip to build excitement.
  • 💡Two nights in Wadi Rum lets you do a Jeep tour on Day 1 and a camel/hiking morning on Day 2 before heading to the Dead Sea. One night is too rushed — the desert pace is part of the experience.
Suggested stay: Bedouin desert camp with family tent or bubble dome
4

Dead Sea & Aqaba

4 nights
Drive Wadi Rum → Dead Sea (3.5h north via the Araba Valley) or Wadi Rum → Aqaba (1h south) then Aqaba → Dead Sea (3h). Most families split: 2 nights Aqaba (beach/snorkelling) + 2 nights Dead Sea (floating/spa). Fly out Amman (QAI) — 4h drive from Dead Sea.

Highlights

  • Dead Sea floating — the world''s saltiest body of water, you float without trying. Mud from the shore is a natural face mask. Public beach access ($15-20/person) or free at resort-front beaches. The defining Jordan family photo
  • Aqaba Red Sea snorkelling — coral reef just offshore, tropical fish, warm clear water year-round. Snorkel gear rental $10-15/set. Glass-bottom boat tours $25-35/person for non-swimmers
  • Dana Nature Reserve — Jordan''s largest nature reserve, dramatic canyon hiking, Bedouin eco-lodge. Day trip from Dead Sea (1.5h). Entry $10/person. The Wadi Dana trail is spectacular
  • Bethany Beyond the Jordan — the biblical baptism site of Jesus on the Jordan River. UNESCO site, guided tours only ($15/person). 30 min from Dead Sea. Historically significant regardless of faith
  • Aqaba castle + souk — Mamluk-era fortress overlooking the Red Sea (free), plus Aqaba''s old souk for spices, textiles, and silver jewellery
  • Dead Sea spa day — resort spas offer Dead Sea salt scrubs and mud wraps ($40-60/person). Most resorts include basic pool and beach access for guests. Kids prefer the floating to the spa

Local tips

  • 💡Don''t shave for 24 hours before the Dead Sea — the salt concentration (34%) stings every tiny cut. Cover any scratches with waterproof bandages. Keep salt water away from eyes (it burns badly). Kids should float on their backs, not dive or splash.
  • 💡Split the 4 nights: 2 in Aqaba (Red Sea snorkelling, beach, warmer water) + 2 at the Dead Sea (floating, spa, historical sites). Aqaba is a real beach town; the Dead Sea is a resort experience. Both are worth it.
  • 💡The Dead Sea is 430m below sea level — the lowest point on Earth. The air is thicker, UV is filtered, and you''ll notice you breathe easier. It''s also very hot (35-45°C in summer). Swim in the morning and evening, retreat to air conditioning midday.
Suggested stay: Family resort on the Dead Sea shore (Mövenpick, Crowne Plaza) or beach hotel in Aqaba

Good to know

Estimated cost

The ~A$15,700 estimate covers accommodation across all 4 stops. Flights, daily spending, activities, and transport are additional — use SaveToRoam’s savings planner to track it all.

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