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If you want to see Jordan’s most bucket list attractions but also immerse yourself in local culture and authentic experiences off the beaten path, this Jordan 10 day itinerary is for you. I loved my time in Jordan so when I’ve recommend folks to visit, this is the exact guide I give them.
Disclosure: I visited Jordan on a #VisitJordan press trip. They helped me visit Jordan off the beaten path; now I‘m sharing them with you!
When exploring a new country it can be difficult to see past iconic landmarks (in this case, the famous world wonder: Petra). But thanks to the insight of locals, guides, and the Jordan Tourism Board, I got to have a more immersive experience.
Read on to learn what to see during 10 days in Jordan and tips for your visit – all local-approved and from my own experiences traveling as a woman.
Is 10 Days in Jordan Enough?
How much time should I spend in Jordan?
If you are looking to spend 10 days in Jordan you can see much of the country’s highlights within this timeframe. However, I recommend accounting for 1-2 travel days in your vacation time for transit and timezone differences.
Alternatively, if you are tight on time, you can squeeze this itinerary into 7 days, but I would not recommend less than that if you want to truly immerse yourself. The big highlights and travel alone will take 3-5 days out of your schedule so you want to leave some time to have community experiences too. That’s the best part!
Where to Stay in Jordan
Recommended hotels in Jordan that are safe, beautiful, and noteworthy.
This guide will explore different regions of Jordan, including the capital city of Amman, the north, and the south. If you want to stay in Amman the entire time and take day trips you technically can, but there will be a lot of driving and less time to explore.
Let’s start with where to stay in Jordan for 10 days: here were the hotels we booked in the different regions. They range from luxury to mid-range and all had something really special about them:
- Ritz Carlton Amman in Amman capital city – highly recommended for affordable luxury!
- Mövenpick Resort Petra – perfect for a mid-range hotel walking distance from Petra
- UFO Luxotel – a beautiful upper mid-range glamping bubble hotel in the middle of the desert.
- Hyatt Regency (Ayla) in Aqaba – this might be my favorite hotel in Jordan thus far, and perfect for visiting the red sea
- Kempinski Ishtar to visit the Dead Sea – perfect for private beach access
Jordan 10 Day Itinerary Breakdown
How to spend 10 days in Jordan based on my visit during late January/February.
For a quick look at how to maximize your Jordan 10 day itinerary, here is a list of the regions I visited and those highlights. For more detailed information and links keep reading for a breakdown of the itinerary.
Places to visit during your 10 days in Jordan:
- Capital City: Amman
- Northern region: Umm Quais and Jerash
- Mountain range: Mount Nebo
- Southern region: Petra, Red Sea, Dead Sea
Days 1-4 in Jordan: Amman Day Trips
When flying into Jordan you will arrive in Amman (I flew Royal Jordanian direct from NYC to Amman – here are my tips for the long-haul flight). Amman is the capital of Jordan and the best place to base yourself as you get familiar with your surroundings.
I recommend staying in Amman for at least 3 full days because this will allow you to explore the city and take day trips to the northern sites. This might mean booking at least 4 days there to account for your travel days and jet lag acclimation.
Hotel Recommendation: I stayed at the Ritz Carlton Amman while making this day trip north.
Day 1: Welcome to Amman
On day 1 I arrived in the afternoon, which was enough time to get acquainted with my hotel for the next few days, and freshen up for dinner. When Flying into Jordan, definitely make sure you arrange your visa beforehand and allot for waiting time, whether that is awaiting checked bags or immigration lines.
- Visa Tip: if you buy the Jordan Pass to visit Jordan’s attractions, your visa fee is included.
Day 2: Jerash & Ajloun
On the first full day of your trip take a day trip one hour from Amman to explore the green north. From ancient sites to community cooperatives and artisan crafts, this region is a sight to see!
- Morning tour: Visit the Greco-Roman ancient city of Jerash. You can have a 2-3 hour guided tour here, uncovering so much of history from numerous ancient civilizations. Keep an eye out for a bagpipe performers in the amphitheater. Bring sunscreen and hats because there is no shade!
- Afternoon
- Workshop and lunch: Have lunch and a local handicraft experience at Dar N’emeh in Jerash. At Dar Ne’meh you can support a women’s cooperative by tasting the local cuisine of the north or lunch and dinner, support women artisans, and learn how the local community works to train and uplift women throughout Jordan to make sustainable income and preserve Jordan’s rich heritage. If you have time, stop by their artisan craft shop as well as make a custom bag.
- Tour: Then visit the Ajloun Castle (built 1184 AD) which offers spectacular views of Jordan and the Ajloun forest reserve. Be sure to come quickly after lunch though, because the 4:30pm cut off time is strict and you don’t want to get locked in! Give yourself at least an hour to explore Ajloun and have cash for entry (3JD).
- Dinner: back in Amman, have dinner at the Jasmine House for local-owned Italian restaurant.
Jordan Travel Tip: you can enjoy these experiences in Jerash and Ajloun by renting a car and taking day trips from Amman. You can also book a tour that helps you explore the region for the day. Here are tour options:
Day 3: Amman City & Citadel
Explore the capital of Jordan, Amman and local cultural experiences.
- Morning
- Culture Experience: Learn the craft and history of traditional dress from the Levant at the Tiraz Center (make an appointment). I was in tears during this tour because there was so much meaning and tough history behind the garb. Highly recommended cultural experience in Amman, but it is by appointment only.
- Morning workshop: Head to learn the art and skill of Arabic Calligraphy in a workshop with renowned artist Hussein Alazaat (fun fact: he did the calligraphy on the Jordanian bills!) I’d never attempted writing in Arabic before let alone doing calligraphy so this was so fun.
- Afternoon:
- Cooking class: Take a cooking class at Beit Sitti. Chef Maria and her family will teach you how to make a mouthwatering home-cooked meal from scratch.
- Fun fact: she had a cook-off with Gordon Ramsey in Petra!
- Tour: Walk off your lunch with an afternoon walking tour of Amman city center. Visit the historic Citadel, downtown, and explore shops.
- You can use Uber, or the local ride share “Careem” to get around if needed. If you want to go as a tour, try an Amman city tour which will include a visit to the Citadel.
- Cooking class: Take a cooking class at Beit Sitti. Chef Maria and her family will teach you how to make a mouthwatering home-cooked meal from scratch.
- Dinner: have an intimate wine tasting experience and dinner at JR The Wine Experience for a taste of elevated cuisine and wines from Jordan’s first desert winery. I had no idea Jordan even had wine! I brought some for myself to take home once my trip was done.
Day 4: Umm Quais
Head northwest toward the Sea of Galilee to explore the region of Umm Quais. This region is brimming with ancient history and a paradise for viewing Jordan’s natural scenery.
- Morning: support community sustainability in Jordan with a visit to Beit Al Baraka for tea and snacks. This Bed and Breakfast reflects the rustic look of Northern Jordanian culture, with design and decor sourced sustainably from the area. If you want to explore the region deeper, this would be an ideal central point to base yourself and book tours from, beyond day tripping from Amman.
- Late morning tour: Take a guided tour with a local guide through Umm Quais (you can book tours through the aforementioned B&B directly or with your guide). My guide’s name was Ahmad and we took time to explore the ancient historic site of Gadara, discovering Roman ruins and the stories of one of Jesus’ miracles.
- Afternoon
- Lunch: head back to Beit Al Baraka for a home-cooked lunch after the tour.
- Tours: Use this time in the region to have a bee farm experience where you can wear a beekeeping suit, taste honey, and learn about the queendom of bees; followed by a craftsman workshop to learn the ancient Roman are of stone masonry from local members of the community. Here you can buy products to take home.
- Dinner: have dinner onsite at the Ritz Carlton Amman or get a taste of homemade Jordanian food in the city at Sufrah Restaurant, right at the lively Rainbow Street, which you can stroll after dinner.
Umm Quais Tours: try these tours to explore the Umm Quais region if you aren’t driving
Day 5-6 in Jordan: Mount Nebo & Petra
Day 5: Mount Nebo & Petra by Night
On the 4th day in Amman you’ll check out of your hotel to journey south. The following region hits some of my favorite places to visit during this 10 day Jordan itinerary so make sure your camera is charged and you have extra power bank in case your device loses battery.
- Morning: Along the way, about 2.5-hour drive south, stop at Mount Nebo which is where you can find the memorial church of Moses and panoramic views of the holy land; you can see views of Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and the Dead Sea on a clear day. This is where it is said Moses viewed the promise land, but could not enter. Many early Christians also believe he may have been buried here but no one truly knows.
- Afternoon
- Tour: We also stopped at a Mosaic Workshop in Madaba along the way, which empowered people with various disabilities to earn income by creating intricate mosaic art and furniture. Also in Madaba is the historic St. George Church, where you can see the famous Byzantine map of the Middle East (6th century AD) made with mosaic tiles.
- Lunch: in Madaba support a local farm-to-table restaurant and community kitchen at the Carob House. This cultural space is in a renovated 1930’s home and was recommended on World’s 50 Best Discovery list.
- Hotel Check-in and Dinner: Arrive and dine in Petra at the Mövenpick Resort Petra. This hotel is a bit more casual and mid-range compared to the luxurious Ritz I stayed at in Amman. Nevertheless, it was clean and comfortable, and was perfectly located right next to the Petra entrance so that meant lots of tourists.
- Evening Tour (unique): Tonight I recommend doing Petra By Night, which was a highlight of my Petra experience. The trail is candlelit and glowing, and hundreds of people come together to watch a 2-hour traditional music performance and light show illuminating the treasury. The show runs from 8:30-10:30pm.
- Note: this experience isn’t included in the Jordan pass so has to be purchased separately (17JD). If you are on a budget, you can skip it and invest in the daytime Petra experience.
Day 6: Petra & onward
You can visit Petra for one full day and still not see everything. It is massive! But spending the day at Petra was still a dream come true. I have always wanted to see the New Seven Wonders of the World and a tour of Petra got me closer to that goal.
What I loved about visiting Petra is the ease. Our hotel was walking distance, I felt very safe exploring the designated trails, and everything surrounding the experience was really organized (like visiting Petra at night).
- I bought traditional Jordanian keffiyeh (scarf) there for 3JD, a perfume of frankincense, and had buffet lunch at one of their dining facilities.
- One night in Petra is enough for the main trail and short side quests. That part alone is nearly 5 miles roundtrip.
- If you are a big hiker or want to come in much much earlier for photoshoots, I’d recommend two nights to ensure you get enough rest.
We had late checkout so after seeing Petra on day 5 we drove down to the desert to continue on to another one of my favorite parts of Jordan: Wadi Rum desert!
- Evening: When we got to Wadi Rum it was late at night, so we checked into the UFO Luxotel and had buffet dinner onsite before heading to bed.
Hotel Recommendation: Check into the UFO Luxotel (2 nights) for a Wadi Rum glamping experience under the stars.
Day 7-8 in Jordan: Wadi Rum & Red Sea
Day 7: Wadi Rum Glamping
Wadi Rum is the perfect opportunity to experience glamping, desert and bedouin tours, and stargazing. This destination is where movies like Dune and The Martian were filmed, and when you look at the sunrise illuminate the iron-rich sand, you can understand why folks feel it looks like Mars.
- Morning/Afternoon tour: 4×4 Jeep safari tour in the Wadi Rum desert. Here you can have an authentic Bedouin picnic lunch experience, have tea with locals, tour the desert landscape, and even go sand boarding.
- Dinner: all glamping experiences have meals onsite because there aren’t restaurants in the desert. After dinner, get a bonfire going or go stargazing.
- Note: book guided stargazing tours in advance.
Day 8: wadi rum & Aqaba
Staying 2 nights in Wadi Rum is a great idea because then you have time to go on a sunrise hot air balloon! Your glamping site can help you book this and it is 100% worth it. I went on my second morning in Wadi Rum.
- Morning activity: get up at 5am for a hot air balloon experience over the Wadi Rum desert. After hot air balloon, breakfast, and check out. On to Aqaba!
- Afternoon: journey down to Aqaba, which is a popular vacation destination for shopping and visiting the Red Sea. Go snorkeling on boat ride in the Red Sea, where you can eat fresh grilled Jordanian food and soak up the sun. For private boats you can wear 2-piece bathing suits if you want.
- Tip: If I had more time I would add another night in Aqaba to experience more of it. Especially since it had my favorite hotel on this Jordan trip.
- Dinner: for dinner we ate at our hotel, the Hyatt Regency (Ayla), at their restaurant, Mama Gaia.
Hotel Recommendation: Check into the Hyatt Regency (Ayla) in Aqaba for pools, beach, and affordable luxury.
Day 9-10 in Jordan: Visit the Dead Sea & Home
Day 9: Soak in the Dead Sea
On the morning of day 9 we got right to business and journeyed down to the dead sea. I was very excited for this day since I am so passionate about wellness travel. The drive from Aqaba to the Dead Sea hotel took about 4 hours.
Afternoon: In the afternoon, dine at an onsite restaurant like Akkad Pool and Grill, and spend time on the private beach to experience the dead sea for yourself.
- Tip before swimming in the dead sea: do not shave, be aware of any cuts, do not taste the water, watch out for your eyes! Also, while Jordan is more conservative when it comes to swimsuits, you can wear a two piece bathing suit on a private hotel property if the beach is also private. Be sure to check with the hotel first.
Evening: In the evening head to the hotel spa facilities (make sure your reservation includes access to this if you aren’t booking a spa service). The soaking pools, salt baths, and steam rooms were the perfect close to our night.
Dinner: For dinner we dined right onsite at the Edge Social Lounge. The resort property was so big I had trouble finding it so give yourself extra time! There was a fantastic live singer performing while we were there.
Day 10: Journey Home
On this last day in Jordan, there are a number of things you can do. You’ll be at the dead sea, so soaking up additional salt minerals or have a spa treatment would be lovely. You can also dine at an onsite restaurant if you are staying at a large hotel, or use this day to extend your time here.
For me, I had a morning flight so I used this day to explore the grounds and have a hearty breakfast, before my journey back to Amman for my late morning flight.
Jordan was the most memorable trip of the year’s travels and I’ve had so many people interested in visiting. Naturally, with conflict from neighbors people do wonder about safety but I can assure you I felt super safe and welcome — both as a woman and as a tourist.
In fact, as of publishing this article, the US Jordan travel advisory is at a common level 2, which means “exercise increased caution”. For reference, other countries that are scored a level 2 include Spain, France, the UK, Netherlands, Italy, Costa Rica, and more… all countries millions of people feel safe visiting yearly.
I hope you found this Jordan itinerary useful. People have been interested booking this trip since the moment I shared it on social media so please let me know if you have questions!
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