The Top 3 Itineraries for 5 Days in Jordan

By Carper | Updated Aug. 11, 2023

Jordan is known for its rich history and profound culture, attracting thousands visiting for a bucket list trip, biblical tour, holiday resort stay, or annual celebration.

5 days is the smallest time that would allow you to visit the main highlights, such as Amman, the Dead Sea, and Petra.

Read on to find out your favorite itinerary that suits you most. And feel free to contact us to customize your private tour with our professional travel consultant.

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What to See in Jordan in 5 Days

1. Amman

Amman is the capital of Jordan, and is usually the first stop in Jordan as it has the only international airport. Not only you can witness the magnificent sunset at the summit of the Amman Citadel, but the warm hospitality from locals can also ease you from the strangeness of arriving in a foreign land.

* Jerash is located in the north of Amman and is only a 1-hour drive away. Famous as Pompeii of the East, Jerash features the most well-preserved Roman ruins in the world, dating back to the 1st century AD.

2. The Dead Sea

Floating on the Dead Sea, JordanFloating on the Dead Sea, Jordan

The Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth, and its unique geographical environment grants it extreme saltiness and magical buoyancy. With a competitive price compared with beaches in Israel, the Dead Sea in Jordan is a more popular choice as a holiday resort and winter vacation destination.

* Driving from the Dead Sea for 1 hour, you can arrive in Madaba city. Madaba possesses the largest variety of mosaic art products in the world and is called the City of Mosaics.

* Only 15 minutes away from Madaba, Mount Nebo is the place that the Bible mentions as where Moses was granted a view of the Promised Land.

3. Petra

Petra at Night, JordanPetra at Night, Jordan

Petra is known as the Rose City. Petra is an ancient city carved out of rose-colored rock and a UNESCO historical heritage site. Choose the main hiking trail in Petra and you will end up in front of the Treasury, where you may be amazed by ancient people's construction skills.

* The special event "Petra By Night" is held every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at the square in front of the Treasury. With the candlelight and the starry night sky, hearing Arabic songs and ancient stories about Petra becomes a more fascinating and atmospheric experience.

* Driving 1½ hours from Petra, you can reach the Wadi Rum desert, which is often referred to as the "Valley of the Moon" due to its moon-like surface. To see the beautiful night sky in the desert, you can choose to camp in a half-transparent tent overnight at the camp base. What's more, there are multiple activity choices for exploring the desert, such as a jeep tour, desert-style lunch, or hot air balloon experience.

If you can't decide your destinations included in your journey, why not reach out to us at Global Highlights? We will tailor-make your trip to meet all your needs and provide a hassle-free private tour experience.

Itinerary 1: 5-Day Classic "Golden Triangle" Route

Amman – Dead Sea – Petra

Specially designed for first-timers, this Golden Triangle route contains the main highlights of Jordan around Amman, the Dead Sea, and Petra.

You could easily appreciate these attractions within 5 days, but we can design a longer version if would you prefer a more relaxed pace.

Below is the classic itinerary:

Day Activity Overnight
Day 1 Amman arrival The Dead Sea
Day 2 Relax at the Dead Sea.
*Optional tour: Day trip to Jerash and city tour in Amman
The Dead Sea
Day 3 The Dead Sea – Mount Nebo – Madaba city tour – Petra Petra
Day 4 Explore Petra.
*Optional event: Petra at Night
Petra
Day 5 Return to Amman to depart Jordan Your next destination

On your first day of arriving (and the following day), instead of staying overnight in Amman, we'd love to offer you the best experience, which for most is spending more time at the Dead Sea, maybe to enjoy a mud spa or floating therapy.

During your day trip to Jerash and Amman, we would introduce you to the integration and collision of ancient Roman civilization and local Middle Eastern culture. What's more, you could witness a beautiful sunset from the summit of the Amman Citadel.

To break up the boring long-distance journey to the Dead Sea, we'd like to take a break in the middle and guide you on a tour to Madaba and Mount Nebo, for learning more about this history-filled country.

Your time in Petra would have the best value experiences. We'd like to offer you the chance of marveling at the Treasury while riding a camel and seeing a special event called Petra at Night to feel the exotic atmosphere when candles are lit and stars shine above the ancient site.

You can contact us to personalize a tour just for you if the above itinerary does not meet your requirements.

Itinerary 2: 5-Day Desert Exploration with Camping and a Hot Air Balloon Ride

Take a hot air ballon over Wadi Rum in JordanTake a hot air ballon over Wadi Rum in Jordan

Amman – Dead Sea – Petra / Wadi Rum

This 5-day itinerary focuses on travelers who looking for more activities instead of sightseeing, great for couples and families who prefer a journey mixing adventures, history, and relaxation.

Below is the itinerary:

Day Activity Overnight
Day 1 Amman arrival The Dead Sea
Day 2 Relax at the Dead Sea.
*Optional tour: City tour in Amman
The Dead Sea
Day 3 The Dead Sea – Petra; Explore Petra.
*Optional event: Petra at Night
Petra / Wadi Rum
Day 4 Desert activities: Jeep tour, visit a Bedouin tribe.
*Optional activity: Hot air balloon experience
Petra / Wadi Rum
Day 5 Return to Amman to depart Jordan Your next destination

On your first day arriving in Amman, you may feel a little weary after your long-distance flight, so we would transfer you to the Dead Sea, let you take a break, and enjoy some effortless floating in the Dead Sea. The warm mineral-rich water would revitalize you and help you overcome jet lag.

To acclimate to the country and get a close look at the locals' way of life, what could be better than a city tour? We would like to introduce you the capital of Jordan and its beautiful scenery viewed the summit of the Amman Citadel. You could also appreciate an ancient Roman Theatre and walk the rainbow street, if you still have strength for this.

During your time in Petra, we would like to show you the full beauty of the Rose City with a hike on the 3-hour main trail. You could also choose to see a special event called Petra at Night, which is an amazing opportunity to immerse yourself in an Arabic atmosphere.

We would like to guide you across the Wadi Rum desert for some wild adventures, such as taking a jeep ride to explore the desert, visiting local Bedouin tribes, and taking a hot air balloon to greet a new day.

If the weather is good, camping in the desert overnight is also a popular choice. Lying in a half-transparent tent, you could take a moonlight shower, or see the galaxy shining above when the moon is dim.

Reach out to us and our travel consultant will personalize a tour for you.

Itinerary 3: 5-Day Jordan's Biblical Places Route

Mount Nebo in JordanMount Nebo in Jordan

Amman – Dead Sea – Petra – Amman

If you have been reading the Bible for years, then you simply cannot miss out on this itinerary that will take you through the locations where biblical accounts unfolded.

Below is the biblical itinerary:

Day Activity Overnight
Day 1 Amman arrival The Dead Sea
Day 2 Relax at the Dead Sea.
*Optional tours: Day trip to Bethany beyond the Jordan, Jerash, and Amman
The Dead Sea
Day 3 The Dead Sea – Mount Nebo – Madaba city tour – Kerak Castle – Petra Petra
Day 4 Explore Petra.
*Optional event: Petra at Night
Petra
Day 5 Return to Amman for your departure flight. Your next destination

Places in Jordan that feature in the Bible:

  • Amman, known as Ammon in the Bible and later Philadelphia in the time of Jesus, served as the capital city for the ancient Ammonite people (Numbers 21:24).
  • Bethany beyond the Jordan is where Jesus was baptized (John 1:28).
  • Jerash, possibly referred to indirectly in the Bible as Gerasa, boasts the world's best-preserved Roman ruins (Mark 5:1, Luke 8:26, 37).
  • The Dead Sea is mentioned in a prophecy in the Bible (Ezekiel 47:8).
  • Madaba, also known as Medeba, was a border city of the Moabite kingdom (Numbers 21:30).
  • Mount Nebo is the place where Moses was shown the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 34:1).
  • Kerak is recognized as Kir of Moab and is mentioned in a prophecy against Moab in the Bible (Isaiah 15:1).
  • Petra is an ancient city carved out of the rock by the Nabatean people and is thought to be where the Magi came from (Matthew 2:1). It is referred to as Sela in 2 Kings 14:7, when it was captured and renamed as Joktheel, and also in prophecies (Isaiah 16:1, 42:11).

We sincerely hope that this journey will reveal places and experiences that interest you. Please feel free to contact us if you would like a customized itinerary, as the one above may not meet your specific needs.

How Much Would 5 Days in Jordan Cost?

Typically, the cost for a private tour is from 250 USD per person per day based on a group of 2–4 people. The price includes a private guide, private car, full-day itinerary, tickets for attractions, and 4-star hotels.

So that makes your 5-day private tour in Jordan would cost from 1,250-2,000 USD per person without international airfares.

However, prices vary depending on the time of year, with peak seasons from March to May and September to November being more expensive by around 20% for both accommodations and flights.

Planning your trip at least 6 months in advance is highly recommended. You could always reach out to us at Global Highlights, and we'll create an itinerary based on your interests and requirements, making sure that your journey is smooth and hassle-free.

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