Trip idea / Jordan

Bejewelled Jordan
A Historical Adventure

Spend a week exploring the plentiful jewels of this diverse country, traversing deserts, discovering hidden kingdoms, floating on the weightless Dead Sea, and snorkelling the crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Discover Petra, the Pink City, including the Siq, High Place of Sacrifice, and candlelit evening visits
  • Float in the Dead Sea and hike Mount Nebo for views stretching to Jerusalem
  • Experience Wadi Rum with 4×4 jeep safaris, camel rides, and stargazing in luxury Bedouin tents
  • Explore Dana Nature Reserve, spotting wildlife such as Syrian wolves, sand cats, and over 200 bird species
  • Snorkel in the crystal-clear Red Sea at Aqaba

Just a five-hour flight from the UK brings you to one of the Middle East’s true gems: Jordan. Known for its warm hospitality, stability, and well-developed tourism infrastructure, Jordan is considered one of the region’s safest and most welcoming destinations. Despite its relatively small size, the country offers a remarkable concentration of natural wonders and UNESCO-listed archaeological sites, allowing visitors to experience thousands of years of history and diverse landscapes within a single week.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Discover Petra, the Pink City, including the Siq, High Place of Sacrifice, and candlelit evening visits
  • Float in the Dead Sea and hike Mount Nebo for views stretching to Jerusalem
  • Experience Wadi Rum with 4×4 jeep safaris, camel rides, and stargazing in luxury Bedouin tents
  • Explore Dana Nature Reserve, spotting wildlife such as Syrian wolves, sand cats, and over 200 bird species
  • Snorkel in the crystal-clear Red Sea at Aqaba

Just a five-hour flight from the UK brings you to one of the Middle East’s true gems: Jordan. Known for its warm hospitality, stability, and well-developed tourism infrastructure, Jordan is considered one of the region’s safest and most welcoming destinations. Despite its relatively small size, the country offers a remarkable concentration of natural wonders and UNESCO-listed archaeological sites, allowing visitors to experience thousands of years of history and diverse landscapes within a single week.

When To Go

Jordan is easily doable in a week, and the best time to go is March to May and September to November.

Best For

This trip is ideal for any history lovers, culture enthusiasts and adventure seeking families.

Extend Your Trip

Consider adding a few days to explore Egypt and discover Cairo's cultural centre and the new Grand Egyptian Museum. This museum is the world's largest museum dedicated to a single civilisation, and inside, you'll walk along corridors narrating ancient history right up to modern-day design.

Day 1-2

Amman

Begin in Amman, a vibrant, multicultural capital continuously inhabited for over 7,000 years and shaped by civilisations including the Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. Explore its lively souks, historic Citadel, and thriving restaurant scene before travelling along the ancient King’s Highway, one of the world’s oldest trade routes. For a day trip, within an hour of Amman, you’ll reach the mineral-rich Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth, famous for its buoyant waters and therapeutic mud. Continue on to the Crusader stronghold of Karak Castle, and end at Mount Nebo, where panoramic views stretch across the Jordan Valley and, on clear days, as far as Jerusalem.

Day 3

Dana Reserve

Venture off-road into the rugged wilderness of the Dana Biosphere Reserve, where hikes through dramatic gorges and winding canyons may reward you with a glimpse of the elusive sand cat and more than 200 species of birds. This extraordinary landscape is as rich in history as it is in natural beauty, and it is the only reserve in Jordan to encompass all four of the country’s bio-geographical zones – Sudanian, Irano-Turanian, Mediterranean and Saharo-Arabian. As a crossroad for wildlife from Europe, Africa and Asia, Dana is a true melting pot of biodiversity. The reserve is home to around 800 plant species and 449 animal species, including 25 that are endangered, such as the Syrian wolf and the lesser kestrel.

Day 4-5

Pink Hued Petra

Unlike other fêted places of wonder, Petra, the Pink City, really does live up to the hype. Your first glimpse of the spectacular Nabatean site, originally built as a tomb for King Aretas around 100 BC, is through the mile-long Siq, which reveals the ruins carved unfeasibly into the rock.

Unleash your inner Indiana Jones and discover a movie set made for adventurous imaginations at the secluded vantage point named High Place of Sacrifice. There are camel rides too, and if time permits, return at night when hundreds of lanterns litter the sandy floor. The tomb glitters and ancient history bounces around the atmospheric archaeological site.

Day 6

Wadi Rum Desert

To the south of Petra lies Wadi Rum, where Lawrence of Arabia fought the Ottoman Turks. Explore the tangerine orange dunes, gigantic rock formations and wind-sculpted canyons of this sparsely beautiful region. Experience the thrill of a 4×4 jeep safari, then make time to acknowledge the emptiness and silence of the desert. When the inky black sky is strung with a million stars, turn in to your luxury Bedouin tent.

Day 7

Aqaba & The Red Sea

You might choose to end your grand tour of Jordan with a more traditional and relaxing finale in Aqaba. Located on the country’s southern tip along the Red Sea, Aqaba is Jordan’s only coastal city, combining laid-back beach living with distinctive Jordanian character. Home to upscale resorts, a lively dining scene, and a wide range of water sports, the city also benefits from year-round sunshine and calm, clear waters renowned for vibrant coral reefs.

Beyond the beach, Aqaba offers a rich sense of history. Explore Aqaba Castle (Mamluk Fort), originally built during the reign of Mamluk Sultan Qansuh al-Ghawri in the early 16th century and later associated with the Arab Revolt against Ottoman rule. Nearby, the Great Arab Revolt Plaza commemorates the uprising, while the striking Sharif Hussein bin Ali Mosque stands out with its pristine white façade, intricate stained-glass windows, and soaring minarets. For quieter moments, unwind on a sunlounger or take to the water to snorkel or dive in the Red Sea, home to some of the region’s most accessible and well-preserved marine life.

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