5 Days in Jordan Itinerary : A Travel Guide

5 Days in Jordan Itinerary: A Travel Guide

When most people think of Jordan, the first thing that comes to mind is Petra – the ancient city and one of the wonders of the world. However, Jordan offers much more than just Petra. This 5 days in Jordan itinerary will take you on a journey through stunning landscapes, some of which have been featured in famous Hollywood movies, to the world-renowned Dead Sea, where you can float effortlessly in its mineral-rich waters.

In addition to its natural beauty, Jordan is also home to a rich culture and a variety of heritage sites waiting to be explored. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation or historical discovery, this itinerary covers it all. Although Jordan can seem like a world away from the UK, it’s actually only a quick 5 hour flight! With this in mind, my friend and I decided to take an extended weekend and I’m sharing my tips on how to see as much of this incredible country with a 5 days in Jordan itinerary.

Getting There

I booked a flight from Manchester in the UK because it had the best connecting times for me, however, there are several airlines that offer direct flights to Amman.  

Once you touch down in Amman, you can either arrange a transfer with your hotel, hop in a taxi at the airport or pre-arrange a driver for your trip – this is what we opted for. I researched before the trip and we decided that hiring a driver for the duration of our time in Jordan was the best decision for us. It took any hassle out of arranging transport between destinations and they were able to help us optimise our time in each destination. This allowed us to tailor our 5 days in Jordan itinerary to make the most of every stop.

Day 1 – Ma’in Hot Springs 

We decided to begin our time in Jordan with a relaxing experience, before the more adventurous activities began. So, our first stop was about an hour from the International Airport at Ma’in Hot Springs Resort and Spa.Set in dramatic landscape, the resort feels like an oasis in the desert. The resort has its own natural thermal mineral hot spring water source that creates a stunning swimming pool. Although, it was arguably too hot to enjoy during the daytime, the incredible view and soothing sounds of the waterfall make lounging by the pool a therapeutic experience.For a truly divine experience and to fully enjoy the benefits of the hot springs, the exact same one that Herod the Great was said to have visited for its medicinal properties, head to the pool early in the morning or later in the evening when the direct sunlight is not so strong. As the resort has an incredibly secluded feel, we decided to dine there for lunch and dinner. The food was delicious, the perfect introduction to Middle Eastern cuisine. Try the dinner buffet, you can sample a variety of local dishes and treat yourself to the sumptuous desserts.

Day 2 – Wadi Rum

After one final dip in the hot springs, our driver collected us, and we headed off to our next destination. One of the major benefits of arranging a private driver in advance was that they helped us plan our journey efficiently. They confirmed we could visit Wadi Rum on the way to our accommodation near Petra, with a slight detour. Initially, we weren’t sure if we’d have enough time to explore Wadi Rum, given our tight schedule with only a long weekend in Jordan, but it turned out to be entirely feasible – and it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip.

Upon arriving in Wadi Rum, we were greeted by our friendly tour guide for an exciting desert jeep safari. We swapped our luxury car for an open-top jeep and set off into the vast, stunning red sand dunes of the desert for an afternoon of exploration.

Wadi Rum is spectacular, I cannot put into words, nor do I think my photography does this place justice, it truly feels other worldly. It’s a huge expanse of vibrant sand with incredible rock formations appearing from nowhere. The sand is so warm and soft, it makes it incredibly difficult to walk to the top of the dunes, but this is a must! The views are awe-inspiring and not to be missed.  We spent hours driving in the warm afternoon sun with the wind in our hair and I’m sure we barely scratched the surface of the beauty this unique desert region has to offer. We finished our desert jeep safari at a Bedouin tent where we enjoyed a cup of Arabic tea, the perfect end to such a special experience.

An activity that we didn’t include in our schedule was a hot air balloon ride, but if I could go back, I absolutely would! Imagine how incredible the views would be?

In the afternoon, we drove to our accommodation for the night. Based in Little Petra, Petra Bubble Luxotel is incredibly unique and unforgettable place to stay.

Each bubble at Petra Bubble Luxotel offers dramatic views of the stunning mountains, creating a truly immersive experience. To add to the luxury, each bubble comes with its own private outdoor hot tub, perfect for relaxing after a day of exploration.

A stay includes convenient shuttles to the entrance of Petra, making it incredibly easy to visit one of the world’s most iconic archaeological sites.

Day 3 – Petra

The ‘Lost City’ of Petra is undoubtedly the main draw for anybody visiting Jordan, the incredible temples carved into the natural sandstone backdrop are iconic. It feels like you’re witnessing artwork from a lost civilisation, left for us to discover. Arriving early is paramount for exploring Petra, firstly you will avoid the crowds of tourists that arrive on tour buses in the late morning and most importantly you will miss the desert heat which can become unbearable in the afternoon. This is really important to note, as you will be walking a lot when you are exploring Petra and you don’t want to risk suffering under the blistering sun when it’s not necessary.  Once you arrive at the gates of Petra, which open at 6 am, you can purchase a ticket to enter the famous site. We chose to hire a licensed tour guide to show us around, as it truly enhances the experience. A knowledgeable guide can help you learn more about Petra’s rich history and direct you to hidden view points that you might not discover on your own.

Please always use a licensed guide and check their credentials upon meeting.

Needless to say, this was an incredible day. Just wow.

Day 4 – Dead Sea

After the adventurous activities of the previous days, we wanted to end our 5 days in Jordanian itinerary with a little bit of well-earned luxury relaxation, thus we decided to head for the Kempinski Ishtar Dead Sea Hotel.The Dead Sea is a natural phenomenon which is located between Israel and Jordan. If you aren’t familiar with the Dead Sea, it’s like no other place on the planet. Thought of as one of the natural wonders of the world and located at the lowest point on earth – the high concentration of salt in the water means that it allows anything to float with ease. In Jordan, there are a number of hotels in the area which all have their own access to the waterline. We went for the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea due to its incredible grounds featuring multiple swimming pools, lagoons and waterfalls, all influenced by the hanging gardens of Babel. It is a beautifully designed hotel with opulent features and impeccable service. When we were relaxing at the infinity pool overlooking the Dead Sea, we were offered complimentary water, fruit and sunglasses cleaning.  The pièce de résistance is the private sandy beach area with direct access to the Salt Lake and complimentary access to freshly sourced Dead Sea mineral rich mud. The salt content and unique floating experience is not the only draw of the Dead Sea. It has long been renowned for its therapeutic properties, even recognised by Cleopatra as the oldest natural spa. People often travel here with the hopes to cure their ailments. No trip to Jordan would be complete without floating around in the Dead Sea – just remember not to shave a few days before, otherwise you will be in for a stinging experience! 

Day 5 – Time to head home

Start your day with a delicious Middle Eastern breakfast, the buffet at the Kempinski is second to none. After indulging, head out for one last float in the Dead Sea or take a swim in the hotel’s infinity pool, which offers stunning views.

The Dead Sea is within easy driving distance to the International Airport, depending on your flight time, you may be able to visit a few places in Amman. Or head to the River Jordan where Jesus was baptised.

Make the most of the time you have left, before hopping on your flight home feeling rejuvenated and content having explored such a magical and historic country. 

I hope you’ve found this 5 days in Jordan itinerary useful for planning your trip, as you can see, you can pack so many incredible experiences into a long weekend.

 

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