Seven days in Jordan: The ultimate itinerary

Day 1: Step into antiquity at Jerash and Amman

Arrive early at Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport and head north to Jerash, where millennia of history await in the fantastically preserved Greco-Roman city of Gerasa.

Here, you’ll discover impressive theatres, grand colonnaded streets and plazas and ornate temples in a place where the ancient East coexisted with the ancient West for centuries.

Three hours is enough to take in the highlights, leaving you with enough time to check out more ancient wonders in the capital of Amman, which is about 45 minutes away by car.

Pick up a fresh falafel sandwich (around 70p) from Al Quds on Rainbow Street before making your way to the Citadel for sunset – the Temple of Hercules is particularly postcard-worthy bathed in dusk’s golden glow.

Don’t miss: Get a crash course in Jordanian cuisine with a cooking class at Beit Sitti. Translating to ‘My Grandmother’s House’ in Arabic, chef Maria Haddad Hannania and her team share family recipes in the charming kitchen where her grandmother first showed her the ropes.

Day 2: Follow Madaba’s mosaics to Petra by Night

Your goal today is reaching Petra in time for the candlelit Petra by Night event. It’s around three hours from Amman, but you can break up the drive with a stop in Madaba.

This city of artisans has a creative streak that can be traced as far back as the 6th century AD. The well-preserved Madaba Map, a Byzantine-era mosaic on the floor of St George’s Church, is the city’s claim to fame, but there are many more equally impressive works scattered throughout.

From here, drivers can choose between the scenic but slower King’s Highway, lined with panoramic views, or the faster Desert Highway (Highway 15).

Whatever you decide, arrive early for the 8:30pm start of Petra by Night. This near-silent pilgrimage lit by 2,000 candles and set to a soundtrack of Bedouin music is an atmospheric introduction to the ancient Rose City.

Don’t miss: If Madaba’s mosaics captured your imagination, leave time to join the community-run workshop at Arabella Mosaic Studio. Hands-on classes catering to all abilities will clue you in to just how skilled those ancient artisans were.

Day 3: Hike through history in Petra

Petra by Night barely scrapes the surface of this sprawling archaeological site, so a full day is essential to get to grips with the rock-hewn city.

Start early – as soon as the gates open – to glimpse the ancient Nabatean city before the crowds descend. You’ll appreciate the grandeur of the Siq, the 1km-long dramatic entrance, even more in solitude.

Petra’s postcard shot is the Treasury, the grand reveal at the end of the Siq, but there’s much more beyond. Wear your most comfortable hiking shoes for the walk out to the monastery, passing ancient tombs, theatres and modern artisan markets en route.

Don’t miss: The Petra Museum does a great job of contextualising the World Wonder, but an archeoastronomy tour adds even more colour. You’ll learn how the savvy Nabateans, key players on the ancient Silk Road, used astronomy to dictate city planning and left behind rock-carved clocks hidden in plain sight.

Day 4: Trade stone for sand in Wadi Rum

The drive from Petra to Wadi Rum takes around an hour and a half, so how early you depart depends on how much time you’d like in the desert.

Jeep tours range from two-hour tasters to full-day experiences that include lunch and optional camel rides.

A five-hour tour with an overnight stay at a Bedouin camp strikes a good balance. You’ll stop at highlights including Lawrence Spring (named for T.E. Lawrence), the film-famous red sand dune and the gravity-defying Um Fruth rock bridge.

End the day watching the sun set behind dramatic rock formations before tucking into a Bedouin zarb, meat and vegetables slow-cooked the traditional way: underground.

Don’t miss: Wake up early on day five to complete your desert experience with a sunrise hot-air balloon ride. Watching the balloon inflate as you sip a warm brew is almost as exciting as floating over the stunning sands as the sun comes up.

Day 5: Relax by the Red Sea in Aqaba

Earlier risers who chose sunrise ballooning will make good time on the road down to Aqaba, Jordan’s premier resort town on the Red Sea less than an hour away. After a packed few days, this is your chance to slow down.

Golfers can play a round at the Greg Norman-designed championship course at Ayla Golf Club, while families may prefer the rides and slides at Saraya Aqaba Waterpark.

Cultural highlights are quick to visit and include the 16th-century Aqaba Castle and the Sharif Hussein bin Ali Mosque, which welcomes non-Muslim visitors outside of prayer times.

Don’t miss: The coral and marine life in Aqaba’s Marine Reserve is so incredibly diverse that it’s seeking UNESCO recognition. A Red Sea diving or snorkelling trip reveals why: you’ll discover vast coral systems, spot shoals of colourful fish and glimpse scuttled tanks where marine life now thrives.

Day 6: Discover wildlife in the Dana Biosphere Reserve

Day six sees you head back north towards the airport – but the adventures aren’t over. Around two hours from Aqaba is the Dana Biosphere Reserve, a wildlife haven and hiker’s paradise.

There are some 1,200 species of flora and fauna across the reserve’s 300 square kilometres, including the elusive sand cat.

Four main trails cover Dana’s highlights. You can take it easy on the self-guided village walk or caves trail, or book ahead for a guided hike across mountains, springs and ancient ruins.

Don’t miss: You’ll get more from your Dana village walk if you join the rural life in Dana village tour. Local families invite you to join their daily routines, taking you through the basics of bread-making, land cultivation and tending to a herd of cute goats.

Day 7: Splash through Wadi Mujib and float in the Dead Sea

Have your swimming costume handy for your final full day in Jordan: you’ll be dipping into wet and wild experiences all day.

From Dana, join the Dead Sea Highway (Highway 65) for a spectacular drive that hugs the shoreline of this unique body of water. For now, the views are just a teaser – your first stop is Wadi Mujib, Jordan’s ‘Grand Canyon’.

The self-guided Siq Trail (open roughly April-October) takes you through a sandstone gorge to the base of a towering waterfall. Some parts are tricky, with a few rocky scrambles and some waist-high waters, but the reward is worth it.

Then, it’s time for one of the coolest experiences on earth: floating without trying in the Dead Sea! There’s a free access point at the Mujib Chalets if you’re just after the sensation, or you can head to the northern resorts for a more premium day out.

Hotels like the Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea offer day passes and rejuvenating mud baths – a luxurious way to wrap up your week.

Don’t miss: On your way back to the airport, make time for a traditional Jordanian lunch at Beit Sweimeh. This women-led association invites you to linger over your lunch on the balcony as you sample fresh produce from the garden below.