Is it Safe in Jordan Right Now? My 1 Week in Jordan Itinerary: (2026 Guide)
TL;DR:
You’re wondering is it safe in Jordan right now? Afterall, the region has a couple wars going on simultaneously that don’t directly involve Jordan. Here’s my perfect 1 week in Jordan itinerary I used during war time.. Flew Ryanair direct into Amman, worked our way south through Petra, Wadi Rum, Aqaba, and the Dead Sea, then back to Amman. Total cost was reasonable, the Jordan Pass paid for itself (covers the visa), and the whole country was eerily empty because of the regional situation. We felt safe the entire time. The food was exceptional. The driving was terrifying. The dogs broke my heart. The Bedouin vendors in Petra will try to sell you things by physically touching you. Go anyway. It’s worth it.
Biggest surprise about Jordan: How genuinely warm people were once you got past the street interaction. Jordanians, in my experience, are some of the most hospitable people I’ve met traveling.
Who this trip is for: Travelers who want real history, real desert, real food, and aren’t afraid of a slightly empty airport. Not for people who need five-star everything with zero friction. Not for people who get stressed when a taxi driver tries to charge double. But if you can roll with it, this is one of the most rewarding weeks you can spend.
I booked a holiday to Jordan during a regional conflict, which either makes me pragmatic or an optimist with poor timing. I’m still deciding which. I know you’re wondering is it safe in Jordan too. With the Israeli conflict and now the Iran war, Jordan is caught in the middle of a political storm.
Here’s the thing though. The risk calculation was simple: Jordan sits in a rough neighborhood, but the country itself has been stable for foreign visitors. The real concern was less about safety and more about getting stuck if airspace got complicated. I decided the reward outweighed the risk, and honestly? I was right.
The result was a week where we had major tourist sites nearly to ourselves. Empty hotels. Empty buses. The Hilton Dead Sea Resort had maybe ten other guests. The chef at our hotel in Petra asked us what time we wanted breakfast because we were the only people staying there. That level of emptiness has its own charm, and I’m not sure I’ll ever experience Petra the same way again.
We covered Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum, Aqaba, and the Dead Sea in seven days. Ryanair direct flight in, JETT bus between cities, Uber inside Amman, and a taxi to Little Petra that changed the whole experience. Here’s everything I learned, everything I’d do again, and the things I’d skip.
How to Get to Jordan
Ryanair flies direct to Amman from several European hubs. We booked standard economy and it was fine—it’s a four-hour flight, not a transatlantic ordeal. The airport is modern, immigration was straightforward (we had the Jordan Pass, which I’ll get to), and we were through in about 30 minutes.
Once you’re in the country, the JETT bus is your best friend for getting between cities without renting a car. Clean, reliable, air-conditioned. One of our buses had only one other person on it. Felt like a private charter.
Inside Amman, Uber works fine. No need to negotiate prices. Just tap and go.
If you want to rent a car: I didn’t, but friends who have visited Jordan did and said it was straightforward. Roads are good between major cities. Just be prepared for an aggressive driving style.
Best Time to Visit Jordan
We went in late January. Days were mild. Nights got cold, especially in Wadi Rum once the sun dropped. I was glad I packed a light jacket. Crowds were nonexistent, which was the whole point.
If you want warm swimming weather avoid peak summer, but aim for Spring and Fall. If you want empty sites and don’t mind a jacket, the off-season is magic. The tradeoff is worth it.
The Jordan Pass (And Why You Should Buy It Before You Arrive)
Buy this before you land. It’s not optional—it’s a math problem you can’t win the other way.
The Jordan Pass bundles your tourist visa fee with entry to Petra and 40+ other sites across the country. We bought the Jordan Explorer tier at 75 JD, which included 2-day access to Petra. That’s about $105 USD.
Here’s the math: The visa fee alone is 40 JD. A 2-day Petra ticket is 55 JD. That’s 95 JD without the pass, and the pass costs 75 JD and includes both plus Wadi Rum, the Citadel, and everything else. You save 20 JD minimum and you don’t have to queue for a visa on arrival.
Minimum stay to qualify for the visa waiver: 3 consecutive nights. We had 7, so no issue.
Best eSim for Visiting Jordan
Grabbed an Airalo eSIM before landing and had data the second we touched down. If you’re not doing this already, I don’t know what to tell you. No SIM card hunting, no airport kiosk markup.
And though the risk is small, I’ll never take a trip without travel insurance.
The Best Things to Do in Jordan (Don’t Skip the Train)
Covering 6-8 memorable activities across the whole country, not just one city.
Explore Petra (Obviously)
Petra isn’t one thing. It’s a whole valley of tombs, temples, caves, and hiking trails. The Treasury is the famous photo, but the Monastery is bigger and better and requires a hike to get to, which means fewer people. Two days minimum.
Float in the Dead Sea
You’ve seen the photos. It’s real. You float. You cannot sink. You will absolutely get salt in your eyes if you splash. Stay in for about 15 minutes max, then rinse off. Do not shave the day before. Do not go in with any open cuts. I’m not exaggeratin…it stings.
Ride the Arab Revolt Train in Wadi Rum
This is the one nobody talks about and it’s incredible. A heritage train ride through the desert where men on horseback charge alongside firing blank shots. It’s a reenactment of the 1916 Arab Revolt, and it feels like being in a movie. The train stops, there’s a whole production, and then they drive you back to camp in a truck.
Hot Air Balloon Over Wadi Rum
Sunrise over the desert where they filmed The Martian and Lawrence of Arabia and, yes, scenes that look exactly like Tatooine. Our captain was Finnish. The crew picked us up before dawn, drove us into the middle of nowhere, laid the balloon out flat, and we climbed in. You lie backward while it fills with air, then suddenly you’re up.
I was slightly scared. I’ve watched enough balloon accident videos that the fear lives somewhere in my brain. But it was one of the most peaceful experiences of my life. The silence up there, the way the desert changes color as the sun comes up, the shadows stretching across the canyons.
Landing was so soft I barely felt it. Then they drove us back to camp for breakfast.
Dune Rides, Hiking, and Sunset in Wadi Rum
Did a dune-bashing session with hiking thrown in. Beautiful but tough, hiking up sand dunes is harder than it looks. Every step forward you slide half a step back. Worth it for the view at the top. Gets cold fast once the sun goes, so bring the jacket.
Visit the Amman Citadel
Great views over the city, interesting ruins, and a small museum. You can see the whole thing in two hours. Easy way to spend a morning or late afternoon.
Take a Day Trip to Jerash (If You Have Time)
We didn’t make it here, but it’s a well-preserved Roman ruin about an hour from Amman. Friends have told me it’s worth the trip. If I go back, it’s on the list.
The 7 Day Itinerary in Jordan – Day by Day
This is the exact route we did and I wouldn’t change it.
Day 1: Arrive Amman
Landed in the afternoon. Checked into the InterContinental Amman (used an IHG free night certificate). Big hotel, central location, nice pool area, good security. They welcomed us with tea, which was a theme throughout Jordan and I was here for it.
Day 2-3: Petra
Took the JETT bus from Amman to Petra. Smooth ride. Checked into the Petra Boutique Hotel, which was so empty we were the only guests. The chef asked us what time we wanted breakfast because he had to set an alarm. The spread he made us was absurdly large for two people. We couldn’t eat it all and felt terrible about it.
For Visiting Petra itself, do this: Take a taxi to Little Petra, then an official ride to the back entrance of Petra proper. Walk from there toward the Monastery. It’s the reverse of what everyone else does, so you’ll have the trail mostly to yourself. Great photo spots along the way with almost nobody in frame.
Reach the Monastery, then walk the opposite direction back toward the Treasury and the main entrance. This way you see everything without backtracking.
Two days in Petra is the right call. We didn’t do Petra by Night (timing didn’t work out), but I’ve heard it’s cool. The upper viewpoints overlooking the Treasury that you’ve seen on Instagram are now closed and not accessible. Don’t plan on those.
Did I mention the dogs? You’ll be walking through Petra and random local dogs will just join you. We walked with one for about an hour. It was the best part of the day.
How Many Days Do You Need in Petra?
Two. One day feels rushed. Two lets you do the Monastery hike properly and still have time to sit in a cave and think about the Nabataeans (and cosplay your inner Indiana Jones if that’s your thing).
Day 4: Wadi Rum
Took the JETT bus from Petra to Wadi Rum. Checked into Hasan Zawaideh Camp in one of those Mars-style dome tents. Good price, big buffets, nice activities, and walkable to the train demonstration.
Did the Arab Revolt train in the afternoon, then dune rides and hiking for sunset. The desert at dusk is a different color than you expect…pink and purple and gold all at once.
Things to do in Wadi Rum
Between the train experience, the hot air balloon, the dune rides, and the stargazing, you could spend three days here and not run out of things. The camp will help you book everything. Don’t overplan—let the desert do its thing.
Day 5: Aqaba
JETT bus or taxi from Wadi Rum to Aqaba. Checked into the InterContinental Aqaba Resort. Best IHG recognition I’ve ever gotten, and I’m not even a special tier. Separate breakfast place, personal greetings, free stuff, staff bringing tea.
The only downside: some staff tried very hard to get us to leave reviews mentioning their names. Like, kept asking when the review was posted. I get it—they’re probably incentivized for it. But it got a little weird.
The hotel has access to the beach, huge pools, and plenty of activities. Though again, many of the activities weren’t running because of low occupancy.
Day 6: Dead Sea
Checked into the Hilton Dead Sea Resort. Used an AMEX resort credit. This place was super empty. Walked straight to the beach, got mud put on us, were the only people in the water. Some pools were closed. The breakfast buffet included with Diamond status was nice, but the whole place had a strange post-apocalyptic vibe.
The Dead Sea itself: float for 15 minutes, don’t splash, rinse off immediately. That’s the whole experience. It’s worth doing once.
Day 7: Back to Amman, Fly Out
JETT bus back to Amman. Visited the Citadel. Had one last round of shawarma and kunafa. Headed to the airport.
We spent one night at the Grand Hyatt Amman on the way back. Also grand, also nice tea. Arrived late so didn’t get to use much, but the room was comfortable and the lobby is impressive.
A Few Things I Didn’t Enjoy (Because no place is perfect)
I don’t want to sound like this trip was perfect. It wasn’t. Three things bugged me.
First: The driving. The disconnect between how nice people are in conversation and how they behave behind the wheel is wild. You’ll try to cross a street and cars will just… not slow down. Not even a little. Eye contact means nothing. I’ve traveled a lot and I’m telling you, crossing the street in Amman was more stressful than anything in Petra.
Second: The aggressive vendors in Petra. Some of the Bedouins selling things around the main sites were physically touchy. Grabbing arms, kids begging, that kind of thing. It didn’t feel dangerous—it felt degrading. Like I wasn’t a person, I was a wallet walking by. The scam research I did ahead of time mentioned this (fake tickets, price-switching on horse rides, pressure-selling at photo spots), and it was all accurate. The horse ride is technically included in your ticket, but they’ll pressure you for more. Just say no and keep walking.
Third: The animals. Dogs living in the desert broke my heart. Saw a few on the side of the road. Donkeys that didn’t look great. I get that it’s a different cultural relationship with animals, but I won’t pretend it didn’t bother me.
What to Pack for Jordan
We went in January. Here’s what mattered:
- Light jacket. Essential once the sun goes down. Wadi Rum at night gets properly cold.
- Shemagh or scarf. Good for blocking sand if the wind picks up.
- Sun protection. Hat, sunscreen, even an umbrella if you’re serious about it. The sun is blazing even in winter.
- Tall shoes. Sand gets everywhere. Boots or high-top sneakers keep it out.
- Refillable water bottle. You’ll go through a lot of water.
(Full travel gear list here if you want specifics on what I carry.)
How Much Does it Cost to Visit Jordan?
I’m working from memory here, but roughly:
| Item | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Ryanair flight (round trip) | ~$90 |
| Jordan Pass (75 JD x2) | ~$105 |
| InterContinental Amman (IHG cert) | Free (certificate) |
| Grand Hyatt Amman | Free (certificate) |
| Petra Boutique Hotel (2 nights) | ~$55/night |
| Hasan Zawaideh Camp (1 night) | ~$110 (Martian Tent) |
| InterContinental Aqaba | ~Free (certifiate) |
| Hilton Dead Sea Resort | Free (Amex resort credit) |
| Meals (avg) | ~$6-20/person (usually shared) |
| JETT bus (multiple trips) | ~$40 total/person |
| Hot air balloon | ~$230/person |
So overall, very affordable for what we got and spent most of the budget on activities we knew we’d remember forever.
Was it worth it? Yes. The Jordan Pass alone saved us money. The empty sites made it feel like we had the country to ourselves. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
FAQs About Visiting Jordan
I went to Jordan expecting a complicated relationship with the place. What I got was a week of genuine hospitality, incredible food, ancient history that actually felt ancient, and a desert that made me understand why people write poems about it.
The empty hotels and quiet sites felt like a secret. Like we’d slipped in through a back door while nobody was watching. That won’t last forever. Eventually the tourists come back, the prices go up, and Petra gets crowded again.
Go before that happens. And bring a jacket.
More articles for planning your Jordan trip
Plan Your Trip to Wadi Rum Desert
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