Day 1: Arrival in Amman

On arrival in Amman, you will be met by our representative for a private transfer to your hotel.

Overnight.

Distance and journey times:

Airport to Amman 35 km, 40 mins.

Day 2: Full day Amman sightseeing and Jerash

Private tour with your guide. Visit Amman, the capital of Jordan, a fascinating city of contrasts. Visit the Citadel, which is situated on the Jabal Al Qala, one of the highest hills in Amman that offers a splendid view of the old city. Near the citadel pay a visit to the Archaeological Museum that houses an excellent collection of Jordan’s antiquities. Discover the remains of the Roman temple of Hercules and Umayyad Palace as you walk amongst the ruins.

Proceed to the old city to visit the beautifully restored Roman Theatre, which dates back to the 2nd century AD. It is also the home of Jordan’s Folklore Museum, which displays various artefacts of traditional Jordanian life including, costumes, home furnishings, musical instruments and handicrafts dating back to the 19th century.

For lunch, we suggest Sufra, one of the best restaurants in Amman, set in a renovated villa.

Drive north to visit Jerash, which remains today as one of the most beautiful and best-preserved Greco-roman cities outside Italy. Excavations made it possible to update two theatres, several temples, churches, a market, thermal baths, and the famous Cardo Maximus alley of 600 meters bordered columns.

Overnight in Amman.

Distance and journey times:

Amman to Jerash: 53 km, 1.15 hrs.

Day 3: Desert Castles

Your car will be delivered to you at the hotel. 

Drive to the eastern desert of Jordan to visit the Desert Castles. These castles were built between the 7th century and 8th century AD, under the caliphs of the Umayyad dynasty. Their fine mosaics, frescoes, and stone carvings are beautiful examples of early Islamic art and architecture. Visit Al Kharrana, Qasr Amra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and  Qasr Al Azraq. Drive back to Amman for an overnight stay.

Overnight in Amman.

Day 4: Amman - Mount Nebo - Madaba - Kerak - Petra

Depart for Mt Nebo where Moses first saw the Promised Land. See the remarkable ruins of basilicas and churches dating from Byzantine times. Continue to Madaba to visit a special site showing a mosaic map of Palestine including Jerusalem as it was in the 6th century. Continue to Kerak to visit the fortress built by the crusaders.

Arrive in Petra for 2 nights.

Distance and journey times:

Amman to Mount Nebo: 35 km, allow 50 mins.

Mount Nebo to Madaba: 10 km, allow 20 mins.

Madaba to Kerak 113 km, allow 2 hrs.

Kerak to Petra: 156 km, allow 2.30 hrs. 

Day 5: Full day Petra touring

The highlight of any trip to Jordan! 

Begin your visit by enjoying a walk or a short horse ride from Petra’s main entrance to the entrance of the old city “Al Siq”, which is a 350 meters narrow canyon. As you reach the end of the Siq, the first and greatest monument of Petra slowly comes into view. This is the famous Treasury monument “Al Khazneh”. Petra “The Rose City” is an extraordinary and unique place, which was built by the Arab Nabateans more than 2000 years ago. The Nabateans carved their monumental tombs, palaces, temples and treasury from the desert’s natural rose-coloured rocks and sandstones.

Take a walk through the architectural and spiritual wonders of this majestic place. You may choose to climb 800 steps to visit the Monastery. The Monastery is similar to the design of the Treasury, but it is much larger (50 m high x 45m wide) and much less decorated. The facade is flat on the lower level and deeply carved on the upper level, with engaged columns and two half-pediments flanking a central urn (10m high).

Petra by Night

Walk along the Siq with thousands of candles lighting the path until you reach the Treasury. Be greeted by an Oud (Arabic guitar) Player producing some mellow tunes. Sip sweet tea and absorb the magical atmosphere. This is an experience not to be missed.

Overnight in Petra.

Day 6: Petra to Wadi Rum

Depart to the Natural Resort of Wadi Rum “The Valley of the Moon” a unique place unlike anywhere else you have ever visited. There are several options for exploring Wadi Rum. First, head for the Visitors' Centre. Here you can hire a 4x4 vehicle, together with a driver/guide, and then drive for two or three hours into the Wadi system to explore some of the best-known sites.

Start with the soaring pinnacles of rock directly opposite the Visitor Centre, referred to as the Seven Pillars of Wisdom. A short drive will take you to the ruined temple with Nabatean inscriptions on the walls and columns. Round off your day with a visit to Lawrence's Spring (  Ain Shalaaleh) for spectacular views of Wadi Rum.

Other notable sites here to visit include Jabal Umm Kharg (“Lawrence’s House”) offering panoramic views.  Sig Barrah and the hidden valley of Siq Umm Tawagi (“Siq Lawrence”) with rock drawings and face carvings.

Stay in Wadi Rum desert for the night. Sleep under the stars in a Bedouin tent, where you can enjoy a traditional campfire meal accompanied by Arabic music. The sunsets and starry skies here are unforgettable. 

Distance and journey times:

Petra to  Wadi Rum: 113 km, allow 2 hrs.

Day 7: Wadi Rum to Aqaba

Enjoy your beach extension in Aqaba. It is the perfect location for divers as the unusual vertical current and sea breezes make diving cool and pleasant even in the heat of the summer. Aside from diving, you can participate in the following water activities snorkelling, fishing, sailing, jet-skiing, parasailing, regional cruises or take a tour in the famous glass-bottomed boats

Distance and journey times:

Wadi Rum to Aqaba: 72km, allow 1 hr.

Do you like the freedom of travelling on your own instead of an organised tour? Then this self-drive itinerary is for you. This suggested itinerary will cover the main sites. It is your choice to choose to visit different sites or not to visit some. You can add days or reduce the overall programme. Please get in touch with us to discuss. We are ready to help.

You may also be interested in other self-drive holidays.