Jordan Itinerary 2 Days: Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea Adventure
- Ankitha
- Nov 14, 2018
- 9 min read
Updated: Sep 24
A lot of our trips are short and sweet… but that’s the reality with both of us working. That being said, we don’t head on vacations just because we can. We only pick places we know we will enjoy. Mr. A mostly loves places with history, while I love the outdoors. The places I pick usually involve mountains, treks, and roaming the wilderness. We would probably always stay away from islands and luxury beach vacations — it’s just not our style.
So why did we pick Jordan? Well, the easy answer is its proximity to Dubai, but the truth is, of course, the history and the landscape. Jordan offers an incredible mix of things to do in Jordan for history buffs and nature lovers alike.
Sunset En Route Petra
We finally made it last November. While we wish we had more time to explore the rest of the country, we managed to see the best bits in just two days. If you are pressed for time, this Jordan itinerary 2 days is what I would recommend.
It was not until recently that this place became a top tourist hot spot... people have probably stayed away because of it's location in the center of a turbulent region. That's slowly changing with the rise of tourism across the globe.. and more millennial backpackers.
We had no issues while visiting this country. People are incredibly friendly and love showing their country off. Rightfully so.
Petra at Dawn
Itinerary
Arrival: Drive to Dead Sea
Explore Town of Madaba
Mount Nebo
Drive to Petra City: Overnight camp
Sunrise at Petra, Monastery exploration
Desert safari in Wadi Rum
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best Time to Visit Jordan
The weather cools from November to March. We had amazing weather visiting in the second week of November — making it an ideal best time to visit Jordan.
Flights + Visa
We flew with Fly Dubai — short, direct flights. Jordan visa for Indians is available on arrival, costing JD 40 per person.
💡 Tip: Credit card machines at the visa counter may not always work. Carry some local currency or exchange money at the terminal before queuing.
Language
Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken in tourist areas, so communication is easy.
Currency
Cash is essential as credit card machines don’t work everywhere.
Guide Information
For a short trip like this, I highly recommend booking a tour. It doesn’t mean sticking to a strict schedule — it simply makes traveling easier. We booked with Jordan Select Tours for four nights, five days, costing around $550 per person. Another popular option is Sherazade Travel, with a similar budget.
This ensures a smooth experience and flexibility while learning about things to do in Jordan from local experts.
Where We Stayed
We stayed at Petra Moon Hotel, just 15 minutes from the Petra entrance. The rooms were spacious, and the hotel had a nice restaurant. Other eateries were just a short walk away.
Getting Around
If not on a tour, reliable taxis from city centers are available.
Safety
We experienced no issues. Everyone was warm and helpful.
Tip: Be cautious with street vendors around Petra.
Vegan + Vegetarian Food
Middle Eastern cuisine is a delight for vegetarians. We tried falafels, lentil soup, salad, mana’eesh, and more. Truly yum! Vegetarian food in Jordan is widely available, making it easy to enjoy local flavors.
Highlights
We took an early morning flight from Dubai, landing at Amman International Airport in three hours. Our guide picked us up promptly.
Dead Sea
The drive from the airport is about an hour. Entrance to the Dead Sea is via Holiday Inn Dead Sea hotel. Towels and changing rooms are provided. Visiting early gave us nearly the entire area to ourselves.
The Dead Sea sits 430m below sea level — the lowest point on Earth — and is extremely salty.
Fact: the Dead Sea sits 430m below sea level, making it the lowest point on earth and it’s also one of the saltiest places on earth....
Tip: Don’t stay in the water for more than 15 minutes. Avoid swallowing the water; it burns!
The minerals in the mud are great for the skin, making it a unique experience.
Oh and after you take a quick dip, take a break and get muddy.. if you are like me and don't particularly enjoy getting dirty, wait till you hear the benefits of this special "mud". There are minerals in the Dead Sea which are known to help alleviate the symptoms of skin problems such as psoriasis and arthritis. Don't have these diseases? Well you can at least have glowin' skin after!
Madaba
Madaba is famous for its Byzantine-era mosaics. We also found the best falafel ever in a tiny street shop — a must-try for anyone visiting.
The Mountain is at an elevated ridge that is around 817 meters above sea level, in what is now Western Jordan. You will also find a huge serpentine cross structure. This is symbolic of the bronze serpent created by Moses.
Time for lunch.. you will drive towards the city of Madaba. The city is best known for it’s historically significant Byzantine era mosaics. I chose not to take pictures inside the church but the mosaics inside this place - much wow.
This is also where we found the most amazing falafel ever... in a teeny tiny street shop.. for just one Dirham.. we gobbled four of these. Seriously blew our minds - the crunchy and the flavor.
After lunch, you will drive to Petra City for the night. We witnessed one of the most amazing sunsets ever on our drive into Petra...
Spent an hour just watching the sun go down. There was a slight nip in the air as the sunlight fell over the ancient city. It was a sight to behold. What a beautiful world we live in.
Petra
Up at 5 a.m., we started our Petra itinerary. Petra, the “rose-red city,” was founded by the Nabateans 2,000 years ago. The guided tour included a walk through the Siq, revealing the Treasury and eventually the Monastery (Al Deir).
Pro Tip: To get unique photos without the crowds, walk around the left side of the Treasury.
The Monastery is Petra’s largest structure, dating back to the 1st century B.C., standing over 50 meters tall. The climb is 45 minutes with 900 stairs, but it’s worth it. Horses are available for those who prefer not to hike.
The visit of the ancient Nabatean capital starts on horseback, followed by a long walk through the Siq, a long narrow fissure between two overhanging cliffs.
Colors of rocks.. everywhere you look.. each one a different shape.. just gorgeous!
Towards the end of the Siq, the lane gets narrow... there you will see Petra's most famous monument peek-a-booing at you. The tour then proceeds to gradually unfold the mysteries of the city.
Petra was designed to impress. 2000 years on, the effect is undiminished. Made it here at 6 a.m. and we were the first ones at the site. Spent close to 2 hours at the Treasury just learning about the history of Petra before making our way to the Monastery.
Pro tip: if you want a beautiful view of the monument without having to climb up to the now "cliche" instagram spot - just go around the rock toward the left of the treasury and snap away!
As you make your way towards the monastery, you will find lots of "houses" inside rock formations.. clear signs of civilization.
Keep walking... in about a 2 miles, you will come to a grand entrance of sorts. This is the entrance to the monastery. The guide will leave you here and head back to the entrance. You are on your own. We took a break - admired the stunning architecture around, had our box breakfast before making the trek up.
Pro tip: The way up is not marked until you walk past a "restaurant" and just after that you will sign marked as monastery.. or follow the crowd.
If you are not up for a 45 minute, 900 stair hike - you can also ride on horses to the top. Obviously we chose to pout and pant instead. There are places to sit and take a break.. so I would still recommend doing the walk up (if you don't have issues climbing steep rocks)
...and then you can finally see the the Al Deir - Petra’s largest ‘temple’. While I call it the temple lightly, the name is just a guess. Nobody knows what it was used for. Just like the Treasury, the Nabateans carved this enormous structure from a sheer rock face. Unlike the treasury though, the monastery is much bigger and doesn’t have a lot of ornate designs - except for the cross carved into the rock. There is so much more to this place than what meets the eye.
To me, the Al Deir Monastery was the most impressive building in Petra. Dating back to the 1st century B.C., it towers over everything else in the vicinity, reaching over 50 meters into the air. Again - to put things in perspective, you can barely see the teeny tiny me in front of it.
The descent was obviously much more easy and incredibly picturesque. Your guide will meet you at the entrance of the monument. It should be around 11 a.m. Head on towards Wadi Rum - a 2 hour drive from Petra city. Suggest you grab food on the way for lunch inside Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum
Next, we explored Wadi Rum desert tour. This three-hour safari in a pick-up truck revealed sandstone mountains, red sand dunes, and endless open spaces — a moonscape come to life.
💡 Tip: Your guide will take you to offbeat locations for the best photo ops. Bring water and sunscreen.
So first things first - how do you access wadi rum? Well, remember the USD 200 we paid? You pay for the 3 hour Safari and a pick up truck. I am not sure if you will get something better than this if you pay more. I know this looks rough but it was actually quite comfortable with plenty of cushions to support you during the bumpy ride. Your driver will be Jordanian who will tell you lots of stories about the place and take superb pictures for you. So hop on for the ride!
As you enter the wide open space, the first thing that will catch your eyes are these sandstone and granite emerging from open valleys to form mesmerizing landscapes!
Since I was raised in the Middle East, deserts always hold a special place in my heart. However, the Wadi Rum desert just blew me away. T.E. Lawrence famously described it as “vast, echoing and God-Like”. How right he was. Wadi Rum is the replica of a moonscape. It’s a place where the sand glows red and color your cheeks orange. It’s a place where the further you go, the more stunning the sandstone mountains and endless sand dunes become.
When you stare out into the wild sparse desert, it’s hard not to imagine what life would have been like here a 100 years back. How fascinating to think there were camels roaming wild and making their way through these very dunes. If the seemingly endless views of sandstone boulders don’t take your breath away, climbing up the steep dunes certainly will.
Your guide will also take you to some of the off beat locations for otherworldly views and photo ops.
After about 2 hours of driving around, we took a small detour and found a lovely place. We did a little picnic here. Of course, many many pictures were taken. Last stop before you head back to Amman for your flight back home.
Final Thoughts
This Jordan itinerary 2 days was perfect for a quick getaway. Between Petra and Wadi Rum, Wadi Rum stole our hearts with its dramatic scenery, sky-high dunes, and epic canyons. Jordan offers a magical mix of history, adventure, and natural beauty.
Drop your comments below and show some love. Feel free to email me with feedback!
Cheers, Anki
To explore more Middle East destinations, be sure to check out other blogs for additional insights.
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