Places to Visit in Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea and Amman

The short answer: Jordan's must-plan places are Petra (the Siq, the Treasury and the Monastery), Wadi Rum's desert camps, the Dead Sea and Amman's old city, with Jerash, Madaba and Mount Nebo as easy add-ons. Petra entry runs 50–60 JD for one to three days if you are staying overnight in Jordan, or the Jordan Pass (from 70 JD) bundles it with over 40 other sites and can waive the visa fee. A 5 to 7-day route covers Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea comfortably. Emirates and Royal Jordanian fly non-stop from Dubai to Amman, Air Arabia from Sharjah, and Etihad and Air Arabia Abu Dhabi from Abu Dhabi; our Egypt and Jordan tours combine the Nile with Petra and Wadi Rum from AED 7,621.

This guide is for UAE residents planning a first Jordan trip: where to go, what Petra and the other main sites cost to enter, whether the Jordan Pass is worth it, driving times between the places, and how to get there from the Gulf. It assumes Amman as your arrival point, which is how most UAE-based trips begin.

Jordan at a glance

	Jordan from the UAE
Flight time	About 3 hours 15–20 minutes non-stop to Amman
Visa	Visa on arrival for most nationalities (40 JD); the Jordan Pass can waive this fee – see our Jordan visa guide
Currency	Jordanian dinar (JD or JOD)
Petra entry	50 JD (1 day) to 60 JD (3 days) for overnight visitors, or included in the Jordan Pass
Getting around	A hired car or driver for the Amman-Petra-Wadi Rum-Dead Sea loop; public buses (JETT) link the main towns but run less often
Our tours	Egypt and Jordan combined, 15 days, from AED 7,621, visiting Petra and Wadi Rum

Where to go in Jordan: the main places

Place	From Amman	Best for
Amman	–	The Citadel, Roman Theatre and Rainbow Street
Jerash	About 48 km, under an hour	One of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities in the Middle East
Madaba & Mount Nebo	About 30–45 km, 45 minutes to an hour	Byzantine mosaics and the view Moses is said to have seen
The Dead Sea	About 55–60 km, under an hour	Floating in the world's lowest lake
Petra	About 230–235 km, roughly 3 hours via the Desert Highway	The Siq, the Treasury, the Monastery and Petra by Night
Little Petra	A short drive north of Petra	A smaller, free, uncrowded Nabataean site
Wadi Rum	About 315 km from Amman, 100–110 km from Petra	Desert camps, jeep tours and star-filled nights
Aqaba	About 330 km from Amman, roughly 125–130 km from Petra	Red Sea snorkelling and a beach finish to the trip
Dana Biosphere Reserve	Between Amman and Petra, off the Kings Highway	A quieter hiking detour, including the Dana-to-Petra trail

Petra: the Siq, the Treasury and the Monastery

Petra, the Nabataean city carved into rose-coloured rock, is Jordan's headline site and worth two full days if your route allows it.

The Siq and the Treasury

A narrow, kilometre-long canyon, the Siq, opens suddenly onto Al-Khazneh, the Treasury, Petra's best-known facade. Most visitors walk the Siq, ideally early in the morning; electric carts, which replaced the old horse-drawn carriages in the Siq in 2021, run for a separate fee; either way, allow 30 to 45 minutes for the walk in alone before you reach the Treasury itself.

The Monastery and Petra by Night

Ad Deir, the Monastery, is a further uphill walk of about 800 steps past the Treasury, larger than it and usually far quieter, so build in at least half a day to reach it and back. Petra by Night runs on set evenings (visitpetra.jo listed Sunday to Thursday when we checked), from around 8:30pm to 10:30pm: candles light the walk through the Siq to the Treasury for a short performance. Tickets cost 30 JD and require a daytime Petra ticket or Jordan Pass first; the pass itself does not include the night show, so budget for it separately, and buy it at the visitor centre since online reservation has been reported as unavailable.

Petra's ticket prices

For overnight visitors to Jordan, the official tiers are 50 JD for one day, 55 JD for two days and 60 JD for three days; multi-day tickets must be used on consecutive days, and a extra day can reportedly be added for 5 JD at the visitor centre. Children under 12 enter free in daylight hours. Same-day visitors who are not staying overnight in Jordan (for example arriving from Israel) pay a steeper 90 JD. Buy tickets with a passport in hand; they are non-refundable once issued.

Wadi Rum: desert camps and jeep tours

Wadi Rum's red sand valleys and rock arches sit about 100–110 km south of Petra (1.5–2 hours) and roughly 315 km from Amman (about 4 hours). A 5 JD protected-area entry fee applies at the visitor centre, on top of whatever package you book; it is sometimes covered by the Jordan Pass. Exploring the desert itself needs a local 4x4 with a Bedouin driver, arranged through the visitor centre or a camp. Full-day jeep tours with an overnight camp stay are commonly listed from around $45–60 per person, rising toward $100 or more for camel rides, private tours or more elaborate camps; meals, tents and a sunrise camel ride are typically included at the lower end, so compare what is bundled before booking. One night in Wadi Rum is the usual allowance on a first trip; two lets you add a longer hike or a second jeep route.

The Dead Sea

The lowest point on Earth's land surface sits about 55–60 km from Amman, under an hour by road, and roughly 188 km (about 3 hours) from Petra if you are routing between the two. Jordan's only public access point, Amman Tourist Beach, was closed for years and reportedly reopened in a redeveloped form in May 2026; entry has previously cost around 20 JD. Most visitors instead buy a day pass at one of the shoreline resorts, which bundle pool and beach access with a towel and sometimes lunch; reported day-pass prices run from around 10–20 JD at the simpler end to 45–55 JD at five-star properties, with weekend rates higher than weekdays. Wherever you go, bring water shoes (the shoreline can be sharp with salt crystals) and avoid shaving beforehand: the water stings on broken skin. An hour in the water is usually enough; the mineral mud and a shower afterwards take up the rest of a half-day visit.

Wadi Mujib, nearby

The Mujib Biosphere Reserve, on the Dead Sea's eastern shore, runs the Siq Trail, a wade and partial swim up a narrow canyon to a waterfall, reportedly open from 1 April to 31 October (so check the date against your trip, since it is seasonal). Reported prices run around $27 for the Siq Trail and about $10 for general reserve access; neither figure is confirmed against an official source, so check with the reserve or your tour operator.

Amman: Citadel, Roman Theatre and Rainbow Street

Amman rarely gets more than a day on a Petra-focused itinerary, but its old city rewards a morning.

The Citadel

Jabal al-Qal'a, the hilltop citadel, holds the Temple of Hercules' giant column fragments, an Umayyad palace and sweeping views over downtown Amman. One travel guide lists the entry fee at 3 JD, and it is included in the Jordan Pass.

The Roman Theatre

A 6,000-seat Roman theatre cut into a hillside in the downtown valley below the Citadel, still used for events; it is one of the sites listed under the Jordan Pass. Pair it with a walk through the downtown souks and a stop for a plate of mansaf or a cup of Arabic coffee.

Rainbow Street

Amman's best-known street for cafes, small galleries and an evening stroll, a short taxi ride from the Citadel. It has no entry fee and works well as a relaxed finish to a day of sightseeing.

Jerash, Madaba and Mount Nebo

Jerash

About 48 km north of Amman, under an hour by road, Jerash is one of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities anywhere, with a colonnaded main street, an oval forum and two theatres still standing. Reports on the entry fee vary, but the most consistent figure found is around 10 JD for foreigners; Jerash is also one of the sites covered by the Jordan Pass. Two to three hours covers the main ruins at an unhurried pace.

Madaba and Mount Nebo

Madaba, about 30 km south-west of Amman, holds the 6th-century Byzantine mosaic map of the Holy Land inside St George's Church; Mount Nebo, a further 10 km on, is where Moses is traditionally said to have viewed the Promised Land, with a memorial church and, on a clear day, a view across to the West Bank and, in the distance, Jerusalem. Mount Nebo's entry has been listed at around $5, free for Jordan Pass holders and children under 12; Madaba's own fee was not confirmed in the sources checked, and many day tours bundle both sites into one price. Half a day covers both comfortably from Amman or the Dead Sea.

Aqaba, Dana and Little Petra: further out

Aqaba

Jordan's only coastal city, on the Red Sea about 330 km from Amman and 125–130 km from Petra (roughly 2 hours), gives a beach finish to a Jordan trip. The Aqaba Marine Reserve, running along the coast toward Tala Bay, holds the best snorkelling, including a cluster of coral pillars known as the Seven Sisters and the shallower Japanese Gardens reef. South Beach is the no-frills public option most dive operators use; Tala Bay's resort strip is the calmer, paid alternative. Beyond the water, the old town's lanes, the Sharif Al Hussein bin Ali Mosque and Aqaba Fort fill a spare half-day.

Dana Biosphere Reserve

A nature reserve off the Kings Highway between Amman and Petra, best known for the Dana-to-Petra trek, a multi-day hiking route through sandstone canyons. Reported entrance and guiding fees vary widely between sources (roughly 8–20 JD for entry, with guided hikes from about 10 JD), and some trails can reportedly be walked unguided with a map from the Tower Entrance. This is one for a longer trip or a second visit rather than a first-time 5 to 7-day route.

Little Petra (Siq al-Barid)

A smaller, satellite Nabataean site a short drive north of Petra proper, with carved facades in a narrow canyon and, unlike Petra itself, reportedly free to enter and walk independently. It makes an easy half-day add-on if you are staying near Petra for two nights, and is also the starting point for the back-canyon hike into Petra for those who already hold a Petra ticket.

The Jordan Pass: when it pays off

The Jordan Pass bundles Petra entry with more than 40 other paid sites nationwide, including Jerash, the Amman Citadel, the Roman Theatre and Wadi Rum's protected-area fee. Three tiers are built around how many days you want in Petra: roughly 70 JD for one day, 75 JD for two and 80 JD for three. Buy it online before you fly, since it must be purchased in advance to carry its second benefit: on jordanpass.jo, the stated condition is that it waives Jordan's standard 40 JD visa-on-arrival fee for visitors who stay at least two whole nights (three days) in the country; some other guides and an older cached version of the same page instead describe a three-night threshold, so confirm the current wording on jordanpass.jo before you rely on it for your exact length of stay. The pass covers only a single-entry visa, is not itself a visa,, and eligibility rules differ for some nationalities, so check yours on jordanpass.jo.

It pays off arithmetically once you add Petra to even two or three of the other included sites: a 2-day Petra pass at 75 JD, for example, already beats paying 55 JD for Petra alone plus roughly 10 JD each for Jerash and the Citadel, before the visa saving is even counted. For a short Amman-only city break with no Petra visit, it is not worth buying.

Driving times and a 5 to 7-day Jordan route

Jordan's three main roads connect the same places at different speeds: the Desert Highway is fastest for Amman to Petra (about 3 hours), the King's Highway is slower but scenic (around 4 to 4.5 hours, via Madaba, Mount Nebo and Kerak), and the Dead Sea Highway suits a route that starts at the Dead Sea itself (roughly 4 to 5 hours on to Petra). A common loop, and the one our Egypt and Jordan tours follow, is Amman to Jerash and Petra, on to Wadi Rum, then back via Madaba, Mount Nebo and the Dead Sea to Amman.

• Day 1: Amman. The Citadel, Roman Theatre and an evening on Rainbow Street.
• Day 2: Jerash, then on to Petra. A morning at Jerash, then the 3 to 4-hour drive south (via the Desert Highway or the King's Highway if you have time to stop at Madaba and Kerak), arriving in Wadi Musa (Petra's town) by evening.
• Days 3–4: Petra. A full day for the Siq, Treasury and Monastery, a second half-day for Little Petra or a quieter return visit, and Petra by Night on one of the evenings it runs.
• Day 5: Wadi Rum. A jeep safari and an overnight at a Bedouin camp, about 1.5–2 hours from Petra.
• Days 6–7: Madaba, Mount Nebo, the Dead Sea and back to Amman. A short stop at Madaba's mosaic map and Mount Nebo's viewpoint, then an afternoon floating at the Dead Sea before the final drive back to Amman (or on to Aqaba instead, if you would rather finish at the coast and fly out from there).

Flights from the UAE to Jordan

From Dubai, Emirates and Royal Jordanian fly non-stop to Amman's Queen Alia International Airport in around 3 hours 15 minutes; flydubai has also served the route, so check its current timetable. From Sharjah, Air Arabia flies non-stop to Queen Alia, and schedule listings show Royal Jordanian adding a Sharjah service to Amman's smaller Marka (City) airport in late 2026. From Abu Dhabi, Etihad and Royal Jordanian fly to Queen Alia, while Air Arabia Abu Dhabi serves both Queen Alia and Amman City Airport, so check which of Amman's two airports your ticket uses before arranging a transfer. For Aqaba, most travellers from the UAE connect through Amman. Gulf schedules have changed several times in 2026, so confirm your flight with the airline close to the date.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best places to visit in Jordan?

Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea are the three most visited sites, with Amman, Jerash, Madaba and Mount Nebo rounding out a standard first trip. Aqaba, Dana and Little Petra suit a longer or second visit.

What is there to do in Amman?

The hilltop Citadel, the Roman Theatre in the valley below it, and an evening on Rainbow Street cover a full day in the capital before heading on to Petra or the Dead Sea.

How much does it cost to visit Petra?

For visitors staying overnight in Jordan, official tiers run 50 JD for one day, 55 JD for two days and 60 JD for three days. The Jordan Pass bundles Petra with over 40 other sites from about 70 JD, and can also waive the 40 JD visa-on-arrival fee if bought in advance and you stay long enough; Petra by Night is a separate 30 JD ticket either way.

Is the Jordan Pass worth it?

Usually yes, if you are visiting Petra and at least two or three other paid sites such as Jerash or the Amman Citadel, and more so if it also waives your visa fee. For an Amman-only trip without Petra, buying individual tickets works out cheaper.

How many days do you need in Jordan?

Five days covers Amman, Petra and Wadi Rum at a reasonable pace. Seven days adds the Dead Sea, Jerash, Madaba and Mount Nebo without feeling rushed, which is roughly how our Egypt and Jordan tours allocate the Jordan half of the trip.

Do UAE residents need a visa for Jordan?

Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival for 40 JD, though some passports need prior approval. Buying the Jordan Pass in advance and staying long enough can waive that fee. See our Jordan visa guide for UAE residents for the detail that applies to your passport.

Plan your Jordan trip with Holidayys

Our Egypt and Jordan Adventure with Felucca Cruise combines Cairo, Aswan and Luxor with Amman, Jerash, Petra, Wadi Rum, Madaba, Mount Nebo and the Dead Sea over 15 days, from AED 7,621 per person, with departures on 7 November and 5 December 2026. Our Egypt and Jordan Jewel with a 5-star Nile boat cruise covers the same route with an upgraded Nile cruise ship, 15 days from AED 8,429 per person, departing 31 October, 14 November and 28 November 2026. If you need your visa checked for your passport, see our Jordan visa guide.

For a Jordan-only itinerary, a different length of trip, or help deciding whether the Jordan Pass suits your dates, message us on WhatsApp +971 4 589 0001 or use our contact page.

Related guides

• Jordan visa for UAE residents
• Egypt and Jordan Adventure with Felucca Cruise
• Egypt and Jordan Jewel with a 5-star Nile cruise
• Places to visit in Egypt
• Things to do in Muscat

Last checked 9 October 2026 against the Jordan Tourism Board's official visitjordan.com posts on Petra distances and day trips, visitpetra.jo's published Petra fees and Petra by Night details, jordanpass.jo's FAQ page on the visa waiver (via cached and third-party summaries), Royal Jordanian's and other airlines' route announcements reported by Gulf News, Zawya and Curly Tales, and multiple tour-operator and travel-guide listings for Jerash, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Wadi Mujib, Wadi Rum, Dana and Dead Sea resort day passes, since no single official price list covers all of them. Entry fees, the Jordan Pass terms and flight schedules change; confirm the current position before you travel.