Jordan, Travel blog

Jordan itinerary 8 days – Jordan places to visit (updated 2022)

travel blogger in Wadi Rum Jordan

Today I am sharing with you my Jordan itinerary of 8 days to see the top places to visit in Jordan. On our itinerary, the roman ruins of Amman and Jerash, a camel and sunset 4×4 ride in the desert of Wadi Rum, a visit to Petra including the experience of Petra by Night as well as my first bath in the Dead Sea.

For general informations, read my article about my travel tips for a visit to Jordan and whether Jordan is safe for women. 

Jordan itinerary 8 days – 24 hours in Amman the capital of Jordan

Things to do in Amman Roman amphitheater and temple of Hercules

When in Amman, there are two main places to go sightseeing : the Roman amphitheater (Ras al Ain) in the middle of the city and the Hercules temple a bit higher on the hills of the city. Both are very well preserved. I liked the amphitheater the most as unlike many other roman ruins over the world it is still in use today. Locals use it to hang out so it is still full of life! Also entrance is free, you only need to pay if you would like to visit the museum.

The Roman theatre in Amman The Roman theatre in Amman

Jordan itinerary 8 days - Jordan places to visit Things to do in Amman Roman amphitheater Jordan itinerary 8 days - Jordan places to visit 24 hours in Amman Things to do in Amman Roman amphitheater Jordan itinerary 8 days - Jordan places to visit 24 hours in Amman Things to do in Amman Roman amphitheater Jordan itinerary 8 days - Jordan places to visit 24 hours in Amman Things to do in Amman Roman amphitheater people Amman

On the highest hill of the city, there is the Amman citadel famous for it’s Hercules statue and the Ummayad Palace. There is not much left of the Hercules statue. But the size of the hand of Hercules that remains, show how impressive that statue must have been.

The site is overlooking the city of Amman so it is perfect to go there at sunset for breathtaking views!

Entrance is 5 dollars and it is best to go by taxi.

Hercules temple in Amman Hercules temple in Amman

Jordan itinerary 8 days - Jordan places to visit 24 hours in Amman Things to do in Amman Hercules temple

View over the city from the Hercules temple View over the city from the Hercules temple

Jordan itinerary 8 days - Jordan places to visit 24 hours in Amman Things to do in Amman Hercules temple Jordan itinerary 8 days - Jordan places to visit 24 hours in Amman Things to do in Amman Hercules temple

Also the blue Mosk is an interesting sight when in Amman and the only mosque that is also opened to non muslim.

Blue Mosque Amman Jordan

Where to sleep in Amman – 5 stars hotel

After we landed in Amman, we directly checked in into our hotel, the Intercontinental, a 5 star hotel in in the center of Amman. Price for a night is around 120Euros. As all the 5 stars in Jordan, for those wondering about safety, they operate special control while entering the hotel. After we landed in Amman, we directly checked in into our hotel, the Intercontinental, a 5 star hotel in in the center of Amman. Price for a night is around 120Euros.

Update 2022 : we slept at Landmark Amman, a business hotel.

Where to eat in Amman

After our check in we ate hummus at the oldest restaurant in Amman, “Hashem”, where also the king of Jordan often goes. It is a very simple restaurant but the quality is very good. No ownders the king eats there.

For dinner we went to a very good restaurant : Sufra, where we tasted traditional Jordanian food.

Another tip is Zajal. A very good adress if you are looking for a rooftop and grilled meat.

Dinner at Sufra Dinner at Sufra
Visit to Jordan 24 hours in Amman Where to eat in Amman Sufra restaurant
Traditional food (from top to bottom): Sajeya (chicken with oignons fried with vegetable oil), Kofta (beef and lamb cooked with tahini sauce and potatoes, Mansaf (rice with lamm cooked with goat yoghurt) Traditional food (from top to bottom): Sajeya (chicken with oignons fried with vegetable oil), Kofta (beef and lamb cooked with tahini sauce and potatoes, Mansaf (rice with lamm cooked with goat yoghurt)
Visit to Jordan 24 hours in Amman Where to eat in Amman Sufra restaurant

Jordan places to visit – Jerash ruins

On day two of our one week Jordan itinerary, we took a 30 minutes trip north from Amman to visit Jordan’s second most famous tourist destination after Petra, the Jerash ruins. It is one of the best preserved roman site in the world, indeed it was discovered in 1807 and excavated about 70 years ago. It is a great place to see how a roman city looked liked and how poeple used to live 2000 years ago. Definitely one of the top places to see when you visit Jordan.
Entrance is 10JD and a visit will take you around 2 hours. It s best to book a guided tour from Amman but you can also go by taxi (20-30dinar one way).

Jordan itinerary 8 days - Jordan places to visit - Jerash ruins roman city
Jordan itinerary 8 days - Jordan places to visit - traditional music roman city Jerash Jordan
Jordan itinerary 8 days - Jordan places to visit - Jerash ruins roman city
Jordan itinerary 8 days - Jordan places to visit - German travel blogger in Jerash Jordan

Jordan itinerary – Stay one night at a Wadi Rum desert camp

Wadi Rum jeep tour and camel ride

Wadi Rum aka the Valley of the moon might be my favorite experience while in Jordan. I love the desert. We had a great time taking a camel ride during the afternoon, it is a 1 hour ride in the red sand dunes and the camels took us to the location where the Martian movie was filmed. Indeed, many movies were filmed in Wadi Rum such as The Dunes, Transformers or Star Wars because of the uniqueness of the place that look like on another planet. Price for one hour camel ride in Wadi Rum is 20JD.

After this we took a jeep tour into the desert. A jeep picked us up where we started our camel ride. It is a really fun and bumpy ride that will take you to narrow gorges, natural stone arches and towering cliffs. At the end of the ride we had a tea in a bedouin tent and watched the sunset from the Jeep before going back to camp to spend the night.

Price for a 4 hours Wadi Rum jeep tour is around 45JD per person if you are a party of 2 or more. It get more expensive if you travel alone.

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A night in a Wadi Rim desert camp

The Bait Ali lodge is the most luxurious desert camp in Jordan. You can choose between two accommodation, a tent with shared bathroom or a little house with private bathroom and shower. The camp is very cute and decorated with traditional items.

Overnight at Bait Ali Lodge
Jordan itinerary 8 days - Jordan places to visit - Bait Ali camp Wadi Rum desert Jordan Jordan itinerary 8 days - Jordan places to visit - Bait Ali camp Wadi Rum desert Jordan

Another hotel tip is the Suncity camp that you probably know from Instagram. There you sleep in a tent that looks like a ufo and have all the comfort you need.

Where to sleep in Wadi Rum - Suncity Camp

Jordan places to visit – Petra and Petra by night experience

After Wadi Rum we went back North for a 1,5 hour ride to Petra. Petra is the most famous site in Jordan and as one of the seven world wonder the number one top places to visit in Jordan. Its most famous monument is the Treasury but Petra is much more than this. I was also really impressed while walking through the canyons.

Petra is extremely expensive : entrance 50 Dinar, around 70€, but for 2 days only 55 Dinar.

Beside the entrance cost, I can really recommend Petra. It is a fabulous experience. You can walk around the canyons or take a donkey or a horse that will take you around but I do not recommend this option because of the animals condition.

I was also lucky enough to wander the site of Petra during the night for Petra by night that happens Monday, Wednesday and Thursday of each week and starts at 20:30. So plan you Jordan itinerary regarding this schedule if this is something you want to do!

Petra by night cost you an extra +20 Dollars but you’ll walk through the site with only candlelight like they did in the ancient time and listen to traditional bedouin music in front of the Treasury.

Once in a lifetime experience!

Jordan itinerary 8 days - Jordan places to visit - travel blogger in Petra Jordan Jordan itinerary 8 days - Jordan places to visit - traveling to Jordan Petra the treasury Jordan itinerary 8 days - Jordan places to visit - Traveling to Jordan Petra the treasury Jordan itinerary 8 days - Jordan places to visit - traveling to Jordan petra the treasury

Petra by Night
Jordan itinerary 8 days - Jordan places to visit - traveling to Jordan petra by night

Jordan places to visit – The Dead Sea in Jordan

Our last stop in our 8 days Jordan itinerary was the Dead Sea in Jordan. It is a 3 hours ride from Petra.

We stayed at the Movenpick Dead Sea. It was very relaxing. I took my very first bath in the Dead Sea on their private beach. And even though the weather was quite chilly in November it was an amazing experience. We covered our body with mud before having the massage at the Spa of the hotel.

We stayed at the Dead Sea only for one night which I think was enough to experience.

If you don’t wish to sleep at the deat sea, you can go on your home and

Jordan itinerary 8 days - Jordan places to visit - Traveling to Jordan Dead Sea Jordan itinerary 8 days - Jordan places to visit - Traveling to Jordan Dead Sea Mövenpick resort
Jordan itinerary 8 days - Jordan places to visit - Mövenpick resort dead sea

Bathing in the Dead Sea
Jordan itinerary 8 days - Jordan places to visit - travel blogger bathing Dead sea Jordan

Jordan itinerary 8 days - Jordan places to visit - travel blogger at Dead Sea Movenpick Jordan

Hiking in the Dana Biosphere Reserve

It is Jordan's largest nature reserve and also the oldest of the eight reserves. The landscape is breathtaking.
It is you go to destination for mountains and wadis but also if you are into flora and fauna as there are unique species living in this area. It is a great area for hiking. Most trails need a guide but the Dana Trail is accessible for everyone and you can go on your own.
Also, in the Dana Biosphere Reserve, there are proof that the first communities in the world settled there. While over the years the people of the area left for better opportunities elseweher in the country, there was a work made to bring back some people in the Dana village that are living in traditional Stone Houses. 

If you want to sleep in the Dana Biosphere Reserve, you will have to sleep in the Feynan Lodge. It is a very simple accommodation (means no electricity or wlan but candle lights which make the stay even more special) but you will have the opportunity to experience the rural life in Jordan with a Bedouin family. 
Hike in Dana Biosphere Reserve Hike in Dana Biosphere Reserve

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