Jordan Travel and Luxury Tours Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea

Jordan is the Middle East's great adventure in a manageable package. Most of its highlights lie along a single highway running from Amman south to the Red Sea, so you can see Roman cities, desert castles, Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea in about a week. The Hashemite Kingdom is known for its welcome, and tourism is a source of national pride.

Jordan has eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Petra, Wadi Rum, the desert castle of Quseir Amra, Um er-Rasas and the Baptism Site at Bethany Beyond the Jordan. Discover the background in our guide to Jordan's history and culture.

Visa and the Jordan Pass. US citizens can get a visa on arrival at Amman's Queen Alia International Airport (single entry about 40 JOD, approximately US$56) or apply for an e-visa. The best value is the Jordan Pass, bought online before you travel: it includes entry to Petra, Wadi Rum, Jerash and many other sites, and waives the visa fee for visitors who stay at least three days (two nights). Prices start at about 70 JOD (approximately US$100).

Getting there. Royal Jordanian flies nonstop to Amman from New York, Chicago, Detroit, Washington and, since May 2026, Dallas Fort Worth. Amman to Petra is about three hours by car; Petra to Wadi Rum about 90 minutes. For premium options, see our airlines page.

Dress. Amman is cosmopolitan, but modest dress, covering shoulders and knees, is best outside resorts. Swimwear is fine at hotels and Red Sea and Dead Sea beaches.

Alcohol. Available in hotels, licensed restaurants and bars. Jordan makes its own wine and beer.

Ramadan. Hotels and tourist sites remain open and serve visitors, though many local restaurants close by day. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around February 8, depending on the moon.

Money. Cards are widely accepted in hotels and restaurants. A private guide for Petra costs from roughly 50 JOD (approximately US$70).

Most first-time visitors follow a classic loop. Spend two nights in Amman, with a morning at the Citadel and Roman theater and an afternoon trip to Jerash. Drive south along the King's Highway, stopping at Madaba for its Byzantine mosaic map and at Mount Nebo, then continue to Petra for two nights. Head next to Wadi Rum for a night in a luxury camp, and finish with two nights at the Dead Sea before flying home from Amman, just an hour away.

With more time, add Aqaba for diving and snorkeling on the Red Sea, the Dana Biosphere Reserve for hiking, or the desert castles east of Amman. Jordan combines easily with Israel or Egypt for a longer journey through the lands of the Bible and the pharaohs. Families will find tips in our family travel guide.