5 Days in Jordan

Your gateway to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Located 30 kilometers south of Amman, this modern, award-winning airport designed by Foster + Partners is highly efficient. After clearing customs (be sure to have your pre-purchased Jordan Pass ready to waive the visa fee), you will meet your private driver who will accompany you throughout your 5-day journey.

Perched on Jabal al-Qal'a, the highest hill in Amman, the Citadel is an open-air museum spanning the Bronze Age, Roman, Byzantine, and Umayyad periods. Walk among the towering pillars of the Temple of Hercules, built during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, and explore the grand 8th-century Umayyad Palace. The panoramic 360-degree views of Amman's sprawling hills from here are unmatched. Practical Tip: Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered) and respect photography etiquette by asking permission before taking photos of locals or security personnel.

A legendary, no-frills culinary institution in the heart of downtown Amman. Operating since 1952, this open-air alleyway restaurant has served everyone from local taxi drivers to the Jordanian Royal Family. There is no menu; instead, you'll be served a continuous feast of the freshest, warmest falafel, creamy hummus drizzled with local olive oil, smoky baba ganoush, and freshly baked pita bread, all washed down with sweet hot mint tea.

Located on the historic Rainbow Street, Sufra is widely celebrated as the best restaurant in Amman for traditional Jordanian cuisine. Set in a beautifully restored 20th-century villa with a lush garden terrace and exquisite tile work, Sufra elevates local home-cooked classics. Signature dishes include Fukhara (slow-cooked clay pot stews) and Mansaf (Jordan's national dish of lamb cooked in a fermented dried yogurt sauce).

Located in the historic town of Madaba, this 19th-century Greek Orthodox church houses the famous Madaba Mosaic Map. Commissioned in the 6th century, this incredibly detailed floor mosaic is the oldest surviving cartographic depiction of the Holy Land, featuring Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, and the Jordan River. It consists of over two million individual pieces of colored stone.

A massive, dark-stone Crusader fortress towering over the town of Karak. Built in the 1140s under King Pagan of Jerusalem, Kerak Castle is a maze of stone-vaulted halls, endless corridors, dark dungeons, and strategic lookout points. It played a pivotal role in the Crusades, famously defended by Raynald of Châtillon against the forces of Saladin. Walking through its subterranean galleries offers a chilling, immersive step back into medieval history.

The bustling mountain town that serves as the administrative and logistical gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Petra. Nestled in the Valley of Moses, Wadi Musa is filled with hotels, restaurants, and artisan shops catering to travelers. Arriving here in the late afternoon allows you to settle in, adjust to the cooler mountain climate, and prepare for an early start tomorrow.

Known locally as Al-Khazneh, this breathtaking 40-meter-high monument is carved directly into the sheer rose-red sandstone cliff face. As you emerge from the narrow, shadowy depths of the 1.2-kilometer Siq, the Treasury slowly reveals itself in the morning sun—a moment of pure travel magic. Carved in the 1st century BC as a tomb for Nabataean King Aretas IV, its classical Hellenistic facade is remarkably preserved. Insider Tip: Arriving at 6:30 AM ensures you have the plaza almost entirely to yourself for photography and quiet contemplation.

Operated by the Crowne Plaza, this is the only high-quality sit-down restaurant located deep within the archaeological park of Petra, situated right at the basin where the main trail ends and the climb to the Monastery begins. It offers a robust international and traditional Syrian/Jordanian buffet, making it the perfect, high-energy lunch oasis to refuel before tackling the 800 rock-cut steps to Ad Deir. Sitting under the shade of its outdoor terrace surrounded by towering sandstone cliffs is an experience in itself.

Often referred to as the Monastery, Ad Deir is one of Petra's largest and most imposing monuments, measuring 50 meters wide and 45 meters tall. Carved in the mid-1st century AD, it is hidden high in the hills above the city center. Reaching it requires climbing a scenic, ancient path of 800 rock-cut steps. The effort is rewarded with a spectacular view of the monument and panoramic vistas of the Wadi Araba desert. Enjoy a fresh mint tea at the Bedouin tent directly opposite the Monastery while taking in its immense scale.

Located just a short drive north of Wadi Musa, Siq al-Barid (Little Petra) is a miniature version of the main site. It features its own narrow siq, rock-cut tombs, temples, and tricliniums. It is believed to have served as an agricultural suburb and a vital staging post for the silk and spice trade caravans. The site is famous for its rare, beautifully preserved 1st-century Nabataean wall paintings depicting grapevines and birds.

A stunning, 74,000-hectare desert wilderness in southern Jordan. Characterized by dramatic sandstone mountains like Jebel Rum, narrow canyons, towering red dunes, and natural rock arches, Wadi Rum has a timeless, Martian-like quality. It is home to the hospitable Zalabieh Bedouin tribe, who have preserved their nomadic traditions. You will explore the desert's highlights, including Lawrence's Spring, the Khazali Canyon petroglyphs, and the Um Frouth Rock Bridge.

The Kempinski Hotel Ishtar is the ultimate luxury resort on the shores of the Dead Sea. Designed as a tribute to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the resort features multiple infinity pools, lush gardens, and direct private access to the Dead Sea beach. It serves as your luxurious base for the afternoon, where you can access changing facilities, enjoy a world-class lunch, and experience the Dead Sea in complete comfort.

Your driver will transfer you from the Dead Sea back to the airport (approximately a 1-hour drive) in time for your evening departure flight. This marks the end of an unforgettable 5-day journey through the history, adventure, and natural wonders of Jordan.