Jordan

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Jordan is a country full of stunning ancient sites, sweeping desert vistas, and laid-back seaside resorts. It’s also home to the famed archaeological site of Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Wonders of the World.

This itinerary is packed with traditional experiences and local interactions, making it ideal for travelers who wish to dig deep and truly explore the fascinating history, culture, and landscapes of Jordan. The country also has a delectable food scene that we’ll explore in detail!

Using our extensive local connections, you’ll get cultural experiences not available on other tours. You’ll wander through Petra, spend two nights under the stars in the dramatic Wadi Rum, swim in the Dead Sea, dine with local Bedouins, hike the underrated northern part of the country, and eat some of the best food in the world.

This tour is for people looking to see more than just the famous sites of Jordan — it’s for travelers who want to understand the country’s culture, history, and food. If you’re the kind of person who wants a more authentic and nuanced experience, this tour is for you.

Tour Itinerary

Upon arrival in Amman, you’ll be picked up by a private driver and taken to our excellent hotel in the heart of Jordan’s capital. Once the entire group has arrived, we’ll get together to officially kick off the tour with a quick orientation and a traditional Jordanian dinner.

Included meals: Dinner

Today, we’ll take a guided walking tour that highlights some of the most fascinating parts of Amman, including the city’s most impressive mosques, citadels, and historical sites. In the afternoon, we’ll do a food tasting to sample traditional Jordanian delicacies and desserts, after which we’ll spend time perusing the many souks/market stalls examining the colorful displays of fresh produce, spices, and local handiwork. In the evening, we’ll go for an optional group meal while taking in the lively atmosphere of one of Amman’s most vibrant neighborhoods.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today, we’ll travel (a 45-minute drive) to the ruins of the former Roman city of Jerash, the largest Roman city located outside of Rome itself. As one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in Jordan, we’ll admire the stonework as we take a guided walk through the ruins. After, we’ll drive an hour to Madaba, an ancient city from the Bronze Age that’s known as the City of Mosaics.

Included meals: Breakfast

Madaba is home to the world’s largest mosaic, and in the morning, you’ll learn all about this amazing site and town from our local guide. In the afternoon, we’ll continue to Mount Nebo, the place where Moses looked out over the Promised Land. After our visit to Mount Nebo, we’ll continue to the town of Wadi Musa, the gateway to magnificent Petra. Once there, we’ll share a meal with some local friends!

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After an early breakfast, we’ll make our way to one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the city of Petra. With a full-day tour of one of the greatest and most magical archaeological sites in the world, we’ll visit the surreal gorges, the famous “Treasury”, royal tombs, towering temples, sacrificial locations, and the hilltop monastery. With stops for tea, lunch, and conversations with local bedouins, we’ll take our time as we walk through this UNESCO World Heritage site. Once our walking tour is over, you’ll be able to spend more time exploring the ruins or return to town, where we’ll share an optional group dinner.

Included meals: Breakfast

Today we’ll visit a few of the local Bedouin villages around Petra to learn more about the Bedouin culture and way of life. We’ll then do some light hiking through the countryside before returning to have a home-cooked lunch in a Bedouin home. After, we’ll visit the Bedouin caves, which have been inhabited for thousands of years. At night, you’ll have a chance to sleep in a cave inside of Petra (decorated nicely with a proper mattress), an experience that no other operator can offer.

Finally, we’ll return to Wadi Musa, where you have the option of joining the group for dinner.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

We’ll start today with a 2-hour drive to the town of Aqaba on the Red Sea. We’ll then take a guided walk around this ancient town, which has been inhabited since 4000 BCE, stopping along the way to enjoy lunch together as a group. You’ll then have the rest of the day free to explore Aqaba as you wish. If you’d like, you can join up with the group again in the evening for an optional dinner.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today we’ll leave the sea behind to visit the beautiful and mysterious land of the Wadi Rum desert. Only one hour away, we’ll soon meet with our local hosts and switch into 4WD vehicles so that we can head straight into the sands of Wadi Rum. Stopping to soak in the otherworldly landscape, pastel-colored rock formations, and rippling sand dunes, we’ll learn about the desert, its inhabitants, and their culture. We’ll spend the night at a desert camp where we’ll sit down for a wonderful evening meal, listen to traditional music, admire the star-filled skies, and have a chance for a quiet, energizing sleep.

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today, we’ll continue exploring Wadi Rum, choose-your-own-adventure style. You can either go for a desert hike to a canyon, ride a horse across the desert, take a hot air balloon ride, or even go rock climbing. Our staff will be on hand to assist and help you organize any activities you wish to do in this surreal destination. We’ll then recount our day’s adventures over dinner together at the desert camp.

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

In the morning, we’ll embark on a 4-hour drive to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth (and almost 10 times as salty as the ocean). After checking into our rooms, you’ll have time to head down to the beach (which is right on the hotel’s property), float in the Dead Sea’s incredibly buoyant waters, and cover yourself in its therapeutic and infamous mud. After our day by the sea, we’ll all meet up in the evening for a farewell dinner.

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today, you’ll be picked up at our resort and transferred to the Queen Alia International Airport in Amman in time to catch your departing flight. The airport is only an approximately 50 minutes drive from the Dead Sea.

Included meals: Breakfast

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Tour Essentials

Accommodation

On this trip, you’ll stay in a mix of 3-star hotels, 4-star resorts, and a family-run desert tented camp. You’ll even have a chance to sleep in a cave inside of Petra, an experience that no other operator can offer. See the FAQ section for more details.

Transport

During the trip, we’ll travel via private bus throughout the country. You’ll also have a chance to ride a camel through the desert.

Meals

Daily breakfast, three lunches, and five dinners are included in the cost of this tour. Alcohol is not included and can be purchased at your own expense.

Sustainability

We aim to offer as sustainable an experience as we can. The tap water is safe to drink so we encourage you to bring a water bottle. Trash is recycled whenever possible. We avoid mass tourism activities that cause harm to the environment and/or do not benefit local communities.

Small Groups

This tour will have 8-15 travelers on it so we can provide a great small group tour experience. This way, you’ll be able to enjoy unique, rewarding activities that would not be accessible with more people.

Expert guides

You will be led by an expert tour leader who will always be around to provide extra information, create spontaneous experiences, join the group for all of activities and meals and ensure that the trip is as informative, fun and memorable as possible! You will also have excellent licensed, local guides for walking tours, activities and excursions.

What’s Included

What’s Included

  • Visa fees
  • Accommodation
  • Transportation, including driver
  • All activities and entrance fees listed
  • All included meals listed above
  • Local tour guides during activities
  • Expert tour leader

What’s Not Included

  • Flights to/from the destination
  • Any passport fees
  • Meals not listed
  • Travel insurance (required)
  • Optional activity fees
  • Some tips

Reviews

“The people who would enjoy this trip the most are people who love adventure and have an appreciation for learning history and experiencing other cultures. If you’re looking for a unique immersive experience in Jordan, this is it!”

– Taila, Jordan 2023

“This trip to Jordan was epic! It was the first time I have taken a tour and I would certainly recommend it to anyone. We saw and did things that could not have imagined like pouring rain and hail, hot air balloon and camel ride and waterfalls in Wadi Rum! It was the experience of a lifetime.”

– Nellie, Jordan 2023

“It has shifted my view of “tour groups”. I always had a slightly negative view on group travel. But the detail that y’all put into the trip made it so easy (never felt like I was missing out on a location or site due to time) and did not feel like I had to do my own in depth planning on top of the tour itself.”

– Mckinzie, Jordan 2023

“I liked the tour because we experienced new things every day. I embraced the new and the unexpected, and enjoyed getting to know 11 new people! Awe inspiring places, warm and welcoming people, appreciation and flexibility.”

– Janet, Jordan 2022

“This TNN tour exceeded my expectations in a lot of ways. The group felt united in our desire to discover new places and things. Add in the convenience that I had to make no plans of my own, it’s an awesome way to travel.”

– Brady, Morocco 2022

“The perfect blend of structured activities and free time. We hit several highlights of the country as well as many under the radar places, all with memorable interactions with locals.”

– Kelly, Romania 2022

FAQ

No, we secure what’s called a “Jordan Pass” for you! You will receive your pass by email about two weeks before your tour. It waives the visa fee for you. Once you arrive in the country, you will show your Jordan Pass to the officer and they will give you a visa at no cost. The Jordan Pass is also your ticket into many of the sights we visit, as it waives the entrance fees.

For our Jordan tour, you should fly into and out of Queen Alia International Airport (AMM).

  • On the first day, our orientation meeting generally takes place in the early evening around 5:30pm. It’s best to arrive by the afternoon so you have enough time to get settled in before we meet up.
  • On the last day, you can depart at any time. We’ll provide one morning shuttle from the Dead Sea to the airport, as well as Amman if you are extending your stay.

Yes! This tour includes airport transfers at no extra cost.

  • On the first day, you will be picked up at the airport and taken to the hotel. (If you choose to arrive early and stay at a different hotel, not the one we are using for our tour, we can arrange an airport transfer for an extra fee.)
  • On the last day, there will be one group transfer from our hotel at the Dead Sea to the airport and then to Amman for anyone extending their stay. (Transfers from the Dead Sea or to the airport at other times can be arranged for an extra fee.)

In the fall and spring, you can expect relatively consistent and comfortable temperatures as we move around. It tends to be pleasant during the day and cooler in the evenings. In desert areas, you can expect it to be quite hot during the day and very cold at night.

We will send you a packing list ahead of time to help you prepare. Although Jordan is one of the least conservative countries in the Middle East, it is still quite conservative compared to Western standards. We recommend not wearing very short or tight clothing (unless you’re going to a bar or nightclub where anything goes). You’ll likely feel more comfortable dressing modestly to fit the culture by keeping your knees and shoulders covered. If you’re female, you should bring a scarf to wear when visiting mosques.

As a woman, there is nothing out of the ordinary to be concerned about when traveling to Jordan. We encourage dressing like the locals do. Cover your chest, shoulders, back, and legs to show respect (unless you’re going to a bar or nightclub where anything goes), and bring a scarf for extra coverage when needed. We recommend traveling in pairs or groups as often as possible, especially at night.

Jordan uses a variety of plug outlets (Types C, D, F, G and J). We highly recommend getting both a Type C and Type G plug adapter as this will ensure you are able to plug in your devices everywhere on the trip. You can also purchase a universal adapter that includes Type C and Type G plugs. 

As for electricity, most mobile phones, laptops and other devices can handle all types of voltage when charging. Check your chargers to see if they say 110 – 220V. If that range is listed on the charger, you will not have any problems with charging.

While all of the hotels we stay at have WiFi, the connection can be spotty. It will work and you’ll be able to send emails and do whatever you need to do, but it just might take longer than normal. You can also activate the international plan from your network at home, purchase a local SIM card upon arrival or purchase an e-sim online.

In Amman, you’ll stay in a perfectly located 3-star hotel right in the old city, minutes from famous Rainbow Street and the downtown area.

In Madaba, you’ll stay In the heart of of the area at a friendly, quiet hotel has comfortable rooms, a great swimming pool and even a bar to enjoy.

In Wadi Musa/Petra, you’ll stay at a highly rated 3-star hotel located only 6 minutes walk from the entrance to Petra, with very comfortable rooms, it’s own garden and rooftop terrace with traditional Jordanian seating.

In Wadi Rum, you’ll stay at a family-run desert camp is beautifully and traditionally decorated, with comfortable desert tents, each with a proper bed, floor (not sand), great views and private bathrooms. Being surrounded by the gorgeous desert landscapes in tented housing in really an experience!

In Aqaba, you’ll stay in a great 4-star hotel situated only 650 feet from the Red Sea, with a stunning outdoor pool and rooftop restaurant overlooking the city.

At the Dead Sea, you’ll stay at a luxury 4-star resort located right on the Dead Sea, with its own private beach, full spa, restaurant, and multiple swimming pools. You’ll end your trip well here.

Twin share rooms:

  • If you are traveling solo, you’ll be paired with someone of the same gender in a room with two single beds.
  • If you book two spots, you’ll get the entire room for you and your travel partner. 

Private rooms:

If you’d like to get your own private room, you can add that option at checkout for $350 USD. There are a maximum of 8 single rooms available. Private rooms run on a first come, first served basis.

This tour requires a certain level of physical activity. Please note that the trip can involve somewhat long days, long journeys by van (with stops), walking tours, a variety of temperatures and early morning wake-ups. While there is no strenuous hiking involved on this tour, you should be prepared to be on your feet a lot.

Daily breakfast, 3 lunches, and 5 dinners are included. You can refer to the itinerary to see which ones. All dietary restrictions can be accommodated with prior notice. Alcohol is not included and can be purchased separately.

No, tap water is not considered safe to drink. We’ll provide you with water throughout your trip. Bathing and brushing your teeth with tap water is okay.

You should budget an average of $35-50 USD per day for all your extra needs. Most of your expenses are covered in your trip price, but you will need cash for non-included meals and any additional purchases (laundry service, snacks, etc.) as well as activities you do on your own. Certainly bring more money if you plan to shop!

Yes, you will be able to withdraw cash. We recommend using ATMs which are widely available in cities and will dispense local currency. However, please check with your home bank as many banks charge foreign transaction fees every time you withdraw money from an ATM overseas. Learn how to avoid paying extra fees here.

If using an ATM machine is not an option, the second-best method is to simply bring U.S. dollars or Euros in cash that you can exchange at money exchange booths or banks located all over the country.

Tips are not included in our tour costs. How much you tip depends greatly on how much you want to tip. Generally, $10-15 per day is considered a generous tip for the guides.

Find our general FAQ here to get any of your other questions answered.

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Book with confidence. Your deposit is 100% refundable for 30 days after your booking is made, as long as it’s 60 days prior to departure, so you don’t lose out in case your plans change.