Jordan vacations 2024 & 2025

Visiting the living-rock ruins of Petra is one of Jordan’s most notable draws, but there’s a lot more to experience beyond exploring this ancient citadel, including camping on the terracotta-hued sands of Wadi Rum desert and floating upon the buoyant salt water of the Dead Sea.

We can also help you experience Jordan beyond its classic sights, diving deeper into the history and culture of this Levantine kingdom. For example, you could dine on traditional Jordanian fare within a cave near Petra once inhabited by Bedouins, forage for indigenous plants with a local expert in Umm Qais overlooking the Sea of Galilee, or try your hand at shepherding with a shepherd in the shrubby hills of Pella.

Jordan has many contemporary international hotels dotted around the country, including some more sumptuous options, but there are also a handful of distinctive stays you can experience during your trip. For example, you could gaze at the starry night sky from your domed desert tent in Wadi Rum, soak in the valley views at an eco-friendly guesthouse in Dana Biosphere Reserve, or enjoy a remote stay at an artistic rendition of a rustic Jordanian house snuggled into the hills of Pella.

Most people begin their journey in Jordan’s capital city of Amman, visiting the nearby 1st-century Roman ruins of Jerash before setting off for a desert-lined road trip to Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea. We recommend spending at least a couple of days exploring each of these sites, and if you have more time, adding on a relaxing beach trip to the vibrant coral reefs of Aqaba or an outdoors adventure within the canyon-carved landscapes of Dana Biosphere Reserve.

People often combine a trip to Jordan with a cruise along the Nile in Egypt or few days perusing the sacred city Jerusalem just across the border.

It takes around 12–14 hours to fly from New York to Jordan’s capital city of Amman and 22 hours from LA. We recommend flying with Delta, Air France, and a few other airlines, which we can advise on.

The time zone in Jordan is UTC+3 and there’s no longer daylight saving time there, so the clocks stay the same all year round.

Jordan is a small country, so the quickest and simplest way of getting around is by car. We can arrange a private driver for you who will likely stay with you throughout your entire trip. If you’d like to add on a trip to Israel, you can drive over the border, or for Egypt, it’s just a short flight away.

US citizens need a visa to enter Jordan but this can be obtained on arrival. If you’re entering Jordan at Amman airport, our local agents can issue you a free visa, instead of having to pay for one yourself.

You should check with your doctor to see which vaccinations you‘ll need for Jordan, but we recommend that you are at least up to date with the vaccinations recommended for your home country. You can take a look at suggested vaccinations for Jordan on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Your passport must be valid for six months after the date of departure from Jordan and have a minimum of one unstamped double page free.

Going to Jordan during Ramadan can be challenging as many of the locals will be fasting during this time and shops and restaurants tend to be closed during the daytime. While you’re not expected to fast, it’s respectful to avoid eating, drinking, and smoking in public during daylight hours. You’ll likely need to eat in your hotel or at the back area of open restaurants away from the windows. That said, museums and archaeological sites remain open during Ramadan and tend to be quieter.

After the sun sets, the atmosphere shifts from placid to vibrant and celebratory as the streets come alive with people enjoying iftar, a meal that breaks the fast. It may be noisy until the early hours because people stay up to eat just before the sun rises again.

Jordan is a Muslim country, albeit less conservative than others, so it’s best to dress modestly to respect the local culture, no matter your gender. That means you should cover your shoulders and knees while out in public. We also recommend packing layers as the weather can change very quickly in Jordan, flitting between hot sun and rain showers. Finally, if you visit a mosque, women will need to cover their hair.

There’s no official dress code for Petra and women don’t need to cover their hair while walking around the ruins, but you should wear comfortable footwear as the trails can be uneven. While you can wear whatever you want, we recommend loose, comfortable clothing and layers, especially if you want to explore beyond the much-photographed Treasury.

No, it’s forbidden to photograph government and military buildings in Jordan, and it’s best to avoid capturing any bridges or canals that could be construed as having strategic significance.