5 Day Tour: Amman Petra Jerash Mount Nebo Shobak Castle Wadi Rum Red & Dead Sea

The best thing about this five-day Jordan tour is its sweep. You move from Roman ruins and mosaic churches to Petra’s carved stone, then sleep in Wadi Rum and float in the Dead Sea. Petra and Wadi Rum are the clear stars, but the northern sites give the trip useful variety.

I like the private vehicle and flexible driver service, especially for a route with long road days. I also like the practical mix of hotels and one Bedouin camp, with breakfast each morning and dinner at the camp. The main drawback is pace: you cover a lot in five days, and entry fees, local guides, and the Dead Sea resort are extra.

Key points at a glance

• Petra gets a full walking day: Expect about six to seven hours on foot through the Siq, past the Treasury, Theater, and up toward the Monastery.
• Wadi Rum includes a Bedouin camp: Your overnight stay includes dinner, breakfast, and a two-hour jeep tour in a Bedouin truck.
• The route reaches both seas: You visit the Gulf of Aqaba and the Dead Sea on the final day.
• Amman is your base twice: Two hotel nights are included, with a separate night in Petra and one in Wadi Rum.
• Costs require planning: Site entry, local guides, meals beyond the listed camp dinner and breakfasts, insurance, and the Dead Sea resort are not included.
• Driver Mahd is named in the feedback: His punctuality, patience, and care were especially praised, useful qualities on long sightseeing days.

A fast but wide look at Jordan

This is a private five-day circuit from Amman. You travel in a modern air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver, so your group does not share the road schedule with strangers. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, which keeps the start and finish simple.

The route covers Amman, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Jerash, Ajloun Castle, Dana Nature Reserve, Shobak Castle, Little Petra, Petra, Wadi Rum, Aqaba, and the Dead Sea. That is an ambitious list. You will see many headline sights, but you should expect early starts, long drives, and only limited free time in some places.

The tour costs $899 per person. That price covers transport, two nights in Amman, one night in Petra, one night at a Bedouin camp, breakfasts at the hotels, camp dinner, and a two-hour Wadi Rum jeep tour. It does not cover the major admission fees, so compare the total cost with the Jordan Pass before booking.

The Jordan Pass is recommended because it can waive Jordan’s visa entry fee and includes admission to 41 sites. Check the current terms before arrival, since your savings depend on which sites you plan to visit and your visa situation.

Day one: Amman, Madaba, and Mount Nebo

Your first day begins around 8:00 a.m. in Amman. The opening stop is the Amman Citadel, where you get a quick introduction to the city’s ancient core. The schedule then moves to the Roman Theater and its museum before dropping into downtown.

Downtown Amman adds a more local note to the morning. You visit Al-Husseini Mosque and the old markets, then continue south to Madaba. The day includes St. George’s Church and its famous mosaic map, followed by mosaic shops.

Madaba’s church mosaic is one of the most useful stops on the route because it connects art, religion, and geography. The map gives you a picture of the region as understood centuries ago. The shop visit may appeal to you if you want to see Jordanian mosaic work, though you should treat it as a shopping stop rather than a major monument.

The final scheduled visit is Mount Nebo at about 2:30 p.m. The site is known for its biblical connection and broad views toward the Jordan Valley. You then return to Amman, arriving around 5:00 p.m.

This is a full first day, with several stops packed into eight hours. I would not expect long museum visits or much time to wander. The upside is that you quickly get a sense of Amman and its surroundings without arranging separate transport.

Day two: Roman Jerash and Ajloun Castle

Pickup is again at 8:00 a.m., this time heading north to Jerash. The city tour is scheduled for about 9:00 a.m., giving you a useful morning block among columns, streets, and Roman public buildings.

Jerash is one of Jordan’s strongest ancient sites. Its scale makes it easier to picture a functioning Roman city than at a single isolated ruin. You can expect plenty of walking over open ground, so practical shoes and sun protection matter.

At about 2:00 p.m., the route continues to Ajloun Castle. The castle adds a medieval military chapter after the Roman remains at Jerash. It is a good contrast in both date and setting, but the visit is brief compared with the time spent on the road.

The planned return to Amman is around 5:00 p.m. As with day one, the schedule is efficient rather than leisurely. If Jerash is your main interest, tell the driver early so you can make the most of your time there. A local guide is not included, so you either explore independently or hire one at your own expense if available.

Day three: Dana, Shobak, and Little Petra

The southern run begins at 8:00 a.m. You make a short stop at Dana Nature Reserve around 10:00 a.m. The supplied schedule describes this as only a few minutes, so do not plan on a hike or a full nature visit.

At about 11:00 a.m., you reach Shobak Castle. This hilltop fortress is less famous than Petra, but it helps break up the drive and adds another layer to Jordan’s past. The tour then reaches Little Petra around 1:00 p.m.

Little Petra is a natural preview of the carved-stone world ahead. Its smaller scale makes it easier to explore quickly, and the visit can help you recognize the Nabataean style before Petra’s much larger monuments. The tradeoff is that you only get a limited stop before checking into your hotel in Petra, also called Wadi Musa.

Entry fees are not included on this day. That wording applies to the tour overall, even where a day’s outline says admission is free. Budget separately for Shobak, Little Petra, Petra, Jerash, and the other ticketed sites, then check whether the Jordan Pass covers them.

Day four: the Siq, Treasury, and Monastery

This is the tour’s biggest sightseeing day. You start Petra early and walk through the Siq, the narrow passage leading toward the Treasury. The first view of the carved facade is the moment many people have been waiting for, but do not stop your day there.

The route continues toward the Theater and then the Monastery. The Monastery is less decorated than the Treasury, yet its huge facade makes the long walk worthwhile. Reaching both main trails takes about six to seven hours of walking, according to the schedule.

That time estimate matters. Petra is not a quick photo stop beside a parking lot. You need a moderate level of fitness, comfortable shoes, water, and patience for uneven ground and steps. The itinerary leaves little room for a slow lunch, long rests, or a second visit to favorite places.

A local Petra guide is not included. Your English-speaking driver handles transport and general support, but the driver is not necessarily a licensed guide inside the monuments. If detailed archaeology or Nabataean history matters to you, set aside money for a local guide or use the information available at the site.

Later in the afternoon, you travel toward Wadi Rum for the night. The change is dramatic: Petra’s carved stone gives way to wide desert views and isolated rock formations. You stay at a Bedouin camp inside the reserve, with dinner and breakfast included.

The camp is more than a cheap hotel substitute. It gives the route a different rhythm after a demanding Petra day. At the same time, camping comfort can vary, and the tour description does not specify the exact camp facilities or room setup. One room or tent is provided for up to three people, with a single supplement for solo use.

Day five: Wadi Rum, Aqaba, and the Dead Sea

Breakfast at camp comes around 7:00 a.m., followed by an 8:00 a.m. jeep tour in a Bedouin truck. The included drive lasts two hours and takes you to several Wadi Rum sights.

This is a good use of the morning. After arriving late the day before, you get daylight in the desert rather than treating the camp as only an overnight stop. The jeep ride is an active, open-air part of the tour, though the description does not promise a particular route or named formations.

At about 10:00 a.m., you continue to the Gulf of Aqaba and visit the public beach. Aqaba is included in the warmer months, but the tour skips the city from November through the end of March because shorter daylight makes the schedule harder. If Aqaba matters to you, check the season before you reserve.

The final major stop is the Dead Sea. You reach the area around 1:00 p.m. for beach time and floating. The Dead Sea is a memorable finish, but the resort admission is not included. You need to pay that cost separately, and you should confirm the chosen resort arrangements with the provider before departure.

The drive back to Amman begins around 6:00 p.m., with hotel or home drop-off planned for about 7:00 p.m. Winter daylight can shift the schedule. This last day combines desert, coast, and salt water, but it is also another long day in the vehicle.

What the private setup changes

A private tour is useful here because the route has several timing pressure points. You can ask for more time at Jerash, adjust a quick stop, or get help with directions without waiting for a large group. Hotel pickup and drop-off also remove the need to arrange taxis at the start and end.

The driver is a central part of the experience. Mahd is specifically praised for being on time, patient, informative, and attentive to the group. Those traits matter when you spend up to eight hours a day on the road and need help moving between sites.

Do keep the role clear. The package provides an English-speaking driver, not local site guides. That is enough for transport and broad orientation, but it may not satisfy you if you want detailed explanations at every monument.

Hotels, meals, and the real price

You receive two nights in Amman and one night in Petra in three-star hotels, with breakfast included. The fourth night is at a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum, with dinner and breakfast. This is a practical midrange arrangement rather than a luxury trip.

Other meals are not included. You should plan for lunch on sightseeing days and dinner on the three nights outside the camp. Travel insurance is also your responsibility.

The $899 price is strongest for someone who values private transport and wants the full route without piecing together hotels, transfers, and a desert night. It is less attractive if you already have a rental car, prefer public transport, or want to select higher-end hotels yourself.

Add up admission fees before deciding. Petra is the biggest item to consider, and Jerash, Ajloun, Shobak, Little Petra, and other sites may also require payment. A Jordan Pass may reduce the total, depending on eligibility and how you use it.

Who should book this five-day circuit?

I would choose this tour if you have only five days, want Jordan’s main sights, and prefer a private driver over independent driving. It suits people who like full days and are comfortable walking for hours at Petra.

It also works well for a small family or group of friends, since one room or tent can house up to three people. Group discounts are offered, but the exact savings are not specified, so ask before booking.

I would hesitate if you need a slow pace, substantial hiking time in Dana, long beach hours, or extensive museum visits. The schedule gives you breadth, not much spare time. The physical demands are moderate, and the Petra day is the most demanding.

The cancellation policy is fairly clear: cancel at least six full days before the start for a full refund. Cancellation two to six days ahead provides a 50 percent refund, while cancellation less than two full days ahead is not refunded. Changes follow the same cutoff rules.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your priority is seeing a large share of Jordan in five days with one private vehicle and a dependable driver. The combination of Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea, Jerash, and Mount Nebo gives you a strong first look at the country.

Before paying, price the Jordan Pass, confirm the Dead Sea resort fee, and set aside money for local guides and meals. If those extras fit your budget and you accept the brisk schedule, this is a practical way to cover Jordan’s major sights without managing every transfer yourself.

FAQ

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates, and an English-speaking driver travels with you in a modern private air-conditioned vehicle.

What accommodation is included?

Two nights in Amman and one night in Petra are included in three-star hotels, with breakfast. One night is in a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum, including dinner and breakfast.

Is the Petra entrance fee included?

No. Entry fees to sites are not included. Local guides are also extra. The tour recommends purchasing a Jordan Pass, which can include admission to 41 sites and may waive the visa entry fee.

How much walking is required at Petra?

The Petra visit involves about six to seven hours of walking if you cover the Siq, Treasury, Theater, and Monastery trails. A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended.

Is Aqaba visited all year?

No. Aqaba is skipped from November through the end of March because of shorter daylight hours. During the warmer-season itinerary, the tour visits the Gulf of Aqaba and a public beach.

Does the Dead Sea resort cost extra?

Yes. Entry to the Dead Sea resort is not included. The tour includes time for floating and beach use, but you must pay the resort fee separately.