A Week in Jordan — Self-Launched: Amman, Jerash, Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea
7 days · Jordan
Jordan Horizons Tours charges £1,170
No-markup version: ~£490 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Jordan Horizons Tours' 7-day "A Week in Jordan" private tour, rebuilt for independent travellers. You'll hit the same highlights — Amman's Citadel and Roman Theatre, the Roman city of Jerash, Ajloun castle, a float in the Dead Sea, the Dana Biosphere Reserve, two days in Petra, a night in a Wadi Rum desert camp with a 4x4 tour, Aqaba, Karak Castle, Madaba's mosaics and Mt. Nebo — but instead of a private driver-guide you'll use Jordan's JETT tourist coaches, local minibuses, a shared 4x4 in Wadi Rum and self-booked GetYourGuide day tours. Costs are approximate solo backpacker/budget-traveller rates in GBP; the Jordan Pass covers your visa fee and most site entry, which is the single biggest saving versus the packaged price.
Day-by-day
Arrive Amman — Citadel, Roman Theatre & downtown souq
Amman
Land at Queen Ali a International Airport and take the airport shuttle bus or a shared taxi into downtown Amman (~£3-6) rather than a private transfer. Check into a budget hotel or hostel in the Al-Weibdeh or downtown area, then spend the afternoon on the self-guided Amman city walk the tour also includes: the Citadel with its Archaeological Museum and Temple of Hercules, the Roman Theatre, and the buzzing fruit-and-spice alleys of the downtown souq. Buy your Jordan Pass online before arrival — the 3-night version includes your visa fee and entry to Jerash, Petra, Wadi Rum and Karak. Finish with knafeh at Habiba sweets and a cheap falafel dinner.
🚌Airport shuttle bus or shared taxi to downtown (~£3-6); walking in the city
🛏Budget hotel/hostel in Al-Weibdeh or downtown Amman (dorm or private single) — ~£16
- →Amman Citadel & Archaeological Museum (Jordan Pass)
- →Roman Theatre of Amman
- →Downtown souq and Hashemite Plaza
- →Buy Jordan Pass online (before arrival)
Jerash, Ajloun & a float in the Dead Sea
Jerash / Ajloun / Dead Sea
Join a small-group day tour (GetYourGuide or a local Amman operator, ~£45-60 including transport and a licensed guide) that runs the classic northern loop: Jerash's colonnaded Oval Plaza, Hadrian's Arch and Temple of Artemis, then Ajloun's 12th-century Ayyubid castle (the 'Al-Rabid' castle on the original itinerary). Some tours continue to the Dead Sea for a late-afternoon float and mud pack at a public/private beach — if not, take a JETT or local bus to Amman Beach (~£12 entry) or ask your tour to drop you there. Overnight back in Amman (or stay at a Dead Sea budget guesthouse if you want the sunset).
🚌Small-group minibus day tour (~£45-60); or JETT/local bus Amman–Jerash ~£3 + shared taxi
🛏Budget hotel in Amman — ~£16 (or Dead Sea guesthouse ~£25)
- →Guided Jerash tour (small-group day trip via GetYourGuide)
- →Ajloun Castle entry
- →Dead Sea float and mud at Amman Beach
South on the King's Highway — Dana Biosphere Reserve to Petra
Dana / Wadi Musa (Petra)
Take the early JETT or local bus from Amman's Mujamma' Janoob (South Bus Station) toward Petra/Wadi Musa (~£6-8, 4 hrs), getting off at Dana junction or arranging a shared taxi into Dana village. Walk the Dana Biosphere Reserve's short self-guided trails — the Wadi Dana and Village Trail viewpoints give you the same dramatic canyon scenery without a guide. Then continue by shared taxi or minibus to Wadi Musa (~£4-6) and check into a guesthouse by the Petra gate. Worth pre-booking a 'Petra by Night' candlelit Siq ticket (~£15, runs Mon/Wed/Thu) if your dates line up.
🚌JETT/local bus Amman–Dana junction ~£7; shared taxi Dana–Wadi Musa ~£5
🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel in Wadi Musa — ~£18
- →Dana Biosphere Reserve viewpoint trails (free/self-guided)
- →Dana village walk
- →Optional: Petra by Night (~£15)
- →Petra Visitor Centre & ticket collection
Petra — the Siq, Treasury, Monastery & the back road to Little Petra
Petra / Wadi Musa
Enter Petra at opening time (6am in summer) with your Jordan Pass to beat the crowds and heat. Walk the Siq to the Treasury, then the Street of Facades, Roman Theatre, Colonnaded Street and Qasr al-Bint. Climb the 800 steps to the Monastery in the cooler morning hours, and add the High Place of Sacrifice and the Byzantine Church if you have energy. In the afternoon, do the tour's 'back road' route in reverse on your own: a local taxi to Little Petra (~£6) and hike the marked 8-9 km trail through the mountains back into Petra (free, 3-4 hrs) — or take a licensed local guide at the visitor centre (~£30-45 for a half day) if you'd prefer company. Sleep in Wadi Musa again.
🚌Walking; local taxi Wadi Musa–Little Petra ~£6 return
🛏Guesthouse in Wadi Musa — ~£18
- →Petra full-day entry incl. Siq, Treasury, Monastery (Jordan Pass)
- →Little Petra + back-road hiking trail
- →Optional: local guide at Petra Visitor Centre (~£35)
- →Optional: High Place of Sacrifice, Byzantine Church
Wadi Rum 4x4 and desert camp night
Wadi Rum
Shared taxi or minibus from Wadi Musa to Wadi Rum Visitor Centre (~£8-10, 1.5 hrs). Book a Wadi Rum camp directly (Booking.com or the camp's own site) with a 4x4 jeep tour included — standard bubble/tent camps run ~£30-40 per person for a night plus a 4-hour jeep tour with Bedouin lunch. The jeep route covers Lawrence's Spring, Khazali Canyon, the sand dunes, Little Bridge, Burdah Rock Bridge, the Nabatean Temple and Lawrence's House — exactly the itinerary stops in the original tour. Watch sunset from a dune and eat zarb (underground-cooked lamb) at camp, then stargaze — Wadi Rum is a Dark Sky Reserve.
🚌Shared taxi/minibus Wadi Musa–Wadi Rum ~£9
🛏Wadi Rum desert camp, standard tent — ~£34 incl. jeep tour, dinner & breakfast
- →Wadi Rum 4x4 jeep tour (included in camp package)
- →Khazali Canyon, Burdah & Little Bridges, Lawrence's Spring
- →Sunset dune viewpoint
- →Zarb dinner and stargazing at camp
Aqaba, then Karak Castle, Madaba & Mt. Nebo back to Amman
Aqaba / Karak / Madaba / Amman
Sunrise at camp, then head to Aqaba (~£6 shared taxi) for a swim, a snorkel at the South Beach marine reserve (~£10-15 gear hire) or a glass-bottom boat (~£15). In the afternoon take the bus or shared taxi north along the Dead Sea Highway (Aqaba–Amman ~£8-10); if you want the tour's Karak and Madaba stops, break the journey with a stop at Karak Castle (~£3 by bus from Aqaba/Karak junction) and continue to Madaba for St. George's Church and its 6th-century mosaic map, plus Mt. Nebo's viewpoint over the Jordan Valley (shared taxi Madaba–Mt. Nebo ~£10 return). Finish in Amman for the night. (If time is tight, pick either Aqaba swim or the Karak/Madaba loop and take the direct JETT bus.)
🚌Shared taxis Wadi Rum–Aqaba ~£6, Aqaba–Karak ~£8, Karak–Madaba ~£4, Madaba–Amman ~£3, Mt. Nebo return ~£10
🛏Budget hotel in Amman — ~£16
- →Aqaba snorkelling or glass-bottom boat
- →Karak Castle entry (Jordan Pass)
- →St. George's Church mosaic map, Madaba (Jordan Pass)
- →Mt. Nebo monastery & Jordan Valley viewpoint
Amman — last souq wander and departure
Amman
A slow morning: Rainbow Street and Al-Weibdeh cafés, the Jordan Museum if you skipped it, and last-minute souvenirs (olive oil, za'atar, Dead Sea mud) in the downtown souq. Take the airport shuttle bus or a shared taxi to Queen Alia International Airport (~£3-6). If your flight is late, leave bags at the hotel and squeeze in one more knafeh.
🚌Airport shuttle bus or shared taxi ~£3-6
🛏—
- →Rainbow Street & Al-Weibdeh café morning
- →Optional: Jordan Museum
- →Souvenir shopping in downtown souq
Self-launched vs. Jordan Horizons Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Jordan Horizons Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£490 | £1,170 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £680 per person (58%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Jordan Horizons Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£490
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does A Week in Jordan — Self-Launched: Amman, Jerash, Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £490 per person for 7 days in Jordan. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Jordan Horizons Tours?+
Yes — Jordan Horizons Tours charges around £1,170 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £490 — a saving of roughly £680 (58%) per person.
How long is the Jordan trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Jordan.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Jordan, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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