Jordan Family Adventure — Self-Launched
8 days · Jordan
G Adventures charges £1,900
No-markup version: ~£460 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An 8-day self-launched family loop of Jordan covering Amman, Karak Castle, Wadi Ibn Hammad gorge, two days at Petra, a Bedouin desert camp and 4x4 in Wadi Rum, Red Sea snorkelling in Aqaba and a float in the Dead Sea. Instead of a private van and tour leader, you'll use JETT tourist buses, service taxis and local minibuses, book Petra and Wadi Rum guides/drivers directly, and stay in family rooms in guesthouses and budget hotels. Costs are approximate per-person estimates for a family of four sharing rooms (children often get entry discounts), excluding international flights. Note: sightseeing independently in Jordan is very doable, but joining group minibuses makes Petra–Wadi Rum–Aqaba legs cheaper.
Day-by-day
Arrive Amman — downtown wander
Amman
Fly into Queen Alia International Airport and take the Airport Express bus or shared shuttle to the Abdali/downtown area (~3-5 JOD, ~£4-6 per person; a private airport taxi is ~25 JOD split between the family). Check into a family guesthouse near the Roman Theatre or in Jabal Amman. In the afternoon walk the Citadel and Roman Theatre (combined Jordan Pass covers both) and eat cheap falafel, hummus and knafeh downtown for dinner. Buy a Jordan Pass online before arrival — it bundles the visa fee and Petra entry.
🚌Airport Express bus or shared airport shuttle ~£5 per person
🛏Family-run guesthouse or budget hotel in downtown Amman (family room)
- →Amman Citadel & Roman Theatre (Jordan Pass)
- →Downtown Amman food walk (hashem falafel, knafeh)
Amman to Wadi Musa via Wadi Ibn Hammad & Karak
Wadi Musa (Petra)
Without a private van, the cheapest reliable route is the JETT bus Amman–Petra (departs early morning from Abdali, ~10-12 JOD, ~£9-11 per person, ~3.5 hrs). If you want to stop at Karak Castle and the Wadi Ibn Hammad gorge en route, book a day-hire taxi or a shared minibus from Amman's Muhajireen station, or use a local driver service booked through your guesthouse (roughly 70-90 JOD for the day split by the family). Karak Castle entry is included in the Jordan Pass; the Wadi Ibn Hammad gorge walk is free and best done before midday heat. Arrive Wadi Musa in the evening and settle in.
🚌JETT bus Amman–Petra ~£10 pp, or shared day taxi via Karak and Wadi Ibn Hammad
🛏Guesthouse in Wadi Musa, family room, 5 mins from Petra visitor centre
- →Wadi Ibn Hammad gorge walk
- →Karak Crusader Castle (Jordan Pass)
Petra — full day in the rose-red city
Wadi Musa (Petra)
Be at the visitor centre for opening time. Walk the Siq (1.2 km) to the Treasury, then the Street of Facades, Theatre, Royal Tombs and up to the Monastery — a big but rewarding day with kids. Book a licensed local guide at the visitor centre for a 2-3 hour Petra orientation (~50-70 JOD for the group) or take a self-guided audio guide. A donkey or horse ride is available for tired legs (agree price first, 10-15 JOD). Carry lots of water and snacks — food inside is limited and pricey.
🚌Walking (visitor centre 5 min from accommodation)
🛏Guesthouse in Wadi Musa, family room
- →Petra full-day entry (Jordan Pass)
- →Siq & Treasury walk
- →Monastery hike
- →Local guide at visitor centre (~£12 pp shared)
Petra morning, then Wadi Rum desert camp
Wadi Rum
Use your Jordan Pass for a second Petra day (2-day Petra is included). Explore the lesser-visited areas like the High Place of Sacrifice or Little Petra (free). In the afternoon take a shared minibus or service taxi from Wadi Musa to Wadi Rum visitor centre (~1.5 hrs, ~8-10 JOD pp or ~35-40 JOD for a private taxi). Pre-book a Bedouin camp via Booking.com or directly and they'll collect you at the visitor centre in a 4x4. Dinner at camp included in the stay.
🚌Shared minibus/service taxi Wadi Musa–Wadi Rum ~£8 pp; camp 4x4 transfer
🛏Bedouin desert tent camp, Wadi Rum (family tent with bedding)
- →Petra Little Petra / High Place of Sacrifice
- →Bedouin camp evening & dinner
Wadi Rum 4x4 jeep tour — to Aqaba
Aqaba
Morning 4x4 excursion into Wadi Rum protected area (2-4 hrs) with a Bedouin driver: Khazali Canyon inscriptions, Lawrence's Spring, red sand dunes and mushroom rocks. Book directly with your camp or a local Bedouin operator (~60-80 JOD per jeep for up to 6 people, ~£12-15 pp). Optional camel ride 1 hr (~25 JOD pp, negotiate). After lunch, take a shared minibus or service taxi to Aqaba (~1.5 hrs, ~8-10 JOD pp). Evening on Aqaba's corniche with fresh fish dinner.
🚌Camp 4x4 jeep, then shared minibus/service taxi Wadi Rum–Aqaba ~£8 pp
🛏Budget hotel/Aqaba guesthouse near the beach or Second Circle
- →Wadi Rum 4x4 jeep tour
- →Optional camel ride
- →Aqaba corniche evening
Red Sea snorkelling day in Aqaba
Aqaba
Day trip from Aqaba to the coral reefs at the Aqaba Marine Park / Japanese Garden or South Beach — the easiest self-bookable option is a shared snorkelling boat trip (3-4 hrs) or a beach club with gear rental (snorkel kit ~5-8 JOD). Local boats leave from the South Beach jetty; book through your hotel or getyourguide. Kids-friendly with calm water and reefs right off the shore. Alternatively take a taxi to Berenice Beach Club and snorkel from the shore.
🚌Local taxi to South Beach (~5-8 JOD return split), or booked boat trip
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse in Aqaba
- →Shared snorkelling boat trip (getyourguide, ~£30 pp)
- →Aqaba Marine Park shore snorkel & gear rental
Aqaba to the Dead Sea — float and mud
Dead Sea / Amman
Long driving day (~3.5 hrs). Take the early JETT or Trust bus from Aqaba to Amman (via the desert highway) then a shared taxi or minibus out to the Dead Sea public beach (~30-45 min, ~10-15 JOD split), or arrange a shared day-trip minibus from your Aqaba hotel. The cheapest Dead Sea access is the public Amman Beach (entry ~25 JOD pp, showers and mud available) — resorts charge much more. Float, cover up in mineral mud, rinse off and return to Amman in the late afternoon. If driving, a day-hire taxi from Amman to Dead Sea and back is ~60-70 JOD per group.
🚌Buses to Amman (~£10 pp) + shared taxi/minibus to Dead Sea
🛏Budget hotel in Amman downtown
- →Dead Sea float & mud (Amman Beach entry ~£25 pp)
Amman departure
Amman
Breakfast at the hotel and a final morning for the Jordan Museum (free/donation) or the gold souk downtown. Take the Airport Express bus or shared shuttle to Queen Alia for your flight home.
🚌Airport Express bus ~£5 pp
🛏—
- →Jordan Museum
- →Last-minute souvenir shopping
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£460 | £1,900 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,440 per person (76%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£460
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 Jordan Family Adventure — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £460 per person for 8 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,900 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £460 — a saving of roughly £1,440 (76%) per person.
How long is the Jordan trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 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, foodie 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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