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London to Jordan: Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum and Aqaba

London → Amman → Petra → Wadi Rum → Aqaba

Al-Khazneh
"Al_khazneh.jpg" by Susanahajer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence
AQABA 2 (Aqaba)
Photo: Freedom's Falcon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Jordan desert & Red Sea Best season (general guide): Mar–May, Sep–Nov

Jordan is small enough to drive from top to bottom in a day, and this route does just that, slowly. From London you'll fly to Amman. From there the Desert Highway or the older King's Highway runs south to Petra, the Wadi Rum desert and the Red Sea coast at Aqaba, where you can fly home.

Amman's Roman theatre and Citadel give a first taste of the country's layers of history, and the colonnaded streets of Jerash, to the north, are an easy half-day trip. Two nights in Wadi Musa let you enter Petra early, before the heat and the crowds. You walk through the Siq, a sandstone gorge about 1.2 km long, to the Treasury and then climb toward the Monastery at your own pace. Further south, Wadi Rum's sandstone mountains and dunes are explored by jeep or on foot with local Bedouin guides, and a night in a desert camp means an unpolluted sky full of stars. The trip ends at Aqaba, where coral reefs lie just offshore in the Gulf.

Visit Jordan, the national tourism board, points to spring and autumn as the best seasons, roughly March to May and September to November. Summer is very hot in Petra and the desert, and winter nights in Wadi Rum can be close to freezing. The official Jordan Pass includes Petra entry and waives the single-entry tourist visa fee for eligible travellers who buy it before arriving and stay at least two nights, so it's worth checking before you travel.

Wear sturdy shoes and carry water for Petra, where the main trail and the stairs to the Monastery involve a lot of walking. Modest dress is appreciated in towns, and a scarf is useful against sun and sand in the desert.

Safety note: Canada advises avoiding non-essential travel to Jordan due to the volatile regional security situation, and all travel within 5 km of the Iraq and Syria borders (updated 17 Sep 2026). The US rates Jordan Level 3 (reconsider travel), citing the threat of Iranian drone and missile attacks and flight disruptions since 28 Feb 2026 (issued 29 Aug 2026). Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum and Aqaba are outside the do-not-travel areas.

Suggested outline

  1. London

    Start

  2. Amman

    By air · 2 nights suggested

    The capital's Citadel hill and Roman theatre overlook a city built on many hills. Jerash's Roman ruins are an easy day trip.

  3. Petra

    Overland · 2 nights suggested

    The rock-cut Nabataean city is reached through the Siq gorge from the town of Wadi Musa. Allow at least a full day.

  4. Wadi Rum

    Overland · 1 night suggested

    A protected desert of sandstone mountains and red sand. Most visitors stay overnight in a Bedouin-run camp.

    Wadi Rum
    "Mountain_in_Wadi_Rum,_Jordan.jpg" by Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

  5. Aqaba

    Overland · 2 nights suggested

    Jordan's Red Sea port, known for snorkelling and diving on the coral reefs south of town.

    Aqaba
    "AQABA_2.png" by Freedom's Falcon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Amman — Arrive; Citadel and Roman theatre· London → Amman (by air)
  2. Day 2 · Amman — Jerash day trip
  3. Day 3 · Petra — Road south to Wadi Musa· Amman → Petra (overland)
  4. Day 4 · Petra — Petra: the Siq, Treasury and Monastery
  5. Day 5 · Wadi Rum — Jeep or walk with a Bedouin guide; desert camp· Petra → Wadi Rum (overland)
  6. Day 6 · Aqaba — To the Red Sea· Wadi Rum → Aqaba (overland)
  7. Day 7 · Aqaba — Snorkelling on the reefs
  8. Day 8 · Aqaba — Travel home from Aqaba· Aqaba → London (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

Flights, leg by leg

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Amman

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Petra

Nearest airport: Amman Search fares · Amman ↗

Wadi Rum

Nearest airport: Aqaba

Aqaba

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