The Best 7 Day Jordan Tour Itinerary (Family Friendly) - VickyFlipFlopTravels
Welcome to the best 7 day Jordan tour itinerary on the internet (IMHO)! I went to Jordan for 7 days in September and had a brilliant time with my son and my friend. Here's everything we did on our Jordan trip, and why!
Travelling to Jordan for a week was a dream, one that I thought would have to wait a few years once my son came along. My partner wasn't keen to visit Jordan, so, fellow travel blogger and ex housemate Emily stepped up to join my 20-month son and I on a 7 day Jordan itinerary to beat all other Jordan itineraries.
I spent ages on this, not wanting anything to go wrong. The stakes were high with a toddler along for the ride. I deliberated over hotels, rearranged routes, and changed my mind a lot along the planning journey. But with experience I can say that this 7 day Jordan itinerary WORKS.
With Jordan's relatively small size you can get a good look round the country in 7 days, although you could definitely stay for longer. I've listed some of the activities we didn't get to do at the end, for if you have extra time.
Travelling round Jordan
We decided to travel Jordan by taxi and private transfers, which, having seen the roads I'm happy we did. There are options for buses, if you look around, and tours. You could also hire a car, although having travelled on some of the mountain passes now, I wouldn't!
Between us, I didn't think that the cost of the taxis was too bad. Especially as it gave us time to sit and look out the window, seeing more of the country in a relaxed way rather than worrying about directions, road rules, toilet stops and timings.
How to do a week in Jordan
Let's crack on and get to the Jordan 7 day itinerary…
Map of the 7 day Jordan itinerary
Day 1: Flight and travel to Dead Sea
If you're flying from Heathrow to Amman via British Airways, like I did, you'll arrive into Amman Queen Alia Airport just after midnight. This was ok, although not ideal for a toddler. I packed a toddler carrier so he could stay asleep on me as I travelled through the airport, which turned out to be a great idea.
With baggage, visas and the Jordan pass, we had a few queues before we could leave the airport, although it was quiet and didn't take too long. I'd definitely recommend you try and get off the plane ASAP though to get ahead.
Once we were out, it was straight to our accommodation by the Dead Sea, ready to start our Jordan travel itinerary.
We travelled by MyTransfers from the airport to O Beach Hotel. It was £67.
After an hour's journey with crazy night drivers, police check points and being squashed in with buggies and car seats, we were glad when we got there!
Reggie and I had a wonderful room, although, unfortunately it had a few levels in it so I was too worried to leave him for any longer than a quick wee. It' would be gorgeous'd be great for families with older children. Emily's room didn't have the different levels, so make sure to check before you book. She also had a better view.
Apart from that, it was wonderful. A HUGE bed, that Reggie and I were asleep in within 20 minutes of getting in the room. What a day!
Visiting the Dead Sea on a day trip from Amman
If you're rejigging your 7 day Jordan itinerary from my suggestions here, it's good for you to know that the Dead Sea is actually only an hour's drive from Amman. You could visit it in a day trip.
I decided we'd stay there on our Jordan trip because it was £100 a night per room and you get earlier access before the tour buses come. The tours I saw were about £100 anyway. I also didn't want to have to get up for a tour on the first day, and it just worked better for our itinerary for wanting to be in Petra on a day that they do Petra by Night. I also wanted to wake up when Reggie woke up, so to ease the pressure, we started our Jordan 7 day itinerary at the Dead Sea.
We stayed at the O Beach Hotel – mainly because it was the best priced and we just wanted to experience the Dead Sea. We didn't need the bells and whistles of the better resorts like the Kempinski and the Marriott as we only really had one morning. I was happy with our decision, although of course, if you've got the money, spend it!
Best Hotels at the Dead Sea, Sowayma
O Beach Hotel: Where we stayed. Great swim up pool, average food, incredible room – one of the cheapest.
Kempinski Ishtar Dead Sea: Swanky. Instagrammy pool, breakfast is meant to be fab – mid price.
Dead Sea Marriott: The premium option – if you can afford it, go for it!
Day 2: Travel to Petra & Petra by Night
We spent a wonderful morning at O Beach Hotel and in the Dead Sea.
We enjoyed the (average) breakfast at the hotel and then went to explore the Dead Sea. God it was a mission! As I'm sure you know, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth so there were a LOT of steps to get down. With a pushchair and a toddler I didn't actually get round to taking a picture of them, but I'd say it was over 100 steep steps down, in a few different directions, across different terrains.
I couldn't process how we were going to get back up, but knew we'd come this far to experience the Dead Sea, so I couldn't back out now. I had to deal with one step at a time, literally.
I'd read online how the high density salt water can hurt any cuts or sensitive areas – definitely don't shave in the 24 hours before going in!
For this reason I decided not to let my son go in. I didn't want to be stuck 100 steps down with a toddler screaming because it'd got in his cuts, or it hurt his winky (I had messages from women after saying it'd stung their VJJ when they'd gone in, FYI). Mine was fine you'll be pleased to know.
Instead, Reggie was perfectly happy sat safely in the shade, strapped into his pushchair, watching YouTube just a few feet from us, while we ventured in.
Gawd it was salty!
Do not get any on your face, and then try to wipe it off with your hand. Voice of experience.
The baby wipes came in handy that day.
Once I'd found my flow in the buoyant water though, it was great! It made the last 24 hours of travel all worth it. Lying in the Dead Sea, in Jordan, with my son in immediate vision, and laughing with Emily – the holiday had begun!
We stayed down there about an hour. Could've stayed longer but time was ticking on our trip to Jordan, and we had 100 steps to get up with a toddler and a pushchair. They also say to stay in a max of 15 mins for the full benefits, and so you don't get dehydrated. If you have time at the airport make sure to pick up some Dead Sea mud to apply after and let dry in the sun. You can wash it off in the shower afterwards.
I'm eternally grateful to the Dead Sea Gods for the man who offered to take the pushchair up for us after about 10 steps. Seriously, what a hero. I think it would still be there if it was left to us.
Save some energy for the way up!
A freshly squeezed orange juice from the hotel's swim up bar, a litre of water, and a swim in the sun, and we were feeling good. Rejuvenated even.
We had an (average) buffet lunch at the hotel and then it was onto our next stop, Petra.
Our Dead Sea to Petra transfer was the best of the 4 journeys we took. We booked with this guy from Viator. I'd strongly recommend getting in touch with him to see if he'll take you elsewhere in Jordan as his car was amazing and spacious, it was very clean, he helped with fitting the car seat I took and was just really nice and friendly but respectful of our need for some quiet!
Petra by Night
We'd planned our Jordan trip around seeing Petra by Night, when the Nabatean ancient city is lit up majestically to wander around.
Petra by Night is held every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:30 to 10:30pm. The ticket is 17JOD, and isn't included in your Jordan Pass.
There are a few articles online about whether Petra by Night is worth the 17JOD fee. For me, it was. Despite a really challenging walk there, thanks to the pram and terrain, I still thought it was amazing, and definitely worth it. I loved seeing it by night and I'll remember it as one of the stand out moments of the trip.
More than a 1000 lanterns light the 2km / 1 mile route from the visitor centre to the Treasury – amazing in itself. Then, once you get to the Treasury you sit down (it stinks btw) with a free tea, and you watch a Bedouin show featuring a flute (more like a recorder). Then there's a bit of chat about the surroundings, and it's all over. The whole show lasted about 45 minutes. I just enjoyed the sit down in such beautiful surroundings, with my son in my lap.
I dreaded the walk back, but we actually managed to get a lift back with a staff member, meaning we were some of the last there.
Where to stay in Petra
I'd recommend you stay in Wadi Musa, which is just outside of the Petra grounds. We stayed at Petra Jewel Luxury Hotel which was a 10-minute walk up or down a hill from the entrance. I chose Petra Jewel thanks to its location and price, and it turned out to be a great choice. The staff there were lovely to Reggie, and it had everything you needed. There was also a few slides and a swing over the road.
If you have money to spend, the Movenpick Resort Petra was fab. That would be my top recommendation and it's just over the road from the entrance.
Two mid options financially and geographically, are the Petra Moon and the Venus Hotel.
These are the closest and best hotels to stay at in Wadi Musa.
Best Hotels in Wadi Musa, Petra
Petra Jewel Luxury Hotel: Where we stayed. Excellent rooftop restaurant, great location, lovely staff, cheaper option.
Movenpick Resort Petra: With a premium location, dining, a pool and all the fanciness you could dream of, this is the one!
Petra Moon Hotel: Mid-priced, great location, with a swimming pool – book early to guarantee a room!
Day 3: Petra
We got a glimpse last night, as Petra by Night only goes as far as the Treasury, but today, we were going for it. Petra is the iconic landmark of Jordan. It's so unique and stunning that its a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.
Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade was filmed here.
After last night's adventure, and a later start than planned, we decided to skip the first 2km / 1 mile walk through the sig and save our energy for when we were in there. We paid 25JOD to get a golf buggy return – absolutely no regrets. The joureny would've been fun for a bit, but I would've ended up carrying my son for most of it and being exhausted before we even got there.
This way Reggie had fun waving at everyone as we drove by, and we were dropped right at the Treasury full of the day's energy.
We had breakfast outside the Treasury at the small cafe during the short period of the day that The Treasury (Al-Khazneh) is lit up, between 8 and 9am. The rest it's in the shade.
With a few biscuits and (grim) long-life filled croissants in us, and a strong coffee we were ready to go. We'd shared the table with a lovely Dutch man and his three children. He was determined that being a father wasn't going to stop his adventures. I love that outlook!
Petra is incredible. I'm going to write more about visiting Petra with a toddler, because it's definitely worth it. There's so much to see, soak up and explore. This was Reggie and I's big mission, the first lookout point by the Treasury. After some misunderstanding with a local lad about whether we needed a guide or not (you do if you want a pic like this), he helped us get up to the viewpoint, and to carry my heavy nappy bag, so we were free to explore.
It was great to be up above the action, Reggie loved being trusted to climb up, and I was glad we'd managed it between us. We got the illustrious Petra picture!
After coming back down, we wandered along the 'Street of Facades' and all the market stalls, and into the 'Starbucks Cafe'. It was cool and dark in here – a welcome change from the sun and stress of climbing up an ancient structure. We sat and had a drink, and something sweet, to gain the energy to get back out there.
There are a lot of things to do in Petra, and see. I didn't expect it to be so big and sprawling, up as well as across. I wouldn't recommend bringing a buggy here, you need to walk and carry.
I managed to see the Treasury, the Theatre, the Street of Facades and the Royal Tombs, before I had to give up. You could get a donkey, or a carriage, but I just didn't feel comfortable doing either with Reggie, and I was happy with what I'd seen, and could see from a distance.
Things to Do in Petra
Instead, Reggie and I climbed back down from the tombs and went and sat by the Petra Theatre enjoying a juice and some toddler snacks. We were happy.
I debated staying around for Reggie's nap, but just decided to get out so he could have it at home. I didn't want to be out too long at this time anyway.
We left Petra at about 1pm, and it was a lot busier.
We got the golf buggy on the way back, and he fell asleep en route. Thankfully there were taxis waiting just by the golf buggy stop. I definitely paid a premium just to go up a hill, but it was worth it to get back to the hotel for a nap with Reggie already asleep.
Some people recommend using the 'back door' into Petra, by hiking to the Monastery (or Ad Dier), and then walking to the main entrance. This way you'll end at one of the most stunning spots, The Treasury, rather than starting at it.
Come 3pm and I was hungry, we wandered back down to the Petra site. We went to Red Cave purely on the basis that it wasn't up a hill and it was serving shawarma, AND falafel, both of which I hadn't had yet. We ordered both – cheap, cheerful, and quick too.
Once we were done we strolled over to the famous Cave Bar, cut into the rocks near Petra, to have a cold beer and wait for Emily to come back from her odyssey up to The Monastery.
Dinner time
The Movenpick Petra
We went for a luxury dinner at The Movenpick after such a busy day. Starters were the local fare with moutabal, falafel and hummus. But for main, Reggie and I shared an avocado salad, and spaghetti bolognaise with prawns. It tasted better than my picture looks!
The Movenpick Restaurant was beautiful, and there's also a gelato bar next door, and a rooftop bar to watch the sun set too. Definitely recommend!
Day 4: Little Petra & Wadi Rum for sunset jeep tour
We were about to get a taxi to Little Petra, and then our hotel guy told us about the free bus from the visitors centre. So off we popped down the hill and onto the bus. It was a 15-minute drive out to Little Petra and we were dropped just outside.
Little Petra is as it sounds, a smaller version along the lines of what we'd seen at Petra. It's a lot less busy, and much mor...
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