6 Day Tour: Amman Petra Jerash Baptism Site Karak Castle Wadi Rum Red & Dead Sea

Petra is only one part of this six-day Jordan tour. You also get Roman cities, mosaic floors, Crusader-era Karak Castle, a night in Wadi Rum, and time to float in the Dead Sea, all with your own vehicle and driver. The route packs a lot into each day, but it gives you a useful first look at nearly every major stop in western Jordan.

I like the private transport, which lets you avoid a large group and keep the day moving. I also like the mix of hotel nights and a Bedouin camp, since you get both practical comfort and a memorable desert stay. The main concern is pace: several days run close to eight hours, and entrance fees, local guides, and most meals are extra.

Key things to know before booking

• Petra gets a full day: You begin at 7:00 a.m. and explore independently until the afternoon.
• Wadi Rum includes a real overnight stop: A Bedouin camp, dinner, breakfast, sunset viewing, and a two-hour jeep safari are included.
• Your driver is your constant link: An English-speaking driver stays with you in a private air-conditioned vehicle, though local site guides are not included.
• The route covers a lot of Jordan: Amman, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Bethany, Umm Qais, Jerash, Karak, Little Petra, Petra, Wadi Rum, Aqaba, and the Dead Sea all appear in the plan.
• The $999 price is not all-inclusive: Hotels, breakfasts, camp arrangements, transport, dinner at camp, and the jeep safari are covered, but entry fees and most meals are not.
• The schedule changes with the season: Aqaba may be skipped from November through March, and the drive from Petra to Wadi Rum leaves earlier in winter.

Why this six-day route works

This is a strong choice if you want Jordan’s major sights without arranging a new taxi, transfer, or hotel every day. You stay two nights in Amman, one night in Petra, one night in Wadi Rum, and one night at the Dead Sea. That keeps the route fairly tidy, even though the sightseeing days are full.

The private format matters here. You are not waiting for a large group to finish every stop, and you can ask your driver questions as you cross the country. The driver is not a licensed guide at every monument, so you should not expect a detailed guided tour inside each site. Still, having one English-speaking person handle the driving and daily movement makes a big difference in Jordan.

The itinerary also gives you several kinds of Jordan rather than repeating the same type of sight. You get city archaeology in Amman and Jerash, religious sites around Madaba and the Jordan Valley, desert scenery at Wadi Rum, and a slow final night by the Dead Sea.

Day 1: Amman, Madaba, Mount Nebo, and Bethany

The first day begins at 8:00 a.m. in Amman, with the Roman Theater and Citadel as the main city stops. The Roman Theater gives you a clear sense of Amman’s ancient center, while the Citadel provides a broader view over the city. These are sensible first stops because they introduce both the Roman and hilltop sides of Amman before you leave the capital.

After lunch, you head toward Madaba. The city is best known for its mosaic map in St. George’s Church, and the visit adds a fine detail-oriented stop after the larger ruins in Amman. The tour also includes other Madaba sights, though the exact length of each visit is not specified.

Mount Nebo follows. This is a significant religious site and a useful place to pause, with views across the Jordan Valley when conditions allow. The final stop is the Baptism Site at Bethany beyond the Jordan. It is an important Christian pilgrimage site, and its inclusion gives the first day more depth than a simple city tour.

You return to an Amman hotel at the end of the day. Since the entire route takes about eight hours, do not plan a late-night activity after arrival. The early start and several major stops make this a full opening day.

Day 2: Umm Qais and the Roman remains at Jerash

Day two starts with an 8:00 a.m. hotel pickup and heads north to Umm Qais. The planned visit runs from 10:00 to 11:30, followed by lunch and then a longer stop at Jerash from approximately 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Umm Qais is known for its ancient Greco-Roman remains and its setting in northern Jordan. The stop is shorter than Jerash, so you should treat it as a focused visit rather than a slow archaeological morning. The combination of ruins and open views makes it a useful contrast with the city sites in Amman.

Jerash receives roughly three hours, which is more generous. Its colonnaded streets, theaters, plazas, and monumental remains make it one of the clearest places in Jordan to picture a Roman provincial city. You can spend your time walking through the ruins while your driver manages the transport schedule.

The return to Amman is planned for around 6:00 p.m. This day is especially good for history fans, but it involves a fair amount of driving. Lunch is not included, and the itinerary does not specify a particular restaurant, so allow room in your budget for that meal.

Day 3: The King’s Way, Wadi Al-Mujib, Karak, and Little Petra

On day three, you leave Amman at 8:00 a.m. and travel south along the King’s Way toward Karak. The route passes through Wadi Al-Mujib, giving you changing views as the road crosses the country. The drive is part of the day’s appeal, but it also means you spend substantial time in the vehicle.

Karak Castle is the main stop. The Crusader-era fortress has a rough, atmospheric feel, with stone corridors and defensive remains that reward a careful walk. The tour schedule places arrival at about 11:00 a.m., with departure around 1:00 p.m. That should provide enough time for a solid visit and lunch, though the meal itself is not included.

You then continue toward Petra and stop at Little Petra at about 3:00 p.m. Little Petra is smaller and quieter than the main Petra site, with narrow rock-cut passages and carved spaces. Seeing it before Petra gives you a useful introduction to Nabataean architecture without the scale of the next day.

Hotel check-in in Wadi Musa is planned for around 5:00 p.m. This overnight location is practical because you are close to Petra for the early start. It also means you can rest before the tour’s longest and most important archaeological visit.

Day 4: Petra by day, Wadi Rum by night

Petra begins early, with pickup at 7:00 a.m. The visit is self-guided, and admission is not included in the basic price. Plan ahead for your entry ticket and consider buying the Jordan Pass before arrival. The pass can waive Jordan visa entry fees and includes admission to 41 sites, according to the tour information, but you should check its current terms before buying.

A full day at Petra matters. The route through the rock passage to the Treasury is the famous opening, but Petra includes far more than that first view. You will need to manage your own time across the site, and the amount of walking can be demanding. The tour specifies a move toward Wadi Rum at 4:00 p.m. in summer and 2:00 p.m. in winter, so your available Petra time depends on the season and the day’s pace.

The transfer to Wadi Rum changes the mood completely. You reach the desert area around 6:00 p.m., then continue about 12 kilometers from Rum Village to the Bedouin camp. A sunset stop is included, with the exact timing changing between summer and winter.

Dinner is a Bedouin zarb, prepared with chicken, grilled vegetables, and salads. You sleep at the camp, with breakfast included the next morning. The camp is not presented as a luxury hotel, so book this night for the setting and the desert experience rather than polished room service.

Day 5: Wadi Rum jeep safari, Aqaba, and the Dead Sea

Breakfast comes at 7:00 a.m., followed by the included two-hour jeep safari at 8:00 a.m. This is one of the tour’s strongest inclusions. You get a practical way to reach several parts of Rum Valley, rather than seeing only the area around camp.

Bottled water is provided during the jeep safari. The route includes visits to several scenic spots, though the exact locations are not listed. You should expect an open desert ride and a morning outdoors, with the character of the stop shaped by weather and the camp’s operating plan.

At about 11:00 a.m., you move toward Aqaba. The itinerary includes a city and public beach tour. This is a short introduction rather than a full beach holiday, so do not book this route expecting a long seaside stay.

From Aqaba, you continue to the Dead Sea for the night at a four-star hotel. The Dead Sea is the tour’s easiest place to slow down after several demanding days. Floating in the mineral-rich water is the obvious activity, but the tour information does not state that a private beach, spa treatment, or additional water access is included. Check exactly what your hotel booking covers.

Aqaba can be skipped during the November to March season because the schedule is shorter. If this stop matters to you, confirm the seasonal plan before booking.

Day 6: A flexible final day in Amman

The final day is left open for a selected activity based on your choice. The plan allows up to eight hours and lists Amman as the location, but it does not name a fixed attraction or activity.

That flexibility is useful if you want extra time for a place missed earlier, a slower final morning, or another Amman stop. It also means you should confirm the details before the trip rather than assume that a particular museum, market, or monument is automatically included.

Because the route ends after a night at the Dead Sea, ask how the final transfer is arranged and where the day’s activity begins. The supplied details identify the activity as selectable, but they do not specify a fixed drop-off time or final program.

What the $999 price really covers

At $999 per person, the value depends on how much you would otherwise spend arranging transport and hotels separately. The price includes a private modern vehicle with air-conditioning, an English-speaking driver, two Amman hotel nights, one night in Petra, one night at the Dead Sea, and breakfast at those hotels.

It also includes the Bedouin camp night, dinner and breakfast there, and the two-hour Wadi Rum jeep safari with bottled water. For a private six-day route covering this much ground, those inclusions make the price easier to justify.

Still, $999 is not the final trip cost. Site entry fees, local guides, lunches, dinners outside the camp, and other personal expenses are extra. Petra alone needs careful budgeting, and the Jordan Pass may be useful if its included sites and visa terms fit your plans.

The basic rate also comes with one room or tent for up to three people. Single supplements apply, and different options can upgrade the hotel rating or add services. If you are traveling alone, ask for the single supplement before confirming the booking.

The driver, the guide, and the pace

Your English-speaking driver remains with you throughout the route, which is the central service offered here. Drivers including Murad and Jafar have been praised for explaining Jordanian sites, handling questions, and working well with groups of different ages. Your assigned driver may differ, so treat those names as examples rather than a guarantee.

You should distinguish between a driver and a local guide. The driver handles the road, transfers, and general assistance, but local site guides and admission fees are not included. At Petra, the tour specifically describes the visit as self-guided.

The pace suits you best if you can handle repeated early starts, long drives, and plenty of walking. A moderate fitness level is recommended. Karak, Petra, and the desert camp all require you to be comfortable on foot, while the long vehicle days may feel tiring for anyone who prefers a slow schedule.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this tour if you want a private route through Jordan and do not want to coordinate five nights of accommodation, long-distance transfers, and the Wadi Rum stay yourself. It is particularly well suited to first-time visitors who want the major sights in one organized trip.

It also works well for families or mixed-age groups, since a private vehicle allows your party to travel together rather than adapt to a large group’s rhythm. The driver can explain sites and answer questions, though you will need to arrange local guides separately if you want formal interpretation at each monument.

I would hesitate if you want long, unhurried time in Petra, Aqaba, or Amman. The tour covers a great deal, but its strength is range, not leisure. I would also compare the cost carefully if you already have a rental car, hotels, and a confident plan for Jordan’s roads.

Cancellation terms are strict close to departure. A full refund is available when you cancel at least six full days before the start time, a 50 percent refund applies two to six days before, and cancellations less than two full days before departure are nonrefundable.

Final verdict: a strong first look at Jordan

Book this tour if you want Jordan’s biggest names in one private circuit, especially Petra, Wadi Rum, Jerash, and the Dead Sea. The desert overnight, sunset stop, dinner, and jeep ride give the trip a memorable center, while the driver and included hotels remove much of the daily planning work.

Do not book it expecting every ticket, meal, or guided visit to be covered. Budget for those extras, confirm the hotel option and final-day activity, and accept that the schedule is brisk. For a first visit with limited time, the mix of major ruins, religious sites, desert scenery, and private transport gives you a practical and worthwhile introduction.

FAQ

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates, and transport is provided in a private modern vehicle with air-conditioning.

What time does the tour start?

The stated start time is 8:00 a.m. Most days begin with hotel pickup at that time. Petra begins earlier, with pickup at 7:00 a.m.

Are hotels and breakfast included?

Yes. The package includes two nights in Amman, one night in Petra, one night at the Dead Sea, and breakfast at those hotels. It also includes one night at a Bedouin camp with dinner and breakfast.

Is Wadi Rum included?

Yes. The tour includes the camp night, a sunset activity, dinner, breakfast, and a two-hour jeep safari with bottled water.

Are Petra admission and other entry fees included?

No. Local tour guides and entry fees at the sites are not included in the basic package.

Is a guide included at Petra?

The Petra visit is self-guided. The tour includes an English-speaking driver, but local site guides are not included.

Can the Aqaba visit be skipped?

Yes. Aqaba is skipped during the seasonal period from November through March because of the shorter schedule.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least six full days before the experience begins. A 50 percent refund applies when cancelling two to six full days before the start, while cancellations less than two full days before the start are not refunded.