Départ Garanti Francophone (GIR) DIMANCHE – SAMEDI

Petra is the headline, but this seven-day Jordan circuit gives you much more than one famous monument. You move from Roman ruins and Crusader castles to the pink cliffs of Wadi Rum and the strange buoyancy of the Dead Sea, all while returning to Amman at the end.

I like the French-speaking guide throughout the sightseeing days and the practical all-in format, which includes hotels, most meals, entrance fees, transport, and a local 4×4 ride. I also like the route itself: Madaba, Mount Nebo, Kerak, Petra, and Wadi Rum form a strong first visit to southern Jordan.

The main consideration is pace. You cover a lot of ground in six touring days, and some days combine several major sites. The published route also names Shobak in the overview but does not give it a scheduled stop in the day-by-day plan, so confirm that detail before paying.

Key points to know before booking

• Petra gets a full touring day: You have about six hours at Jordan’s greatest archaeological site, with lunch and an evening hotel stay.
• The guide is French-speaking: A permanent guide is included during sightseeing days, useful for understanding layered Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, and Crusader history.
• Wadi Rum includes a local 4×4 ride: The desert outing lasts about 90 minutes, followed by lunch and an overnight stay in Bedouin tents.
• Five lunches and five dinners are included: Drinks are not included, so budget for water and other beverages outside the complimentary bus bottle.
• The route includes both northern and southern Jordan: Jerash and Ajloun come first, then Madaba, Mount Nebo, Kerak, Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea.
• This is a moderate-activity trip: Expect walking through ruins, uneven ground, stairs, hotel changes, and long road journeys.

A seven-day route that covers Jordan’s major sights

This is a round trip from Amman, beginning with airport pickup at Queen Alia International Airport and ending with a transfer back there. The official start time is 8:00 a.m., so check your arrival schedule carefully before booking.

The tour has a maximum group size of 150. That is a large possible group, though the actual vehicle size depends on the number booked. Transport is described as modern and air-conditioned, a worthwhile feature during long drives between Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea.

The price is $1,335 per person. That is not a bare-bones sightseeing package. It includes accommodation, six breakfasts, five lunches, five dinners, entrance fees listed in the route, airport assistance, a French-speaking guide during sightseeing, transportation, and the Bedouin 4×4 excursion.

You still need to allow for drinks, tips, travel insurance, flights, the optional horse-drawn carriage at Petra, and any single-room supplement. The Jordan Pass is also recommended before arrival because it can include visa entry fees and access to 41 sites. Check its current rules against your nationality and itinerary before buying it.

Day 1: A simple Amman arrival

The first day is deliberately light. You are met at Queen Alia International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Amman, with dinner and an overnight stay included.

That simplicity is useful after a flight. You do not need to arrange a taxi or find your hotel alone. On the other hand, the arrival day does not include a scheduled Amman sightseeing program, so you should not expect the Citadel or Roman Theatre unless your group has extra time or those sites are added separately.

Airport assistance before customs and again at departure is included for the group. The exact hotel is not named, so ask for the property list if hotel quality or location matters to you.

Day 2: Roman Jerash and Ajloun’s hilltop fortress

Jerash sits about 45 kilometers from Amman and receives roughly three hours on the schedule. Its broad colonnaded streets, temples, theaters, and stonework make it one of the best places in Jordan to picture a Roman provincial city.

The site was buried under sand for centuries before long restoration work brought it back into view. Much of the city is built from warm pink-orange limestone, which looks especially appealing in low morning light. You will walk across paved ancient streets and open ruins, so sturdy shoes and sun protection make sense.

Jerash is a large site, and three hours gives you a useful introduction without asking you to spend the entire day among the ruins. The tradeoff is that you may have to keep moving if your guide wants to cover the main monuments before lunch.

After lunch, the group continues to Ajloun Castle, also called Qalaat al-Rabad. The fortress was built in the 12th century during the period of Saladin, both to defend the area and to control nearby iron mines. Its position on a mountain gives you broad views toward the Jordan Valley.

Ajloun takes about two hours on the schedule. The castle involves uneven surfaces and climbing, so the moderate fitness requirement is worth taking seriously. I like the contrast here: Jerash shows formal Roman city planning, while Ajloun feels military and compact.

You return to Amman for dinner and the night. This makes for a full opening day, but it gives you two very different sites without adding another hotel change.

Day 3: Madaba mosaics, Mount Nebo, and Kerak

Day three follows the King’s Highway, one of the route’s most rewarding sections. The first main stop is Madaba, famous for its Byzantine mosaics.

At Saint George’s Church, you see the 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land. It originally measured about 25 meters by 5 meters and used roughly two million small stone pieces. The surviving section is not just decorative. It helps you picture how Byzantine Christians understood the region’s towns, rivers, and sacred places.

The visit is scheduled for about two hours. That leaves time to focus on the map and the church without turning the stop into a long technical study of mosaic art. Madaba also gives the day a more lived-in town setting after the open ruins of Jerash.

Next comes Mount Nebo, about 10 kilometers northwest of Madaba. The summit reaches about 840 meters and is traditionally associated with Moses’ view of the Promised Land and with his burial place. The stop lasts about an hour.

The importance of Mount Nebo is religious and geographic. You are not simply visiting another old building. You are looking across a place tied to one of the Bible’s best-known stories, while the site’s high position helps explain its appeal over centuries.

Kerak Castle follows, with about two hours scheduled. The fortress was built in 1142 by the Crusader lord Payen le Bouteiller and later became associated with Renaud de Châtillon. Its position above the Wadi Kerak controlled an important route into the region.

Kerak is a rougher, more atmospheric visit than Madaba. Expect stone passages, broad fortress walls, and darker interior spaces. The castle rewards curiosity, but it is not the easiest place for anyone who dislikes stairs or uneven footing.

This is one of the busiest days. Madaba, Mount Nebo, and Kerak are all worthwhile, yet the hours on the road and the number of stops can leave little room for wandering on your own.

Day 4: A full day at Petra

Petra receives the attention it deserves on day four, with about six hours scheduled. That is enough time to see the main approach and spend meaningful time among the carved tombs and monuments, though Petra is large enough to fill much longer.

The site’s appeal is its setting as much as its architecture. You enter a narrow rock passage before reaching the Treasury, the image most people associate with Petra. From there, the route opens into a larger archaeological area with monumental facades and paths leading farther into the site.

The schedule includes lunch at a local restaurant and dinner at the hotel. The optional horse-drawn carriage costs extra. If you are considering it, confirm the price and route directly before accepting, and remember that walking remains an important part of seeing Petra properly.

Six hours is a good compromise for a group tour. You get a substantial visit without spending an exhausting full day on the site. Still, Petra can be hot, exposed, and physically demanding. Bring water, wear shoes with a firm sole, and expect dust and uneven paths.

The hotel location is not specified, so ask whether it is in Petra or farther away. That detail affects how much time you have at the site and how early you need to leave the next morning.

Day 5: Little Petra and a night in Wadi Rum

The morning starts at Al-Beidha, better known as Little Petra. The visit lasts about an hour. It is smaller than Petra but offers a useful introduction to the Nabataean use of carved sandstone spaces, with a quieter feel and a different scale.

Little Petra should not be treated as a replacement for Petra. Its value is that it adds another piece to the Nabataean story without requiring another long day of walking.

The route then heads to Wadi Rum. The desert is known for enormous sandstone cliffs, open valleys, and the connection to the Arab Revolt and T. E. Lawrence. Film fans may recognize parts of the scenery from Lawrence of Arabia.

The included local Bedouin 4×4 ride lasts about 90 minutes. This is a short outing rather than a full-day desert expedition, but it gives you a practical way to reach parts of the protected area that would be difficult to cover on foot. Lunch is served at a Bedouin camp, followed by dinner and an overnight stay in Bedouin tents.

That overnight is one of the trip’s more distinctive features. You trade a standard hotel room for a desert camp, so keep expectations realistic. The point is the setting and the camp experience, not the same facilities you would expect in Amman.

Ask in advance what kind of tent and bathroom arrangement is provided, since those details are not specified. Pack a small overnight bag if your main luggage remains in the vehicle, and keep a warm layer handy because desert temperatures can change sharply after sunset.

Day 6: From Wadi Araba to the Dead Sea

After breakfast at camp, the group travels through Wadi Araba toward the Dead Sea. The route makes this a long transfer day, but the reward is a memorable final stop.

The Dead Sea lies about 1,306 feet below sea level, making it the lowest point on Earth. Mountains rise on the Jordanian side, while the hills around Jerusalem appear across the water. The setting feels unusual because the water, salt, bare slopes, and bright light create a scene unlike the rest of the trip.

Lunch is included, followed by free time for swimming. The experience is less like ordinary swimming and more like floating, thanks to the water’s high salt content. Avoid shaving immediately beforehand and keep the water away from your eyes and any cuts. These practical details matter more here than fancy swimwear.

The schedule gives about two hours at the Dead Sea. That is enough for a short float and a quick rinse, but not a leisurely resort day. The tour description mentions therapeutic benefits associated with the climate, water, mud, and air. Treat that as part of the area’s long-standing reputation, not as medical advice.

Dinner and overnight arrangements for this day are not described in the detail provided, so confirm where you will sleep and whether access to a private beach or changing facilities is included.

Day 7: Return to Amman and airport assistance

The final morning includes breakfast, a transfer to the airport, and help with departure formalities. There is no scheduled sightseeing in Amman.

This works well if your flight leaves soon after breakfast. If your flight is later, ask if the operator can arrange extra time in Amman, but do not assume that a city tour is part of the package.

Guides, meals, and the human side of the trip

The tour includes a permanent French-speaking guide during sightseeing days, which is especially useful at Petra, Jerash, and Kerak. Good guiding can turn scattered stones into understandable places, and the French-language format removes a major barrier for many visitors.

Past trips associated with this operator have featured Audi, Jacob, Haithem, and Ahed. Audi was praised for being an excellent, friendly driver, while Jacob was specifically valued by a parent traveling with a young child for his professional and caring manner. Haithem was described as a strong guide on a November 2024 trip, and Ahed was noted for his history explanations, humor, and ability to make the group feel at ease.

Those individual names are useful when comparing departures, but they do not guarantee who will lead your own trip. Ask for the assigned guide and driver if personal service is important to you.

Food is another practical strength. Six breakfasts, five lunches, and five dinners are included. The route refers to local restaurants and a Bedouin camp, so you should get a broad sample of Jordanian meals rather than eating every meal at the hotel.

Drinks are not included. One bottle of water is provided on the bus during visits, but you should carry extra water on walking days and budget for soft drinks, coffee, or bottled water at meals.

Who should book this Jordan circuit?

I would choose this tour if you want a first look at Jordan with the major planning handled for you. It suits people who value a French-speaking guide, included entrance fees, organized transport, and a route that combines archaeology, religious sites, castles, desert, and the Dead Sea.

It is less suitable if you want slow travel, long independent walks, or several free afternoons. The maximum group size of 150 is also worth noting. Even if your actual departure is smaller, this is designed as an organized group program rather than a private, flexible journey.

The moderate fitness requirement is realistic. You should be comfortable walking through large ruins, climbing around castles, handling hotel changes, and spending several hours on the road. Anyone with mobility concerns should ask detailed questions about Petra, Ajloun, Kerak, Little Petra, and the Wadi Rum camp before booking.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if Petra is your priority but you also want Jerash, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Kerak, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea in one week. The included meals, tickets, airport transfers, transport, guide, and desert ride give the $1,335 price solid value, especially for a first visit.

Before you commit, confirm the hotel names, the exact group size, the Dead Sea facilities, the assigned French-speaking guide, and whether Shobak is actually included. If those details suit you, this is a practical and well-rounded way to see Jordan without having to piece together every road, ticket, meal, and overnight stop yourself.

FAQ

How long is the Jordan tour?

The tour lasts approximately seven days, with arrival and departure transfers through Queen Alia International Airport in Amman.

Where does the tour begin?

The stated meeting point is Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, with an official start time of 8:00 a.m.

Is a French-speaking guide included?

Yes. A permanent French-speaking guide is included during the sightseeing days.

What sites are visited?

The scheduled route includes Jerash, Ajloun Castle, Madaba, Saint George’s Church, Mount Nebo, Kerak Castle, Petra, Little Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea.

Is Shobak included?

Shobak is named in the overall tour description, but it does not appear as a specific stop in the detailed day-by-day schedule. Confirm this with Enjoy Jordan before booking.

Are meals included?

Six breakfasts, five lunches, and five dinners are included. Drinks not mentioned in the program are extra.

Is the Wadi Rum 4×4 ride included?

Yes. A local Bedouin 4×4 excursion lasting about one and a half hours is included.

Are flights included?

No. International or domestic flights are not included in the tour price.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the experience, and changes made within that period, are not accepted for a refund.