How to Spend 3 Days in Jordan – The Ultimate Itinerary

Spending 3 days in Jordan will give you just enough time to see the highlights of this gorgeous country. From the ancient city of Petra to the stunning landscapes of Wadi Rum, there is just so much to explore here.

Now, it’ll be up to you to decide if you want to see as much of Jordan as you possibly can in these 3 days, or pick out the sights that are most unique to Jordan and give them ample time for exploring.

For this post, I’m actually going to do two itineraries – the first itinerary will feature what we actually did (and this is how you can see the majority of the highlights in 3 days), and also the other itinerary will feature what I will do if I could do it over.

Alternatively, you could also spend the day exploring Amman. There are quite a few places to check out, including the Amman Citadel, the Temple of Hercules, the Roman Theater, and the King Abdullah Mosque.

And if you really love vintage cars, then head on over to the Royal Automobile Museum. It’s a great place to learn not only more about Jordan itself but also its history through the display of classic cars and motorcycles. It is also home to a private plane from King Hussein’s collection.

Here, you can check out the ancient ruins of the Hadrian’s Arch, the Hippodrome, and the Temple of Artemis. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time while walking through the colonnaded streets.

If you have time, consider visiting the Jerash Archaeological Museum. There, you can view a collection of artifacts discovered during excavations, including coins, statues, and pottery which will help you see the incredibly rich history of this city.

It was built in 1184 by Saladin’s generals and was primarily used as a base for Arab armies in their battles against the Crusaders.

The castle’s strategic location offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Jordan Valley and three wadis that merge into the Jordan River. It’s only about a half-hour drive from Jerash.

There are ruins of ancient Gadara here, and very few tourists. This is also the furthest spot away from Amman since it’s over a 2-hour drive.

The city was once a cultural center and home to several famous philosophers and poets. Umm Qais is also regarded as the site of a miracle where, according to the Bible, Jesus cast demons from men to pigs.

So, if you’re short on time this day, skipping Umm Qais would be your best bet, as the other two destinations are quite close to one another and aren’t too far of a drive.

However, if you have plenty of time to explore, don’t forget to visit the Umm Qais Museum. It’s housed in an Ottoman-era building and showcases a range of artifacts found in the area.

Read all of my tips for Day 1 of this itinerary.

This is about a 45-minute drive from Amman. Madaba is best known for its 6th-century mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land in the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George.

Apart from the mosaics, Madaba is also home to several archaeological sites. You can explore the ruins of the Apostle Church and the Madaba Archaeological Park, both of which are filled with incredible artifacts and structures.

The Bible says Mount Nebo is where Moses lived out his final days and saw the Promised Land of Canaan. It also says that Moses’ body is possibly buried here – however, there is no current proof of this.

At the summit, you’ll find the Moses Memorial Church, which houses some of the most intricate and well-preserved mosaics in Jordan. The church was built by the Franciscans in the 4th century AD and has undergone several restorations since then. The mosaics depict scenes from the Old Testament.

From there, we drove back to Amman – and that was just silly, in my opinion. As the next day, it was roughly the same amount of driving to get to Petra. I recommend reading my article before headed here to learn everything you need to know before floating in the Dead Sea.

The ancient city of Petra, also known as Rose City, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is often referred to as one of the seven wonders of the world. This archaeological wonder features rock-cut architecture and intricate carvings to showcase the ingenuity of the Nabateans who built it over 2,000 years ago.

The entrance to Petra is through the Siq, a narrow gorge flanked by towering cliffs. The first sight of Al-Khazneh (The Treasury) as you come through the 10-feet wide canyon of Siq is nothing short of breathtaking.

This intricately carved structure is one of the most elaborate temples in the ancient Arab Nabatean Kingdom city of Petra. It’s also most likely what you think of when if you’ve ever seen of picture of Petra before. It’s also where Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade was filmed.

The most incredible fact about Petra is that only 15% of it has been studied by archaeologists and most of the ancient city is still underground and untouched!

Petra contains nearly 600 tombs, surpassing Luxor’s Valley of Kings, which includes 63 tombs and mausoleums. Also, keep in mind that the entrance fee to Petra is not cheap. It’s 50 JOD (about USD 70) for a one-day ticket, 55 JOD for two-day admission, and 60 JOD for three-day admission. But trust me, it’s worth it!

Petra is mentioned multiple times in the Old Testament. Petra, located in the valley of the Wadi Musa, is supposed to have been visited by Moses. According to the Hebrew Bible, Moses walked through this valley and found water for his followers at Ain Musa, also known as ‘Moses Spring.’

Petra, like many other ancient ruins, interacts with the sky above. Interestingly, the Nabateans designed their capital city at Petra to line with the sun, ensuring that their most precious sacred sites would be surrounded by direct sunlight.

The sand in Wadi Rum is known for being the reddest in Jordan (colored by iron oxide). This desert wilderness in southern Jordan features dramatic sandstone mountains, natural arches, prehistoric inscriptions and carvings, and a vast, silent landscape that feels like stepping onto another planet.

Wadi Rum looks so much like Mars since many movies have been filmed here for their otherworldly scenes such as The Martian, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Prometheus, Red Planet and…of course, Lawrence of Arabia just to name a few.

Wadi Rum is an ecological reserve that covers more than 700 square kilometers, making it far too large to explore on foot. A Wadi Rum Jeep tour is the best way to see the area in a short amount of time, and it will most likely be one of your favorite Jordan activities during your three-day visit!

You can take a tour of sights like the red sand dunes, Lawrence’s Spring, the House of Lawrence, the Khazali Canyon, Abu Khashaba Canyon, and Um Frouth Arch.

Then, end your day at a super cool desert camp! We stayed at Mazayen Rum Camp, and it was nothing short of amazing! A photo of our “tent” is below.

Plus, Wadi Rum is surrounded by many other Bedouin camps that are scattered throughout so you can stay overnight in them or use them as a base for desert excursions during your 3 days in Jordan (especially if you follow the next itinerary!).

*We had to leave at 3 am to catch our flight out of Amman the next morning – this was not ideal!

Now, this 1st itinerary will ensure you hit the majority of the sights in Jordan in your 3 days! However, the next itinerary is how I would do it if I had to redo my 3 days in Jordan…

Doing a day trip here is cutting it too short. So if you have time, continue exploring the city. You’ll find tombs, temples, an amphitheater, and even a monastery. If you’re up for it, hike up to the Monastery or the Place of High Sacrifice. The views from these spots are simply breathtaking.

Then, spend the night enjoying your desert camp under the stars!

Spend the rest of the day lounging by the Dead Sea and slathering on some of that magical Dead Sea mud!

This second itinerary is my personal preference because, for me, Petra and Wadi Rum were the highlights of this trip. They are such unique and otherworldly experiences, that deserve far more time than the first itinerary allows. If you’ve never been to the Dead Sea, and aren’t planning to visit Israel, then the Dead Sea is a must as well. However, if a trip to Israel is on your bucket list – I’d save the Dead Sea for that trip, and spend an extra day exploring Petra instead.

Want to learn more about traveling to Jordan? Then read all of my travel posts from Jordan.

Jordan Travel Essentials

Travel Insurance

It’s a good idea, no matter where your adventure takes you, to have travel insurance. You never know what might happen! Whether you get sick before your trip and can’t go, or you become sick or injured while on your adventure – being covered with travel insurance is a must.

Some credit card companies do provide this service (check with yours), or you can get a quote from companies such as Squaremouth to find the best plan for you and your adventure. (This is the company I, personally, use. They are even recommended by Forbes!). Get started by getting a free quote.

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