Custom travel to Jordan

Jordan is one of the Middle East's most stable and welcoming countries, a constitutional monarchy led by King Abdullah II. Petra, the Nabataean capital carved in pink rock 2,000 years ago, is one of the seven wonders of the world and the country's most visited site. Wadi Rum, the lunar red sandstone desert where Lawrence of Arabia once lived, offers one of the planet's most extraordinary landscapes. The Dead Sea, the world's lowest point (-430 m), allows effortless natural floating. Thousand-year-old Amman, Jerash, one of the world's best-preserved Roman cities, and Aqaba on the Red Sea for diving complete this journey. A tolerant, French-friendly Muslim country, Jordan lets you discover the Middle East safely.

Highlights

• Petra: 7th wonder of the world, Nabataean city (UNESCO)
• Wadi Rum: Lawrence of Arabia's lunar desert
• Dead Sea: floating at -430 m
• Jerash: best-preserved Roman city
• Amman: citadel and Roman theater
• Aqaba and Red Sea diving

Sample itineraries

When to go

March-May (spring, wildflowers, perfect climate) and September-November (autumn, mild temperatures) are ideal seasons. Avoid June-August (45 °C+ in Petra and Wadi Rum) and December-February (cold, sometimes snow in Petra).

• Spring (March – May), Petra, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea
• Hot summer (June – August), Off-season
• Autumn (September – November), Petra, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea
• Winter (December – February), Aqaba Red Sea (mild climate)

Practical information

Very safe (Middle East's most stable country, ranked on Global Peace Index). Visa on arrival 40 JOD or included in Jordan Pass (recommended for 4+ days, 75-80 JOD with site entries). Cards accepted in hotels, cash elsewhere. Avoid tap water (bottled water). Modest dress (shoulders and knees covered, especially in cities, bikini OK at Dead Sea and Aqaba). 10% restaurant tipping. Ramadan modifies schedules and site openings.

Frequently asked questions

When?

March to May (spring, wildflowers in the desert, 15-25 °C, ideal climate) and September to November (autumn, mild temperatures, also 15-25 °C) are our two preferred seasons for Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea. Avoid June to August, when heat tops 35-45 °C in Petra and Wadi Rum, making walking through the Siq or climbing to Ad Deir exhausting. Winter, from December to February, stays cool (5-15 °C) and sometimes snowy in Petra, with noticeably lower prices; Aqaba, on the Red Sea, keeps a mild climate year-round and suits a sunny winter escape well.

How long?

8 days are enough for the grand classic: Amman, Jerash, Petra (2 minimum nights, one day for the Khazneh via the Siq, a second for Ad Deir and the High Place of Sacrifice), a Bedouin bivouac in Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea. To add the biblical north (Jerash, Ajloun, Umm Qais, Mount Nebo) and Red Sea diving in Aqaba, plan on 10 days instead, with 3 nights in Petra to truly explore it. In the premium version, 8 days are also enough but with more comfortable nights (Mövenpick Petra, Memories Aicha bubble in Wadi Rum, Kempinski Ishtar Dead Sea) and a privatized Petra by Night with 1,500 candles.

Budget?

Three levels, as a guideline, for two people excluding international flights. Comfort (from €1,800/person): Amman boutique hotels, Mövenpick Petra, standard Wadi Rum Bedouin camp, classic Dead Sea hotel, private car with driver and French-speaking guide at Petra and Jerash, Jordan Pass included. Premium (from €3,200/person): Four Seasons Amman, Mövenpick Petra Suite, Memories Aicha bubble in Wadi Rum, Kempinski Ishtar Dead Sea, private Petra by Night. Exclusive (from €6,500/person): Mercedes Maybach with driver, possible Petra helicopter, private dinner on the High Place of Sacrifice, Owner's suites. Add €350-€650 per person for the Paris-Amman round-trip flight in Economy (direct Royal Jordanian).

Visa?

Yes, a visa on arrival is required for French citizens, other Europeans, Britons, Americans, and Canadians (40 JOD, payable on site). We systematically recommend the Jordan Pass (75-80 JOD depending on duration), which includes the visa for free as well as entry to around forty archaeological sites, including Petra (Petra's entry alone already costs 50-70 JOD), Jerash, Kerak Castle, and Umm Qais; it pays for itself from 4 days of travel and can be bought online before departure or on arrival.

Petra: how many days?

2 minimum days, the strict minimum to avoid feeling frustrated. Day 1 covers the main axis: the Siq, a 1.2-km canyon leading to the Khazneh ('Treasury', a 30-m facade carved around 100 BC, the final scene of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade), then the colonnaded street and the Nabataean theater. Day 2 is reserved for Ad Deir ('the Monastery', 50 m high, 800 steps, about a 1-h climb), more spectacular and far less crowded than the Khazneh, and the High Place of Sacrifice. For those with more time, a 3rd day lets you experience Petra by Night (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday at 8:30 pm, the Khazneh lit by 1,500 candles) and head out early for sunrise, before the groups arrive around 8 am.

Wadi Rum: where to sleep?

Standard Bedouin camp (basic but authentic) or Memories Aicha bubble (transparent dome for stars). Traditional zarb dinner.

Is Jordan safe?

Very safe. Jordan is one of the Middle East's most stable and welcoming countries, a constitutional monarchy led by King Abdullah II, ranked on the Global Peace Index. Tourist crime is rare, and the country remains a favored destination for a first, worry-free trip to the Middle East. On the ground, a private car with driver is recommended for most journeys (distances are short but driving in Amman is intense), Wadi Rum must be visited by 4×4 with a Howeitat Bedouin guide, and tap water should be avoided in favor of bottled water.

Family?

Yes, from age 8. Petra requires walking (3-5 h/day). Wadi Rum 4×4 enchants children. Dead Sea fun.

Combine?

Yes: Jordan + Israel (Aqaba or Allenby/Jordan border), Jordan + Egypt (Sinai from Aqaba).

Tips?

Yes, 10% in restaurants. Appreciated in hotels and with Bedouin guides.

How to get around once there?

A private car with driver is the recommended solution for most itineraries: distances are short (89,000 km², equivalent to Portugal) but driving in Amman is intense, and the scenic King's Highway between Madaba and Petra is best enjoyed without having to drive yourself. In Amman, taxis and Uber work well. Wadi Rum must be visited by 4×4 guided by Howeitat Bedouins (5-8 h depending on the circuit), no personal vehicle is allowed there. No domestic flights are needed, as the country is small.

How to dress in Jordan?

Modest dress is recommended, shoulders and knees covered, especially in cities and at religious sites; a swimsuit, however, is entirely acceptable at the Dead Sea and in Aqaba. Pack sturdy closed walking shoes for the Siq and Ad Deir in Petra (800 steps), light but covering clothing for the desert (nighttime cool in Wadi Rum, down to 5-10 °C even in mild season), and sun protection (hat, sunscreen), as the desert climate is dry and radiation strong year-round.