Jordan Tours & Holidays

Small Group Tours & Tailor-Made Holidays

Overview

Uncover a modern kingdom with an ancient culture, on one of our tailor-made holiday or small group tours to Jordan. With unrivalled landscapes, magnificent ancient ruins and a traditional sense of hospitality, a Jordan holiday will guarantee lasting memories.

This is a land that has been inhabited throughout the centuries ...

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Group tours

Travel to Jordan with like-minded people on one of our small group tours (usually max size 12), featuring knowledgeable local guides and an expert tour leader.

TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS

Whether you want to travel on one of our award-winning itineraries or build your own journey from scratch, our expert consultants will help create the perfect private tour for your tastes and budget. Below are a few suggestions of the kind of trips we can offer, all of which can be tailored to you.

EXAMPLE ITINERARIES

HIGHLIGHTS OF JORDAN

BEST EXPERIENCES

See Petra by candlelight

See Petra by candlelight

Experience Petra when it is at its most enchanting. Over 1,800 candles are set up to light your way through the Siq, leading you to the Treasury, where the facade glows with the soft light of hundreds of candles and echoes the sounds of Bedouin music.

Spend the night under the stars

Spend the night under the stars

Wild camping overnight in the dunes is the only way to experience the amazing quiet and stillness of this almost uninhabited landscape. See the sands change colour as the sun sinks before sitting around a beduoin fire and eating dinner prepared by your guide.

Float in the Dead Sea

Float in the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is the lowest exposed point on the Earth's surface and lies 409m below sea level. The water is rich in mineral salts and contains so much sodium that plant and animal life cannot live here, but you can float on the surface and have a mud bath!

Enjoy a cooking class in Amman

Enjoy a cooking class in Amman

Meet the sisters who set up Beit Sitti Restaurant and cooking classes in their grandmother’s beautiful old house in one of Amman’s oldest neighbourhoods - Jabal al weibdeh. They show you how to prepare a traditional Arabic meal, which you then enjoy together.

Explore Little Petra

Explore Little Petra

Less-visited but equally charming, Little Petra was thought to have been a commercial area where caravans would have paused. The Bedouin are still able to sleep in the caves here, which they are not allowed to do on the main sight of Petra.

Discover Dana Nature Reserve

Discover Dana Nature Reserve

Walk through the old village of Dana and then follow one of the nature trails through the Wadi Dana and Wadi Feinan, soak up amazing views and learn about the flora and fauna - about 600 species of plants, 37 species of mammals, and 190 species of birds.

Ride camels through the desert

Ride camels through the desert

Discover the wonders of Wadi Rum by camel. The camel guides from the Zilabia tribe intimately know both the camels and the territory and will show you how to saddle, groom and command your camel to help establish the partnership between rider and mount.

Relax in the Ma'in hot springs

Relax in the Ma'in hot springs

There’s no better way to recover from a walk then in the thermally heated, mineral rich falls at Ma'in. The hot springs are heated to 63 degrees Celsius by underground lava fissures, providing an ideal spot for an afternoon bathe.

Experience Bedouin life

Experience Bedouin life

Feynan Eco-Lodge has a fantastic relationship with the local Bedoin community who you can meet here. Learn about daily life like making coffee, baking 'Arbood' bread or weaving goat hair tents. You can even spend a full day with a local sheperd if you'd like.

Snorkel in the Red Sea

Snorkel in the Red Sea

Dive beneath the surface and witness the array of marine life the Red Sea has to offer. Home to 44 species of sharks and 1,200 species of fish - 20% of which are native and unique to the area.

TOP PLACES TO VISIT

Ajloun

Lying at the heart of the fertile highlands of northern Jordan, the often-overlooked area of Ajloun offers some of Jordan’s richest ecological, cultural and historical sites. Sprawling pine forests ...

Amman

Amman is the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and is built upon seven hills. The city is dotted with a number of historic sites dating from the Stone Age to the Greek, Roman, Byzantine and ...

Aqaba

Surrounded by rugged purple mountains that subtly change in colour as the day unfolds, Aqaba is now a modern holiday resort with some good hotels and beaches, and excellent facilities for water sports ...

Dead Sea

Evocative and biblical are the words that come to mind when describing the Dead Sea valley, divided down the middle between Jordan and the West Bank and accessible from Amman on one side and Jerusalem ...

Petra

Hidden behind an almost impenetrable barrier of rugged mountains, the rock-carved city of Petra is full of mysterious charm. Known as the "Rose-Red City", the ancient Nabatean Kingdom was the capital ...

Wadi Rum

Vast, echoing and God-Like' are the words that T. E. Lawrence used to describe one of the Middle East's most spectacular desert landscapes. Wadi Rum is the meeting point of the Rift valley, the Negev ...

Dana Nature Reserve & Feynan

Located in south-central Jordan, Dana Nature Reserve is the country's largest nature reserve, a combination of mountains and wadis which make for stunning landscapes and the chance to spot a wide range ...

OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO STAY

Below is a selection of our favourite places to stay, from 5-star hotels, Guesthouses to wild desert camps. Select a property to find out more.

Superior | Guesthouse

Beit Al Baraka, Umm Qais

This lovely guesthouse offers enviable views of Golan Heights with personable service and locally sourced food. Gain an insight into village life through wonderful activities such as home cooking…
Luxury | Tented Camp

Discovery Bedu, Wadi Rum

Discovery Bedu is a luxury eco-camp run by local Bedouins and set in the majestic landscapes of Wadi Rum. Powered by solar energy the accommodation consists of one communal tent and six tented suites,…
Luxury | Hotel

Fairmont Amman, Amman

A luxurious choice in the 5th circle of Amman, the five-star Fairmont Amman is within a thirty minute drive from the airport. Designed by an award-winning contemporary architecture firm, the hotel is…
Superior | Lodge

Feynan Ecolodge, Feynan

In the middle of the mountainous, desert landscape of Wadi Feynan and the Dana Biosphere Reserve lies the Feynan Eco Lodge. Lit by candlelight with serene courtyards and terraces on which to relax and…
Luxury | Resort

Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea, Dead Sea

Set in the shore of the Dead Sea, amidst bamboo and olive trees gardens, the five star Kempinski Hotel Ishtar boasts 318 luxurious rooms and suites segregated between two enclaves. The Arabesque main…
Premium | Hotel

Movenpick Resort Petra, Petra

Situated at the entrance to the magical site of Petra, the Movenpick is arguably the best hotel in Petra and some of the rooms offer good views over some of the ruins. Renowned for its intricate…
Premium | Hotel

Petra Marriott Hotel, Petra

The Marriott Petra is your paradise within the rolling desert hills steeped in history and wonder. Watch the sunset over the mystical valley from almost all of the spacious rooms after spending the day…
Superior | Hotel

Petra Moon Hotel, Petra

Less than a hundred metres from the entrance gates of Petra, is the simple Petra Moon Hotel with fifty rooms spread over five floors. The soundproofed rooms are spacious and classically-styled, each…

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WHEN TO GO

Jordan has long dry, hot summers with chilly nights and during the winter you can still expect plenty of warm weather and sunshine. The best time to travel is during the autumn and winter, September to March. The most fertile part of Jordan is the hilly region in the northwest, which experiences high rainfall between November and March, when weather fronts blow in from the Mediterranean.

Best Time To Visit Jordan Guide

Meet the expert, Dan

Dan is our Middle East expert, who has travelled extensively in the region.

Speak to Daniel by calling
+44 (0)20 3944 6258

The Backdoor trail to Petra is the best way to see the ancient city. It's a great hike and if you start early, you'll end up with parts of Petra almost to yourself as most tourists come in via the normal Siq route.

LGBTQIA+ Guidance

When planning to travel as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, there may be additional things you wish to consider doing, such as:

  • Speaking to one of our travel experts for information about travelling in your chosen destination and local attitudes towards members of the LGBTQIA+ community
  • Checking the Human Dignity Trust map of countries that criminalise LGBTQIA+ people, which highlights potentially dangerous regions and countries
  • Checking the ‘Local laws and customs’ section of your country's official foreign travel advice page
  • Looking for any updates for your desired destination on the Human Rights Watch LGBTQIA+ rights page
  • Buying a recommended guidebook, as many include an LGBTQIA+ section and advice for LGBTQIA+ travellers

USEFUL INFORMATION

Health and Vaccinations 

There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Jordan though you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. We recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments. 

Currency 

In Jordan the official unit of currency is Jordanian dinar (JOD). To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com

Cultural Sensitivity 

On our guided tours you will frequently interact with local people, each with their own distinct customs and traditions. We therefore ask you to be considerate and to treat them with respect. Your tour-leaders and guides will always be able to advise you accordingly.  

In Jordan Muslim women's clothing often covers their arms, legs and hair. Western women are not subject to these customs, but very revealing clothing is never appropriate and conservative dress is advisable for both men and women in the old part of Amman (Downtown), and outside the cities. Shorts are rarely worn by either sex, and would be out of place in the downtown Amman area. Topless sunbathing is prohibited, and one-piece swimsuits are preferred, although two-piece swimsuits are acceptable at hotel pools. 

Language & Religion 

The official language of Jordan is Arabic, but English is widely spoken - especially in the cities. Many Jordanians have travelled or have been educated abroad so French, German, Italian and Spanish are also spoken, but to a lesser extent.

When Arabic is written in Jordan using the Latin alphabet, English spelling is applied however these spellings can be interpreted in various ways, the spelling for example of street addresses can vary widely. For this reason, the sound of the words is a much better guide than the spelling. Jordan is primarily a Muslim country, although the freedom of all religions is protected. 

Time 

Jordan is 2 hours ahead of GMT. A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com.  

Food and drink  

Jordan is not as renowned for its cuisine as its neighbours Lebanon and Syria and this is unfair. Since antiquity, Jordan has been a highway between Europe, Asia, Arabia and Africa. Many different civilisations have come and gone and this influx and mixing of people over many centuries has led to a diverse food culture.

Ingredients include olives, cheese, spices, herbs, both dried and fresh fruit, these give the dominant flavours. Lamb and chicken are the meats of choice. In rural areas, particularly in the north, few of these ingredients travel far, sometimes merely from the nearby fields. 


Jordan Travel FAQs

Do I need a visa?

If you have a European passport, you will require a visa for Jordan. To save money, we recommend applying ahead of time for a single-entry visa.

Can I drink the water in Jordan?

The tap water in Jordan is not safe to drink, so make sure you keep a stock of bottled water or invest in a bottle with a filter built-in.

Is Jordan safe to travel?

Jordan is considered a far safer location than other countries in the vicinity, but as with any form of travel, it still pays to be prepared – and cautious. In general, in comparison to the countries surrounding it, Jordan is often described as friendly and welcoming to all visitors.

What clothes do I need to wear, is it conservative?

As Jordan is a Muslim country, it will be expected that you dress modestly on your visit. For women, this means covering the shoulders, knees, midriff and cleavage. For men, this means a shirt must always be worn when out in public. Different rules may apply to attractions such as the dead sea, where swimming is encouraged.

Can I drink alcohol?

Yes – alcohol is widely accepted in Jordan, but it’s essential to be respectful of the country’s Muslim faith. So drink respectfully and moderately, and there will be no trouble.

Is it good for winter sun?

As a desert country, summer can be too hot for many visitors. As such, visiting between October-November is recommended, but the colder winter months are less suitable, and not ideal for winter sun.

What’s the food like?

Jordan is known for having a massive amount of variety in the cuisine they offer, meaning there’s something tosuiteveryone’s palette. While meat is a staple in the Jordan diet, plenty of vegetarian options are also available.

What is ATM access like?

Depending on where you travel, ATMs may be scarce – so your best bet is to stock up at the airport, especially if you plan to go to tourist-friendly locations suchasWadi Rum and Petra. More historical sites like these won’t have accesstoATMs, so planning ahead is your best bet.

Is tipping customary in Jordan?

There is a strong tipping culture in Jordan – it’s known as ‘baksheesh’. Tipping waiters, guides and porters is highly recommended, so ensure that you’ve always got a little extra cash on hand to meet the appropriate customs.

What is internet access like in Jordan?

Wi-Fi is offered as standard in many hotels,cafes and restaurants in major cities. However, beyond this service is not available in more remote locations and tourist attractions – and the same can be said when it comes to 4G mobile reception, too.

Travelling Solo In Jordan

All of our small group tours are designed to cater for solo travellers: the number of solo travellers will vary from tour to tour, but usually over half will be travelling alone. Get all of the excitement of discovering new places combined with the security of travelling with an organised group, with like minded people.