5 Days Discovering Jordan: Self-Launched Near East Adventure
5 days · Jordan
Flow Travel and Tourism charges £650
No-markup version: ~£310 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
This self-launched version of Flow Travel and Tourism's 5-day Jordan itinerary covers all the same unmissable highlights — Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea, Madaba, Mount Nebo, and Amman — at a fraction of the guided group tour price. You'll swap the private guide and included transport for public JETT buses, shared jeep tours, and independently booked entrance tickets, while still staying in comfortable guesthouses and budget hotels. Jordan is a very traveller-friendly country and these sites are easily navigable solo or in a small group. All costs are approximate estimates in GBP per person.
Day-by-day
Arrival in Amman
Amman, Jordan
Arrive at Queen Alia International Airport and make your own way into central Amman. The Airport Express bus (JD3.30, ~£4) runs regularly to Abdali Bus Station in downtown Amman — a far cheaper alternative to taxis. Check into your hostel in the lively Jabal Amman or Rainbow Street neighbourhood. Spend the evening exploring Rainbow Street, grabbing your first taste of Jordanian street food (falafel, shawarma, kunafa) and getting your bearings in the capital.
🚌Airport Express bus from Queen Alia Airport to Abdali, ~£4 per person
🛏The Nomads Hotel & Hostel or Jordan Tower Hotel — both well-reviewed budget options in central Amman (~£15-20/night)
- →Take the Airport Express bus to downtown Amman (~£4)
- →Check into hostel in Jabal Amman / Rainbow Street area
- →Explore Rainbow Street and nearby cafés
- →Dinner at a local restaurant — try mansaf or grilled meats
Petra — The Rose-Red City
Petra, Jordan
Take an early JETT bus or shared minibus from Amman's Wehdat bus station to Wadi Musa (the town next to Petra), a journey of around 3 hours (~£6-8). Purchase your Petra entrance ticket at the gate (1-day pass ~£45 for non-Jordan Pass holders — strongly consider buying the Jordan Pass online before travel, which bundles the visa fee and Petra entry and saves significant money). Explore Petra independently: walk the Siq, marvel at the Treasury (Al-Khazneh), wander the Street of Facades, the Royal Tombs, and the Colonnaded Street. Consider the optional Petra Museum near the main gate (free with entry). In the evening, transfer by shared taxi or arranged transport to your Wadi Rum camp (~1 hour, £10-15). Arrive in time for the traditional Zarb dinner cooked underground at your desert camp.
🚌JETT/public bus Amman to Wadi Musa ~£7; shared taxi Petra to Wadi Rum ~£12
🛏Wadi Rum desert camp (basic bedouin-style tents with dinner and breakfast included) — ~£25-35/night
- →JETT or public bus from Amman to Wadi Musa (~£7)
- →Self-guided exploration of Petra — the Siq, Treasury, Royal Tombs, Colonnaded Street (book via Jordan Pass or pay at gate ~£45)
- →Optional: Petra Museum visit (3-minute walk from main gate, free with entry ticket, 280 artefacts)
- →Shared taxi transfer to Wadi Rum camp (~£12)
- →Traditional Zarb (underground-cooked) dinner at desert camp (usually included in camp fee)
Wadi Rum Jeep Safari & the Dead Sea
Wadi Rum & Dead Sea, Jordan
Rise early and join a shared 2-hour jeep safari in Wadi Rum, bookable directly through your camp or via GetYourGuide (~£20-30 per person for a shared tour). See Lawrence's Spring, Khazali Canyon, sand dunes, and dramatic sandstone landscapes that feel like another planet. After the safari, arrange transport north toward the Dead Sea — JETT buses or a combination of shared taxis via Aqaba and the King's Highway can get you there, though a shared private transfer is often most practical (~£15-20 per person if arranged through your camp or a local operator). Arrive at the Dead Sea in the afternoon in time to float in the famously salty water and cake yourself in mineral-rich mud. Check into a budget hotel near the shore.
🚌Shared jeep included in safari fee; shared taxi/transfer Wadi Rum to Dead Sea ~£18
🛏Budget guesthouse near the Dead Sea shore, e.g. Dead Sea Resthouse or local guesthouse (~£20-25/night)
- →2-hour shared jeep safari in Wadi Rum — book through camp or GetYourGuide (~£25)
- →Visit Khazali Canyon, Lawrence's Spring, and Wadi Rum sand dunes
- →Shared transport from Wadi Rum to Dead Sea (~£18)
- →Afternoon swim and mud session at the Dead Sea (public beach access free or via hotel beach ~£8-12)
Madaba Mosaics, Mount Nebo & Amman Graffiti Tour
Madaba, Mount Nebo & Amman, Jordan
Take a local bus or shared taxi from the Dead Sea area to Madaba (~£5-8), a charming town famous for its Byzantine-era mosaics. Visit the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, home to the extraordinary 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land (entrance ~£2). Browse Madaba's souvenir shops and mosaic workshops. From Madaba, take a short taxi to Mount Nebo (~£5 return), the biblical site where Moses is said to have viewed the Promised Land — stunning panoramic views over the Jordan Valley and, on a clear day, Jerusalem. Head back toward Amman and spend the afternoon exploring the city's vibrant street art scene around Jabal Al-Weibdeh and Jabal Amman. Stop for lunch at Al Quds Falafel on Rainbow Street — a legendary local spot. Enjoy a final dinner in Amman.
🚌Shared bus/taxi Dead Sea to Madaba ~£6; taxi to Mount Nebo ~£5; local taxi back to Amman ~£8
🛏Return to your Amman hostel from Day 1, or similar (~£15-20/night)
- →Shared bus/taxi from Dead Sea to Madaba (~£6)
- →Visit Greek Orthodox Church of St. George and the mosaic map (~£2 entry)
- →Taxi to Mount Nebo and back (~£5 return)
- →Self-guided graffiti and street art walk in Jabal Al-Weibdeh and Jabal Amman
- →Lunch at Al Quds Falafel on Rainbow Street (~£3-4)
- →Explore Amman Citadel and Roman Theatre if time allows (entry ~£3)
Departure from Amman
Amman, Jordan
Enjoy a final breakfast at your hostel or a local café. If time allows before your flight, stroll through the old downtown (Al-Balad) area, visit the Amman Citadel for panoramic views, or browse the local souks. Take the Airport Express bus back to Queen Alia International Airport (~£4). Allow at least 2.5-3 hours before your departure.
🚌Airport Express bus to Queen Alia Airport ~£4
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Final breakfast at hostel or local café
- →Optional: last-minute visit to Amman Citadel or downtown souks
- →Airport Express bus to Queen Alia International Airport (~£4)
Self-launched vs. Flow Travel and Tourism
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Flow Travel and Tourism | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£310 | £650 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £340 per person (52%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Flow Travel and Tourism-style trips? Check them out here.~£310
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does 5 Days Discovering Jordan: Self-Launched Near East Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £310 per person for 5 days in Jordan. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Flow Travel and Tourism?+
Yes — Flow Travel and Tourism charges around £650 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £310 — a saving of roughly £340 (52%) per person.
How long is the Jordan trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 day-by-day stops through Jordan.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Jordan, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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