3 Days in Jordan: Top Things to Do

Dear lilioftheworld.com reader, here is Lili, your co-editor. In the present article we would like to take you with us to Jordan. Jordan (Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan) is a country in the North part of the Arabian peninsula, having a strategic location on the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa. Most of us know the country as a home of one of the 7 Modern World wonders- Petra. Still, Jordan is not only this. 3 days is a very short period to explore all of its beauties, however, it is still possible to have a great experience and see a lot.  

Lili’s 12 Good-to-know tips when travelling to Jordan:

• Jordan is a muslim country, so have in mind two things. Firstly, make sure that your outfit is appropriate. Short skirts and big necklines are maybe not the best clothes for your trip to Jordan. Secondly, alcohol is scarce in most parts of the country. Of course, the main tourist sites and hotels are an exception, but then you are paying a high price for it. Maybe you can take a bottle of wine or rum from your departure airport to get warmer when you are in the desert 🙂

• If you are visiting Petra and you are keen on seeing “Petra by night“, check in advance the days when the tours are taking place. Currently (as of January 2022) these are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. If you have only 3 days in Jordan (like we did), you might have only one possibility to visit Petra by night. Later in the article I will explain what “Petra by night” is for those who hear it for a first time.

• The weekend days in Jordan are Friday and Saturday and not Saturday and Sunday as we are mostly used to. 
• A quite common way of exploring the country is by renting a car. The roads are relatively good and even with a small car you can get to any point. Alternatively, you can also use the services of drivers to bring you from one point to the other. I have friends who did this (two women) and they also felt safe when exploring the country this way. The Jordanians drive on the right side.

• Visa. The visa requirement depends on your country of origin. However, it could also depend on your entry point. For example we, as Bulgarian citizens, need a visa if we enter the country via land or through Amman airport. If the entrance is via Aqaba airport though, there isn’t a visa requirement. 

• Currency and payment. The Jordanian currency is Jordanian Dinar. Check the exchange rates before your trip. We landed in Aqaba and I have seen just one exchange desk and a single ATM at the airport. However, in the city itself, there were many options for currency exchange or money withdrawal. Furthermore, In many places you can pay by card, but especially in Wadi Rum we needed some cash (they also accepted euro).  

• Power sockets. Usually they have both options in each hotel- Type F (used in Europe and Russia) and Type G (used in GBR, IRL, MLT, MAS and SIN). The last one you can sometimes also use for Type F plug-ins, but not always. Thus, if you’d like to have more options, better take an adapter with you.  
• If you plan an overnight stay in Wadi Rum (and I highly recommend one of the 3 days in Jordan to be there), make sure you have warm clothes with you. Although it is pretty warm during the day (even in winter months), during the night the temperatures drop close to 0 or below. As we were there at the end of December, we booked a camp with an A/C. 

• Connectivity. If you’d like to stay connected via the Internet during your stay, you better buy a local SIM card. At the airport in Aqaba there were two stands offering local cards, with the cheapest option being 6GB for 7JOD. One thing you should be aware of is that there is no connectivity in Wadi Rum. I’m not sure whether this is valid for all camps, but at least in ours there was neither Wi-fi connection, no cellular one. The camp owner said that the Government is working on this at the moment, so soon this remark might not be valid. 

• Costs. It highly depends on your choice and consumption. Although it is also possible to be on budget there, if you decide not to limit yourself, you can spend quite a fortune for these 3 days. Just an example, the entrance fee to Petra is 50 JOD, which in current exchange rate is around 62 EUR. 

• About Jordan Pass. In short, this is a pass which gives you access to 40 tourist attractions in Jordan. More about Jordan Pass you can read on their official Jordan Pass website. In my opinion, this one is designed if you are traveling for a longer period than 3 days in Jordan. For three days it simply does not make sense. Yes, it covers the visa fee and also the Petra entrance. However, as we did not have to pay the visa due to entering via Aqaba airport, we hadn’t planned to visit any other of the included sights, so it was not worth it. My advice is that you make a list of the things you would like to see and do and just make the calculation which is best for you- either buy a Jordan pass, or buy single tickets. 

• Buying/ Taking souvenirs. You might be thrilled to take some stones from Petra, salt from Dead sea, sand from Wadi Rum or some shells from Red sea. You might even buy them from the street vendors. Just bear in mind that these are forbidden for export out of the country, so there is a high chance they are confiscated at the airport. Still, there is a chance they overlook them, but it is your own risk.

Now back to the program we recommend for 3 days in Jordan. The spread of the sights by days depends on which is your entry point to Jordan. Just make sure you do not spend the whole day travelling as the country is long. E.g. Petra and Wadi Rum desert are pretty close to each other, while the Dead Sea is up in the north. 

Here are the top things to do if you have 3 days in Jordan:

1. Petra

I think this one goes without saying. It would be like going to Rome without seeing the Pope if you are in Jordan and you do not pay a visit to the archaeological site of Petra. In the end you have 3 days in Jordan, so dedicating at least one day to Petra is a must.

• What is actually Petra?

Most of us just have the picture of the Treasury in mind and all the beautiful Instagram photos of people drinking tea and sitting on traditional carpets on one of the neighboring rocks. Nonetheless, Petra is much more than this. Petra is half-built, half-carved into the rock ancient city, surrounded by mountains riddled with passages and gorges.

My most favorite part of Petra is actually the Siq and not the Treasury

It was once a thriving trading center and the capital of the Nabataean empire around 300 B.C For many years, the secret of Petra was kept away from the eyes of the Western world. Only in the early 1800s did a European traveler disguise himself in Bedouin costume and infiltrate the mysterious locale. 

An interesting fact about Petra is that archaeologists think they have found just 15% of what the town used to be in the past. 85% are still underground and untouched. This for me is impressive as even these 15% seem quite a lot- so many things you can see there. 

I’m definitely not a specialist neither on history, nor archaeology, so I will not focus much on this part of Petra. Moreover, you can hire a guide to explain all interesting things about the site. I would like to focus on some useful tips which helped us have a great time there. 

• When to visit Petra

We were there in December and it was during Covid-times, so there weren’t many tourists anyway. Still, friends who have been there in normal times, also recommend this season as lower than usual. And you should definitely start the tour early in the morning. The site opens at 6:00 which might be a bit chilly for December, but starting the tour at 8:00 is a good option. Moreover, this is the time when you have some sun in the area where the Treasury is located. In the end you would like to take the best pictures, don’t you?

• Having a bird-eye view to the Treasury (Al Khazneh)

This is the ONE picture you went to Petra, right? After passing through the Al Siq canyon (which I found the most impressive thing in Petra), you will reach the small square where the Treasury is located. There will be a lot of locals offering to take you to one of the observation cafes (resting areas) for a fee. We did not want to pay 10 JOD for this and we chose to walk instead. 

Some of the things you will see along Al-Khubtha trail

There is an alternative, do not listen to what the locals and even some guides are telling you. It is called Al-Khubtha trek and is marked as “hard” on the map, which you can take at the reception. In fact, it is not that hard, you can easily walk with normal shoes, no specific equipment is needed. It took us around an hour to get there, but we were taking a lot of pictures on the way. In the end we were almost the only visitors at the cafe on the top, so it was definitely worth the hike. 

At the bottom of the article I have cited a small myth about the Treasury which might be interesting for you to read. 

• The Monastery

Maybe my only regret is that we did not go there as we thought it would be too far. After doing the trek to the bird-eye view to the Treasury, we were a bit tired. And we had to travel afterwards to Dead Sea (around 3 hours drive). So, the group split in two- some went to the monastery, others (me included), went straight to the lunch spot. The hike (with a fast pace) is around 1.5 hour up and down from the Great Temple and Qasr-al-Bint. so do not feel discouraged and give it a try. 

• Petra by night

As mentioned earlier, this is not happening every day. It takes place from 20:30 to 22:30 in the evenings and I’m sure you have also seen a lot of photos from this event. They lit thousands of candles on the square in front of the Treasury. Even if you had bought a two–day ticket for Petra, you have to buy a separate one if you’d like to attend Petra by night (17 JOD). Well, we were not prepared and we were in Petra on a Sunday. Thus, we did not have any choice. Maybe if I had the option, I would have gone to see it. 

• Exploring Petra

You have the option to hire a donkey to get to either the Monastery, or to the viewpoint I was mentioning earlier. I do not know the price, but there are many locals offering this on every corner. 

• Souvenirs 

You can as well buy souvenirs from the many stands you will find around Petra. And the prices were quite fair. I’m glad we bought ours from there as later on we did not see such a rich option. 

• Outfit

Basically, you do not need special “equipment” when visiting Petra. Things to consider are just comfortable shoes. Also have in mind that it is very dusty, so do not bring your best pair. The sand is red and the shoes might get colored. Make sure you have an extra layer of clothes as it is a bit windy on the hills. 

We managed to cover a big part of the complex in around 7-8 hours. After the tour in ancient Petra, we sat for lunch in one of the restaurants in front of the main entrance. I can highly recommend to non-vegetarians to try camel meat. Much better than veal (if I have to compare it to something similar in taste).

2. Dead Sea 

The next stop in the 3 days in Jordan program was Dead Sea. Around 3 hours drive from Petra. Unfortunately, we were driving in the evening, so we missed the landscape view. The road was crossing the highest mountain in Jordan. Thus, towards the end of the trip we were quickly going from 1400m above sea level to -400m, where actually the Dead Sea is. 

There are plenty of options for hotels at Dead Sea. For 3 days in Jordan you basically do not have much time to spend there, so booking the cheapest hotel was what we opted for. All in all, we just spent the night there and on the next day enjoyed some time in the water before heading back to the south. 

Facts about Dead Sea 

We decided to include the Dead Sea as part of our program as we believed this basin is fading with time. It is true- you can clearly see this by the signs of the hotel about the sea level through the years. However, the truth is that at some point the Dead Sea will stop shrinking further- it will reach certain equilibrium. When this would happen, it is still not clear. 

We visited the Israeli part of the Dead Sea a couple of years ago. Back then I was not brave enough to enter the sea. It was December again and the outside temperature was too low for me to imagine entering into the water. However, this time we had the hotel nearby, so I could quickly come back and take a hot shower or use the spa of the hotel to warm up. The outside temperature was around 15 degrees, so it was not that cold. The sea water felt even warmer. 

Swimming in Dead Sea

All the pictures you have seen of people floating in the Dead Sea are not fake. You literally cannot sink. The recommendation is that you are lying, instead of swimming. Avoiding eye contact with water is recommended as the water is extremely salty. The salt concentration is around 40% and it increases every year. 

Floating in the Dead Sea is also good for your health. Dead Sea Salt is great for your skin—it can boost skin health as well as treat various health conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Redness and dryness, which are signs of inflammation, also significantly decrease after the Dead Sea salt treatment. One thing we noticed is that after some time in the water the skin on the fingers was not forming wrinkles as it normally does when you spend time in pure or other sea water. 

As we had a long way ahead of us, going back to the south, we left the hotel around noon to get to Aqaba and then to the final stop- Wadi Rum- by the Dead Sea coast. Along the way, we enjoyed the beautiful coastline and the turquoise colors of the Dead Sea.

3. Wadi Rum 

This is the place where we spent the last night of the 3 days in Jordan. On the last day we did a tour in the desert, but let me tell you first about Wadi Rum itself. 

Its other name is Valley of the Moon. In fact, Wadi Rum is a valley, cut into the sandstone and granite rock. There are many ways you can explore the area, one of the most popular ones being spending the night in a camp and then doing a 4×4 tour. This is exactly what we did. 

About Wadi Rum visit

As Wadi Rum is a protected area, you are not allowed to go with your car inside the valley. The standard process is that you reach Wadi Rum Village where you leave your car. A driver from your camp is waiting for you and takes you to your camp. There is an entrance fee of 5 JOD which honestly I think you do not need to pay if you are spending the night at a camp. 

We had a small incident as a local tried to cheat us. We were arriving at Wadi Rum in the evening, it was dark outside. There were a group of people who stopped us at the Wadi Rum Visitor Center (which is 1 km before the Village itself). They asked us to pay 5 JOD per person. When we asked about a badge or tickets as a proof of us paying, he just offered to call our driver. He dialed someone and gave me his phone to speak to him.

Then, we realized something was a bit suspicious. I called our camp (one more reason for you to have a local SIM card). It turned out that we shouldn’t pay to these guys. The fee is usually paid directly at the Wadi Rum village. Later on no one asked us to pay this fee. That is why my assumption is that it is included in the accommodation price (always check with your camp). 

Accommodation in Wadi Rum

We arrived around 18:00 at the Bedouin camp we had chosen. There are multiple options for accommodation, depending on your budget and preference. As mentioned earlier, we visited Jordan in December, with temperatures reaching close to 0 degrees during the night. Having an A/C was a must for me. And as we had only 3 days in Jordan, we wanted to spoil ourselves. We booked one of those bubble tents which have a transparent roof for gazing at the stars. If you have the possibility, I can highly recommend this. 

The amazing view from our bubble tent

Basically most camps in Wadi Rum offer bed and breakfast, some- also have dinner included in the price. They do traditional evenings around the campfire where you can drink local tea and smoke shisha. 

Additionally, the preparation of the food is a spectacular process. The word you need to know is Zarb. Zarb is a type of Bedouin barbecue and a local delicacy. It typically involves meat, such as chicken, and a variety of vegetables including potatoes, carrots, and zucchini, also rice. What makes zarb special is that the barbecue is located underground, in a large pit. The meats and vegetables are placed on a rack which is lowered below ground over top of hot coals. The pit is covered with sand until the zarb is finished. Just before dinner they take out the meat from the oven built in the ground. In the video below you can see the “ceremony” of opening oven in our camp. Zarb is a must-try dish (even if you have only 3 days in Jordan) when visiting Wadi Rum.

Exploring Wadi Rum 

Depending on the time you have, you can choose different lengths of the tours. They vary between 2 hours and a whole day. We decided an average of 3 hours would be enough for us and it was a good decision. The price the camp offered us was 70 JOD for the whole Jeep which can take up to 6 people. On the way we visited 8 different spots among which was Lawrence’s house, we did some sand boarding on a red dune, we visited the sand bridge, and saw some petroglyphs.

The landscape of Wadi Rum is simply out of this planet- it is so surreal. High rocks, red and yellow sand with clear borders between them, amazing canyons, stunning views, a lot of camels and blue sky- just some of the highlights of this day full of impressions. 

One tip for you is to have a scarf or a hat as it is quite windy during the rides on the Jeep. We had some sun, but still it was a bit chilly. 

After these 3 days in Jordan full of so many interesting things, quite different from experience point of view, we were completely satisfied. You need some time to digest everything, but when you have limited time, you have to take the most out of it. 

Thank you for travelling with us!

For other short trips, visit the Weekend Escapes section. 

If you are interested at this part of the world, I can recommend the two articles about Oman- Oman What to Do and Muscat What to Do.

The myth I promised you about Petra

There are several myths concerning the great, once prosperous city. One of the most prominent myths is about the urn on the top of Al Khazneh, or The Treasury. One of the greatest structures in the city, and the most well-known (as it was featured in an Indiana Jones film in the 1980s), the immense structure stands at thirty by forty meters tall, with many statues and details that have since been lost to time and damage.

According to legend, the massive structure was built to be a bank of sorts to a great king or the Pharaoh of Egypt himself, and the treasure was rumored to be held in the ceramic urn on the second floor of the structure. Today, the urn (which is, coincidentally, and always has been, solid ceramic) is riddled with damage from bullets of people hoping to open the urn and find a treasure of huge proportions, as well as weathering.

Source: http://greatdiscoveries.leadr.msu.edu/petra/myth/

Here is another myth which I also found quite interesting 

An ancient legend tells of an Arabian shepherd who six thousand years ago put his supply of milk in a pouch made from a sheep’s stomach before making a journey across the desert. The rennet in the lining of the pouch, combined with the heat of the sun, caused the milk to form curds, and cheese was discovered

Read more: https://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/Jordan.html#ixzz7H07SqkZy

One of our friends was creating a video blog of the trip. You are interested to see more about Jordan in a video, here are the two parts.