how to plan a five day Jordan Itinerary- visiting Jordan from israel:
We popped in for a few days to visit the neighbors from the east and came back with recommendations on itinerary, overnight stays, beautiful places and more. You are invited to join our trip to Petra, Wadi Rum and for dessert a vacation in Aqaba.
Let’s get started.
Photos by: Itzik Tal
Trip to Jordan – Useful Information
Although Jordan is very close to Israel and the crossing to it is usually done by land, a visit to Jordan involves organizing transportation in advance and quite a bit of hassle.
Not all nationalities are eligible to receive a Jordanian visa at the border
Tourists who wish to cross the border can do so at one of two border crossings: the northern one (near Beit Shean) and the southern one – the Yitzhak Rabin crossing near Eilat. Most of the popular sites are in the south of the country and therefore, respectively, most people choose to cross the border at the southern crossing.
If are israeli ,you will need a Jordanian agent who will come and take you from the crossing for a fee. Holders of an Israeli passport cannot cross the border without such an agent, so it is important to coordinate in advance with a local guide.
Parking: There is an organized car park near the crossing.
Passport: Make sure it’s valid for six months.
Visas must be obtained from the Jordanian embassy prior to crossing the border
Transit fee: The Israeli transit fee must be paid in advance at the Malgam website. The cost is 107 NIS. It is worth paying attention to the dates that are filled out because they cannot be changed after payment.
The hours of operation for passenger passage are, on Sundays to Thursdays from 08:30 to 15:30.
Certificate of registration: Pre-registration confirmation on the Jordanian website visit Jordan. Pay attention to the dates as well as where the border is crossed:- Wadi Arava Crossing (if you plan to cross at Yitzhak Rabin Crossing) or at SHEIH HUSSEIN BRIDGE (if you plan to cross at the Jordan River Crossing)
Shuttle: From the Israeli side to the Jordanian side. Cost: 5 NIS. Frequency: every 45 minutes.
Hotel reservation: Jordanian authorities require a printed certificate indicating that you have booked a hotel in Jordan.
What is forbidden to bring with you in the bag: ritual objects, weapons, drones.
Jordanian side fee: $15 on the spot.
Is a trip to Jordan dangerous?
It is difficult to assess the level of danger in Jordan. The touristic hiking areas are secure and well kept and the overall feeling is safe. But of course it is important to be vigilant and to be careful.
Jordan – a short itinerary
Jordan has a lot to do and experience, but most travelers come to the area to visit the Nabatean city of Petra, which is one of the most beautiful and unique sites in the Middle East.
Here is a suggestion for a short two-day itinerary followed by a vacation in the city of Aqaba.
Wadi Rum jeep tour
Day Number 1
The Wadi Rum Jordanian nature reserve is not far from the border crossing. This is a reserve declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site thanks to archaeological finds found here as well as the unique landscape. There is a great deal to see in the reserve and in the appropriate season it is definitely worth thinking about a trek on foot.
A more popular option is a jeep tour that can be arranged through the agent with whom you pre-booked the trip. The Bedouin tribes that live in the area make a living from tourism and have developed a variety of options such as mountaineering, sandsurfing, horse riding and more.
The name of the place “Ram” – originates from Aramaic and means, as in Hebrew “high”. The desert landscape served as a location for several famous films including “Lawrence of Arabia”, “Dune” and others.
A jeep tour in Wadi Rum usually includes a visit to the sandy dunes (if you want you can also arrange sandboarding), a visit to the rock arches and a ride to see the ancient petroglyphs.
Accommodation in Wadi Rum
Rum Planet Camp
Camp Run by a Bedouin family, you can choose between sleeping in a glamping tent with shared toilet or sleeping in a room with private toilet. A Bedouin-style dinner is served in the evening.
Memories Aicha Luxury Camp
Accommodation in “Bubbles” – a kind of igloo with a transparent awning, through which you can observe the stars at night. Family rooms are also available.
For details and reservations via “Booking”
Didn’t find what you were looking for? Wadi Rum has quite a few accommodation options, most of them of a high standard.
HOW TO GET FROM ISRAEL DIRECTLY TO PETRA?
Take a bus to eilat and fron the central station cathch a taxi to the border. There is no bus servise to the border. the closest bus stop is 2 km from the place.
after crossing into Jordan, take another taxi to Aqaba bus station from there you can travel by bus or by taxi.
Jordan from Israel » Day trip to Petra
Day Number 2
On the way to Petra, it is worth stopping at the old station of the “Hijazit Railway”, which connected Damascus, Acre, Jordan and Medina. you can see the remains of a locomotive and a few wagons and… Of course, Bedouins who sell tea with Sheba.
From there you continue to the visitor center of Petra, the mysterious Nabatean city in the heart of the desert. The Nabataeans were a nomadic people originating from the Arabian Peninsula. They were engaged in trade and transported spices and perfumes on the desert roads. You can read more about the Nabataeans in Israel inthe post about Nitzana.
The city of Petra was a large Nabatean center with tombs and remnants of pagan worship. The whole area is declared a nature reserve and many interesting hiking trails can be done there. The “classic” route that most tourists take is a daily route (6-8 hours) in the main sites of the city, which has been recognized as a World Heritage Site.
Red Rock
“Beyond the mountains and the desert,”
the legends say, there is a place, from which no one has yet returned,
and it is called: the Red Rock.
Oh, the red rock – the red”
(Haim Hefer)
The generation of young people who grew up in Israel after the establishment of the state, grew up on Palmach myths and sought adventure and thrills. Petra, or as it is known as the “Red Rock”, was in their eyes a magical place and an object of longing.
Meir Har Zion and Rachel Saburai were the first to take the border and while risking their lives, reached Petra. Their success excited many others who tried to follow in their footsteps. Twelve of them died in these attempts.
The song written by Haim Hefer in 1958, with the dramatic melody, was written a few months after the deaths of a group of five young men who tried to reach Petra and were shot by the Bedouins on their way. When the song was released, the claim was that it encouraged young people to risk their lives and Ben Gurion completely forbade playing it.
Jordan Itinerary » Petra
The Petra area is a fascinating area and has quite a few rock formations, ancient buildings and interesting things to see. It is possible to walk for a few days but most visitors come for a daily visit of 6-8 hours.
Either way, it’s a busy day with a long walk so you should wear good walking shoes.
To avoid the rush hour in Petra, you should arrive very early (the site opens at 06:00 in the morning!). If you’re an evening type, in the summer months the site is open until 18:00 and you can tour after four, so there’s less crowds.
Along the main route there are plenty of stalls selling drinks and snacks. If you don’t feel like carrying a lot on your back, you can rely on buying water on the spot, a bit expensive, but still worth it.
A DAY IN PETRA
Petra Visitors Center
At the visitors center you buy entrance tickets, the cost: 50 dinars per day or 55 for two days. Children enter for free. Payment is in cash only.
The Dam
Near the entrance to the “Sik” that leads inside, you can see an ancient dam that has been reconstructed. The dam is part of a Nabatean water plant that exploited the floodwaters in the area for the benefit of the residents. The dam was reconstructed in 1963 after 23 tourists died in a flood there.
The Sik
A narrow railing with high walls leads into the city of Petra. The place is very reminiscent of other places I have visited, including the Red Canyon near Eilat and theAntelope Canyon in the western US.
On the walls of the Sikh there are various reliefs and remains of an ancient water system. The length of the sik is about a kilometer and a half that they walk. I recommend avoiding riding donkeys / camels / horses that suffer greatly from heat and difficult and inappropriate living conditions.
Towards the end it becomes narrow and dark and then out of the darkness appears the “Treasure Temple” which is the familiar and photographed part of Petra.
The Temple of the Treasury – Haznat of Pharaoh
The Treasury was so named because the Bedouins in the area believed that the treasure of the Egyptian Pharaoh lies inside the building. The building has been impressively preserved thanks to its insulation and its location that keeps it from winds and rain.
The structure is actually a grave plot carved directly out of the rock. When the sun shines on it, its pinkish color is revealed in all its glory. This happens in the morning (9:00 to 11:00) and in the afternoon (16:30 to 17:30).
Street Stone Facades Street of Facades
Theatre
A theater with 43 rows and about 8000 seats. The entire theater is carved into the rock and only the stage is made of stone. The hypothesis is that the theater was used for ritual purposes.
The Artificial Tombs
Five large tombs carved into the rock and believed to have served as the tomb of Nabatean kings.
A-Deir (“The Monastery”)
The Dier is not really a monastery, but a Nabatean temple where paintings of crosses of Christian pilgrims were found. The building is at the top of a mountain and you have to climb about 800 steps to reach it. The sight is definitely worth it because the structure is even bigger than the Khazna.
Little Petra- Sic Al Barid
A place that is about nine kilometers from Petra. It is widely believed that these are necropolis – tombs of middle-class people who could not be buried inside the city of Petra. Entrance is free of charge.
Accommodation in the Petra area – Wadi Musa
Petra Boutique Hotel
A four star hotel located next to the Petra Visitor Center. A successful choice for those who want to arrive at the site at 6 am or stay for the nightly show “Petra at Night”.
Petra Moon Hotel
A four-star hotel, including a rich breakfast and a swimming pool.
Jordan Itinerary » Vacation in Aqaba
After two days of running around the deserts and dunes, we definitely deserve a vacation. Aqaba is Eilat’s “twin”, overseas and the prices in its hotels are significantly cheaper. If you’ve already paid an agent and a fee, it definitely pays to stay for a few days of a luxurious vacation.
Aqaba has two main areas for recreation:
Ayala Oasis – the northern area with blue bays and a stunning view. In recent years, the area has developed a lot and now there are entertainment areas, cafes and more.
Tala Bay – the older southern area with luxury hotels and lots of treats.
Aqaba: What to do?
If you came to Aqaba for two or three days, you should stay at the hotel and enjoy all the luxuries it has. Those who insist on going out and exploring the world will nevertheless find something to see:
- Aqaba’s water park “Sariya Aqla” offers families with children a day of fun between slides and special pools. The place provides kids swimming buoys at the entrance.
- Aqaba Aquarium – a small place where you can see fish from the Red Sea. Located near the port of Aqaba.
- The Aqaba Museum is currently closed for renovations.
- Aqaba also has the option of water sports and ATV tours at affordable prices.
Photo by: Colin Tsoi
Recommended hotels in Aqaba
Mövenpick Resort Aqaba – Mövenpick Hotel
A five-star hotel is very popular with the Israeli public.Diving enthusiasts will find a diving club at the hotel that provides training and equipment.
The hotel is in Tala Bay.
Al Manara Al Manara
A very luxurious five-star hotel decorated in an oriental style. The prices are not cheap but the standard of the hotel is very high.
InterContinental Aqaba – Intercontinental
A luxurious five star hotel with a private beach, spacious rooms and a good breakfast.
The hotel is located in Ayala area
Dweik Hotel 3- Dweik 3 Hotel
Four star hotel. Not on the beach but close to the centre of Aqaba as well as the water park. Good value for the price.
Thank you for joining me on my trip to Jordan: to the Red Rock in Petra, to the dunes in Wadi Rum and to the luxury hotels in Aqaba.for more travel ideas & tips sign up to the Traveletter and from time to time I will update you on new destinations.
See you BY THE WAY!
