Tour overview

This 3-day independent short break is the easiest way to see Petra from Amman, with transport, hotels and a guided tour arranged but no tour leader. A driver collects you from your hotel in Amman, a local guide shows you Petra, and the rest of the time is yours. Groups are small, from one to six travellers aged 12 and over, travelling in a modern air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver. You spend two nights in a three- or four-star hotel near the entrance to Petra, with breakfasts and one lunch included, and your Petra pass covers both days.

The trip starts at 10am with a drive to Mount Nebo, where Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land. Its Byzantine church has fine mosaics, and on a clear day the views stretch across the Jordan valley. You then descend to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth at around 420 metres below sea level, for a swim at a private beach. The water is so salty that you float on the surface, and many visitors cover themselves in the mineral-rich mud. After lunch you drive south into the mountains to Wadi Musa, the town beside Petra, for the night.

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The second day is devoted to Petra, the rose-red city carved into the cliffs by the Nabataeans more than 2,000 years ago and unknown to the Western world until 1812. Your local guide leads you through the narrow gorge of the Siq to the Treasury, then along the Roman road past royal tombs and the theatre. If you have the energy, climb the 800 steps to the Monastery. The evening is free for dinner in the village, or for the optional Petra by Night, when the Siq and Treasury are lit by candles.

On the last morning your pass is still valid, so you can return to explore the High Place of Sacrifice or quieter corners of the city before the drive back to Amman, arriving around 4pm.

The physical rating is low, though Petra involves a lot of walking on sandy and uneven ground. This break suits travellers who are already in Jordan or the region and want Petra and the Dead Sea without joining a full escorted tour.

Trip highlights

  • The mosaics and views of Mount Nebo (Day 1)
  • A swim in the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth (Day 1)
  • A guided walk through the Siq to the Treasury at Petra (Day 2)
  • The climb to Petra's Monastery, if you wish (Day 2)
  • A second morning in Petra at your own pace (Day 3)
  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Amman

Your route

4 stops from Amman to Petra

3-day route: Amman – Mount Nebo – Dead Sea – Petra – Amman
  1. Amman Days 1 & 3
  2. Mt Nebo Day 1
  3. Dead Sea Day 1
  4. Petra Days 1–2

Why choose this tour

Petra and the Dead Sea in three days, with transport and a guide arranged. The freedom of independent travel, with no tour leader and small numbers.

Best suited to

  • Travellers already in Amman or the region
  • Independent travellers who want transport and tickets arranged
  • Couples and friends on a short break
  • Anyone adding Petra to a longer trip
The Treasury carved into the rock at Petra, Jordan

Day-by-day itinerary

3 days from Amman, Jordan to Amman, Jordan

  1. Day 1 · Amman, Mount Nebo, Dead Sea, Petra Mount Nebo and the Dead Sea

    Pick-up from your Amman hotel at 10am for Mount Nebo and its Byzantine mosaics, then a swim in the Dead Sea and lunch before driving south to Petra.

    Hotel
    Hotel near Petra
    Meals
    Lunch
  2. Day 2 · The Siq, The Treasury, The Monastery Petra

    A guided tour through the Siq to the Treasury and along the Roman road past the tombs and theatre, with the option to climb to the Monastery. The evening is free.

    Hotel
    Hotel near Petra
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Petra, Amman Petra at your own pace, return to Amman

    Use your pass to explore more of Petra before the drive back to Amman, arriving around 4pm.

    Meals
    Breakfast
The red rock walls of the Siq at Petra

Where you stay

  • Wadi Musa, Petra (2 nights) Three- or four-star hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 2 nights in a three- or four-star hotel near Petra
  • Meals 2 breakfasts and 1 lunch
  • Transport air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver, with pick-up and drop-off at your Amman hotel
  • Guided tour of Petra with a local guide, and a two-day Petra pass
  • Visits to Mount Nebo and the Dead Sea

Not included

  • Flights and accommodation in Amman
  • Jordan visa
  • Meals not listed
  • Optional Petra by Night
  • Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
Salt formations along the shore of the Dead Sea

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want a tour leader — this is an independent break
  • You want Wadi Rum — this trip covers Petra and the Dead Sea only
  • You want most meals included — breakfasts and one lunch
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Jordan
The Monastery at Petra, Jordan

Departures & prices

From £595 per person, twin share, tour only. 449 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Is there a tour leader?

No. This is an independent break. A driver takes you between Amman, the Dead Sea and Petra, and a local guide leads the Petra tour. The rest of the time you explore on your own.

Where does the trip start?

You are collected from your hotel in Amman at 10am on Day 1 and dropped back in Amman around 4pm on Day 3. Amman hotel nights are not included.

How many people travel together?

Between one and six travellers share the vehicle, and the minimum age is 12.

How much walking is there in Petra?

A lot. The main trail from the entrance to the Treasury and beyond is several kilometres on sandy, uneven ground, and the Monastery climb has around 800 steps.

What should I bring for the Dead Sea?

Swimwear, a towel and sandals. Avoid shaving beforehand and keep the water away from your eyes.

Can I add Wadi Rum?

Not on this break, but a specialist can add extra nights or combine it with a longer Jordan tour.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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