Top 5 Spectacular Day Trips From Amman
Amman, the vibrant and lively capital of Jordan, is a city blessed with rich history, ancient cultural sites and a stunning (but hilly) landscape.
Despite all the amazing things to see in Amman, your trip to Jordan shouldn’t just be limited to one city. Luckily for tourists, Amman is the perfect starting point for a variety of day trips that will allow you to explore the best of what Jordan has to offer.
We adored our time in Jordan and struggled to limit this list to just our top 5!
1. Petra
A trip to Jordan just wouldn’t be complete without paying a visit to its most famous site and one of the world’s most stunning archaeological locations, Petra.
This once bustling city was the capital of the ancient Nabatean Kingdom and is filled with fascinating historical structures and superb hiking trails (it’s even a member of the 7 New Wonders of the World).
The highlight of the entire complex at Petra is without a doubt The Treasury, a breathtaking monument carved directly into the sandstone rockface – truly magnificent!
Located just under 150 miles from Amman, Petra is easily reachable by taxi, bus or hired car in just a few hours.
2. Wadi Rum
Jordan can be quite frantic, especially in the towns and cities, so if you are looking for a tranquil escape then head on down to the vast desert landscape of Wadi Rum.
Wadi Rum is the quintessential desert environment with its vast open dunes, towering sandstone mountains and shaded canyons that have offered sanctuary to the local tribes for centuries.
Because Wadi Rum is so vast, the best way to explore is to join a guided 4×4 tour that will take you on an adventure to all the best spots in the area and allow you to make the most of your limited time.
When you’re here you will also have the chance to try your hand at activities like camel riding and sandboarding, as well as having the opportunity to learn about the local Bedouins that call this harsh landscape home.
3. Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is a large body of water close to Amman that is famous for being the lowest point on Earth and for its incredibly high salt content.
In fact, the water is so salty that it allows you to float effortlessly on the surface – there is no chance you can sink here!
There are many hotels and resorts along the water that, for a fee, will allow you in to make use of their private beach, pools and facilities – we visited the Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea and couldn’t recommend it more.
Wherever you decide to go, just make sure that you slather yourself in the famous Dead Sea mud. This putty-like mixture is renowned for its therapeutic properties and your skin will definitely feel the benefits of it.
4. Jerash
The ancient city of Jerash is considered one of the best-preserved Roman complexes outside of Italy and is a very popular day trip for anyone interested in history (and at only 30 miles away, it’s very easy to get to).
Jerash is home to so many incredible and well-preserved ruins that you could easily spend hours upon hours wandering through the ancient, paved streets.
Because of it’s large size, we recommend you hire one of the official tour guides as they will be able to show you round the entire place and tell you the story behind each ruin.
On your visit be on the lookout for some of our favourite spots such as the Arch of Hadrian, Temple of Artemis and the Oval Plaza!
5. Madaba
Madaba is a small city around a 30-minute drive south from Amman and is well known for containing many amazing archaeological sites.
One of the highlights of Madaba is without doubt the Madaba Mosaic Map located within the Church of St. George. The impressive map is made up of around 2 million tiny tiles and at over 1,500 years old is one of the oldest maps showing the Holy Land in detail.
Continuing the historical theme, visitors can also pay a visit to the Madaba Archaeological Park which is home to many beautiful mosaics and ancient ruins dating back hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of years and is well worth going to see.
In addition to its historical attractions, Madaba is also a great place to experience Jordan’s natural beauty. The city is located at the foot of Mount Nebo, which is said to be the place where Moses saw the Promised Land so consider adding this small detour to your trip.
