Day 1: Airport and Petra

We landed in Amman and the first things we did were (besides going through deep passport control and COVID test): purchasing a SIM card, exchange some currency and rent a car. We have mixed feelings with the car thing, because a web failed us but renting on the spot is very risky as availability can change.

We drove all the way south to Petra, our first stop through the very new “Desert Highway”, which had quite a few police controls.

We had dinner at Bukhara (13JOD 2 pax), delicious shish kebab sandwich and roasted chicken, we really needed that after a full speed day. We slept at the Relax Oasis Villa Hotel, which is not very nearby the center.

Day 2: Petra

Full day in Petra, we woke up at 5am in order to get to the main places without many tourists and it was a total win. We managed to take pictures in all the photogenic areas and enjoy all the ancient buildings in silence and peace. Even the locals who sold their little merch were setting their stalls up, so very low interaction with barely anyone. We would even sit down at the final Monastery in peace and alone for about 40 minutes. It started becoming pretty annoying at around 11am, when we already were on our way back

As a note, we bought the Jordan Pass (75€), with which you don’t have to pay for your visa, as it’s included in the pass, no Petra entrance fee and many other attractions, such as Wadi Rum entrance, Jerash and many museums.

Lunch at Petra Nights (17JOD 2 pax) and very nice local food.

Day 3: Wadi Rum desert stay at Starwalk Bedouin Camp

1 hour drive from Petra. We arrived there at 10am in the morning to start our Jeep activity (30JD), where we saw many amazing desert locations worthy of a Lawrence of Arabia scene. The dinner included some small show from which the hosts uncovered an underground barbeque, which was impressive and delicious.

At night, we could see the whole Milky Way without problem at all, it was very peaceful and we had some fireworks as it was NYE.

Day 4: Aqaba and Red Sea, stay at Prestige Hotel

1 hour drive from Wadi Rum. We stopped to add some gas to our car and we filled the tank with only 30JD. Once in Aqaba, the weather couldn’t be better! Just 20 degrees and our hotel host arranged a day at a resort for us and a scuba diving session in a diving center based in the property. It just cost us 35JD per person.

Day 5: Wadi AlMujib and dead sea stay at Dead Sea resort

3 hour drive from Aqaba, we approached Wadi Al Mujib but we couldn’t get in as the main way is closed from November to April, also, you must book in advance, make sure that you have a group of 6 people or more and that you get there at 8am.

We stopped really nearby the Wadi Al Mujib entrance for a fast swim at the Dead Sea. Be aware of that area because it must be the only one that’s free to swim in as the rest of the beaches will charge you 30JD just to enter. The buoyancy feeling was amazing, but be mindful not to stay longer than 20 minutes as the water is quite toxic.

After that, we swam in our hotel’s hot springs (Sweet water) and, as we had plenty of time in our hands, we decided to approach the place where Jesus was baptized, Bethany. Just an hour tour, but the place is nice enough and you will manage to see Israel from the main area.

Day 6: Mount Nebo and Amman stay at POST Boutique Hotel

47 min drive to Mount Nebo, which was a very fast drive (even though it had quite a few turns). Mount nebo was a very fast visit, not included in the Jordan Pass but it was beautiful enough. Apparently it was there where God told Moses that Israel was the promised land but he would never be there.

Just after that, we took a 47 min drive to Amman, where we staid in a hotel nearby the main highway as we would be moving from there and we could walk to the city. We visited the Citadel, which holds most of the main historical highlights and it’s included in the Jordan Pass. We visited the Archeological Museum, the Bizantin Church and the Rompan Temple of Hercules.

Later that afternoon we visited the King Abdullah Mosque, which is quite new and feels very luxurious, but be aware that there’s a 2JD entrance fee and if you are a woman, they will give you some clothes to cover up.

Day 7: Jerash and Aman stay at POST Boutique hotel

53 min drive to Jerash. Jerash is quite the big deal of the Amman side trips. It’s an abandoned city that, just like Petra, was the victim of an earthquake and most of it is pretty well preserved. It feels a bit like a Greek old town, which makes a lot of sense because it was a Roman establishment. It’s included in the Jordan Pass and we had lunch at a buffet just outside the main entrance, 6JD each and it was the most local food we had there.

Later that afternoon, we drove to the Ailjoun Castle. It’s a Medieval castle that looks just like the European ones and it’s located on top of a hill.

Day 8: straight to airport for Budapest, give the car back, stay in Central Hotel 21 Budapest

After landing in Budapest, we decided we were tired enough to spend the evening in the Szcheny Thermal Bath, which is the coolest bath I’ve ever been to. You must be vaccinated in order to get there and it’s fairly understandable as it’s full of people, especially young people, hanging around. The architecture is so grand and amazing you can feel you are an emperor or something like that just staying there. After that, we had a very nice pizza at Basilico Pizza for 5€ each where we could see how the owner prepared the dough, the ingredients and put the pizza in the oven.

Day 9: Budapest full day

If there’s a day in this trip when we walked A LOT it was this one. We visited the Buda Vari Palota, walked the Danube Promenade, visited the Matthias Church and loved the Fisherman’s Bastion.