Amman and Petra, planned around prayer

Staying in Amman and visiting Petra on a day trip means one hotel, one prayer routine and one place to rest. That suits parents who tire on the road.

The price is one very long day. This page shows how to plan that day around Zohor and Asar, and how to keep meals honest.

Who does an Amman base suit?

It suits older parents, families with children and anyone who wants to unpack once. It suits less well a traveller who wants to be inside Petra at first light, because that means sleeping nearby.

Jordan is a Muslim-majority country, with Muslims estimated at 98.8% of the population in 2010¹. The call to prayer is part of the day in the city. That makes prayer easier, but it does not settle the food question, as the meals section explains.

What do Malaysians need to enter Jordan?

One source lists an eVisa or a visa on arrival for Malaysian citizens, for a stay of one month². Rules change, so check the Malaysian foreign ministry page for Jordan and Jordan’s official visa channels before you pay for anything.

Jordan is 5 hours behind Malaysia³. Set your prayer app to Amman as soon as you board. For emergencies, 911 works, and 112 works on mobile phones⁴.

How do you plan the Petra day around prayer?

Treat Subuh, Zohor and Asar as fixed points, then build the day around them. Do not leave them to chance.

• Subuh: pray at the hotel before you leave, so nobody is rushed.
• Zohor: decide in advance where it will be prayed and make wuduk before you enter the site. We hold no verified information about prayer space inside Petra, so ask your operator in writing.
• Asar: ask the driver to stop at a roadside mosque on the way back, or pray at the hotel if you arrive in time.
• Maghrib and Isyak: at the hotel, with a proper meal.

Petra means long walking on uneven paths. Agree a turn-back point with your parents before you start, and keep a seat or rest stop in mind for each stretch.

If the men of the family want to pray Jumaat, avoid scheduling the Petra day on a Friday. The sites’ own arrangements on Fridays should be checked with your operator.

How do you eat on an Amman base?

Sort every meal by claim state. A hotel that serves tourists may serve alcohol, and a Muslim-owned restaurant has still not shown you a certificate. Our guide to the five halal claim states explains each label.

Send these questions before you book a hotel or a driver:

• “Is there pork or alcohol in the breakfast buffet and in cooked dishes?”
• “Can you give us a packed lunch for the Petra day, and is it prepared in the same kitchen as the buffet?”

Order the packed lunch the evening before, and write down the answer. The meal-assurance comparison tool helps you compare hotel and tour offers by your own rule.

Where should you base yourself?

Choose an area of Amman with a mosque within walking distance and easy taxi access. Amman is hilly, so ask older parents about steep streets and stairs before you pick a hotel.

If you want a swimming pool, ask whether it is mixed. Our Dubai hotel guide lists the questions, and they work in Jordan too.

When is another plan better?

If your parents cannot manage one long day, sleep a night near Petra and treat it as two shorter visits. If your group wants a first overseas trip with a simpler food picture, read Muslim travel in Jordan and compare it with other countries in the country and city guides.

Your next step

Map your days with the guide on planning sightseeing around five daily prayers, then check the draft with the prayer-stop itinerary checklist.