Six days in Jordan with family
You want Petra and the desert for your family, without long days that leave elders too tired.
This plan gives your family six days across Amman, the Dead Sea, Petra and Wadi Rum, with the long road days kept apart and a rest stop built in. It suits older parents and families on a first trip to the Middle East. Check each day’s prayer windows on your app.
Who is this plan for?
It is for families with older parents who want Petra and the desert without constant rushing. It is an outline, not a booking. Pew Research Center estimated Muslims at 98.8% of Jordan’s population in 20103, but you still check each meal and hotel.
The route at a glance
- Day 1: Arrive in Amman and rest.
- Day 2: Amman, one outing and a relaxed evening.
- Day 3: Road south via the Dead Sea to Petra.
- Day 4: Petra, morning only, then rest.
- Day 5: To Wadi Rum, desert evening.
- Day 6: Return and fly home.
What do Malaysians need to enter Jordan?
A public listing shows Jordan as eVisa or free visa on arrival for Malaysian citizens, for a stay of 1 month1. The Malaysian foreign ministry page showed a banner titled New Regulations for Malaysians Entering Jordan, so check it before you book.
Jordan is 5 hours behind Malaysia4, and its currency code is JOD5. The emergency number is 911, and 112 works on mobile phones2. Ask your agent for the flight routing from Malaysia, as our fact bank has no verified direct route.
Day by day
Day 1: Arrive and rest
Land in Amman, clear immigration and go to the hotel. Pray the next solat in your room, then rest. Eat dinner at the hotel or somewhere very near.
Day 2: Amman
Choose one outing for the morning, such as the Roman theatre or the citadel hill, at a slow pace. Return for Zohor and a long lunch. After Asar, drive to a mosque or a park. Keep dinner simple and early.
Day 3: To the Dead Sea and Petra
This is a long road day, so leave after Subuh and breakfast. Plan a break for Zohor on the road. Stop at the Dead Sea for an hour or two, float with care and rinse fully, then rest in the shade.
Ask a doctor first if anyone has cuts, a heart condition or fragile skin. Arrive in Petra before Maghrib and keep dinner light.
Day 4: Petra
Start early when it is cool and quiet. Walk to the main viewpoint and no further if your parents tire. Take water and a hat, and rest in the shade at the midpoint. Return to the hotel for Zohor and sleep in the afternoon.
For the evening, take a short walk or stay in. Ask your guide to book a quiet table for dinner.
Day 5: To Wadi Rum
Leave after breakfast, with a stop for Zohor on the road. In Wadi Rum, take a jeep ride in the late afternoon. Watch the sunset and pray Maghrib under the open sky if the camp has a suitable corner.
At the camp, ask the cook about the meat, the cooking fat and how the water is boiled. Keep the night calm.
Day 6: Return and fly home
Pray Subuh, eat breakfast and start for the airport with plenty of margin. Plan most of the day for the transfer and have Zohor on the road. Keep medicines in hand luggage.
How do you check food and drink?
Jordan is Muslim-majority, so halal meat is the default expectation, but hotels can serve alcohol, and some dishes include it. Ask about the kitchen, the supplier and the cooking. For certificates, ask to see the issuer’s name and expiry date. Our first overseas holiday guide explains how to read a claim.
Where should you stay?
Choose an area in Amman near a main road and restaurants. In Petra, stay close to the entrance so that your parents can return for a rest. At the desert, choose a camp with proper beds and private toilets, and ask about a quiet area to pray. Ask each place for a room with a clear qibla direction, which is the direction you face to pray.
How to adjust this plan
- Shorter: drop Wadi Rum and add a night in Petra.
- Slower: keep Day 2 empty and shorten Petra.
- With children: keep the Dead Sea short and carry fresh water.
- In summer: place outdoor sites in the early morning.
What to confirm in writing
Ask your agent to write down the drivers, the camp, the Petra guide, which meals are certified and which are only pork-free, and the daily prayer breaks. Our prayer-stop itinerary checklist tests the plan.
Read Muslim travel in Jordan and Amman and Petra for detail. Use how to plan sightseeing around five daily prayers to place stops. Browse more Muslim tour packages.
Tell us your travel month, your parents' stamina and whether you prefer a desert night, and we can shape these six days and write the entry, meal and prayer questions for your agent.
Common questions
Is six days enough for Amman, Petra and Wadi Rum?
Six days is enough for a first visit if you accept two long road days and keep each site to a half-day. Spend two nights in Amman, one on the road, two in Petra and one at the desert. If your parents tire easily, drop the desert night and add a night in Petra.
Can older parents manage Petra?
Most can, with a plan. Petra involves a long walk on uneven ground. Go in the early morning, bring water and a hat, rest at the midpoint and let your guide arrange help for the long stretches. Skip the high viewpoints if anyone has knee or heart problems.
Is the Dead Sea suitable for a modest family?
Yes, if you choose the stop. Resorts can have mixed beaches, so ask before booking about private sections, women's hours or a hotel with a pool you can use comfortably. Dress is a personal choice, and a long cover-up lets you float without worry. Keep your visit short.
Can we assume food in Jordan is halal?
Jordan is Muslim-majority, so halal meat is the default expectation, but a hotel can still serve alcohol and cook with it. Treat each restaurant as unconfirmed until you know the kitchen. At a desert camp, ask about the cook, the meat source and the water.
What must we check about entry before we book?
Check the official page of the Malaysian foreign ministry and the Jordanian authorities. A public listing shows an eVisa or visa on arrival for one month, but the Malaysian page shows a banner on new regulations for Malaysians, so confirm the current rules.
Sources
- Wikipedia lists Jordan as eVisa or free visa on arrival for Malaysian citizens, for a stay of 1 month. Wikipedia: Visa requirements for Malaysian citizens. Wikipedia; confirm on official channel; the Malaysian MOFA Jordan page showed only a banner titled New Regulations for Malaysians Entering Jordan, so check it.
- Jordan: 911 is the emergency number, and 112 works on mobile phones. Wikipedia: List of emergency telephone numbers. Wikipedia; official source not fetchable, confirm locally
- Jordan is on UTC+03:00, 5 hours behind Malaysia (Malaysia is UTC+08:00). Wikipedia: List of time zones by country. Offsets exclude any daylight saving.
- The currency of Jordan has ISO 4217 code JOD. Wikipedia: List of circulating currencies
Keep planning
Tell us your travel month, your parents' stamina and whether you prefer a desert night, and we can shape these six days and write the entry, meal and prayer questions for your agent.