The Jordan Pass is Jordan’s bundled tourist product: visa plus entry to over 40 archaeological and nature sites, sold as a package from the official Jordan Pass website (jordanpass.jo). The marketing is excellent. The actual maths require closer examination.
This guide strips the Jordan Pass down to a calculation: who it benefits, who it doesn’t, and what the per-case decision looks like. No sales pitch — the honest answer is that it saves significant money for some trip types and is genuinely not worth it for others.
What the Jordan Pass actually includes
The Jordan Pass is available in three tiers (2026 prices in JOD):
| Tier | Price | Petra days |
|---|---|---|
| Wanderer | 70 JOD (~100 USD / 92 EUR) | 1 day |
| Explorer | 75 JOD (~107 USD / 98 EUR) | 2 days |
| Expert | 80 JOD (~114 USD / 105 EUR) | 3 days |
All three tiers include:
- Visa fee waiver (40 JOD value) — conditional on staying 3+ nights
- Entry to 40+ sites across Jordan
- Petra entry for the specified number of days
The 40+ sites vary in commercial value. The high-value inclusions alongside Petra:
- Jerash (8 JOD standalone value)
- Wadi Rum — visitor centre entry only (4 JOD; jeep tours are separate)
- Madaba’s archaeological park (2 JOD)
- Mount Nebo (3 JOD)
- Ajloun Castle (3 JOD)
- Karak Castle (3 JOD)
- Umm Qais (3 JOD)
- Several smaller sites (1–2 JOD each)
The lower-value inclusions: some sites on the list are free or very cheap anyway (Baptism Site is 12 JOD but only relevant to some itineraries; many small ruins are 1–2 JOD standalone).
The fundamental equation: does the visa saving apply?
The Jordan Pass includes a visa fee waiver. But it is conditional:
You must stay in Jordan for a minimum of 3 consecutive nights to qualify for the visa waiver. If you spend fewer than 3 nights — for instance, a 2-night stopover between Israel visits — you must pay the 40 JOD visa fee on arrival in addition to what you paid for the Jordan Pass.
This is the most important fact about the Jordan Pass and the one most frequently misunderstood.
Additionally: if you enter Jordan through Aqaba (the Red Sea port), you are entering the Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ). Entry through Aqaba is visa-free for most nationalities regardless of Jordan Pass — you do not pay a visa fee. The Jordan Pass visa benefit therefore adds no value if you enter through Aqaba and do not re-enter Jordan through any other crossing.
Scenario-by-scenario calculation
Scenario A: Standard 7-day Jordan tour (Amman → Petra → Wadi Rum → Dead Sea)
Without Jordan Pass:
- Visa on arrival: 40 JOD
- Petra 2 days (Explorer rate): 110 JOD (55 JOD/day)
- Jerash: 8 JOD
- Wadi Rum visitor centre: 4 JOD
- Mount Nebo: 3 JOD
- Total: 165 JOD
With Jordan Pass Explorer (75 JOD):
- Visa waived: 0
- Petra 2 days: included
- Jerash, Wadi Rum, Mount Nebo: included
- Total: 75 JOD
Saving: 90 JOD per person. The Jordan Pass is a substantial winner.
Scenario B: Long weekend (2 nights only, Amman + Petra)
Without Jordan Pass:
- Visa on arrival: 40 JOD
- Petra 1 day: 55 JOD
- Total: 95 JOD
With Jordan Pass Wanderer (70 JOD):
- Visa NOT waived (only 2 nights): must pay 40 JOD visa on arrival
- Petra 1 day: included
- Total: 110 JOD
Jordan Pass costs 15 JOD MORE. Do not buy it.
Scenario C: Aqaba entry, 7-day trip
Without Jordan Pass:
- Visa through Aqaba: FREE (ASEZ exemption for EU, US, UK, Canada, Australia)
- Petra 2 days: 110 JOD
- Jerash: 8 JOD
- Total: 118 JOD
With Jordan Pass Explorer (75 JOD):
- Aqaba entry is already free — visa saving is zero
- Petra 2 days: included
- Jerash: included
- Total: 75 JOD
Saving: 43 JOD per person. Jordan Pass still wins — because Petra alone is expensive — but the saving comes from Petra rather than the visa.
Caveat: if after your Aqaba entry you cross into Israel and re-enter Jordan through Allenby/King Hussein Bridge, you will face a new visa requirement. The Jordan Pass covers that re-entry visa. If you are doing an Israel–Jordan combined trip via Eilat/Aqaba, check the crossing rules carefully.
Scenario D: Petra only, 4-night stay, Queen Alia Airport entry
Without Jordan Pass:
- Visa: 40 JOD
- Petra 2 days: 110 JOD
- Total: 150 JOD
With Jordan Pass Explorer (75 JOD):
- Visa waived (4 nights qualifies)
- Petra included
- Total: 75 JOD
Saving: 75 JOD. Jordan Pass wins clearly.
Scenario E: The “only passing through” visitor (1 night in Amman, day trip to Petra)
This trip type is common — flying Amman to Tel Aviv the next morning, using Jordan as a 24-hour stop. Only 1 night in Jordan.
Without Jordan Pass:
- Visa: 40 JOD
- Petra 1 day: 55 JOD
- Total: 95 JOD
With Jordan Pass Wanderer (70 JOD) + visa because under 3 nights:
- Jordan Pass: 70 JOD
- Visa on arrival (not waived — under 3 nights): 40 JOD
- Total: 110 JOD
Jordan Pass costs 15 JOD MORE. Avoid.
When the Jordan Pass is worth it — summary
Buy the Jordan Pass if:
- You are staying 3 or more nights in Jordan
- You plan to visit Petra (the primary high-value site)
- You are entering through Queen Alia Airport or Allenby Bridge (where you pay the standard visa fee)
- You are visiting any combination of secondary sites (Jerash, Wadi Rum, Mount Nebo, Ajloun, Karak)
Do NOT buy the Jordan Pass if:
- You are staying fewer than 3 nights
- You are entering only through Aqaba and only visiting the south (the visa saving doesn’t apply)
- You have already purchased a Jordan visa or have a multiple-entry stamp from a previous visit
- You are only visiting sites not included in the Pass (e.g., you only care about Aqaba beaches and the Dead Sea — neither has a significant entry fee)
Which tier to choose?
Wanderer (70 JOD, 1 Petra day): Use this if your itinerary has only 1 day at Petra. This is appropriate for tight 5-day trips where Petra is just one stop.
Explorer (75 JOD, 2 Petra days): The most common choice. Two days at Petra is genuinely recommended — 1 day covers the Siq and Treasury but misses the Monastery, High Place of Sacrifice, and the back trails. For only 5 JOD extra over Wanderer, 2 days is almost always worth it. See /guides/petra-1-day-vs-2-days/.
Expert (80 JOD, 3 Petra days): Worthwhile if you are doing the Petra Back Door, Beidha/Little Petra in detail, and serious archaeological exploration. Serious Petra enthusiasts only.
How to buy and how it works
Buy at jordanpass.jo before you arrive in Jordan — you cannot buy it on arrival at the border. You will receive a QR code by email. Present this code at each site entrance. The code tracks which sites have been used.
The visa waiver process: arrive at Queen Alia Airport (or whichever crossing), present your Jordan Pass QR code, and the immigration officer will apply the visa stamp for free. If you arrive without the Pass printed or accessible, you pay the visa fee on the spot and then need to seek a refund — which is complicated. Have your Jordan Pass accessible on your phone before landing.
Validity: the Jordan Pass expires 1 year from purchase. It activates on first use (first entry into Jordan). The Petra portion activates when you first scan it at Petra — you then have 60 days to use your remaining Petra days.
A note on Petra prices
The current Petra entry fees (2026, without Jordan Pass) are:
- 1 day: 55 JOD
- 2 days: 110 JOD
- 3 days: 115 JOD
These have increased steadily over the past decade and are likely to continue increasing. At current rates, even 1 day at Petra is worth most of the Wanderer Jordan Pass cost after the visa saving. The Jordan Pass is more attractive than it has ever been from a pure maths standpoint.
FAQ
Is the Jordan Pass accepted at all sites?
Most, but not all. The Pass covers the major paid sites. A few sites (some private museums, certain food/accommodation areas within sites) are not covered. Check the full site list at jordanpass.jo before purchasing.
Can I buy the Jordan Pass as a gift or for someone else?
Yes — the Pass is personalised to the purchaser’s passport number but can be purchased on behalf of another person by entering their details at purchase. Each visitor needs their own Jordan Pass.
What if Jordan changes site entry prices after I buy my Pass?
Your Pass is locked in at the time of purchase. If Jordan raises site fees (as it has several times), your Pass remains valid at its purchased tier. Historically this has benefitted buyers when Petra fees increased.
Is the Jordan Pass the same as a Jordan visa?
No — it includes a visa fee waiver, not the visa itself. You still go through normal immigration. The fee is waived if you have the Pass and meet the 3-night minimum.
Can I use the Jordan Pass on a day trip from Israel?
Only if your day trip includes 3 consecutive nights. Most Eilat-based day trips to Petra do not qualify for the visa waiver (they are typically in-out in 12 hours). You are usually better off buying a separate day visa at the Wadi Araba/Yitzhak Rabin crossing and paying Petra’s individual entry.
A note on the Jordan Pass’s future pricing
Petra entry fees have risen consistently over the past decade. When the Jordan Pass launched, Petra cost 50 JOD/day. It is now 55 JOD/day and has been as high as 60 JOD at points when the price was briefly adjusted. The trajectory is clear: Petra entry fees will continue to rise.
The Jordan Pass pricing has historically tracked these increases with some lag. If you plan to visit Jordan within the next 1–2 years, buying the Jordan Pass locks in the current price. Travellers who bought the Jordan Pass in 2022 at 70 JOD Wanderer saved more than those who waited until 2025, because Petra fees rose between those years.
Buy the Jordan Pass before you book your flights — not because it expires (it is valid for 1 year), but because planning around it helps you calculate your actual trip costs accurately. Knowing your visa and Petra entry are covered at 70–80 JOD changes your budget calculation significantly.
The Jordan Pass and travel insurance
One interaction that is rarely mentioned: the Jordan Pass is a non-refundable purchase. If your trip is cancelled after you have bought a Jordan Pass, you lose the money. Standard travel insurance (cancellation coverage) typically covers non-refundable trip costs — check that your Jordan Pass purchase is covered under your policy’s definition of “pre-paid non-refundable costs.”
The Jordan Pass website does not offer refunds under any circumstances once the Pass has been used (activated on arrival). An unused, unactivated Pass can be transferred to a different travel date within the 1-year validity window.
How the Jordan Pass compares to buying everything separately
The full calculation for a hypothetical well-planned 7-day Jordan trip with Jordan Pass Explorer (75 JOD) vs paying separately:
Separately paid:
- Visa: 40 JOD
- Petra day 1: 55 JOD
- Petra day 2: 55 JOD (or 110 JOD 2-day ticket)
- Jerash: 8 JOD
- Mount Nebo: 3 JOD
- Madaba Mosaic Park: 2 JOD
- Karak Castle: 3 JOD
- Wadi Rum visitor centre: 4 JOD
- Ajloun Castle: 3 JOD
- Baptism Site (if relevant): 12 JOD
- Other small sites: ~10 JOD
- Total: ~195 JOD
With Jordan Pass Explorer: 75 JOD
Saving: 120 JOD per person. Even accounting for sites you might skip, the Jordan Pass Explorer is almost always the mathematically superior choice for a standard 7-day Jordan trip.
The only trip where the above calculation changes is the Aqaba-entry trip, where the 40 JOD visa saving disappears. Even then, the Explorer at 75 JOD versus the standalone Petra 2-day cost of 110 JOD means the Jordan Pass still saves 35 JOD — just a smaller saving.
Practical tips for getting the most from your Jordan Pass
Plan your route to hit included sites. The desert castles east of Amman (Qasr Amra, Qasr Kharana) are Jordan Pass included and cost 5–8 JOD standalone each. If you are renting a car and your itinerary runs Amman–east desert–King’s Highway, add these to your list. See /guides/desert-castles-route/.
Do not double-buy. Some travellers buy the Jordan Pass then separately book a Petra entry through a tour operator. This is unnecessary — your Jordan Pass covers Petra entry directly. Present your Pass QR code at the Petra visitor centre gate.
Wadi Rum entry vs tours. The Jordan Pass covers the Wadi Rum visitor centre entry fee (4 JOD) but does NOT cover jeep tours, which are contracted separately with local operators. Jeep tours run 40–80 JOD depending on duration and group size. Budget for this separately.
Track your used entries. The Jordan Pass app (available for iOS and Android) shows which sites you have used your pass at. Useful if you are visiting many sites and want to keep track.
Lost your Jordan Pass QR code? Log back into jordanpass.jo with your purchase email and password — the QR code is always retrievable. Take a screenshot before travel for offline access.
Nationalities that pay no visa fee at all
Some nationalities are exempt from Jordan’s standard 40 JOD visa fee regardless of the Jordan Pass. If you fall into this category, the Jordan Pass visa saving does not apply to you (same as the Aqaba entry situation):
- Saudi nationals: visa-free access
- Bahraini, Emirati, Kuwaiti, Omani, Qatari nationals: visa-free or different rates
- Some other Arab nationalities: check at jordanembassy.com for your specific passport
For these nationalities, the Jordan Pass value calculation changes: it is purely about the site entries versus paying individually. For a Petra-heavy itinerary, the Explorer at 75 JOD versus 110 JOD standalone still saves money — but the visa component is irrelevant.
See /guides/jordan-spring/ for the best time to use your Jordan Pass and /guides/tours-vs-self-drive-jordan/ for how transport choices interact with your overall Jordan budget.