Jordan has a reputation as an expensive destination. That reputation is partly earned (Petra entry is 50 JOD for a 1-day ticket, and Wadi Rum camps range wildly) but mostly misunderstood. The country has an excellent budget infrastructure that most itinerary writers ignore because they are targeting mid-range travellers. This guide is specifically for backpackers who want to see the full Jordan circuit without breaking USD 70/day.
The honest budget reality
Jordan’s pricing structure favours either very cheap or very expensive. The middle is often worse value than the extremes. Budget travellers who embrace the street-food, hostel, public-bus approach do better than those who try to split the difference with mid-range hotels.
The five non-negotiables for budget Jordan:
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Jordan Pass: Costs 70–80 JOD (USD 100–115) and includes the visa (40 JOD value), Petra entry (50 JOD value), and 40+ other sites. Without it, you pay the visa separately and Petra separately, spending more. With it, you save 20–30 JOD minimum — more if you visit multiple sites.
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JETT buses: Jordan’s national express coach network runs between Amman and Aqaba (10 JOD, 4 hours), Amman and Petra (10 JOD, 3.5 hours), and Amman and the Dead Sea. Reliable, air-conditioned, and significantly cheaper than taxis or organised tours.
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Hostels in the right locations: Amman, Petra/Wadi Musa, and Aqaba all have legitimate backpacker hostels at 10–18 JOD per night for a dorm. Dead Sea: there is no budget hostel — this is where you bite the bullet or visit on a day pass.
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Street food: Hashem restaurant in Amman is the model — full meal for 3–5 JOD. Falafel sandwiches across Jordan run 0.5–1 JOD. The standard local restaurant meal (hummus, bread, vegetable dishes) costs 5–8 JOD. Tourist restaurants charge 10–20 JOD for the same food.
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Free activities: Many of Jordan’s most impressive experiences cost nothing beyond the site entry. Hiking in Petra beyond the Treasury costs nothing extra once you have the entry ticket. The Wadi Mujib Ibex Trail (year-round) costs 10–15 JOD from the RSCN gate. Aqaba snorkelling from the public beach is free. The Amman Citadel and Roman Theatre cost 2–3 JOD each.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Amman arrival
Arrive at Queen Alia Airport. Take the Airport Express Bus to Amman city centre (South Bus Station or Abdali) — 3.20 JOD, 1 hour. This replaces a 20 JOD taxi.
Check in to a hostel near Rainbow Street or downtown. Best budget options:
- Jordan Tower Hostel (Rainbow Street area, 12–15 JOD dorm, clean, social, great views from rooftop)
- Cliff Hotel (downtown, 15–20 JOD private room, basic but central)
- Sydney Hotel (downtown, 12–18 JOD, well-established backpacker base)
Evening: Hashem restaurant for dinner. The falafel, hummus, and ful medames here have been feeding Ammani residents since the 1950s. A full meal costs 3–5 JOD. Queue with locals.
Day 1 total: ~20–25 USD including airport bus and dinner.
Day 2: Amman
Free morning: walk downtown Amman. The Amman Citadel (2 JOD entry) sits on the highest hill in the city — the Temple of Hercules columns, the Umayyad Palace ruins, and the overlook of downtown are all included. Below the hill: the Roman Theatre (2 JOD). The souks (traditional markets) around Al-Hashemi Street are free to browse.
Afternoon: walk Rainbow Street, the most pleasant neighbourhood for a street-level Amman experience. Book Wadi Mujib online if you plan to do the Siq Trail (April–October) — it occasionally fills on peak weekends.
Budget dinner option: Abu Jaber falafel near Rainbow Street (1 JOD per sandwich) or Al-Quds restaurant (5–7 JOD full meal).
Day 2 budget: ~30–35 USD (hostel + food + entry fees).
Day 3: Jerash day trip from Amman
Bus to Jerash: From Amman’s North Bus Station (Tabarbour), minibuses to Jerash depart regularly when full — about 0.7 JOD, 50–60 minutes. This is the cheapest way to reach one of the best Roman sites in the world.
Jerash entry: 10 JOD (Jordan Pass holders free). The site is large — allow 3–4 hours. The Oval Plaza, the colonnaded cardo maximus, the South Theatre, and the Byzantine church mosaics are all within the walled area.
Return minibus to Amman: 0.7 JOD.
Budget lunch: Street food in Jerash town (falafel sandwich, 0.5–1 JOD) near the site entrance.
Day 3 budget: ~35–40 USD including accommodation, food, bus, and entry.
Day 4: Dead Sea from Amman (day trip)
The Dead Sea on a budget: there are two options.
Option 1 (cheapest): The small public beach at the Dead Sea — there is a free access point near the Amman Beach complex that locals use. The floating experience is identical to the resort pools; you skip the mud and facilities. Access by shared taxi from the South Bus Station area (ask specifically for the Dead Sea dead sea public beach — approximately 3 JOD each way).
Option 2 (mid-budget): Day pass at Amman Beach resort (22 JOD) — includes changing facilities, pool, beach, and shower. Worth it for the mud therapy and the experience without the full resort price.
Wadi Mujib Ibex Trail alternative: If the Siq Trail is closed (November–March), the Ibex Trail from the RSCN reserve gate costs 10–15 JOD and is a 14 km year-round ridge hike. Add this to the Dead Sea visit for a full active day.
Return to Amman for the night.
Day 4 budget: ~30–40 USD.
Day 5: JETT to Petra
JETT bus Amman → Petra: Departs from JETT terminal near 8th Circle, Amman. Approximately 10 JOD, daily service at 6:30am and returns at various times. Book the day before at the JETT office or online.
Arrive Wadi Musa by 10am. Check in to a budget hostel:
- Valentine Inn (Wadi Musa, 12–18 JOD dorm, 25–35 JOD private, the classic backpacker choice in Petra)
- Cleopetra Hotel (15–20 JOD private, basic but clean)
- Petra Gate Hotel (12–16 JOD dorm)
Afternoon: Wadi Musa town is free to walk. The village sits in the sandstone canyon above the Petra archaeological park. The Ain Musa (Spring of Moses) is a short walk from the town centre.
Pick up your Jordan Pass if arriving from outside Jordan (buy at jordanpass.jo before arriving — the pass is confirmed digitally, no physical pickup needed).
Day 5 budget: ~40–45 USD (JETT bus + hostel + food).
Day 6–7: Petra
Petra full-day private tour from AmmanJordan Pass entry: Your pass covers 1 or 2 days of Petra depending on which version you bought. The 2-day version (Jordan Explorer) adds 5 JOD to the pass cost and is strongly recommended — Petra requires 2 days to see properly at a relaxed pace.
Day 6 — Main site:
- Start at 6am (gates open; beat the tour groups by 2 hours)
- Siq → Treasury → Royal Tombs → Colonnaded Street
- Afternoon: Monastery (Ad-Deir) via the steps — 850 steps, 2–3 hours, non-negotiable
- Petra by Night option: 17 JOD on Monday/Wednesday/Thursday (not covered by Jordan Pass)
Day 7 — Back door and free hikes: The Petra Back Door (Beidha trail) enters the site from the north via Little Petra. The Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) entrance is approximately 9 km north of Wadi Musa — take a local taxi (3–5 JOD one way) and enter Little Petra first (separate entry, 1 JOD), then hike the 3–4 km route into the main site through the Beidha valley. This is a spectacular alternative to the main Siq entrance and is used by very few visitors.
Within Petra: High Place of Sacrifice (free once inside with valid entry ticket), Wadi Farasa descent, Snake Monument, the Columbarium.
See Petra Back Door guide for detailed route information.
Wadi Rum: 3-hour highlights jeep tour in desertDay 6–7 budget: ~45–50 USD/day (hostel + food; site entry covered by Jordan Pass).
Day 8: JETT to Aqaba, then Wadi Rum
Option 1: Take a JETT bus from Wadi Musa to Aqaba (approximately 8–10 JOD), then a local taxi/minibus from Aqaba to Wadi Rum Village (approximately 25–35 JOD for a shared or private taxi — less if you share with other travellers heading to Rum from Aqaba bus station).
Option 2: Take a service taxi from Wadi Musa directly to Wadi Rum Village (approximately 30–40 JOD private, negotiable; share if possible with hostel contacts).
Arrive at Wadi Rum Village visitor centre. Buy a jeep tour here (minimum 2 hours recommended; full day is better). The visitor centre has a standardised price list — a 2-hour shared jeep tour costs approximately 35–45 JOD per person; longer tours are proportionally more.
Budget camp accommodation: Budget Bedouin camps in Wadi Rum start from 30–50 JOD per person including dinner and breakfast. These are basic — shared toilets, simple tents or caves, campfire cooking — but the desert experience is genuinely the same regardless of how much you pay for a tent. The stars, the silence, the sand are not exclusive to luxury camps.
From Wadi Rum: jeep tour with overnight desert campingDay 8 budget: ~55–70 USD (transport + jeep tour + camp).
Day 9: Aqaba snorkelling
Transfer from Wadi Rum to Aqaba (1 hour, taxi or shared minibus). Aqaba is Jordan’s free-trade zone and beach city.
Free snorkelling from shore: The public beach area near the Aqaba Marine Park has direct shore access to coral reef within swimming distance. Bring your own mask and snorkel (available to buy in Aqaba shops from 5–10 JOD, or rent from dive shops along the corniche at 5–8 JOD/day). The visibility in the Red Sea is consistently excellent — 20–30m on calm days. No boat required.
Free beach: The public beach areas near the city centre are free. The southern beaches near the Marine Park are also accessible without a resort day pass.
Cheap food in Aqaba: The city has better street food options than most of Jordan. The corniche area has excellent grilled fish from local restaurants (8–12 JOD for a full fish meal) and the central market has snack stalls at 1–2 JOD.
Accommodation in Aqaba: Aquaba (sic) backpacker hostels include Aqaba Adventure Hostel (12–18 JOD dorm) or budget hotels along the city centre streets (25–40 JOD private room). Beach-adjacent location not necessary for budget accommodation; Aqaba is walkable.
Aqaba: Red Sea snorkeling boat trip with buffet lunchDay 9 budget: ~40–50 USD.
Day 10: Return to Amman or fly from Aqaba
Option 1 — JETT Aqaba to Amman: Approximately 10 JOD, departs Aqaba JETT terminal in the morning. 4 hours.
Option 2 — Royal Jordanian Aqaba to Amman: Domestic flight, 1 hour. Varies widely but sometimes available for 40–80 JOD one-way booked in advance. Justifiable if you have an international connection from Queen Alia.
Option 3 — International flight from Aqaba: If your route allows (charter and scheduled flights from Aqaba to some European cities exist in season), flying directly from Aqaba saves the 4-hour bus to Amman.
Budget breakdown
| Item | 10-day estimate |
|---|---|
| Jordan Pass (covers visa + Petra + 40 sites) | USD 100–115 |
| Accommodation (10 nights, hostels) | USD 120–180 |
| JETT buses (Amman-Petra, Aqaba-Amman) | USD 28–40 |
| Local minibuses and taxis | USD 60–90 |
| Food (10 days, street food + local restaurants) | USD 150–200 |
| Wadi Rum jeep tour + camp (1 night) | USD 65–100 |
| Dead Sea entry (day pass) | USD 30–45 |
| Wadi Mujib (RSCN entry) | USD 14–22 |
| Miscellaneous | USD 30–50 |
| Total | USD 597–842 |
| Per day | USD 60–84 |
The lower end requires street food consistently, shared transport, dorm beds, and skipping the Petra by Night show. The upper end includes a private hostel room in Wadi Musa, one restaurant dinner, and the Petra by Night show.
International flights are excluded from this calculation (range USD 400–800 depending on origin and season).
Budget hacks
Petra timing: The Jordan Pass with 2-day Petra entry costs only 5 JOD more than the 1-day version (Jordan Explorer vs Jordan Wanderer). Always buy the 2-day version — a single additional day in Petra costs 50 JOD at the gate.
Wadi Rum sharing: Find other travellers at your hostel heading to Wadi Rum and share a taxi from Wadi Musa or Aqaba. 4 people in a taxi reduces the per-person cost by 75%. The Valentine Inn hostel in Wadi Musa has a noticeboard for exactly this purpose.
Amman food: Hashem restaurant in downtown Amman is the baseline. For slightly more variety, the market area around Al-Mahatta (the old bus station) has excellent cheap Jordanian food. A mansaf (rice, lamb, yoghurt) at a local restaurant costs 4–7 JOD and is genuinely excellent.
Aqaba snorkelling: Renting equipment from a dive shop on the corniche (5–8 JOD/day) and walking to the public beach costs a fraction of a boat snorkelling tour. The reef quality from shore is comparable.
Airport bus: Never take a taxi from Queen Alia Airport unless necessary. The Airport Express Bus is 3.20 JOD and runs directly to the city centre.
Negotiating taxis: In Amman, insist on the meter. Outside Amman, agree on a price before getting in. Careem (Jordan’s Uber equivalent) operates in Amman and is reliable and metered — use it for city trips.
Packing for budget Jordan
Budget travel requires a packing approach that minimises costs:
- Quick-dry clothing (reduces laundry needs)
- Lightweight sleeping bag liner (some hostels have basic bedding; the liner adds warmth in Wadi Rum)
- Reusable water bottle with filter (Sawyer Squeeze or similar — saves buying plastic bottles, USD 1/litre in tourist areas)
- Sandals for Wadi Mujib wading (closed-toe, quick-dry)
- Day pack (rather than large luggage, easier on JETT buses and public transport)
- Power bank (hostels sometimes have limited charging points)
Variations
Ultra-budget (under USD 50/day)
Possible, but requires: camping (permitted in some RSCN areas), skip the Dead Sea resort and use the free public beach, skip the Wadi Mujib guided trail, cook from a supermarket for some meals (Safeway, Cozmo in Amman). The Jordan Pass remains essential. This approach works for experienced budget travellers comfortable with uncertainty.
Budget with a car rental (3+ people sharing)
If travelling with 3–4 people, renting a small car (50–60 JOD/day) divided between 4 people costs roughly the same per person as JETT buses, with dramatically more flexibility. The car enables visits to Mukawir, Umm Qais, Bethany, and the Desert Castles — all impossible on public transport without significant taxi supplementation.
FAQ
Is the Jordan Pass worth it on a budget?
Absolutely. It is the single best investment for any Jordan trip. The visa alone costs 40 JOD; Petra for 1 day costs 50 JOD. The Jordan Pass (Wanderer, 1-day Petra) costs 70 JOD. If you are spending more than 3 nights in Jordan, you save a minimum of 20 JOD, and this rises further with every additional site you visit.
Is JETT bus the best transport option?
For Amman–Petra and Amman–Aqaba, yes. For other routes, minibuses (service taxis) are often faster, cheaper, and more frequent. The Amman North Bus Station (Tabarbour) has minibuses to Jerash, Irbid, and north Jordan. The South Bus Station area connects to the King’s Highway direction.
Can I visit Wadi Rum without a tour?
You can reach Wadi Rum Village by bus or taxi and enter the reserve, but all movement inside the protected area requires a Bedouin guide and jeep. There is no independent walking route. The visitor centre sells jeep tours directly — no need to book in advance outside of peak periods.
Are there free campsites in Jordan?
Officially designated free camping is limited. Some areas near Wadi Rum (outside the protected area boundary) allow wild camping; ask locals or your hostel. Dana Biosphere Reserve has designated campsites at RSCN rates (approximately 15–20 JOD). Wild camping on the Jordan Trail is permitted with guide knowledge. Note: camping alone without a guide in the desert is not advisable.
What is the cheapest time to visit Jordan?
Low season is June–August (extremely hot, fewer tourists) and December–February (cold, rain possible). Both periods see slightly lower accommodation prices. Practically: October–November offers the best combination of weather and post-peak-season prices. Avoid Easter and Christmas weeks when accommodation in Petra and Aqaba fills and prices spike.
Is it safe for solo budget travellers?
Yes. Jordan consistently ranks as one of the safest countries in the Middle East for tourists. Solo female travellers are common in Amman, Petra, and Aqaba. Standard precautions apply: avoid isolated areas at night, use registered taxis or Careem in cities, be alert to overcharging (which happens occasionally but is not dangerous).