I just returned from a 10 days solo trip to Jordan in May 2025. It had been such an amazing trip – from history, to experiencing the local culture, to all the sights.
Here is a quick sum up of cost and my journey in Jordan:
| Flights – Gulf Air (Singapore – Bahrain – Jordan) | SGD $1006 (Skyscanner) |
| Accommodations – Amman – 2 night – Wadi Musa – 2 nights. Based yourself here for visiting Petra – Wadi Rum – 1 night. Booked the tour together with your accommodation – Aqaba – 2 nights – Wadi Mujib & Dead Sea – 1 night. (stayed at Mujib Chalet) – Amman – 2 nights | SGD $503 / 199 JD |
| Food | SGD $264 / 142 JD |
| SIM Card (Orange Telco – 23 GB) | SGD $27.89 / 15 JD |
| Sights / Activities – Jordan Pass 2 days – Guide for Little Petra backdoor – 100 JD – Wadi Rum tour – Berenice Beach Pass – Aqaba – Wadi Mujib – Siq Trail: 23 JD – Wadi Mujib – Waterproof bag rental: 10 JD (gosh, please bring your own!) – Misc sights entry, walking tour, guide for Ajloun Castle and etc | SGD $603 / 324 JD |
| Transport – taxis in Amman – taxi to/from airport – driver: Aqaba – Wadi Mujib: 75 JD – driver: Wadi Mujib – Mount Nebo – Madaba – Amman – 70 JD – driver: Jerash and Ajloun Castle – 55 JD | SGD $547/ 266 JD |
Flights
My first time taking Gulf Air. And to be honest, I was bummed when I saw I was allocated window seat. But in fact, the entire row was empty – and this happened for 3 out of 4 flights. That was probably the only time I had a good rest on a plane since I could lay horizontally for once. The food was decent too.
Btw, flights could have been cheaper like SGD$900-ish. I was watching the price like 2 weeks before, and only finally booked it just 1 week before my trip.
Accommodations
The hotels/guesthouses I booked all came without lift. Perhaps a higher-end boutique hotel might have a lift? Was really lucky as the gentlemen at the reception were always so kind to help me with my luggage.
For visiting Petra, definitely book right along the Tourist Street. If you arrive by Jett bus at the Petra Visitor Centre, you could just roll your luggage along the main road right to the hotel – don’t need to book a taxi to get to your accomodation.
Transport and getting around between cities
Within Amman, you can use riding apps such as Uber. With Uber, make sure you are using credit card instead of cash, then you will have peace from the ride. However, between cities and outside of Amman that option isn’t available. So I had to use buses, wave a taxi or private-hire driver to take me for day trips, which is definitely the costlier option. The alternative is to find other travellers on the same route and hitch a ride or share a car with them.
I had so much fun on first part of the trip such that when I returned to Amman, I felt totally drained. I couldn’t bring my mind to work out the commute between Amman and Jerash and Madaba for lower cost day trips – I simply gave in and hired a driver to take me around.
Food and cost
A list of must try: knafeh, baklavas, mansaf, kofta with tomato, hummus, mutabel, falafel, shawarma, kebabs. But I shall highlight, the falafel, mutabel, and arabic bread, do not miss these! And if you could find halva – give it a try too!
If you go for finger food like falafels and dips, it typically cost like 2-ish JDs. For main dishes in touristy areas – you generally expect a cost around 10 JD and up. Their portions are huge, especially when I was solo and wanted an extra plate of salad/veggies. I was always so stuffed after lunch such that usually I could skip dinner. Some restaurant service staff were so nice, giving me complimentary like 3 types of dips on plate, extra pickles, arab dessert, a cup of tea to go with. Aww, the locals are generous!
I am in love with falafels and mutabels!
Sights in Jordan
Amman, Jerash, Petra, Wadi Rum, Red Sea, Dead Sea, Jerash, Madaba. If you have really short amount of time, please minimally do minimally Petra, Wadi Rum, and Dead Sea. Honestly don’t skip Wadi Rum – to me, it sorta complete the entire experience having to stay in the desert and experience the Bedouin lifestyle.
Petra – my main bucket list for coming to Jordan! I did 2 days of hiking here – taking the main route, and the hike to the bird eye viewpoint, and lastly the backdoor from Little Petra. If you are on your own, do find some offline map trails to guide you for the hikes outside of the main route. I downloaded the Petra’s KMZ map for the bird-eye viewpoint but it would seem their path mapping wasn’t exact to the point and I thought I was lost. I managed to find some other trail apps after the trip – so, do as much research as you can.
I do think have to enjoy hiking, else 1 day for the main trail would suffice.
I went for Petra by Night too, which has quite a mixed review online, more of which straying towards the negative end. On the contrary, I actually enjoyed it a lot – especially the walk through the Siq. Its much quieter and cooler to walk in the night, and a lot more enjoyable without horse-guides trying to hassle you to ride a horse.
Wadi Rum – The tour and accommodation which I booked with was awesome with the packed evening they planned eg: storytelling under the stars, showing us how they cook the chicken, Zarb, in traditional ways, post-dinner party, a lastly ending with campfire. And also – the tour was shared, which is splendid for solo travellers like me.
Aqaba – came here for diving, but I had a bad cold going so I couldn’t do as planned. Come here if you like beaches though! Its a much relaxing city too I feel.
Wadi Mujib – I booked the Mujib Chalet here, wanting to do the Wadi Mujib Siq trail, and to stay right at the Dead Sea for the night. Plus, the chalet was so beautiful! You can catch a sunset right at your own chalet.
Madaba – city of mosaic tiles, and pilgrimage site for Christians. I did like a day trip here, and it was easy enough to wander through the street by foot to explore the different sites. My driver just dropped me in the city and told me to self explore (LOL). So, I did a last minute planning of places for me to explore. Its a quaint city, very beautiful place and tidy. Perhaps, a little touristy feel – but I think I wouldn’t mind staying a night here if I have more time on hand.
Ajloun Castle – a formidable fortress – it is also where you can get a panoramic view point to all other countries surrounding Jordan. I took a guide here which was like 15 JD and got an in-depth tour on the history of this fortress.
Jerash – where you can catch most of the Roman Ruins – and it is said to be the most well preserved ruins as compared to other countries. But be prepared to be exposed to sun for the majority of your time here.
Amman – my first and ending spot here of course. Highly recommend doing a walking tour here at the start of your Jordan trip! I book it with my boutique hotel at Zaman Ya Zaman, and it was on the last day of my trip – so there was tips like haggling, and where to go for food spots in Amman which I couldn’t use much of.
Jordan itself have so much to see – I would love to be back again!