At a glanceTwo nights floating and resting at the Dead Sea, three in Wadi Musa for two full days at Petra and Petra by Night, two in a Wadi Rum desert camp, then three on the Red Sea in Aqaba. The whole route runs north to south with drives of one to four hours. It suits couples who want history, desert and a beach in one compact country. Go from March to May or September to November.
Jordan packs an extraordinary range into a country you can drive across in a day. On this route you float in the saltiest water on earth at the lowest point on land, walk through a narrow canyon to the rose-colored Treasury of Petra, sleep in a glass dome among the red cliffs of Wadi Rum and finish snorkeling over coral in the Red Sea. The distances are short, the roads are good and the hotels are well priced compared with most honeymoon destinations.
The route runs from north to south, so there is no backtracking. You start at the Dead Sea, an hour from Amman's airport, to recover from the flight with mud, massages and sunsets. Petra gets three nights because it deserves two full days on foot and an evening by candlelight. Wadi Rum is the wild night, or two, with jeep tours, dunes and complete silence. Aqaba is the slow ending, with warm water and resort pools before you fly home.
It is an active honeymoon in the middle and a lazy one at each end, which is exactly the balance most couples want.
The route
- Dead Sea (Jordan)Jordan · 2 nights
- PetraJordan · 3 nights
- Wadi RumJordan · 2 nights
- AqabaJordan · 3 nights
- Best months
- March to May and September to November
- Trip length
- 11 days
- Budget
- About $200–700 a night for two in good resorts, hotels and dome camps (approximate)
Day by day
Days 1–3: The Dead Sea
Fly into Queen Alia International (AMM). Royal Jordanian has flown nonstop from several US cities; other routes connect through Europe or the Gulf. Drive about an hour down to the Dead Sea, feeling the air thicken as the road drops to roughly 1,400 feet below sea level. Check in to a sea-view room and watch the sun set over the far shore.
On day 2, float. Walk in slowly, lean back and let the water hold you up, keeping your face dry. Cover each other in black mud from the beach stations, let it dry in the sun and wash it off in the sea. Book a couples treatment at the resort spa in the afternoon. Floating together is the romantic moment here, partly because it is impossible to do without laughing.
If you want an outing, drive up to Mount Nebo for the view over the Jordan Valley and continue to Madaba to see the ancient mosaic map in St. George's Church. Have lunch at a family-run restaurant in Madaba before heading back down.
Days 3–6: Petra
Drive south to Petra on day 3, about three to four hours. Take the King's Highway for viewpoints over canyons and the crusader castle at Kerak, or the faster Desert Highway. Check in to a hotel in Wadi Musa close to the gate and sleep early.
On day 4, enter at opening time and walk the Siq, about three quarters of a mile through a cleft in the rock, until the walls part and the Treasury appears glowing pink. Hire a licensed guide for this first morning. Continue to the Royal Tombs, the theater and the Colonnaded Street. On a Petra by Night evening, return when the Siq and the Treasury square are lit by hundreds of candles. That is the romantic moment of Petra.
On day 5, climb the several hundred rock-cut steps to the Monastery in the afternoon, when more of the trail is in shade. Or hike to a viewpoint above the Treasury with a local guide, a view many couples rank first. End with a drink at the Cave Bar, set inside a Nabataean tomb. Book a cooking class at Petra Kitchen.
Days 6–8: Wadi Rum
On day 6, drive about 90 minutes south to the Wadi Rum visitor center. Private cars stay in Rum village and your camp collects you in a 4x4. Arrive by midafternoon for a jeep tour to Lawrence's Spring, the petroglyphs of Khazali Canyon and the red dunes, then climb a dune for sunset while your guide brews tea on a small fire.
Dinner is zarb, a Bedouin barbecue cooked in a pit under the sand. Watching the staff lift the lid is part of the evening. Afterward, lie in a dome with a glass front and watch the stars from bed. Go near the new moon if you can.
Day 7 is the splurge. If conditions allow, take a sunrise hot air balloon flight over the cliffs with a licensed operator. Later, take a full-day jeep route to the Burdah rock bridge and the Um Fruth arch, or an hour on a camel at dusk. Two nights here means one long, quiet morning with nowhere to be.
Days 8–11: Aqaba
Drive about an hour to Aqaba on day 8 and swap boots for flip-flops. Stay at a resort south of town near the reefs if snorkeling matters, or in the center for restaurants and the souk.
On day 9, snorkel the Japanese Garden in the Aqaba Marine Park, where coral gardens start close to shore. The gulf has no tides and very little current, so it suits beginners. Certified divers can explore the Cedar Pride, a cargo ship sunk as an artificial reef. In the evening, take a sunset cruise and watch the mountains of Sinai turn pink across the water. That is the romantic moment of the coast.
Keep day 10 for the spa, the pool and a dinner of sayadieh, spiced fish over rice with caramelized onions, in town. On day 11, fly from King Hussein International (AQJ) to Amman, about an hour, to connect home. Or drive about four hours back to Queen Alia for an evening departure.
Getting Between Stops
Rent a car or hire a private driver for the whole trip. Jordan's roads are good and signage is clear, but a driver lets you both enjoy the views and handles parking in Wadi Musa. Approximate times: Queen Alia airport to the Dead Sea about an hour, the Dead Sea to Petra three to four hours depending on the route, Petra to Wadi Rum about 90 minutes and Wadi Rum to Aqaba about an hour.
The King's Highway is slower and more beautiful than the Desert Highway. Use it on the Dead Sea to Petra day and take the faster road when you are tired.
Inside Wadi Rum, private cars are not driven into the protected area. Your camp picks you up from the village or visitor center. At the end, Royal Jordanian flies Aqaba to Amman in about an hour, which avoids the four-hour drive back north.
Where to Stay
Dead Sea: Kempinski Hotel Ishtar has tiered pools and a big spa. Mövenpick Resort and Spa Dead Sea is built like a village of stone houses with gardens, which feels more intimate. Ask for a sea-view room at either.
Petra: Mövenpick Resort Petra sits directly opposite the visitor center, so you can walk in at opening. Petra Marriott Hotel sits on the hills above Wadi Musa with valley views, a short taxi ride from the gate. Old Village Resort Petra is built in the style of a traditional stone village with terraces facing the mountains.
Wadi Rum: SunCity Camp has domes and tents facing open sand at the foot of the cliffs. Memories Aicha Luxury Camp offers domes with private bathrooms.
Aqaba: Kempinski Hotel Aqaba and InterContinental Aqaba are on the beach near the center. Tala Bay, south of town, is closest to the reefs.
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When to Go
March to May and September to November are the best months for the full route. Petra is comfortable for long walks, Wadi Rum has warm days and cool, clear nights and Aqaba's sea is warm enough for snorkeling.
Summer, from June to September, is very hot. Petra has little shade, Wadi Rum often passes 95°F and the Dead Sea and Aqaba can top 100°F. If summer is your only option, start every day at dawn and rest through the middle.
Winter, from December to February, keeps the Dead Sea and Aqaba mild and sunny, often in the 70s, but Petra can be cold and rainy and Wadi Rum's nights approach freezing. The site at Petra can close briefly after heavy rain because of flash flood risk in the Siq. Ramadan dates shift each year and change restaurant hours outside hotels.
Budget and Booking
Jordan is good value for a honeymoon with this much variety. Plan on roughly $250–700 a night for two at the big Dead Sea and Aqaba resorts, about $150–400 for good hotels in Wadi Musa and about $200–500 for a dome with a private bathroom in Wadi Rum. A private driver adds a daily rate. All figures are approximate.
Buy the Jordan Pass, a combined ticket for many sites, with at least two Petra days included. Book Petra by Night on one of the evenings it runs and reserve the Wadi Rum balloon flight in advance.
Book dome camps early for spring and autumn, since the best domes are limited. Ask whether your camp includes dinner, breakfast and the jeep tour. Many camps do not serve alcohol, so check before you go if you want a toast under the stars.
Make It Shorter or Longer
For a week, cut the Dead Sea to one night, Petra to two and Wadi Rum to one. Keep two nights in Aqaba. You still see the essentials, though Petra will feel quicker.
With 13 or 14 days, add two nights in Dana Biosphere Reserve between the Dead Sea and Petra for hiking along canyon rims and village guesthouses. Or add a night in Amman at the start for the Citadel, the Roman theater and the city's food.
Couples who want more beach can add two nights in Aqaba or continue to Egypt. Couples who also want Egypt's monuments can fly from Amman to Cairo or Luxor. Combining the two countries works best with two weeks or more, so that neither half feels rushed.
Honeymoon Tips
- Do not shave the day before floating in the Dead Sea; the salt stings. Limit floats to 15 to 20 minutes and keep water out of your eyes.
- Wear broken-in walking shoes at Petra and carry plenty of water and sunscreen.
- Pack a warm layer and a scarf for Wadi Rum nights and wind.
- Dress modestly outside the resorts; both of you should cover shoulders and knees in towns.
- Choose a Wadi Rum camp away from the main cluster near the village for darker skies.
- Use reef-safe sunscreen in Aqaba and never stand on coral.
- Check the current US State Department advisory for Jordan before you book.
- Entry and visa rules depend on your citizenship and can change at short notice, so check the official government website before you book.
FAQPlanning this trip
How many days do we need in Jordan for a honeymoon?
Ten or eleven days is ideal. That gives you two nights at the Dead Sea, two full days at Petra, a night or two in Wadi Rum and a few beach days in Aqaba without long drives. A week works if you cut each stop short, but Petra in a single day feels rushed.
How long should we spend at Petra?
Two full days at least, with three nights in Wadi Musa. Day one covers the Siq, the Treasury and the main valley; day two is for the Monastery or a viewpoint above the Treasury. Add Petra by Night on one of the evenings it runs. Enter at opening each day for cooler air and fewer people.
Is a night in Wadi Rum worth it?
Yes. A day trip misses the best hours: sunset on the dunes, a zarb dinner and a night sky with almost no light pollution. Choose a dome or tent with a private bathroom and confirm heating or cooling. Two nights lets you add a balloon flight or a full-day jeep route.
Is Aqaba good for a honeymoon beach finish?
For a few days, yes. Aqaba has easy snorkeling close to shore, warm water most of the year and resort pools and spas at fair prices. It is a working port and conservative city, so it feels different from a Mediterranean beach town. Couples usually stay at hotel beaches rather than the public ones.
Is Jordan safe for a honeymoon?
Jordan is one of the most visited countries in the region and this route is well traveled. Read the latest US State Department advisory before booking, use licensed guides and keep an eye on regional news before you fly.
