What Mistakes Do Travelers Make in Jordan, and How Do You Avoid Them?

In this article

• Why do American travelers underestimate Jordan?
• Mistake 1: Skipping Jordan over safety headlines – how do you avoid it?
• Mistake 2: Underestimating Petra's hiking – how do you avoid it?
• Mistake 3: Doing everything as day trips from Amman – how do you avoid it?
• Mistake 4: Taking the Desert Highway instead of the King's Highway – how do you avoid it?
• Mistake 5: Driving yourself at night – how do you avoid it?
• Mistake 6: Skipping northern Jordan – how do you avoid it?
• Mistake 7: Relying on credit cards – how do you avoid it?
• Mistake 8: Eating only at hotel buffets – how do you avoid it?
• Mistake 9: Ignoring Friday and Ramadan schedules – how do you avoid it?
• Mistake 10: Treating Jordan as a quick side trip from Egypt – how do you avoid it?
• What should you check before you fly to Jordan?

Mistake → Fix at a glance

Why do American travelers underestimate Jordan?

Many Americans add Jordan to an Egypt or Holy Land trip almost as an afterthought, then say it was the part they loved most. It's a small country with big distances between highlights, steep trails at Petra and a road network that rewards planning.

Below are the ten mistakes our team sees most often from US travelers, from the first decision to book to the last night in Amman. Some are about planning, like where to sleep and which road to take; others happen on the ground, from Petra's trails to Friday opening hours. For local customs and etiquette, see our guide to dos and don'ts in Jordan.

Mistake 1: Skipping Jordan over safety headlines – how do you avoid it?

Base your decision on the current State Department advisory, not headlines about the wider region. Jordan is one of the most visited countries in the Middle East, with tourist police at major sites and a strong reputation for hospitality.

Why it happens: News coverage of neighboring countries often shapes how Americans see Jordan, even though the country has a long record of welcoming visitors. Travelers who cancel on instinct often miss one of the friendliest trips in the region. Conditions can change, so it's always worth checking official advice close to departure.

Do this instead:

• Read the Jordan travel advisory when planning and before you fly.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
• Book with an operator that has local support on the ground.

Mistake 2: Underestimating Petra's hiking – how do you avoid it?

Wear broken-in hiking shoes, carry plenty of water and train with a few long walks before you go. A full day at Petra can mean 8 to 12 miles on sand and stone, and the Monastery requires a climb of around 800 rock-cut steps.

Why it happens: Photos make Petra look like a stroll through a canyon, but the main trail from the visitor center to the city center is a long, gently sloping walk, and you have to walk back out uphill. Many travelers arrive in fashion sneakers or sandals and struggle on uneven, sandy sections, especially in the heat.

Do this instead:

• Carry at least two liters of water, snacks and sun protection.
• Climb to the Monastery in the early morning or late afternoon.
• If you ride a donkey or horse, agree the price first and check the animal looks well cared for.

★ Memphis Tours Expert Tip

Take the back trail from Little Petra to the Monastery with a local guide. You'll arrive at the top downhill, have the Monastery almost to yourself early in the day, and then walk down through the main city instead of climbing up to it.

Mistake 3: Doing everything as day trips from Amman – how do you avoid it?

Move south with overnight stops instead of returning to Amman each night. Jerash and Madaba work as day trips, but Petra is about three hours away and Wadi Rum around four.

Why it happens: American travelers often prefer one hotel base. In Jordan, that means six to eight hours of driving for a single day at Petra or Wadi Rum, and arriving after the best light. Public buses don't run on a sightseeing-friendly schedule.

Do this instead:

• Follow a route from Amman south to Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea.
• Sleep near each major site.
• Use a private driver or guide for the long legs.

Our Taste of Jordan in Petra tour follows this route at an easy pace.

Mistake 4: Taking the Desert Highway instead of the King's Highway – how do you avoid it?

Drive the King's Highway at least one way between Amman and Petra. The Desert Highway is faster, but the King's Highway passes Madaba, Mount Nebo, Wadi Mujib, Karak Castle, Shobak Castle and Dana.

Why it happens: Navigation apps send you down the Desert Highway because it's quicker. It's also flat and featureless, with heavy truck traffic. The King's Highway is one of the oldest roads in the world, winding through canyons and Crusader-era castles, and it turns a transfer into a sightseeing day. If you have time, stop at the Dana Biosphere Reserve, where trails lead into the Wadi Dana canyon and a restored stone village now welcomes guests.

Do this instead:

• Allow a full day for the King's Highway with stops.
• Stop at the Wadi Mujib viewpoint and Karak Castle.
• Use the Desert Highway for the return if you're short on time.

Mistake 5: Driving yourself at night – how do you avoid it?

Plan self-drive legs for daylight, or hire a driver. Rural roads are often unlit, with trucks, speed bumps and occasionally camels or goats on the road.

Why it happens: Americans comfortable with long road trips often rent a car in Jordan. Daytime driving between cities is manageable, but after dark, unmarked speed bumps and slow-moving vehicles are hard to see. Police checkpoints are common, and you'll need your passport and rental papers to hand.

Do this instead:

• Finish drives before sunset.
• Carry your passport, license and rental documents.
• Use a driver for the Wadi Rum and Dead Sea legs if you're unsure.

Mistake 6: Skipping northern Jordan – how do you avoid it?

Add Jerash, Ajloun Castle and Umm Qais to your plan. Most itineraries rush south to Petra, but the north has some of the best-preserved Roman ruins outside Italy and green hills that surprise visitors.

Why it happens: Jerash's colonnaded streets, Oval Plaza and theaters are often compared with Pompeii, yet they're much quieter. Umm Qais looks over the Jordan Valley toward the Sea of Galilee, and Ajloun's 12th-century castle sits in pine forest. Travelers who skip the north see only half of Jordan.

Do this instead:

• Spend a full day on Jerash and Ajloun from Amman.
• Add Umm Qais if you have a spare afternoon.
• Visit Jerash early in the morning before tour groups arrive.

Mistake 7: Relying on credit cards – how do you avoid it?

Carry dinars in small bills for tips, cafés and Bedouin camps. Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants, but many small places around Petra and in rural areas prefer cash.

Why it happens: Americans are used to tapping a card for everything. In Jordan, the places that often stay cash-only are exactly the ones you'll want to support: a tea stop in Petra, a craft stall in Madaba or a roadside fruit seller. Tipping guides, drivers and camp staff is also customary.

Do this instead:

• Withdraw dinars from bank ATMs in Amman, Wadi Musa or Aqaba.
• Keep 1 and 5 JOD bills for tips and small purchases.
• Ask your tour operator for a tipping guide.

8: Eating only at hotel buffets – how do you avoid it?

Try Jordanian food in local restaurants: mansaf (lamb with fermented yogurt sauce), maqluba (the "upside-down" rice dish) and knafeh for dessert. Hotel buffets are convenient but miss the best of Jordan's cuisine.

Why it happens: Many tours include half-board, so travelers eat every dinner at the hotel and never try the dishes Jordanians are proud of. Downtown Amman's falafel stalls, family-run restaurants in Madaba and zarb (Bedouin barbecue) in Wadi Rum are all part of the experience.

Do this instead:

• Book at least two dinners outside your hotel.
• Try hummus and falafel in downtown Amman.
• Ask your guide for a family-run restaurant recommendation.

Read more about Jordanian food you have to try.

Mistake 9: Ignoring Friday and Ramadan schedules – how do you avoid it?

Check opening hours before you plan each day. Friday is the main day of rest in Jordan, and many shops and some sites open later or close around midday prayers. During Ramadan, hours shorten and the day shifts around sunset.

Why it happens: American travelers often plan a Friday morning in downtown Amman's souks, only to find shutters down. During Ramadan, restaurants may close in daylight and traffic peaks just before sunset as people head home to break their fast. Visitors aren't expected to fast, but eating in public during the day is seen as disrespectful.

Do this instead:

• Plan Fridays for Petra, Wadi Rum or the Dead Sea rather than city shopping.
• Save downtown Amman's souks for Saturday or Sunday.
• Check Ramadan dates and opening hours with your operator.
• During Ramadan, eat in hotels, restaurants or your vehicle.

Mistake 10: Treating Jordan as a quick side trip from Egypt – how do you avoid it?

Give Jordan at least four nights in a combined itinerary. Egypt and Jordan pair well, linked by a short flight between Cairo and Amman, but Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea all need time.

Why it happens: When Jordan is squeezed into the end of an Egypt trip, it usually becomes a long day trip to Petra and little else. You also lose the Jordan Pass visa waiver if you stay fewer than three nights. Travelers who give both countries enough time consistently call the combination the trip of a lifetime.

Do this instead:

• Plan around 8 days in Egypt and 4–5 in Jordan.
• Treat the Cairo–Amman flight as a travel day.
• Book both countries as one itinerary with one point of contact.

See our Egypt and Petra tour or browse Egypt and Jordan tours.

What should you check before you fly to Jordan?

Run through this checklist two to four weeks before departure, and most mistakes to avoid in Jordan simply won't happen.

☐  Passport valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates
☐  Jordan Pass bought online before departure (if staying 3+ nights)
☐  State Department advisory read and STEP enrollment done
☐  Travel insurance with medical and emergency evacuation cover
☐  Overnight stops booked near Petra, in Wadi Rum and at the Dead Sea
☐  King's Highway day planned
☐  Self-drive legs scheduled for daylight
☐  Broken-in hiking shoes and water bottle packed
☐  Small dinar bills and a tipping guide ready
☐  Friday and Ramadan opening hours checked

Planning Egypt as well? Read our guide to the mistakes to avoid in Egypt, or see getting around Jordan.

Plan Jordan with a specialist

Memphis Tours has crafted Middle East vacations since 1955. Explore our Jordan tours or customize your trip with a travel specialist.