After two incredible group trips to Jordan, I was so excited to bring this trip back for a third time.

Scroll through the videos and photos below to see what we got up to!

The post Jordan Highlights With Wanderlust Group Trips 2025 appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.

Jordan Group Trip Highlights 2022

After falling in love with Jordan this past February, I was dying to bring a group back with one of my Wanderlust Group Trips.

This Jordan trip was an optional extension of my 10 day Ultimate Egypt Trip. So once the trip ended in Cairo, some of us boarded a flight to Amman.

So here’s everything we got up to in 6 whirlwind days around Jordan!

To join this trip in 2023: sign up here!

You can watch the recap here:

Day 1: Amman

We checked into our hotel and freshened up before meeting with our local guide Hisham. We then set off into downtown Amman, the buzzing capital city of Jordan. We started with dinner at my favorite restaurant, Al Hashem.

This local spot is such a gem. There is no menu, no silverware… you simply eat the cuisine family style with your fingers. The stuffed falafel is my favorite!! Each and every hummus is delicious. And the entire meal for 7 people was under $14.

After our delicious dinner, we headed to the local markets. Amman was bustling at night and we were took part in a mini food tour led by our local guide.

Eating our way around Amman, we sampled all sorts of Middle Eastern fruits, deserts, drinks and more! I feel full just remembering it.

After we could truly eat no more, I brought everyone to my favorite rooftop bar in Amman. I discovered Cantaloupe Gastro Pub on rainbow street when I was in Amman last and couldn’t wait to bring the group back here. The twinkling views over the city are simply perfection.

After a few tasty cocktails, we found ourselves smoking hookah at a local joint with live Arabian music.

Finally we called it a night as we had a big day tomorrow at Wadi Rum!

You can read my full guide to Amman here and see the video recap here.

Day 2: Wadi Rum

We set off in the morning for Wadi Rum! It was a 5 hour drive to reach this magnificent desert but time flew as we played games in the bus to pass the time.

Before we knew it, we were arriving at the outskirts of the desert. We stopped to get some things for a picnic lunch at a local market before hoping in the back of a truck for an extensive tour of the area.

Our two trucks sped over sand dunes and we raced up to viewpoints, hiked through canyons and spotted ancient petroglyphs.

I took countless photos of the group and we witnessed a spectacular sunset over Wadi Rum.

As it was getting dark, we arrived at camp. Once we checked into our cute cabins, we were prepared a fabulous meal that was cooked underground in the desert sand. It was delicious and so well seasoned! There are no hotels in Wadi Rum, only luxury campsites.

It’s more “glamping” than camping since the cabins, tents or domes have full beds with mattresses, electricity and full working bathrooms.

After our dinner, we settled in around the campfire for some live music, hookah and drinks. All the campsites in Wadi Rum are dry but you’re welcome to bring your own alcohol so we brought some local wine we had picked up in Amman.

Our group stayed up late stargazing, chatting around the fire and laughing. It was a real highlight of the trip.

Day 3: Aqaba and the Red Sea

The next morning, Jess and I got up for sunrise and witnessed the most spectacular morning on the desert. The colors were insane.

Once the sun had fully risen, we came back to camp for a full breakfast before packing up to continue on to Aqaba.

We dropped off our bags at the hotel and headed to Bernice Beach Resort where we spent the day sipping cocktails on the beach, swimming in the Red Sea and sunbathing.

I had originally only planned for us to spend 3 hours here but we were having so much fun, we changed the schedule and stayed all day.

We wound up having pizza, quite a few drinks at the beach bar and jumped off the dock repeatedly!

The ladies were so fun to hang out with and this was another real highlight of the trip. Finally, after a full day in the sun, we set off to the hotel. We freshened up and went to have seafood for dinner. A must in Aqaba! It’s so fresh here.

We attempted to find a place to go dancing but with Jordan being a mostly dry country, nightclubs and bars are few and far between. So we set off to a pub and continued to enjoy each other’s company. This group was a real blast to hang out with!

Day 4: Petra & Petra by Night Day

We set off in the morning from Aqaba towards the incredible world wonder, Petra!

After a morning drive, we arrived by lunchtime. Our guide picked us up local cuisine to eat inside the site. Our hotel, Petra Palace, was just a few steps away from the entrance to Petra! (I highly recommend staying here during your stay so you can walk to and from the site!)

As we entered the archeological wonder, our guide gave us lots of interesting historical tidbits about the site.

Shortly after lunch, we were turned lose with free time to explore Petra. The site is massive and I highly recommend two days to see it all. Our close knit group stuck together during the free time and wandered the spectacular cave system. 40 families still live inside Petra and many more stay in caves part time.

Outside the most colorful cave, we met the nicest man serving fresh squeezed pomegranate juice.

He capture this photo of our group before we continued on.

We shopped in the markets, photographed the ancient site and wandered around until we met a local Bedouin man, Charlie. His crew runs the coffee shop, cafe and hookah bar in the largest cave just to the right of the treasury.

We hung out with his group of friends before heading over to take some pictures with the view of the treasury. We made plans to meet back up with the Bedouin guys that evening when we attended Petra by Night.

As we hiked out of the site, we stopped at the cave bar for a drink. It’s the oldest bar in the world, over 2,000 years of history! When we finished our drinks, we went back to the hotel for dinner.

After a delicious buffet dinner, we returned to Petra to get in line for the evening presentation when the entire site would be lit by thousands of candles. We sipped tea, photographed the beauty of it all and listened to the live speakers and performers.

Although the show is short and nothing spectacular, being there after hours when it is all lit up at night is truly special.

We fell asleep happy and exhausted from a big day after arranging plans with Charlie to hike the back door into Petra the next morning!

5: Hiking the backdoor to Petra

The next morning, we were picked up at our hotel at 8am by Charlie’s friend who drove us out to the Bedouin village. Once we picked up Charlie, we sped over the desert to the starting point of the hike. Music blaring and windows down, we soaked in the sights of Petra so few tourists get to see.

When we reached our starting point, we hoped out of the car and set off on a truly beautiful hike.

Along the way, we stopped for coffee at a local Bedouin stopping point. I simply could not believe the jaw-dropping views.

Charlie explained all about the Bedouin lifestyle, their frustrations with the Jordanian government that has been trying to kick them off their lands, the general lack of respect from other Jordanians and so much more.

Want to learn more about the Bedouin lifestyle? Read the true story Married to a Bedouin before your trip!!

Charlie informed us how guides are constantly warning tourists about how “dangerous” or “untrustworthy” the Bedouin people are. And unfortunately, it’s true.

I have heard this from multiple guides, hotel staff and Jordanians. However my interaction with the Bedouin people has been nothing but positive. The local people bring so much to Petra! It wouldn’t be the same without them. Spending time with Charlie was a highlight for all of us.

Our hike continued on to the stunning Monastery. So many tour groups just see the iconic treasury view point without venturing further into the site. I will forever be so thankful Charlie showed us around that day. We saw parts of Petra that the majority of tourists don’t ever see. We had hot, fresh sandwiches and sipped coffee overlooking the monastery with absolutely no crowds around.

Then we continued our hike back to the main area, passing countless caves, shops and jaw-dropping views.

When we arrived back at the treasury, Charlie brought us up to the middle viewpoint for the most iconic photo spot in Petra.

Once we got all the shots we wanted, we headed back to Charlie’s cave where they prepared us lunch and another hookah. The entire day was just so special. My cheeks hurt from smiling and I felt so fortunate to share it with such wonderful people.

After lunch, we said our goodbyes to Charlie and made our way to the Turkish bath near our hotel. We had planned to participate in a local hammam which would have us feeling fresh and clean after a scrub down and massage following time in the steam room.

Unfortunately the bath was understaffed this time so we had to hustle to make it to our Bedouin dinner. But our dinner was fabulous!! The sisters that hosted us in their home, were sister-in-laws to the author of Married to A Bedouin.

It was fascinating to hear about their lives in the Bedouin community, growing up in the caves of Petra and the process of becoming the first female licensed Bedouin guide in Petra!

The local meal was fantastic and the conversation? Even better. We were so thankful for their hospitality!

After our dinner, we set off back to Amman. Most of the ladies had early flights home but that didn’t stop us from heading out for one last final hurrah!

After such a wonderful trip, we wanted to celebrate over a drink and soak up the last few hours we had together. We went bar hopping in Amman and reminisced about the amazing week we had in Jordan as well as the previous trip in Egypt.

Day 6: Depart for home

The next morning, we said our goodbyes! I am so thankful for this amazing group of women who made this trip what it was. And thank you to our local guide Hishem!

Stay tuned for my 2023 group trip here.

To join a group trip, check out the “Travel With Me” section!

Past group trips include: dog sledding in Minnesota, Southwest USA, Sail Croatia, backpacking the Superior Hiking Trail, Christmas in NYC, Iceland, Morocco, Turkey, Ireland, and more!

Shop my Amazon storefront for all my travel essentials & favorite finds!

The post Jordan Group Trip Highlights 2022 appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.

Wadi Rum On A Budget

Like the rest of Jordan, Wadi Rum isn’t necessarily a budget destination but it sure is worthwhile!! This dreamy desert landscape truly feels like Mars. And no trip to Jordan would be complete without a night in Wadi Rum.

We visited with Timeless Tours on their 5 day budget Jordan trip during February and stayed at Hasan Zawaideh Camp.

Hasan Zawaideh Camp

The camp is located in the beautiful Wadi Rum desert and is easily accessible by the highway. Driving in Jordan is surprisingly easy and if you are traveling around the country without a tour group, you’ll have no trouble accessing this camp.

Check out the recap of our stay here:

The Martian Tent vs Tent with 2 Beds

The camp has a variety of accommodations, you can see them all here.

The bubbles are significantly more expensive than the tents which are more like small cabins.

All rooms have air conditioning, free wifi, towels and include breakfast. You can add on traditional dinner for 8 JD per person or about $12 USD.

Our cabins were very cute from the outside but the interior is a bit strange and not really in theme with the rest of the camp. However, it is by far one of the most affordable ways to stay in Wadi Rum and we didn’t spend much time in our room. So if you’re on a budget, this is a great option!

But if you’re looking for the ultimate Wadi Rum experience, then I suggest you splurge and get one of the stargazing bubbles so you can enjoy sunrise from your bed and soak in all the desert views.

Activities at camp

Jeep Tour

If you’re going to do anything in Wadi Rum, make sure you do a jeep tour with a local Bedouin guide! It’s an amazing way to see the desert in a way you never could just on foot. We did the 2 hour tour but they also have a longer 4 hour option.

“On the 4 hour jeep tour you will see the shooting location for the Hollywood movie “The Martian“, sand dunes, the Nabataean inscriptions, Umm Frouth rock bridge, mushroom rock, Barrah canyon and Lawrence Canyon (where the movie “Lawrence of Arabia” was filmed). Before returning to camp, we will bring you to the perfect spot for admiring the desert sunset.” – Hasan Zawaideh Camp

Hot Air Balloon

Although we didn’t have time on our trip, a hot air balloon is an amazing way to see the desert landscape!

Hiking

We didn’t have much time for hiking as we only stayed on night. In the future, I would like to stay two nights so we have more time to explore the desert by day. You can book guided hiking experiences at camp.

Stargazing

Unfortunately, it was a cloudy night when we stayed in Wadi Rum. But they offer a stargazing activity with massive telescopes & guides for an additional fee after dinner.

Overall, we loved Wadi Rum. I only wish we had more time there!

I’m in the works of planning a group trip to Jordan so stayed tuned if you want to visit this desert with me in the future!

More on Jordan:

Shop my Jordan favorites:

The post Wadi Rum On A Budget appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.

20 Photos To Put Jordan On Your Bucket List

If Jordan isn’t on your bucket list, it should be! This country has it all: fascinating culture, ancient history, great good, beautiful landscapes and friendly locals.

I recently upgraded my Canon 80D camera by investing in a new lens and was excited to shoot with it during the trip. Here are a few of my favorite photos from our time traveling around Jordan!

Read: AMMAN, JORDAN – THE PERFECT ONE DAY ITINERARY

Shop my Jordan favorites:

Thigh-High Boots

Buy Now

Cross-Body Phone Case

Buy Now

How To Travel The World On $50 A Day

Buy Now

My Camera

Canon 80D

Buy Now

The post 20 Photos To Put Jordan On Your Bucket List appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.

Amman Jordan One Day Itinerary

Amman, Jordan
The Perfect One Day Itinerary

When traveling to Jordan, many travelers skip over the capital city and head right to Petra or Wadi Rum. And while these sights were also my favorite in the country, I found exploring Amman to be super worthwhile as well.

From great culinary experiences to history dating back thousands of years, this city is sure to delight and surprise you. Just follow the itinerary below for an amazing day, ejoy Amman!

One day Amman itinerary overview:

• Start your morning at the Citadel
• Walk to the Roman Theater – don’t miss the smaller theater to the left of the main one!
• Visit the King Abdullah I Mosque
• For lunch: Hashem *no menu but great local fare!
• Shop downtown on King Faisal Street in Al Balad district
• Afternoon coffee or shisha Al Mamlakeh Restaurant *Restaurant just above Hashem with pink flowers
• Head to Rainbow Street
• Happy hour with city views at La Calle
• Sunset rooftop and drinks at Cantaloupe Gastro Pub
• Late night shisha/drinks at Talet Al-Jabal Restaurant

Check out my TikTok video with the full itinerary breakdown here:

Amman One Day Itinerary

Start Your Morning at the Citadel

Begin your morning at the citadel. You’ll need the Jordan Pass to enter. The Jordan Pass will double as your visa and should be bought before you arrive in Jordan to avoid paying for the entry visa at the airport.

The citadel was largely destroyed by an earthquake but the ruins are still quite expansive. What’s fascinating is the mix of cultures and religions.

You will see Islamic ruins and Christian churches side by side. You can cover the whole area and the small museum onsite in an hour.

Walk to Odeon Theater aka the Roman Theater

After you explore Citadel Hill, walk down to the Roman Theater. It’s about 20 minutes on foot and all downhill. But you could also hop in a cab for cheap. Jordan is an expensive country but Uber and taxis are surprisingly inexpensive!

Again you’ll need the Jordan pass to enter here. There is a small museum onsite with Bedouin artifacts.

And don’t miss the smaller Roman Theater to the left of the main, larger one.

Visit King Abdullah I Mosque aka the Blue Mosque

When you’ve finished at the Roman Theater, either walk 40 minutes (it’s a great way to see the city!) or hop in one of the many taxis out front of the theater and go to the King Abdullah I Mosque.

Ladies, you’ll need to have your hair fully covered in addition to your arms and legs. However, if you don’t have the proper covering, they will provide you with the necessary robe upon arrival.

For lunch: Hashem

For lunch, you can’t miss the local fare at Hashem! This restaurant has no menu but servers will gladly help you order. It’s all Middle Eastern food so think falafel, hummus, and pita bread.

There is usually a line for a table but they turn over quickly. They have both indoor and outdoor seating and the location is prime so it makes for great people watching!

It’s right on the main street of downtown so its central location is perfect for going shopping on the main street afterward.

Shop downtown on King Faisel Street

The shops in downtown are lively and fun to walk around!

It’s a more boisterous neighborhood than the posh Rainbow Road.

Afternoon coffee or shisha at Al Mamlakeh

Once you’re done shopping, head back to the restaurant above Hashem to have an afternoon coffee or smoke a shisha.

It has nice views over the main street and very “Instagrammable” decorations with pink flowers and swings. You can’t miss it!

To enter, go through the entrance to Hashem and go up the stairs on the right.

Walk to Rainbow Street for cute shops & restaurants

Rainbow Street is a great area of Amman full of posh shops, rooftops bars and trendy cafes. The entire street is very walkable. Be sure to check out the side street as well.

If you’re looking for a great spot, check out Books@Cafe. This trendy spot is part art gallery, bookstore, bar, and restaurant with great views! They also do an awesome brunch. They have two locations but I highly recommend the one on Rainbow Road.

Happy hour with city views at La Calle

While Cantaloupe Gastro Pub is the real star of the Rainbow Street rooftops, it doesn’t open until 5pm. But next door, La Calle is open for happy hour starting at noon.

So if you are arriving for sunset & Cantaloupe isn’t open yet (especially in the winter) you can pop into La Calle first. They also have a nice rooftop, although it is small.

Just keep in mind, that drinks are expensive in Jordan. Be prepared to pay Western prices.

Cantaloupe Gastro Pub for sunset rooftop and drinks

This is the perfect sunset spot on Rainbow Street!

Whether you just want apps, drinks, or a full dinner…this place has good service, tasty food, and unbeatable views of the city!

Shop my Jordan favorites:

Cross-Body Phone Case

Buy Now

Two Piece Set

Buy Now

Khaki Romper

Buy Now

Travel Journal

Buy Now

More on the Middle East: EGYPT- 18 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Amman Jordan One Day Itinerary

The post Amman, Jordan – The Perfect One Day Itinerary appeared first on The Wanderlust Rose.