2-Day Jordan Tour Review: Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea

So, you’re thinking about a trip to Jordan, but you, like, only have a few days, right? I was honestly in the exact same spot. The idea of fitting in Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea in just two days seemed a bit much, you know? But at the same time, the thought of seeing all those legendary places was just incredibly tempting. I decided to book a 2-day private tour starting from Amman, and to be honest, it was a pretty wild ride. This is basically my rundown of how it all went, the good stuff, and the things you should probably know before you go ahead and book it for yourself.

Day 1 Morning: From Amman to Floating at the Dead Sea

Alright, so the first morning, our driver showed up right at our hotel in Amman, which was super convenient. He was a really friendly guy, which, frankly, makes a big difference on a private tour. The car was comfortable, and you know, the drive itself is kind of part of the whole experience. You get to see the landscape change as you leave the city behind. Our first stop was, of course, the Dead Sea. It’s really one of those places you have to see to believe. The feeling of the water is so strange; it’s almost oily, you know? And the moment you lean back… well, you just float. It’s a very weird and fun sensation, and you can’t help but laugh. We slathered ourselves in the famous mud, which is supposedly really good for your skin, and just bobbed around for a while. Seriously, it’s a completely unique experience that you won’t find anywhere else.

Day 1 Afternoon: Walking into the Lost City of Petra

After washing off all that salt and mud, we were on our way to Petra. As a matter of fact, this was the part I was looking forward to the most. The drive there takes a little while, but watching the desert scenery from the car window is pretty much amazing in itself. When we finally arrived, the real adventure began. You walk through this long, winding canyon called the Siq. The rock walls are just so high on either side, and the colours in the stone are absolutely beautiful. The anticipation really builds up as you walk, you know? And then, just like you’ve seen in the pictures, you get that first peek of the Treasury through a crack in the rock. It’s one of those moments that really just stops you in your tracks. It’s way bigger and more impressive in person, honestly.

I mean, you can see a thousand pictures of the Treasury, but nothing, literally nothing, prepares you for seeing it with your own eyes for the first time. It just feels… old and grand and sort of magic, all at the same time.

We spent the afternoon exploring some of the main sights around the Treasury. Our guide pointed out all sorts of things we would have missed on our own, like little carvings and tombs hidden in the rocks. You could definitely spend days here, but for a short trip, getting to see the most iconic part of this ancient city was, at the end of the day, pretty amazing.

Day 1 Evening: A Night with the Bedouins in Wadi Rum

As the sun started to set, we left Petra behind and made our way to Wadi Rum. The change in the landscape is pretty much instant and really dramatic. You go from the carved city to this vast, open desert of red sand and towering rock formations. It actually looks a lot like pictures of Mars, you know? We arrived at a Bedouin-style camp, which was our home for the night. The camps are fairly simple, to be honest, but that’s kind of the point. It’s all about the experience. The hospitality was just incredible. The Bedouin people are so welcoming, and they shared their stories with us around a crackling fire. For dinner, they served us Zarb, which is basically chicken and vegetables cooked in a pit under the sand. It was absolutely delicious. But the real highlight of the night, seriously, was just looking up. The sky was so clear, and I have literally never seen so many stars in my entire life. It was just so quiet and peaceful out there.

Day 2: Desert Jeeps and the Road Home

Waking up in the middle of the desert is a pretty cool feeling. After a simple breakfast and some sweet tea, we jumped into the back of a 4×4 pickup truck for a jeep tour of Wadi Rum. This part was so much fun. Our Bedouin guide drove us through the red sands, pointing out famous spots like Lawrence’s Spring and some ancient Nabatean inscriptions. We climbed up a huge sand dune for an incredible view and even stopped at a massive rock bridge. You really feel so small next to these giant rock formations. It was just a couple of hours, but it felt like a real adventure, you know?

After the jeep tour, it was time for the long drive back to Amman. Obviously, you’re pretty tired by this point. It’s a lot of driving and seeing things in a very short amount of time. But as we were driving, I just kept thinking about everything we’d managed to do. We floated in the saltiest sea on Earth, walked through a city that was lost for centuries, and slept under the stars in a vast red desert. At the end of the day, it was a completely whirlwind experience, but one that was definitely worth it.

So, Is This 2-Day Tour Actually a Good Idea?

Okay, so let’s get down to it. Is a two-day private tour like this the right choice for you? Well, basically, it depends on what you’re looking for. If you are super short on time and want to see the absolute main attractions of Jordan, then definitely, this is a fantastic option. Having a private driver and car is a huge plus. You don’t have to worry about getting around, finding places, or figuring out logistics. You just sit back and they handle it all, which is a huge relief. You can more or less customize the stops a little, and you get a much more personal feel than being on a big tour bus.

On the other hand, this pace is very, very fast. You don’t really get a lot of time to linger in any one place. For instance, at Petra, we saw the Treasury and some of the main path, but we didn’t have time to hike up to the Monastery. In the same way, the time at the Dead Sea is more of a quick float and mud session than a relaxing spa day. So, if you’re the kind of traveler who likes to take things slow and really soak a place in, this tour might feel a little bit rushed for you, to be honest. It’s very much about getting the highlights and then moving on to the next amazing thing. You just have to be prepared for a couple of long and busy days.

Key Takeaways for This Tour

• It’s very efficient: You can see three world-class sites in just 48 hours, which is honestly incredible.
• A private driver is a big advantage: It makes the trip comfortable and removes all the stress of navigating on your own.
• The pace is quick: Be ready for long days with a lot of driving. This is more of a highlights tour.
• You get a taste of everything: It’s a fantastic introduction to Jordan, covering history, nature, and culture.
• The Bedouin camp is a special experience: The food, the stars, and the hospitality in Wadi Rum are things you will not forget.

Read our full review: 2-Day Private Tours in Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum, and Dead Sea from Amman Full Review and Details

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