The best things to do when traveling to Jordan on a budget
How to Reach?
I flew into Queen Alia International Airport from Delhi and honestly it wasn’t bad at all. The airport is small, clean, and the immigration process moves pretty fast if you already have your visa sorted. For Indians, you can get a visa on arrival but ngl it’s way smarter to grab the Jordan Pass before you land. It costs around 80-90 JD and includes your visa plus entry to Petra and a bunch of other sites. Seriously, just buy it online, it saves so much hassle.
From the airport, don’t take the fancy taxis waiting outside. Walk a bit further or use the airport shuttle bus to the city center. It only costs like 3 JD and drops you near the main areas. If you’re coming from other parts of the Middle East, Royal Jordanian has decent connections but they’re not the cheapest. I actually flew Air Arabia from Sharjah and it was fine, nothing special but it got me there without breaking the bank.
The bus network isn’t great though. To be fair, Jordan isn’t super connected by public transport between cities. You’ll probably end up using shared taxis or private drivers for longer distances. I did a mix and it worked okay.
Where to Stay?
I stayed in budget places the whole time and didn’t feel like I missed out too much. In Amman, I picked a small hostel near Rainbow Street called something like Art Hotel or whatever, it was around 800-1000 INR per night for a private room. The bed was decent, wifi worked most days, and they had a little rooftop where I could sit and watch the city. The shared bathrooms weren’t disgusting which is honestly a win.
In Petra, I stayed at a budget guesthouse run by a local family. It was maybe 1200 INR a night and they included breakfast. The room was basic as hell, the mattress was thin, and I could hear every sound from the street but it was clean. They even helped me arrange a cheap guide for one day. To be fair, some nights the hot water didn’t work properly and that sucked when it was cold.
Wadi Rum was the most interesting stay. I slept in a Bedouin camp that wasn’t the fancy Instagram one. It was a simple tent with blankets and it got seriously cold at night. Cost me about 1500 INR including dinner and breakfast. The stars though? Insane. But the toilet situation was a hole in the ground basically and I won’t lie, it took some getting used to.
My honest advice? Don’t cheap out too much on Petra because you’ll want to be close enough to walk to the site entrance. Everything further away adds transport costs that add up fast.
What to Eat?
Jordanian food is actually really good and won’t kill your budget. The national dish mansaf is worth trying once. It’s lamb cooked in fermented yogurt sauce with rice. I had it in a small restaurant in Amman for around 800 INR and it was filling as hell. Portions are massive everywhere so you can easily share.
Breakfast is usually pretty basic – bread, hummus, olives, cheese, and tea. Most budget places include it and it’s honestly enough. I got sick of it by day five but that’s just me.
Street food is where it’s at. Falafel sandwiches for 100-150 INR, shawarma that drips with sauce, and fresh juice carts everywhere. I ate so many falafels I actually got tired of them which I didn’t think was possible.
In Petra, the food inside the site is expensive and meh. Pack snacks or eat before you go in. I made that mistake on day one and paid 600 INR for a sad sandwich that wasn’t worth it.
Wadi Rum camps serve pretty authentic food – rice, grilled chicken or lamb, vegetables. It’s all communal and actually pretty tasty. The tea they make with sage is addictive. I drank like six glasses a day.
Coffee culture is strong here. Try the Arabic coffee but be warned it’s strong and they keep refilling your cup unless you shake it to say no. I learned that the hard way.
Best Time to Visit
I went in March and it was mostly perfect. Daytime temperatures were comfortable for walking around Petra and Amman. Nights got chilly, especially in Wadi Rum where it dropped to like 5 degrees. Pack layers, seriously.
Summer is brutal. Like 40+ degrees in the desert and Petra becomes a furnace. I wouldn’t do it unless you’re okay sweating non-stop. Winter can be rainy in Amman and cold everywhere else.
Spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) are definitely the sweet spots. I went during shoulder season and the crowds at Petra weren’t insane. There were moments I actually had parts of the site almost to myself which was rare but nice.
If you’re on a tight budget, avoid peak season because everything gets more expensive – rooms, tours, even food sometimes.
Budget (Indian Rupees)
I did the whole trip for about 65,000 INR over 8 days including everything. That was pretty tight but doable as a solo traveler.
The Jordan Pass was 5500 INR and it’s the best money you spend. It covers visa, Petra for two days, Wadi Rum, Jerash, and a bunch of other places. Without it you’d pay way more.
Daily budget broke down like this:
– Accommodation: 1000-1500 INR per night
– Food: 800-1200 INR if you’re smart about it
– Transport: this is where it adds up. Taxis between cities cost 2000-4000 INR each time
– Activities: mostly covered by the pass but random fees pop up
Petra alone would cost you 5000+ INR for entry without the pass so that thing pays for itself immediately.
I spent more on transport than I expected. Hiring a driver for a few days from Amman to Petra to Dead Sea ended up being 18000 INR but it was worth it for the convenience. You can do it cheaper with buses but it takes forever and isn’t as flexible.
Total for me came to roughly 8000 INR per day which included some splurges. You could probably do it for 5000-6000 if you’re really strict.
Tips for First-Timers
Get the Jordan Pass. I’m not kidding. Just do it.
Haggle on everything. Prices aren’t fixed for taxis, souvenirs, even some food places. I sucked at bargaining at first but got better. Start at half what they offer and meet somewhere in the middle.
Don’t expect everything to run on time. Jordan runs on its own schedule. My driver showed up 45 minutes late one day and didn’t seem bothered. Just roll with it.
The toilet situation in some budget places and public spots isn’t great. Carry your own tissues and hand sanitizer. Some places charge 1 JD to use the bathroom which annoyed me every single time.
People are friendly but can be pushy with sales. Learn to say “la shukran” which means no thank you. Say it firmly and keep walking.
Water isn’t always safe to drink from taps. I stuck to bottled and it was fine. Don’t be cheap about this or you’ll regret it.
Petra at night is actually pretty cool. They do this candle thing with storytelling and it’s atmospheric even if a bit touristy. I went and didn’t regret it. Costs extra but it’s different from the daytime experience.
Wear good walking shoes. Petra has uneven ground and you’ll walk 10-15km easily if you’re seeing everything. I saw people struggling in flip flops and felt bad for them.
For women traveling solo, it’s mostly fine but dress modestly especially outside Amman. I saw some girls in tiny shorts getting stared at and it wasn’t worth it. Cover shoulders and knees at minimum.
Download an offline map. Internet isn’t everywhere and Google Maps works well offline.
FAQ
Is Jordan safe for solo travelers?
Yeah, mostly. I never felt unsafe. People are helpful and I didn’t have any bad experiences. Just use normal big city smarts in Amman at night.
Can I do Jordan in a week on a budget?
You can but it’ll be rushed. I did Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum and Dead Sea in 8 days and it was enough to get the highlights without killing myself. Any less and you’re just ticking boxes.
Is the food spicy?
Not really. It’s more about flavors than heat. I have a low spice tolerance and ate everything without issues.
Should I rent a car?
If you can drive and aren’t scared of crazy driving, maybe. I didn’t and survived with taxis and drivers. Gas is cheap but the roads outside cities aren’t always great.
How much should I tip?
Not expected everywhere but 10% in restaurants is nice if service was good. Tour guides and drivers appreciate it.
Is Petra really crowded?
It depends when you go. I went early morning on my first day and it wasn’t too bad. By 10am it gets busy. The main path gets packed but if you hike the longer trails you escape most people.
Do I need a guide for everything?
No. I did Petra without one on the second day and it was fine. For Wadi Rum though, you kinda need transport so a tour makes sense.
What’s the internet situation?
Buy a local SIM at the airport. It’s cheap and worked well enough. I used Orange and didn’t have major complaints.
The thing about Jordan is it’s not super cheap anymore but with the Jordan Pass and some planning you can do it without blowing your budget. I had moments where I was tired and hot and the constant “welcome my friend” sales talk got annoying. But then I’d turn a corner in Petra and just think “damn, this was worth it.” It’s a country that works hard to show you its best stuff while still being real about the challenges.
The mix of ancient sites, desert landscapes and genuinely nice people makes it special. Just don’t come expecting everything to be perfect or cheap. Come with realistic expectations and you’ll have a good time without spending a fortune. I already want to go back to see the north properly next time.
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