Petra · onenicetrip

The reason we’re here

25 May 2027

Independence Day

Amman and across Jordan

Jordan’s national holiday marks its independence from the United Kingdom in 1946. It brings official ceremonies, military displays and fireworks. In recent years the Ministry of Culture has added free evening programmes in Amman and the governorates, with fireworks in Amman on the night of the 25th.

Every year on 25 May. Source ↗

The plan(with early starts)

Five days: the desert, the rose-red city, then the capital for Independence Day.

Where we sleep

1 night

Base in a Wadi Rum desert camp

Wadi Rum

1 night

Base in Wadi Musa

Wadi Musa, beside Petra

2 nights

Base in central Amman

Downtown Amman

Day 1 · Sun 23 May
Into the desert
From Aqaba, about an hour by road, to Wadi Rum village, then a late-afternoon jeep tour into the sandstone valleys with a Bedouin guide. We sleep in a desert camp.
- Wadi Rum village2 h
  The village at the edge of the Wadi Rum Protected Area, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2011. Several hundred Bedouin live here, and jeep tours and desert camps start from it.
  What to see
  - The sandstone cliffs behind the village
  - The Nabataean temple near the Rest House
  - The jeeps lining up for the late tours
  Time
  Two hours before the tour.
  Tip
  Register at the visitor centre at the entrance, and agree the route, the time and the total cost with your Bedouin guide before you set off.
  To eat
  Zarb, meat and vegetables cooked in a pit oven under the sand, is the traditional camp dinner.
- Khaz’ali Canyon1 h
  A narrow canyon in the sandstone, with carvings of people and antelopes on its walls from Thamudic times. It is a short walk in from where the jeep stops.
  What to see
  - The petroglyphs of people and antelopes
  - The narrow sandstone walls
  - The light on the dunes at sunset
  Time
  About an hour.
  Tip
  The ground can be uneven, so wear closed shoes. Carry more water than you think you need, even for a short walk.
  To eat
  Sweet Bedouin tea, often flavoured with sage, when the tour stops.
Day 2 · Mon 24 May
The way into Petra
A drive of about two hours north to Wadi Musa, the town beside Petra. In the afternoon we walk the Siq to the Treasury and on to the Royal Tombs.
- The Siq and the Treasury2 h
  The way into Petra is the Siq, a gorge only a few metres wide in places, which opens onto the Treasury. This rock-cut façade, about 37 metres tall, dates from the 1st century AD and was probably a royal tomb.
  What to see
  - The coloured sandstone walls of the Siq
  - The first glimpse of the Treasury
  - The Street of Facades beyond
  Time
  Two hours there and back.
  Tip
  The walk in is shaded and gentle, but the way out is uphill in the afternoon heat, so keep water for the return. The Jordan Pass covers entry to Petra, so check its current terms on the official site.
  To eat
  Knafeh, a hot cheese pastry soaked in syrup, in Wadi Musa afterwards.
- The Royal Tombs1 h 30
  A row of large tombs cut into the rock face above the main valley, including the Urn Tomb, the Silk Tomb, the Corinthian Tomb and the Palace Tomb. The Urn Tomb was turned into a church in AD 446.
  What to see
  - The Urn Tomb
  - The coloured stripes of the Silk Tomb
  - The Corinthian and Palace tombs
  Time
  About an hour and a half.
  Tip
  There is little shade away from the Siq, so bring a hat and enough water, and leave time to walk back before the site closes.
  To eat
  A snack of dates and nuts from Wadi Musa for the walk.
Day 3 · Tue 25 May
Independence Day in Amman
At first light we climb to the Monastery, then drive about three hours to Amman. In the evening we go downtown for Independence Day, the national holiday, with its evening events and fireworks.
- The Monastery (Ad Deir)Half a day
  A huge rock-cut façade about 45 metres tall and 50 metres wide, reached by a long climb up a stairway cut into the rock. It is larger than the Treasury.
  What to see
  - The façade of the Monastery
  - The rock-cut stairway on the way up
  - The valley from the lookouts nearby
  Time
  About half a day, with the walk.
  Tip
  Set off as soon as the site opens: the climb is far easier before the heat, and we have a long drive to Amman afterwards.
  To eat
  Ful medames, fava beans with oil, and falafel for breakfast in Wadi Musa.
- Downtown AmmanEvening
  The old downtown of Amman, around the Roman Theatre and the Hashemite Plaza, with markets, cafés and sweet shops. On 25 May the city celebrates Independence Day, with evening events and fireworks in Amman.
  What to see
  - The streets full of flags
  - The Roman Theatre above the plaza
  - The evening fireworks from a high point of the city
  Time
  The whole evening.
  Tip
  Programmes and viewing sites change every year and are announced by the Ministry of Culture a few days before. Expect crowds, and ask at the hotel where the best view of the fireworks is.
  To eat
  Mansaf, lamb cooked in a yoghurt sauce with rice, is Jordan’s national dish.
Day 4 · Wed 26 May
Hills of Amman
A day in the capital: the Citadel on its hill in the morning, then the Roman Theatre below.
- Amman Citadel2 h
  An L-shaped hill above downtown Amman, inhabited since prehistory, with Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad remains. The columns of the so-called Temple of Hercules are its best-known sight.
  What to see
  - The columns of the Temple of Hercules
  - The Umayyad palace and its domed hall
  - The view over downtown
  Time
  About two hours.
  Tip
  The hilltop has little shade, so go in the morning. The Citadel’s opening hours are on the Jordan Tourism Board’s site.
  To eat
  Limonana, lemon blended with mint, from a stall on the way down.
- Roman Theatre1 h
  A Roman theatre of the 2nd century AD, from when the city was called Philadelphia, which could seat about six thousand people. It stands on the south side of the Hashemite Plaza.
  What to see
  - The curved rows of seats
  - The two small museums inside
  - The Odeon on the other side of the plaza
  Time
  About an hour.
  Tip
  The stone seats get hot in the afternoon, so bring a hat and take the upper rows for the view.
  To eat
  A falafel and hummus lunch in the downtown lanes.
Day 5 · Thu 27 May
Mosaics and a view
On the way to the airport we stop in Madaba for its mosaic map, then at Mount Nebo for the view over the Jordan Valley.
- Madaba mosaic map1 h
  In the church of Saint George is a 6th-century floor mosaic that maps the Holy Land from Lebanon to the Nile Delta. Jerusalem is at its centre and shown in the most detail.
  What to see
  - The mosaic map of the Holy Land
  - The Dead Sea and the Jordan River on the map
  - The detailed city of Jerusalem
  Time
  About an hour.
  Tip
  It is a working church, so dress modestly and keep your voice low. Check its opening hours before you set off, as they can be shorter on holidays.
  To eat
  Maqluba, rice, vegetables and meat served upside down from the pot.
- Mount Nebo1 h
  A ridge of about 700 metres where, by tradition, Moses saw the Promised Land before he died. A Byzantine church from the late 4th century marks the site, and a bronze serpent sculpture stands at the summit.
  What to see
  - The mosaic floors of the memorial church
  - The bronze serpent sculpture
  - The view over the Jordan Valley
  Time
  About an hour.
  Tip
  Jericho is usually visible and Jerusalem only on very clear days, so don’t count on the far view. Check the sanctuary’s opening hours first.
  To eat
  A last cup of Arabic coffee with dates before the airport.