Flights to Jordan

Amman or Aqaba?

Queen Alia International (AMM), about 35 km south of Amman, is the main gateway and the natural choice for Jerash, the Dead Sea and a road trip south to Petra. King Hussein International (AQJ) in Aqaba is about an hour from Wadi Rum and two hours from Petra, so it suits a desert-and-diving trip. Many visitors fly into Amman and home from Aqaba, or the other way round.

Airlines and UK departure points

Royal Jordanian, the national airline, flies non-stop from Heathrow to Amman, and Wizz Air flies non-stop from Luton. From Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and other regional airports, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Lufthansa connect through their hubs. Aqaba is reached via Amman, with a domestic flight of under an hour, or via Istanbul.

Nabataeans, Romans and early Islam

Over 2,000 years ago, the Nabataean Arabs carved Petra into the pink sandstone cliffs and grew rich on the incense trade. The Romans built cities such as Jerash and Philadelphia, now Amman, where a theatre for 6,000 people still stands. Early Islamic history is all around, from the desert castles of the Umayyad caliphs to the shrines of the Prophet's companions in the Jordan Valley and the site of the Battle of Mu'tah near Karak. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan became independent in 1946.

Visas, money and practical tips

British visitors can buy a visa on arrival, but most choose the Jordan Pass, which waives the visa fee if you stay at least three nights and includes entry to Petra, Jerash, Wadi Rum and many other sites. Passports should be valid for six months. The currency is the Jordanian dinar (JOD), Jordan is three hours ahead of the UK in winter and two in summer, and halal food is the norm everywhere. Check current UK government travel advice and your insurance before you book, as warnings cover some border areas.

When to go

Spring, from March to May, and autumn, from September to November, bring warm days that suit walking in Petra and Wadi Rum. Summers are very hot in the desert and the Jordan Valley, while winter can be cold and occasionally snowy in Amman and Petra but mild in Aqaba.

Planning a loop from Amman to Petra, Wadi Rum and Aqaba? Call 020 7871 4545 and we'll price an open-jaw ticket.