Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Jordan for families: Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea and the Red Sea
8 days from Amman for families with children 7 and up: Jerash and a cooking class, a Dead Sea float, Petra at opening, a Wadi Rum camp and snorkelling in Aqaba.
8 days · Round trip from Amman · up to 12 guests
The Obelisk Tomb, on the path from the Petra gate towards the Siq Photo: Berthold Werner, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Petra_Jordan_BW_24.JPG)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 8 days, 7 nights
- Start and end
- Round trip from Amman
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Moderate
Mostly short walks of 1 to 3 hours. Petra is the long day: about 8 km on sand and stone for the main trail, up to 15 km with the optional 800 steps to the Monastery, and families can walk out after lunch instead. Snorkelling is from the beach in shallow water with life vests for children.
- Meals included
- 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 2 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 545 (estimated price)
- Season
- March to May and September to November
Highlights
Why this trip
- Children shout from the stage of Jerash's South Theatre and hear it carry to the top rows
- Cook dinner together at a Jordanian cooking class in Amman
- Float in the Dead Sea, about 430 m below sea level
- Karak Castle's dark vaulted passages, then Little Petra in the late afternoon
- The Siq at opening, with the Treasury almost to yourselves
- A 4x4 afternoon in Wadi Rum, a red dune to run down and a night at camp
- Snorkel from the beach on Aqaba's coral reefs, with life vests for children
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 545 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Amman
Queen Alia International Airport to your hotel in Amman
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Amman
- Drive about 45 min
Fly into Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), about 35 km south of Amman. A driver meets your family in the arrivals hall and takes you to a central hotel in the city, about 45 minutes away. Your Jordan Pass and visa are arranged before you fly, so arrival is a short passport queue rather than a kiosk and cash. The rest of the day is yours to sleep off the flight or walk to a juice stall nearby. At about 6 pm your See Sight Tours guide meets the group in the hotel for a short briefing aimed at children as much as parents: what Petra's steps are like, what to wear in the desert, how the snorkelling works and which day has the longest drive.
Evening
Then we walk or drive to a family-friendly restaurant for a welcome dinner of mezze, grills and fresh bread, finished early enough for an early night before Jerash.
Included
- Pick-up at Queen Alia International Airport (AMM)
- Welcome briefing with your guide at about 6 pm
- Welcome dinner in Amman
Free time: Free until the evening briefing
Activity: Plan to land by about 4 pm to make the briefing; later arrivals are met and the guide catches up with you at breakfast.
Jerash at opening, then a cooking class
Amman to Jerash and back
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Amman
- Drive about 2 h
We leave Amman at about 8 am and reach Jerash, about an hour north, close to opening, while the stone is cool and before the coach groups arrive. Roman Gerasa is a provincial city whose streets, theatres and temples still stand, and it is a good place for children to run a little. Walk in under Hadrian's Arch, raised for the emperor's visit in AD 129 to 130, past the hippodrome where chariots raced, into the Oval Plaza and up to the South Theatre, where a word spoken from the centre of the stage carries to the top rows. Then down the Cardo, its paving still grooved by cart wheels, to the Temple of Artemis.
Afternoon
Lunch is a sit-down meal in Jerash.
Evening
Back in Amman there is a rest at the hotel, and in the late afternoon the family cooks together at a cooking class: children roll, stuff and stir alongside the adults, and what you make is dinner.
Included
- Jerash with your guide: Hadrian's Arch, the hippodrome, the Oval Plaza, the South Theatre, the Cardo and the Temple of Artemis
- Sit-down lunch in Jerash
- Jordanian cooking class in Amman, with dinner of what you cook
Free time: Rest at the hotel between lunch and the cooking class
Activity: About 2 to 3 hours on foot in Jerash on Roman paving and uneven ground, with shade breaks.
Madaba, Mount Nebo and a first float
Amman to Madaba and Mount Nebo, then down to the Dead Sea
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Dead Sea
- Drive about 2 h
A short drive south to Madaba, about 35 km, where the floor of the Church of St George holds the Madaba Map, a 6th-century mosaic of the Holy Land with Jerusalem at its centre. Children can hunt for the fish in the Jordan River and the boats on the Dead Sea before we visit a mosaic workshop to watch artisans cut and set small stones, and try setting a few.
Afternoon
After a sit-down lunch in Madaba it is ten minutes to Mount Nebo, where Moses is said to have looked over the Promised Land: from the terrace by the Memorial Church of Moses the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea lie below. Then the road drops about 1,100 m in half an hour to the Dead Sea shore, about 430 m below sea level. At the resort's beach everyone floats without trying, and the black mud is there for anyone brave enough.
Evening
The evening is free at the resort.
Included
- The Madaba Map at the Church of St George
- A mosaic workshop in Madaba
- Sit-down lunch in Madaba
- Mount Nebo and the Memorial Church of Moses
- Time to float in the Dead Sea at the resort's beach
Free time: Late afternoon and evening free at the resort
Activity: Keep Dead Sea water away from eyes and any cuts; children float with an adult beside them and rinse off at the beach showers.
Karak Castle and Little Petra
Dead Sea to Karak Castle, then Wadi Musa and Little Petra
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Wadi Musa
- Drive about 4 h
Morning
Float once more before breakfast while the beach is quiet, then we leave at about 9 am. The road climbs out of the rift to Karak, about an hour and a quarter, where a Crusader castle begun in the 1140s sits on a ridge above the town. Children like the long vaulted passages and dark halls, so bring a torch.
Afternoon
Lunch is a sit-down meal in Karak, then about two and a half hours south to Wadi Musa, the town at the gate of Petra, where we stay two nights. In the late afternoon we drive fifteen minutes north to Little Petra, Siq al-Barid, a narrow canyon of Nabataean rooms, cisterns and stairways that children can climb into. Look up in the Painted Biclinium for a rare 1st-century ceiling painting of vines and birds. It is a short, easy walk, and it gives everyone a first taste of carved sandstone before tomorrow's early start.
Included
- Karak Castle with your guide
- Sit-down lunch in Karak
- Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) and the Painted Biclinium in the late afternoon
Free time: Evening free in Wadi Musa
Activity: About 3.75 hours of driving in two legs, broken by Karak Castle and lunch. Little Petra is about 1 km of easy walking with some rock-cut steps.
Petra at opening
A day inside Petra, from the gate to the Great Temple and back
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Wadi Musa
We are at the Petra gate at opening, around 6 am, when the 1.2 km Siq is cool and nearly empty. Children walk ahead between the gorge walls until the Treasury appears at the end, carved by the Nabataeans in the 1st century AD, and at this hour you have it almost to yourselves. Your guide leads the main trail: the Street of Facades, the Theatre, the Royal Tombs with a short climb to the Urn Tomb terrace, then the Colonnaded Street, the Great Temple and Qasr al-Bint.
Afternoon
Lunch is a sit-down meal inside the site, in the shade. After lunch families choose. The easy option is the walk back out by early afternoon to the hotel. The active option is the climb of about 800 rock-cut steps to the Monastery with the guide, which children of 7 and up manage with breaks.
Evening
The evening is free, and Petra by Night can be added on the evenings it runs.
Included
- Petra from opening with your guide: the Siq, the Treasury, the Street of Facades, the Theatre, the Royal Tombs, the Colonnaded Street, the Great Temple and Qasr al-Bint
- Sit-down lunch inside Petra
Optional experiences
- Petra by Night, on the evenings it runs; price confirmed at booking
Easier option: Walk back out after lunch, about 4 km, and rest at the hotel for the afternoon.
More active option: Climb the roughly 800 steps to the Monastery (Ad-Deir) in the afternoon with your guide, then walk out, about 15 km in all.
Free time: Evening free in Wadi Musa
Activity: About 8 km on sand and stone for the main trail, up to about 15 km with the Monastery. Hats, water and closed shoes for everyone, including children.
Into Wadi Rum by 4x4
Wadi Musa to a camp in Wadi Rum
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Wadi Rum
- Drive about 2 h
Morning
A slow morning after yesterday's walk: sleep in, swim if the hotel has a pool, or visit the Petra Nabataean Museum near the gate. We leave at about 10:30 am for the drive south to Wadi Rum, about 110 km and an hour and three quarters, a protected desert of red sand and sandstone mountains listed by UNESCO in 2011.
Afternoon
Lunch is at our camp, followed by a rest through the hottest hours. At about 3:30 pm Bedouin drivers take us out by 4x4: Lawrence's Spring, the rock carvings of Khazali Canyon, a high red dune that children run down, and the small Um Fruth rock bridge, which older children can climb with the guide.
Evening
We stop on high ground for sunset, then dinner is zarb, lifted from an oven buried in the sand, and the stars come out over a desert with no town lights. We only use camps whose tents have a private bathroom, a hot shower and electric light.
Included
- Afternoon 4x4 tour with Bedouin drivers: Lawrence's Spring, Khazali Canyon, a red dune and the Um Fruth rock bridge
- Sunset from high ground
- Lunch and a zarb dinner at camp
- Stargazing at camp
Free time: Morning free in Wadi Musa
Activity: Wadi Rum sits at about 1,000 m, so nights are cool most of the year and close to freezing in midwinter. Bring a warm layer for everyone.
A camel ride, then the Red Sea
Wadi Rum to Aqaba and the reefs south of town
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Aqaba
- Drive about 1 h
Morning
Anyone who wants to can be up for sunrise over the desert before breakfast. Then a short camel ride with Bedouin handlers, about half an hour, gentle enough for children of 7, while those who prefer walk alongside. We leave camp at about 10 am for Aqaba, about 70 km and an hour, the country's one stretch of coast.
Afternoon
Lunch is a sit-down meal by the water. In the afternoon, when the sun is less fierce, we snorkel from the beach on the coral reefs south of town, inside the Aqaba marine reserve. A snorkel guide gives a short lesson on the sand, children wear life vests, and the reef starts a few metres from shore, so there is no boat and nobody is far from their feet. Look for parrotfish, clownfish and corals in shallow, warm water.
Evening
The evening is free to walk the seafront or eat fish in town.
Included
- Optional desert sunrise from camp
- Camel ride with Bedouin handlers, about 30 minutes
- Sit-down lunch in Aqaba
- Snorkelling from the beach with a snorkel guide, masks, fins and children's life vests
Easier option: Stay on the beach or in the shallows with a mask while others snorkel further out.
More active option: Swim out along the reef edge with the snorkel guide for longer.
Free time: Evening free in Aqaba
Activity: Snorkelling is in calm, shallow water with life vests for children; non-swimmers stay in the shallows with an adult. Sea temperatures run from about 21 C in late winter to about 28 C in late summer.
Up the Desert Highway and home
Aqaba to Queen Alia International Airport on the Desert Highway
- Breakfast
- Drive about 4 h
Morning
A last breakfast by the sea, then we leave at about 9 am for the drive north on the Desert Highway to Queen Alia International Airport, about 300 km and three and three quarter hours.
Afternoon
It is the one long road of the trip, a straight, fast highway across the plateau, and we break it about halfway with a stop for a drink and a stretch, Lunch is not included today. Expect to reach the airport by about 1:30 pm, so book a flight leaving after about 4:30 pm. Your guide sees you to departures and checks your flight before saying goodbye. Families who would rather fly can take the domestic flight from Aqaba to Amman in place of the drive, with the schedule and price confirmed when you book; a stay at the Dead Sea or in Amman before flying home can also be added.
Included
- Drive to Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) with your guide
Easier option: Take the domestic flight from Aqaba to Amman in place of the drive, quoted at booking.
Activity: Book a flight leaving after about 4:30 pm. The drive is about 3.75 hours with a rest stop.
- Amman2 nights
- Dead Sea1 night
- Wadi Musa2 nights
- Wadi Rum1 night
- Aqaba1 night
- Ammanend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: Spring and autumn bring warm days and cool nights; July and August are very hot in Petra and Wadi Rum, and desert nights are close to freezing in midwinter. The Red Sea is warm enough to snorkel all year, coolest in February.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Families with children aged 7 and up
- Parents who want Petra, the desert and the sea without long days on the road
- Children who like castles, camels, 4x4s, floating and fish
- Families who want the extras included rather than paid for on the day
- A single parent travelling with a child
Not for you if you want
- Children under 7; ask about a private trip
- Travellers who want two full days inside Petra or two desert nights; see our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea trip
- Keen hikers; see our Dana to Petra trek
- Step-free access: Petra means sand, rock and steps
- Adults travelling without children
Minimum age: 7
Most guests are Families with children 7 to 17
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
7 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Amman2 nights
- Dead Sea1 night
- Wadi Musa2 nights
- Wadi Rum1 night
- Aqaba1 night
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 7 nights: 2 in a central Amman hotel, 1 at a Dead Sea resort, 2 in Wadi Musa near the Petra gate, 1 at a Wadi Rum camp in a tent with its own bathroom, 1 in a central Aqaba hotel
- Rooms shared; family or triple rooms on request
Transport
- Pick-up and drop-off at Queen Alia International Airport (AMM)
- Our own air-conditioned vehicle and driver for the whole trip
- 4x4 tour in Wadi Rum with Bedouin drivers
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide for the whole trip, with Bedouin guides in Wadi Rum and a snorkel guide in Aqaba
Activities
- Jordan Pass, arranged before you fly
- Jerash
- Cooking class in Amman
- The Madaba Map and a mosaic workshop in Madaba
- Mount Nebo
- Floating in the Dead Sea
- Karak Castle
- Little Petra (Siq al-Barid)
- Petra, a full day from opening
- Wadi Rum 4x4 tour and sunset
- Camel ride in Wadi Rum
- Snorkelling from the beach in Aqaba, with masks, fins and children's life vests
Meals
- 7 breakfasts
- 6 sit-down lunches (days 2 to 7)
- 3 dinners: welcome dinner in Amman, the cooking class dinner and a zarb dinner at camp
Not included
- International flights to and from Amman
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed, including dinners in Wadi Musa, at the Dead Sea and in Aqaba
- Drinks
- Tips
- Petra by Night and other optional activities
- The domestic Aqaba to Amman flight, if you choose it
- Personal expenses
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 545 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
Prices in these answers apply from Jan 1, 2027. Black Friday offer: 15% off the small-group price for requests received by Dec 1, 2026. From CAD 2,440 per person. Dec 2 to Dec 31: from CAD 2,640. From Jan 1, 2027: from CAD 2,870.
What does the price include?
Seven nights in central hotels, a Wadi Rum camp and a Dead Sea resort, breakfast daily, six sit-down lunches, a welcome dinner, the cooking class dinner and the camp dinner, your Jordan Pass and visa, every entry in the day plan, the 4x4 tour, a camel ride, beach snorkelling with gear, airport transfers both ways, a private vehicle and driver, and your See Sight Tours guide throughout.
What age do children need to be?
Seven and up. Petra means about 8 km on foot, Karak and Little Petra have steps and dark passages, and the snorkelling needs a child who is happy in a mask in shallow water. For younger children, ask us about a private trip at a slower pace.
How big is the group, and will we be with other families?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests, counting children. Departures are for families with children aged 7 and up, so your children travel with others of a similar age, and everyone can hear the guide in the Siq and fit around one table at lunch.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide stays with the group for all eight days, with Bedouin drivers and guides in Wadi Rum and a snorkel guide in Aqaba. We name your guide when we confirm your dates.
How much walking is there for children?
Most days are short walks with plenty of sitting. Petra is the big one: about 8 km on sand and stone for the main trail, and up to 15 km with the 800 steps to the Monastery, which is optional. Families who walk out after lunch still see the Siq, the Treasury and the main street.
How long are the drives?
No day goes over about four hours on the road. The longest are day 4, Dead Sea to Petra (about 3.75 hours, broken by Karak Castle and lunch), and day 8, Aqaba to the airport (about 3.75 hours with a rest stop). Families can fly from Aqaba to Amman on the last day instead, quoted at booking.
What is the desert camp like?
We only use camps whose tents have a private bathroom, a hot shower and electric light, with meals cooked at camp and a fire in the evening. Nights are cool most of the year and close to freezing in midwinter, so pack a warm layer for everyone. We name the camp and its alcohol policy when we confirm your dates.
Can my child snorkel if they are not a strong swimmer?
Yes. We snorkel from the beach, not a boat, on reefs that start a few metres from shore. A snorkel guide gives a lesson on the sand, children wear life vests, and non-swimmers can stay in the shallows with a mask and an adult beside them.
How are children and single parents priced?
Children and single parents are quoted at booking: the from price is per person sharing a room, and we do not plan to charge a single supplement to a parent sharing with a child (founder to confirm). A solo adult who wants a room of their own pays a single supplement from CAD 545. Tell us the ages and we confirm the family total within 24 hours.
When is the best time to go with children?
March to May and September to November, which covers spring break, Easter and the autumn school breaks: warm days, cool nights and sea warm enough to snorkel. July and August are very hot in Petra and Wadi Rum, and winter brings cold desert nights and short days.
Do we need visas, and how does booking work?
Most visitors need a visa, children included, and the Jordan Pass we arrange for everyone before you fly waives the fee for stays of 3 nights or more, so we need passport details for each traveller. Pick a date and request to book; we confirm within 24 hours and nothing is charged until then.
Can we travel on our own dates?
Yes, as a private trip for your party only, on a date you choose, from CAD 5,165 per person, or as an independent quote without a guide, which is an inquiry rather than a set trip style. Request either through the trip page and we reply within 24 hours.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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