2-week Itinerary Review | Jordan - Lonely Planet Forum

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Sun, 01 Mar 2015 23:13:01 +0000

My husband and I are traveling to Jordan/Israel/Palestine for two weeks in late May/early June. My brother and sister-in-law may decide to travel with us, in which case we'd be a group of four (all in our late 20s). I'm looking for some help allocating our time. In general, we're interested in culture, history, religious sites, and nature more than beaches or nightlife. We're not on a shoestring budget but are looking to keep things affordable wherever possible.

Here's my rough sketch:

Monday: arrive Amman at 3 a.m. Rent car and drive to Madaba before making way down Dead Sea Highway to Petra (stopping at public beach for a dip)
Tuesday: Petra
Wednesday: Petra in a.m. Travel to Wadi Rum and do afternoon tour. Sleep in Bedouin camp.
Thursday: Petra -- Aqaba. Time to snorkel before hopping the border to Eilat before it closes?
Friday: Flight from Eilat -- Tel Aviv
Saturday: Tel Aviv -- Haifa, checking out Caesarea on the way.
Sunday: Haifa -- Kibbutz Gazit (in Galilee; I have relatives who we'll be staying with)
Monday: Galilee
Tuesday: Galilee
Wednesday: Kibbutz Gazit -- Jerusalem
Thursday: Jerusalem
Friday: Jerusalem
Saturday: Jerusalem
Sunday: fly home

1) Does this seem like a good allocation of time? Jordan particularly feels like we're trying to cram in too much; anyone see a way to make this smoother? My husband loves archaeology, so I want to make sure we have enough time in Petra as that is a must-see for him.
2) We plan to rent a car in Jordan and drive. My rationale is that we'll want to stop in Madaba, Mt. Nebo, Baptism Site, and the Dead Sea on our way to Petra. Would hiring a taxi for the day be more cost effective or does driving seem reasonable?
3) Is there a night bus from Eilat -- Tel Aviv? We're planning to go to the border in time to get through before it closes at 8 p.m. Rather than waiting until morning for a flight, it would be nice to just hop a night bus to save a bit of travel time.
4) Yes, I know we'll be jet lagged getting into Amman at 3 a.m. However, we have almost a full day layover in Rome, so we'll be somewhat adjusted to the new time zone.

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Mon, 02 Mar 2015 15:13:36 +0000

Hi, interesting trip.

I think a day and a half in Petra is about the minimum so that should be ok - the evening you arrive see if you can do the Petra By Night visit which is the best way for your first trip into the Siq.

For your first Thursday I assume you mean Wadi Rum to Aqaba rather than Petra, but regardless I wouldn't spend too much effort in Aqaba unless you are mad keen on snorkelling - it's a bit hum drum so you may be better to get over the border.

Speaking of which that will be hard work. Israeli border control needs to be secure, but it is also made unpleasant and unnecessarily so. At least your experience will be less brutish than Palestinians crossing, but allocate lots of time.

I'm not the right person to advise - but make sure your travel plans to TA around the Friday-Saturday will not be totally disrupted by the Sabbath where things will come to a halt and travel and sightseeing is more complicated.

Again you should account for Friday prayers in occupied east Jerusalem and re any visits to the Dome of the Rock, and also again for the Jewish sabbath.

And personally I'd spend another day in TA over Jerusalem. As the old Jewish grandmother I overheard in Virgin Megastore in TA said to the American fresh off the boat who asked her, 'What is the difference between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv?' - 'Jerusalem is - boring! Tel Aviv is LIFE!'. She was right.

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Thu, 03 Mar 2016 01:01:52 +0000

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