September Trip

Welcome Lucy, While it wouldn't be an itinerary I would put together, since you haven't mentioned your interests and why you're spending so much time in certain places (IMHO 1 night at the Dead Sea is plenty and 4 nights in Aqaba is about 3 too many) it certainly is realistic.

You shouldn't have any problems getting from place to place. You can easily find taxis to take you where you want to go. Some of your trips can be arranged by your hotel in a shared taxi to keep your costs down.

I would not hire a car and a driver since you'll be at most places multiple days and considering that you're traveling on well traveled routes, getting a taxi will be easy.

Good luck.

Based on the nights given below am I to assume you'll be spending two weeks in Jordan? In which case, I might alter the itinerary slightly to include some other sites. However, this is just a suggestion from one traveler to another. You know your interests better than anyone:

Amman (4 nights) - Arrival, Jerash as a day trip, Umm Qais as a day trip, plus a day spent exploring the desert castles. In Amman, high recommendation for the Darat al Funun museum and the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts. (Note: if you are flexible, I'd suggest spending one of these nights in either Jerash or Irbid to make exploration of Jerash and Umm Qais easier).

Dead Sea (1 night) - plenty of time to take dip in the Dead Sea and enjoy a 5 star hotel.

Madaba (2 nights) - make this a base to explore Mount Nebo, Baptism Site, Madaba, Umm-Ar Rasas, and Mukawir. Madaba also has a couple nice restaurants which are decently priced.

Wadi Musa (3 nights) - exploring the surrounding area as you've already suggested.

Wadi Rum (1 night) - I'd suggest 2 nights if you are looking to do some serious hiking or deep Wadi Rum exploration. Otherwise, the 1 night is plenty of time for the Bedouin jeep tour experience.

Aqaba (3 nights) - Only this many nights if you are a scuba diver or snorkeler. Otherwise, 1 night is plenty.

To answer your question about some of the sites you may have missed, I worked them into the above suggestions. Um Ar-Rasas and the desert castles were two of the highlights or our trip and would do everything I could to see them. The floor mosaic at Um Ar-Rasas is breathtaking in its detail and its scale. And since it is off the tourist route, it is generally deserted. The desert castles are lovely in their austerity and seclusion. Personally, I was not a fan of the Jerash experience. It was little too touristy for us. The touts were also much more aggressive here than any of the other Jordan sites. Rather we much preferred Umm Qais.

Also regarding car rental, it is not that difficult to self drive around Jordan so long as you are not on a significant time crunch. The added flexibility of your own car is well worth the slight discomfort one may feel driving in a foreign country. Most of Jordan's sites of interest are well marked and with a halfway decent road map you'll be able to navigate without much trouble. Plus, as an added bonus, you get to interact with the people in ways you might not otherwise. Jordanians are incredibly friendly and are happy to offer directions and help out where they can.

Happy to answer any other questions you may have. We were in Jordan for two weeks in June and had a wonderful time. It is such a beautiful country and the people were great.

Hello All,
Wadi Rum: After a welcome tea at his house, Ayesh showed us the map of the desert, explaining all possibilities he could offer. Hiking, walking, jeep and camel tours. We had a jeep tour in the afternoon. Ayesh, born in desert, explained a lot and gave us all time to enjoy the place. After we went to the camp, which was like paradise. A marvelous spot in sunrise area, good tents, clean shower and bathrooms and above a all his fiendly bedouin staff. He took us uphill, to see the sunset, we got a delecious zarb meal and stayed around the fire, drinking tea and dancing. Ayesh is unbelievable friendly to everybody and we felt like family, together with the other guest. Next day we had another jeep tour in this amazing landscape. Ayesh and his brothers made our stay in desert unforgettable.I just can say; Go and experience by yourself. Highly recommended.
www.wadirumdiscovery.com

We had a fantastic trip to Jordan in April this year, here is out itinerary:

Day 1 Arrived in Queen Alia airport late afternoon. Transferred to Olive Branch near Jerash by airpor taxi. Transfer time 1hr 30 min. Cost 33JOD.

Day 2 Slow and relaxed visit to Jerash/ancient Gerasa site. You need to allow at least 4 hours to take in the whole site (entrance 7JOD). The guided tour (20JOD) takes 2 hours. Overnight at Olive Branch.

Day 3 Trip to Ajloun castle, Pella, Al Himma and Umm Quais. Overnight at Ajloun Cabins. Long day trip. Cost of taxi 55JOD. Entrance tickets around 5JOD.

Day 4 Morning hike in Ajloun reserve. Trip to Azraq via Desert Castles and the wetland reserve. Overnight in Azraq Lodge. Taxi 55 JOD.

Day 5 From Azraq to Madaba via the remaining Desert Castles and Mount Nebo. Visiting mosaics in Madaba. Cost of taxi 55JOD. Overnight in Madaba.

Day 6 Transfer from Madaba to Dead Sea via Hammamat Ma'in (1.30 hour) and the Dead Sea Panorama. Cost of taxi 30JOD. Overnight at Dead Sea hotel.

Day 7 Transfer from the Dead sea to Dana reserve via the Kings Highway and the Kerak Castle. Overnignt in Dana Guesthouse.. Cost of taxi 60 JOD.

Day 8 Hike from Dana to Feynan. Transfer of luggage about 40JOD. Overnight in Feynan lodge.

Day 9 Transfer from Feynan to Wadi Musa via Little Petra via a rarely used stunning route, 40JOD on a beaten up ancient pick up truck, but so worth it- views breathtaking (not for the faint-hearted though) Allow 30 min up to 1 hour for Little Petra. Overnight in Wadi Musa

Day 10 Petra. no need for transport

Day 11 Petra no need for transport

Day 12 From Wadi Musa to Wadi Rum. 1 hour 30 min cost of taxi 40 JOD. Overnight in Wadi Rum

Day 13 Wadi Rum to Aqaba Tala Bay. transfer time 45 min, cost 25 JOD. Overnight in Aqaba.

Day 14 Aqaba.

Day 15 Aqaba to Amman by coach- 4 hours, 8 JOD. Overnight in Amman.

Day 16 Early morning flight back home. Taxi to Airport 20 JOD.

You can do the Desert Castles in 1 day also, but I was quite pleased we stayed at Azraq Lodge.

I wish I could stay in some places longer: Dead Sea, Dana and Feynan were all great.

I was amazed by the variety and beauty of landscapes of this small country.

Maybe it's a pity you are completely skipping the north- it's so different, but also very beautiful. But it's your trip so do what seems like most fun to you, not to somebody else.

Have a great trip

Lucy
Your itenerary IS more than realistic. However, I agree, there is no need for the length of stay in Aqaba, or really Amman for that matter. The top two sites are Wadi Rum + Petra.

Enjoy your trip.

Some of your destinations are possible to get to by public transport, which is considerably cheaper than using a taxi, while for others, you should use the it.