Many cities around the world offer a tourist pass that provides free or discounted entry to attractions. Sometimes public transport is also included. Jordan tourism offers the Jordan Pass which covers many of the main attractions in the whole country.
It can often be complicated working out whether these passes are a good deal or not. Often it depends on which of the components are used. So is Jordan Pass worth it? Do the numbers stack up?
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What is the Jordan Pass?
The Jordan Pass is a combined tourist pass that once purchased gives free entry into many Jordan attractions.
There are three options available, and they are based on the number of days to be spent at Petra. It is valid for fourteen days after it is used at the first attraction.
Importantly, if you are staying in Jordan longer than three nights, the Jordan Pass will also cover the cost of your single entry Jordan tourist visa.
The Jordan Pass is not transferrable as the name on it must match your passport for the visa process. We were occasionally asked for ID to match the pass when we were entering other included attractions too.
What are the Jordan Pass Attractions?
There are more than 40 things to do in Jordan that are covered by the Jordan Pass, including four UNESCO World Heritage Listed sites. Some of the most popular Jordanian tourist sites worth visiting are:
- Petra
- Wadi Rum
- Amman Citadel
- Jerash
- Ajloun Castle
- Umm Qays
- Karak Castle
- Umm Ar-Rasas
- Jordan Archeological Museum
- Roman Theatre Amman
- and more
Where to buy the Jordan Pass?
The Jordan Pass can be purchased online from the dedicated website.
It is important to remember to buy and print your pass before you arrive in Jordan if you plan to use it for your tourist visa on arrival.
The Jordan Pass is well known at the immigration counter of Queen Alia International Airport.
We simply showed them the printed pass and they immediately knew what it was and how to use it. The process was smooth and quick.
(Note: there are some restrictions if you are entering the country in locations other than Queen Alia International Airport, make sure you read the FAQs on the website to be aware of them)
How Much Does the Jordan Pass Cost?
The three different options for the pass are priced as per below:
- Wanderer (1 day at Petra) – 70JD ($150AUD/$99USD)
- Explorer (2 days at Petra) – 75JD ($160AUD/$106USD)
- Expert (3 days at Petra) – 80JD ($172AUD/$113USD)
(Cost of Jordan Pass last checked and updated in May 2024)
How Much can I Save?
The big question! Really the savings that can be made depend on how many of the attractions you decide to go to.
The Jordan Pass is so competitively priced that it is possible to be ahead after using it just for your tourist visa and Petra entrance fees.
This was the case for me, so it was a no-brainer when I was considering buying the card.
The cost of a ticket for Petra makes up most of the cost of the Jordan Pass. For 1/2/3 day Petra entry it is 50/55/60JD.
Add in the visa-on-arrival cost of 40JD (my cost as an Australian) and I was already saving.
Depending on which country you are from, you may have different visa costs and requirements and of course visa information is always subject to change. Please ensure you check for the latest information with the Jordanian embassy before your trip.
Here is a breakdown of my costs and savings during my time in Jordan to give you an idea of what your savings could be like.
| Attraction | Cost |
|---|---|
| Visa (for Australian) | 40JD |
| Petra 2-day visit | 55JD |
| Umm Qays | 5JD |
| Ajloun Castle | 3JD |
| Jerash | 10JD |
| Wadi Rum | 5JD |
| Total Savings using Jordan Explorer Pass (75JD) | 43JD |
So even though I only visited a few of the 35 Jordan Pass included attractions, I saved 43JD ($80AUD/$61USD). Add in a few more attractions and the savings continue to grow.
So is the Jordan Pass Worth It?
Yes! I believe there would be very few people who would not be able to get their money’s worth out of the Jordan Pass.
I truly believe that many people will even be able to save much more than I did!
The only time that this pass could perhaps not make sense is if you cannot use it to cover your visa on arrival, and you are only staying for a short amount of time.
This pass is honestly the best value tourist pass I have come across and not only do I recommend it, I think you would be crazy not to get it!
Now that you know you want a Jordan Pass for your visit, here is some information on Petra to help you to decide how many days you would like to visit for. Here is my post all about my whole visit.
For more information on where to visit in Jordan, how to get around, suggestions on places to eat and places to stay, click here to read my suggested itinerary for the perfect two weeks in Jordan.
Also included are suggestions for transfers, day tours and even some ideas for longer tours if you prefer to take a tour instead of travelling independently.
Still looking for accommodation in Jordan?
Use the search box below to check hotels available for your dates.
Doing further travel in the Middle East? You might like these posts
Travel Diaries – United Arab Emirates
Travel Diaries – Oman
Travel Diaries – Dubai
TRAVEL PLANNING ESSENTIALS
Find flights – I always use Skyscanner as my starting point when searching for flights. One search will give many options including airlines I may not have thought of. This means I can find the best possible flights to suit my needs
Book accommodation – my go to is always Booking.com for the best places to stay. It’s not just hotels anymore, but hostels, apartments, B&Bs and more. I love that the bookings are usually cancellable, and that I can book now and pay later.
Hire a rental car – RentalCars.com is my go to here. It allows me to do just one search and it finds cars from many of the different supplies, so no checking multiple websites to compare.
Get travel insurance – you would have heard by now that saying “if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel”. If we’ve learnt anything from the last couple of years it should be how essential travel insurance is. I use CoverMore for my insurance.
Pick up an eSIM – I tried an eSIM on my last trip and it was fantastic. I set it up before I went so it was ready as soon as I landed, and I still had access to my home number for emergencies. Get your own eSIM at Airalo.
Book activities, tours & attractions – I use a few different websites for this. Viator and Get Your Guide tend to be the first places I look. In Asia, Klook often has more options, and in Australia it’s Experience Oz.
Manage your money – the best way to manage your different currencies is with an account from Wise. You can hold money in many different currencies, and use them with the ATM card or from your phone.
The Jordan Pass looks like great value for money! Iād love to go there
Jordan is definitely worth a visit. Would easily be in my top ten countries ever.
Jordan is on my list for this year, so this is very timely for me. Thank you for sharing, I think I will have to get it!
Thanks Addie. All I can say is “go!” It’s so worth the time and effort to visit, and there are absolutely no concerns about safety.
Hi,
The duration (1 day , 2 days or 3 days) entry for Petra are clearly stated for the 3 Jordan Pass.
What about for the other attractions?
For example, if I puchased the Jordan Wanderer Pass, i get to enter Petra for 1 day, but what about other attractions? how many days is it valid for ? ?
Hi Peter. You can find this information in the post š “The Jordan Pass is valid for fourteen days after it is used at the first attraction.”