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School Trips to Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea

Flat orange sand runs to a broad sandstone massif under a deep blue sky.

Explore Petra’s rock-cut city, Wadi Rum’s desert and the Dead Sea on a private school trip to Jordan. Choose an itinerary focused on water and landscapes, outdoor fieldcraft, or history and living culture.

In 2026, school trips to Jordan cost $2,535 to $2,910 per student for seven to eight days, excluding international airfare.

No commitment, and no sales call unless you ask for one.

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per student across the three sample itineraries
$2,535–$2,910
three sample itineraries
7–8 days
built around your dates, curriculum and budget
Custom school trips
for every 8 paying students
1 free teacher spot
Rustic Pathways has operated student travel programs
Since 1983
Rustic Pathways · 6082 Pinecone Drive, Mentor, OH 44060 · +1 (440) 975-9691 · groups@rusticpathways.com · rusticpathways.com Student travel programs since 1983.

Compare school trips to Jordan

Compare three itineraries of seven to eight days: a Petra, Wadi Rum and Dead Sea route, a more active trip with two Petra days, or a history and culture route through Jordan’s ancient cities. Each itinerary shows its price, overnight stops and daily activities.

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Compare the three itineraries side by side
ItineraryJordan: Petra, Desert and the Dead SeaJordan: Petra Trails and Desert FieldcraftJordan: Living Culture and Ancient Cities
Length8 days8 days7 days
Starting priceFrom $2,910From $2,875From $2,535
Learning focusGeography · Environmental Science · History · Cultural InterpretationOutdoor Education · Earth Science · Archaeology · GeographyHistory · Cultural Studies · Archaeology · Geography
RouteAmman · Jerash · Madaba · Mount Nebo · Petra · Wadi Rum · Dead SeaAmman · Little Petra · Petra · Wadi Rum · MadabaAmman · Jerash · Madaba · Mount Nebo · Petra · Dead Sea
Overnight basesHotel in Amman (2) · Hotel in Wadi Musa (2) · Camp in Wadi Rum (1) · Hotel at the Dead Sea (2)Hotel in Amman (1) · Hotel in Wadi Musa (3) · Camp in Wadi Rum (2) · Hotel in Madaba (1)Hotel in Amman (3) · Hotel in Wadi Musa (2) · Hotel at the Dead Sea (1)
Physical profile5 low · 3 moderate4 low · 3 moderate · 1 high4 low · 3 moderate
On-program flightsNone. The group flies into and out of Amman.None. The group flies into and out of Amman.None. The group flies into and out of Amman.
Wadi Rum nightsOne camp nightTwo camp nightsNo camp night
Best forThe complete first visit, with a recovery day and a science day built in.The active option: two Petra entry days and a full desert day, without packing every morning.A seven-day cultural program with fewer bases and more time with modern Jordan.
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  1. Amman · Nights 1 to 2; welcome dinner and a cooking or food-culture workshop
  2. Jerash · Day 2 with a licensed guide, an hour north of Amman and back the same afternoon
  3. Madaba · Day 3 visit to the mosaic map and Mount Nebo on the way south
  4. Petra and Wadi Musa · Nights 3 to 4; a full day through the Siq and the main valley
  5. Wadi Rum · Night 5 at a Bedouin-hosted camp; a 4x4 circuit and sky observation
  6. Dead Sea · Nights 6 to 7; the water study, an optional float and the farewell presentations
Eight days: two nights in Amman with a day at Jerash, a transfer south past Madaba and Mount Nebo to two nights at Petra, one night at a Wadi Rum camp, and two nights at the Dead Sea.
  1. Amman · Night 1; arrival, orientation and an equipment check
  2. Petra and Wadi Musa · Nights 2 to 4; Little Petra on arrival, then two consecutive Petra days
  3. Wadi Rum · Nights 5 to 6; a 4x4 circuit, a guided desert walk and a night of stargazing
  4. Madaba · Night 7; a mosaic visit or artisan demonstration and the final presentations
Eight days: one night in Amman, three nights at Petra with two consecutive entry days, two nights at a Wadi Rum camp, and a last night in Madaba.
  1. Amman · Nights 1 to 3; the Citadel, the Roman Theatre and a cooking or calligraphy workshop
  2. Jerash · Day 3; each student investigates one building or public function
  3. Madaba · Day 4 visit to the mosaic map and Mount Nebo on the way south
  4. Petra and Wadi Musa · Nights 4 to 5; an entire day at Petra
  5. Dead Sea · Night 6; a salinity experiment, an optional float and the farewell presentations
Seven days: three nights in Amman with the Citadel, a workshop and a day at Jerash, a transfer south past Madaba to two nights at Petra, and a last night at the Dead Sea.
A narrow sandstone canyon opens to sunlight, its walls curving in from both sides. Jordan · Water, landscape and cultural interpretation 8 days · From $2,910

Jordan: Petra, Desert and the Dead Sea

Eight days and seven nights on the ground, with international flights outside the day count. Students move north to south from Amman and Jerash through Madaba to a full day at Petra, one night at a Bedouin-hosted camp in Wadi Rum, and two nights at the Dead Sea, where the week ends with a water study and their own presentations.

Choose this program
10+ studentsGeography · Environmental Science · History · Cultural Interpretation

The route connects Amman, Jerash, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Petra, Wadi Rum, and Dead Sea.

  1. Hotel in Amman2 nights
  2. Hotel in Wadi Musa2 nights
  3. Camp in Wadi Rum1 night
  4. Hotel at the Dead Sea2 nights

Your eight-day itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Arrival in Amman

    The group lands at Queen Alia International Airport, meets the team and transfers to Amman. A short neighborhood orientation runs if the arrival time allows, and the welcome dinner carries a practical briefing and a first few words of Arabic.

    MorningArrive at Queen Alia International Airport, meet the team and transfer to Amman.
    AfternoonCheck in, rest, and a short neighborhood orientation if arrival allows.
    EveningWelcome dinner, a practical briefing and introductory Arabic. Over the table, the first thing to notice: where did the water in your glass come from?
    Route
    Queen Alia International Airport to the hotel in Amman.
    Travel
    Private transfer from the airport, about 45 to 75 minutes.
    Overnight
    Program-approved hotel in Amman, the first of two nights.
    Meals
    Dinner. Earlier meals depend on the arrival flight.
    Physical demand
    Low effort; light walking.
    Learning outcome
    Students frame three questions about how people live with limited water, before they have seen any of the answers.
  2. Day 2

    Jerash, then a kitchen in Amman

    A licensed guide leads the group through Jerash, comparing its streets, public spaces and water infrastructure. Back in Amman the afternoon is a prearranged cooking or food-culture workshop with a local host, with a restaurant-led equivalent if the preferred host is unavailable, and the evening maps what an ancient city and a modern one each need.

    MorningVisit Jerash with a licensed guide, comparing streets, public spaces and water infrastructure.
    AfternoonReturn to Amman for a prearranged cooking or food-culture workshop with a local host.
    EveningOver dinner each student maps the needs of the ancient city against the modern one. Which of Jerash's problems does Amman still have?
    Route
    Amman to Jerash and back, then the workshop in the city.
    Travel
    Coach, about an hour each way plus city traffic.
    Overnight
    Program-approved hotel in Amman, the second night.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water provided each day.
    Physical demand
    Moderate effort; three to five kilometers on uneven ground at Jerash.
    Learning outcome
    Students compare Jerash and modern Amman as urban societies, using material evidence rather than treating modern Jordan as ancient history.
    Customization
    The cooking or food-culture workshop is prearranged with a local host; a restaurant-led equivalent stands in if the preferred host is unavailable.
  3. Day 3

    Madaba's map and the road south

    After checking out, the group visits Madaba's mosaic map and Mount Nebo, then takes the highway south to Wadi Musa. It is deliberately a transfer day, with lunch on the way, time to settle in and a short Petra preparation session after dinner.

    MorningCheck out, then visit Madaba's mosaic map and Mount Nebo.
    AfternoonLunch, then the highway route south to Wadi Musa; settle in and rest.
    EveningA short Petra preparation session follows dinner. Held over from Madaba: who was that map made for, and what did its maker leave out?
    Route
    Amman to Madaba and Mount Nebo, then south to Wadi Musa beside Petra.
    Travel
    Coach, about 4 to 5 hours of driving in total plus the two visits.
    Overnight
    Program-approved hotel in Wadi Musa, the first of two nights.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water provided each day.
    Physical demand
    Low effort; a transfer day by design, with short walks at the two sites.
    Learning outcome
    Students evaluate the Madaba map and the monuments at Mount Nebo as records shaped by belief and purpose.
  4. Day 4

    Petra in depth

    An early guided walk through the Siq reaches the Treasury, where the group examines water channels, rock-cut architecture and trade routes. The afternoon continues through the central archaeological area with a picnic lunch, shade breaks and differentiated walking groups, and the evening is for recovery and an evidence-based sketch of the water system.

    MorningEarly guided walk through the Siq to the Treasury, examining channels, rock-cut architecture and trade routes.
    AfternoonContinue through the central archaeological area with a picnic lunch, shade breaks and differentiated walking groups.
    EveningHotel dinner and recovery, then each student builds an evidence-based water-system sketch. Which channel did you actually see, and which are you inferring?
    Route
    Wadi Musa through the Siq to the Treasury and the central archaeological area, then back.
    Travel
    On foot, with a short transfer to the gate.
    Overnight
    Program-approved hotel in Wadi Musa, the second night.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water provided each day.
    Physical demand
    Moderate effort; six to nine kilometers on uneven surfaces, with a shorter supervised route available.
    Learning outcome
    Students explain how Nabataean engineering supported a settlement in a dry valley, from their own water-system sketch.
    Customization
    The extra steep climbs are never a core requirement; walking groups are set by the guides on the day.
  5. Day 5

    Wadi Rum with its guides

    The group drives south into the protected area and meets the local desert guides who host the day. After lunch a three- to four-hour 4x4 excursion stops for short guided walks and geology observation, with no exposed rock-bridge scrambling, and the evening is a hosted dinner and guided sky observation if conditions allow.

    MorningDrive south after breakfast, enter the protected area and meet the local desert guides.
    AfternoonLunch, then a three- to four-hour 4x4 excursion with short guided walks and geology stops.
    EveningA hosted dinner at the camp and guided sky observation if conditions allow. Alongside the hosts, one thing to ask: what does a visitor's money change here, and what does it wear away?
    Route
    Wadi Musa south to the Wadi Rum protected area and its camp.
    Travel
    Coach, about two hours, then local 4x4 vehicles on rough tracks.
    Overnight
    Bedouin-hosted camp in Wadi Rum, in private en-suite tent units.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water provided each day.
    Physical demand
    Moderate effort; short walks and driving on rough tracks, with no exposed scrambling.
    Learning outcome
    Students connect erosion, tourism and local livelihoods through what they observed and what their hosts told them.
  6. Day 6

    Desert to Dead Sea

    A short landscape observation after breakfast, then the group leaves camp without a pre-dawn activity and drives to the Dead Sea with lunch and comfort stops. The afternoon is check-in and recovery, and the evening carries a simple briefing for the next day's water study.

    MorningBreakfast and a short landscape observation, then depart camp.
    AfternoonDrive to the Dead Sea with lunch and comfort stops; check in and recover.
    EveningAfter dinner, a simple briefing for tomorrow's water study. From the road: at what point did the land start dropping, and what changed with it?
    Route
    Wadi Rum north to the Dead Sea.
    Travel
    Local 4x4 out of the protected area, then coach, about 4 to 5 hours with breaks.
    Overnight
    Program-approved hotel at the Dead Sea, the first of two nights.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water provided each day.
    Physical demand
    Low effort; a transfer day.
    Learning outcome
    Students trace the changes in elevation and land use they saw between the desert and the Dead Sea.
  7. Day 7

    Salinity, a float, and presentations

    A Program Leader facilitates a freshwater and saltwater density experiment, compared with sourced regional water data. The afternoon offers an optional supervised float in a managed hotel bathing area with a dry-land alternative and time to prepare, and the farewell dinner closes with presentations connecting Petra, the desert and present-day water choices.

    MorningA leader-facilitated freshwater and saltwater density experiment, compared with sourced regional water data.
    AfternoonOptional supervised float in a managed hotel bathing area, a dry-land alternative, and time to prepare group presentations.
    EveningFarewell dinner and the presentations, each group connecting Petra, the desert and present-day water choices. Then the closing question: what did the experiment prove, and what did the lake prove?
    Route
    The hotel and its managed bathing area.
    Travel
    Little driving.
    Overnight
    Program-approved hotel at the Dead Sea, the second night.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water provided each day.
    Physical demand
    Low effort; the float is optional and supervised.
    Learning outcome
    Students distinguish a classroom model from evidence about a real environmental system.
    Customization
    Swimming and float participation is optional; a dry-land science alternative runs for everyone who stays on shore.
  8. Day 8

    Departure via Amman airport

    Breakfast and final reflections, then the transfer to Queen Alia International Airport according to the flight time, with a packed or airport meal if the group is still under program care.

    MorningBreakfast and final reflections, then the transfer to the airport according to flight time.
    AfternoonDeparture arrangements, with a packed or airport meal if still under program care.
    EveningOnward travel.
    Route
    Dead Sea hotel to Queen Alia International Airport.
    Travel
    Private airport transfer, about 60 to 90 minutes, with airline check-in time allowed separately.
    Overnight
    None; the group flies home.
    Meals
    Breakfast, with a packed meal if the flight time needs one.
    Physical demand
    Low effort.
    Learning outcome
    Students identify one claim they can substantiate and one question the week left unanswered.
A wide rock-cut facade with columns and an urn stands above a bare sandy terrace. Jordan · Active learning on foot and in the desert 8 days · From $2,875

Jordan: Petra Trails and Desert Fieldcraft

Eight days and seven nights on the ground, with international flights outside the day count. Students spend three nights beside Petra with two consecutive entry days at a challenge level a guide has assessed, two nights at a Bedouin-hosted camp in Wadi Rum with a full field day, and a last night in Madaba before flying home from Amman.

Choose this program
10+ studentsOutdoor Education · Earth Science · Archaeology · Geography

The route connects Amman, Little Petra, Petra, Wadi Rum, and Madaba.

  1. Hotel in Amman1 night
  2. Hotel in Wadi Musa3 nights
  3. Camp in Wadi Rum2 nights
  4. Hotel in Madaba1 night

Your eight-day itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Arrival and equipment check

    The group lands at Queen Alia International Airport and transfers to Amman to rest, with a room check and a short orientation only if the arrival permits. Dinner doubles as an equipment check with the leaders.

    MorningArrive at Queen Alia International Airport and transfer to Amman.
    AfternoonRest, a room check and a short orientation only if arrival permits.
    EveningDinner doubles as an equipment check with the leaders, boots and water bottles on the table. What is the farthest you have walked in a day, and how do you know?
    Route
    Queen Alia International Airport to the hotel in Amman.
    Travel
    Private transfer from the airport, about 45 to 75 minutes.
    Overnight
    Program-approved hotel in Amman, one night.
    Meals
    Dinner. Earlier meals depend on the arrival flight.
    Physical demand
    Low effort.
    Learning outcome
    Students set personal goals and realistic walking expectations for the group.
  2. Day 2

    South to Petra, via Little Petra

    The group checks out and drives toward Wadi Musa with a comfort stop, arriving for lunch. If the timing permits, a short guided orientation walk takes in Little Petra, and the evening is a route-planning workshop built on the next day's map.

    MorningCheck out and drive toward Wadi Musa with a comfort stop.
    AfternoonArrive for lunch and settle in; a short guided orientation walk at Little Petra if timing permits.
    EveningA route-planning workshop follows dinner, tomorrow's map spread out. Where on this map does the distance stop being the hard part?
    Route
    Amman south to Wadi Musa, with Little Petra nearby.
    Travel
    Coach, around 3 to 4 hours.
    Overnight
    Program-approved hotel in Wadi Musa, the first of three nights.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water provided each day.
    Physical demand
    Low effort; one to three kilometers of walking and no ticketed Petra visit today.
    Learning outcome
    Students read terrain from a map and separate distance from difficulty.
  3. Day 3

    Petra: water and trade

    The first day of a two-day Petra ticket is a guided walk through the Siq to the Treasury and the main-valley archaeology. After a picnic lunch students take measured observations of shade, route gradients and historic water channels, and the group returns before anyone is exhausted, with foot care and a field-note review after dinner.

    MorningFirst day of a two-day Petra ticket: guided Siq, Treasury and main-valley archaeology.
    AfternoonPicnic lunch, then measured observations of shade, route gradients and historic water channels; return before exhaustion.
    EveningFoot care and a field-note review after dinner. Reading the notes back: which of your measurements would a Nabataean engineer have cared about?
    Route
    Wadi Musa through the Siq to the Treasury and the main valley, then back.
    Travel
    On foot, with a short transfer to the gate.
    Overnight
    Program-approved hotel in Wadi Musa, the second night.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water provided each day.
    Physical demand
    Moderate effort; six to nine kilometers of uneven walking, with a shortened supervised route available.
    Learning outcome
    Students use observation to link environment and settlement at Petra.
  4. Day 4

    Petra: choose the challenge

    On the second consecutive entry day the group divides on the guides' assessment of weather and capacity.

    Fit students take a guided approach to the Monastery while a second supervised group follows a gentler main-valley route, and both return for a late lunch, recovery and small-group field reports in the evening. Petra by Night is never compulsory.

    MorningSecond consecutive entry day. Fit students take a guided Monastery approach after a weather and capacity assessment; a second supervised group follows a gentler main-valley route.
    AfternoonReturn for a late lunch and recovery, with pool or quiet time where facilities allow.
    EveningSmall-group field reports after dinner, each group describing its route to the other. What did the two groups see that only their route could show?
    Route
    Wadi Musa into Petra a second time, on one of two guided routes.
    Travel
    On foot, with a short transfer to the gate.
    Overnight
    Program-approved hotel in Wadi Musa, the third night.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water provided each day.
    Physical demand
    High effort on the Monastery approach, ten to fourteen kilometers with many steps; the easier route is four to six kilometers.
    Learning outcome
    Students explain why two routes can reach the same learning outcome at different exertion.
    Customization
    Two local guides are budgeted for the split, so both groups keep a licensed guide; Petra by Night is never compulsory.
  5. Day 5

    Into Wadi Rum

    After breakfast the group drives to Wadi Rum, transfers to the camp and meets the guides who host the two desert days. Lunch is followed by a locally guided 4x4 landscape circuit with short interpretive stops, and dinner by a hosted conversation about guiding work and desert life, arranged in advance.

    MorningBreakfast and the drive to Wadi Rum; transfer to camp and meet the guides.
    AfternoonLunch, then a locally guided 4x4 landscape circuit with short interpretive stops.
    EveningA hosted conversation about guiding work and desert life follows dinner, arranged in advance with the camp's guides. Sitting with them: what does a guide read in this landscape that a visitor walks straight past?
    Route
    Wadi Musa south to the Wadi Rum protected area and its camp.
    Travel
    Coach, about two hours, then local 4x4 vehicles on rough tracks.
    Overnight
    Bedouin-hosted camp in Wadi Rum, in private en-suite tent units, the first of two nights.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water provided each day.
    Physical demand
    Moderate effort; rough-track vehicle activity and short stops.
    Learning outcome
    Students relate the desert landscape to the people who work in it.
  6. Day 6

    A full desert field day

    An early guided walk of four to six kilometers, adjusted for heat, works on navigation and shade observation. The group rests at camp through the warmest hours and runs a practical low-impact camping and water-use exercise, and the night ends with stargazing if the skies allow, or a sheltered astronomy activity if they do not.

    MorningEarly guided walk of about four to six kilometers, adjusted for heat, with navigation and shade observations.
    AfternoonCamp lunch and rest during the warmest hours, then a practical low-impact camping and water-use exercise.
    EveningStargazing after dinner if the skies allow, or a sheltered astronomy activity if they are poor. Under the sky or the canvas: how much water did the group use today, and where did it go?
    Route
    On foot from the camp and back.
    Travel
    None beyond the walk; the group stays at camp.
    Overnight
    Bedouin-hosted camp in Wadi Rum, the second night.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water provided each day.
    Physical demand
    Moderate effort; two to three hours of easy-to-moderate walking, with no survival challenge and no exposed scrambling.
    Learning outcome
    Students practice cooperative route choices and low-impact behavior outdoors.
    Customization
    The walk length is set on the day for heat and the group; the astronomy activity has a sheltered version.
  7. Day 7

    North to Madaba

    The group leaves after breakfast and drives north with planned comfort and lunch stops. After checking in at Madaba there is a short mosaic visit or a contracted artisan demonstration, depending on the arrival time, and the final dinner closes with student presentations.

    MorningDepart after breakfast and drive north with planned comfort and lunch stops.
    AfternoonCheck in at Madaba, then a short mosaic visit or a contracted artisan demonstration, according to arrival time.
    EveningThe final dinner closes with student presentations. Before they start, one comparison to hold: in Petra the stone was carved away; in Madaba it was laid piece by piece. What does each method let its maker say?
    Route
    Wadi Rum north to Madaba.
    Travel
    Local 4x4 out of the protected area, then coach, about 4 to 5 hours.
    Overnight
    Program-approved hotel in Madaba, one night.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water provided each day.
    Physical demand
    Low effort; a transfer day with a short town walk.
    Learning outcome
    Students compare how stone tells a story at Petra and at Madaba.
    Customization
    The mosaic visit or artisan demonstration depends on the arrival time.
  8. Day 8

    Departure from Madaba

    Breakfast and the airport transfer, with meals provided while the group is still in program care.

    MorningBreakfast and the airport transfer.
    AfternoonTravel arrangements, with a meal provided while still in program care.
    EveningOnward travel.
    Route
    Madaba hotel to Queen Alia International Airport.
    Travel
    Private airport transfer, about 30 to 45 minutes, plus a check-in allowance.
    Overnight
    None; the group flies home.
    Meals
    Breakfast, with a packed meal if the flight time needs one.
    Physical demand
    Low effort.
    Learning outcome
    Students present one field observation backed by a photograph or sketch.
A curved colonnade of stone columns encloses a paved oval plaza under wispy cloud. Jordan · Living culture beside ancient cities 7 days · From $2,535

Jordan: Living Culture and Ancient Cities

Seven days and six nights on the ground, with international flights outside the day count.

Students spend three nights in Amman with the Citadel, a workshop with a contracted educator and a full day at Jerash, transfer south past Madaba to two nights beside Petra, and finish with a night at the Dead Sea. Wadi Rum is left out on purpose.

Choose this program
10+ studentsHistory · Cultural Studies · Archaeology · Geography

The route connects Amman, Jerash, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Petra, and Dead Sea.

  1. Hotel in Amman3 nights
  2. Hotel in Wadi Musa2 nights
  3. Hotel at the Dead Sea1 night

Your seven-day itinerary

  1. Day 1

    First evening in Amman

    The group lands at Queen Alia International Airport and transfers to the hotel to check in and rest, with a short neighborhood introduction if practical. The welcome dinner sets the expectations for respectful interviews and photography during the week.

    MorningArrival at Queen Alia International Airport and the group transfer.
    AfternoonHotel check-in and rest, with a short neighborhood introduction if practical.
    EveningWelcome dinner and the week's expectations for respectful interviews and photography. Before the first conversation: what would you want a visitor to ask you about where you live?
    Route
    Queen Alia International Airport to the hotel in Amman.
    Travel
    Private transfer from the airport, about 45 to 75 minutes.
    Overnight
    Program-approved hotel in Amman, the first of three nights.
    Meals
    Dinner. Earlier meals depend on the arrival flight.
    Physical demand
    Low effort.
    Learning outcome
    Students prepare to learn from people without treating hosts as exhibits.
  2. Day 2

    The Citadel and a workshop

    A licensed guide leads the morning at the Citadel and the Roman Theatre. After lunch a contracted educator runs a cooking or calligraphy workshop, with contemporary life discussed alongside the heritage, and the evening is a student-led comparison of the city's public spaces.

    MorningVisit the Citadel and the Roman Theatre with a licensed guide.
    AfternoonLunch, then a cooking or calligraphy workshop with a contracted educator, discussing contemporary life alongside heritage.
    EveningA student-led comparison of the day's public spaces after dinner. Set the theatre beside the workshop kitchen: which one told you more about who lives here now?
    Route
    The Citadel and the Roman Theatre, then the workshop venue.
    Travel
    City transfers of 20 to 45 minutes each, depending on traffic.
    Overnight
    Program-approved hotel in Amman, the second night.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water provided each day.
    Physical demand
    Moderate effort; three to five kilometers and stairs.
    Learning outcome
    Students compare archaeological interpretation with a living person's perspective.
    Customization
    The workshop is cooking or calligraphy with a contracted educator; a local educator-led alternative keeps the objective if a host is unavailable.
  3. Day 3

    Jerash with time to understand it

    At Jerash each student investigates one allocated building or public function with the guide's help. After lunch the group returns to Amman for supervised market observation and time to assemble field notes, and the evening runs mini-presentations on the evidence for everyday life.

    MorningGuided visit to Jerash; each student investigates an allocated building or public function.
    AfternoonLunch and the return to Amman, then supervised market observation and time to assemble field notes.
    EveningMini-presentations on the evidence for everyday life follow dinner. One rule for each presenter: name the feature you saw before you say what it means.
    Route
    Amman to Jerash and back, then a market in the city.
    Travel
    Coach, about an hour each way.
    Overnight
    Program-approved hotel in Amman, the third night.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water provided each day.
    Physical demand
    Moderate effort; three to five kilometers of uneven-site walking.
    Learning outcome
    Students make a limited historical claim supported by an observed feature at Jerash.
  4. Day 4

    Madaba, Mount Nebo and the drive to Petra

    After checking out the group visits Madaba's mosaic map and Mount Nebo, then transfers south to Wadi Musa after lunch with time to rest. No castle stop is added to the drive, and the evening is a short orientation to Nabataean history.

    MorningCheck out and visit Madaba's mosaic map and Mount Nebo.
    AfternoonLunch and the southbound transfer to Wadi Musa; check in with time to rest.
    EveningA short orientation to Nabataean history follows dinner. Carried down from Mount Nebo: three groups have told the story of that view, and which of them did the mosaic believe?
    Route
    Amman to Madaba and Mount Nebo, then south to Wadi Musa beside Petra.
    Travel
    Coach, about 4 to 5 hours of driving plus the visits, with no additional castle stop.
    Overnight
    Program-approved hotel in Wadi Musa, the first of two nights.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water provided each day.
    Physical demand
    Low effort; a transfer day with short walks at the two sites.
    Learning outcome
    Students distinguish religious tradition, archaeological evidence and modern interpretation.
  5. Day 5

    Petra, the whole day

    An early guided entry through the Siq reaches the Treasury and the main archaeological area.

    After lunch the group takes shade breaks and a choice of supervised walk lengths while examining the evidence for trade and water management, and the evening is a creative interpretation workshop built on the students' own sketches. No horse ride is required.

    MorningEarly guided entry through the Siq to the Treasury and the main archaeological area.
    AfternoonLunch, shade breaks and a choice of supervised walk lengths; examine the evidence for trade and water management.
    EveningA creative interpretation workshop after dinner, built on each student's own sketches. The test for every drawing: where does the evidence stop and the imagination start?
    Route
    Wadi Musa through the Siq to the Treasury and the main archaeological area, then back.
    Travel
    On foot, with a short transfer to the gate.
    Overnight
    Program-approved hotel in Wadi Musa, the second night.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water provided each day.
    Physical demand
    Moderate effort; six to nine kilometers on the core route, with a shorter supported option.
    Learning outcome
    Students communicate an archaeological explanation without inventing missing evidence.
    Customization
    Walk lengths are supervised choices; no horse ride is required.
  6. Day 6

    The Dead Sea: water and reflection

    The group leaves after breakfast for the Dead Sea with a comfort stop. After lunch and check-in there is a simple salinity experiment, an optional supervised float in the hotel area and time to recover, and the farewell dinner closes with presentations comparing three approaches to interpreting the past.

    MorningDepart after breakfast for the Dead Sea, with a comfort stop.
    AfternoonLunch and check-in, then a simple salinity experiment, an optional supervised float in the hotel area and recovery.
    EveningFarewell dinner and presentations comparing three approaches to interpreting the past. The last thing on the table: which of the three would you trust with your own story?
    Route
    Wadi Musa north to the Dead Sea.
    Travel
    Coach, about 3 to 4 hours with a comfort stop.
    Overnight
    Program-approved hotel at the Dead Sea, one night.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, with drinking water provided each day.
    Physical demand
    Low effort after the drive; the float is optional and supervised.
    Learning outcome
    Students connect place-based history with present-day environmental questions.
    Customization
    The float is optional, supervised and confined to a managed hotel bathing area; a dry-land science alternative runs alongside it.
  7. Day 7

    Departure from the Dead Sea

    Breakfast and the transfer to Queen Alia International Airport, with a meal included if the group is still in program care.

    MorningBreakfast and the transfer to the airport.
    AfternoonDeparture arrangements, with a meal included if still in care.
    EveningOnward travel.
    Route
    Dead Sea hotel to Queen Alia International Airport.
    Travel
    Private airport transfer, about 60 to 90 minutes, plus an airline check-in allowance.
    Overnight
    None; the group flies home.
    Meals
    Breakfast, with a packed meal if the flight time needs one.
    Physical demand
    Low effort.
    Learning outcome
    Students articulate how the journey changed an initial assumption.
What applies across every itinerary
Groups and teachers
Groups start at ten students; smaller groups are considered on a case-by-case basis. One teacher's Program Tuition is free for every eight paying students.
Rooming
Students share rooms, separated by gender, each with their own bed, in hotels in Amman, Wadi Musa, Madaba and at the Dead Sea, and in private en-suite tent units at the Wadi Rum camp. Teachers get private rooms, at the camp too.
Price
Program Tuition doesn't cover flights to and from the program, travel insurance, medical insurance, or personal spending money.
Flights and documents
Groups book international flights themselves or ask Rustic Pathways to arrange them. Families arrange passports and any required entry authorizations with guidance from Rustic Pathways.
Supervision
Program Leaders lead scheduled activities, stay on site and are available overnight. The approved itinerary specifies any free time, and Program Leaders are present during it.
Effort
Low covers a transfer day with little walking, or an airport morning. Moderate is a Petra day of six to nine kilometers on uneven rock with shade breaks, or a guided desert walk of four to six kilometers.
Flexibility
Licensed local guides set the day's Petra and desert route. Heat, flash-flood closures and group ability override any advertised walk length, and the Amman and Jerash days can swap without restructuring anything.
Decision documents

How much does a school trip to Jordan cost?

A school trip to Jordan costs $2,535 to $2,910 per student for seven to eight days, or approximately $359 to $364 per day, excluding international airfare. Program Tuition covers lodging, meals from the welcome dinner through departure breakfast, ground transport, licensed guides, Petra admission and the activities listed in your itinerary.

Schools receive one complimentary Program Tuition place for every eight paying students. Each group receives a quote based on its dates, size and route.

$2,535 to $2,910

per student across the sample itineraries, excluding international airfare.

7 to 8 days

how long each of the three Jordan itineraries runs on the ground.

Group quote

every school receives its own, built on dates, group size and route.

What the price includes
IncludedWhat it covers
TravelHotels in Amman, Wadi Musa, Madaba and at the Dead Sea for every program night, with separate beds in shared rooms, and private en-suite tent units at the Wadi Rum camp; meals from the welcome dinner through the departure breakfast, drinking water, airport transfers, a full-size coach with a driver, and customary tips.
ActivitiesLicensed guides throughout, with a second guide on the split-route Petra day, Petra admission on every route, listed site entries and workshop materials, the 4x4 desert circuits at Wadi Rum, and the group's entry visa, confirmed by nationality in the proposal.
Staff and supportAt least two trained Program Leaders, including both a male and a female leader, pre-departure planning, and school documentation. Enrolled families receive a 24/7 emergency number for use during programs and travel days.
Community donationsRequired by a service project, paid by Rustic Pathways and never collected from students.
ChaperonesOne complimentary Program Tuition place per eight paying students. Chaperone airfare and insurance are separate.

Not included: International airfare, travel insurance, medical insurance, personal spending, passport fees, and vaccinations.

What changes the price?
EffectFactor
raisesNights at the Dead Sea, the most expensive base on any of these routes, which is why the two-night Dead Sea finish prices above the one-night one
raisesReligious holiday weeks, when hotel and camp rates step up and site hours change
raisesChaperone places beyond the complimentary allowance add to the group total
lowersLarger groups spread fixed coach and guide costs across more students
raisesLonger trips add lodging and meals; route choices also affect the daily rate

Payment and cancellation

Installment plans are available. Schools pay as a group, or families pay monthly under the current enrollment terms.

Families can enroll directly and use monthly installments, or the school can pay as a group.
Request Jordan pricing

What do students learn on a Jordan school trip?

Students study Jordan’s history, culture, landscapes, and communities through Jerash, Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea.

  • Geography and Environmental Science

    Compare ancient water systems at Jerash and Petra with modern Amman, then test freshwater and saltwater density at the Dead Sea.

    How do people build cities where water is scarce?

    Jordan: Petra, Desert and the Dead Sea

  • Outdoor Education and Earth Science

    Read maps, navigate Petra at an assessed challenge level, and practice navigation, shade reading, and low-impact camping with desert guides in Wadi Rum.

    How can different routes through the same landscape teach the same lesson?

    Jordan: Petra Trails and Desert Fieldcraft

  • History and Cultural Studies

    Investigate Jerash, learn cooking or calligraphy with an educator in Amman, and compare Nabataean evidence with modern interpretations of Petra.

    What can living people tell us about a place that its ruins cannot?

    Jordan: Living Culture and Ancient Cities

A carved classical facade rises from the cliff face, seen from below against a strip of sky.

What makes Rustic Pathways educational trips different?

A Rustic Pathways school trip is one private group on your school's own dates, one bed per student, and an itinerary built to your curriculum.

  • 01No mixed groups. Just your school
  • 02One student, one bed
  • 03Your school picks the dates
  • 04Monthly payment plans available
  • 05No tipping; Rustic Pathways Program Tuition includes community donations
  • 06Aligned to your curriculum

How is safety managed on a school trip to Jordan?

Program Leaders manage local operations and safety procedures alongside school chaperones. Across 13 years of published incident data from every Rustic Pathways program worldwide, 87% of reports were GREEN, the minor tier where the group stays intact.

What the team plans for

  • Amman and the northern cities

    City traffic, stairs and stepped streets at the Citadel and the Roman Theatre, and uneven ground across the open site at Jerash, with licensed guides and early starts on hot days

  • Petra's trails and heat

    Six to nine kilometers on uneven rock through the Siq and the main valley, with shade breaks, water stops, differentiated walking groups and a shortened supervised route on every Petra day

  • Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea

    Rough-track 4x4 driving in checked local vehicles with seat belts, short guided desert walks adjusted for heat, and an optional supervised float confined to a managed hotel bathing area with a dry-land alternative

Level 3  Reconsider travel. The U.S. travel advisory cites terrorism and armed conflict. Routes avoid stops in the listed higher-risk areas but include Desert Highway transit. Jordan trips remain conditional on the school, its insurer and Rustic Pathways accepting the travel conditions and route.

Controls built into every trip

  • Written risk plan. A score above 5 requires new controls, reassessment or cancellation.

  • Two-Deep Leadership. A single staff member is never alone with students, and at least two trained Program Leaders, including both a male and a female leader, support each School Group Travel trip.

  • Assessed activity vendors. Licensed guides, coach and desert-vehicle providers, the Wadi Rum camp and the workshop hosts are reviewed before use, every one to two years, and on site when high risk.

  • Medical readiness. WFR coverage for remote programs and Dr. William R. Smith, who has led medical planning as Medical Director since 2015.

Is Rustic Pathways the right partner for your school trip to Jordan?

Rustic Pathways plans private Jordan school trips around your school’s dates and learning goals. Most groups have 10 or more students; smaller groups are assessed case by case.

Students travel with their own teachers and classmates. Individual students can explore open-enrollment teen travel programs to Jordan instead.

A strong fit

  • You want one private group with your dates and teachers.
  • You can travel for 7 to 8 program days, plus international flights.
  • You have 10 or more students.
  • You want licensed guides and daily walking distances confirmed before you commit.

Talk with us first

  • A student has significant mobility, medical, sensory, mental-health, dietary, or religious support needs.
  • You have fewer than 10 students.
  • You want the Petra Trails route. A guide assesses students before the second Petra day’s Monastery or gentler valley route.
  • You want the optional Dead Sea float. It is supervised, with a dry-land science alternative.

Probably not a fit

  • You want an open-enrollment trip for one student.
  • You want your group merged with another school.
  • You want one hotel throughout. Every itinerary changes base at least twice; two include a desert camp.
  • You want Aqaba, the Red Sea, or the desert castles on these sample itineraries.

Support planning starts early

Raise individual needs before booking so Rustic Pathways can assess possible route and support adaptations.

Questions about school trips to Jordan

The questions schools ask most before requesting a Jordan proposal, answered from the itineraries and prices on this page.

How much does a school trip to Jordan cost?

A school trip to Jordan costs $2,535 to $2,910 per student for seven to eight days in 2026, excluding international airfare.

Your dates, group size and route determine the quote. Most groups have 10 or more students, with one complimentary Program Tuition place for a teacher for every eight paying students.

When is the best time to take a school trip to Jordan?

The best time to take a school trip to Jordan is spring or autumn. Trip dates account for heat, religious holidays, and your school calendar. Petra visits start early, while Wadi Rum activities adapt to daily temperatures. All trips remain subject to the travel conditions and approvals in the safety section.

Matija Paunovski, Director, School Partnerships at Rustic Pathways.
Matija Paunovski develops custom group travel programs for European and Asian schools, partnering with educators from initial concept through final itinerary. Matija joined Rustic Pathways in 2012.

Have a question before you ask for a proposal?

Matija Paunovski answers Jordan school-trip questions with the school travel team.

Send your group size, dates, trip length, and what you want students to learn. I’ll reply within 1 business day and send you options within 48 hours, and no sales call unless you ask for one.

Start with your travel window

Start your Jordan trip proposal with your travel dates, group size, and learning goals. Receive a reply within 1 business day and customized trip options within 48 hours.

Or reach a person directly: +1 440-975-9691 or groups@rusticpathways.com

Have a school expeditions or tour operator quote?

Send it over. Rustic Pathways will show you what’s possible for the same budget.

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A rose-colored facade cut into the rock, a wedge of sky above its columns and small figures at its base.Red sand drifts toward a line of jagged mountains under a hazy sky.Blue shade canopies stand on a stony shore beside calm pale water, with hills across the bay.A domed stone hall stands at the end of a ruined colonnaded street on a hilltop.