In this article we tell you our trip to Jordan and Israel on our own. Despite the lack of knowledge we had about Israel and Jordan, especially in terms of security. We embarked on the adventure and went without an agency. That is to say, We organized everything, the three friends who went. So preparation and organization were key for everything to go well. In fact, we have prepared an article just with tips for traveling to Israel and Jordan which will come in handy if it's your first time.
Next, we detail the index of contents what you will find about our trip to Jordan and Israel.
Travel itinerary to Jordan and Israel
We leave from Gran Canaria, we made a stopover in Madrid and from Madrid we flew directly to Tel Aviv. We took the same route to return. The The airline we chose was the Israeli national airline EL AL and everything went well.. Below we will tell you where we did each of the 10 nights of our trip through Israel and Jordan.
- Tel Aviv (Israel) – Hayarkon Hostel
- Aqaba (Jordan) – Sea Beach Hotel
- Wadi Rum Desert (Jordan) – Oasis Bedouin Camp
- Petra / Wadi Musa (Jordan) – Sabaa Hotel
- Petra / Wadi Musa (Jordan) – Sabaa Hotel
- Arad, Dead Sea and Masada National Park (Israel) - Apartment Or Gani
- Jerusalem (Israel) – Alon Hotel
- Jerusalem (Israel) – Alon Hotel
- Tel Aviv (Israel) – Hayarkon Hostel
- Tel Aviv (Israel) – Hayarkon Hostel
For us, the itinerary carried out, both in times and in the places visited, has been perfect. Our conclusion is that We were able to see the most important things about Israel and Jordan in 10 days. In addition, without rushing and with time to swim in the Mediterranean Sea, Dead Sea and Red Sea. Of course, it is a trip for travelers, not for lying in the hammock. Also for leisure and enjoyment of local culture and gastronomy. Below we tell you our most important tips on what to see at each stop if you are traveling to Israel and Jordan on your own. Here we go!
What to see in Tel Aviv. Trip to Jordan and Israel
Tel Aviv is a super modern city, it reminded us of Berlin mixed with the California coast. Because? Because it is full of bars and has spectacular kilometer-long beaches that run from the new part to Jaffa (old part). You can't miss the following in Tel Aviv:
✔ Walk along the maritime avenue and swim in the Mediterranean
A highly recommended plan what to do in Tel Aviv center is giving a walk along the maritime avenue. You will see a healthy environment full of people walking, running, riding their bikes, walking their dogs, etc. In addition, there are bathing areas even for pets, beaches where bathing is not recommended and areas with hammocks suitable for bathing. We went in November and the water was cool and crystal clear.
✔ Guided tour of the ancient city of Jaffa
We recommend taking a free walking tour in which you pay the guide whatever you consider. In principle there are none in Spanish. Super recommended, since Jaffa has a lot of history. After the tour you can give yourself a walk through its streets and pier, all full of bars, restaurants and art shops. Many artists live in the old part of the city. Therefore, you will find various exhibitions and stores with artistic creations of different kinds.
✔ Carmel Market
Here, in addition to fruit and vegetables, you can find souvenirs and other gift items. The opening hours of the Carmel market It is from Sunday to Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 19:00 p.m. Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 16:00 p.m. Curiosity: on Friday afternoons before Shabbat and when it has closed, the different stalls leave fruit and vegetables that are very ripe and have not been sold available to passers-by so that anyone can take them.. This way, instead of throwing it away, others can use it.
✔ Local artists market Nachlat Binyamin
It is a few steps from the mCarmel Market. On the street Nachlat Binyamin different artist stands are set up. The well-known bar The Prince is also shown in the photo below. Highly recommended to have something in a good atmosphere.
✔ Go to bars in its different neighborhoods
There is a bar scene in practically any neighborhood. In Jaffa, as we said before, also in the entire artists' market area and surrounding areas of Carmel. Also in the Bograshov street and surrounding areas you will find delicious places to eat. We were able to try out the first night with local food at the Gabay and Falafel we ate for €11 each. Very good for Tel Aviv prices (a beer costs about €6). It is the site we show in the following photo.
In the same way, you should take the opportunity to try local homemade food on Fridays before Shabbat. In the Dizengoff Center shopping center on Friday afternoons they set up takeout stands. Locals come here to fill their refrigerators to spend Shabbat without cooking as their religion indicates.
✔ Hotels in Tel Aviv
To sleep, we decided to stay as central as possible, without sharing a room/bathroom, nearby parking and breakfast included. He Hayarkon hostel It met all the requirements and the truth is that we would recommend it. Breakfast is buffet, quite complete and rooms are clean.. You can visit it at the link we leave you. We didn't use the car in Tel Aviv at all and we did everything on foot, both the Jaffa part, the modern part and the beach.
✔ How to cross the border between Israel and Jordan: Yitzhak Rabin – Wadi Araba
Although we were in Tel Aviv at the beginning and end of the trip, we have told you everything together, so as not to get you mixed up. After our first night in Tel Aviv, we drove along highway number 40 towards the southern border of Yitzhak Rabin – Wadi Araba. To get around we use Maps.me which works offline, since we did not have internet. On Route we stopped by the Avdat National Park and we took advantage to eat. Once we crossed the border we spent a night in Aqaba, south of Jordan.
What to see in Aqaba. Israel and Jordan itinerary on your own
Aqaba is a tourist destination located next to the Red Sea. It is mainly a destination for Jordanians as it is the only coastal city in Jordan. In addition, it has lower taxes than the rest of the country. That's why it's a shopping paradise. Its streets are full of shops selling coats, blankets, fashion, etc. Nevertheless, The shops are not focused on foreign tourists, but on the Jordanian tourist. Here you can get lost in its streets, eat very good falafel, try pomegranate juice and visit its delicious bakeries.
✔ Where to eat in Aqaba (local food)
To eat in Aqaba we definitely recommend Hashem Son's and order Fatah and Shawarma. Hummus is also delicious, but you can find it in many places in Israel and Jordan. Although there are also fish and seafood restaurants by the sea, we did not have the opportunity to try them.
✔ Snorkeling in the Red Sea. The surprise of our trip to Jordan and Israel
In the Red Sea of Aqaba there is spectacular coral for snorkeling. Plus, it's on the same shore. We were surprised by its beauty, we did not expect it to be so well preserved and so little exploited. We went to the Playa Japanese garden about 10 minutes from the center. With the name of the beach, you can imagine its depths. IT IS SPECTACULAR. If you have time, you can make a diving baptism in the Red Sea, a highly valued and recommended activity in Aqaba.
In the center there is also a beach, but only for locals, since the women are covered. Likewise, the sand is quite dirty, since they eat pipes and consume food on its shore without removing the garbage. Therefore, for bathing we recommend tourist areas. In the previous photo we see a boat with a glass bottom showing the seabed, although In the buoy area you can see the coral perfectly and you can go swimming yourself. It's only a few meters.
✔ Hotels in Aqaba
We stayed in the Sea Beach Hotel. The staff was very friendly, but wifi only works at reception and the rooms were nothing out of this world. In any case, it was central, had air conditioning and for the price we paid for one night, it was fine. If you are not convinced, you can always consult more hotels in Aqaba below.
Wadi Rum desert, one of the essentials of the trip to Jordan and Israel
We can categorically affirm that We had the best experience of traveling through Israel and Jordan on our own in the Wadi Rum desert., south of Jordan. We booked a 4-hour 4×4 excursion through the desert with the campsite where we stayed and it was brutal. They took us to the most beautiful corners and we watched the sunset in the heat of the bonfire.
One of the points where the route ended was where the movie was filmed Lawrence of Arabia which we show below.
✔ Camping in Wadi Rum
We made the stay in the Oasis Bedouin Camp and we recommend it 100%. It included dinner with Bedouin food and breakfast. The owners of the campsite were young Bedouin boys, very close and friendly.
We also enjoyed shooting stars during the night and an incredible sunrise in the morning. Please don't miss this amazing experience!
Petra, trip to Jordan and Israel
The city of Petra or "stone" is located in the town of Wadi Musa. Here, Besides visiting Petra and Little Petra, there is little else you can do, since the town itself is quite ugly. Souvenir shops and food in general are quite expensive. In the same way, to enter Petra the entrance is somewhat salty.
✔ Tips for visiting Petra
As you may know, Petra is one of the 7 wonders of the world, which is why it receives a lot of tourism. We decided to go at 6:00 in the morning to avoid the crowds and it was a great success. Keep in mind that in Jordan in November it sunsets at 16:00 p.m. Therefore, We were walking from 6:00 until 15:00 in the afternoon. A total of 20 kilometers. Even so, we still had things to see. We had the ticket to see Petra by night (at night) purchased, but it was canceled due to rain (they gave us our money back).
One piece of advice we give you is that after seeing El Tesoro you go to see the monastery directly and then See what time you have, since the path to the Monastery is somewhat hard and long. This way, you will also avoid it being full of people and you will be able to find it as we show you below:
You will be able to appreciate the landscape that we show you below at the end of the trail. The Monastery. A hidden place behind the cafeteria that is indicated with a handwritten sign like "best view of the world" or something like that. It is highly recommended to drink tea and rest your legs to regain strength. In addition, tea here is much cheaper than in tourist stalls.
✔ Where to eat in Petra (Wadi Musa)
We tried the local dish, maqluba (chicken with vegetables, rice and yogurt), in the Beit Albarakah restaurant and it was delicious. For dessert they brought us a puff pastry cake that was also incredible.
✔ Hotels in Petra Wadi Musa
We stayed in the Sabaa Hotel. Everything was great, except the bathroom which was full of humidity. The beds were comfortable, the breakfast was good and the staff was very friendly. From the hotel we could walk to Petra, Maybe that was the best thing about the hotel.
Dead Sea and Masada National Park. What to see in Jordan and Israel
After staying in Wadi Musa for two nights, we returned to Israel, crossing the same southern border, and headed toward Dead Sea. It can be said that this part of the trip may be the most essential. Especially after seeing so many wonders. In any case, the story about the Jews in Masada is very interesting and, of course, experiencing a swim in the Dead Sea is something unique. We bathe in the Ein Bokek bathing area next to Israel. Since we had time, we included it in the itinerary.
If we are not mistaken, this is the only Suitable bathing area on the Israeli coast of the Dead Sea. You have the option of the coast that is within Palestinian territories, but they do not advise passing through Palestinian territories by rental car (Israeli license plate). On the other hand, since Masada you will have spectacular views of the Dead Sea. We recommend that you go early, since you have to walk a bit to see the ruins and it is very hot. You also have the option of visit Masada and the Dead Sea from Tel Aviv on a guided tour with very good reviews from other travelers.
✔ Dead Sea and Masada Hotels
We stayed in one nice house in the Israeli town of Arad, just 20 minutes from Masada by car. We reserved the house through booking and it was called Oh Gani. The owner treated us like at home, impeccable cleanliness and comfortable beds. Also He cooked us something for dinner and breakfast with products from his garden. Therefore, we recommend this accommodation 100%.
What to see in Jerusalem. Trip to Jordan and Israel
As you may know, Jerusalem is a very ancient city, the cradle of religions. Here we detail what to do in Jerusalem:
✔ Book a guided tour of Jerusalem
Even if it is a trip to Jordan and Israel on your own, in this case it pays to at least make a free tour of Jerusalem, since there is a lot to learn. In addition, they will take you to the places you have to visit within the old part such as the well-known Wailing wall.
✔ Mount of Olives
From the Mount of Olives you will have the best panoramic views of Jerusalem. We went by car and there was free parking.
✔ Mahane Yehuda Market
In this market you can eat local food, buy Israeli tea and have a drink, as it also has bars. We loved the Freddy Lemons bar, very good music and happy hour (2 beers for one). Also, there were only local people, no tourists.
✔ Visit to the ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhood: Mea Shearim
Although the guide warned us that it could be dangerous to go without the dress codes that they have for women, we dared to go in jeans. He is a neighborhood where only ultra-orthodox reside. Of course, you must try to respect the dress code for girls, which we detail in our article with tips for traveling to Israel and Jordan. Forks: long ankle-length skirt (no pants), arms and chest covered, no tight clothing. The adrenaline we felt walking through there was brutal, but it was better to comply to feel somewhat safer and less observed. Think that there you are the "strange" one.
✔ Hotels in Jerusalem
In Jerusalem we stayed in the Alon Hotel. It was super central, so we went everywhere on foot. It was actually some kind of apartment with a mini kitchen that had a sink and refrigerator. The beds were very comfortable and the cleaning was great, so we recommend it 100%. Jerusalem is quite expensive in general, both for food and accommodation.
And this has been broadly our itinerary to get to know Israel and Jordan on our own. We hope it serves as a guide for you.
5% discount on your travel insurance
FinallyIf you still don't have travel insurance, remember that you can benefit from a 5% off. For Israel we recommend insurance IATI Star and for Jordan the IATI Backpacking.
5% discount on mobile data with the Holafly eSIM
When we traveled to Israel and Jordan we made the mistake of not hiring any mobile data plan and we found ourselves on every corner "stealing" WIFI from hotels and restaurants. If you don't want this to happen to you, we have a 5% discount on Holafly eSIM, valid for any destination. It is a virtual eSIM that is easily activated by scanning a QR and, scratch! Connected throughout the trip to be able to share every moment with your loved ones, search for information on restaurants, activities, tourist attraction schedules, etc.
- See unlimited mobile data plans for Israel. Discount is applied at time of purchase
- See unlimited data plans for Jordan. The discount is applied at the time of purchase.
Hello! I am Ruth, Canarian with a traveling soul. With training and experience in the tourism and digital marketing sector. In this blog I tell you all the tips you need to get to know the most authentic side of Gran Canaria on your own. I also share my travel guides to all the places in the world that I am visiting so that you can discover the destinations like a local and save time planning. In addition to traveling, I love gastronomy and sports. I run and hike in the mountains with my “dog-children” (Silver and Plata). In all these adventures my partner accompanies me, Jorge, which you will also see a lot on this blog.
I'm thinking about going with my children, of legal age, and doing the proposed itinerary this Christmas. My question is if you could guide me approximately about the budget. I know that it depends a lot on the hotels, meals... but an approximation felt very clarifying.
Hello Fernando! In general, Tel Aviv and Israel in general tend to have the same prices as Spain, Jordan is cheaper and you can eat and sleep much cheaper. Keep in mind that in Jordan everything is haggled.
I don't know what the prices will be like at Christmas, they tend to be expensive dates in general, it's better to take a look at the booking prices before because you already know that hotel prices vary a lot depending on the season.
I hope I can help.
All the best
Hola!
Thank you very much for the post, it is very useful and complete! What year did you make the trip?
My partner and I are going at the end of September and the idea is to do a route very similar to yours; Israel, car, Jordan and return to Israel. What is not clear to me are the procedures at the border with Jordan. Do you only have to pay the departure tax from Israel? Do they not process any type of visa to enter Jordan?
Thank you!
Hi Sara!! I'm glad it helps you! We went in 2018…
You have the option of paying for the visa at the border crossing or obtaining the Jordan Pass (as long as it compensates you for the number of attractions you are going to visit).
You have all the updated information on the page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On the other hand, I don't know if you have seen our article on tips for traveling to Israel and Jordan, I think it can be of great help to you as well:
https://localguidegrancanaria.com/israel-y-jordania-por-libre/
A hug!
Hello, good morning, a question, did you rent the car in Tel Aviv and from there did you go to Jordan and back? Is there no problem at my border to pass a rental car?
Thank you very much
Hello Angel! Noooo, we explained it in the blog, we left it at the southern border and in Jordan we moved with haggled taxis 🙂
I contacted Omar and from the beginning he was friendly, we agreed on a price and he was punctual at the border. He helped us with trip information. Everything was correct. Recommendable!!
brilliant! I'm glad to know that this blog is helpful! :)
Hello . Excellent article and very helpful.
I am traveling to Israel on May 1 and I would like to ask you if it is possible for you to please share with me the times in which you left and arrived from Aqaba to Petra, to try to make that route as similar as possible and to make the most of our time.
Thanks a lot. 🙂
Hello Liliana! I'm glad it helps you 🙂 We don't leave from Aqaba to Petra directly. As you can see in our tour, we stopped in the Wadi Rum desert to take a desert tour and spend the night, something you should definitely do 🙂 then from Wadi Rum we left before lunch and arrived in Petra in the afternoon, we had time to visit Little Petra and little else 🙂
I hope this helps you.
Greetings,
Ruth
I wanted to thank you for the magnificent itinerary and tips, they have helped us a lot and they are all still very valid, even having visited both countries at Easter
Hello Luis!! Thank you for taking the time to leave us a comment 🙂 We are very happy! A hug!
Good afternoon,
Would anyone know how to cross from Israel to Jordan via Allenby Bridge - King Hussein? I can't find reliable information.
Does anyone know if the Jordan pass and staying 3 nights in Jordan is enough and “they forgive your visa”?
Hello Luis! I hope someone can help you, when we travel, we barely find information about the other borders, that's why we chose this one. As for the Jordan Pass, we can't help you either because we don't use it, we spent a total of 4 nights in Jordan (1 Aqaba + 1 Wadi Rum + 2 in Wadi Musa-Petra), but maybe the regulations have changed from here then. Have you checked the Jordan pass page? all the best
Hello how are you? Did they also go to Jerusalem by car? Is it easy to park in the city? And then in Tel Aviv is it easy to park?
Hello Dario! We also went to Jerusalem by car, we always left the car in private parking (Tel Aviv and Jerusalem), so I don't know if it is easy to park, hehe.
Good!
I'm not going with two other friends to make that more or less precise trip.
I wanted to ask you if you got a visa in advance to go to Jordan. I have read on other sites that since you are going to Petra it is worth getting the Jordan pass
What do you recommend me!?
Thank you
Hi Celia!
I seem to remember that we did it all at the border crossing, but I don't know if anything has changed. When we traveled, the Jordan Pass was not so promoted.
You have to evaluate your case because I don't know how much it is worth now, or how many days you are going to be in the country, or if they have been able to change the conditions... You already know that laws and prices change every day 😛
I'm sorry I can't help you, but it is an individual decision that depends more on the number of days in Jordan than anything else.
All the best
Hola!
My best friend and I are going for 10 days at the end of March, and we have a couple of questions. We arrived in Tel Aviv in the middle of Shabbat, recommendations for what to do or what is open?
To go to Aqaba, Wadi Rum etc in Jordan, did you go by car on your own, public transport...?
Thank you
Hello, Martha!!
Thanks for writing us 🙂
I imagine you haven't had time to review the article with all our tips for traveling to Israel and Jordan where we talk about Shabbat and how we moved around Jordan. Take a look and I'm sure you'll clear your doubts 🙂
https://localguidegrancanaria.com/consejos-para-viajar-a-israel-y-jordania/
Regarding which places will be open during Shabbat we do not know, because we do not live there, but surely the hotel where you are staying can help you, contact them!
A hug and enjoy a lot!
We share our entire experience on the blog, including how we moved
Hello, Martha!!
Well, I think we are going to coincide on dates, because we have the same problem. We arrived on Friday at 23:30 p.m. and we don't know how to deal with the issue of traveling to Tel Avi because it seems that with the Sabbath everything is at a standstill.
In my case, I hired Omar and, honestly, the treatment was excellent: very kind, very punctual, he gave us advice on making the visits and he cared about us at all times, having continuous communication via WhatsApp. Without a doubt, I would hire him.
Thanks alot
This is my nature everyone should know anyone who comes with me to give him the right information I
Thank you four girls from Spain the attachment with you was beautiful
I like to deal with everyone accurately
لقد زرت الاردن واستعنت بالسائق عمر حيث قام باصطحابنا من المعبر الجن وبي الى ام شئ انصح الجميع بالتواصل مع عمر
Thank you very much, Elaine.
The trip with you is wonderful I hope to see you later
Hello! I'm not from Spain, so I don't understand what they mean when they say traveling "on your own"... would it be traveling without a guide or tour? Thanks for the post!! super complete 🙂
Hellooo!!! Traveling on your own means on your own... without it being a trip organized by an agency with transfers, hotels, excursions, etc. he he. I will change the title to "on your own" so that it is understood outside of Spain hehe. A hug and thank you very much!!
Hello girls: we want to visit it next year. We planned to do the opposite, Jordan and visit Jerusalem across the border but I have seen that there is a lot to see in 🇮🇱. Best month to do it? It is true that Ryanair already flies from Madrid to Amman. We will think about it. I imagine it can be done in 8 days, eliminating some visits. By the way, in a few weeks we are going to Gran Canaria 👏👏👏
Hello Alfonso!! I imagine that the order of the factors does not alter the product hehe. The truth is that we have only been there once, we don't know if the weather is similar all year round, it will be a matter of looking at the temperatures on Google. At the end of October, beginning of November the weather was great and, as you could see, we swam without any problems in the Dead Sea and on the beaches of Tel Aviv. I imagine it will be very hot in summer, especially in the desert. Regarding the days, of course, you have to remove some part to be able to visit both countries... the difficult thing will be to choose which hehe.
Gran Canaria is wonderful, anything you need here we are specialized hehe
A hug!
I am Omar Al-Hassanat the driver has experience in Jordan I speak English fluently
If you decide to go Jordan contact me please 00962777305321 l
I will help you for everything
Transportation all Jordan
Camping wade rum
Hotels all Jordan
Guide tour
Hello Omar. I´m Juan from Spain, I´m planning on going to Jordan from the 28th to 31st of July, If you can help me with my trip, please give me your -mail so I could e-mail you. Thank you my friend.
Hello John! I think the ideal thing is that you save his phone with the Jordan prefix and contact him by Whatsapp!
A greeting!
Hello Juan, did you manage to hire Omar's transportation services? Or does anyone here have a contact with whom they have made the transfers directly from Tel Aviv to Petra and Wadi Rum?
Thank you!
I had problems with Omar, he extorted and deceived me. In the end I had to give him €25 to leave me alone, since he threatened to send me a family member to my hotel. He literally told me, I'm Omar and I'm very crazy.
what are you telling me!!!! but why?? what did he want? It went well for us, in fact, we haggled a lot hahaha but of course, people can change and even more so if they see that everyone is calling, it goes to their head! A hug
I will try to explain it as briefly as possible.
I contacted him, we hired his services and he sent us to “his father” (who in the end was not). We booked the excursion in Wadi Rum with him and he sent us a friend, there we said goodbye to “his father” and we took a photo.
The problem came when we finished the excursion, he had to take us to a camp there and he made a mistake but it belonged to the brother of the one we were going with. When they gave us the room I went to get my GoPro and it wasn't there, the tour driver had stolen it. That's when he got messed up.
I quickly gave them Omar's contact name and they called him and threatened him because he can't organize excursions there, they forced the driver to come back and give me back the camera that I had dropped...impossible because the backpack was always closed and I'm always very careful but I don't care. I just wanted to get it back. There I already broke the agreement with Omar but I had already paid for the trips we had taken.
When we went to Petra and left, I don't know what time and we went to take a taxi, they took us away from the taxi, they told us “go to that taxi” so we went, we got in since you don't know who it was??? OMAR! I don't know how many hours he was waiting for us (because he knew my itinerary but not the time I would leave)
We were arguing and he wanted me to pay him money and such and such, I got out of the taxi I was going to look for the police and he told me what my hotel knew about (he had said it when to the guy who managed the taxis) and he said I'm Omar and I'm very crazy, imagining my face and that of my partner. I didn't want any problems and in the end I gave him €25. By the way, he knew who we were when we took the photo with “his father.”
from the movie Irra... well what can I tell you, my experience was good (within what is possible being an Arab country) and I appreciate that you share with everyone what has happened to you in case it helps them to make a decision regarding transportation within Jordan... A hug!
As for how to get around Israel and Jordan, we rented a car in the first country, but I'm not sure I would recommend it. Traffic in the north of the country (from Jerusalem up) is terrible, but going south is the best option
In Jordan we have hired Omar and his team and so far we are delighted. He is always available, answers at the touch and is willing to adapt to your needs... he even accepted euros for us so as not to waste time with the currency exchange!! I recommend it 100%.
Regarding how to get around in Israel and Jordan, we rented a car in Israel, but I don't know if it is the best option. In the north we have found a lot of traffic and you cannot enter Plestine territory by car. Of course, from Jerusalem to Eilat was fantastic.
In Jordan we have hired Omar and his team and the truth is that we are delighted with them. Omar is always available, he answers your touch and adapts to your needs. I recommend it 100%.
Hello Bea! Thank you very much for your comment 🙂 I'm sure it helps anyone planning their trip to Jordan! A hug
Hello! What a trip you made. I have read the entire thing!
My partner and I are going to travel this year, and what scares us the most are the visas: in some blogs they say they ask for them, in others they say they don't, that they are a hassle, etc.
What experience did you have with them? Or did you not need them?
Greetings, and continue traveling!=)
Hello Federico!!! Yes, he was a great trip and the truth is that he went all out. As far as I remember, we did not go with any visa. With the Spanish passport you can enter Israel and Jordan. Of course, when you cross the Jordanian border they do not stamp your passport, but rather they give you the piece of paper that we mentioned in the post and you have to try not to lose it because they ask for it to return to Israel. Many questions to enter Israel at the airport, but if you are not suspected of anything, don't worry hahaha it is best that you always look at this updated information on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website because with the covid we do not know what the situation is like. borders now:
For Israel:
http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Portal/es/ServiciosAlCiudadano/SiViajasAlExtranjero/Paginas/DetalleRecomendacion.aspx?IdP=95
For Jordan:
http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Portal/es/ServiciosAlCiudadano/SiViajasAlExtranjero/Paginas/DetalleRecomendacion.aspx?IdP=99
Greetings and yes, this year it's Canada =)
Bon voyage!
Hello! How are they?! What a beautiful route they chose, I'm thinking of doing something similar as soon as I can. Can you guide me with the budget? Thank you!
Hi Susan!! Thank you very much for your message! The truth is that I don't remember the budget, but you could sleep in more or less decent places for a maximum of 50 euros a night and the meals are a bit like in Europe (Israel). Jordan is a little cheaper, but not much more, since the restaurants charge you the tourist price (except when you eat on the street). The most expensive thing was the rental car, I think around €400. All the best
Good afternoon!!!!
First of all, congratulations on the blog!!! Great work.
My girl and I are going to Israel and Jordan in a month, a little unforeseen has arisen but here we go!!!!
Looking at various blogs we think that we are going to follow your itinerary by removing the day of the Dead Sea and Masada since we have one less day.
We want to do the Isrsel part with public transport since we are not going to do many excursions either. Here, no matter how much I search for bus information from Jerusalem to Eliat, I only find one that leaves at 03:00. In a previous comment, someone comments something. Have you Did you get any information on this topic?
In Jordan we are considering taking a car because I am a little lazy about constantly haggling and depending on someone in a place with little internet, no calls, etc...
Why didn't you decide on a car? Did you feel cheated by taxis or are they serious people?
Finally, the tours I find in Jerusalem are mostly in English and “quite” expensive.
Anyone with information on this topic?
Thank you very much, I appreciate any kind of information.
Hello Michelangelo!
Thank you very much for your comment, we are glad that the post about our trip is helping you. The truth is that we cannot comment on public transportation in Israel because we do not use it even once. Regarding the tours in Jerusalem, we did it with Sandemans, it is expensive, but it is worth it. There is one that lasts 4 hours and another shorter one in which you pay what you consider. It seems correct to me that you remove Masada + Dead Sea from the tour, that is what I would have probably removed.
On the other hand, regarding the Jordan car, since we were going to make few transfers and pay between 3 o'clock, we preferred to do it that way. I think the car in Jordan was expensive for us and then we wouldn't be able to use it to get to the campsite in Wadi Rum. At the same time, parking in Wadi Musa is crazy… there is not as much order as in Israel with public parking and so on. However, we know of people who have rented a car in Jordan and have not had any problems. At the same time, we didn't feel cheated by the taxis either and everything was safe. Of course, once they made us get out of the taxi halfway between Wadi Musa and Aqaba to get into another one.
If you have any other questions, you can contact us.
Greetings,
Ruth
Hello,
Thank you very much for your advice girls!!
We are planning a trip similar to yours, although with a couple of days less... and we have a couple of doubts. The plane we took arrives at 02:15 in the morning in Tel Aviv. We don't know if at that time we will have the option to take a rental car, do you know if it will be open at all? On the other hand, do you recommend that we stay that first night in Tel Aviv to sleep and the next day go to Jerusalem or take a taxi to take us directly to Jerusalem? Since those days in Jerusalem we will not use a car... and we could rent it to go to the Dead Sea in Jerusalem itself.
Thank you very much.
May.
Hello Mai!! Thank you very much for your comment!
I suppose that all the car rental offices at the airport are open 24 hours a day, as long as there are flights arriving, it should be that way. At least the Sixt one was open 24 hours a day. You can consult here rental car offers on the dates you go. Then you just have to check if they let you pick it up at the time you indicate and that's it. I recommend that once you arrive in Tel Aviv you take advantage and start the itinerary by visiting Tel Aviv (it is very worth it). Jerusalem is not that close (45 minutes by car) and in the end you would start the trip sleeping nothing... In addition, it is always cheaper to return the car at the same point where you pick it up. At the same time, the car will help you in Jerusalem to travel to the Mount of Olives and to return again to the Tel Aviv airport, which I suppose is where you will return to Spain again... Of course, the car insurance does not It will cover damages in Palestinian territory.
Well, we hope we have helped you and that you enjoy this adventure a lot!!!
Greetings,
Ruth
Hola!
We are planning a trip similar to yours for the end of the year.
When renting a car and looking at the distances, a doubt has arisen. To get from Masada to Jerusalem, what route did you take? We understand that it is not advisable to pass through Palestinian territory but we have also seen that people go along Highway 90.
Many Thanks
Hello Asun! Thank you very much for your comment.
If I remember correctly we went on the 60th. What is clear to me is that we did not go through Palestinian territory in any way, since the car insurance did not cover us for any unforeseen event. I don't think any company covers you. We took the 90 only to go to Ein Gedi and there we turned around to visit Masada and Arad (a small, non-touristy town where we stayed to visit Masada).
Any other questions you have, we are here.
A hug,
Ruth
I will cross the border from Israel to Jordan (through Eliat). Do you know if on that border (Jordanian side) there are places to buy SIM cards and ATMs or exchange offices? I enter Jordan through there and I don't know how I get currency and cell phone data. Thank you!
Hello Pilar!! Thank you very much for your comment. When you cross the border there is nothing, you will have to take a taxi to Aqaba (5-10 min). At the border you can change from ILS to JOD. We were changed by the same official who made us pay the exit taxes. You can ask the taxi driver about the mobile phone (if he speaks English) or once in Aqaba at your hotel... We don't buy a card, we don't know that information, sorry. With the wifi in the hotels we were surviving. For any other questions, we are in contact. Greetings. Ruth
First of all, I wanted to congratulate you on the Blog. We are preparing a trip very similar to yours and it is being of great help to us.
I have various doubts:
To avoid any type of problem in Jordan, you left the rental car at the Israeli border: Have you left it in a private parking lot?
How did you get from Aquaba to Wadi Rum? And from there to Petra? Everything by taxi?
Our idea is to leave the car at the border and visit those two places.
A hug and thanks in advance for your help.
James
Hi Jamie! Thank you very much for your comment and support 🙂
As we mentioned in our post Tips for traveling to Israel and Jordan We show a photo of the only parking lot in the area. It is a piece of land, free. There is absolutely nothing around the border, just palm trees and dates hehe
From Aqaba to Wadi rum, we also tell it. We talked to the guys at the campsite to have a taxi come and get us and that taxi coordinated with the SUV that would take us to the campsite. And the same to go to Petra. We negotiated a price with the guys at the campsite so that a taxi would take us to Petra at the time we wanted. All by taxi, you have the prices that we managed to negotiate at the end of the post with all the tips for traveling to Jordan. The first is to get around by taxi.
If you do it like us, in principle there should be no problem. It is very common to get around by taxi, but you always have to haggle. That's only in Jordan or in any Muslim business in Israel.
We know that our posts are very long, but we recommend that you read the advice carefully as well, there you will clear up doubts about practically everything.
We hope we have helped and that everything turns out great.
A hug,
Ruth
Hello! First of all, congratulations on the post, it has guided me a lot. One question, why didn't you go to Belen? All the best!!
Hello! Thank you very much for your comment 🙂 With the few days we had, we preferred to get to know Jerusalem and Tel Aviv + Jaffa well. Going to Bethlehem meant an excursion because you cannot cross into Palestinian territory with a rental car... well, you can, but they do not recommend it and the vehicle insurance does not cover you outside the country. If we had had one more day, we would have gone. Enjoy it!!!
Hello! Thank you very much for sharing your experience, my husband and I are thinking of traveling to Israel and Jordan in March of next year. We also want to rent a car but we don't know if it will be dangerous to cross the border from Israel to Jordan by car (with an Israeli license plate, of course). Is it better to cross it by public transport or taxi? Did you do it this way for security reasons despite the cost of paying for the car rental the days it was stopped at the border? Or was it for another reason? We are concerned about this issue, being able to move freely through both countries. Thank you
Hello Lydia! Thank you very much, we are happy to know that our experience helps other travelers. We also don't know for sure if it is dangerous to cross the border from Israel to Jordan by car, because we don't take the risk. We read in some blogs that the next day your car appears "busted" or with some damage, graffiti, etc. Furthermore, of all the rent a cars, none gave you comprehensive coverage outside of Israel (not even in Palestine). Therefore, be very careful about taking unnecessary risks. As we mentioned, the experience of leaving the car at the border of Israel and visiting the most important parts of Jordan by taxi was very positive and recommended 🙂 Obviously we did it for safety, we did not want a misfortune to ruin our trip to save anything... €100 or €150, which between 3 is nothing… We cannot inform you about public transport in Israel and Jordan, because we do not use it… With a taxi you will be able to move around freely, so don't worry. However, be prepared to haggle. Any other questions, we are in contact.
A hug from Gran Canaria!
Hi good afternoon.
This September we are going to Israel and Jordan. We are going to rent a car in Israel, the question we have is whether an International driving license is necessary to drive in Israel.
Thank you very much.
Hello! Good afternoon, it's great that you are going to Jordan and Israel. Whenever you leave the European Union you will need your international driving license, except Ireland and Norway. Therefore, to go to Israel too. A hug!
Hello good afternoon how are you? We are Alex and Eli and in September we traveled to Israel and Jordan and we had a question about Wadi Rum. We have seen the camp they recommend (which is very good) and I see that there is quite a offer of places from what we have seen in booking. My question is if when hiring, they will pick you up at the visitor center and take you to the camp and when doing the 4×4 route can it be done on the fly? I have also seen that the interpretation center offers 4×4 routes, and I understand that you can hire those or those from the camp itself where you are staying? Our doubts are a bit about the operation in that place.
Another question I wanted to ask you is if it is worth spending two nights in the desert?
Hello Alex and Eli!
Thank you very much for your message.
You have to contact the camp where you are staying to let them know your estimated time of arrival at the visitor center and they will pick you up there. Or do as we did, order a taxi with them to pick us up in Aqaba and that same taxi coordinated with their 4×4 to pick us up at the visitor center and from there cross the desert to get to the campsite. We knew that we wanted to do the tour no matter what, so as soon as we arrived we saw some things, including the sunset in the heat of the bonfire (about 2 hours of tour). Afterwards we went to the campsite, had dinner and lay down to see the stars (some of them fleeting). Then we woke up to see the sunrise (brutal red desert in the morning light). We had breakfast, did another 2 hours of tour and left. We coordinate everything with the owner of the campsite through booking (messages). One night is enough to get to know the essentials of the desert (sunset, Bedouin dinner, special corners of the desert, sunrise, Bedouin breakfast and the end), but I understand that if you stay two nights there will always be more things to see. In any case, during the day it is very hot, so we think it is best to arrive about 3 hours before sunset and leave as soon as possible in the morning, after visiting the essentials. It all depends on the time you have and how much you like to be disconnected from the world. If you like peace and tranquility and are looking for disconnection, you might probably like to stay more than 1 night in Wadi Rum, but you should know that there is no internet or network and that the bathroom and shower are common…
We don't know what tours are offered at the visitor center, but there are other options, also in the same town as soon as you arrive, all the 4×4 taxis will want to sell you their tour… for us it was more comfortable to do it with the ones at the campsite 🙂 We hope have helped you! a hug,
Hello!
Thank you for all the information you share because it is very useful 🙂 My question is if you booked the accommodation at the Oasis Weduim camp before traveling or once there...On the booking page only breakfast appears but you mentioned that it also includes dinner. .
A greeting and thanks
Hello María del Pilar! Thank you very much for your message. The truth is that right now I don't remember that detail, I think that booking gave us the option at that time. Maybe they have eliminated that service now, but I doubt it. It occurs to me that you contact them through the email that indicates booking and ask them about this service, since the Bedouin dinner by the fire in the "jaima" in the middle of the desert is worth it. In the desert there is nothing else, so they have to offer you food almost 100%.
We hope everything goes well.
A hug and enjoy Wadi Rum!
Hello, I am planning a trip to Israel and Jordan but I was not planning to rent a car. Do you know if it is possible to do the route by public transport? Is the only way to cross the border always from the south? So to go from Petra to Jerusalem do I have to go down, cross and go back up?
Thank you!
Hello Martina! Our experience, the one we share here, is that of renting a car. We don't know how public transportation works in Israel, but it's safe to do so. There are three borders (Sheikh Hussein to the north, Yitzhak Rabin
to the south and Hussein Bridge near Amman). Apparently the safest is the one in the south. There must be organized excursions that leave from Petra to Jerusalem, by public transport I don't know... but since we didn't do it that way, we can't recommend you about the unknown. I'm sorry for not being able to help you... Enjoy this great trip!
Hello,
I am planning a trip between Jordan and Israel and I have a question. How did you contract the insurance having been between one state and the other?
Thanks for your help!!
Hola!
If you are referring to travel insurance, IATI gives you the option of booking the MUNDO rate and therefore includes all the countries you cross when you are traveling in the period you reserve. Also, remember that you have a 5% discount by being our reader. If you are referring to the car insurance, we did not take it out of Israel, because it did not cover any company outside the country. We hope we have helped you! Enjoy it!
Hello! Congratulations on the blog! It is very helpful, we are going to Israel and Jordan in mid-August and we were considering renting a car, but I have a doubt about what you mentioned..., you say that you left the car at the Jordanian border and then picked it up at the back, and since you had the car stopped on those days, did you also pay for it? Or just the days you were circulating! Thank you so much !
Hi Alex!! Thank you very much for your comment, we are glad that it is helping you! We left the car parked and, of course, paid the rent those days. It was an extra expense, but we couldn't get the numbers returning it in Eilat and we lost a lot of time if we had to move from Eilat to Dead Sea – Jerusalem – Tel Aviv by bus. We also wanted to have transportation to the airport the day we returned, since our flight was very early. It was super convenient to do it that way, although it's probably not the cheapest. Any other questions you have, we are here 🙂
Hello, very cool of your journey. I'm Ari and Eduardo and we are from Mexico. We want to do the tour like you. Can you tell me if a visa is needed from Israel to Jordan and how much does it cost?
The costs of the hotels they stayed in?
What landlord did they use?
How long was the car rental for and how much did it cost you?
With whom and where did you rent the 4×4 in Wadi Rum and the cost?
Is it necessary to hire a guide in Petra?
Hello Ari and Eduardo! Thanks for the comment.
To cross from Israel to Jordan we do not ask for a visa, at the border you have to pay to cross, yes. Nothing extraordinary, and I don't even remember it. In Tel Aviv we paid €100 per night with breakfast for 3 people, in Jerusalem we paid €140 for two nights, in Arad €87 for one night, in Wadi Rum €60 with breakfast and dinner, Petra €82 for two nights with breakfast, all between 3 people. To reserve the hotels we use Booking.com, in the post you have the direct links to the hotels we reserved, in case you would like to stay in them. We took the 4×4 from the same campsite where we stayed, they have all this information in the route post, you should read it calmly 🙂 We did not hire a guide in Petra, we did it on our own. The map they give you at the entrance explains each of the sites. We hope we have helped you. In any case, we also recommend reading the post with tips for traveling to Israel and Jordan. A hug.
Ah! I missed the last question: the car for 10 days cost us €360. We picked it up at the Tel Aviv airport. However, you can use the rental company comparison that we left in the post when we talked about driving in Israel: https://localguidegrancanaria.com/consejos-para-viajar-a-israel-y-jordania/
Hi
We live in Tenerife and we want to travel to Israel and Jordan in September. The question I have is whether to rent a car in Israel since the idea would be to get to Tel Aviv and go to Jerusalem and then go down to Eliata to cross to Jordan and rent a car. On this route we would then exit through the Hussein Bridge.
What I would like to know if you can help me is if it is possible to enter through one border and leave through the other.
Is it possible to get from Jerusalem to Elliat by bus? I only find one at 04 a.m.
Thank you very much for your help
Greetings from Tenerife
Hello Beatriz! The reality is that we did everything the opposite, we rented a car in Israel and moved within the country by car, when crossing into Jordan we left it parked next to the Eilat border and within Jordan we moved by taxi, since it was super cheap. At the time we valued entering through one border and leaving through another, but rental cars also became very expensive to pick up at one point and return at another, and we also had the same uncertainty as you with the border, so we were not we risk It doesn't mean that it can't be done, but we don't have first-hand information about it. There must be a bus from Jerusalem to Eilat for sure, but we didn't use it either, so I can't tell you. We recommend that you take a look at our post with tips if you haven't seen it already: https://localguidegrancanaria.com/consejos-para-viajar-a-israel-y-jordania/
We recommend the itinerary that we did 100%.
We're sorry we couldn't help you with all your questions.
A hug and enjoy!
Good!!!
Any information about going from Jerusalem to Eliat by Bus?
I only see the one at dawn and the schedule is a little wrong for us…
Thank you very much
Hello Miguel Ángel, have you tried searching for it on Google in English? Or maybe ask Israel tourism or something like that? All the best.
Good morning,
We are preparing our trip to Israel and Jordan also on our own and we liked your tips and comments, in fact, we have already booked in one of the hotels that you recommend.
Simply, a doubt arises; the trip, you have done it by renting a car or 100% with public transport. In this sense we are doubtful and wanted a second opinion.
Thank you very much,
Hello Cristina! Thank you very much for your comment. We recommend that you take a look at our post with tips for making the trip on your own: https://localguidegrancanaria.com/consejos-para-viajar-a-israel-y-jordania/
Here we explain that we rent a car at the Tel Aviv airport, we leave it for a few days at the border with Jordan (where we travel by taxi) and when we return we pick up the car to return it at the end of the trip in Tel Aviv. Our experience was very good. We also know that there are people who do it by public transport, but it will depend on your budget and the time you have. We hope we have helped you, if you have any questions, we are here. Have a good trip! What envy!