Bus, Taxi & Organized Tours
JETT Buses — Jordan's Best Public Transport
The state-owned bus company JETT (Jordan Express Tourist Transport) operates air-conditioned, reliable buses on the main routes:
| Route | Duration | Price | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amman → Petra (Wadi Musa) | 3.5–4h | 11 JOD | 1x daily (6:30 AM) |
| Amman → Aqaba | 4–4.5h | 9–11 JOD | 3–4x daily |
| Amman → Dead Sea | 1h | 5 JOD | 1x daily (Fri/Sat) |
| Amman → King Hussein Bridge (Palestine) | 1h | 10 JOD | 2x daily |
Booking: At the JETT bus station (7th Circle, Amman) or online at jett.com.jo. Recommended to book one day in advance — especially for Petra.
Minibuses
For routes not covered by JETT, there are minibuses. They depart from bus stations (North Bus Station for Jerash/Ajloun, South Bus Station for Kerak/Tafila/Aqaba) when full. Cheap but unpredictable.
Taxis
- Yellow Taxis (Amman): With taximeter, cheap. Short distance 1–3 JOD. Insist on the taximeter!
- White Taxis (Intercity Taxis): For routes between cities. Negotiate the price beforehand. Amman → Dead Sea approx. 25–30 JOD, Amman → Jerash approx. 20 JOD.
- Uber/Careem: Available in Amman and Aqaba, convenient and fair prices.
Distances & Travel Times
| Route | Distance | Travel Time |
|---|---|---|
| Amman → Dead Sea | 65 km | 1h |
| Amman → Madaba | 35 km | 40 min |
| Amman → Jerash | 50 km | 50 min |
| Amman → Petra (Highway) | 235 km | 3h |
| Amman → Petra (King's Highway) | 280 km | 5h |
| Petra → Wadi Rum | 110 km | 1.5h |
| Wadi Rum → Aqaba | 60 km | 45 min |
| Aqaba → Dead Sea | 250 km | 3h |
💡 Tipp
For a classic round trip (Amman → Madaba → Petra → Wadi Rum → Aqaba → Dead Sea → Amman), a rental car is the best option. You are flexible, the roads are good, and the distances are short. Alternatively: Book a private driver for the entire tour (approx. 60–80 JOD/day) — cheaper than you think, especially for two people.
