At the wheel: How to see Jordan by Road

The best way to see a country is to get out and about on four wheels – you’ll cover more ground and get to see some of the most far-flung sights, and not having to wait for a bus means you’ll waste far less time too.

Jordan is a great place to explore by road. Distances in this diminutive Arabic country are small: you could drive from capital city Amman to the famous rose red city of Petra in less than three hours, and between Petra and the spectacular valley of Wadi Rum in just 90 minutes. Traffic is light too, and roads are generally well-maintained and well signposted.

If you want to go it alone, be sure to buy a decent map and guidebook and do your research in advance. Hiring a car in Jordan is easy, with all the big brands represented and numerous local companies offering affordable deals. All you’ll need is your UK driving licence but remember that in Jordan you drive on the right. If you’d rather take a back seat and let someone else do the driving, why not join a tour? Organized trips allow you to enjoy all the benefits of self-driving, without any of the hassle of map-reading or car maintenance.

Tours criss-cross the country, visiting everywhere you’re likely to want to go. You could take in the main sights on a week-long Jordan holiday which visits the Dead Sea where you can float in the waters of the lowest point on earth, the unmissable historic city of Petra, and the remarkable scenery of Wadi Rum; or if Petra is your main goal simply take a short break to here, driving along the Kings Way from Amman. If you’ve got slightly longer, join the Petra and Wadi Rum holiday which includes all this, plus the Roman site of Jerash, the crusader castle at Kerak and snorkeling among the coral reefs of the Red Sea at Aqaba.

If you’re after something more active join a small-group adventure tour which includes a four wheel drive to Wadi Rum, Bedouin-style camping and even a hike up the 1,396m Jebel Harin for stunning views over Petra.

For those with slightly more time to spare, the highlights and hidden gems tour visits many of Jordan’s lesser-known sights, including the isolated desert castles scattered through the black basalt desert, which date back to roughly 660-750 AD, with accommodation in an ex-British military field hospital and a night safari to see some of the local wildlife in the nearby Shaumari Reserve. A full-day hike in the Dana Biosphere Reserve, which covers 320km sq of rugged landscape and is home to more than 800 different plant species, is also included.

If you’re bringing the family why not treat the kids to a journey to the lost city? This tour includes a visit to the ancient Roman city of Jerash, a 4WD tour of the towering sandstone landscapes of Wadi Rum and the chance to camp Bedouin-style, under vast, star-filled skies. Petra is also included and a trip to Aqaba provides the opportunity to swim or snorkel in the Red Sea, viewing the area’s colourful coral up close.

If you’d rather go it alone but still want the benefits of a tour, book a privately escorted tailor made tour which features the highlights of the country from Wadi Rum to Petra and Jerash to the Dead Sea as well as a night under canvas in a Bedouin camp. To really get off the beaten track the eleven-day tailor made tour to Petra and Wadi Rum includes a search for the Arabian Oryx, a hike through the stunning beauty of Dana Nature Reserve and an introduction to the ancient Nabatean culture – a trip you won’t forget in a hurry.