Best time
to visit Jordan

On the whole, the best time to visit Jordan is during spring when temperatures reach highs of 19 - 20°C. This is however one of the most expensive times of the year to travel.

Summer is often not the best time to visit Jordan. As a large portion of the country is desertland, summers in Jordan can be blisteringly hot. Aqaba and the Dead Sea often reach highs of 40°C in the height of summer. The hilly regions in north-Jordan receive a lot of rainfall in January and in winter (December to February), Amman and the surrounding areas often dip below freezing during the night.

Top Tip!

If you want to beat the crowds and the intense heat, visit Petra at 5am, your experience will be much more comfortable.

man jumping over salt in the dead sea jordan

looking down onto the treasury in the ancient city of petra

solo traveller standing inside gorge in jordan on a group tour

weather chart for the best time to visit jordan

The weather
in Jordan

Having a diverse landscape and varying levels of altitude, the weather in Jordan can vary greatly depending on where you are. Summers can be unbearably hot and the deserts flick between blistering and freezing - Wadi Rum often reaches lows of 4°C.

If you are visiting Amman during the summer, expect temperatures of around 32°C. The shoulder season (September to February) is often the best time to visit especially if you're planning a trip to the Dead Sea. Jordan’s high season runs from March to May when the weather is the most agreeable and the fields and deserts are blanketed in wild flowers.

Best time for visiting
deserts in Jordan

Temperatures in Jordan are extreme during summer, making desert treks very uncomfortable. Summer is actually low season in Jordan so you'll find that many shops and hotels close. Spring is often the best time to visit the desert regions. The sand is coated in desert flowers and the temperatures are much more bareable than in summer. This is however, the busiest time of the year.

View tours to Jordan

Four Seasons in Jordan

Spring

March - May

By March, the rainy season has mostly finished and the majority of Jordan experiences lovely, warm weather. Try to avoid the khamseen which is traditionally fifty days of desert wind (but it usually lasts only a couple of days). It raises the temperatures and coats every surface in dust and sand.

Summer

June - August

Temperatures in Jordan during summer can be blisteringly hot so we don’t tend to advise travel in the summer. However if you can bare the heat, the humidity is relatively low. If you stay out of the sun during peak hours, you can still have a pleasant trip.

Autumn

September - November

Autumn is a great time to visit Jordan as the temperatures dip to a much more manageable temperature. This is the best time of the year to go diving in Jordan as the Red Sea is abundant in tropical fish. Aqaba is a particularly good spot. Autumn is also a great time for hiking in the Jordan mountain region.

Winter

December - February

Temperatures in Jordan during winter often reach lows of 4°C. Because of low temperatures, it is not recommended to visit the deserts of Wadi Rum and Petra during winter. Aqaba however, is one of the few places in Jordan with year-round pleasant weather.

View Tours to Jordan

Festivals & Events
in Jordan

Jordan's calendar is brimming with incredible events. You'll find everything from motorsports races to desert marathons. When planning any holiday it's a great idea to know the dates of key events throughout the country. If you want to join in the fun, you'll know when to book your tour, and if you want to steer clear of the crowds, you can work you holiday around them.

Petra by Night

Petra

(Daily)

A walking tour which begins at the Petra Visitor’s Centre, guides you through the Siq to the heart of the ancient city. The entire walk is candlelit providing an eerie and surreal experience. Occurring almost nightly, you’ve got a good chance of catching it whilst you’re in the area.

group of people at petra by night event candlelit walk through petra

Jerash Festival

Jerash

(July)

This annual event is held to celebrate traditional Jordanian culture. The event includes workshops, stalls and performances of literature, art, music and local cuisine. This is one of the largest events in the area.

roman amphitheatre ruins in jerash jordan

The Dark Skies of the Desert

Wadi Rum

(August)

Every year a fantastic meteor shower happens in Jordan - Perseid meteor shower. And the perfect place to watch mother nature's incredible show - Wadi Rum. Jordan's skies are the darkest and clearest of the year in August, making watching the meteor shower in the desert an unforgettable experience.

View Jordan Tours

stargaing at the dark skies of the desert meteorite shower in wadi rum jordan

Muharram

All over Jordan

(31 August)

Muharram is the beginning of the Islamic New Year with many towns erupting into a huge party. It is a public holiday so expect most of the schools, businesses and shops to be closed.

fireworks for islamic new year in jordan muharram

Jordan Rally

Dead Sea & Jordan Valley regions

(September)

One for the adrenaline junkies - the Jordan Rally. People fly in from all over the world to watch this famous race. For a few days in September, the rose-coloured sand-dunes of Jordan turn into a spectacular race track as the drivers compete for first place.

Aqaba Traditional Arts Festival

Aqaba

(February)

Every year Aqaba hosts a hugely popular festival celebrating the Bedouin culture. Expect market stalls, local food, workshops and demonstrations all centred around Bedouin traditions.

View Jordan Tours

restaurant overlooking marina in aqaba for aqaba traditional arts festival in jordan

Amman International

Theatre Festival

Amman

(10 January)

This festival in Amman is one of the biggest of the year and aims to promote the performing arts and talents of Jordan. Here you can see local and regional performances and workshops provided by local theatre companies.

Hakaya Cultural Project

Amman

(September)

A really unique event held annually in September. People travel to Amman from all over the Mediterranean to share their passion for improving life and society through the art of storytelling. Expect theatre, art, readings, performances and workshops.

man doing a spoken word performance for hakaya cultural project in Jordan

Petra Desert Marathon

Petra

(7 September)

One of the world's most toughening marathons. Starting in the incredible location of the Ancient City of Petra, participants run up steep inclines, windy sand dunes and across vast plains of open desert, finishing in Wadi Musa.

View Jordan Tours