Family Adventures in Jordan: Best Activities, Age Limits and Tips for Travelling with Kids

Jordan is a great family destination: children love exploring Petra on foot, riding jeeps and camels in Wadi Rum, floating in the Dead Sea and snorkelling in the Red Sea at Aqaba, and Jordanians are famously welcoming to families. Distances are short, most sites suit all ages, and many activities can be adapted for younger children. A few adventures do have age limits, such as the Wadi Mujib Siq Trail, which is only open to adults aged 18 and over.

We plan family trips across Jordan, from first-time visitors with toddlers to active families with teenagers. Here are the best family activities, what to know about age limits and how to plan a trip that works for everyone.

Family adventures in Jordan at a glance

• Best for all ages: Petra, Wadi Rum jeep tours and camp nights, the Dead Sea, Aqaba’s beaches and glass-bottom boats, Jerash
• Best for older children and teens: hikes in Petra and Dana, short canyon walks, cycling, snorkelling
• Adults only: the Wadi Mujib Siq Trail (18+)
• Best time to go: spring and autumn holidays; summer for beach and water time
• Ideal length: 8 to 10 days at a family-friendly pace

The best family activities in Jordan

Explore Petra like explorers

Walking through the narrow Siq and seeing the Treasury appear at the end is a moment children remember. Older kids enjoy climbing to the Monastery or taking a quieter trail; younger ones can explore the tombs and caves along the main path. Children under 12 enter Petra free during the day. Plan shorter days with plenty of breaks, and start early to avoid the heat.

Sleep in a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum

A jeep tour across red dunes and canyons, a camel ride, a dinner cooked in the sand and a night under the stars make Wadi Rum a highlight for most families. Our hosts are used to children and happy to share Bedouin games, music and stories around the fire.

Float in the Dead Sea

Children find it hilarious to float without trying. Keep the salty water away from eyes and small cuts, keep swims short and rinse off in the freshwater showers afterwards. A resort with a pool makes the afternoon easy.

Beach time and boats in Aqaba

Aqaba’s calm Red Sea water and coral reefs are great for a first snorkel. Glass-bottom boats let younger children see the fish without getting wet, and beach clubs make for a relaxed last day.

Roman ruins and castles

Jerash’s chariot-racing hippodrome, theatres and colonnaded streets are easy to imagine full of life, and Ajloun and Karak castles have towers, tunnels and dark passages to explore.

Hands-on local experiences

Cooking with a local family, making a small mosaic in Madaba or staying in a village homestay give children a real connection with Jordanian life, and often become their favourite memories.

Age limits and what to know

• Wadi Mujib Siq Trail: the RSCN only allows participants aged 18 and over on its wet trails. Read our Wadi Mujib guide for details.
• Hiking and cycling: there is no fixed minimum age on most trails, but distance and terrain matter. We adapt routes to your children’s age and experience; short sections of the Jordan Trail are a good start.
• Camels and horses: rides are short and led by a handler; very young children ride with a parent.
• Dead Sea: fine for children with supervision, but not for babies, and only for short swims.
• Other activities: ziplines, diving and some adventure activities have their own age or height rules, which we check for you when we plan your trip.

Tips for travelling in Jordan with children

• Keep the pace slow: stay two nights in places like Petra and the Dead Sea, and avoid long driving days.
• Travel in spring or autumn: temperatures are comfortable for walking. In summer, plan activities for early morning and late afternoon. See the best time to visit Jordan.
• Bring sun protection: hats, sunscreen and plenty of water, even in winter.
• Use a private driver: it lets you stop when the children need a break and travel with car seats if you need them.
• Pack layers: desert nights are cool for most of the year. Our Jordan packing list has the details.
• Relax about safety: Jordan is one of the most welcoming countries in the region for families. Read Is Jordan safe to travel? for our honest answer.

Family tours with Experience Jordan

Our Jordan Highlights Family Tour is a 10-day private trip designed for families: Amman and Jerash, a homestay in Ajloun, the Dead Sea, Madaba and the King’s Highway, Petra, a night in Wadi Rum with a jeep tour and camel ride, and a beach day with a glass-bottom boat in Aqaba. It includes private transfers, cultural activities such as cooking and mosaic making, and carefully chosen family-friendly accommodation.

Prefer something shorter or more active? We can tailor any private tour to your family, from a short 7-day itinerary to hiking and cycling days for teenagers. Tell us your children’s ages and interests and we will suggest a plan.

Frequently asked questions

Is Jordan good for a family holiday?

Yes. Jordan combines easy adventure, history and beaches in a small, welcoming country. Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea and Aqaba are all suitable for children, and distances between them are short.

What is the minimum age for the Wadi Mujib Siq Trail?

18. The RSCN only allows adults aged 18 and over on its wet trails in the Mujib reserve, so families with children should choose other activities.

Do children pay to enter Petra?

Children under 12 enter Petra free during the day. For Petra by Night, children under 10 enter free.

Can young children sleep in a desert camp in Wadi Rum?

Yes. Many camps have family tents with private bathrooms. Bring warm layers, as desert nights can be cold for most of the year.

How many days do you need in Jordan with kids?

We recommend 8 to 10 days, so you can travel at a relaxed pace with two nights in key places like Petra and the Dead Sea.